Cancer Sucks: Stories from cancer survivors
The Story Collider
Story Collider, Inc.
4.4 • 824 Ratings
🗓️ 12 October 2018
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're presenting two stories from cancer survivors.
Part 1: Gail Thomas clashes with her oncologist while deciding how to fight her cancer.
Part 2: As a marathon runner, Pierce McManus prides himself on his toughness — but then he begins coughing up blood.
Gail Thomas has several resumes: writer/actor/teacher/filmmaker/lawyer. She is a Moth StorySLAM winner and has performed with RISK!, Sideshow Goshko, the Liar Show. She teaches for the Story Studio. Voiceover credits include David Letterman, Beavis and Butthead and Angelo Rules. Her short comedy, My BFF, rated 95% funny on Funny or Die and audience favorite at New Filmmakers. As a speechwriter for the Tribeca Film Festival and the Gotham Awards, her words were uttered by Oscar winners and fancy people with great clothes. Gail is currently working on her fashion sense. Her website is www.gail-thomas.com.
Pierce McManus relocated to Washington, DC from New York in 1992 to pursue a career in international diplomacy. When his budding ambassadorial ambitions fell through, he opted for a different route -- running marathons, fronting a sleazy rock band, and diving headfirst into a career in digital communications. Pierce is a fixture of DC's venerated storytelling scene and the co-host of the popular Perfect Liars Club. You can learn more about him at the curiously titled piercemcmanus.com.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A science story, huh? |
| 0:04.0 | Is NYU scientist the... |
| 0:06.0 | I felt... |
| 0:07.0 | I felt... |
| 0:08.0 | I was so... |
| 0:09.0 | And I just thought, well... |
| 0:10.0 | It was that golden moment. |
| 0:12.0 | Because science was on my side. |
| 0:20.0 | Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Story Collider, where we bring you true personal stories about science. |
| 0:28.2 | I am your host, Aaron Barker, and this week, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're presenting stories about cancer. |
| 0:36.2 | In case you haven't heard, cancer sucks. |
| 0:38.8 | It isn't great. |
| 0:39.9 | In fact, I would go so far as to say it's actually very bad. |
| 0:44.0 | And we have two folks on the podcast today who are going to explain much more eloquently and hilariously why that is. |
| 0:50.9 | Our first story is from Gail Thomas. |
| 0:52.9 | It was recorded in April 2018 at Caviot in New York City. |
| 0:56.8 | The theme that night was Diagnosis. |
| 1:07.1 | So it's August 2009. It's a bright sunny day in Brooklyn. |
| 1:13.6 | And I have a doctor's appointment. |
| 1:15.6 | Now normally I would ride my bike, but I can barely walk, so I catch a cab. |
| 1:22.6 | It's the week after my hysterectomy. |
| 1:25.6 | Historectomy, right? |
... |
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