Today's guest is Rosemary Carrera, breast cancer survivor who turned her personal journey into a mission to help others. In 2019 she founded 305 Pink Pack, a non-profit that removes the everyday barriers people face during cancer treatment by providing support such as transportation, childcare and grocery assistance. Rosemary is also a powerful advocate for equitable cancer care and access within the Hispanic community.

We talk about being diagnosed with breast cancer as a new mom, how a chance meeting and conversation led to 305 Pink Pack, chemo brain and cognitive therapy, great ways to help someone in need, and so much more!!

Resources:

Rosemary's Website: www.305pinkpack.org

Rosemary's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/305pinkpack

Rosemary's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/305pinkpack

Rosemary's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/305pinkpack/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Josh Vintner-Jackson, diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at only age 29 and living with stage 4 since 2023. Diagnosed during COVID, living in Texas, he went through chemo in complete isolation. That experience of profound loneliness drove him to create Chat Cancer, a community for young adults navigating cancer. His philosophy for life: you can't control the storm, but you can control how you navigate it. Don't let cancer get in the way of your life!

We talk about navigating treatment on another continent from your family, grit and determination, challenges of cancer as a young adult, peer to peer support, and so much more!!

Resources:

Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-vintner-jackson-91a5b650/

Chat Cancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatcancer/?viewAsMember=true

Josh's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshvintnerjackson/

Chat Cancer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chat.cancer/

Josh's Substack: https://resiliencereborn.substack.com/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Todays' guest is Mark Morningstar, a man with a passion for music. He's done it all, from school marching bands to Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps, to drumming in a rock band, to teaching music to high schoolers. He's also a liver cancer survivor, due to the miracle of the living liver donor program. The liver is the one organ that can regenerate and can, therefore, be donated by someone still living. Truly a miracle of modern medicine.

We talk all about the living donor program and process, becoming an advocate for organ donation, healing and taking care of your health, staying positive, and so much more.

If you're interested in being an organ donor, living or after death, check out the link below or register with your local DMV.

Resources:

Mark's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.a.morningstar

Mark's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark.a.morningstar/

Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE): https://core.org/

Liver Education Advocates: https://liveradvocates.org/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Shaun Barnard, described by friends and family as a man of endless ideas and blue-sky thinking. Shaun channelled his great passion for traveling into founding In My Wildest, a UK charity created in memory of his mum, who died from breast cancer. This charity helps people living with cancer fund travel insurance, which is oftentimes very expensive, so they can keep exploring the world, making memories, and living fully, even in the hardest of moments.

We talk about the state of travel insurance for cancer patients in the UK, honoring his mother's love of travel, how and why In My Wildest was created, and so much more!!

Resources:

Shaun's website: https://www.inmywildest.org

Shaun's email: [email protected]

Shaun's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inmywildest

Follow:

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Tommy Holl, also known as "The Real Elf", a beloved entertainment and experiential brand dedicated to spreading joy, wonder and connection during the holidays and beyond. His mission became even clearer after surviving epithelioid sarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer that mostly affects young adults. According to Tommy, life is short, joy matters and magic should be shared generously.

We talk about The Real Elf origin story, navigating cancer as a young adult, finding support through Imerman Angels and Epic Experience, Tommy's journey to Shark Tank and landing a deal, spreading joy, and so much more.

Get ready for a feel good, joy filled episode!

Resources:

Tommy's Website: TheRealElf.com

The Real Elf Shark Tank Sizzle Reel

The Real Elf Social Media:

Facebook: The Real Elf

Twitter: @TheRealElfTommy

Instagram: @TheRealElfTommy

Tiktok: @TheRealElfTommy

Imerman Angels Website: https://imermanangels.org/

Epic Experience Website: https://epicexperience.org/

Follow:

Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/

My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Tony Collier BEM, who has been living with advanced stage prostate cancer since 2017. He is an avid runner, prostate cancer advocate and awareness speaker, and an encourager of those living with and beyond cancer to exercise for continued health. He was also awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019 for his work in the re-generation of his home town and his charity fundraising.

We talk about the importance of exercise before, during and after cancer treatment, mental health and psychosexual therapy, better prostate cancer screening and education, peer to peer support, and so much more!!

Thriving with cancer isn't just about medical treatments. There is so much more to health and this is the conversation that delves into all of it.

