Cancer and Comedy: Helping Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor

Dr. Brad Miller
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Cancer and Comedy Podcast is for Cancer Impacted People Who are Not Done Living and Are Passionate About Facing the Grim with a Grin. My name is Dr. Brad Miller and The Cancer and Comedy Podcast became my Passion Project At Christmas time 2022 when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer just after retiring from a 43 year career as a pastor. My response was to laugh to keep from crying. I decided after a Christmas visit with my pre-school granddaughters that God wasn't done with me yet and I was going to fully live my life in such a way as to see those granddaughters grow up. I decided to combine my experience as a pastor with my Doctoral Degree in Transformational Leadership with my love of comedy to create the Cancer and Comedy Podcast as place for Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor. I like to say the Cancer and Comedy Podcast is a Place to Turn the Grim into a Grin. Along with my co-host Deb Krier from TryingNotToDie.Live, who is a cancer warrior in her own right, we are dedicated to produce a weekly podcast which brings education, inspiration and entertainment to our audience with practical stories, interviews, funny stories and bad jokes which are designed to help cancer impacted people cope with hope. We will also have faith-based segments in the episodes. Moreover, we love to feature uplifting stories of how people kicked cancer in the butt and won at life. So if you are a cancer impacted person please join me right here on the Cancer and Comedy Podcast where we are all set to lift you up. Dr. Brad Miller, January 2025

  1. 6d ago

    The Healing Power of Laughter: Exploring the Link Between Comedy and Better Health

    Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Creer explore how laughter can help people cope with cancer and other adversity. Drawing on a CNN article by Don Riddell, they discuss how humor may ease stress, lift spirits, and bring people closer—even in the middle of difficult medical experiences. Brad shares a story from his granddaughter Collette’s sixth birthday, where she gave him a makeover complete with hair accessories, makeup, and plenty of sprinkles. The family laughter gave him a joyful distraction before surgery and reminded him how meaningful small, playful moments can be. Deb shares her own stories of joking with surgeons about her incisions, and how humor helped make uncomfortable experiences easier to face. Together, Brad and Deb reflect on laughter as a way to reconnect with others, shift perspective, and make room for joy without denying the seriousness of illness. They also discuss laughter yoga and “laugh baths,” the role of humor in care settings, and Deb’s mother’s decision to limit her exposure to negative news—and how that changed her disposition. Brad and Deb explore: How hope and humor can help people face cancer and other adversityBrad’s “sprinkly grandpa” makeover and finding joy with family before surgeryDeb’s humorous moments with surgeons and the realities of living with scarsThe idea that laughter can reduce stress and support emotional well-beingLaughter yoga, “laugh baths,” and making laughter part of everyday lifeMichael Goldberg’s use of comedy after a brain cancer diagnosis, as described in the articleHow humor can ease tension and help people connect across differencesDeb’s mother’s experience limiting negative news and noticing a change in her moodWhy a cheerful disposition can make difficult moments more bearableBalancing humor with serious medical care and conversations with healthcare providers This episode offers: A warm, candid conversation about finding humor during cancer and recoveryPersonal stories that make difficult or uncomfortable experiences easier to talk aboutEncouragement to seek out joyful moments and supportive connectionsA reminder that laughter can be part of coping, alongside medical careInspiration to approach life with hope, even when circumstances are hard Cancer and adversity can bring fear, stress, and uncertainty, but they don’t have to define every moment. Brad and Deb share how laughter—whether it comes from a family memory, a joke with a care-team member, or simply choosing to notice something funny—can help people feel more connected, uplifted, and present. https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/20/health/laughter-for-good-health-wellness

