Pink Power Hour

Steph Kennelly is an educator, cancer survivor, and passionate advocate for cancer patients and cancer research. In 2020, at age 37, she was diagnosed with Stage II invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), a moment that forever changed the trajectory of her life and work. In 2023, Steph stepped away from her teaching career to serve as Program Manager for the Center for Genome Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where she advances efforts to fund innovative cancer research. Beyond her professional role, she partners with INDY Foundation to design restorative experiences for cancer patients and families through the GVL Thrive program, helping others find moments of hope and renewal during treatment and beyond. Links to all the things talked about in today's episode! Mn oncology thrive video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wg2wgGR60c Golden ball of healing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roNiR5xY1nk GVL thrive  https://indy-foundation.org/programs/gvl-thrive/ Connecting through cancer INDY https://rss.com/podcasts/indyfoundation/ Golf tournament  https://www.grandviewlodge.com/golf/golf-tournaments How can I help  https://stephanie-kennelly.medium.com/how-can-i-help-b4a090e57f7a Emperor of all maladies  https://www.pbs.org/show/story-cancer-emperor-all-maladies/ Un til it’s cured (donate) med.umn.edu/cge/til Venn foundation  https://www.vennfoundation.org Instagrams: @stephkennelly @umncge @GVLthrive 

Samantha is a powerhouse in the world of entertainment and health advocacy! A 4-time Emmy Award nominee, she’s best known for lighting up our screens for 8 unforgettable seasons as the host of Dancing with the Stars—and she also won the Emmy for her years on Entertainment Tonight! For all the free guides and links from this episode: DM to me on IG or FB @SamanthaHarrisTV   "Clean Beauty" for her vetted toxin-free makeup, skincare, haircare and more that really works to achieve what we need it to do!   "Protein" for the most delicious, clean protein powder   "Smoothie" for my 50-page Smoothies & More recipe guide   "Supplements" to save 15-25% off 100+ brands of supplements that are also regulated, clean, 3rd-party lab tested and delivered right to your door!

Drew Holm is a physician assistant/associate that graduated from Bethel University in 2017. He has worked his entire career so far in the medical hematology/oncology specialty.

Maryann Malec is a Senior Development Manager for the American Cancer Society and oversees all things in the "Pink Space" for breast cancer fundraising; Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Men Wear Pink Campaign here in Minnesota.

Victoria Seamon is the founder of Survivors Bliss, a healing‑centered organization inspired by her personal journey through Stage 3 breast cancer.

Hear from Jenn who is a bestie of Amy and what it's truly like to be a caregiver/friend watching a friend going through a breast cancer journey. There are so many changes that happen through a cancer diagnosis and a friend who can be there for you, is a friend forever. 

Carrie lives in River Falls WI with her husband of 30 years in May and their yellow lab, Gordy.  They have 3 amazing boys, (well not boys they are grown men), ages 28, 24 and 22 In her spare time she enjoy golfing, fishing, and just discovered snow shoeing this winter and loves it. And she enjoys spending time at their little cabin in the woods in northern WI. She has been an oncology nurse for 34 years (that makes her feel old), 21 years as a chemo / infusion nurse and the past 13 years as a nurse navigator.  

Alexa Score is a former professional wakeboarder turned TV host living with cancer. Despite her disease and the side effects, she lives life to fullest, traveling the world as a watersports ambassador and outdoors television host. Alexa has been living with leukemia for 19 years and uses her platform to inspire others to live full lives despite setbacks while raising awareness and money for various organizations.   

Sydney is an Advanced Practice Aesthetician at MK Aesthetics who is passionate about building genuine connections with every client. She specializes in comprehensive client care and is deeply committed to continuing her education to provide results driven, customized treatments. Sydney is also Clinical Cancer Care Certified, allowing her to safely and compassionately support clients undergoing or recovering from cancer related treatments. She graduated as an Honors student from Aesthetician school and brings a strong background in customer service, which enables her to create a truly personalized experience for each client. Known for her attentive and thoughtful approach, Sydney strives to make every treatment tailored to individual needs. Outside of the clinic, Sydney enjoys spending time with her three sisters and meeting friends for lattes at local coffee shops. She loves staying active and filling her days with movement and laughter, believing that positivity and connection are essential to overall wellness.  

