The Burn

Desi Maldonado was diagnosed at 44 with Stage III triple negative breast cancer.  She is an assistant director of procurement services, an artist, wife and grandmother.  In this episode Desi reads her essay “Lymphedema” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire.  Desi’s story is about living alongside secondary lymphedema - a topic not discussed enough in the cancer space.  April will explain what lymphedema is as she dives into Desi’s experience with it.  April and Desi will talk about what set off Desi’s lymphedema, how lymphedema awareness and preventive measures get lost in the chaos of a cancer diagnosis, and occupying the complicated space of survivor’s guilt blended with a lymphedema struggle. They will also discuss the importance of sharing truths to help shoulder the load of our stories and reveal hope.Connect with Desi: https://www.instagram.com/bestofdesi/Purchase the “New Normal” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/newnormal23Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Chiara Riga of Santa Cruz, CA returns to The Burn for a second time.  She is a marketing operations manager who was diagnosed at 27 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  In this episode Chiara reads her essay “I Thought All Love Was Off the Table” from the 2023 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire.  Chiara’s story is about finding love after a breast cancer diagnosis, and putting hope back on the table.  April and Chiara will talk about what it was like shifting from living with her caregiver mom and moving in with her partner, how to manage a container for cancer in a relationship, and the challenge of explaining cancer to her future in-laws with language and cultural barriers.  They will also discuss planning life around cancer and share travel planning tips while living with MBC.Connect with Chiara: https://www.instagram.com/chiaravscancer/Purchase the “Love & Intimacy” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/love23Listen to another episode of The Burn featuring Chiara:  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9ab23b08-72b2-4a54-8af9-451c54c76be4Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features Rebecca Hall reading her essay “Hair.”  Rebecca Hall.  Writer, Certified Yoga Instructor, MBC Advocate (when not busy surviving, which is most of the time!)  Diagnosed at 25.  IDC, Stage III, Triple Positive.  Diagnosed at 29, Stage IV.  Santa Cruz, CA.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_397514860More about Becky: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahallwriter/Hear Becky’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1a34adcc-dc65-439d-8c42-f6a9de3677dcGet the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Brittany Johnston was diagnosed at 33 with breast cancer just barely 2 years ago.  In this episode Brittany reads her essay “Reintroduction” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire. Brittany’s story is about navigating the new normal after a cancer diagnosis with it’s profound mental health components.  April and Brittany will talk about the intersection of cancer and depression, taking the positives of cancer while simultaneously realizing the negatives, and the mental health gaps in oncology care.  They will also discuss treating ourselves with compassion.  Connect with Brittany: https://www.instagram.com/b_myself_n_i/Purchase the “New Normal” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/newnormal23Past episodes with similar topics you might like:https://player.captivate.fm/episode/4ee04976-476a-476a-a384-cd7323f37184https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7ab8f684-6a73-4125-9798-3fd6a2109476Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions 

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features April Stearns reading AnnMarie’s essay “Just Hold Me.”  AnnMarie Giannino.  Director of Communities at Lyfebulb.  Diagnosed at 40.  Stage I, IDC, ER+, PR+.  Upstate NY.  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_397514860More about AnnMarie:  https://www.instagram.com/stupiddumbbreastcancer/ Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Deb Ontiveros is a Los Angeles native currently residing in Southern Utah.  She is an interpreter, community health worker, and social justice activist for over 20 years.  After being diagnosed with triple positive metastatic breast cancer at age 37, she has shifted her focus to breast cancer advocacy.  Deb reads her essay “We Can Do Hard Things ” from the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire.  It’s a piece about what was learned living in the glare of uncertainty.  April and Deb will discuss the timing of and finding your place in the breast cancer community, living by the words “what doesn’t kill me, nourishes me”, and reflections on losing people within the breast cancer community.  They will also talk about feeling like an outsider when diagnosed young, and how Deb found found connections with and became an ambassador for people of color within the breast cancer community.This episode includes explicit language, references to drugs and domestic violence.More about Deb:  https://www.instagram.com/deb4peace247/More about For the Breast of Us:  https://www.instagram.com/forthebreastofus/Purchase the “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-mbc23Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features April Stearn's reading Cathy's essay “Unbreakable Bonds: Lifelines for a Lifetime.”  