Sally Joy was diagnosed at 40 with Stage II breast cancer, and is now living with Stage IV MBC. She is an inspiring corporate well-being leader, keynote speaker and LinkedIn Top Voice who posts regularly about wellbeing, resilience, survivorship and patient advocacy. Sally reads her piece “The Light Within the Darkness” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue. It’s a piece about finding both joy and hope in uncertainty, and the silver linings that exist alongside the scars. April and Sally discuss being both incurable and hopeful, thriving while living with MBC for 6 years, and toxic positivity. They will also discuss post traumatic growth.

More about Sally Joy Wolf:

https://www.sallywolf.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sallyshoots/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-wolf-932139/

Strip Down Rise Up documentary: ​​https://www.netflix.com/title/80208242

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Purchase the 2023 "MBC: Lesson Learned" issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mbc23

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little summer break from our regular podcast schedule. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from May of 2022 to reshare. Enjoy!

Julie was 35 when she was diagnosed with DCIS and mucinous carcinoma. She is a park ranger in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, and a co-founder of Wild Homestead Living. Today, Julie reads her piece “After Death Leaves Its Calling Card” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue. It’s a piece about a cancer diagnosis meeting you exactly where you are on life’s path and folding into your existing life. Cancer and the loss of Julie’s best friend in an accident 20 years prior become interlinked. That earlier loss is deeply connected to the trauma cancer brings, and Julie finds a breakdown becomes a breakthrough. April and Julie discuss using writing to recenter, writing as a means to help those close to you understand you better, and finding joy in choosing yourself and realizing your dreams.

More about Julie and Wild Homestead Living: https://wildhomesteadliving.com

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Purchase the 2022 "Cancer Culture" issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/printcc22

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

In this episode we welcome returning guest Gretchen Stelter back to The Burn for a second visit. She is a freelance book editor and writer diagnosed at 39 with Triple Positive breast cancer. Gretchen reads her essay “Erin go Braugh” from the 2023 “Travel & Adventure” issue of Wildfire Magazine. Gretchen’s piece is about traveling solo after a breast cancer diagnosis. April and Gretchen will talk about updates in Gretchen’s life since her last visit, how traveling reoriented Gretchen to herself after cancer, solo travel tips, and being open with your breast cancer story - or not. They will also discuss tips on writing different pieces of your story. This episode contains explicit language.

Connect with Gretchen: https://www.instagram.com/editorstet/

Purchase the “Travel & Adventure” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mbc23

Listen to another episode featuring Gretchen: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9d56eeba-ece9-44bf-87df-0a7caa7d48e1

If you liked this episode, you might like “Quebec Beckons” with Anita Saesing: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/20800b87-9c19-4a15-b7b3-20e06504c695

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Direct episode link: Episode URL for Captivate: