An Unexpected Life

The Claire Marie Foundation
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  • Health & Fitness
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An Expected Life with journalist and mother Marianne Banister turns a spotlight on what it’s like to be blindsided by an overlooked but dangerous epidemic; melanoma in teenagers and young adults. Through conversations with medical experts and stories of young survivors, Marianne delves into not only her daughter Claire’s melanoma journey and ultimate loss at 17 years, but offers inspirational insight and easy tips so you can take charge of your skin health and dodge this most preventable of cancers. Infused with the same positivity and contagious energy of The Claire Marie Foundation, this podcast will leave you feeling empowered to love your skin, enhance your wellness and live your best life - no matter what may come your way.For more information, head tohttps://www.instagram.com/clairemariefoundation/or: https://clairemariefoundation.org/

  1. Up Your Skin Game! Guest: Dr. Eva Simmons-O'Brien

    1d ago

    Up Your Skin Game! Guest: Dr. Eva Simmons-O'Brien

    UV damage is sneaky! Even with daily sunscreen use, you could be exposing your skin to sun damage and increasing your risk of melanoma in ways you never imagined!  For instance, did you know that your mode of travel, that refreshing margarita or even your over-the-counter painkiller can cause damage in the sun?  How about the fact that you can burn through your clothes? Class is in session!  Dropping today, our latest episode of An Unexpected Life Podcast. Claire Marie Foundation Chief Medical Advisor and Dermatologist Eva Simmons-O’Brien joins us with insights and simple solutions to make sure you are sensationally sun-safe!    What You’ll Learn in This Episode  ✅ How to find the UV Index for your area ✅ Hidden Travel Sun Risks ✅ How to Keep From Burning Through Your Clothes ✅ Reality of “Margarita Burn” and Other Food Risks ✅ Drugs That Enhance Sun Sensitivity. ✅ Benefits of UPF 50 Clothing, Heliocare & SunPowder ✅ Melanoma Does Not Discriminate: Why Everyone is at Risk. ✅ Hormones and Genetics; Other Factors That Put You At Risk   Links 🔶  The Margarita Burn and Other Risks bit.ly/4usJ9bf 🔶  People of Color Do Get Melanoma bit.ly/4dS73qx 🔶  Why is Melanoma Striking So Many Young Men? bit.ly/42KhSF2 🔶  Risk of Tanning Beds: bit.ly/4t280kr 🔶  Heliocare https://heliocare.com/ 🔶  SunPowder https://drinksunpowder.com/ 🔶 The Risks of Spray Sunscreen bit.ly/4cmxTEi 🔶 Teen Cancer America; Support for Teens and Young Adults: https://teencanceramerica.org/ 🔶 Ulman Foundation; Support for Teens and Young Adults: https://ulmanfoundation.org/ Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.  Follow and Connect 🔶 www.clairemariefoundation.org 🔶Instagram 🔶Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Send us a text 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    33 min
  2. Beyond AI / New Tech That Targets Melanoma with Guest Dr. Diane Orlinsky

    May 25

    Beyond AI / New Tech That Targets Melanoma with Guest Dr. Diane Orlinsky

    When it comes to health, it seems everyone is looking for the next best thing!  Some advances can save pain and money. Others may score high on the “hot tech” meter, but fall short in effectiveness.  What works and what doesn’t, when it comes to tech in melanoma diagnosis?  In this episode, Marianne Banister turned to Dermatologist and Medical Advisor to the Claire Marie Foundation, Dr. Diane Orlinsky, M.D., F.A.A.D to help us sort it all out!   What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ How a new genetic test can determine the aggressiveness of melanoma and if it will spread.  ✅ How a new AI device can help physicians in rural areas pinpoint melanoma risk. ✅ The ineffectiveness of whole body mole mapping and high out-of-pocket costs. ✅ Dermascopy versus new technology. Which is best? ✅ Are genomic home-testing skin strips effective in diagnosing melanoma and skin cancer? ✅ What age should you begin annual skin checks? ✅ How to advocate for yourself with a dermatologist ✅ How to find a gold-standard dermatologist   Links 🔶 Decision DX-Melanoma Test  https://www.castlebiosciences.com/melanomatest 🔶 DermaSensor: https://www.dermasensor.com/ 🔶 How Dermatologists Use Dermascopy: bit.ly/4dD6VtZ 🔶 DermTech: https://dermtech.com/ 🔶 ExoPatch: bit.ly/3RzcnGI 🔶 ChatGPT is Not A Dermatologist: bit.ly/4pwklfT 🔶 How To Find The Best Dermatologist: bit.ly/3Pzccuk Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention. Follow and Connect 🔶 www.clairemariefoundation.org 🔶 IG www.instagram.com/clairemariefoundation/ 🔶 Facebook www.facebook.com/ClaireMarieFoundation 🔶 LinkTree https://linktr.ee/unexpectedlife 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    25 min

  3. May 19

    Kids Count Too! The Fight Against Children’s Cancer ( Guests Tasha Museles / Dr. Robyn Gartrell)

