In this episode, host Matthew Zachary dives into the history and mission of Cancer Hope Network (CHN) with Executive Director Beth Blakey and Program Officer Marielle McLeod, a young adult cancer survivor. Founded in 1981, Cancer Hope Network is a vital peer support organization that connects cancer patients and caregivers with mentors who’ve been through similar journeys. Beth and Marielle share insights on the unique value CHN offers, including the impact of one-on-one mentorship and the importance of culturally relevant support for underrepresented communities. Join us for an honest, thoughtful, and occasionally humorous look at how CHN supports patients and caregivers across the cancer journey.

Notable Time Stamps:

0:17 // Matthew introduces Cancer Hope Network and its role in cancer support.

1:09 // Beth Blakey, Executive Director, and Marielle McLeod, Program Officer, join the conversation.

7:27 // Discussion on the legacy of cancer advocacy and CHN’s origin story.

13:28 // Beth’s personal journey to nonprofit leadership after supporting her mother through cancer.

15:06 // Marielle shares her story as a young adult Hispanic cancer survivor and the challenge of

finding culturally specific support.

20:11 // The importance of awareness and access for minority communities in cancer support.

24:04 // Why nonprofit marketing matters: funding, outreach, and equitable resource distribution.

36:08 // How CHN’s mentorship model helps patients find connection and agency during their cancer journey.

37:40 // Final thoughts on peer support as a transformative tool for cancer patients and survivors.

Links and Resources:

- Cancer Hope Network (https://www.cancerhopenetwork.org/)

- Connect with Beth Blakey on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethblakey1228/)

- Connect with Marielle McLeod on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariellemcleod/)

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On the show today: Lisa Simms Booth is Executive Director at The Smith Center for the Healing Arts and former Senior Director for Patient and Public Engagement at The Biden Cancer Initiative. She is such an extraordinary human being who've I've wanted her on my show for such a long time and, well, here she is. Lisa has this extraordinary way to define and extoll the virtues of cancer survivorship, how far we've come in the last half-century, lessons learned from the pandemic for Nonprofit Leadership, cancer screenings, prevention, and more.

FUN FACT: The Smith Center occupies a unique place in my life as they hosted one of the very first Stupid Cancer Happy Hour events in DC in 2007. It's a great place, so if you live in the DC area, be sure to check them out.

SIDENOTE: For the cheap seats in the back, many of you may recognize The Smith Center from Episode 81 with my guest, Dr. Julia Rowland, who serves as their Senior Strategic Advisor. (Julia is also the Founding Director of The National Cancer Institute's Office of Cancer Survivorship. You can hear her share her story as one of the contributors to The Cancer Mavericks, our eight-part docu-series about the history of cancer survivorship.

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Today I talk to Kara Goldin — health product entrepreneur, breast cancer advocate, and the Founder and CEO of HINT Inc. Kara calls herself an accidental entrepreneur because she invented a product that she wanted but couldn’t find: unsweetened, fruit-infused water. Now HINT is available everywhere as a healthy and natural alternative to diet drinks. Kara honed her chops working at AOL and Time magazine, and she even interned for John McCain way back when. Today Kara is expanding HINT to include a line of natural sunscreen and is out with a new book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters. Kara Goldin talks about overcoming her diet soda addiction, disrupting the beverage industry, and the importance of knowing what we put in and on our bodies.

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