How do we find the "heart" of survivorship? In this 2025 recap of Navigating Cancer TOGETHER, we explore the most impactful cancer survivor stories of the year and share essential support for caregivers and patients. Host Talaya Dendy reflects on a landmark year for the show, providing a vulnerable 2025 cancer recap that balances professional milestones with her own personal 14-year health and survivorship journey.

Whether you are navigating life after cancer or are currently in the thick of treatment, this episode offers a roadmap for the road ahead. We dive into the most-listened-to stories of the year, from prostate cancer awareness and men’s health to the "Choosing Flat" movement and why these patient and survivor-led voices are the true heartbeat of the cancer community.

Stop navigating alone. Join us!

✨Episode Highlights:

00:07:11 The Top Stories of 2025: Prostate Cancer Awareness & Choosing Flat

00:10:17 Breaking the Silence: The Importance of Black Men’s Voices in Cancer

00:16:21 The 4:00 AM "Insomnia Club"

00:24:23 Talaya’s Favorite Moment: "What’s at the Heart of Survivorship?

00:32:14 14 Years NED & "Graduating" Oncology

Transcript: https://bit.ly/podscript179

Playlist: https://podcast.ausha.co/navigatingcancertogether/playlist/best-of-2025

Connect & Engage with Talaya: https://solo.to/cancerdoula

💜Let's Do it TOGETHER

Share Your Thoughts: What was your favorite episode of 2025? Email NCTpodcastfan@gmail.com or leave a message on our fan page, https://fanlist.com/nctpodcast.

Help Shape 2026: Take the Valued Listener Survey at bit.ly/nctlistenersurvey.

Join the Waitlist: Be the first to enter our new safe space for survivors at ontheotherside.life/forum-waitlist.

Support Survivorship: Contribute to important survivorship conversations at https://givebutter.com/SurvivorSerieswithTalayaDendy

Sponsor: 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.

Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy

Disclaimer: The information 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.

In this Season One finale, host Talaya Dendy celebrates the milestone of completing The Healing Pen and a Mic Companion podcast. Reflecting on the live October workshop, Talaya shares why she has decided to keep her signature 5-hour "deep dive" format and how journaling serves as a vital tool for movement, not just reflection. This episode features moving testimonials from participants and a first look at the evolving future of the program for 2026 .

Support Our Mission / Partner With Us:

• Bring Healing to Your Community: Interested in hosting The Healing Pen and a Mic workshop in your city or organization? We'd love to partner with you!

• Sponsor Future Workshops: Help us continue offering these much-needed, workshops to the cancer community.

For partnership or sponsorship inquiries, please email us at nctpodcastfan@gmail.com.

💜Thank you to the St. Paul chapter of the Awesome Foundation for sponsoring this episode and the Healing Pen and a Mic workshop. Your support makes this life-changing work possible!

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Power of the 5-Hour Intensive: Why meaningful conversations can’t be rushed and why this format led to major breakthroughs.

• Movement as Medicine: Using journaling as a spark for action to reach your optimal, healed self.

• A Safe Space for Vulnerability: How emotional and physical safety allowed participants to form lifelong bonds in just five hours.

✨Episode Highlights:

00:04:20 Journaling as a Tool for Action & Movement

00:05:41 Moving Participant Testimonials

00:06:41 The Future of the Healing Pen and a Mic

Transcript: https://bit.ly/healingpen5

Ways to Support & Connect:

• Support the Mission: Donate to the Survivor Series here

• Join the 2026 Priority List: Sign up for the 'On the Other Side' Newsletter

• Work With Me: Visit my website for Cancer Doula Services
  

Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy

Disclaimer: The information 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.

In this episode of Navigating Cancer TOGETHER, host Talaya Dendy welcomes back award-winning journalist, poet, and two-time cancer survivor Annamaria Scaccia. Annamaria shares her powerful story of surviving both kidney and thyroid cancer by age 40 and how she is transforming her life through bodybuilding and advocacy. They discuss the psychological power of strength training, the challenges of managing rare cancer types, how cancer impacts relationships, and the importance of self-awareness in the healing process. Tune in to discover how physical discipline, raw truth, and giving yourself grace can help you reclaim your power and navigate the complex emotional landscape of long-term survivorship.

✨Episode Highlights:

00:02:32 Annamaria’s Origin Story

00:05:39 Transitioning from Kickboxing to Bodybuilding after a Kidney Cancer Diagnosis

00:09:18 Bodybuilding for Healing and Trauma Recovery

00:17:45 Self-Awareness and the Truth of the Iron

00:20:50 Navigating a Second Cancer Diagnosis

00:27:41 Addressing Multiple Primary Cancers

Transcript: https://bit.ly/podscript178

Connect & Engage with Annamaria:

Links: https://linktr.ee/gotchascaccia?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotchascaccia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariascaccia/
Podcast: https://www.kidneycancer.org/podcast/

National Cancer Survivor Month Episode: https://youtu.be/JlET8Ljujiw?si=f1_b4aAJ_rkTopk2

Join the Community: Looking for a safe space to share your raw truth? Join the waitlist for the Navigating Cancer TOGETHER Cancer Community Forum. Connect with others in a private, supportive environment completely free from the noise and distractions of social media. Be the first to know when we open: https://www.ontheotherside.life/forum-waitlist

Sponsor: 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.

Hosted, Produced, Written, and Edited by: Talaya Dendy

Disclaimer: The information 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.