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

31:16

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

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

en

18:11

Flash Memoir: My Body, My Choice with April Stearns

The Burn ·

2025/06/25

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

en

31:12

Decision Fatigue with Erika Giovanniello (explicit)

The Burn ·

2025/06/11

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

en

32:57

In Praise of Quiet Advocacy with Amy Austin

The Burn ·

2025/05/28

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

en

30:22

My Side with Shelley Moreno

The Burn ·

2025/05/14

Shelley Moreno returns to The Burn for a second visit. Shelley was diagnosed in 2012 with Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a writer, speaker and intuitive healer for pets and people. Shelley is currently writing a book and gives animal communication and intuitive coaching sessions. She lives in Los Angeles with her son Kai and their beloved cat Ollie. In this episode Shelley reads her piece “My Side” from the 2024 “Mothers & Daughters” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her essay is about coming to

en

30:23

For Now is As Good As Forever: Dating with Advanced...

The Burn ·

2025/04/30

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. Her essay is about one woman’s experience of dating alongside her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, and podcasting about it. April and Deltra will discuss

en

34:44

Putting Flat Closure on the Map with Sondra Price

The Burn ·

2025/04/16

This week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a pause from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy a spring break with our loved one. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from January 2022 to reshare. Enjoy!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,

en

29:31

Where does the story end? with Emily Voreas

The Burn ·

2025/04/02

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

en

18:29

Flash Memoir: Dear Pre-Cancer Me

The Burn ·

2025/03/26

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 9 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

en

32:10

The Power of No with Chelsee Wilson

The Burn ·

2025/03/19

Chelsee Wilson was diagnosed at 29 with Stage IIIa, Triple Positive breast cancer. She isnow 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

en

46:31

A Letter to My Greatest Guru with Bethany Adair

The Burn ·

2025/03/12

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: Lesson 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,

en

32:26

How is Your Body Today?

The Burn ·

2025/03/05

Meaghan Calcari Campbell returns to The Burn for another episode. Meaghan was diagnosed at 32 with Stage II, Triple Positive breast cancer in 2012. And then again in 2015 with DCIS and the ATM+ gene. Meaghan works in philanthropy and ocean conservation, and is a proud member of the Bay Area Young Survivors. Meaghan’s writing has been published in the four Bay Area Young Survivors anthologies, Wildfire Magazine, The Isolation Journals, and Lake: Diving Deep (The Pandemic Issue). She continues

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