An Unexpected Life

Is the world closing in around you? Feeling overwhelmed that you can’t catch a break? A good dose of gratitude may be just what you need! Infusing gratitude into your life can boost your immune system, decrease depression, anxiety, even disease and chronic pain and improve your personal relationships as well. 

In this episode of An Unexpected Life, Marianne Banister and Executive Wellness Coach Linda Roszak Burton explore ...

When a child, teenager or young adult is diagnosed with cancer, the overwhelming response is to jump into treatment as soon as possible to blast it out of the body. But before diving into treatment, it’s equally important to take a moment, step back and consider the long game; the quality of that young person’s life once the cancer is gone. 

In this episode of An Unexpected Life, Marianne Banister dives into the world of Fertility P...

Here’s a thought that may seem strange; you can disagree with your doctor. Sure, they have the diplomas on the wall and you’re the one in the paper gown, but remember; the doctor works for you!

In this episode of our podcast An Unexpected Life, you’ll meet
melanoma survivor Elea Vander Burgh. As a 17 year old high school student, Elea
stubbornly stood her ground when her dermatologist brushed aside a questionable mole as not...

Is your head spinning? Your heart racing? Does life feel out of control? 

Join the club! In this chaotic world anxiety is at an all-time high. But don’t lose hope - help is here! 

In this episode, Marianne Banister talks with Anxiety Expert and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist April Moran, about how you can add some calm to your life with easy practical tips. Enhance your body and mind connection for your overall health and wellness. I...

SPF, UPF, Heliocare (trademark), dermascopy. What the ??? Sometimes it feels a PhD is needed just to prep for a day in the sun. There are so many myths, truths and little known facts about sun safety coming at us it can be overwhelming. Relax! We’ve got the skinny on your skin!

In this episode of An Unexpected Life, Marianne Banister explores some surprisingly simple ways to be sensationally sun safe this summer - and every day of t...

There are a lot of mistaken notions about melanoma out there. Among the deadliest is the idea that people of color cannot develop melanoma and other skin cancers. Nothing is further from the truth.  

In this episode, Jacqueline Smith shares her story of surviving stage three melanoma twice – all before the age of 26 - and her transformative journey into an unexpected life.  Today, Jacqueline is a D.C. based leader in melanoma patien...

Pregnancy. It’s one of the most thrilling and stressful times in a couple’s life. So many changes that lie ahead!  So many things to worry about for both a healthy baby and mom. But did you know for some women, hormonal changes that bring a new life can also trigger melanoma?

In this powerful conversation, Jamie Martell, a young mom from Maryland, opens up with Marianne Banister about how not one - but two melanoma diagnosis - left ...

In this first episode of An Unexpected Life, host Marianne Banister shares the story of her 14-year-old daughter, Claire’s, diagnosis of adolescent melanoma. It upturned not only Claire’s life, but that of her entire family. Everyone was blindsided by the fact that Claire’s cancer was triggered by hormonal changes rather than the “too much exposure to the sun.”  

Listen in to discover why Claire’s diagnosis was not rare, but in fact...