In memory of Cathy Parker.  Real Estate Developer and Investor.  Diagnosed at 35.  IBC, Stage III, Triple Positive.  Crewe, VA.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_397514860More about Cathy: https://www.instagram.com/irockmyscars/Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for spring break.  Wildfire production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from February 2023 to reshare.  Enjoy!Holly Taylor was a sergeant in the US Army National Guard, and then became a kindergarten teacher. She was diagnosed at 37 with stage IV breast cancer after earlier breast health concerns were dismissed. She is now a stay-at-home mom. In this episode Holly reads her stirring piece “I Want” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “MBC: Legacy Stories” issue where she expresses all her wants that she desires for her young daughter. April and Holly will talk about what it was like for Holly to write and read this essay to her daughter, getting your wishes out of your body through writing, and how Holly keeps a memory legacy box for her daughter while living with metastatic disease. They will also discuss teaching breast health and self-advocacy to your children.More about Holly: https://www.instagram.com/crazycurlyholly/Purchase the “MBC: Legacy Stories” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mbc22Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features Vesna Zic-Côté reading her essay “SOS.”  Vesna Zic-Côté.  Registered Nurse (retired class).  Diagnosed at 38.  IDC, Stage II.  Diagnosed at 42.  Stage IV, ER+, PR+.  Ottowa, ON.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_397514860More about Vesna: https://www.instagram.com/vesna.mbc.lens/Hear Vesna’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c1f13865-3266-4e45-a5f3-bf6fef4e489eGet the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Carrie Kreiswirth was diagnosed at 36 with triple negative breast cancer.  Carrie helps encourage and empower others who have been on a similar cancer journey to her own. In this episode Carrie reads her essay “Ready for Love” from the 2019 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire. Carrie’s story is not only about dating after cancer, but the sucker punches that come out of nowhere in long term survivorship.  April and Carrie will talk about what it was like for Carrie to revisit this piece written 5 years prior, the challenges of being vulnerable with intimacy, and advice for those feeling closed off. They will also discuss Carrie’s reflections on motherhood and fertility, and what is coming up for her emotionally around that now.  April and Carrie will share the why behind finding your place in the breast cancer community as a long term survivor.Connect with Carrie:  https://www.instagram.com/ckreiswirth/Purchase the “Love & Intimacy” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-love19Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions 

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features April Stearn’s reading Kara’s essay “Fighting Pretty Again.”  Kara Frazier.  Founder of Fighting Pretty, Marketing at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.  Diagnosed at 26.  Stage III, ER+, HER2+.  Portland, OR.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_397514860More about Kara: https://www.instagram.com/mrskarafrazier/Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Wang Shein in a program manager, advocate and serves on the advisory committee for the Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic at MD Anderson. In this episode Wang reads his essay “Let the Mirror Shatter” from the the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire. Wang’s piece is a caretaker’s view of living life with no regrets alongside his metastatic thriver wife Janice Choe’s cancer diagnosis for 10 years.  Janice was diagnosed at 33, and Wang was a wingmate to his best friend and partner since high school for 25 years until her passing in May 2022.  April and Wang will talk about what it was like writing about losing his wife not long after she passed, turning wounds into scars, and his loving advice for patients from the caretaker perspective.  They will also discuss Wang’s decision to stay working in Cancer Land, and finding glimmers in life.  More about Wang:https://www.instagram.com/tshein/https://linktr.ee/wangsheinhttps://unicorncancerthrivers.org/Purchase the “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-mbc23Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features April Stearns reading Christi’s essay “Privilege.”  Christi Salcedo.  BSN, RN.  Diagnosed at 30.  IDC, Stage IIb, ER+.  Sacramento, CA.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_397514860More about Christi: https://www.instagram.com/christileeoleary/Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

