Stories of Hope and Inspiration from Twist Out Cancer's Brushes With Cancer Program
Over the past 15 years, Twist Out Cancer has positively impacted more than 280,000 people through the power of storytelling, creative arts, and human connection.
Through our signature Brushes with Cancer program, 1,704 individuals have participated as Inspirations and Artists, coming together to share their stories, build meaningful connections, and create something lasting. These collaborations have resulted in 853 unique works of art, each representing an individual journey with cancer and the powerful connection formed between an Inspiration and an Artist.
In this podcast, you can hear directly from our Inspirations and Artists as they share what it means to tell their story, connect through art, and experience the powerful moment when an Inspiration sees their finished artwork for the first time.
For 15 years, Twist Out Cancer has created spaces where people touched by cancer can share, connect, and heal. Your support helps us continue providing meaningful programs and creative arts experiences to individuals and families navigating cancer.
Help us reach the next person who needs connection and community. Donate today or learn more about our work at www.twistoutcancer.org.
Episodes
59 episodes
Power Partners Podcast: Chelsea Lewis-Bahr's Journey of Exploring Creativity and Compassion in the Face of Cancer
In this episode of the Power Partners Podcast, Jenna Benn Shersher, the founder and CEO of Twist Out Cancer speaks with Chelsea Lewis-Bahr, a contemporary abstract artist and finance professional based in Huntsville, Alabama.Chelsea shar...
Twist Out Cancer Power Partners Spotlight: Megan Scherer of Worth the Wait
In this episode, Twist Out Cancer Advisory Board Member, Soraya Fata, speaks with Megan Scherer, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Worth The Wait. Megan shares how the organization is helping patients turn that loss into hope, with finan...
Inspiration Delphine Gervaise and Artist Dominik Ambroise
Inspiration Delphine Gervaise and Artist Dominik Ambroise are participants in a licensed Brushes With Cancer Program in partnership with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. Delphine shares her experience caring f...
Inspiration Julie Clauer and Artist Marea Cordero
In this episode, Twist Out Cancer's Director of Programs, August Spree, speaks to Julie Clauer, who is a colon cancer survivor, and Marea Cordero, the artist she was paired with as part of the 2026 Winter Brushes With Cancer program....
Navigating the World of Cancer Support: Insights from Jackie Herigodt of Imerman Angels
In this podcast, August Spree of Twist Out Cancer speaks to Jackie Herigodt, the Director of Partnerships and Engagement at Imerman Angels. Jackie has also been an Inspiration in a Brushes With Cancer program. Listen to how Jackie's jou...
Brushes with Cancer Spotlight: Inspiration Alique Topalian and Artist Jackie Carmody
In this inspiring interview, Inspiration Alique Topalian shares her journey as a cancer survivor and advocate, and discusses her participation in the Brushes with Cancer program. Jackie Carmody, an artist, explains her creative process in captu...
Twist Out Cancer Power Partners Spotlight Featuring Patricia San Pedro
In this episode of Twist Out Cancer's podcast, host August Spree interviews Patricia San Pedro, a cancer thriver and Emmy award-winning filmmaker. Patricia shares her journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer, the importance of ...
From Diagnosis to Advocacy: Marty Hogan, the founder of Windsor Tough - A Twist Out Cancer Power Partner
In this episode, host Soraya Fata interviews Marty Hogan, a leukemia survivor and the founder of Windsor Tough. They discuss Marty's cancer journey, his connection to Twist Out Cancer, and his organization's mission to raise awareness and expan...
A Conversation with Cancer Caregiver founder, Charlotte Bayala, a Twist Out Cancer Power Partner
Join us in this heartfelt episode of "Power Partners: The Cancer Caregiver" as August Spree sits down with Charlotte Bayala, founder of the Cancer Caregiver.Discover Charlotte's personal journey through her husband's cancer diagnosis an...
A Conversation With Leah Phillips, founder of the Young Lung Cancer Initiative
In this episode, August Spree speaks with Leah Phillips, founder of the Young Lung Cancer Initiative, who shares her personal journey with lung cancer, the stigma surrounding the disease, and her efforts to advocate for younger patients diagnos...
