Shows
Stages CommunitySeason 2, Episode 3: Fireman, Comforter, Counselor, and FriendTrigger warning: death and loss. --Shara shares an emotional clip with Pete where his health was very bad. They were in the hospital for hospice patients whose symptoms couldn't be managed at home. Shara also shares encouragement to others by answering the question, "How are you making it through this hard time?"2024-07-2108 minStages CommunitySeason 2, Episode 2: The Elephant And The WeddingShara discusses the emotions around Pete and Shara's eldest's wedding without Pete there. 2024-04-1711 minStages CommunitySeason 2, Episode 1: How Can I Help Someone Who Is Hurting?Today's episode is the first podcast with just Shara, a year after Pete passed away on February 15th. She talks about things that you can do as a friend or family member of someone who is experiencing a difficult season. 2024-02-1507 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 23: Learning ChemoIn this episode, Pete explains all that he's learned with his different rounds and different types of chemotherapy. He gives us all three takeaways that we can keep in mind when we think about, talk about, or take on chemo. 2022-11-2242 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 22: Update on Pete and Time Away from PodcastIn this episode, Pete tells about a turn in his treatment for the worse and how it affected him differently than previous treatments. This led to a serious need for rest and recovery and forced him to take a break from posting. If you're a cancer fighter or caregiver for a cancer fighter, this episode will help you see the big picture of the journey that you're on. 2022-11-1536 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 21 Thor: Love and Thunder & Cancer Fighters (Part 2)Should we be so sensitive? Just because something triggers a memory of my traumatic journey, is that bad? Or, as a fighter, can I face that fear? And, if I let it, can that actually be healthy for me? Some folks have claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder should have come with warnings because of graphic cancer treatment scenes. As a cancer fighter in the thick of it, I disagree. Listen to Part 2 where Pete gives his perspective after watching the movie. He also shares how not only did he view these scenes as a ca...2022-07-1938 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 20: Thor: Love and Thunder & Cancer Fighters (Part 1)Should we be so sensitive? Just because something triggers a memory of my traumatic journey, is that bad? Or, as a fighter, can I face that fear? And, if I let it, can that actually be healthy for me? Some folks have claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder should have come with warnings because of graphic cancer treatment scenes. As a cancer fighter in the thick of it, I disagree. In Part 1, I am going to get honest with you about things like confirmation bias when you fight cancer. I'm going to remind us all ab...2022-07-1328 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 19: Cancer Fighting and Summer VacationCan I take a trip for vacation when I have cancer? How can you go camping while fighting cancer? Should you go on an excursion when you're in the midst of a cancer fight?Pete discusses these questions from his usual "journey" perspective. He tells you mistakes he's made and successes while on his cancer fighting journey.Stages always want to push you, the cancer fighter, to not allow cancer to take over your life. You can choose how much weight cancer has in your life and to a great extent limit its shadow. 2022-07-0930 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 18: True Crime Drama and CancerIn this Episode of Stages Podcast, Pete shares how he was inspired by a True Crime Drama that he and his wife have been watching on Hulu called Under the Banner of Heaven. He was inspired to dig deeper and ask some hard hitting questions of himself. Am I still truly FIGHTING cancer or am I coping? Have I allowed myself to give up ground to cancer by growing complacent and settling into a routine? Can I hold myself accountable daily to several questions that determine if I am still in the fight? Am I fighting to t...2022-06-0244 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 17: When Cancer Comes BackWhat happens when you were convinced that cancer was in your rearview mirror and it comes back aggressively? What would be your response? Anger? Desperation? Hope? Listen to Shara and Pete as they tell their personal response to that very thing. As always, Shara will tell her beautiful perspective as a Caregiver and Pete his perspective as a Cancer Fighter. Both of them know it is a fight that they're in: A Fight for Hope!2022-05-0431 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 16: Post Surgery Workout RegimenDid you know that cardio and weight resistance training are a great way to stay in the fight against cancer? But, what about after cancer surgery? Listen to Pete as he tells his experience coming out of two surgeries on his colon and liver and returning to the gym.2022-04-1627 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 15: A Lingering FeelingWhat can you do when cancer lingers? What can you do when you just can't shake "that feeling." ever? There's a part of cancer that is a cloud that can hang over you. You never feel quite done with it. Cancer lingers. Listen to Pete as he tells his experience with this and the daily practice he takes to deal with it. 2022-04-1529 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 14: Pete's Journey Through SurgeryPete and Shara began 2022 knowing that they were headed into surgery. This surgery was to remove all cancer seen with the scans. This would involve surgical removal of some sections of Pete's liver as well as a resection of his colon. Listen to both the perspective of the fighter and the caregiver as Pete and Shara recount their experience with this surgery. 2022-03-0937 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 13: Pete's Journey Through Chemotherapy Part 4As I get deeper into chemo rounds, what side effects will I encounter? What kind of pain will I experience? Will I throw up every time? My friend had it bad, but then the cancer went away, is that what I can expect? It is tempting to compare and contrast your journey with others' journeys. Pete speaks to this near the end of this episode. You'll want to hear this! This will help you as a cancer fighter or as a caregiver. This is an honest and raw discussion around the real symptoms and side ef...2021-12-1733 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 12: Pete's Journey Through Chemotherapy Part 3In this episode of Stages Podcast, Pete encourages us through focusing on the healthcare team that will surround us. Pete: "Your nurses, pharmacists, doctors, oncologists, all your healthcare workers are heroes and they will become like family." But, it is a two sided deal. We as cancer fighters need to talk and share our lives with them. They face cancer every day and work ungodly hours to help each of us experience the least amount of pain and suffering that we can. They are tireless in their care for you. They have become some of the best f...2021-12-1517 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 11: Pete's Journey Through Chemotherapy Part 2Just prior to his first day of treatment, Pete had so many questions still: Will I be having chemo on a hospital bed in my own private room? Will I experience any side effects while I'm receiving chemo? If so, how quickly? What is infusion? How is chemotherapy administered? Can I bring someone with me into chemo for support? How long is the procedure? Pete had these questions and many more before Round #1 of Chemotherapy. Listen as he tells you his journey through that first round in the hospital and what he learned.2021-12-1320 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 10: Pete's Journey Through Chemotherapy Part 1Pete had just been diagnosed with cancer and he's starting chemo for the first time. His head was swirling with questions: What is chemotherapy like? What should I know going into my first round? Is chemo the same for everyone or are there different types? Does everyone lose their hair during chemo? Result: I'm scared.These were only the beginning of questions Pete had before going through his first round of chemotherapy. In this episode of Stages Podcast, Pete begins to tell his journey through chemo and answer these questions and more. 2021-12-1034 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 9: Pete's Journey Through Radiation Part 4How will I feel after radiation? What side effects does radiation have? Much of the fear that we have around radiation treatment is based on what we believe the answers to those questions are. In this post, Pete honestly describes his journey through recovery and how he felt. It was a battle and it wasn't easy. Each person's journey can vary, but this is Pete's journey. 2021-12-0822 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 8: Pete's Journey Through Radiation Part 3What is the actual radiation procedure like? Do you feel any pain during the actual treatment session? What should I or my loved one be prepared for?Again, if this is our first experience with radiation, we can go to dark places in our thoughts as to how bad this is going to be. Assuredly, radiation is not a picnic. Simply put, when we're fighting a life threatening disease, often our battle options are deadly as well, because we're trying to kill cancer. It is a war. Yet, we must avoid throwing our hands up a...2021-12-0612 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 7: Pete's Journey Through Radiation Part 2Timing Matters. When you discuss radiation with your oncology team for the first time, you will learn that timing is everything. So, there are a few variables to consider with your team before you can decide to pull the trigger on radiation. Listen as Pete discusses his experience deciding with his cancer team when to move forward with radiation and all that they had to take into account to land on a date. This was a very difficult decision to arrive at because each treatment choice poses a risk to other treatments.2021-12-0409 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 6: Pete's Journey Through Radiation Part 1So many of us have misconceptions about radiation based on past experiences from several years ago to what we conjure up in our minds. This is often because we have heard bits and pieces of stories around radiation and we've developed our own mythology on what it is and what it is like to go through. Track Pete's journey through radiation as he walks us through each step of his treatment. Our minds can assign images and ideas to radiation: "Ride the Lightning" was a description Pete conjured up. He thought it would radiation would brin...2021-12-0217 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 5: Kate Bowler - How to live with a Chronic ConditionIn this episode, we relate to Kate Bowler's telling of how she had to admit that she did not how to do this: Live with life as a chronic condition. She gives this beautiful illustration of hikers on the Appalachian Trail and the advice she was given by them that really helped her. Shara (Pete's wife and caregiver) and Pete (cancer fighter) share their very fresh (this week) experience with uncertainty and a climbing cancer number even when radiation was to reduce that number significantly. Dealing with life as a chronic condition is daily and th...2021-11-0535 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 4: Kate Bowler and Allowing Ourselves to be HumanThe self-help and prosperity gospel culture of our day often leads us to toxic positivity. Toxic Positivity is when we feel we must turn everything we are going through into a positive. Often this approach is aided with some system of trying to will positivity into being. But, when you've been diagnosed with cancer, or you are a care giver fighting alongside your fighter, it is so important that we allow ourselves to be human. It is okay to be angry, it is okay to feel depressed and defeated, it is okay to be confused about life...in fact...2021-10-1426 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 3: She Said...He HeardListen to Shara Heiniger (caregiver) and Pete Heiniger (cancer fighter) as they further discuss good communication strategies for a cancer journey. So many times caregivers are motivated out of a love for the cancer fighter and a strong desire to help and serve. They often will take on some duties that use to fall on the cancer fighter. But, what often happens is the cancer fighter can see this not as help, but they translate is as they are helpless or useless. As is the case in most things, neither party is wrong in what th...2021-10-0527 min
Jon Mayo Podcast030. TGT: Resilient Hope _ The HeinigersEpisode 30 from The Grit Theory. Today we sat down with the indomitable Pete and Shara Heiniger who founded the non profit called Stages. In addition to the nonprofit, they also started a podcast by the same name with the goal to change the stigma and story of the cancer journey. They work to accomplish this goal by focusing on honesty, candor, and hope through building resiliency.Highlights include: -Stage 4 Cancer.-The importance of listening when going through hell. -The elephant in the room. -Your family is on the journey whether they...2021-09-251h 34Stages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 2: He Said...She HeardWe’re pumped because this is our #2 Podcast for Stages! Where we’re working hard to not only be a voice for cancer fighters, but also add the perspective of the spouse and caregiver. This week, as promised, we want to launch into a few episodes called “She Said...He Heard.” So, our subject is really communication! Wow, I know in our cancer journey, our communication had to change substantially. Not just from how we communicated, but also away from some of the “encouraged” ways of communication by professionals who counsel couples...2021-09-2028 minStages CommunitySeason 1, Episode 1: Two Perspectives on CancerThis is our very first Stages Podcast episode and we’re pretty excited about it. I am excited, because I believe it adds a perspective that is often overlooked. We can hear a lot about cancer fighters and chemo and the battle, but we don’t often hear from the caregivers side of things. Caregivers face their own battle that is part fighting alongside their spouse or loved one, but it’s also staring their own elephants down that are different than the ones a cancer fighter like myself faces. So, I’m excited for you t...2021-09-0933 min