  2. Sep 25

    Reconstruction Realities: Body, Mind, and Marriage After Cancer

    Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier tackle a deeply personal topic that many cancer survivors and couples experience but rarely discuss openly: rebuilding life after cancer surgery. Brad shares his experience with prostate cancer, the impact of treatment on intimacy and quality of life, and his decision to undergo reconstructive surgery. With honesty, vulnerability, and plenty of humor, he explains the uncomfortable, unexpected, and sometimes downright funny moments that came with the procedure—and why having a clear “big why” matters when making major decisions about your health and future. Brad and Deb also explore Deb’s experience with breast cancer, mastectomy, and the personal decisions surrounding reconstruction. From choosing not to undergo reconstructive surgery to using external prosthetics, Deb shares the realities of adjusting to a changed body and finding ways to reclaim confidence and normalcy. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize that there is no single right way to reconstruct your life after cancer—each person has to make decisions based on their own values, relationships, health, and desired quality of life. Brad and Deb explore: Brad’s prostate cancer diagnosis and the quality-of-life challenges that followed surgeryThe emotional impact of losing sexual function after prostate cancer treatmentWhy intimacy and sexuality deserve to be part of conversations about cancer recoveryBrad’s decision to undergo penile implant surgery and what the experience was really likeThe unexpected and humorous moments surrounding surgery, recovery, and medical proceduresHow humor can help cancer survivors navigate uncomfortable and difficult experiencesThe importance of having a strong “big why” when facing major life changesDeb’s breast cancer journey, double mastectomy, and decision not to pursue reconstructionExternal prosthetics, body image, and adapting to life after mastectomyWhy cancer patients need more open conversations with doctors and partners about sexuality and quality of lifeReconstructing not only the body, but also relationships, identity, confidence, and everyday life This episode offers: An honest conversation about the physical and emotional realities of cancer surgeryA reminder that quality of life is an important part of cancer recoveryEncouragement to talk openly with healthcare providers and loved ones about intimacy and body changesReal-life perspectives on reconstruction and the different choices cancer survivors may makeHumor and perspective for navigating experiences that can otherwise feel uncomfortable or isolatingA powerful reminder that rebuilding after cancer can involve much more than physical healing Cancer can change the body, relationships, routines, and expectations for the future. But as Brad and Deb demonstrate, reconstruction can also mean reclaiming the parts of life that matter most—whether that means physical recovery, intimacy, confidence, connection, or simply finding something to laugh about along the way

    Reconstruction Realities: Body, Mind, and Marriage After Cancer

  3. Sep 18

    The Holiness of Humor: Rabbi Bob Alper on Laughter, Loss, and Love

    On this episode of the Cancer and Comedy Podcast, Dr. Brad Miller sits down with Rabbi Bob Alper — quite possibly the only practicing rabbi on the planet doing stand-up comedy on purpose — for a conversation about faith, illness, and the strange holiness of making someone laugh on the worst day of their life. Bob has been on stage for nearly 40 years, from the Comedy Store to Sirius XM, sharing bills with names like Bob Newhart and Jerry Seinfeld, all while serving congregations and conducting High Holiday services for more than three decades. He's also a bladder cancer patient of ten years running — a diagnosis he's turned into one of the few comedy bits in history to feature the words "urethra" and "cystoscopy." With warmth, self-deprecation, and a rabbi's ear for story, Brad and Bob get into: The 2000-year-old Talmudic trick Bob still uses in every sermon and every set: open with a joke, relax the room, then get seriousWhy 50 years in the pulpit is really "50 years of experience performing in front of a hostile audience"The moment he spotted blood in a urinal in Vancouver, Washington — and what came nextHow he reframed cancer to strip it of its power: four scrapings, a decade of checkups, and a doctor who says this isn't what's going to get himThe true story of the podiatry resident who observed his cystoscopy (and the punchline a fellow comic gave him)Laugh in Peace: Muslim, Jewish, and Christian comics on one stage — and the two student leaders who never spoke until a comedy show made them go to dinnerThe grim, closed-door humor of a Philadelphia cancer center staff ("in cancer, the Mets always win") and why that gallows laughter kept them whole for their patients"The Woman Who Rode Horses into the Sea" — the dying patient with no family or friends who was remembered not as a diagnosis, but as the hero she actually wasThe Vermont driver's license photo that has become a piece of pocket gold, the DMV clerk who told him "we've been waiting for you," and the free cup of coffee it earnedHis mother at 86, hours from death, delivering a perfect laugh line about her 90-year-old boyfriend — the gift Brad and Bob both call the thing you remember most And the line Bob calls the highest point of his entire comedy career — a woman dying of cancer who came up to him after a show and said: "For an hour and a half, I forgot I was sick." This isn't a celebrity comedy interview. It's a working playbook for anyone whose life has been knocked sideways by illness, grief, or loss: Hear why comedy isn't just entertainment — and why even an agnostic rabbi hesitates, then insists, on calling it holyLearn how naming the embarrassing, undignified parts of treatment out loud takes their power awayUnderstand the difference between humor that heals and humor that wounds, and how caregivers walk that lineGet Bob's answer for the person convinced they will never laugh again: not today, maybe — but someday. And the grieving mother who proved it You'll come away with hope, a few laughs you didn't expect from a cancer conversation, and a reminder that healing isn't only about eradicating disease — it's about being seen as who you really are, all the way through.

