More adolescents and young adults (ages 18–39) are being diagnosed with cancer, and having to navigate challenges that look very different depending on where they are in life.

This episode coincides with the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week, and we’re joined by Angelina Mangiardi Coulter, Senior Program and Partnerships Manager at First Descents, an organization helping young adults impacted by cancer reconnect with themselves and others through adventure in nature.

We explore their three core pillars: life-changing, week-long destination programs; local community adventures that bring people together in nature; and Lifestyle Pathways, a suite of accessible online resources.

First Descents creates space for young adults to process, connect, and heal, while building meaningful relationships with others who truly understand the experience.

Resources:

Website: www.firstdescents.org

First Descents Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstdescents1

Community Adventures: https://firstdescents.org/community-adventures/

Submit an Inquiry: https://firstdescents.org/programs/programs-application/

Browse Available Programs: https://firstdescents.org/programs/

Turia Goggins shares her journey through an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis while navigating the strain of a spouse’s severe, undiagnosed mental illness. After years of benign tests, an August 2024 biopsy revealed stage 1 invasive ductal breast cancer. She reflects on telling her close-knit West Indian, Catholic family, making treatment decisions, and managing the intense stress of a volatile marriage.

Following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Turia opens up about the physical and emotional toll of treatment and her path toward healing through therapy, NAMI NYC support, and ultimately divorce. Her story is one of faith, resilience, and the deeply personal nature of surviving cancer.

Resources: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

In this episode, Alexandra French of Atlanta shares her journey from a breast cancer diagnosis at age 31 to navigating surrogacy after treatment. A young mother with no family history of cancer, Alexandra was diagnosed with stage III, estrogen-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer and faced chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and urgent fertility preservation in a compressed timeline.

During treatment, she and her family pursued surrogacy after learning it would be unsafe for her to carry another child. Alexandra discusses the emotional, legal, and financial realities of the surrogacy process, the vital role of her support system, and how her experience led her to found the Surrogacy Foundation, which provides grants to cancer patients. The episode closes with her advocacy win in Georgia, helping secure insurance coverage for fertility preservation. This is a powerful example of support, connection, and the joy of creating avenues of hope for others exploring surrogacy.

Resources:

www.thesurrogacyfoundation.org

Surrogacy Soiree February 21, 2026 - RSVP