Resources:

Tackle Prostate Website: https://tackleprostate.org/

Tony's Blog: https://runningintocancer.co.uk/

Tony's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-collier/

Follow:

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Brian Finley, former middle and high school science teacher, son of a Marine Corps aviator and diplomat, and cholangiocarcinoma survivor. Given 3-6 months to live at diagnosis in 2023, Brian is currently NED, defying the odds. He attributes his health to the use of both traditional and complementary methods, both of which he uses today. Brian also serves as a mentor for other cancer patients through the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, being there for others as someone was once there for him.

We talk about gratitude, non-judgment, how Western Medicine and Complementary therapies can work together, how previous events in Brian's life helped prepare him for his cancer journey, getting through the dark times, and so much more!!

Resources:

Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Website: https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/

Brian's email: [email protected]

Follow:

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Sally Orange MBE, former British Army Major and physiotherapist turned fruit dressing adventure athlete, mental health campaigner and charity fundraiser. Diagnosed in 2025 with breast cancer, she has faced her experience with hope, moving forward openly and unapologetically.

Sally has completed over 85 marathons, including The London Marathon and the Everest Marathon, both between diagnosis and surgery!! She has completed the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, and even ran to all of her chemo sessions. 

We talk about silver linings, mental health challenges, of course running, finding gratitude always, and so much more.

I've gotten lots of mental advice for the marathon I will be running this year from Sally, and there are so many great nuggets for life in this conversation. I'm so excited for you all to tune in!

Resources:

Sally's Website: www.sallyorange.com

Sally's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyorangembe/

Sally's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-orange-mbe-95948741/

Sally's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.orange.942

Follow:

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

Today's guest is Jonathan Gegerson, author, speaker, and advocate for those diagnosed with cancer. Jonathan was diagnosed in 2019 with very rare salivary duct carcinoma and has endured over 200 chemo cycles, 67 radiation sessions and 7 major surgeries over the past 6 years. His goal is to inspire others to be thankful for what they have, help them embrace the suffering and turn it into victory. He recently published Perspective C, sharing the power of words, time, love, and suffering.

We talk about how cancer can affect even the healthiest people, the importance of second opinions, facing recurrences with positivity and humor, the marathon vs. sprint journey of cancer, putting things in perspective, and so much more!

Jonathan is one of the most positive people I've ever met and his outlook on life is so inspiring. What a conversation to kick off 2026!

Resources:

More of Jonathan's Story: https://breakingcancernews.com/2025/10/13/salivary-duct-carcinoma-treatments-are-evolving-and-dentists-can-help/

Jonathan's Book Perspective C: https://a.co/d/37WWbY0

Jonathan's Email: [email protected]

Follow:

Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/

My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: [email protected]

I wanted to take this first episode of 2026 to reflect on the last 104 episodes over the past almost 2 years of the show. There have been some amazing conversations and incredible humans that I've had the absolute pleasure of chatting with. I'm sharing some of the highlights and great things so many of my guests have accomplished, all during or after a cancer diagnosis. 

I hope you enjoy this look back and remember with me, while also looking forward to what's to come in 2026. Below are some of the books and non-profits we mentioned. Please check them out!! 

Happy New Year!!

Books

Flat Please by Ellyn Winters 

The Unlikely Gift of Breast Cancer by Diane Simard

The Guys Guide to Everything Breast Cancer by Rick Baker

Welcome to Katie's Brain by Katie Smith

Light Through Darkness by Harriet Cabelly

Positively Altered by Dr. Cindy Howard

Overcoming Life's Toughest Challenges by Andy Campbell

But is it the Bad Kind by Rachel Orgel 

Boo Bear's Big Day by Jodi Novak

Cancering by Lauren Huffmaster

Cancer Ramblings by Sandy Duarte

Cancer Stories of Hope by Kevin Donaghy

A Breast Cancer Journey by Jennifer Douglas

I AM ALIVE by Nathalie Latham

Finding Hope and Joy in Cancer by Amanda Gunville

Non-Profits

https://www.hodgkinsinternational.com/

https://www.surviveandthrivecr.org/ 

https://liveradvocates.org/

https://imermanangels.org/

https://theolandusfoundation.org/

https://adventurefound.org/

https://www.myeloma.org/

https://www.prostatenetwork.org/

https://malebreastcancerhappens.org/

https://testicularcancersociety.org/

https://www.sitesandinsights.org/

https://beckybakerfoundation.org/

https://www.facebook.com/thecrownandgloryproject/?locale=tl_PH 

https://askellyn.ai/

https://twistoutcancer.org/

https://epicexperience.org/

https://www.theboobytrapfoundation.org/