The Support Report with b-present

In this episode of The Support Report with b-present, we sit down with writer, speaker, and entrepreneur Heidi Currey. Heidi shares her deeply personal story as a caregiver for both her mother and father, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges she faced, especially when there wasn’t a clear plan for what they wanted after their passing. Despite her background in finance, Heidi found...

Meet Lauren, a young professional in New York City, who was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in October 2023. In this episode, Lauren opens up about her cancer experience and sharing how humor and a strong support system encouraged her along the way. She talks about why she named her tumor "Stu" and how humor became her key to staying sane. Lauren also reveals advice from her mentor that every...

In this insightful discussion, clinical psychologist Catherine Benedict sheds light on the vital role of patient advocacy and the critical ways clinicians can provide better support during times of uncertainty. Drawing from her extensive experience in healthcare, Catherine highlights the gaps she’s observed in patient care—particularly when it comes to addressing fertility and family-building conc...

As a South Asian young adult diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Harjeet Kaur experienced firsthand the challenges of seeking and offering emotional support within a culture that often values emotional restraint. Despite the immense love and support from her family, she grappled with the silence surrounding cancer within her community, leaving her feeling isolated. Harjeet candidly shares her story in...

In this episode of The Support Report with b-present podcast, join co-hosts Chiara Riga and Justin Peters as Matthew Rosenblum shares his experience navigating the challenges of metastatic pancreatic cancer as a young adult. With raw honesty and profound resilience, Matthew opens up about his diagnosis, the trials of treatment, and the unexpected lessons learned along the way. Through his story, w...

In this episode of The Support Report with b-present, hosts Justin Peters and Chiara Riga chat with Elissa Kalver, a cancer thriver and the visionary behind the nonprofit We Got This. Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) at age 34, Elissa experience is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of community support. Discover how facing cancer head-on led her to create the first-...

Lacey Wicksall, the Executive Director at Wish Upon a Wedding, leads a compassionate non-profit organization dedicated to granting dream weddings and vow renewals for couples confronted with terminal illnesses or significant health challenges. They help couples alleviate the financial burden and time commitment of planning a wedding, focusing instead on dealing with their treatments and spending t...

In this candid conversation, Mindy Miller, a breast cancer survivor and advocate, opens up about her cancer experience and the intertwined challenges of fertility. As her running aspirations faced an unexpected hurdle with her diagnosis, the ebb and flow of support she received became a significant part of her story. Supporters often grapple with finding the right words, but Mindy says the power s...

Megan-Claire Chase, aka Warrior Megsie, is a cancer survivor, speaker, and advocate. In this episode, Megsie opens up about her experience as a young adult with cancer. She shares the transformation it sparked in her life, blending her professional career with her personal experience as a patient. She also shares about her friends outside 'cancer land' and how her life is different now, sh...

Melissa is a 13-year leukemia survivor. She was diagnosed as a young adult at age 24. Her mom was her full-time caregiver. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the roles reversed and Melissa's mom received a rare and devastating cancer diagnosis. In this conversation, Melissa dives into the trauma of losing her mother, navigating mental health struggles during cancer and beyond, and the unique...

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and the treatment process can be even more daunting, especially for those who dream of having children. In this episode of The Support Report with b-present, we chat with University of Michigan Fertility Preservation Coordinator Erin Ellman (LMSW) about the various cancer treatments that can affect fertility, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and t...

Dating is hard as it is, but adding cancer brings a different level of complexity. This episode of The Support Report discusses dating when cancer is a part of the relationship. David Zhao joins the podcast to discuss the frustrations, the joys, and the advice he would give someone that is dating someone or is looking to start dating someone with a cancer diagnosis. Follow @deezventuregram  ...

In 2019, Tatiana Tate was a 26-year-old living in North Carolina, planning a wedding and traveling across the country as a finance and accounting consultant. Her life was flipped upside down on October 10th when she found out her mom Paulette was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Tatiana and her younger brother Elijah became her full-time caregivers and were by her side through...

Hernan Barangan is a leukemia survivor and filmmaker. He directed and is the star of the movie Cancer Rebellion, the director of The 100%, and most recently, a producer on the new Apple TV+ show Life by Ella. Hernan is a perfect testament to what it means to capture the authenticity and evolution of life after cancer. From road tripping across all 50 states to sharing his own experience and the co...

Being a supporter or caregiver of someone diagnosed with cancer, testicular cancer, in this case, doesn't mean you have to love it. In this episode, Laurel Hope Hart shares the honest, hard truth with us and even some unexpected moments that were both TRYING and a TURN ON for her as a wife during her husband's cancer experience.    Follow Laurel on Instagram Learn more about b-present Fo...

Addie and Maddie have a lot of things in common: they lived in the same town, their parents knew each other from high school, and sadly, they were both diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during their childhood. In this episode of The Support Report with b-present, Addie and Maddie chat about facing cancer together and how Camp Ānuenue has bonded them for life.    Learn mor...

In June 2022, Paige was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 28. She shares her shocking experience of receiving the news of her diagnosis and highlights how important it is to have empathy and keep a positive attitude.   Follow Paige on Instagram . Learn more about b-present Foundation at b-present.org Subscribe to The Support Report with b-present on your favorite pod...

Richard is a community builder, connection coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of Excuses to Connect. Excuses to Connect focuses on creating the conditions to make meaningful connections easier. Richard emphasizes that loneliness is a common feeling and social health is a skill to cultivate. He gives tons of practical advice, including having better conversations, observing the fear ladder, using con...

Hailey Johnston was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at age 16, six short weeks after her mom received the same devastating diagnosis. The two had completely different experiences—her mother was treated as an adult, while Hailey was treated in pediatrics.    When Hailey discovered there weren't the needed resources and support for her age group, especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community...

Rosalina and Shauna, two young millennials living on separate coasts, share stories about their breast cancer diagnosis and how impactful it was to have each other's support through their darkest hours.    Listen to Too Young For This Sh*t podcast: https://linktr.ee/TYFTSPodcast   Follow Too Young For This Sh*t on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyftspodcast/   Learn more...

Jessica got married to her husband Tommy in August 2017. In October of the same year, her husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. This put her career in musical theater and acting on pause as she took on the role of caregiver. In 2018, Jessica created a line of empathy cards for people in the cancer community. She is also the author of the book Better Together , which helps navigate the canc...

Jenni Dawn is a 26-year survivor of ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed in college at only 19 years old. After her diagnosis, her friends froze, sending Jenni into a period of isolation and loneliness. In this episode, Jenni shares her experience and how cancer is, to this day, her proudest accomplishment.   Learn more about Jenni on jennidawn.com Follow Jenni on Instagram and Twitter :  L...

As a supporter of a loved one with cancer, setting goals for your support allows you to manage your time and energy while also ensuring that your loved one receives the support they need and deserve. In this episode, Chiara Riga, diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, shares some goal-setting tips for current supporters.  Have a tip to add? Please share it in the comments!   Re...

As a supporter of a loved one with cancer, you're not always going to get it right. At some point, you will probably say the wrong thing or act in an unhelpful way. So, what can you do when things don't go as planned? Chiara Riga, diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, touches on some examples and how you can turn these sticky situations around. Learn more about Chiara on https://www.ins...

Shannon Burrows is a 3X breast cancer survivor. We chat about her crazy story of lost lymph nodes and relationship support after her diagnosis. Her story is insightful, impactful, and one-of-a-kind.    Learn more about Shannon on https://www.shannonburrows.com/   Join her free Breast Cancer Survivor Facebook Group: https://www.shannonburrows.com/Join_Facebook_Group Don't forget to s...