    Hey everyone! In this week’s episode, we are worked up a bit. Nearly 400,000 children and adolescents will be diagnosed with cancer globally this year.  That means every three minutes, a parent is told their child has cancer. Still, only 4% of federal funding goes to research pediatric cancers; 96% are designated to save adult lives. And with ongoing cuts instigated by the Trump administration, it’s getting even worse.  This week, we dive deep into the fight for children’s cancer funding. Why is it so challenging, and what can be done? Our guests are Tasha Museles, President of the Children’s Cancer Foundation, and Dr. Robyn Gartrell M.D., a Pediatric Oncologist and Research Physician with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. What You’ll Learn in This Episode  ✅ Why children are excluded from drug trials and why that’s problematic.  ✅ What Pharma has to do with it! How pharmaceutical companies prioritize adult cancers where there is higher profitability. ✅ The value and challenge of philanthropy. Why nonprofit and private donors are essential.  ✅ What are “Life Years Lost” and its impact on children. ✅ The future of research for pediatric and adolescent cancers. ✅ What you can do.   Links 🔶 Research IS the Answer / Children’s Cancer Foundation: bit.ly/4ezRl4t 🔶 More Than Physical / The Mental Impact of Childhood Cancer: https://bit.ly/42TPBvu 🔶 Remember: Kids Count Too / Fight for Cancer Research: bit.ly/4dzWC9Z 🔶 Teen Cancer America; Support for Teens and Young Adults: https://teencanceramerica.org/ 🔶 Ulman Foundation; Support for Teens and Young Adults: https://ulmanfoundation.org/ Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.   Follow and Connect 🔶 www.clairemariefoundation.org 🔶Instagram 🔶Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Send us a text 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    30 min
  4. Your Child Has Cancer. Now What? A Parent’s Guide (Guest Cheryl Adams)

    May 11

    Your Child Has Cancer. Now What? A Parent’s Guide (Guest Cheryl Adams)

    You never see it coming. It shatters your world, marking simply the before-and-after. Parenting a child through a cancer diagnosis or other life-threatening illness is an overwhelming journey. It will tax and test the entire family, creating the ultimate balancing act as you ride the rollercoaster of medical, emotional, and academic needs. At the forefront of it all is the never-ending worry that you may lose your treasured child.  If you have found yourself in this situation, catch your breath. We’re diving into the hard conversation and advice from those who have been in your shoes. What You’ll Learn in This Episode   ✅ How to tell your child the bad news at any age ✅ The value of calmness and an “appointment buddy” ✅ Balancing the needs of siblings and family ✅ Parenting and managing teenage independence during cancer treatment ✅ How to build an academic support system. ✅ Strength of mind and body for the patient and parent   Links 🔶 Parenting Through the Unimaginable: https://bit.ly/4tjCYFe 🔶 More Tips for Parenting Through Cancer: https://bit.ly/3NKeiXH 🔶 Teen Cancer America; Support for Teens and Young Adults: https://teencanceramerica.org/ 🔶 Ulman Foundation; Support for Teens and Young Adults: https://ulmanfoundation.org/   Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.   Follow and Connect 🔶 www.clairemariefoundation.org 🔶 www.clairemariefoundation.org 🔶Instagram 🔶Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Send us a text 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    33 min
  5. Yes, Babies Can Get Melanoma. A Survivor’s Story

    May 2

    Yes, Babies Can Get Melanoma. A Survivor’s Story

    "Don’t worry! Kids don’t get melanoma.” It is a common belief and yet nothing could be further from the truth. 21-year-old Marit Peterson is proof. The University of Texas Senior and future dermatologist was diagnosed with stage 3b melanoma as a tiny baby of 18 months. As she says, it was a quick lesson that life is not fair, and yet any life challenge can bring unexpected blessings.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode  ✅ The risk of melanoma in children ✅ How Marit handles the shadow of cancer recurrence ✅ The empowerment of advocacy ✅ How Marit shares melanoma awareness and education with friends ✅ The power of pivoting to new adventures in life ✅ The value of advocating for yourself as a patient Links  🔶 Pediatric Melanoma: https://bit.ly/419S1Wf 🔶 Born With Melanoma: Nora’s Story https://bit.ly/4trCrRI  Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.  Follow and Connect 🔶 www.clairemariefoundation.org 🔶Instagram 🔶Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    28 min
  6. Healing Through the Power of Gratitude (Guest Linda Roszak Burton)

    07/23/2025

    Healing Through the Power of Gratitude (Guest Linda Roszak Burton)

    Is the world closing in around you? Feeling overwhelmed that you can’t catch a break? A good dose of gratitude may be just what you need! Infusing gratitude into your life can boost your immune system, decrease depression, anxiety, even disease and chronic pain and improve your personal relationships as well.  In this episode of An Unexpected Life, Marianne Banister and Executive Wellness Coach Linda Roszak Burton explore some surprisingly scientific and simple ways to imbue the healing power of gratitude into your daily life. It’s a chance to reset your mind, enhance your health, and learn the magic of a Gratitude Cocktail! What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ How to use gratitude as a healing tool ✅ Journaling, visual journaling and gratitude intervention ✅ Dopamine, serotonin and the neuroscience of gratitude ✅ The power and gift of gratitude letters ✅ Ditch the earbuds; the magic of a gratitude walk. ✅ The difference between gratitude and forgiveness Links 🔶 Healing Through the Power of Gratitude: https://bit.ly/4eqTkWv 🔶 Retrain Your Brain Through Gratitude: https://bit.ly/44eHSse 🔶University of Florida / Gratitude, Body & Soul:  https://bit.ly/4ljGF9V 🔶Contact Linda Roszak Burton: linda@accordanthealth.com Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention. Follow and Connect 🔶Website 🔶 Instagram 🔶 Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Support the show 🔶 Send us a text 🔶 Send us a text Support the show 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    34 min
  7. The Long Game; Fertility Preservation and Cancer (Guests Megan Scherer & Kara Bendle)

    07/09/2025

    The Long Game; Fertility Preservation and Cancer (Guests Megan Scherer & Kara Bendle)

    When a child, teenager or young adult is diagnosed with cancer, the overwhelming response is to jump into treatment as soon as possible to blast it out of the body. But before diving into treatment, it’s equally important to take a moment, step back and consider the long game; the quality of that young person’s life once the cancer is gone.  In this episode of An Unexpected Life, Marianne Banister dives into the world of Fertility Preservation with two experts who are helping young cancer survivors create families. Thanks to huge advances in medicine, even newborn cancer patients can now preserve their chance to have their own children one day! Our guests are Megan Scherer of Worth the Wait Charity and Kara Bendle of the Cleveland Clinic’s AYA Fertility Preservation Program.  It’s fascinating and vital information for any parent or future parent to know! What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ Fertility Preservation Options ✅ Earliest age available for preservation ✅ How to manage preservation options with cancer treatment options ✅ Funding and financial support options ✅ Alternative pathways to parenthood for cancer survivors Links 🔶 Preserving Fertility in Children and Teens: https://bit.ly/4nihztS 🔶 Fertility Preservation Program / Cleveland Children’s: https://bit.ly/4kW49SO 🔶 Worth the Wait: https://worththewaitcharity.com/ 🔶All Paths Family Support Group: https://allpathsfb.org/support/   Claire Marie Foundation Mission “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention. Follow and Connect 🔶Website 🔶 Instagram 🔶 Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Support the show 🔶 Send us a text 🔶 Send us a text Support the show 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    28 min
  8. Listen to THAT Voice; When You Know Best! (Guest Elea Vander Burgh)

    06/19/2025

    Listen to THAT Voice; When You Know Best! (Guest Elea Vander Burgh)

    Here’s a thought that may seem strange; you can disagree with your doctor. Sure, they have the diplomas on the wall and you’re the one in the paper gown, but remember; the doctor works for you! In this episode of our podcast An Unexpected Life, you’ll meet melanoma survivor Elea Vander Burgh. As a 17 year old high school student, Elea stubbornly stood her ground when her dermatologist brushed aside a questionable mole as nothing. Elea demanded it be removed. The result; a melanoma diagnosis that possibly saved her life. Now a student at Baylor University, Elea shares her inspirational story with Marianne to illustrate the challenge and power of self advocacy at any age, the importance of shopping for a good dermatologist, and the magic of developing a good scar story! What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ Why it’s important to listen to your inner voice. ✅ The value of advocacy and saying no! ✅ The hallmarks of a gold star dermatologist. ✅ The importance of finding a medical “team” post diagnosis. ✅ Sharing your story with friends. Links 🔶 Screening to Save Your Life! How to Find the Best Dermatologist https://bit.ly/44dYnWO 🔶 The Difference Between Melanoma and Skin Cancer: Awareness That Could Save Your Life. https://bit.ly/45hm6q7 🔶 Education to Save Young Lives / The Basics of AYA Melanoma https://bit.ly/3ZVYqDx Want to hear more episodes of An Unexpected Life? Find them here: https://clairemariefoundation.org/podcast/ Claire Marie Foundation Mission  “ The Claire Marie Foundation provides clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.  Follow and Connect 🔶Website 🔶 Instagram 🔶 Facebook 🔶 LinkTree 🔶 Support the show 🔶 Send us a text Support the show 🔶 Send us a text Support the show

    33 min
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About

An Expected Life with journalist and mother Marianne Banister turns a spotlight on what it’s like to be blindsided by an overlooked but dangerous epidemic; melanoma in teenagers and young adults. Through conversations with medical experts and stories of young survivors, Marianne delves into not only her daughter Claire’s melanoma journey and ultimate loss at 17 years, but offers inspirational insight and easy tips so you can take charge of your skin health and dodge this most preventable of cancers. Infused with the same positivity and contagious energy of The Claire Marie Foundation, this podcast will leave you feeling empowered to love your skin, enhance your wellness and live your best life - no matter what may come your way.For more information, head tohttps://www.instagram.com/clairemariefoundation/or: https://clairemariefoundation.org/

Information

  • Creator
    The Claire Marie Foundation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 An Unexpected Life
  • Show Website
    An Unexpected Life