Decision Fatigue
Erika Giovanniello was diagnosed at 32 with breast cancer. She is a camper, backpacker, Frenchie dog mom, and a nurse anesthetist who has made the transition from healthcare provider to patient. In this episode, Erika reads her essay “Decision Fatigue” from the 2024 “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about wanting to be a part of the life milestones her friends are experiencing, but she has to do cancer instead. April and Erika will discuss the complexity of decision making, being included in decisions by medical staff, quality of life decisions, and how cancer impacted Erika’s approach to her healthcare career going forward. They will also discuss dressing a flat chest. Contains explicit language.
In Praise of Quiet Advocacy with Amy Austin
Amy Austin returns to The Burn for a second visit. Amy was diagnosed with Stage IV de novo breast cancer at 34 after initially being misdiagnosed with a complex benign cyst. She is the third in a direct family line to be diagnosed with breast cancer without a known genetic link. In this episode, Amy reads her poem “In Praise of Quiet Advocacy” from the 2024 “MBC: Advocacy” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her poem is about the role of “quiet” advocacy in supporting individuals living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). April and Amy will discuss what quiet advocacy means, the importance of being seen and seeing other young breast cancer patients, and the impact of friendships when sharing an MBC diagnosis. Amy will also share how her poem came to be with the support of another MBC friend, and the writing prompts that are all around us.
My Side with Shelley Moreno
Shelley Moreno was diagnosed in 2012 with Triple Negative breast cancer. Shelley reads her piece “My Side” from the 2024 “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal.
For Now is as Good as Forever: Dating with Advanced Breast Cancer with Deltra James (Explicit)
Deltra James was diagnosed at 33 with de novo Stage IV, Triple Negative MBC. She is a New England based mama, poet, patient advocate, and co-host of the Empowered Intimacy podcast. In this episode Deltra reads her piece “For Now is as Good as Forever: Dating with Advanced Breast Cancer” from the 2024 “MBC: Advocacy” issue of Wildfire Journal.
Putting Flat Closure on the Map with Sondra Price
Sondra Price was diagnosed at 20, 24, and 28 with malignant phyllodes tumors that led to two lumpectomies, a bilateral mastectomy, implant reconstruction, and an explant to flat closure. She found her way to flat closure on her chest the long way around, and because of that, she’s now a fierce advocate for others to truly know what their breast surgery options are. Because the truth is, if you don’t know your options, you don’t really have any. In this episode, Sondra reads her piece “The Road to Advocacy” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Changemakers” issue.
Where does the story end? with Emily Voreas
Emily Voreas was diagnosed at 33 with Stage IIIb breast cancer, and also carries the BRCA2 gene. Emily has a Masters in Elementary Education and currently works as a reading interventionist. In this episode she reads her poem “Where does the story end?” from the 2024 “Family” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her poem is about four generations of women and cancer. April and Emily will discuss family cancer legacies, fertility, aesthetic flat closure, and the evolving advocacy in each generation of breast cancer.
Flash Memoir: Dear Pre-Cancer Me
In this episode you are going to hear a collection of short pieces we are dubbing “Flash Memoir” from our archives. These are little gems we’ve published in Wildfire Magazine, read for you by April Stearns. We have nine years of published stories in our archives that are just too good not to share. In the past we used to do a call for submissions for short-form stories with a very specific prompt in mind. We would get back some very impactful bite-size vignettes – not long enough to be a full essay. This collection of dense & sparkling flash memoir pieces comes from our 2020 “Survivorship” issue of Wildfire Magazine. The writing prompt was “Dear Pre-Cancer Me” with pieces written by Mackenzie Rockcastle, Tiffany Dyba, Kristie Vinopoll and Julie Gauvin.
The Power of No with Chelsee Wilson
Chelsee Wilson was diagnosed at 29 with Stage IIIa, Triple Positive breast cancer. She is now 5+ years out from diagnosis. Chelsee lives in Oklahoma with her husband and loves baking, crocheting, reading and writing. In this episode she reads her essay “The Power of No” from the 2022 “Identity & Aftermath” issue of Wildfire Magazine. Her story is about one woman’s quest to break cycles. April and Chelsee will discuss protecting mental health, mental health outlets, quality of life and the biggest challenges of long-term survivorship. They will also discuss what books they are reading.