This episode is a tropical postcard coming from our guest Tara Coyote who recorded with us from her yurt in Hawaii.  The soothing cacophony of sounds surrounding her island space compliment the reading of her essay “Mermaid” from the 2023 “Travel & Adventure” issue of Wildfire.  It’s a piece about finding a mermaid life and living large while living with metastatic breast cancer.  Tara was diagnosed at 46 with cancer.  She is the founder of  Wind Horse Sanctuary, an author and a dancer.  April and Tara will discuss Tara’s decision to go to mermaid school, finding joy to live fully, and Tara’s philosophy to live large and push out of comfort zones.  They will also talk about the physical and emotional medicine of being in water.  Tara will also share what she learned about herself on a trip to swim with whales, as well as her future live large adventure plans.  More about Tara:https://www.instagram.com/taracoyote/https://www.instagram.com/the.kauai.mermaid/http://www.taracoyote.com/https://www.youtube.com/c/TaraCoyotehttps://www.windhorsesanctuary.com/Purchase the “Travel & Adventure” issue and other past issues Tara’s writing has been published in here:https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/travel23https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/identity22https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-cm21https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/community21Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features Diana Mae Vega reading her essay “I Call Her Mother.”  Diana Mae Vega.  RN, BSN, PCCN.  Diagnosed at 29.  Stage II, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, ER+.  Orange, California.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_397514860More about Diana: https://www.instagram.com/dystopiadiana/Hear Diana’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431aGet the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Tasha Carlson is physician who was diagnosed at 40 with DCIS at her very first mammogram. In this episode Tasha reads her essay “Learning from Regrets” from the 2023 “Body” issue of Wildfire. Tasha’s story is about going from physician to patient and the incredible pressure to make decisions quickly in cancer treatment that you could be living with – hopefully living with – for a very long time. April will ask Tasha about coming to a place where she felt like she could give herself permission for more research, additional opinions, and finding a soft landing spot of community.  April and Tasha will also discuss the changes for the better that have happened after cancer and cancer’s influence on Tasha’s career.  Connect with Tasha via email: tasha.srb@gmail.comLearn more about Young Survival Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/Purchase the “Body” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body23Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!   This episode features April Stearns reading “The Lemonade Date” by Danielle Thurston.In memory of Danielle Thurston.  Mother, Teacher.  Diagnosed at 33.  Stage II.  Diagnosed at 35. Stage IV.  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_397514860https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431aGet the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Anna Wassman-Cox is a wife, dog mom, and dancer who has faced cancer twice.  Anna was diagnosed at 25 with Stage II Triple Positive breast cancer, and then a local recurrence at 29.  In this episode Anna reads her essay “My Body is a Changing Landscape” from the 2023 “Body” issue of Wildfire. Anna’s story is about striving for a better relationship with her body after so much change. April and Anna will talk about navigating cancer a second time with prior knowledge of what to expect after having been there before, what drinking has looked like, and getting back in touch with your body through dance.  April and Anna will also discuss the incredible healing work Anna is doing with ballet for oncology patients because ballet movement is for every body.More about Anna: https://www.instagram.com/annamazingjourney/Learn more about Onco-Ballet Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/oncoballet/https://oncoballet.com/Learn more about Movement Pointe:https://www.instagram.com/movementpointe/https://movementpointe.com/Purchase the “Body” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/libraryBuy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  This episode features April Stearns reading Leslie's essay “Love.  At Last.”  Leslie Martin.  Elementary School Teacher, Spin Instructor, Mom.  Diagnosed at 44.  ILC, Stage II, Triple Positive.  Huntington Beach, CA.This episode contains the subject matter of childhood sexual abuse.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_397514860More about Leslie: https://www.instagram.com/fireball7729/Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shopSend your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeFollow Wildfire Magazine:https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Emily Rau is an Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and the editor of the Willa Cather Archive.  In this episode Emily reads her essay “I Might Be in Love with All My Friends” from the 2023 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire. Emily’s story is about sensuality mixed in with a lot of milestones and steps in a breast cancer experience that we haven’t really heard before at Wildfire.  April and Emily will talk about why it was important to share a cancer story that folds into Emily’s queer and polyamorous life, honoring her grief in cancer, the role the polyamorous community played in Emily’s cancer journey and the fear of overtaxing people with our burdens. They will also discuss the prairie, and hear Emily beautifully explain the comfort and metaphor this particular landscape provided her in cancer. This episode contains explicit content about drugs and sex.More about Emily:  https://www.instagram.com/ejrau/Purchase the “Love & Intimacy” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/love23Buy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions