Episode 1: The Foundation of the Intersection

“Leadership and advocacy aren't just about the work that we do. It's about the person we become while doing it.”Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Intersections by Talaya. Today is a beginning, a raw, unscripted "audio documentation" of what it means to lead, advocate, and grow in real-time. Host Talaya Dendy, a 14-year cancer thriver and 2025 Bush Fellow, pulls back the curtain on why this space exists and the "gumbo" of topics we are set to explore.

In this introduction, Talaya discusses moving beyond just "sharing a story" to addressing the systemic inequities that make the cancer journey harder for some than others. She also introduces her journey as a Bush Fellow, framing this podcast as a "working laboratory" for leadership development and systemic change.

In This Episode, We Explore:

The Mission of The Intersections: Where health, leadership, equity, and education meet to address medical and systemic challenges.

The Bush Fellowship Journey: An inside look at an investment in a leader’s potential, well-being, and capacity for long-term impact.

Leading with Audacity: A personal tribute to Talaya’s grandmother, Anna Berry, and how the "gumbo" of Louisiana summers instilled the fearless faith required to do this work.

Documenting the Journey: Why this podcast will remain unstructured, honest, and sometimes "out of order" as Talaya learns her lessons in real-time.

Key Takeaway

"I don't look like a lot of people that are doing the work in the cancer space. I don't sound like a lot of the people... but gumbo brings people together. That is my goal as well."

Connect with Talaya

Substack: Join the conversation and read the latest reflections at https://substack.com/@cancerdoula

Professional Portfolio: https://www.talayadendy.pro

Website: https://www.ontheotherside.life

Get full access to The Intersections by Talaya at talayadendy.substack.com/subscribe