S6E14: The Truth Exposed 13 Years Later- Lisa’s Story

S6E14: The Truth Exposed 13 Years Later- Lisa’s Story

In this episode of the Besties with Breasties podcast, hosts Beth Wilmes and Jes sit down with Lisa, a member of the Faith Through Fire community, for a raw conversation in their relationship series. Lisa shares the story of falling in love in college, building what looked like an idyllic marriage, and then facing breast cancer in 2007 — a diagnosis that, thirteen years later, she'd come to see as the moment that quietly exposed cracks in her relationship that had been there all along. She walks through the slow unraveling that followed: a husband who shut down instead of opening up, a move that stripped away their support system, a hidden past, and eventually a betrayal that led to divorce in 2020. Lisa gets honest about starting over after decades of security, the isolation of losing friends and community, and the daily, deliberate choice to forgive — even when she didn't want to. She credits a DivorceCare class, her faith, and a commitment to doing the "contrary" thing (choosing peace over bitterness) for helping her rebuild a life she's genuinely proud of today. A candid, hopeful episode for anyone who has questioned a relationship in the wake of a health crisis — or anyone navigating divorce and wondering how to come out the other side whole. Learn more or support Faith Through Fire at faiththroughfire.org [http://faiththroughfire.org/] Companies mentioned in this episode: * Faith Through Fire * Thrivent Gateway Financial Group

S6E13: Can You Share Too Much During Breast Cancer?

Hosts Beth Wilmes and Jamie dive into the surprisingly tricky topic of oversharing — both in everyday life and in the middle of a breast cancer journey. Beth (more traditional) and Jamie (a "recovering over-sharer") swap stories about where they each draw the line with their husbands, from farting etiquette to who gets to see medical drains and incisions, and debate whether keeping a little mystery in a marriage makes it stronger or just creates distance. The conversation turns more personal as they unpack a listener's message from a husband who says he misses "the mystery" after years together, and Jamie opens up about the tension between vulnerability and protecting her own privacy after treatment. Beth also shares a moving story about her sister's decade-long struggle with chronic illness dominating her family life, and the hard conversation she had about it. Along the way: practical communication tips for couples navigating medical stress — setting time limits on health talk, using check-in cues, and being honest about each partner's needs. The episode closes on the idea that whether you're an oversharer or a keep-it-close type, good communication is what makes a relationship work. Learn more or support Faith Through Fire at faiththroughfire.org [http://faiththroughfire.org/] Companies mentioned in this episode: * Faith Through Fire * Thrivent Gateway Financial Group

S6E12: "Less Pity, More Power": A Conversation About Real Survivorship

What does it really mean to survive breast cancer? Beth sits down with Amy Brace and Jenna Sartorius — co-founders of the Pink Power Hour podcast — for an honest, unfiltered conversation about life after a diagnosis. Amy is navigating the long-term side effects of treatment, including reconstruction that failed and hormone-induced hair loss. Jenna has been living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer — including a brain tumor she had surgically removed — for over three years, carrying a weight most people around her would never guess. Together, they're proof that survivorship looks nothing like the pink ribbon suggests. In this episode, the group digs into why society softens breast cancer, the "forced vulnerability" of looking visibly ill, and the very real identity crisis that follows treatment. They also share how they found each other through a documentary, built a podcast from scratch, and are now co-authoring a children's book — Love Stays — written from the perspective of their kids about a mom with metastatic breast cancer. Plus: a Boobs in the News segment that goes somewhere none of us expected (trust us), and a conversation about what "less pity, more power" actually looks like in everyday life. Learn more or support Faith Through Fire at faiththroughfire.org [http://faiththroughfire.org/] Companies mentioned in this episode: * Faith Through Fire * Thrivent Gateway Financial Group Find Amy and Jenna: pinkpowerhour.org [http://pinkpowerhour.org/] Book launch: Love Stays — available NOW!

S6E11: You're Not Alone — You May Just Need A Different Kind of Support

Beth and Jamie get real about one of the loneliest feelings during breast cancer treatment — when the people around you just aren't showing up the way you hoped. But instead of writing them off, the duo explores a reframe that changes everything: what if it's not that people don't care, but that you're expecting the wrong kind of support from them? They break down five distinct types of support — social, emotional, informational, esteem, and tangible — and share personal stories about the friends, family members, and unexpected humans who showed up in each of those ways during their own diagnoses and treatment. Jamie recalls getting a spontaneous tattoo with a friend on the very day she was diagnosed. Beth talks about the friend who didn't ask permission — she just told her when to show up at the gym. And they dig into why emotional support is the rarest and hardest kind to give, and why that's actually okay. The episode closes with a powerful shift in perspective: stop measuring people by what they're not giving you, and start recognizing what they are good at — because when you put people in their lane, you stop feeling abandoned and start feeling held. Also: Olympic rowers may be competing in a crocodile-infested river in 2032. Beth and Jamie have thoughts. Learn more or support Faith Through Fire at faiththroughfire.org [http://faiththroughfire.org/] Companies mentioned in this episode: * Faith Through Fire * Thrivent Gateway Financial Group

S6E10: What Happens When the People You Need Most Let You Down

Beth and Jamie tackle one of the most painful and seldom-talked-about sides of a breast cancer diagnosis: when your biggest expected supporter becomes your biggest source of stress. Inspired by a real anonymous scenario shared by a listener, they unpack what's really going on when a loved one's fear shows up as control — from fighting over wigs and GoFundMes to taking over medication routines. In this candid and deeply relatable episode, Beth and Jamie discuss: * Why a cancer diagnosis doesn't create relationship problems — it magnifies the ones already there * How fear disguises itself as control (and why that still isn't okay for the person in treatment) * The hidden burden of managing someone else's emotions while fighting for your own life * Why asking for help feels so shameful — and what happens when you finally let people show up * How to set boundaries without guilt, protect your peace without over-explaining, and separate someone's intentions from their impact Plus, Beth and Jamie share honest personal stories about family dynamics, therapy breakthroughs, and the surprising freedom that comes from simply saying what you need. Whether you're in treatment, supporting someone who is, or just navigating a complicated relationship — this one's for you. Learn more or support Faith Through Fire at faiththroughfire.org [http://faiththroughfire.org/] Companies mentioned in this episode: * Faith Through Fire * Thrivent Gateway Financial Group