In this final, special episode of The CARTI Hopecast, host Adam Head sits down with Yara Robertson, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director of Surgery at CARTI and a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist whose life changed when she moved from the operating room to the patient chair.

For years, Dr. Robertson dedicated her life to treating breast cancer; working long hours, prioritizing patients above all else, and approaching medicine with precision and control. Then, in 2018, a sudden and unexpected diagnosis of kidney cancer forced her into a role she knew well, but had never fully understood.

From her lived experience, Dr. Robertson shares what it was like to hear the words she had spoken to so many others: “You have cancer.” She reflects on the shock, the loss of control and the cascade of difficult news that followed; from multiple tumors to a genetic mutation that would change how she views her future.

Dr. Robertson offers a rare and powerful perspective of what happens when clinical knowledge collides with lived experience. She speaks candidly about grief, anger, faith and the emotional toll of telling loved ones. Most importantly, she reveals how her experience reshaped the way she cares for patients by slowing down, listening more deeply and recognizing the weight behind every conversation.

Dr. Robertson is an advocate, a listener and what she calls a “hope dealer”, meaning someone who walks alongside patients in their most vulnerable moments while reminding them that their story is not over.

Takeaways:

• A cancer diagnosis reshapes identity, marking a clear “before” and “after” in life.
• Even experienced physicians cannot fully understand the emotional weight of diagnosis until they experience it themselves.
• Patients often do not absorb information immediately after hearing they have cancer. They need time and space to process.
• Empathy in care is deeply human and relational.
• Telling loved ones about a diagnosis can be as difficult as receiving it.
• Survivorship often includes ongoing uncertainty and emotional triggers, not just physical recovery.
• True care extends beyond treatment to include mental, emotional and social support.
• Access to care and health disparities directly impact patient outcomes and survival.
• Identity should not be rooted solely in profession or diagnosis.
• Hope is not optional. It is essential to navigating life after cancer.

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In this episode of The CARTI Hopecast, host Adam Head sits down with Katherine Wolf—author, speaker and advocate—whose life changed in an instant when a massive brain stem stroke at age 26 reshaped everything she thought she knew about her future.

At the time, Katherine was a young mother with a six-month-old son, newly married, and living a healthy, active life. What followed her sudden collapse was a 16-hour brain surgery, months of hospitalization, and years of intensive rehabilitation, learning to walk, speak, and live again in a completely new way.

In this conversation, Katherine reflects on the long journey from survival to purpose. She speaks candidly about the early years of “emergency mode,” when there was little space to process and every day was focused on recovery. Over time, her story began to shift, not away from suffering, but toward meaning within it.

Katherine shares how her experience reshaped her understanding of identity, beauty, and what it means to live a full life. She challenges the idea that healing means returning to what once was, offering instead a vision of embracing a new normal and finding joy within it. Through her work with Hope Heals and the disability community, she continues to help others reimagine their lives in the face of hardship.

Takeaways:

• Life can change instantly, even without warning or prior health concerns.
• The early stages of trauma often require survival before reflection.
• Healing is not a return to the past, but an acceptance of a new reality.
• Suffering can shape identity in ways that lead to deeper purpose.
• Community and shared burdens are essential in navigating hardship.
• True fulfillment is found in intangible things like peace, joy and connection.
• Disability does not diminish the value or beauty of a life.
• We have permission to dream new dreams when life doesn’t go as planned.
• The “miracle” may not be what we expected, but it can be found in the present moment.

Referenced in this episode:

Hope Heals

Hope Heals Camps and Retreats

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Harrison Scott Key moves beyond the events that shaped his story and into the deeper question of how we respond when life breaks in ways we never expected.

Picking up where Part 1 left off, Harrison reflects on what it truly means to “fight” for a marriage—not through control or force, but through humility, restraint, and the difficult choice to stay present when walking away might feel easier. He challenges common ideas around strength, offering a perspective that reframes power as something best held, not used.

The conversation expands into the universal weight of betrayal and the tension between justice and forgiveness. Drawing from his own experience and the thousands of messages he’s received from readers, Harrison shares how pain, honesty, and connection often sit at the center of healing. His insights are both deeply personal and widely relatable, reminding us that no one navigates these moments in isolation.

As the episode unfolds, Harrison also explores the role humor plays in facing what feels unbearable. He describes comedy not as a way to avoid pain, but as a way to approach it—creating space to acknowledge truth without being overwhelmed by it.

