The Burn

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy Labor Day.  Wildfire production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from November 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy! Tracy Ward joins us from the United Kingdom to read a piece from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Family” issue.  She was diagnosed at 36 with Sta...

Mila Knight returns to The Burn for another visit to share something different and special from our usual format.  We often wonder what came next after an episode airs - this is that episode!  In 2022 Mila was our guest reading her piece “Crawling in My Skin” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Body” issue.  In that story Mila shared how she turned to music for solace in hard times follo...

Stephanie Millett returns to The Burn for a second visit. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 25.  Stephanie is now 35 and living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Stephanie reads her essay “Stay Visible” from the 2024 “Queer in Cancerland” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Stephanie’s piece is about her experiences of breast cancer as a queer person.  April and Stephanie talk...

This week, we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little summer break from our regular podcast schedule.  Wildfire team member Angela Firman selected this episode from July 2023 to reshare.  Enjoy! This is our first episode of The Burn featuring a guided meditation with Justine Egan-Kunicki.  Justine is a breast cancer advocate, social psychologist, profess...

Saroj Tharisayi of San Francisco works as an in-house counsel at a tech company.  She was diagnosed at 36 with Triple Positive breast cancer.  Saroj reads her essay “The Least Terrible Option” from the 2021 “Bay Area Young Survivors” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Saroj’s piece is about DIEP flap breast reconstruction and making tough choices during treatment.  April and Saroj wi...

In this episode we welcome returning guest Emma Jarrett back to The Burn for a second visit.  She is a performance coach and writer who was diagnosed at 51 with Stage III, triple positive, invasive lobular breast cancer. Emma reads her essay “Paper Aeroplane” from the 2024 “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Emma’s piece is about not being able to parent her young children the way she...

Sally Joy was diagnosed at 40 with Stage II breast cancer, and is now living with Stage IV MBC.  She is an inspiring corporate well-being leader, keynote speaker and LinkedIn Top Voice who posts regularly about wellbeing, resilience, survivorship and patient advocacy.  Sally reads her piece “The Light Within the Darkness” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue. ...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little summer break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from May of 2022 to reshare.  Enjoy! Julie was 35 when she was diagnosed with DCIS and mucinous carcinoma. She is a park ranger in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, and a co-founder of Wild Homes...

In this episode we welcome returning guest Gretchen Stelter back to The Burn for a second visit.  She is a freelance book editor and writer diagnosed at 39 with Triple Positive breast cancer.  Gretchen reads her essay “Erin go Braugh” from the 2023 “Travel & Adventure” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Gretchen’s piece is about traveling solo after a breast cancer diagnosis.  Ap...

Miranda Gonzales was diagnosed at 39 with Stage III IDC.  She now works and volunteers in the breast cancer arena. Miranda reads her essay “Going At It Not So Alone” from the 2019 “Social” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Miranda’s piece is about finding her people in Cancer Land. April and Miranda will talk about what it’s like for Miranda to read this essay she wrote 5 years ago, on being...

Mardi Kaplan was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 37.  She is now living with Stage V MBC.  In this episode, Mardi reads her essay “You Were There” from the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire.  Mardi’s piece is about  friendship and the ones that go before us at each step of the cancer road, paving the way.   April and Mardi talk about having conversations...

Nature lover Cheri Henderson lives along Lake Superior in Minnesota and was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 39.  She in now living with Stage IV MBC.  In this episode, Cheri reads her essay “Scan, Treat, Repeat” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire.  Cheri’s piece is about living alongside cancer - but not letting it take over everything.  April and Cheri talk abo...

Jaclyn Chung of San Diego is a licensed marriage & family therapist who was diagnosed at 33 with breast cancer and the BRCA2 gene.  In this episode, Jaclyn reads her essay “The Aftermath:  Facing Lymphedema” from the 2021 “Grief & Acceptance” issue of Wildfire. Jaclyn’s piece is about dealing with the effects of lymphedema resulting from cancer treatment.  April and Jaclyn w...

In 2010 Catherine Sumner was working as a federal lobbyist when she was diagnosed at 31 with Stage III breast cancer.  She is a New Orleans native, now residing in the Bay Area with her law enforcement wife.  In this episode, Catherine reads her essay “Strange Bedfellows” from the 2024 “Queer In Cancerland” issue of Wildfire.  Catherine’s piece is a love story about how cancer affec...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for Memorial Day.  Wildfire team member Emily Piercell selected this episode from July 2022 to reshare.  Enjoy! Nutritional therapy practitioner and meditation teacher Juni Bucher was diagnosed at 41 with breast cancer.  Today Juni reads her piece, “Can I See?” from Wil...

For this episode we welcome back returning guest, Kelley Franks, for a second time.  Kelley was diagnosed at 36 with Stage II breast cancer, then Stage IV MBC at 41.  Kelley lives in Ohio with her husband and teen children.  In this episode, Kelley reads her essay “Fearless” from the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire.  Kelley’s story is a vulnerable piece about shar...

Nutritionist and spiritual director Kathleen Moss was diagnosed at 48 and 49 with invasive lobular breast cancer. Kathleen is a flat advocate, a YouTuber, a caregiver and a mom, living with her husband and stepson in rural Oregon.  In this episode, Kathleen reads her essay “Toplessness Transformed” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire.  Kathleen’s story is about  feeling com...

Sheryll Jalbuena joins us from City of Smiles, Bacolod City, in the Philippines.  She was diagnosed at 37 with Stage III breast cancer.  Sheryll retired from her banking career to become a full-time wife and mom. In this episode Sheryll reads her essay “Why Not Me?” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire.  Sheryll’s story is about searching for and finding acceptance within a...

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. ...

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 putt...

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...

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 depressi...

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 Ann...

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...

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 Ca...