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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

35:11

Rosé-Colored Glasses with Susan Danenberger

The Burn ·

2026/04/08

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

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31:14

The Life I Choose, Every Day with Vanessa Cuccurullo

The Burn ·

2026/03/18

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

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30:47

The Gift of Koselig with Sarah Deer

The Burn ·

2026/03/04

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

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33:27

The Second Time, My Way with Pye Pajewski

The Burn ·

2026/02/18

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 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

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36:36

Fishkeeping with Liz Grissom

The Burn ·

2026/02/04

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

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36:03

Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna...

The Burn ·

2026/01/21

Enhanced Show notes:Direct episode link for social: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/Embed: <div style="width: 100%; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 200px;" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" allow="clipboard-write" seamless src="https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/"></iframe></div>Transcript link:

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37:53

Through Her Eyes with Lilly Ribner

The Burn ·

2026/01/07

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 will talk about a moment of

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34:37

The Way It Felt with Erin Perkins

The Burn ·

2025/12/24

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

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25:53

A Mother’s Biggest Problem with Julia Tabisz

The Burn ·

2025/12/10

Julia Tabisz was diagnosed at 25 with Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a journalist, editor, and a mom with a passion for writing and competitive Irish dance. Julia happily lives in the woods of Maryland with her son and daughter. In this episode, Julia reads her essay “A Mother’s Biggest Problem” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is a story about motherhood, and how swiftly perspective can be upended by a cancer diagnosis while still brushing tiny teeth

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35:05

My Pony-Tale with Lauren Bruns

The Burn ·

2025/11/26

Lauren Bruns was diagnosed at 38 with Triple Positive breast cancer while just eight weeks into her second pregnancy. Lauren is a former competitive dancer, engineering graduate, and earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She is currently a management consultant. Lauren loves traveling, biking, swimming, NYT games, and rooting for her beloved Cleveland sports teams.In this episode, Lauren reads her essay “My Pony-Tale” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece

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32:01

Being Myself with Stephanie Marnocha

The Burn ·

2025/11/13

Stephanie Marnocha was diagnosed at 33 with Stage III breast cancer. Stephanie is a licensed clinical social worker and outdoors lover. She lives in Denver with her four-legged adventure buddy, Annie. In this episode, Stephanie reads her essay “Being Myself” from the 2024 Body issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about body autonomy and standing by a choice that goes against the grain. April and Stephanie will talk about really seeing yourself when the mastectomy bandages come off, anorexia,

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31:16

The Luckiest Sister with Tawny Rachelle

The Burn ·

2025/10/29

Tawny Rachellewas diagnosed at 39 with Stage II, hormone positive breast cancer. Tawny is a long-term survivor with more than five years since being diagnosed. She is also a long-time contributor to Wildfire Journal having published six pieces with us over the years since 2018. In this episode, Tawny reads her essay “The Luckiest Sister” from the 2018 “Caregivers” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the tender space of sisterhood where care runs deeper than routine and obligation. April

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32:14

Hair Karma with Tabitha Holman

The Burn ·

2025/10/15

Tabitha Holman was diagnosed at 39 with de novo Stage IV breast cancer. Tabitha is an elementary school teacher, and mother of two young boys. At the time of her diagnosis, she was considered too young and low-risk to access a timely mammogram when she found her lump. Now she is focusing her efforts on advocacy in hopes of improving access to screening, research, and care. In this episode, Tabitha reads her essay “Hair Karma” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the

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42:45

I Wish I Cared Less with Raina Kerman (explicit)

The Burn ·

2025/10/01

Raina Kerman was diagnosed at 45 with Stage II,Triple Negative breast cancer. Raina is a dog-loving, fantasy-reading, fitness enthusiast living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, Raina reads her essay “I Wish I Cared Less” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the painful, exhausting, and at times almost comically intense world of cold capping, and what it looks like to want something so badly—not just hair, but agency, normalcy, identity—and to have to let

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29:14

Shampoo Commercial Dreams with Bethany Zoe

The Burn ·

2025/09/17

Bethany Zoe was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer at age 40. She is an aspiring conservationist with a master’s degree in Wildlife and Environmental Sustainability and finds joy and healing in caring for animals. In this episode, Bethany reads her essay “Shampoo Commercial Dreams” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores her experience with cold capping, identity, resilience, and the ways we cling to what keeps us feeling most like ourselves—especially when cancer

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33:31

Kintsugi with Tegan O'Neill

The Burn ·

2025/09/03

Tegan O'Neill was diagnosed at 27 with Stage I Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a clinical social worker who finds meaning in helping herself and others heal through movement, dance, reading, and writing. In this episode, Tegan reads her essay “Kintsugi” from the 2025 “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about experiencing a ritual of burning her own hair—a haunting remnant of chemotherapy—in the company of two close friends. April and Tegan will talk about the alchemy of pain into

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30:04

On This Mat with Shannon Gottesman

The Burn ·

2025/08/20

Shannon Gottesman was diagnosed at age 40 with hormone positive, Stage III breast cancer. She is the Vice Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh, a traveler, an advocate, and mom of two boys. In this episode, Shannon reads her essay “On This Mat” from the 2024 “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about learning to breathe through discomfort while finding balance in chaos, and to honor a body that has fought so hard to endure. April and Shannon will discuss the complexities of

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34:27

Dancing Myself Back to Life with Judith Cookis Rubens

The Burn ·

2025/08/06

Judith Cookis Rubens was diagnosed at 45 with Stage II, HER2+ breast cancer. She is a freelance journalist living in North Carolina with her husband and twin sons. Judith enjoys writing about her local community, parenting, arts, theater, and education topics. In this episode, Judith reads her essay “Dancing Myself Back to Life” from the 2024 “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the power of movement—not just as exercise, but as a way to reclaim the body after cancer. April and

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36:42

An Open Letter to My Daughter, Layke with Gillian...

The Burn ·

2025/07/23

Gillian Lichota was diagnosed at 35 and 40—first with Stage III and later with Stage IV breast cancer. She is a mother, mountain climber, adventure travel enthusiast, and the Founder and CEO of the iRise Above Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting young women through breast cancer. In this episode, Gillian reads her essay “An Open Letter to My Daughter, Layke” from the 2024 “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the ways

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32:22

A Mother’s Work is Never Done with Jennifer Gordon

The Burn ·

2025/07/09

Jennifer Gordon was diagnosed at 44 with Stage II breast cancer. She is a writer, artist, coach, advocate, dragon boater and sexual wellness coach. In this episode, Jennifer reads her essay “A Mother’s Work is Never Done ” from the 2024 “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about role reversal - where a daughter becomes both patient and protector, and a mother steps in as a cancer caregiver during the pandemic. April and Jenniferwill discuss the emotional aftermath of

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267 results

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