The Burn April Stearns
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- Arts
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Each week, April Stearns and the writers of Wildfire Magazine share their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer under 50. The Burn is about telling cancer stories like you’ve never read - or heard - before. We go way deeper than the medical facts to the transformation of survivorship, and in the process, we talk about the healing power of writing. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or not, you'll be inspired to write the stories in you that need to be shared. Come for the stories, stay to discover how to write your way back to yourself. #WeAreWildfire
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I Thought All Love Was Off the Table with Chiara Riga
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/love23
Listen to another episode of The Burn featuring Chiara: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9ab23b08-72b2-4a54-8af9-451c54c76be4
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 Magazine:
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 Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions -
ITFW: Hair by Rebecca Hall
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_397514860
More 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-f6a9de3677dc
Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org
Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops
Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop
Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org
*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free
Follow Wildfire Magazine:
https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/
https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity -
Reintroduction with Brittany Johnston
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/newnormal23
Past episodes with similar topics you might like:
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/4ee04976-476a-476a-a384-cd7323f37184
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7ab8f684-6a73-4125-9798-3fd6a2109476
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 Magazine:
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 Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions
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ITFW: Just Hold Me with AnnMarie Giannino
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_397514860
More about AnnMarie: https://www.instagram.com/stupiddumbbreastcancer/
Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org
Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops
Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop
Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org
*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free
Follow Wildfire Magazine:
https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/
https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity -
We Can Do Hard Things with Deb Ontiveros (Explicit)
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-mbc23
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 Magazine:
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 Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions -
ITFW: Unbreakable Bonds: Lifelines for a Lifetime with Cathy Parker
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_397514860
More about Cathy: https://www.instagram.com/irockmyscars/
Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org
Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops
Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop
Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org
*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free
Follow Wildfire Magazine:
https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/
https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity
Customer Reviews
Burn
Love how conversational the podcast is.
Wonderful resource!
This podcast feels like sitting down with old friends who really understand you.
A calming source
This podcast provides both a source of enlightening views on a cancer diagnosis and also a look into the experiences of others through an entertaining medium. I highly recommend!