Talking Smack 415
Talking Smack 415 is the podcast for women navigating midlife, motherhood, menopause, mental health, and personal growth-with real talk, big laughs, and honest stories biweekly. Hosts Debbie Mink and Jamie the Great (Jamie Roseman), longtime best friends and Jersey girls, ( with Debbie now living in San Francisco hence the 415 in the title) dive into topics like friendship, sobriety, cancer journeys, beauty obsessions, burnout, and more.
Each episode blends humor, heart, and smart smack talk, featuring guests like therapists, coaches, and inspiring women. If you’re searching for community, women’s wellness, or just want to laugh with friends and feel seen, subscribe now and join the conversation. DM us what you want us to talk smack about next!
Talking Smack 415
Leukemia at 16, Relapsing at 19: Hayden Laufgraven on Cancer, Bone Marrow Transplants & Never Giving Up
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
At just 16 years old, Hayden Laufgraven heard the words no teenager expects:
"You have leukemia."
What followed was hospitalisation, chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, remission, relapse, another transplant, months of isolation, and learning how to never give up.
In this deeply moving episode of Talking Smack 415, Jamie the Great and I sit down with Hayden to talk about what it's really like to be diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) as a teenager, the emotional toll of the diagnosis and surviving cancer, and the often-overlooked reality of PTSD after cancer treatment.
Hayden shares his remarkable perspective on resilience, friendship, identity, and why surviving cancer doesn't mean the journey is over.
Whether you've experienced cancer yourself, love someone who has, or simply need a reminder of the strength of the human spirit, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Hayden is wise beyond his years.
In this episode we discuss:
- What it's like being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at age 16
- The signs and symptoms that led to his leukemia diagnosis
- Chemotherapy, remission, relapse, and undergoing two bone marrow transplants
- How donor registries and bone marrow matching work
- The physical and emotional impact of cancer treatment
- PTSD and trauma after surviving cancer
- Rebuilding strength after months of chemotherapy and isolation
- The importance of friendship, family, and community during illness
- Mental resilience and finding hope through uncertainty
- Life after cancer and returning to college, sports, and everyday life
Hayden's honesty, maturity, and optimism offer an extraordinary reminder that resilience isn't about pretending you're fearless—it's about continuing to move forward anyway.
Follow Hayden on TikTok: @haydenlauf
If this episode resonates with you...
Please subscribe, rate, and review Talking Smack 415. Sharing this episode may help someone navigating cancer, supporting a loved one through treatment, or healing from the invisible emotional scars that often remain after remission.
Cancer changes lives—but so does hope.
Share this episode with your friends and family who love to laugh. Subscribe to Talking Smack 415 and leave us a rating and review so more peeps can find us for laughter and friendship to feed your soul!