Stories of Hope and Inspiration from Twist Out Cancer's Brushes With Cancer Program
Over the last 13 years, Twist Out Cancer has positively impacted more than 267,000 people people. This includes 1,574 people who participated in our Brushes with Cancer program as an Inspiration or Artist. As a result, there are now 787 unique pieces of art in the world representing 787 individual journeys with cancer. Hear directly from some of our Inspirations and Artists on how the Inspiration shared their story, connected with an artist, which led to a healing moment when the Inspiration saw their art piece for the first time. More information is available at www.twistoutcancer.org
Episodes
45 episodes
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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23:01
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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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17:17
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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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29:04
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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22:50
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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20:15
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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24:05
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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18:31
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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24:07
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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26:22
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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33:11
Twist Out Cancer Partner Spotlight: Rebecca Leder
Rebecca Leder is the author of the book, The Knock Method. In her book, Rebecca features Twist Out Cancer founder and CEO Jenna Benn Shersher. <...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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21:48
A Conversation with Designers Giorgia Lupi, Inti Valez, and Daniel Mancini about their Twist Out Cancer Exhibits at the WDNR Museum
Artist Giorgia Lupi, from Pentagram Design, and Daniel Mancini and Inti Valez Bolero, from Wanda Barcelona, reflect on their art installations "Brushes With Cancer" and "Woven Wonders" which they designed in collaboration with Twist Out Cancer....
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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25:09
Inspiration Mardi Kaplan and Artist Anna Feneis
Mardi and Anna, whose connections to Twist Out Cancer and to each other reach far beyond a single collaboration, share how they found support and inspiration in each other through their partnership.See the painting that Ann...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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25:30
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Inspiration Holli Davidove and Artist Bari Fleischer
Through their open and honest conversations, Inspiration Holli Davidove and Artist Bari Fleischer have formed a deep friendship. They inspire and support each other beyond the work of art that they are collaborating on.
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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20:15
Inspiration Joni Goldstein and Artist Nancy Rosen
Joni faced down cancer twice. Each time arming herself with a smile and some glitter. Brushes With Cancer brought Nancy into her life and together they developed a lovely piece of art and a beautiful friendship.See the beautiful paintin...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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16:46
Inspiration August Spree and Her Partner, Artist Brad Young
August and Brad discuss their unique partnership, which began when they were paired together for Brushes With Cancer and has grown into something nobody could've predicted.
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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22:01
Inspiration Mary Jenkins and Artist Kate Van Doren
Artist Kate Van Doren and her Inspiration, Mary Jenkins, talk about their path together — building a relationship, telling Mary’s story through art, and what they continue to carry with them from their experience together.
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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24:08
Inspiration Talaya Dendy and Artist Bettina Reiser
Talaya's cancer journey changed everything in her life. As an Inspiration, she allowed herself to reevaluate her life and help others live in the present. Those choices have inspired artist Bettina Reiser in more ways than one.Listen to...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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28:37
Inspiration Brittany Long and Artist Chris Geier
Inspiration Brittany Long and Artist Chris Geier had an immediate connection that has only deepened during this collaboration. Brittany's openness and willingness to share not only her stories, but her journal entries from her time during...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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20:08
Art Therapists Callie Cullinan and Jackie Carmody
Art therapists Callie Cullinan and Jackie Carmody discuss their involvement with Twist Out Cancer and the Twistshop program, the impact of the program, and their hopes for the future of Twist out Cancer.
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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17:17
Inspiration Maria Kouns and Artist Xia Laniel
As an 11 year cancer survivor, Maria Kouns says what stands out the most from her cancer journey are the moments of kindness and connection she experienced with the people in her life. From her family to her students, her memories from that tim...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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27:38
Inspiration, Diona Brzezinski and Artist Kara Thomas
Artist Kara Thomas and her inspiration, Diona Brzezinski, talk about their experience in the Brushes with Cancer program, including the beautiful piece of art that resulted from it, and how their participation helped them both to grow and heal....
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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13:59
Inspiration Jemma Cabral and Artist Peri Goodman
This collaboration brought a cross generational connection that both the artist and inspiration found to be profound. The fact that Jemma is sharing her story with Peri, who is not only the same age as Jemma's son but also the exact age Jemma w...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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21:19
Mahwish Syed and Sheryl Ann Noday
Mahwish and Sheryl have so many similarities, it seems they were destined to meet. These two natural storytellers share a love of ancient cultures, genuine connection and a fascination with the divine feminine. A willingness to lean in to deep ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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28:24
Twist Out Cancer Founder and CEO Jenna Benn Shersher and her Husband, David Shersher
Jenna had the idea for Twist Out Cancer in the middle of her own journey with cancer. While in treatment she had a vision for an organization that would focus on anyone touched by cancer. She created a place where families touched b...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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30:03