    The Holiness of Humor: Rabbi Bob Alper on Laughter, Loss, and Love

  4. Sep 11

    From Lost Years to Laughs: Dave Mowry on Healing with Humor and Mental Health

    Dr. Brad Miller welcomes Dave Mowry—author of OMG, That’s Me and Healing with Humor, stand‑up comic, mental health advocate, and survivor of what he calls his “14 lost years” of bipolar disorder, crippling anxiety, and depression. Dave traces his journey from “successful businessman with the great house and the great family” to a single moment on the freeway when his mind “snapped,” launching more than a decade of panic attacks, isolation, and despair—then the unlikely, often hilarious path back through blogging, comedy classes, and teaching others to turn their pain into punchlines. What unfolds is a raw, hopeful, and surprisingly funny story about mental illness, shame, resilience, and the strange power of comedy to literally rewire a suffering brain. Brad and Dave explore:The 1996 snap and the ‘14 dark years’What a panic attack really feels likeDepression, anxiety, and the basic acts of livingThe turning point: writing and being seenDiscovering comedy in a NAMI classThe hospital joke that changed everythingFrom student to teacherThe moment on stage when a switch flipsStories from the book Healing with HumorMarriage, loss, and a different kind of successBaby steps, not getting stuck, and tiny acts of kindness This guide offers:A vivid, honest picture of bipolar disorder and severe anxiety In‑the‑trenches descriptions of panic attacks, depression, and the “constant conversations in my head” that typical tip‑sheet articles miss.A new way to relate to dark thoughts and triggers How deliberately hunting for jokes in painful memories can interrupt panic, build resilience, and gradually “rewire” your responses.Practical, tiny‑step strategies for the ‘lost years’ Concrete examples of micro‑moves—changing your seat on the couch, going outside at night, then in daylight—that keep you from getting stuck.Hope for those who can’t imagine a comeback yet Why “you’re not alone,” why suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, and what it looks like to slowly emerge on the other side.Tools for caregivers, spouses, and friends Stories and language you can share so others really understand what living with serious mental illness feels like—and how to support without fixing.A model for turning pain into purpose From blog posts to comedy stages to books and audiobooks, Dave shows how your most painful experiences can become a lifeline for someone else. The brutal realities of bipolar disorder, panic, and long‑term depression don’t magically vanish—but with honest storytelling, practical baby steps, and a willingness to laugh at the right things, they become battles you don’t have to fight alone. Whether you’re in your own “lost years,” love someone who is, or simply want to understand mental illness beyond clichés, Dave’s journey offers clarity, courage, and a path toward healing with humor.

    From Lost Years to Laughs: Dave Mowry on Healing with Humor and Mental Health

  5. Sep 4

    Encore: Unleashing Your Inner Voice: Courtney Elmer’s Journey to Empowerment and Fulfillment

