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 again after more than two decades.

April and Pye talk about what it’s been like to be an ongoing contributor to Wildfire, the differences in cancer care across decades, parenting with cancer at two very different stages of life, and how you decide who to share details of your diagnosis with. They also discuss the role of art in Pye’s life.

More about episode sponsor iRise Above Foundation: https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

More about episode sponsor Young Survival Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/

Learn more about Pye:

https://www.instagram.com/blog.forthegirls/

https://www.blogforthegirls.com/

Listen to My Story in Ink with Pye Pajewski: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/305b98f0-e162-45ec-a886-e831dca7d671/

Purchase the The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/secondtime

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 Journal:

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 Journal:...

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 to plan summer vacation but end up rerouting your entire life. April and Liz will talk about parenting through cancer, sharing the news of a cancer diagnosis with loved ones, using metaphors in storytelling and coming to acceptance with cancer.

More about our episode sponsors:

After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Cold Crowns: https://www.coldcapcrowns.com/

Learn more about Liz:https://www.instagram.com/liz.grissom/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

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 Journal:

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 Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Enhanced Show notes:

Direct episode link for social: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/

Embed:

Transcript link: https://share.descript.com/view/edc4w3EIlAl

Shayna Welsh Show Notes

Release date: Jan 21, 2026

Title: Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna Welsh

Episode: E211 (C261)

Shayna Welsh represents the very young age group of breast cancer patients—those diagnosed in their early 20s. Shayna was first diagnosed at 23 with Stage II triple-positive breast cancer, and then again at 25 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Shayna is a member of several breast cancer organizations, including the Young Breast Cancer Project, Living Beauty, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Under the Pencil. In this episode, Shayna reads her essay, “Reclaiming Myself the Second Time,” from the 2025 The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores the liminal space where identity is rebuilt—scar by scar, photo by photo, and moment by moment. April and Shayna discuss the impact of Shayna’s cover photo on The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire, feeling things on your own timeline, whole-brain activities, and the complexities of living in the world with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.

More about this episode’s sponsors:

AnaOno: https://www.anaono.com/

https://www.instagram.com/anaonointimates/

Young Survival Coalition (YSC): https://youngsurvival.org/

Learn more about Shayna: https://www.instagram.com/thrive_with_shayna/

Purchase the The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/secondtime

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:...