Takeaways:

1. The profound realization that fighting for one's marriage often requires humility rather than aggression is pivotal.
2. Engaging in open communication with friends, therapists, and spouses is vital during marital crises.
3. Acknowledging personal faults can contribute significantly to the healing process after infidelity occurs.
4. Embracing vulnerability in storytelling allows for deeper connections with readers and listeners alike.
5. Humor serves as a mechanism to cope with pain, enabling reflection on difficult experiences with grace.
6. The journey of marriage entails continuous effort and understanding, especially when facing challenges together.

Referenced in this episode:

1. Harrison Scott Key
2. The World's Largest Man
3. How to Stay Married

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In Part 1 of this conversation on The CARTI Hopecast, Adam Head sits down with bestselling author, professor and writer, Harrison Scott Key, whose work explores some of life’s most painful realities through the unexpected lens of comedy.

Harrison is the author of The World’s Largest Man, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and How to Stay Married, a deeply personal memoir about betrayal and forgiveness. Known for blending raw honesty with sharp humor, Harrison has built a career telling stories that reveal the strange intersection of heartbreak and laughter.

In this conversation, Harrison reflects on the complicated relationship with his father that inspired his first book, and how writing became a way to confront both love and resentment. He shares how grief and reconciliation shaped the emotional core of his work and why the stories we tell repeatedly often reveal the truths we are still trying to understand.

The episode also explores the difficult decision to write How to Stay Married, a book born out of one of the most painful chapters of Harrison’s life. With remarkable candor, he discusses the role of humor in surviving trauma, why forgiveness remains one of the most misunderstood human choices, and how storytelling can become both confession and healing.

Takeaways:

1. Natural law exhibits remarkable consistency across various cultures, underscoring our shared human values.
2. A pervasive belief in the importance of truth and promise-keeping exists among most societies.
3. Forgiveness is not universally accepted as a virtue within all worldviews, leading to varied emotional consequences.
4. Individuals who reject the concept of forgiveness often experience profound sadness and anger as a result.
5. The podcast emphasizes the significance of storytelling in understanding personal journeys and resilience.
6. The conversation highlights the therapeutic power of writing and humor in addressing life's challenges.

Referenced in this episode:

1. Harrison Scott Key
2. The World's Largest Man
3. How to Stay Married

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In this episode of The CARTI Hopecast, host Adam Head sits down with Dr. Paul Abney — clinical psychologist, educator, and former professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences — whose life took an unexpected turn when he transitioned from teaching future physicians to becoming a patient himself.

For decades, Paul trained medical students to understand that diagnosis is not merely clinical data, but a truth discovered through dialogue. He emphasized empathy as a diagnostic tool and communication as a form of therapy. Then, within a short span of time, he was diagnosed with advanced glaucoma, congestive heart disease requiring valve replacement, and aggressive prostate cancer.

In this reflective conversation, Paul shares what it feels like to sit in the exam room instead of standing at the lectern. He speaks candidly about vulnerability, the emotional weight of diagnosis, and the critical importance of physician presence. Drawing from both his academic expertise and personal experience, Paul offers a rare dual perspective on what it means to give and receive care.

Takeaways:

1. Engaging patients in communication allows them to contribute significantly to their own diagnosis.
2. The concept of diagnosis encompasses not only medical knowledge but also social aspects of healthcare.
3. Hope plays a crucial role in patient resilience and coping with terminal diagnoses.
4. Empathy in the doctor-patient relationship serves as one of the most effective diagnostic tools.
5. The experience of being a patient offers unique insights into the importance of human connection in healthcare.
6. Maintaining hope can profoundly impact a patient's emotional well-being during their treatment journey.

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In this episode of The CARTI Hopecast, Adam Head sits down with Colleen Nick, mother, advocate, and founder of the Morgan Nick Foundation. Colleen’s daughter, Morgan, was six years old when she was taken from a Little League baseball field in Alma, Arkansas in 1995. What followed was a life forever altered, and a decades-long journey marked by unanswered questions, enduring hope, and relentless advocacy.

Colleen reflects on who Morgan was before she went missing—curious, joyful, and full of imagination—and the moment that reshaped her life as a mother. She speaks candidly about the unique and ongoing grief of not knowing, describing a form of loss without closure and the daily choice to continue living, parenting, and hoping in the absence of answers.

Colleen has built one of the nation’s most influential child advocacy organizations. Through education, prevention, and direct support for families of missing persons, the Morgan Nick Foundation works to ensure that no family walks this road alone, and that every missing person is remembered, fought for, and valued.

Takeaways:

1. The disappearance of a child creates a form of grief without resolution, one that families must learn to carry over a lifetime.
2. Hope, as Colleen describes it, is not passive optimism but sustained action and advocacy.
3. The Morgan Nick Foundation was born from the belief that Morgan’s life mattered and that no family should navigate loss alone.
4. Education and prevention play a critical role in keeping children safe and empowering families.
5. Community, compassion, and continued connection are essential for families living with unanswered loss.
6. Even in the absence of closure, purpose can emerge, and love can endure.

