The Burn

This episode’s guest is Wildfire’s own Angela Firman - back for a second visit!  She helps edit each issue of the magazine.  Angela was diagnosed initially at 33 with Stage III hormone-positive breast cancer and she is now living with Stage IV metastatic disease. Angela is an avid reader, a closet-cross-stitcher, and a fervent writer. She also serves on the board of The Pink Boat Regatta...

Keri Smith is a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor living in Upstate New York.  She was diagnosed at 37 with hormone positive breast cancer and is living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC).  In this episode, Keri reads her essay “Showing Up” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue.  Keri’s piece is about simultaneously receiving a long deserved pro...

Kassi Sullivan was diagnosed at 35 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC).  Kassi is a social worker who thrives on humor, sarcasm, caffeine and true crime. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and children. In this episode, Kassi reads her essay “Authentically Me” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue.  Kassi’s piece is about one woman’s struggle to be a menta...

Debbie Kerr was diagnosed at 49 with Stage II breast cancer in 2011.  She is a Business Systems Consultant living outside Toronto, Canada.  In this episode, Debbie reads her essay “Rosanne” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue.  Debbie’s piece is about working through cancer treatment, and how her employer accommodated, but then eventually laid her off.  Dur...

Returning guest Kate Rowbotham was diagnosed at 47 with de novo Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  Kate is a Professor and an Assistant Dean of Teaching and Learning. She is learning how to be an empty-nester, and enjoys traveling with her partner to both her daughter’s hockey games and her son’s volleyball games.  In this episode, Kate reads her essay “Finding Purpose in Paradox” from...

Returning guest Beth Gainer was diagnosed at 39 with breast cancer.  She is now a long-term survivor of 23 years.  Beth is a writer and artist.  In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and friends, as well as reading, working out at the gym, and going to museums. In this episode, Beth reads her essay “Trading Places” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Work & Cancer” iss...

Stacy Conlon was diagnosed at 42 with Stage IIb lobular breast cancer.  Stacy is a certified mindfulness meditation facilitator and Reiki energy healer. In this episode, Stacy reads her essay “Snip, Surrender, Shine: A Ritual in Resilience” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Body” issue. Stacy’s piece takes us along on an act of intentional ritual when removing her hair before chemo, and giving...

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to celebrate the New Year.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy! Tova Wolking is an attorney from Oakland, California.  She was diagnosed at age 43 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer.  She also car...

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little holiday break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from October 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy! In this episode, Laurie Ratliff reads her piece “Where Do You Go When You Don’t Belong Anywhere?” from the 2019 “Social” issue of Wildfire Magazine. We all want to kn...

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little holiday break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy! Erica Fitch was 12 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two decades later at 30, she was diagnosed with DCIS: stage 0, estrogen positive breast cancer when...

Lorie Kolak is a wife and a stay-at-home mom from Illinois.  She was diagnosed at 41 with Stage II breast cancer, and also carries the pK71 genetic mutation.  Lorie has worked in university libraries, book sales and distribution, copywriting, and copy-editing. When not writing or reading, she enjoys arts and crafts.  In this episode, Lorie reads her essay “Door Marked Danger” from W...

Claire Lemiski is an airline pilot who was diagnosed at 36 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer. As a captain at a regional airline in Toronto, Claire is passionate about providing mentorship to new and aspiring women pilots.  In this episode, Claire reads her essay “About Damn Time” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Family” issue.  Claire’s piece is about breast cancer being a g...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little fall break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from September 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy! When Katie Murray was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was surprised to discover that old traumas she thought she had dealt with were reawakened within her. She turn...

Jennifer Bringle is a freelance writer and editor who was diagnosed at 37 with Stage II, hormone positive breast cancer.  She also has the BRCA2 genetic mutation.  Jennifer lives in  North Carolina with her husband, young son and special needs cat.  In this episode, Jennifer reads her essay “Bra Hunting” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Body” issue. Jennifer’s essay is about bra...

Shangrong Lee was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer at age 43 in 2017.  Shangrong is a mother, wife and marathon runner.  She is a Baddie Ambassador with For the Breast of Us, and a Young Advocate Alumni for Living Beyond Breast Cancer.  In this episode, Shangrong reads her essay “The Story About My Body” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Body” issue. Shangrong’s piece is...

Hannah Haworth was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, and she carries both the Check2 and ATM genetic mutations.  Hannah is an author of teen fiction and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter.  In this episode, Hannah reads her essay “The Deformed Woman” from Wildfire Magazine ’s 2024 “Body” issue. Hannah’s piece is about attending a support meeting only...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little fall break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy some Halloween fun.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from January 2022 to reshare.  Enjoy! Megan-Claire Chase was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer at 39 after watching her mother go through her own cancer. Her mom was still ver...

Psychotherapist Erin Weiss returns to The Burn for a third visit.  Erin was diagnosed with Stage IV de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC) following her first mammogram at age 42.  She’s been living with MBC since August 2019.  In this episode, she reads her essay “Barbershop Quartet” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue.  Erin’s piece is about her experience of life’s tr...

Susan DiGregorio of Maine was diagnosed just days before her 38th birthday with Stage Ib hormone positive breast cancer. Susan is a mom, wife, volunteer and also works in real estate.  In this episode, Susan reads her piece “The Hidden Struggle of Secondary Infertility” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue.  Susan’s story is about the complexities surrounding her inability to hav...

Lauren Tarpley of South Carolina returns to The Burn for a second visit.  She was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, HER2+ breast cancer.  Lauren is a mom, wife and third generation urban homesteader.  In this episode, Lauren reads her piece “Lucy’s Long Journey” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue.  Lauren’s inspirational story is about unexpected and amazing experiences...

DeDe Drake of Michigan was a mother of a toddler when she was diagnosed with Triple Negative breast cancer at 39.  In this episode DeDe reads her essay “Mama” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue.  DeDe’s story is about being in the middle between parenting her young daughter and needing the loving support of her own mom - all under one roof. April and DeDe will talk about the tr...

Ash Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 that was discovered during during gender affirming surgery.  In this episode Ash reads his essay “Longing to Belong” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Queer” issue.  Ash’s story is about the unique challenges in a medical landscape that often fails to acknowledge the diverse narratives within the cancer community.  April and Ash will...

Julia D. Pereira is a psychologist and artist who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) at 32.  In this episode Julia reads her essay “Asymmetry” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Queer” issue. Julia writes beautifully about the theme of uncertainty.  April and Julia will talk about magic caught in moments of uncertainty, finding strength in the unknown, and making importa...

Celebrate three years of The Burn by going behind the scenes with us!  This one-hour episode is our anniversary special. The tables are turned once again on host April Stearns: production assistant Monica Haro takes the mic & asks April all the questions. April reflects on the unexpected truths found in the episodes from the past year. She’ll share what’s coming up for Wildfire and The Bu...

Kate Rowbotham is a mom and professor who was diagnosed at 47 with de novo Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  In this episode Kate reads her essay “March 13” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue.  Her story is about three generations of overlapping cancer. April and Kate will discuss understanding how love plays out in decision making, patient and caregiver experiences during th...