The Burn

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 he...

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. A...

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 readi...

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. Apr...

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 Les...

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...

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 Emily Helck reading her e...

San Francisco resident Laurie Pomeranz returns to the podcast for a second time.  She is a psychotherapist and brand advocate at Beautycounter.  At 42 she was diagnosed with Stage IIb breast cancer.  Twelve years later, the cancer returned when Laurie was 54. She now lives with metastatic breast cancer.  In this episode Laurie reads her essay “18% Chance of Light” from the 2023...

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 readi...

Rebecca Hall is a writer, editor and former yoga instructor who was diagnosed at 25 with Stage III Triple Positive breast cancer.  Then she was diagnosed with a metastatic recurrence at 29.  Rebecca has been an oft-published contributor to Wildfire since its inception, as well as April’s first diagnosed young breast cancer friend.  In this episode, Rebecca reads her essay “Hair” fro...

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 Lauren Elise Oxenhandler...

Alyssa Tsagong of Wisconsin was diagnosed at 38 with Stage III breast cancer, and then received a Stage IV diagnosis at 41.  In this episode Alyssa reads her essay “Listening to the Trees” from the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire.  Alyssa’s story is about her relationship with trees and how they have guided her while living with metastatic breast cancer.  April and Aly...

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 Meghan McCallum reading h...

Performance coach and writer Emma Jarrett was diagnosed at 51 with lobular breast cancer. In this episode Emma reads her essay “Traveling With Pets” from the 2023 “Travel & Adventure” issue of Wildfire.  Emma’s story is about those first milestones after a cancer diagnosis, and using humor to cope.  April and Emma will talk about where Emma now stands with her breast prostheses, how...

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 “Do...

Ann Camden is a prolific writer and past Burn guest. She was diagnosed Stage III at 38, and then Stage IV at 45.  In this episode Ann reads her essay “Fast Will Make Me Furious” from the 2023 “Body” issue of Wildfire.  Ann’s story is about what happened when she had a severe allergic reaction to chemo.  April and Ann will talk about the mental and physical setbacks of treatment, the...

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 Erin Weiss reading her es...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the winter holidays.  Wildfire team member Emily Piercell selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy! In this episode, our guest Dana Donofree reads her piece “10 Years Learning to Love a New Body” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Body” issue.  Some o...

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 Melanie Childers reading...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the winter holidays.  April selected this episode from November 2022 to reshare.  Enjoy! Kelley Franks is a school social worker from Ohio.  She was diagnosed at 36 with Stage IIb breast cancer, then again at 41 with Stage IV MBC. Kelley has a deep wanderlust, and s...

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 “Li...

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the winter holidays.  Wildfire editor Angela Firman selected this episode from April 2023 to reshare.  Enjoy! Anne Ferrier Crook was diagnosed at 48 with Stage I hormone-positive breast cancer. A few years later, cancer came again in the form of Stage Ib melanoma. Anne h...

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 Whitney O'Connor reading...

Tina Conrad was diagnosed a decade ago at 37.  She is the daughter of a two-time TNBC breast cancer survivor. She is a merchandise manager, and the creator of DJ Breast Cancer podcast.  In this episode Tina reads her essay “Frayed Jeans and Roses” from the 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue of Wildfire.  Tina’s story is about boundaries as an advocate in Cancerland.  April and Tina wi...

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 “Lo...