Referenced in this episode:

1. morgannickfoundation.org

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In this episode of The CARTI Hopecast, host Adam Head sits down with Abigail Wells, a poet, athlete and advocate whose life changed dramatically at age 13 when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

What began as a sore ankle during track season quickly became a life-altering diagnosis. After chemotherapy failed to stop the cancer, Abigail was faced with an unimaginable decision: continue treatment that wasn’t working, or amputate her leg in hopes of survival. She chose life.

Abigail opens the episode by sharing her inspiring original poetry, setting the tone for a conversation that explores creativity as survival, resilience in adolescence, and choosing light in the darkest moments. Through art, humor, athletics, and advocacy, Abigail transformed her pain into purpose, discovering new ways to move forward without losing who she is.

This episode is a powerful reflection on identity, mental health, and the strength it takes to grow beyond what tries to define you.

Takeaways:

1. Abigail Wells emphasizes the transformative power of creative expression during her challenging journey with cancer.
2. Facing the daunting choice of amputation at a young age profoundly altered Abigail's perspective on life and resilience.
3. Abigail's experiences highlight the importance of community and connection while navigating difficult health challenges.
4. The conversation underscores how Abigail turned her pain into purpose through art, poetry, and advocacy for others facing similar struggles.
5. She illustrates that even in the darkest times, there exists a glimmer of hope and opportunity for personal growth.
6. Abigail's story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in vulnerability and the courage to share one's journey.

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

Every one of us faces moments that change us. Moments that test our strength and reshape our stories. On the CARTI Hopecast, we share these moments.

Stories of resilience, courage, and perseverance.

From those turning unimaginable grief into a mission of healing to survivors finding purpose after the storm.

These are the stories that inspire and connect us all.

Each conversation offers a glimpse into the human experience.

Together, let's explore powerful stories that remind us of what it means to hurt and to hope.

This special episode of The CARTI Hopecast serves as a poignant recap of the season, weaving together the profound lessons expressed by individuals who have confronted unimaginable challenges yet persevered with remarkable resilience. We delve into five significant narratives that illuminate the transformative power of hope and the strength found in adversity. Each story encapsulates a moment of profound change, signaling a transition from a life before a traumatic experience to one that embraces courage and community in the aftermath.

As we reflect on these journeys, we recognize that while pain may not simply dissipate, it often catalyzes a mission, urging us to share our experiences and support one another. Ultimately, we invite listeners to consider the weight of their own burdens, and to find solace and strength in the stories shared within this episode.

Takeaways:

• This special episode conveys the profound lessons learned from individuals who faced unimaginable challenges and emerged resilient.
• In moments of profound change, our response can define our path forward and shape our experiences.
• The necessity of community and connection becomes apparent as we navigate the turmoil of life's unexpected turns.
• Confronting the harsh realities of life fosters a deeper understanding of compassion and empathy towards others' struggles.
• Each story shared in this episode serves as a reminder of the transformative power of hope amidst adversity.
• The overarching theme emphasizes that sharing our journeys can inspire others, creating a ripple effect of hope and healing.

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.

In this episode of The CARTI Hopecast, host Adam Head welcomes Steve Straessle, head of Catholic High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and a respected columnist and community leader. Known for his unwavering presence and belief in the potential of others, Steve reflects on the role of mentorship, loyalty, and living a life of intentional service.

From his unexpected start in education to decades of shaping young men through faith, discipline, and humor, Steve shares stories that reveal the impact of showing up—in classrooms, in grief, in growth. One such story centers on a student named Jorge and the powerful ripple effects of community, dignity, and honor in the face of tragedy.

This episode explores how small acts of consistency, presence, and hope can redefine a life.

Takeaways:

• Steve Straessle emphasizes the profound impact of unwavering commitment to one's community and students, highlighting how this shapes their lives positively.
• In moments of adversity, it is essential to recognize the inherent value within individuals, which empowers them to rise above challenges.
• The journey of education transcends mere academics; it is fundamentally about instilling life lessons such as perseverance, responsibility, and the importance of empathy.
• Presence in the lives of students is critical; it fosters trust and credibility, enabling educators to support them during their most difficult times.
• The legacy of those we teach is shaped by their experiences and the values they internalize, which can have a transformative effect on their future actions.
• Living intentionally requires choosing the tools of compassion and understanding, as opposed to the divisive tools of anger and hatred that can lead to one's downfall.

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation, and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients and families navigating unimaginable hardships, sometimes feeling alone in their journey. Through The Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and transformation, fostering a sense of connection and hope.