Biopsies and Baristas with Laurie Pomeranz
In this returning guest episode, today’s storyteller, Laurie Pomeranz, shares a vivid and surprising account of the day her metastatic recurrence was confirmed through a spinal biopsy. What unfolds is not only fear and dread, but humor, music, connection, and an unexpected act of kindness from her care team.
This conversation explores how patients experience medical procedures from the inside out, the power of levity in hard moments, and how small gestures of care can become unforgettable anchors inside life-altering news.
Friendship is Sacred with Alyssa Tsagong
In this episode, today’s storyteller, Alyssa Tsagong, reflects on a decades-long friendship that grew into something she now calls kinship: a relationship rooted in truth, curiosity, and shared tending of body and spirit. After a metastatic diagnosis, that friendship became a place where fear could be spoken out loud and held without being fixed or minimized.
We talk about friendship as sacred work, building capacity for grief and joy at the same time, and how supportive relationships can be intentionally cultivated — not just relied upon — through practice, ritual, and presence.
I Might Be in Love with All My Friends with Emily Rau
In celebration of Pride Month, each Friday in June we’re re-sharing our favorite episodes featuring LGBTQ+ voices from the Wildfire community.
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 haven’t really heard before at Wildfire.
April and Emily will talk about why it was important to share a cancer story that folds into Emily’s queer and polyamorous life, honoring her grief in cancer, the role the polyamorous community played in Emily’s cancer journey and the fear of overtaxing people with our burdens. They will also discuss the prairie, and hear Emily beautifully explain the comfort and metaphor this particular landscape provided her in cancer. This episode contains explicit content about drugs and sex.
Hope and Heartache, Hand in Hand with Caitlan Killian
In this episode, today’s storyteller, Caitlan Killian, reflects on friendship formed during treatment, the parallel journeys of two young women with breast cancer, and the paradox of celebrating healing while mourning loss. This conversation explores metastatic survivorship, community, grief, faith, and what it means to hold hope and heartache hand in hand.
Longing to Belong with Ash Davidson
Ash Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 when it was discovered during gender-affirming surgery. In this episode Ash reads his essay “Longing to Belong” from Wildfire’s 2024 “Queer” issue. Ash’s story is about the unique challenges in a medical landscape that often fails to acknowledge the diverse narratives within the cancer community. April and Ash will talk about what it’s been like sharing his story multiple times, finding and making queer support in cancer, the desire to advocate in the cancer community, and feelings about scars. They will also discuss feeling unsafe in your body and intimacy after breast cancer.
Asymmetry with Julia D. Pereira
In celebration of Pride Month, each Friday in June we’re re-sharing our favorite episodes featuring LGBTQ+ voices from the Wildfire community.
Psychologist and artist, Julia D. Pereira was diagnosed at 32 with Triple Negative breast cancer. In this episode, Julia reads her essay, “Asymmetry,” from Wildfire Journal’s 2024 “Queer in Cancerland” issue. Her writing beautifully explores the theme of uncertainty.
April and Julia discuss the quiet magic found in uncertain moments, finding strength in the unknown, and making empowered decisions in the midst of ambiguity. They also reflect on what it means to find connection and community within breast cancer as a queer person.
My Chemo Companion with Danielle Connor
Danielle Connor was diagnosed at 48 with Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a wife, mother to a teenage daughter, and a lifelong baker. In this episode, Danielle reads her essay, “My Chemo Companion,” from the 2025 Living Well issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece invites us into the heart of her kitchen, where grief, survival, and sweetness rise together.
April and Danielle discuss humor and resisting the “Disney Princess mom” narrative, emotional support hobbies, and gratitude. Danielle also talks about her twin sister Nicole’s contrasting cancer experience.
My Life, & Being Wrong with Stephanie Millett
In celebration of Pride Month, each Friday in June we’re re-sharing our favorite episodes featuring LGBTQ+ voices from the Wildfire community.
Stephanie Millett was first diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer at 25, and again at 31 with metastatic breast cancer. Stephanie is a retired hairstylist, writer, and advocate for advancedbreastcancer.net. In this episode, Stephanie shares their essay, “My Life, and Being Wrong,” from Wildfire Journal’s 2022 Legacy Stories issue. Stephanie and April discuss the power of sharing your story through advocacy, the reasons some people choose privacy around their cancer experience, and what it means to model resilience and honesty for our children. They also talk about Stephanie’s future plans to write a book offering practical guidance for others who want to begin telling their own stories.
Sleeping Snakes and the Lake with Katie Murray
Second-time guest Katie Murray joins The Burn to share her story of being diagnosed at 41 with Stage II invasive lobular breast cancer. A writer, teacher, and mother of four, Katie reads her essay “Sleeping Snakes and the Lake” from the 2025 Living Well issue of Wildfire Journal.
Her piece offers a meditation on healing—not the kind defined by treatment end dates or clean scans, but the slow, quiet kind that arrives unexpectedly years later, in moments as small and tender as noticing baby eyelashes. Liz and Katie discuss healing versus recovery, the pressure of timelines, hope, and the shame Katie carried about her cancer diagnosis.
Ready for Battle with Liz McFarland
Liz McFarland was diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer at 39. A realtor and proud Choice Mom to two young adults, Liz joins this episode to read her essay “Ready for Battle” from the 2025 Body issue of Wildfire Journal.
Her piece explores beauty and body image, the lasting impact of middle school shame, and the complicated realities of silicone, surgery, sensation, and sagging. At its heart, it’s about vulnerability — about what happens when we stop pretending to be warriors and simply tell the truth.
Liz and April discuss the need to control the small things during cancer, how adolescent experiences shape our emotional terrain, the persistence of body shame, and what survivorship looks like for Liz now, 13 years after diagnosis.
Still Here: On 15 Years in Cancerland with Dana Donofree
Dana Donofree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at age 27. She is a survivor, advocate, and the founder of AnaOno, an intimate apparel brand designed to support those affected by breast surgery and reconstruction. Dana is also the longtime guest editor of Wildfire Journal’s annual Body issue.
In this episode, April welcomes Dana back for her third appearance on The Burn. Together, they reflect on a Cancerland retrospective, exploring topics such as unpopular opinions in breast cancer, the role of AnaOno, and what it means to feel sexy at any age. They also discuss Dana’s continued commitment to guest editing the Body issue of Wildfire Journal, her insights on working and advocating within the cancer space, and the ongoing challenges of survivorship.
Swimming, and Changing Direction with Shalini Krishnan
Shalini “Shal” Krishnan was diagnosed at age 31 with Stage II breast cancer. She works as a project manager in the international sports sector and currently lives in Lausanne, Switzerland with her partner. In this episode, Shalini reads her essay, “Swimming, and Changing Direction,” from the 2024 Body issue of Wildfire Journal. The piece transports us to a memory of being caught in the waves at a beach in Brazil, tossed, breathless, and disoriented. A moment of fear that lodged in her body and paralleled the experience of cancer.
April and Shalini discuss using metaphor to make sense of illness and how April’s Sparks Writing Workshop helped Shalini shape and write this story. They explore fear, how Shalini once took her body for granted, and what it has meant to rebuild her relationship with it as an athlete after cancer. They also talk about Shalini’s experience of attending 10 weddings across 7 countries while undergoing treatment.
Rosé-Colored Glasses with Susan Danenberger
Susan Danenberger was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer at 48, and again at 50 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A fifth-generation farmer and winemaker, she owns Danenberger Family Vineyards in Central Illinois. In this episode, Susan reads her essay, “Rosé-Colored Glasses,” from the 2025 Body issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece draws us into a deeply personal story of body image, beauty, and transformation after breast cancer—one that begins with stilettos and selfies, and unfolds into a powerful journey of reckoning and rebuilding. April and Susan will talk about autonomy in the context of cancer, trusting (and questioning) medical providers, seeing yourself through the eyes of others, and financial toxicity. They also discuss how connecting with other survivors at New York Fashion Week changed Susan’s life.
The Life I Choose, Every Day with Vanessa Cuccurullo
Vanessa Cuccurullo is a two-time cancer survivor who was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at 20 and breast cancer at 48. She is the founder of Mrs. C Botanicals, a clean cannabis brand, and lives between New York City and Shelter Island with her family.
In this episode, Vanessa shares her essay, “The Life I Choose, Every Day,” from the 2025 Living Well issue of Wildfire Journal. The piece reflects on a deeply personal moment one year after treatment during a wellness retreat in Portugal, where she experiences a ritual of reclamation after cancer. Instead of returning to who she was before cancer, Vanessa steps fully into who she is now.
April and Vanessa talk about losing yourself in who you become to other people after before and after cancer, embracing joy, and choosing when and where to share your cancer story. Vanessa also shares how founding Mrs. C Botanicals and incorporating cannabis into her life has supported her well-being in survivorship.
The Gift of Koselig with Sarah Deer
At 27, Sarah Deer was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. By 33, she faced a metastatic recurrence. An English language arts teacher turned librarian, Sarah now lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan.
In this episode, Sarah shares her essay “The Gift of Koselig” from the 2025 “The Second Time Around” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her writing invites us into a world of sensory grounding, reclaiming pleasure, and daring to seek joy even in the face of a terminal diagnosis.
April and Sarah talk about Sarah’s current season of survivorship, the contradictions living alongside cancer, and intentionally cultivating balance in life.
The Second Time, My Way with Pye Pajewski
Pye is a returning guest to The Burn, having last joined us in January 2023. She is a writer and artisan who was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 37, and again at 59. Pye’s work has appeared in five issues of Wildfire Journal to date. She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, Steve, a photographer.
In this episode, Pye reads two poems she wrote for the 2025 “The Second Time Around” issue of Wildfire Journal. These poems explore the strange familiarity and quiet revelations of facing cancer again after more than two decades.
April and Pye talk about what it’s been like to be an ongoing contributor to Wildfire, the differences in cancer care across decades, parenting with cancer at two very different stages of life, and how you decide who to share details of your diagnosis with. They also discuss the role of art in Pye’s life.
“Fishkeeping” with Liz Grissom
Liz Grissom was diagnosed at 33 with Triple Negative breast cancer, and had a recurrence at 41. She is a talent development partner, enjoys running, drawing and marveling over a great book. She lives in Virginia with her two sons, firefighter spouse, and their dog. In this episode, Liz reads her essay “Fishkeeping” from the 2025 Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the moment when everything changed—again. When recurrence doesn’t come with a handbook, when you’re trying to plan summer vacation but end up rerouting your entire life.
April and Liz will talk about parenting through cancer, sharing the news of a cancer diagnosis with loved ones, using metaphors in storytelling and coming to acceptance with cancer.
“Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around” with Shayna Welsh
Shayna Welsh represents the very young age group of breast cancer patients—those diagnosed in their early 20s. Shayna was first diagnosed at 23 with Stage II Triple-Positive breast cancer, and then again at 25 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Shayna is a member of several breast cancer organizations, including the Young Breast Cancer Project, Living Beauty, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Under the Pencil. In this episode, Shayna reads her essay, “Reclaiming Myself the Second Time,” from the 2025 The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores the liminal space where identity is rebuilt—scar by scar, photo by photo, and moment by moment.
April and Shayna discuss the impact of Shayna’s cover photo on The Second Time Around issue, feeling things on your own timeline, whole-brain activities, and the complexities of living in the world with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
“Through Her Eyes” with Lilly Ribner
Lilly Ribner was diagnosed at 37 with Stage I, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a stay-at-home mother of two young children. In this episode, Lilly reads her essay “Through Her Eyes” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about a moment where three generations exist at once: a mother losing her memories, a daughter facing breast cancer, and a little girl sweeping up the curls her mother just shaved from her head.
April and Lilly talk about a moment of control found in cancer, radical presence, befriending anxiety, finding community, and survivorship. They also explore the liminal space where roles reverse, caring for a parent while navigating motherhood through cancer.
“The Way It Felt” with Erin Perkins
Erin Perkins was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a volunteer, writer, Young Breast Cancer Project board member, and stay-at-home parent. Erin is a self-published author of Young Breast Cancer Your Story and Mine: A Compact Guide. In this episode, Erin reads her essay “The Way It Felt” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about motherhood and memory and what happens when the fear of leaving your children collides with your own childhood wound of being left.
April and Erin talk about embodied writing, cancer activating old wounds, parenting before and after cancer, and Erin’s self-published book. They will also discuss the words that changed Erin at her friend’s deathbed.