The Burn

A weekly podcast bringing the breast cancer stories — and the craft of storytelling — of Wildfire Magazine to life.

 
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The Burn is about telling breast cancer stories like you’ve never read — or heard — before.

 

Each week, April Stearns and the writers of Wildfire Magazine share their experiences of being diagnosed with breast cancer under 50. 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 that need to be shared. Come for the stories, stay to discover how to write your way back to yourself (each episode includes a special writing prompt). A new episode is released each Wednesday.

Stay up-to-date on all The Burn content with new enhanced show notes!

On Wednesdays, we share stories from the pages of our popular magazine read by the authors. Each episode features inspiring stories, behind-the-scenes conversations, and writing tips.

Featured
Memories in Color: Four Generations with Erica Fitch
Memories in Color: Four Generations with Erica Fitch

Erica reads her piece “Memories in Color: Four Generations” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Family” issue, where she uses the structure of color to explore and write the hard stories in our lives. Her story is about growing up with intimate knowledge of illness and the parallels that exist when you face it yourself.

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Door Marked Danger with Lorie Kolak
Door Marked Danger with Lorie Kolak

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 experience following her mastectomy. April and Lorie will discuss the storytelling fairy tales buried inside of us, cold capping, talking about cancer with children, and the times when you do get to have a choice in the cancer experience.

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About Damn Time with Claire Lemiski
About Damn Time with Claire Lemiski

Claire Lemiski is an airline pilot who was diagnosed at 36 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer. 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 receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. April and Claire will discuss using a musical container for writing, the treatment contrasts and misconceptions of male breast cancer, reconstruction, and the intersection of career and cancer. They will also talk about Claire’s lymphedema concerns, and when it’s appropriate to talk about breast cancer when asked about her lymphedema compression sleeve.

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What People Are Saying

“This podcast feels like sitting down with old friends who really understand you.”

— AuggieRai, Apple Podcasts Reviewer

“Hearing stories from other young women that face the unique challenges of fighting breast cancer and then taking the challenge from April’s writing prompts to tell my own story is one of the most healing things I’ve done, second only to my chemotherapy treatments.”

— AnnieOakley78, Apple Podcasts Reviewer

Let us know how much you are loving The Burn!

NEW - FREE - NEW - FREE

The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 2)

To celebrate three years in podcasting, we have a gift for you: a printable journal with prompts and inspiration taken straight from our episodes to help you write your stories. These prompts have been created especially from stories within Wildfire Magazine and shared on The Burn. In addition to your printable journal, you’ll also receive the Wildfire newsletter once per week with additional survivorship wisdom, writing prompts, and inspiration. Unsubscribe anytime you like.

“Stories connect us and this podcast will too. The transformative power of storytelling after cancer now has a beautiful podcast. What a gift to the world.”

— laramacG, Apple Podcast Preview

Featuring Guest April Stearns

Learn more about Wildfire and get more writing tips by listening to April as a guest on other popular podcasts here.