The Burn

Elizabeth Reed has faced cancer three times, initially being diagnosed with breast cancer at 48.  She is a writer, musician, activist, wife, mom, and traveler. In this episode Elizabeth reads her piece “Breast Cancer Babby” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Body” issue. Elizabeth writes a cancer story with a “slant.” Her slant is that of using an unconventional lens of writing an advertisement to introduce a breast cancer doll.  April and Elizabeth will talk about finding humor in cancer, responding to the dreaded “at least you get a free boob job” comments so many breast cancer patients hear, the sexualization of cancer, and Elizabeth’s view of learning to adjust rather than give up when facing difficulties.  They will also discuss navigating marriage and cancer.  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Elizabeth: https://www.bettyreedwrites.com/

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Borah Lee is a wife, mom, former journalist and attorney; a recovering perfectionist and a sinner saved by grace. She was diagnosed at 37 and has had multiple recurrences.  In this episode Borah reads her piece “A Beggar in a Red Beret” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Money” issue.  Borah shares the story of her journey to give herself permission in spite of cancer to enjoy a life-changing trip to Paris. April and Borah will discuss contemplating worthiness and receiving, how the gifts of money and time intertwine in her relationships as both a child and a parent, how writing fits into survivorship and healing, and the experience of writer’s block.

More about Borah: https://www.instagram.com/borahtravels/

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Joining us for this episode is Jenny Collins - our first guest that has chosen to use a pen name to tell her story.  Jenny was diagnosed Stage II at 37, and then Stage IV MBC at 46.  Today she reads her piece “Cold War” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Family” issue. Jenny takes us deep into the layers of what she experienced when cancer entered her marriage.  April and Jenny will discuss finding the courage to share cancer stories, and how using a pen name gives you a powerful hiding spot to share while helping others feel seen.  They will also discuss feeling alone in a cancer experience and the importance of finding support.  

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Miami Beach residents LaTonya Davis and her nephson Jayden Holmes share their collaborative piece “Together We Are Thriving, Celebrating, and Reflecting” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  It is a reflection about the loved ones they have lost to metastatic breast cancer. LaTonya was diagnosed at 47 with triple negative breast cancer after already losing her mother and sister (Jayden’s mom) to the same disease. LaTonya is a proud NPR How I Built This Fellow and founder of The Breast Talk Ever.  She is raising her musician nephson Jayden.  April, LaTonya and Jayden will discuss survivorship and the realities of dying, survivor’s guilt, and how families carry on after losing their loved ones to cancer.  They will also discuss how LaTonya formed her lifestyle company The Breast Talk Ever by using the mindset of meeting people where they are at in life.

More about LaTonya: https://www.instagram.com/coachlatonya/

More about Jayden:https://www.instagram.com/mask_of_lilith/ and https://www.instagram.com/goodbye_disasterpiece/

More about The Breast Talk Ever: https://www.thebreasttalkever.com/

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Nonprofit Executive Director & Marketing Strategist Kate Crawford was diagnosed at 28 with breast cancer.  She is living with terminal Stage IV MBC, and also has Li-Fraumeni Syndrome which leaves her susceptible to numerous cancers. She has been in active treatment for 8 years and has had over 120 cycles of therapies. As a result of her outlier status, she suffers from chemo induced cardiomyopathy. Today Kate reads her piece “Broken is Not a Dirty Word” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Grief & Acceptance” issue. Her piece is about the approach she takes to unfair circumstances – cancer disrupting her dream marriage – and turning it on it’s head.  April and Kate will discuss finding layers of acceptance in cancer, the need to be broken down emotionally so a rebuild can happen, and the lessons learned in marriage.  They also talk about the role of writing in Kate’s life.

More about Kate: https://www.instagram.com/katecrawmama/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@katecrawmama

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Jean Criss is an author, digital media entrepreneur, festival and multimedia producer, tech innovator, post-surgical fashion designer, and a certified bra fitter. She was diagnosed with both Stage 0 and Stage 1 ductal breast cancer in her mid-40s. Since treatment, 15 years ago, Jean has had no evidence of disease. Today she reads her piece “My Million Dollar Boobs Led to a Million Words” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Money & Cancer” issue.  April and Jean discuss transforming from patient to owning your own voice by sharing your story, advice for people who don’t consider themselves writers, and Jean’s entrepreneurial work turning pain into purpose by creating a line of post breast surgery bras. 

More about Jean: https://jeancrissmedia.com

More about CRISSCROSS Intimates: https://crisscrossintimates.com

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

San Francisco resident Maya Kini is a visual artist, a poet and a mother of two.  She has an MFA in Metalsmithing & her favorite material is gold. Maya was diagnosed at 41 with Stage III breast cancer, and also carries the PALB2 genetic mutation. Today Maya reads her story “Rip Curl” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Body” issue.  Her story is about hope and grieving, and accepting body changes while bathing suit shopping in Hawaii.  April and Maya will discuss not ending up with the breast reconstruction that was intended, getting used to a new body, and the parallels between the body and the work Maya creates in metalsmithing. This episode contains explicit language.

More about Maya: https://mayakini.com

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Claire Millet is an acupuncturist & craniosacral therapist living in Boston, Massachusetts. Claire has been riding a six-year-long rollercoaster ride of diagnoses and treatments. First diagnosed at 33 with Stage II ductal breast cancer, Claire is now living with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer. Today Claire reads her story “Body Map” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Body” issue.  Her story is about a body that has endured much and finding forgiveness in that body.  April and Claire discuss the beautiful healing release reading your story aloud brings, allowing yourself to feel difficult emotions, and processing through anger and resolve.  

More about Claire: https://www.instagram.com/clairyfied/

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

South Africa based journalist Aisha Chowdhry was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29 in the midst of her journalism career.  Today Aisha reads her story “A Journalist Embedded in Cancerland” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Community” issue.  When cancer comes Aisha becomes the story when she is used to putting the focus on others.  April and Aisha discuss reflecting about participating in the cancer community years after diagnosis, the importance of publicly sharing cancer stories and being visible to the community, and Aisha’s podcast “The Tenderness Revolution” centered on empathy, kindness and how we see ourselves and each other. This episode contains explicit language.

More about Aisha: https://www.instagram.com/aishach/ and https://www.aishachowdhry.com

The Tenderness Revolution podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-tenderness-revolution/id1583990165

More about Foobs and Fitness: https://foobsandfitness.com and https://www.instagram.com/foobsandfitness/?hl=en

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

We are continuing the celebration of our 1 year anniversary of the podcast with this re-release of our very first episode featuring Sara Olsher of Mighty + Bright. We are focusing our celebration on the "hard truths" learned in cancer and this episode highlights another: sometimes you have to face cancer while also parenting children. How do you care for yourself when others depend on you for care, too?

Thank you to Sara for being our first guest on The Burn!  Be sure to listen to episode 55 “Cancer’s Lessons: 6 Truths - Anniversary Special (it’s 2 juicy parts!) where host April Stearns and production assistant Monica Haro recap some highlights from the past year.  Now, enjoy today’s re-release!

Sara Olsher is intimately aware of how hard -- but also how necessary and ultimately rewarding -- talking to small kids about adult challenges affecting them can be. Sara believes facing mountains like a cancer diagnosis gives us a chance to show our kids how to handle the hard stuff head-on, with grace. Today, Sara is here to read a piece she wrote for Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 Changemaker issue, “Talking to Kids About Cancer.” 

More about Sarah: https://mightyandbright.com and https://www.instagram.com/saraolsher/

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*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn