x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Burn

Listen every other Wednesday when April Stearns and the writers of Wildfire Journal & Writing Community share their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer under 50. The Burn is about telling cancer stories like you’ve never read - or heard - before. We go way deeper than the medical facts to the transformation of survivorship, and in the process, we talk about the healing power of writing. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or not, you"ll be inspired to write the stories in you

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

31:54

Revenge with Jen Pogue

The Burn ·

2025/02/26

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

en

30:39

A Train to Nowhere with Angela Firman

The Burn ·

2025/02/19

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 is an avid reader, a closet-cross-stitcher, and a fervent writer. She also serves on the board of The Pink Boat Regatta - a local sailboat race and community dedicated to raising money for breast cancer research. In addition to working

en

25:54

Showing Up with Keri Smith (Explicit)

The Burn ·

2025/02/12

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

en

22:43

Authentically Me with Kassi Sullivan

The Burn ·

2025/02/05

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

en

32:13

Rosanne with Debbie Kerr

The Burn ·

2025/01/29

Debbie Kerr was diagnosed at 49 with Stage II breast cancer in 2011. She is a Business Systems Consultant living outside Toronto, Canada. In this episode, Debbie reads her essay “Rosanne” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue. Debbie’s piece is about working through cancer treatment, and how her employer accommodated, but then eventually laid her off. During her layoff process she experiences an interesting twist with an unexpected encounter resulting in a big impact. April and

en

30:07

Finding Purpose in Paradox with Kate Rowbotham

The Burn ·

2025/01/22

Returning guest Kate Rowbotham was diagnosed at 47 with de novo Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Kate is a Professor and an Assistant Dean of Teaching and Learning. She is learning how to be an empty-nester, and enjoys traveling with her partner to both her daughter’s hockey games and her son’s volleyball games. In this episode, Kate reads her essay “Finding Purpose in Paradox” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue. Kate’s piece is about one woman’s career decisions following

en

34:41

Trading Places with Beth Gainer

The Burn ·

2025/01/15

Returning guest Beth Gainer was diagnosed at 39 with breast cancer. She is now a long-term survivor of 23 years. Beth is a writer and artist. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and friends, as well as reading, working out at the gym, and going to museums. In this episode, Beth reads her essay “Trading Places” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Cancer” issue. Beth’s piece is about cancer colliding with her work life. When her employer turned their back following her diagnosis,

en

30:48

Snip, Surrender, Shine: A Ritual in Resilience with...

The Burn ·

2025/01/08

Stacy Conlon was diagnosed at 42 with Stage IIb lobular breast cancer. Stacy is a certified mindfulness meditation facilitator and Reiki energy healer. In this episode, Stacy 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 cancer journey. April and Stacy will discuss making

en

31:54

Swim: Searching for Answers in Memoir with Tova Wolking

The Burn ·

2025/01/01

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to celebrate the New Year. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare. Enjoy!Tova Wolking is an attorney from Oakland, California. She was diagnosed at age 43 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer. She also carries the BRCA2 gene. In this episode, Tova reads her piece “Swim” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Bay Area Young Survivors” issue

en

33:15

Where Do You Go When You Don’t Belong Anywhere? with...

The Burn ·

2024/12/25

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little holiday break from our regular podcast schedule. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from October 2021 to reshare. Enjoy!In this episode, 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: where are the ones who understand us and accept us completely? Since her

en

32:02

Memories in Color: Four Generations with Eric Fitch

The Burn ·

2024/12/18

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little holiday break from our regular podcast schedule. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare. Enjoy!Erica Fitch was 12 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two decades later at 30, she was diagnosed with DCIS: stage 0, estrogen positive breast cancer when her own daughter was 2. She carries the BRCA2 mutation. Her story today is about growing up with intimate knowledge

en

29:15

Door Marked Danger with Lorie Kolak

The Burn ·

2024/12/11

Lorie Kolak is a wife and a stay-at-home mom from Illinois. She was diagnosed at 41 with Stage II breast cancer, and also carries the pK71 genetic mutation. Lorie has worked in university libraries, book sales and distribution, copywriting, and copy-editing. When not writing or reading, she enjoys arts and crafts. In this episode, Lorie reads her essay “Door Marked Danger” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Lorie’s piece slows down to take us into the moments surrounding her nipple tattoo

en

36:16

About Damn Time with Claire Lemiski

The Burn ·

2024/12/05

Claire Lemiski is an airline pilot who was diagnosed at 36 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer. As a captain at a regional airline in Toronto, Claire is passionate about providing mentorship to new and aspiring women pilots. In this episode, Claire reads her essay “About Damn Time” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue. Claire’s piece is about breast cancer being a genderless disease, and a bond that was strengthened with her father because of their shared experience of both

en

27:37

Naked Narrative with Katie Murray

The Burn ·

2024/11/27

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little fall break from our regular podcast schedule. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from September 2021 to reshare. Enjoy!When Katie Murray was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was surprised to discover that old traumas she thought she had dealt with were reawakened within her. She turned to writing to ground herself - quite literally on the gurney going into and emerging from surgery - and make sense

en

32:25

Bra Hunting with Jennifer Bringle

The Burn ·

2024/11/20

Jennifer Bringle is a freelance writer and editor who was diagnosed at 37 with Stage II, hormone positive breast cancer. She also has the BRCA2 genetic mutation. Jennifer lives in North Carolina with her husband, young son and special needs cat. In this episode, Jennifer reads her essay “Bra Hunting” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Jennifer’s essay is about bra shopping after breast cancer surgery told through the lens of buying bras throughout her life. April and Jennifer will talk

en

32:32

The Story About My Body with Shangrong Lee

The Burn ·

2024/11/13

Shangrong Lee was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer at age 43 in 2017. Shangrong is a mother, wife and marathon runner. She is a Baddie Ambassador with For the Breast of Us, and a Young Advocate Alumni for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. In this episode, Shangrong reads her essay “The Story About My Body” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Shangrong’s piece is about receiving a cancer diagnosis that transports her back in time growing up Asian when she felt like her body wasn’t a

en

37:23

The Deformed Woman with Hannah Haworth

The Burn ·

2024/11/06

Hannah Haworth was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, and she carries both the Check2 and ATM genetic mutations. Hannah is an author of teen fiction and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter. In this episode, Hannah reads her essay “The Deformed Woman” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Hannah’s piece is about attending a support meeting only to hear a woman raging about the changes to her body and realizing she is not angry about her similar body, but

en

34:08

Patient & Caregiver: When Cancer Worlds Collide with...

The Burn ·

2024/10/30

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little fall break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy some Halloween fun. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from January 2022 to reshare. Enjoy!Megan-Claire Chase was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer at 39 after watching her mother go through her own cancer. Her mom was still very much in need of caregiving when Megan was diagnosed and this led to some hard truths about being a daughter and a

en

38:25

Barbershop Quartet with Erin Weiss (Explicit)

The Burn ·

2024/10/23

Psychotherapist Erin Weiss returns to The Burn for a third visit. Erin was diagnosed with Stage IV de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC) following her first mammogram at age 42. She’s been living with MBC since August 2019. In this episode, she reads her essay “Barbershop Quartet” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Erin’s piece is about her experience of life’s traumas as told in four parts via haircuts that culminate with the cut that comes due to a cancer diagnosis. April and Erin will

en

35:16

The Hidden Struggle of Secondary Infertility with...

The Burn ·

2024/10/16

Susan DiGregorio of Maine was diagnosed just days before her 38th birthday with Stage Ib hormone positive breast cancer. Susan is a mom, wife, volunteer and also works in real estate. In this episode, Susan reads her piece “The Hidden Struggle of Secondary Infertility” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue. Susan’s story is about the complexities surrounding her inability to have another child after cancer. April and Susan will discuss the roles pets play in cancer, finding acceptance with

en

256 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger