Brainy Blonde Podcast

Rebecca Devine
  • 4.9 (16)
  • Nutrition
  • Biweekly

Cancer saved my life. Sometimes the worst news can make you look at life in a whole new way. I've been both a caregiver and now a survivor, actually an outlier, having beaten one of the deadliest cancers, so I'm here to provide hope and inspiration to all of you. We'll talk to experts, share survivor stories, reflect on the meaning of life...and have fun doing it!

  1. Oct 22

    A Bright Spot for Brain Cancer: Survivor Series featuring Ethan Gasteyer Diagnosed while Pre-Med at UConn

    Diagnosed with a brain tumor at just 20 years old,  Ethan's life changed during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. What began with balance problems, headaches, and vertigo led to an MRI, emergency hospitalization, and surgery. But his story didn't end with a diagnosis. In this episode of The Brainy Blonde Podcast Survivor Series, Ethan shares his journey living with a grade 2 astrocytoma, navigating years of treatment, pursuing his education, and finding new ways to move forward when the path became uncertain. His story includes setbacks, difficult treatment decisions, a personalized cancer vaccine in Germany, and the determination to keep building a future even when the next step isn't clear. 💗 IN THIS EPISODE 🧠 The symptoms he initially overlooked: How balance problems, headaches, and vertigo led to the discovery of a brain tumor in his cerebellum. 🏥 Facing brain surgery during COVID: The challenges of hospitalization, surgery, and recovery during an already uncertain time. 🎓 Finding his way forward: How his experience strengthened his interest in medicine and shaped his educational journey. 💊 Years of treatment: His experiences with radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and the difficult side effects that forced him to reconsider his options. 🇩🇪 Seeking additional options in Germany: Why Ethan and his family explored the personalized CeGAT vaccine, how his tumor tissue was analyzed, and what receiving the vaccine has involved. 🚶 Learning to celebrate small victories: His experience with balance challenges, physical therapy, and working toward greater mobility. 📖 Turning his experience into a book: Why he decided to share his private thoughts and experiences in When a Bright Spot Darkens Your World. ❤️ Finding hope amid uncertainty: How humor, family, faith, and sharing his story have helped him navigate life with a brain tumor. One of the things I admire about Ethan is his ability to keep looking forward, even when the future is uncertain. He has faced difficult decisions and setbacks while continuing to pursue meaningful goals and find ways to help other people through his experience. His story is also a reminder that every brain tumor journey is different. Ethan's diagnosis is a grade 2 astrocytoma, and his treatment experiences are personal to him. His choices are not medical recommendations, and outcomes with particular treatments can vary. 📚 Ethan'S BOOK When a Bright Spot Darkens Your World Ethan shares his experiences with diagnosis, treatment, relationships, faith, education, and the lessons he has learned along the way. 🛍️ My Amazon Storefront for GBM Warriors I've added 's book to my Amazon storefront, along with resources I've curated for the glioblastoma community. If you're looking for books and helpful resources for yourself or someone you love, you can find them here: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/thatbrainyblonde/list/29B1GJ1R6EVEF?ref_=aipsflist&tag=rebeccadevi03-20&originMarketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER I hope these resources help you feel a little less alone as you navigate this journey. 💗 💗 ABOUT THE BRAINY BLONDE PODCAST I'm Rebecca Devine, also known as The Brainy Blonde. I'm a glioblastoma survivor, mom, and brain cancer advocate. Through this podcast, I share conversations with survivors, caregivers, researchers, and physicians to help people affected by brain cancer feel less alone and better informed. Every survivor has a story worth hearing. Thank you for being here and helping us share them. 📲 CONNECT WITH REBECCA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ Website: https://www.rebeccadevine.com/ 💬 Join the conversation: What has helped you keep moving forward when life hasn't gone according to plan? Share your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe to The Brainy Blonde Podcast for more survivor stories, conversations about brain cancer research, emerging treatments, and hope. Hope is a verb. 💗 #BrainTumor #BrainCancer #Astrocytoma #CancerSurvivor #BrainyBlonde Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  2. Oct 1

    I can handle this: Doug Cartwright Gives us a Peek inside a Phase 1 CAR T Trial for Glioblastoma at UPenn

    You guys, it is season 3. Can you believe it?! I truly can’t. What started as a little idea has turned into something way bigger. And I know that this is all part of why I’m still here, thriving with grade 4 glioblastoma, 8 years longer than anyone expected: to help change the story about glioblastoma. If you know me, you know how much I believe in the power of the mind. Whether you call them God winks, signs from the universe or you call it intuition, every single person I know who is thriving with cancer has a story, one about trusting their gut. And today’s guest is no different. And because he trusted his instincts and did something brave, we all get to benefit. That is why I know the absolute best person to kick us off in season three is Doug Cartwright. He is an incredible human. He, in real time, is sharing his experimental treatment with glioblastoma on social media. Today’s Doug is sharing with us exactly what he is doing, how he decided to put all his hope in a clinical trial and what he hopes to achieve. Doug made me cry in this episode. Twice. And not for the reason you may be thinking. It’s because this conversation is going to change your life. It is going to make you HOPEFUL in a brand new  way. Trust me, you want to stay until the end and share this with everyone you know facing brain cancer. I hope you love this conversation as much as I do. Enrolling clinical trials for glioblastoma, recurrent glioma | Clinical Briefing https://www.instagram.com/doug_cartwright Buy Doug’s first book and get ready to pre-order his next! https://www.amazon.com/shop/thatbrainyblonde/list/29B1GJ1R6EVEF?ref_=aipsflist&tag=rebeccadevi03-20&originMarketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER  ▶️ Watch the full video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/miP6Fezm0Jk Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  3. Jul 17

    Survivor Series: Extraordinary Seventeen Year Old Pilates Instructor Sophie Teaches us Not to Sweat the Small Stuff

    Today’s survivor story might be one of my absolute favorites. Last year at this time, Sophie was graduating from what we call high school here in the US when her life was flipped upside down. The morning after her graduation party she knew something was wrong. Really really wrong. By mid afternoon Sophie was taken by ambulance to the ER only to find out she had several tumors in her brain. And what comes next is what is so extraordinary. A 17 year old girl stood up to the doctors in the room who said there was nothing she could do, that she should go home and prepare to die. As you can probably guess, she did not do that. She advocated for herself, flew across the world for a new type of surgery in LA called LITT and is now living her best life as a TikTok famous pilates instructor, teaching the world that hardest things in life sometimes turn out to be the best. And I’m not just talking about the ab killer hundred. You can find Sophie over on the TikTok @sophc149  Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  4. Jun 22

    Honoring Survivor and Legend Jill Smokler of Scary Mommy

    I woke up to the most crushing news this morning that we lost Jill Smokler. I just can’t quite believe it. It’s so cliche  - and probably absurd and representative of  my delusional optimism - that I did not in any way see this coming. I interviewed Jill for the podcast when I first started out and the interview was a disaster. All me. Obviously. I had tech difficulties like crazy. My cat kept climbing on me. She would get to a really good story and the audio cut out - or so I thought - because I couldn’t hear her.  So we kept saying we’ll redo it. And we kept putting it off. After this trip to Germany, after that event, then we’ll try the podcast again. Who does that? I’m so mad. But here’s the good news. I’m stuck at home today doing my colonoscopy prep so I had time and the determination to fix this. And I have something! When I went back and listened to the recording, I realized it captured most of what Jill said. I just couldn’t hear it.  Between my not being able to hear her and my nervousness at talking to the GOAT mom blogger, THE founder of Scary Mommy, and little to her knowledge, my companion and hero as a stay at home mom with little kids and no family around I talked too much… but …there’s still a lot of Jill in there and I can’t gatekeep this conversation.  Trigger warning: We have a shared love of dark humor so it’s real, it’s raw, it’s vulnerable. We do not hold back. And rather than continuing to kick myself that this is NOT enough, that I want more, I’m so glad I have this. And I want to share it with all of you who love Jill. Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  5. Jun 19

    From Times Square to NBC News: NYC Gala Recap and Survivor Story with Kathy Hammond our Fierce Advocate

    For all of you who follow me on social media you know I was just in New York City and had the most wonderful time at the Lenox Hill gala, a huge fundraising event for brain cancer which raised over 1.5M.  Because I started this podcast with the idea of spreading hope and changing the story about glioblastoma I just have to share with all of you that this event did just that for me. Gave me a boost of hope.  I was honored to be an invited guest among so many prominent people in entertainment and in medicine, but even more so to be reminded that GBM touches everyone, every age, male and female. And because it can affect anyone, it is starting to get more attention. We recognized Jason Collins with his husband Brunson, Pete Davidson’s dad, Lara Spencer’s mom, Barbee Blank’s dad. These wonderful humans with big hearts vulnerably shared the loss of their heroes and are now using their big platforms to spread the word and demand more research.  And it’s working. Slowly but surely it is working. Today's Survivor Story features Kathy Hammond, a fierce advocate for glioblastoma. This is being released at the two year mark of her diagnosis and Kathy has already done so much work advocating for all of us. I know you'll enjoy connecting with her and hearing her story. https://katiecouric.com/health/cancer/brain-cancer-survivor-one-year-later/ Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  6. Apr 20

    The Bolton Identity: In Jason Bourne fashion Dave Bolton’s Harrowing Stories of Extraordinary Talent, Fearlessness, Resilience and Defiance (of all limitations) are bound to be the next Best Selling Thriller to Inspire Us All

    This episode of the Survivor Series is truly one for the big screen. We might  need a Trilogy to cover the many thrilling lives Dave Bolton has lived already. And he’s still going strong! Every story Dave shares is wilder than the last. It’s almost impossible to believe a person can continue to live after surviving some of the most terrifying events we usually only see on TV, some of which Dave signed up for himself - and some he certainly did not. You may. know him on social media as Dave Bolton Inspires but you’re about to hear just why he’s rebranding: Dave Bolton Defiance is way more fitting! Dave Bolton is an 11 year survivor (or as he’d prefer it thriver) of glioblastoma. He is the Founder and CEO of Ahead Of The Game Foundation, a non-profit cancer charity. Dave's foundation provides free physical, mental, and emotional rehabilitation to those with a diagnosis of cancer, while also providing support for their family and loved ones. Dave served in Air Operations Iraq alongside the US Marines, survived being crushed by an 23-ton lorry in a freak motorbike accident, and went on to become a world kickboxing champion. He is also former detective sergeant.  In his free time (and with boundless energy) Dave enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu, physical strength and resistance training, mixed martial arts, calisthenics, rugby, football (soccer), the National Football League, traveling, and spending time with his family. Instagram: @aheadofthegame_foundation  @the_northwest_wellbeing_hub https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9M48m2gXPc#:~:text=%E2%80%8B%20The%20Foundation%20also%20extends,://www.aheadofthe... https://www.instagram.com/dave_bolton_inspires_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== https://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/near-you/projects/dave-bolton#:~:text=When%20Dave%20Bolton%20was%20diagnosed,'t%20stopped%20there%2C%20however. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/dave-bolton-kickboxer-champion-wirral-10905290 Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  7. Feb 9

    The Olympic Games of Battling Glioblastoma: An Interview with Dr. Stefaan Van Gool of IOZK

    Dr. Steffan Van Gool is a physician and cancer immunotherapy specialist and the founder of the Immun-Oncological Center Cologne, or IOZK, in Germany. For decades, he has worked alongside patients and families facing some of the most challenging cancer diagnoses, focusing on personalized, multi-faceted treatment approaches designed to activate the body’s own immune system while supporting the whole person.  And by multi-faceted I mean MULTI faceted. There is standard of care, dendritic cell vaccine, oncolytic, metabolic approach and repurposed drugs. He’ll talk about the how and the why of his approach. He’ll also give us a little insight into why Germany for these personalized vaccines and a glimpse at the hurtles doctors face when treating these dynamic cancers. You may be surprised to know it’s not that the medical world doesn’t recognize that personalized care and immunotherapy are the best hope for difficult cancers it’s just getting the support and the funding to be able to offer it to their patients. It is a lot of information and it can be confusing and overwhelming. I encourage you to share this podcast with your medical team and your support system - and  with anyone you know fighting glioblastoma. Information is power. We are in this together and we will keep fighting for better care and better outcomes. Like Dr Van Gool says, “If you do nothing you gain nothing.” Let’s do this. Together.  Publications and Website: https://www.iozk.de/en/2023/11/new-iozk-publication-on-liquid-biopsy/ https://www.iozk.de/en/2023/01/stefaan-van-gool-editor-of-the-special-issue-of-the-journal-of-molecular-sciences/ https://www.iozk.de/en/2020/06/iozk-analysis-demonstrates-good-tolerability-of-iozk-immunotherapy-in-diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-glioma-dipg/ https://www.iozk.de/en/2020/03/prof-dr-volker-schirrmacher-publishes-two-groundbreaking-review-articles-on-immunotherapy/ https://www.iozk.de/en/2018/12/from-chemotherapy-to-biological-therapy-a-review-of-novel-concepts-to-reduce-side-effects-in-systemic-cancer-treatmentpublication-by-prof-dr-volker-sc/ More: https://www.iozk.de/en/iozk-publications/ TimeStamp Publications: 0:39 2005 Publication of Roger Stupp et al.: current Standard-of-Care https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0433302:30 2024 Publication of Volker Schirrmacher et al.: Rationale behind Individualized Multimodal Immunotherapy (IMI) https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/4/754 20:25 2000/2011/2022/2026 Hanahan and Weinberg: the Hallmarks of Cancer 2000: https://www.cell.com/fulltext/s0092-8674(00)81683-9?fbclid=iwar0f_uccj4o8k6yfd1jnj7k5hxbc3_8sb42ngse-pcd8ekg94mocwpmjwcm2011: https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(11)00127-92022: Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

  8. 12/18/2025 ·  Bonus

    Special Holiday Episode with Keto Queen Maria Emmerich

    It is almost the holidays, which is absolutely my favorite time of the year. We just go all out for Christmas around here and it is so fun! The reason I wanted to bring today’s guest on was for all of you today too realize that even if you have a diagnosis which limits what you normally would eat during the holidays, there are options for you so you can stay on track.  I’m a huge food as medicine person, as you know - and medicine as medicine, which is why I have talked to so many experts - but today I want to introduce you to Maria Emmerich. I think of her as the Keto Queen.  Now full disclaimer Maria Emma Emmerich is not on the show as a cancer expert. She started the ketogenic diet for very different reasons of her own, but I think I think her story is so important as it emphasizes the power of food to heal. And her story is the perfect example of life, when you allow it to be what it is, not what you thought it was going to be, can be so much more beautiful and meaningful. Also, for any of you considering a ketogenic diet for cancer, you will be so glad to be connected with Maria. She has been creating keto recipes for decades - before it was trendy weight loss diet and certainly before I ever heard of the ketogenic diet as a way to beat brain cancer.  Maria  has thousands and thousands of free recipes available for you . I just want all of you to be able to celebrate the holidays with your friends and families eat food that you enjoy food that feels familiar and warm and fuzzy - but that won’t mess up your goals if you’re really trying to stay on a keto path for your brain cancer  I hope you find this helpful and I hope you all have a wonderful safe holiday holidays. I just love all of you and I’m so grateful for all the connections I’ve made this year. Maria's Website https://mariamindbodyhealth.com Buy Maria’s books here (and support GBM): https://www.amazon.com/shop/thatbrainyblonde/list/FU821IVU34MV?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_SHZD1BJTX892R57FKB1Z Support the show I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here.  If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better. Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon! Love you, Rebecca https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/ https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Cancer saved my life. Sometimes the worst news can make you look at life in a whole new way. I've been both a caregiver and now a survivor, actually an outlier, having beaten one of the deadliest cancers, so I'm here to provide hope and inspiration to all of you. We'll talk to experts, share survivor stories, reflect on the meaning of life...and have fun doing it!

Information

  • Creator
    Rebecca Devine
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brainy Blonde Podcast
  • Show Website
    Brainy Blonde Podcast

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