Eric G. Jonsgaard, National Certified Guardian, is the President and COO for First Fiduciary Corporation.  Prior to this position Mr. Jonsgaard was the Senior Director of the Lutheran Social Service Guardianship Options program.  In his 20 years of providing guardian, conservator, trust, and related services, Mr. Jonsgaard has been dedicated to ensuring that Minnesota’s most vulnerable have access to high quality guardianship and conservatorship services.  His experience includes: partnering with attorneys across the state in ensuring clients’ rights are upheld, advocating at the State Capitol, working on and implementing legislative policy, providing training and education for staff, government employees, and other professionals, and providing educational instruction at local, state and national conferences. Mr. Jonsgaard is the Past President of the Minnesota Association for Guardianship and Conservatorship (MAGiC) having previously served as the Vice-President and Legislative Chair of  the organization. Mr. Jonsgaard received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

We are meeting with the One in Eight documentary ladies to talk more about what life looks like these days. Thank you to the Hutton House for your beautiful space and always amazing hospitality! 

Brianne lives in Minneapolis with her husband Jake, son Quinn (7), daughter Olivia (4) and their Puerto Rican dog, Mya (13). When she’s not reading, working out, cleaning or organizing she’s likely tackling a diy house project while her husband is gone on a work trip. In January of 2025 at age 35 she was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer.  

Judy has been a Cold Cap Consultant and Administrator with Cold Cap Therapy Midwest and Penguin Cold Caps for almost 8 years. She is deeply committed to her work, which revolves around supporting cancer patients before and during their chemotherapy treatment if they are interested in minimizing the hair loss that can come with certain chemo treatments. Sometimes referred to as a “chemo doula,” Judy’s role is not just to provide technical guidance on minimizing hair loss with cold cap therapy, but also to offer emotional support and companionship to patients navigating through one of the most challenging times they may experience. Traveling mostly in the metro area, but all over Minnesota and throughout the Midwest she can tell you which infusion centers have the best snacks! Her role as a Cold Cap Consultant and Administrator allows her to make a meaningful impact on patients. Her role as a mom and a wife is also highly important to her. Outside of work, she loves hanging out with her kids and hubby, watching them do all the things, taking long walks with the perfect family dog, Leo, cross-country skiing, and winter knitting. Judy has been married to Eric for 24 years and is a mom to Hope (21) and Isaiah (18).

Courtney Daniel is a stay-at-home mom to four boys, ranging in age from 8 to 19. She and her husband, Brian, have been married for twenty years. Before her cancer diagnosis at age 41, Courtney began a fitness journey that led her to bikini bodybuilding. 

Katie lives in Rosemount, Minnesota with her husband, Ryen, their two children, Wil (7) and Wren (5), and their dog, Skylar. She enjoys reading, writing, travel, and spending time outdoors. In 2023, at age 37, she was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer after advocating for additional screening despite an initially clear mammogram. Deeply committed to medical advocacy and cancer research—both of which saved her life—Katie is passionate about helping others navigate their own healthcare journeys.

Joined by Kelli Hanson of Twin Cities Live and Seth the incredible camera man! We chat about how the podcast came to be, and our mission going forward with Pink Power Hour. You can also watch this episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Amber is a physical therapist who specializes in breast cancer rehab. She earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of Missouri in 2018. We talk about how physical therapy can change the breast cancer recovery game. 

