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 onset

01:45 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 family

03:33 Redefining healing as an ongoing practice rather than a quick fix

04:03 Practical advice for navigating isolation after a diagnosis

04:33 The abrupt transition after chemo ends and the quiet that follows

About 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 Step

• Attend 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 app

• Pass 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 Dendy

Recorded 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 Journey

00:09:22 How to Invite Men into Health Conversations Without Lecturing Them

00:14:44 What Young Men Need to Know About PSA Screening and Biopsies

00:27:45 Fatherhood Doula: What That Means and Why Fathers Matter

00:36:55 What 'Navigating Cancer TOGETHER' Really Means

Transcript: https://bit.ly/podscript184

Connect & Engage with Clarence

Website: www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org

Health Chatter Podcast: www.healthchatterpodcast.com

KMOJ 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/supportsystemlist

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.

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Share: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your preferred podcast app

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.

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 Work

00:08:07 Growing Up Angry: Sam's Personal Trauma Story

00:36:54 Male Trauma, Silence, and Why Men Don't Ask for Help

00:52:25 The 18th Annual Black Men Healing Conference

00:56:47 A Message for the Black Man Who Just Got a Cancer Diagnosis

Transcript: https://bit.ly/podscript183

Connect & Engage with Sam Simmons

Website: samuelsimmonsconsulting.com

LinkedIn: 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.com

Book: 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/supportsystemlist

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.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your preferred podcast app

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.