Hope Unscripted

Chemotherapy saves lives, but harsh treatments leave lasting impacts on young bodies. Hosts Jamie Dietrich and Britney Harmon continue their conversation with Dori and Mackenzie during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Mackenzie shares her experience navigating severe long-term side effects from osteosarcoma treatments, including hearing loss, end-stage heart failure, living with a ventricular assist device, and undergoing a heart ...

A persistent ache after soccer practice seemed like a routine sports injury, but tests revealed a high-grade bone tumor. On this episode of Hope Unscripted, Mackenzie and Dori Maddry share how their family navigated a sudden osteosarcoma diagnosis in the middle of a pandemic.

The conversation breaks down the early warning signs, the frustration of initial delays, and the grueling logistics of MAP therapy. Dori details the ba...

Altered taste and severe dry mouth turn basic nutrition into a daily struggle during active cancer treatment. When even plain water tastes off, maintaining adequate weight and caloric intake feels almost impossible. Registered dietitian Erin Moore sits down to share practical strategies for navigating these severe nutritional side effects.

We get into the specific mechanics behind treatment-induced taste changes and why so many pati...

Navigating proper nutrition during a major medical crisis carries incredible stakes, yet patient care is often derailed by rampant internet misinformation. When treatment side effects compromise the basic ability to eat and swallow, generalized diet advice falls completely flat. Erin Moore, a registered dietitian at Highlands Oncology, breaks down how specialized clinical nutrition directly supports patients through high-acuity tre...

Cancer recovery comes with a hidden toll that standard medical pamphlets rarely mention. Understanding the full scope of treatment aftermath is crucial for patients trying to navigate life after active medical interventions end. We welcome back Nicole Foote, a dedicated board member of Hope Cancer Resources, to share her first-hand experience with the highly personal and unexpected side effects of oncology treatments.

We sit down to...

Brain fog is a quiet thief during cancer treatment. Patients often feel like they are losing themselves when trying to navigate the daily demands of life while undergoing intensive therapies. We need to talk about these cognitive changes right now because acknowledging them is the first step toward regaining control. Shawnna Allbritton is the Director of Social Work at Hope Cancer Resources and she brings years of clinical experien...

Medical gaslighting is a silent threat to patient survival. When persistent symptoms are written off as stress, mental health issues, or routine complications, the delays in proper testing can allow aggressive diseases to progress unchecked. For many individuals, getting answers requires fighting past institutional dismissal before getting a proper look at what is actually happening under the hood. We sit down with Leisha Bejarano,...

Procrastination is a health risk we can never afford to take. During National Cancer Survivor Month, it is critical to talk about the real impact of delaying routine screenings and the difference taking action makes in an unexpected battle. In this conversation, we sit down with Nicole Foote, a breast cancer survivor and dedicated board member of Hope Cancer Resources, to unpack her personal fight and ongoing advocacy.

We get into t...

A cancer diagnosis changes everything instantly, but the reality for many patients is that professional responsibilities do not simply disappear. Navigating the logistics of intensive medical treatments while maintaining an identity and standing in the workplace creates an immense dual burden. In this episode, we tackle the complex intersection of employment, active treatment, and long-term survivorship. We sit down with Brittney D...

Neglecting your skin isn't just about wrinkles—it’s about managing your body’s largest organ and its primary defense against the world. Many people treat sun protection as an afterthought or rely on "base tans" that offer zero real protection, but the reality is that cumulative UV radiation is a silent profit leak for your long-term health. We sit down with Dr. Courtney Book from True Dermatology and wellness mana...

Radiation therapy has a reputation it no longer deserves. When someone hears they “need radiation,” the mind jumps to worst-case stories, dramatic machines, and side effects that feel inevitable. We wanted the facts, so we sat down with Julie Maday, radiology clinic manager at Highlands Oncology, to translate the process into plain language and calm some of the fear that shows up the moment people start Googling.

If you’ve ever thought “Why can’t I just stop?” this conversation puts real words to what your brain and body are doing and how to work with it instead of fighting blind. Brittnee sits down with Leisha Atwood, Hope Cancer Resources’ nationally certified tobacco treatment specialist, to talk about what tobacco addiction actually is, why cravings can feel immediate, and how people move from stuck to stea...

Caregiving can look calm on the outside and still feel like turbulence on the inside. We sit down with Charlotte Bayala and Hope Cancer Resources case manager Kaitlyn Voss to tell the truth about cancer caregiving: the roller coaster stretches of normal life, the steep climbs into scan-related fear, and the quiet moments where you realize you’re carrying more than anyone can see.

We talk about what caregivers rarely sa...

The week before a cancer scan can turn normal life into a maze of what-ifs. We invited caregiver advocate and longtime yoga and meditation teacher Charlotte to help us name that feeling, scanxiety, and show how small, doable tools can make the waiting less punishing. Her story begins with a phone call that upended her routines, even as she taught others how to manage stress. That tension led her to build practical support for careg...

What if cancer prevention didn’t mean a drastic life overhaul, but a handful of small choices you can actually keep? We sit down with Hannah, our wellness manager and certified personal trainer with a master’s in nutrition, to unpack practical steps that make a real difference: no guilt, no gimmicks, just habits that fit your life.

We walk through how she personalizes full‑body training for people at every stage ...

What if the most powerful cancer support starts before you set foot in a clinic? We launched Hope Unscripted on World Cancer Day to share a straightforward promise: we’ll be your first stop for clear guidance, practical help, and steady human support through every step of the cancer journey. Chuck Hyde, our CEO, opens up about the mission that drives him, the personal losses that shaped his resolve, and the simple systems tha...