Inspiration Bob Brams and Artist Jean Schlesinger
In this episode, we hear from Bob Brams, who is a Brain Cancer survivor, his wife and caregiver, Kim, and the artist Bob was matched with, Jean Schlesinger. They all live in Maryland.Bob shares the story from diagnosis to surgery ...
Inspiration Ashley Smith and Artist Caryn Frishman
In this episode, we delve into the transformative journey of Ashley Smith and Caryn Frishman, who were brought together by the 2024 Brushes with Cancer program at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.Listen as Ashl...
The Healing Power of Art and Expression - Inspiration Tina Domske and Artist Violet Alexandre
Join us in this heartfelt episode as we explore the transformative journey of Tina Domske, a resilient cancer survivor, and Violet Alexandre, a talented artist, who were matched through the Fall 2025 Brushes with Cancer program. Ti...
Inspiration Jorge Ginzo and Artist Oscar Montoya
Inspiration Jorge Ginzo and Artist Oscar Montoya are part of the Brushes with Cancer program at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. Jorge is a survivor of Colon cancer and in this episode, Jorge and Oscar share the...
Inspiration Merton Briggs and Artist Matthew Eckerle
Inspiration Merton Briggs - from Newark, Delaware - shares his story as a Multiple Myeloma survivor and how he responded when he was only given a few months to live. As part of the Brushes With Cancer program, he was matched with artist Matthew...
Inspiration Michelle Hobart and Artist Angela Scalisi
In this episode, Inspiration Michelle Hobart shares her story as a breast cancer survivor and how she kept her diagnosis a secret to start, and then shared it with family and friends. As part of the Brushes With Cancer program, she was matched ...
Inspiration Crystal Bichalski and Artist Joelle Bilow
Crystal Bichalski and Joelle Bilow connected through astrology for the last three years. Crystal is a globally recognized predictive astrologist and astrotherapist based in Montclair, New Jersey. When Crystal was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian ...
Inspiration Bond Courtney and Artist Rosa Henriquez
Inspiration Bond Courtney, who lives in Atlanta, connected with Artist Rosa Henriquez in Miami as part of the Winter 2025 Brushes With Cancer program. Over the last six months these strangers have become dear friends who were able to open up to...
Inspiration Anita Tulsiani and Artist Theresa Bond Zelazny
Inspiration Anita Tulsiani and Artist Theresa Bond Zelazny - both of whom live in Austin, Texas, had an immediate connection. Anita's ever positive attitude and vibrant outlook have continued to inspire Theresa throughout the collaborative proc...
Inspiration Kelli Kim-Eng and Artist Kenny Lapins
Inspiration Kelli Kim-Eng and Artist Kenny Lapins have so much more in common than anyone might guess. From their odd discoveries of their own cancer diagnoses, to the way the Brushes with Cancer program has brought them back to their own artis...
Inspiration Caileigh Scott and Artist Gabrielle Heckenbucker
Caileigh and Gabrielle forged an intimate collaboration across an ocean and several time zones. Through their Brushes With Cancer experience, these two very creative people have grown to influence and inspire each other daily.More...
Inspiration Rachel Duran and Artist Magdalena Cuevas
When Maggie and her inspiration Rachel first met, they immediately bonded over curly hair, spirituality and a love of their home state of Texas! As their connection deepened and their collaboration grew, Maggie's piece culminated in a full expr...
Inspiration Wendy Santana and Artist Naimah Thomas
Inspiration Wendy Santana and Artist Naimah Thomas have forged an unexpected friendship through this creative process. Not only has this partnership resulted in a piece of art that has meaning for both women, but they have come to be huge suppo...
Inspiration Donna Dang and Artist Suhani Amin - BWC 2023
After losing her fiancé David to bone cancer in October 2020, Donna found being a part of the Twist Out Cancer community to be tremendously helpful in navigating her grief. Suhani, in first learning and then seeking to tell Donna's stor...
