Navigating Cancer TOGETHER

A cancer diagnosis or an end-of-life transition can be one of the heaviest moments a person ever faces. Most people go through it without knowing what support is out there for them.This special episode of Navigating Cancer TOGETHER is a replay of the webinar Holding Space Through Life's Transitions: How Cancer and Death Doulas Can Support You. Host Talaya Dendy is a cancer doula, and she is joined by Reverend Shewon McGee, a death doula.They share why they do this work and who they serve. They explain how cancer doulas and death doulas work with the medical team without replacing it, and they bust common myths about both roles.✨ Episode Highlights:06:12 "I had to become the person that I needed." Talaya was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma a year after her first doctor dismissed the lump on her neck. She explains how that experience gave birth to Talaya the advocate.09:04 A father's wishes left unhonored. Reverend Shewon lost her father to cancer in 2020, and his end-of-life plan was never carried out. That loss led her to become a death doula who advocates for what each person wants.20:01 "There is no manual on how to receive a cancer diagnosis." Talaya explains why survivors, especially leaders, often feel they can't show weakness once treatment ends.29:10 "The hearing is one of the last things to go." Reverend Shewon encourages families not to step out of the room. Share memories, laugh, and let your loved one hear it.Letter of Medical Necessity: https://www.metlife.com/stories/benefits/letter-of-medical-necessity/The 2nd session in this series will be released on December 2, 2026.Connect with our guest:Reverend Shewon McGee, Death DoulaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativeevolution/Connect with Talaya:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talayadendyTranscript: https://bit.ly/podscript186Call to ActionIf this episode moved you, do two things: subscribe and follow Navigating Cancer TOGETHER so you never miss an episode, and forward this to someone who may need support during life's transitions. New episodes on Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast app. https://bit.ly/NCTpodcastSponsor: This episode is brought to you by On the Other Side, a cancer doula and survivor strategist helping leaders redefine life after cancer. If you finished treatment and you are wondering what comes next, connect with an experienced cancer doula at ontheotherside.life.Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy⚠️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be used as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation, or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, host Talaya Dendy sits down with James Waddington, a prostate cancer survivor, longtime educator, and advocate for early detection. James was diagnosed in 2020 after a routine PSA test flagged something he was not aware of, caught during blood work for his diabetes. Having lost his own father to late-stage lung cancer just four months after diagnosis, James knows exactly what early detection bought him. In this honest and warm conversation, he talks about getting the news by phone while walking past his own house, choosing surgery after a second opinion at Sloan Kettering, why so many men, especially Black men, stay silent about their health, and how he redefined manhood after losing his prostate. His message is simple and urgent: early detection can save your life, and you do not have to go through this alone.✨ Episode Highlights:[8:20] No symptoms at all. How a routine PSA during a diabetes check caught James's prostate cancer.[12:03] Why his late father's four months made early detection everything.[18:07] The silence around men's health.[22:49] Faith and purpose: why he calls his cancer "a mission, not a curse."[33:09] The one thing James wants every newly diagnosed man to do first.Transcript: https://bit.ly/podscript185Key stat: About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. If caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent. If caught late, it drops to about 38 percent. Black men are about 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed and roughly twice as likely to die from it. (Source: American Cancer Society)About the guest: James Waddington is a public school educator with 34 years of experience, a husband and father of two, a prostate cancer survivor, and an advocate with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.Call to ActionIf this episode moved you, do two things: subscribe and follow Navigating Cancer TOGETHER so you never miss an episode, and forward this one to a man you love. It could be the nudge that saves a life. New episodes on Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast app. https://bit.ly/NCTpodcastSponsor: This episode is brought to you by On the Other Side, a cancer doula and survivor strategist helping leaders redefine life after cancer. If you finished treatment and you are wondering what comes next, connect with an experienced cancer doula at ontheotherside.life.Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya DendyVideo Editor: Shawn Smith⚠️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be used as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation, or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Recorded live at the Healing Pen & A Mic journaling workshop in St. Paul, this episode brings you straight into the room.Nancy stepped out of a afternoon of writing alongside fellow cancer patients and survivors to sit down with host Talaya Dendy. Diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in 2018, Nancy speaks with quiet honesty about the specific kind of isolation that can follow you even in a crowded room. She shares what happened when treatment ended and the appointments stopped, how her perspective on healing transformed, and what keeps her grounded when disconnection creeps back in.If you have ever felt isolated after a diagnosis or wondered what comes next when treatment stops, this conversation offers a space to process those feelings alongside people who understand.✨ Episode Highlights:01:32 Nancy shares her 2018 leukemia diagnosis and its sudden onset01:45 What it feels like to write in a room surrounded by people who understand: "a freeing sensation and just a validation"02:37 The reality of feeling alone even when supported by medical staff and family03:33 Redefining healing as an ongoing practice rather than a quick fix04:03 Practical advice for navigating isolation after a diagnosis04:33 The abrupt transition after chemo ends and the quiet that followsAbout the Guest: Nancy Tepley-Mimbach was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in 2018. She joined the Healing Pen & A Mic workshop seeking the community connection that felt missing after her active treatment ended.Take the Next StepAttend a Workshop (Twin Cities): Join us for the next Healing Pen & A Mic journaling workshop on Saturday, October 4th. Save your spot: https://bit.ly/healingpenwaitlist🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Share: Follow the podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your preferred podcast appPass It Along: If Nancy’s story spoke to you, share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today.Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by On the Other Side. I appreciate your support! It helps to bring these critical conversations to life.Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya DendyRecorded live at Vera Fitness in St. Paul.⚠️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be used as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation, or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Men's Health Month, Navigating Cancer TOGETHER sits down with Clarence Jones, prostate cancer survivor and one of Minnesota's most trusted names in community health.Clarence Jones, MA, CHW, CPH, CPE, is the Executive Director and Community Health Strategist of the Hue-MAN Partnership, a founding member of the organization he helped build into one of Minnesota's most trusted voices in public health. He serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, is a founding member of the Minnesota Fathers and Families Network, has served as the Mayor's Representative and co-chair of the Public Health Advisory Committee for the City of Minneapolis, and holds affiliations with the CTSI Executive Leadership team and the University of Minnesota's CEARCH initiative. He is also a fatherhood doula, the host of the Community Health Dialogue radio show on KMOJ 89.9 FM, and co-host of the Health Chatter podcast.In this warm, honest, and personal conversation, Clarence opens up about his own journey through prostate cancer, from watching his PSA numbers climb year after year and practicing watchful waiting, to eventually choosing surgery. He shares why the digital exam scares men, and why early detection is the greatest gift you can give your family.But Clarence's story doesn't stop at survival. He shares how his experience deepened his mission to make sure the men and families in his community have access to credible, culturally relevant, evidence-based health information. That's the heartbeat of everything Hue-MAN does.You'll also hear him talk about what he wants every man facing a cancer diagnosis to know right now.✨ Episode Highlights:00:04:38 The Moment He Knew: Clarence's Prostate Cancer Journey00:09:22 How to Invite Men into Health Conversations Without Lecturing Them00:14:44 What Young Men Need to Know About PSA Screening and Biopsies00:27:45 Fatherhood Doula: What That Means and Why Fathers Matter00:36:55 What 'Navigating Cancer TOGETHER' Really MeansTranscript: https://bit.ly/podscript184Connect & Engage with ClarenceWebsite: www.huemanpartnershipalliance.orgHealth Chatter Podcast: www.healthchatterpodcast.comKMOJ Community Health Dialogue: 89.9 KMOJ FM📩 Stay Connected: Download your free Support System Checklist: Who to Call for What, a simple guide to help you build a clear and reliable support system while navigating a cancer journey: https://bit.ly/supportsystemlistSponsor: This episode is brought to you by On the Other Side. I appreciate your support! It helps to bring these critical conversations to life.🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Share: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your preferred podcast appHosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy⚠️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be used as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation, or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Men's Health Month, Navigating Cancer TOGETHER sits down with Samuel "Sam" Simmons, a trauma-informed healing advocate with over 36 years of experience supporting men and their communities. Sam is the author of Just Sam: A Black Man's Journey to Healing, the visionary behind the 18th Annual Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing Conference, co-host of Voices Radio Show on 89.9 KMOJ, and the 2024 NAMI Minnesota Professional of the Year. In this powerful conversation, Sam opens up about his own journey through trauma, addiction, and healing, and shares why telling the full truth is the first step toward freedom.✨ Episode Highlights:00:01:08 Meet Sam Simmons: 36 Years of Healing Work00:08:07 Growing Up Angry: Sam's Personal Trauma Story00:36:54 Male Trauma, Silence, and Why Men Don't Ask for Help00:52:25 The 18th Annual Black Men Healing Conference00:56:47 A Message for the Black Man Who Just Got a Cancer DiagnosisTranscript: https://bit.ly/podscript183Connect & Engage with Sam SimmonsWebsite: samuelsimmonsconsulting.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simmonsconsulting/18th Annual Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing Conference: June 25 & 26 at St. Paul College — Register at brothershealing.comBook: https://a.co/d/03IvmBdM📩 Stay Connected: Download your free Support System Checklist: Who to Call for What — a simple guide to help you build a clear and reliable support system while navigating a cancer journey: https://bit.ly/supportsystemlistSponsor: This episode is brought to you by On the Other Side. Thank you for your support! It helps to bring these critical conversations to life.🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your preferred podcast appHosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy⚠️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be used as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation, or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.