The Burn

Tawny Rachelle was diagnosed at 39 with Stage II, hormone positive breast cancer. Tawny is a long-term survivor with more than five years since being diagnosed.  She is also a long-time contributor to Wildfire Journal having published six pieces with us over the years since 2018. In this episode, Tawny reads her essay “The Luckiest Sister” from the 2018 “Caregivers” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the tender space of sisterhood where care runs deeper than routine and obligation. April and Tawny will talk about the touching selfless moment she was shown by her sister, the caregiving that gets overshadowed by cancer, giving back as a caregiver after cancer, and the different ways of showing up for people.  They will also discuss Tawny’s biggest challenges today as a long-term survivor.

More about episode sponsor iRise Above Foundation: 

https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/irise_above

Learn more about Tawny: https://www.instagram.com/itsjustahiccup/

Purchase the “Caregivers” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-caregivers

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

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*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Tabitha Holman was diagnosed at 39 with de novo Stage IV breast cancer.  Tabitha is an elementary school teacher, and mother of two young boys.  At the time of her diagnosis, she was considered too young and low-risk to access a timely mammogram when she found her lump. Now she is focusing her efforts on advocacy in hopes of improving access to screening, research, and care.  In this episode, Tabitha reads her essay “Hair Karma” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about  the emotional complexity of losing her hair during chemotherapy—just months after giving birth—and the surprising, full-circle moment that made her stop and wonder. April and Tabitha will talk about kindness, having cancer and being post-partum, and advocating for medical care that goes against the standard of care.  They also discuss grief and living with MBC.  

More about episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Learn more about Tabitha: https://www.instagram.com/tabitha.arise/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-hair25

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Raina Kerman was diagnosed at 45 with Stage II,Triple Negative breast cancer. Raina is a dog-loving, fantasy-reading, fitness enthusiast living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, Raina reads her essay “I Wish I Cared Less” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the painful, exhausting, and at times almost comically intense world of cold capping, and what it looks like to want something so badly—not just hair, but agency, normalcy, identity—and to have to let it go.  April and Raina discuss the act of surrendering, family support, maintaining appearances, and the language used around breast cancer.  This episode contains explicit language.

Learn more about Raina: https://www.instagram.com/raina_terror/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-hair25

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Bethany Zoe was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer at age 40. She is an aspiring conservationist with a master’s degree in Wildlife and Environmental Sustainability and finds joy and healing in caring for animals. In this episode, Bethany reads her essay “Shampoo Commercial Dreams” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores her experience with cold capping, identity, resilience, and the ways we cling to what keeps us feeling most like ourselves—especially when cancer threatens to strip that away. April and Bethany also discuss imposter syndrome in cancer, writing from a wound versus a scar, and how to decide when and with whom to share your story.

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-hair25

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Tegan O'Neill was diagnosed at 27 with Stage I Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a clinical social worker who finds meaning in helping herself and others heal through movement, dance, reading, and writing.  In this episode, Tegan reads her essay “Kintsugi” from the 2025 “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about experiencing a ritual of burning her own hair—a haunting remnant of chemotherapy—in the company of two close friends.  April and Tegan will talk about the alchemy of pain into beauty, being vulnerable with friends, and advice for making rituals.  

More about Tegan: https://www.instagram.com/teganfish/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-hair25

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Shannon Gottesman was diagnosed at age 40 with hormone positive, Stage III breast cancer.  She is the Vice Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh, a traveler, an advocate, and mom of two boys.  In this episode, Shannon reads her essay “On This Mat” from the 2024 “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about learning to breathe through discomfort while finding balance in chaos, and to honor a body that has fought so hard to endure. April and Shannon will discuss the complexities of cancerversaries, bridging the mind and body through yoga, mantras, and taking pause in life.

More about Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/shanny5159/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Judith Cookis Rubens was diagnosed at 45 with Stage II, HER2+ breast cancer.  She is a freelance journalist living in North Carolina with her husband and twin sons.  Judith enjoys writing about her local community, parenting, arts, theater, and education topics. In this episode, Judith reads her essay “Dancing Myself Back to Life” from the 2024 “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the power of movement—not just as exercise, but as a way to reclaim the body after cancer.  April and Judith will discuss returning to dance as an adult, as well as dance and music as healing tools.  They will also discuss Judith’s experience as a journalist writing memoir.  

More about Judith: https://www.judithcookisrubens.com/

More about The Dancer’s Workout: https://thedancersworkout.mykajabi.com/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

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Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Gillian Lichota was diagnosed at 35 and 40—first with Stage III and later with Stage IV breast cancer.  She is a mother, mountain climber, adventure travel enthusiast, and the Founder and CEO of the iRise Above Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting young women through breast cancer. In this episode, Gillian reads her essay “An Open Letter to My Daughter, Layke” from the 2024 “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal.  Her piece is about the ways motherhood transforms us.  April and Gillian will discuss the healing found in witnessing your child’s life, leading your children with intention, the legacy offerings we want for our children,and modeling vulnerability.  They will also discuss Gillian’s careers from marine biologist to founder of a non-profit breast cancer organization. 

More about Gillian:

https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/irise_above

https://www.instagram.com/irise_above

https://www.facebook.com/iRiseAboveFoundation

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8r9NWe1TzJ77m2_zeeLtA

Purchase the “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Jennifer Gordon was diagnosed at 44 with Stage II breast cancer.  She is a writer, artist, coach, advocate, dragon boater and sexual wellness coach.  In this episode, Jennifer reads her essay “A Mother’s Work is Never Done ” from the 2024 “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about role reversal - where a daughter becomes both patient and protector, and a mother steps in as a cancer caregiver during the pandemic. April and Jennifer will discuss the emotional aftermath of cancer coupled with the pandemic, writing for personal healing, and the reciprocation of love between mother and daughter.  They will also talk about sexual wellness and breast cancer.

More about Jennifer:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejennifergordon/

Purchase the “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

In this episode you are going to hear a collection of short pieces we are dubbing “Flash Memoir” from our archives. These are little gems we’ve published in Wildfire Magazine, read for you by April Stearns. We have nine years of published stories in our archives that are just too good not to share. In the past we used to do a call for submissions for short-form stories with a very specific prompt in mind. We would get back some very impactful bite-size vignettes – not long enough to be a full essay. This collection of dense and sparkling flash memoir pieces comes from our 2017 “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal. The writing prompt was “what were your surgery experiences?” with pieces written by Vicky Finch, Maegan Molnar, Libby Riley and Laurie.

  Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body17

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions