Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna Welsh

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/edc4w3EIlAlShayna Welsh Show NotesRelease date: Jan 21, 2026Title: Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna WelshEpisode: 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/secondtimeBuy 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_397514860Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletterLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/freeMore about Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunityInformation on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions