The Unexpected Detour ❤️

This week’s conversation reminded us that breast cancer is not a single event — it is a layered journey. We spoke openly about the physical realities many women face: hormonal shifts, surgical recovery, weight fluctuations, menopause symptoms, and the long-term side effects of treatment. These changes are not always discussed enough, yet they deeply affect quality of life. From body image to fatig...

The global enslavement of Africans did not begin or end in America. This episode confronts the often-ignored truth that African people were enslaved across continents—Europe, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, and beyond. To understand our history fully, we must tell it honestly, without narrowing its scope or erasing its reach. This is not about blame—it is about truth, memory, and re...

Slavery was never just an American institution. In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , we examine the global enslavement of Africans and the systems that enabled nations worldwide to profit from African labor, land, and cultural brilliance. From Europe and the Caribbean to Latin America and the Middle East, this conversation challenges the narrow narratives many of us were taught—and asks w...

In this conversation, Frances emphasizes the significance of Black history as a vital aspect of identity and empowerment. She discusses the contributions of Carter G. Woodson, the challenges of erasure in historical narratives, and the importance of confronting painful truths about the past. Frances encourages embracing one's identity and culture, highlighting that understanding history equips...

This episode brings together the three foundational truths explored in the At the Core series: Acceptance, Courage, and Wisdom . Acceptance teaches us how to release what we cannot change without losing ourselves in the process. Courage invites us to act where our voice, our healing, and our integrity still matter. Wisdom guides us in knowing when to let go, when to move forward, and how to stay a...

Wisdom is not about knowing more—it’s about knowing when . In this episode of At the Core , we sit with the quiet power of wisdom: the discernment to pause before reacting, to recognize patterns instead of repeating them, and to move with intention rather than urgency. Wisdom teaches us that not everything deserves our energy, our explanation, or our response. It helps us understand the difference...

Courage is not the absence of fear — it is the willingness to keep going while fear is present. In this episode, we explore courage as a quiet, steady choice rather than a dramatic moment. The courage to face the truth honestly. The courage to stay when leaving feels easier. The courage to take the next step without needing the full picture. Through reflection and spoken word, this episode invites...

Acceptance is not about giving up—it’s about giving yourself peace. In this episode of At the Core, we sit with the truth of Acceptance—what it really means to stop resisting reality without losing yourself in the process. This is a slow, intentional reflection for anyone who feels tired from trying to control outcomes, fix what won’t change, or hold together what is no longer theirs to carry. Acc...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode: No More Silence — Opening the Year with Courageousness This conversation honors survival, advocacy, faith, and the bravery it takes to keep going when the road bends unexpectedly. Because our voices matter. Our stories matter. And silence is no longer an option. #NoMoreSilence #BlackWomenAndBreastCancer #Resilience #Courageousness #TheUnexpectedDetour #BreastCancerSurvivors...

In this deeply personal episode of The Unexpected Detour , Frances shares what it feels like to advocate for your health—only to be dismissed. After explaining serious medication side effects to a medical provider and being met with doubt instead of care, she reflects on the emotional and physical toll of not being believed. This episode speaks to anyone who has ever been told “it’s nothing” while...

The podcast episode serves as a powerful reminder thatstrength in the face of cancer is often quiet and unseen. Frances beautifully articulates that surviving cancer reveals an inner strength that may not always be recognized, yet it is undeniably present. For those listening, it is essential to understand that their experiences matter and that strength is defined not by how well one hides their s...

In this episode of the Unexpected Detour, Frances beautifully articulates that resilience is a personal journey defined by each individual. It is not a performance for the world to see but a quiet commitment to oneself. Key takeaways include: - Resilience is not just about strength; it encompasses vulnerability and acceptance. - Showing up for oneself, even on difficult days, is a form of resilien...

This conversation explores the resilience and strength of women navigating their journeys through breast cancer. Participants share personal stories of struggle, recovery, and the importance of advocacy in healthcare. They discuss the emotional landscape of survivor's remorse, the impact of weight management on health, and the necessity of creating a new normal after cancer. The power of words and...