A Letter to My Greatest Guru with Bethany Adair
Bethany Adair was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II breast cancer, and is now living with Stage IV metastatic disease. She is a mindset coach, speaker, MBC thriver and author of My Guru Cancer. In this episode, Bethany reads her piece “A Letter to My Greatest Guru” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue. Her essay is about viewing a cancer experience as an opportunity to grow into an authentic version of yourself. April and Bethany will talk about how Bethany became a writer, reframing thoughts and the ongoing practice of living alongside cancer.
Revenge with Jen Pogue
Jen Pogue returns to The Burn for another episode. Jen is an actor and producer living in Toronto, Canada. She was diagnosed at 37 with de novo Stage IV Triple Negative metastatic breast cancer. Jen reads her story “Revenge” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “MBC: Advocacy” issue. Her essay is about being overlooked by a doctor and the importance of sharing your story. April and Jen will discuss the role rage plays in advocacy, being raised to accept what doctors say and what the word survivorship means to those living alongside cancer.
A Train to Nowhere with Angela Firman
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 reads her piece “A Train to Nowhere” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue. Her essay is about how sometimes cancer significantly changes a career path. April and Angela will discuss writing memoir in the third person when suffering brings joy and living with MBC versus dying from MBC.
Showing Up with Keri Smith
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 promotion and a cancer diagnosis all at the same time. April and Keri will discuss navigating mixed emotions of celebration and devastation, the ways cancer is a thief, scheduling time to talk about cancer and using writing to process through cancer.
Authentically Me with Kassi Sullivan
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 mental health specialist for others while tending to her own needs related to her breast cancer experience. April and Kassi will discuss the challenges of working with students while living with cancer, loving yourself through changes, things Kassi would tell her younger self and advice for those working while living with MBC.
Rosanne with Debbie Kerr
Debbie Kerr reads her essay “Rosanne” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue. April and Debbie will talk about working as a lifeline during treatment, using humor in hard times, long-term survivorship and the cancer related PTSD nobody talks about.
Finding Purpose in Paradox with Kate Rowbotham
Kate Rowbotham reads her essay “Finding Purpose in Paradox” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue. Kate’s piece is about cancer colliding with her work life.
Trading Places with Beth Gainer
Beth Gainer reads her essay “Trading Places” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue. Beth’s piece is about cancer colliding with her work life. When her employer turned their back following her diagnosis, she took the scary leap into the unknown to change careers.
Snip, Surrender, Shine: A Ritual in Resilience with Stacy Conlon
Stacy Conlon 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 herself a ceremony container to move through a part of her breast cancer journey.
Swim: Searching for Answers in Memoir with Tova Wolking
Tova reads her piece “Swim” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Bay Area Young Survivors” issue. In the wake of Tova’s mom passing away, breast cancer took root in her body. This is the story of one woman asking how to find the key to unlocking her own grief about her breast cancer when her mother took so many of those answers with her when she died. Note of warning for sensitive listeners, this episode touches upon loss and suicide.
Where Do You Go When You Don’t Belong Anywhere? with Laurie Ratliff
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 know where we belong, where our people are; the ones who understand us and accept us completely? Since her diagnosis at 34 and in the 20+ years she’s lived with metastatic breast cancer, Laurie has navigated many communities within breast cancer, searching for others like herself. At last she found her place in the so-called pink sisterhood. When she found her home, she also found herself in the unexpected role of an advocate for a type of breast reconstruction called aesthetic flat closure.
Memories in Color: Four Generations with Erica Fitch
Erica reads her piece “Memories in Color: Four Generations” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Family” issue, where she uses the structure of color to explore and write the hard stories in our lives. Her story is about growing up with intimate knowledge of illness and the parallels that exist when you face it yourself.