Stacy is a 35 year old stage 4 breast cancer thriver originally from Albuquerque, NM, currently embracing the single life in Minneapolis with her fur baby mini-goldendoodle named Obie. She finds joy in staying active—running, yoga, lifting weights, pickleball, and skiing—and feels most at home in nature, whether she’s hiking, spending time by the lake, or taking Obie to the dog park.  A natural problem-solver, Stacy always has a jigsaw puzzle in progress and rarely misses her daily online chess match. She loves getting absorbed in a great TV series and traveling as much as she can. A devoted advocate for stage 4 breast cancer, self-care, health, wellness, and everyday joy, she is currently writing her memoir and shares her cancer journey on her blog, Uplifting Lemons—a space created to inspire, encourage, and uplift others navigating life’s hardest challenges.  

Today we are joined by Dr. Damon Shearer - a breast imager and general radiologist currently practicing at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He previously spent nearly a decade with Consulting Radiologists, Ltd., where he served on the Board of Directors, as Medical Director of CRL Women’s Imaging, and as Director of Physician Scheduling. He completed his breast imaging fellowship at the University of Iowa and his radiology residency at Loyola University Medical Center, where he was Chief Resident and earned multiple research and service awards. A former U.S. Navy Undersea/Dive Medical Officer and Submarine Medical Officer, he served in operational, clinical, and humanitarian roles both stateside and abroad. His clinical interests include breast imaging, patient-centered care, and medical education. He is married to Erica, a physician's assistant and they have 2 amazing daughters as well as 2 cute dogs. A random assortment of small animal pets come in and out of their household as well - guinea pigs, hamsters and even bearded dragons! As a family, they love to travel and often to National Parks, beach destinations or skiing in the mountains.  

Jenna and Amy recall what it was like to be first diagnosed with breast cancer, and the treatments that followed. Listen in for tips on what to do after a diagnosis, and how your friends and family can best take care of you!

Steve is a small-business owner who specializes in sarcasm, stoicism, and pretending everything is totally fine—even when it absolutely isn’t. After 12 years of marriage, he’s become the family anchor, managing his wife’s breast cancer journey, two energetic little boys, and an emotionally clingy puppy with the calm confidence of a man who has seen some things. He served as his wife’s loyal (and surprisingly competent) “Chief Cold Cap Technician” during breast cancer treatment, proving that love sometimes looks like holding freezing equipment against someone’s head while pretending everything is fine. Off the sidelines of cancer care, Steve is an amazing father to two small boys and the undeniable favorite human of Morgan, the family puppy who follows him as if he’s handing out treats 24/7. When he’s not chasing kids, being shadowed by a dog, or running his business, Steve can be found golfing, watching football, or placing bets with the confidence of a man who definitely believes this is his lucky week. He brings humor, honesty, and a touch of sarcastic wisdom to today’s episode — because if anyone can find jokes in the chaos of caregiving, parenting, and puppy-wrangling, it’s Steve.  

Brittany Schneider is a mom of 2, a wife, and behavioral health network management professional. She has a passion for advocating for girls and women in baseball, coaches adult gymnastics, owns a personal safety education business, and writes books that help kids and teens grow confident in their safety and empowerment. As a BRCA2 previvor, she uses her experience to inspire proactive health and empower others with knowledge and community.  

Jacquelyn Vranicar is a wife, mom of four, and the founder of vraniCURE, a nonprofit that’s funding groundbreaking metastatic breast cancer research and supporting women through surgery and treatment. Jacquelyn was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at 38, and she’s turned that experience into a mission to bring hope, awareness, and real impact to the metastatic community. She’s all about living fully, advocating fiercely, and finding purpose in the hard stuff.  

Learn from the mouths of babes through the experiences of Caleigh & Audi. Caleigh is Amy's 14 year old daughter and Audi is Jenna's 10 year old son. They talk all things that helped them cope with their mom's having breast cancer, and how they are living life now.

Amy Brace is a seasoned entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and former medical professional with a passion for helping people and small businesses thrive. After spending 14 yers as the owner of a successful cupcake shoppe, Amy combined her business savvy, creative spark, and medical background to land a new chapter centered around empowerment, storytelling, and sustainable success.

Meet one of our hosts Jenna Sartorius! She is a stage 4 breast cancer thriver who has two mischievous boys and considers herself a "household engineer". Learn how she was diagnosed and what has come since that day 4 years ago!