In this heartfelt conversation, Frances Hammond speaks with Suncera Johnson about her journey through grief and resilience after the loss of her son and her own battle with breast cancer. They discuss the importance of community support, the complexities of cancer treatment, and the significance of advocacy and awareness in the fight against cancer. Suncera shares her experiences, insights, and th...

Some moments don’t come with answers. They come with stillness. In this short reflection, Frances shares how Saturday became a sacred pause—an experience rooted in presence, release, and listening beyond words. Held in space with Min Semiko, a Womb Theologian and Death Doula, this episode reflects on how healing doesn’t always arrive through effort, but through allowing. This is a reminder that th...

In this powerful 30-minute episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances speaks with former Stanford professor Debra Meyerson and her husband and carepartner Steve Zuckerman about life after Debra’s life-altering stroke. Debra and Steve open up about the emotional side of recovery—identity loss, grief, rebuilding confidence, and learning how to live with a new sense of self. They also discuss thei...

HPV: The Silent Visitor That Deserves a Loud Conversation Series: Educational Monday — The Unexpected Detour ❤️ HPV is common. HPV is preventable. And HPV deserves a conversation rooted in truth, not silence or shame. In this episode, Frances breaks down the realities of HPV, its links to cervical and throat cancer, and why Black women continue to face disparities in diagnosis and treatment. She a...

In this emotional and intimate episode, Frances shares the vulnerable truth of facing a second biopsy eight years after her breast cancer diagnosis. What began as a routine mammogram turned into an abnormal ultrasound, a sudden return to the biopsy room, and days of anxious waiting. She opens up about fear returning to her body, the comfort of running into her social worker, the technician surpris...

This week’s episode reaches deep. Our sisters opened up about the dismissal and disbelief Black women still face in oncology clinics — and they held nothing back. Their courage, their honesty, and their strength make this conversation one we cannot afford to ignore. If this episode moves you, share it . Let our stories rise beyond borders and remind the world that we deserve to be seen, heard, and...

Today’s interview with Kenny Perkins was nothing short of enlightening. He is more than a professional in the field of radiation therapy—he is a man deeply committed to the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of cancer patients, survivors, Thrivers, caregivers, and their families. Though his hands may operate in the world of radiation, his heart is fully engaged in advocacy and compassion...

In this episode of Legacy of the Thrivers, Frances Hammond honors Lorna M. Johnson — a Jamaican-born nurse-midwife, philanthropist, and breast cancer thriver whose faith and resilience transformed her pain into purpose. From the bedside to the boardroom, Lorna’s story is one of service, leadership, and unwavering strength. She reminds us that healing extends beyond the physical — it’s about liftin...

Four-time Olympian and American high jump record holder Chaunté Lowe joins The Unexpected Detour ❤️ to talk about the hardest competition of her life: triple-negative breast cancer. Chaunté opens up about training and competing while in treatment, advocating for herself in a system that doesn’t always listen to Black women, and finding hope when fear was loud and the future felt uncertain. This ep...

What happens when a life-saving treatment is born from a weapon of war? In this episode, Frances unpacks the hidden history between mustard gas and early chemotherapy, the racist experiments on Puerto Rican patients, and what it means to advocate for yourself in a system that hasn’t always protected Black and Brown bodies. This is real talk for Survivors, Thrivers, caregivers, and anyone who’s eve...

From incarceration to inspiration, from hardship to healing—Ken Miller’s story is a testament to the power of transformation. In this soul-stirring episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️, Frances sits down with Ken Miller, CFRE, President of Denali FSP, award-winning fundraising consultant, and national voice for equity in the nonprofit world. Together, they explore Ken’s remarkable path: overcoming...

🎙️ Legacy of the Thrivers honors a woman whose voice became a bridge between healing and hope — Olivia Newton-John. Olivia showed the world that grace and strength can share the same stage through every note she sang and every challenge she faced. Her legacy reminds us that music doesn’t just entertain — it heals. ✨ The Voice That Sang Through Cancer — The Unexpected Detour ❤️ #LegacyOfTheThriver...