Real Pink Podcast Episodes

Joining us on the show today is Ed Dandridge, Komen’s Chair of the Board of Directors. With more than 30 years’ experience in senior leadership roles with four Fortune 500 companies, Ed serves on executive management teams of leading global companies and works closely with Boards of Directors. Ed is here today to share what drives his passion in the fight against breast cancer. And to put his money where his mouth is, he is also going to share details about a Board match happening this month where Komen’s Board of Directors are personally matching funds donated to Komen. Ed, welcome to the show!

This is Real Talk, a new podcast series where we’re going to break down the stigmas and feelings of embarrassment and talk openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be – from diagnosis to treatment, to living with metastatic breast cancer, to life after treatment ends. Today I’m joined by three women living with metastatic breast cancer. It is my pleasure to welcome Pam Kohl, who, along with Ann Camden and Katie Mackin, are getting real about the holidays and their thoughts and feelings this time of year.

Everyone is at risk of breast cancer, and some of us are at a higher risk than others. Learning about your breast cancer risk can empower you to make important breast care decisions to take charge of your health. Today’s guest lost her mother to breast cancer 20 years before she had her first mammogram. The results of that first mammogram revealed something suspicious, which was a huge wake up call for her and caused her to speak with her doctors about preventative options. Here today to share what she learned and the steps she is taking to prevent breast cancer is Colleen Boraca.

Adam Walker has dazzled our listeners as the host of Real Pink for 200 episodes. In today’s episode, Samantha Harris, our very first guest, returns to interview Adam. Tune in to hear Adam share his story and what he’s learned over the past 200 episodes.

This is Real Talk, a new podcast series where we’re going to break down the stigmas and feelings of embarrassment and talk openly and honestly about just how difficult breast cancer can be – from diagnosis, to treatment, to living with metastatic breast cancer, to life after treatment ends. Today I’m joined by two survivors who are married with children. After learning they had breast cancer, they started thinking about how they’d share the news with their young children. What to say, what not to say, and how to explain what was happening to mom. Sheetal and Beverly let’s get real about telling your children you have breast cancer. Welcome to the show. 

Healthy lifestyle choices, such as being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet are linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, yet no one knows exactly why one person gets breast cancer and another doesn’t. Everyone is at risk. In fact, the two most common risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older. Today’s guest was blessed with a body that had served her extremely well – it helped her win a bronze medal at the Olympic Games, to navigate a successful, decade long career on Wall Street and brought two healthy babies into the world. Despite being a top-level athlete, having no history of breast cancer in her family and not being a carrier of the BRCA genes, Lauren McFall Gardner was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 40. She is here today to share her story and the impact that breast cancer had on her life and her vision of health.

Caregivers provide much-needed support for those going through breast cancer. This can be in the form of emotional support such as listening or giving a hug; in the form of practical help like driving to and from doctor appointments, cooking, cleaning or grocery shopping; and through providing informational support like gathering data or the latest news on breast cancer. Mountains of paperwork, medical information and appointments can be overwhelming and a lot for families to manage, especially while they are also trying to ensure that their loved ones feel cared for and understood. Today’s guest is a powerhouse entrepreneur – she was the co-founder of designer jeans brand True Religion, is a 25-year fashion industry veteran, has launched five style brands, develops and produces film and television projects with a social conscience, wrote a book, is a philanthropist and also a mentor to young fashion designers. She is also a triplet and was a caregiver to her mom throughout her battle with metastatic breast cancer. Here today to share her story and how she helped manage her mom’s breast cancer journey like a boss is Kym Gold.

Today, we’re getting real about the mental and emotional impact of breast cancer.

Although metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured today, it can be treated. Treatment focuses on extending life and maintaining quality of life, both of which were incredibly important to Sylvia Proctor as she was living with metastatic breast cancer. Unfortunately, Sylvia passed away from MBC just before Mother’s Day last year. Her daughter, Carlita McIlwain (MAC-ILL-WAYNE), remembers her mother as an entrepreneur at heart who successfully ran more than 10 businesses during her lifetime while also working full-time. Her life was defined by her devotion to her Catholic faith and her Native American/African American family. Carlita is here today to share her mother’s story, which has fueled her passion to give back and help find the cures for breast cancer. It is her hope that her work will help future generations – both in her family and in her cultures.

Susan G. Komen knows that even one more day without a cure for metastatic breast cancer is one day too many when lives are at stake. MBC is the most advanced stage of the disease. Though there are treatments to extend life, there is no cure. That’s why this year, Komen is going one step further to raise an extra $1 million to fund the first ever MBC Excellence in Research Award. Here today to tell us about this $1 Million Challenge and some of the promising new research the grant could fund is Dr. Kim Sabelko, Komen VP of Scientific Strategy and Programs.