    Courtney Elmer is Dr. Brad Miller's guest on today’s episode of the "Cancer and Comedy Podcast." Courtney is the CEO of The EffortLESS Life. Every year, she assists hundreds of entrepreneurs in simplifying and scaling their businesses using a proven new approach to work smarter, not harder. She developed The EffortLESS Life Method to help struggling entrepreneurs understand why stress, overwhelm, and burnout occur, even when they are pursuing their passion. In this episode, Courtney shares how her cancer diagnosis served as a catalyst for transformative change in her life. She talks about the challenges she faced, including the emotional impact of receiving the news, dealing with Christmas festivities, and managing a wedding. Courtney reflects on her journey of recovery, the risks associated with her surgery, and the profound realization that losing her voice, something she had suppressed for years, became a profound fear. Courtney Elmer talks to Dr. Brad about the spiritual aspect of her healing journey, emphasizing the importance of faith and her relationship with God. She discusses the shifts she made in her life, from leaving her corporate job to pursuing her passion for writing and speaking. Courtney Elmer's story shows us the power of resilience, courage, and the ability to redefine oneself in the face of adversity. Her experiences highlight the importance of listening to one's inner voice, embracing change, and finding gratitude even in the darkest moments. "The Cancer and Comedy Podcast with Dr. Brad Miller features stories of hope and inspiration infused with humor to uplift people suffering from cancer. https://www.theeffortlesslife.co/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/courtneyelmer_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer

    Encore: Unleashing Your Inner Voice: Courtney Elmer’s Journey to Empowerment and Fulfillment

  6. Aug 28

    Cancer Hates Happiness: Emma Victoria Johnson’s Story of Survival, Support, and Smiles

    Dr. Brad Miller welcomes Emma Victoria Johnson—a young British woman living in Australia who was handed an 18‑month, stage‑four breast cancer death sentence…and flatly refused to accept it. After a cold, compassionless prognosis (“no chemo, no surgery, no hope”), a boyfriend who bolted within a week, and a best friend who took up with him, Emma fired her oncologist, went searching for real options, and landed at Oasis of Hope in Tijuana, Mexico. What unfolds is a story that’s raw, irreverent, moving, and frequently hilarious: from heartbreak and “two clowns” to becoming the joyful “clinic clown,” dancing on her “shaky‑shaky board,” and helping other patients walk into treatment instead of running from it. Emma lays bare what it means to stare down death, rebuild your life, and choose happiness so fiercely that, as she puts it, “cancer hates it.” Brad and Emma explore: The terminal stage‑four diagnosis and firing her oncologist on the spotRelationship collapse: the boyfriend who ran and the best friend who replaced herFinding Oasis of Hope in Tijuana and what it’s really like inside the clinicBecoming the “clinic clown” and using dark humor to get people into treatmentScanxiety: the mind‑spin before PET scans and waiting for resultsThe “shaky‑shaky board,” lymphatic drainage, and making daily treatment funLosing old friends, gaining a new cancer “family,” and discovering who truly shows upTurning survival into mission: advocacy for Oasis of Hope, social media, and a future book and show This guide offers: A brutally honest look at hearing “18 months to live” and choosing a different storyEmotional language for patients and families facing anger, betrayal, fear, and hope all at oncePractical mindset tools for scanxiety, treatment days, and protecting your mental healthEncouragement to trust your own intuition, seek second opinions, and not let others’ fear dictate your path The harsh realities of stage four cancer don’t disappear—but with fierce self‑belief, humor that borders on outrageous, and a community that refuses to give up, they become battles you can face with grit, joy, and a stubborn will to live.

    Cancer Hates Happiness: Emma Victoria Johnson’s Story of Survival, Support, and Smiles

  7. Aug 21

    Breaking the Silence on Prostate Cancer: Michael Bovarnick’s Mission to Educate and Empower

    Dr. Brad Miller welcomes Michael Bavarnik—two‑time prostate cancer survivor, founder of The Prostate Education Project, devoted husband of 62 years, and tireless patient educator. Michael traces his journey from watching his father endure a brutal, old‑school course of prostate cancer, to facing his own aggressive disease, staying undetectable for 20 years, and then getting hit with a recurrence that forced him to rethink everything. What unfolds is a story that’s blunt, practical, often funny, and full of hard‑won wisdom about cancer, marriage, masculinity, and why silence is so dangerous for men. Brad and Michael explore: Family history and first diagnosisNerves, sex, and the “two brains” problemTwenty years of “undetectable”… then the PSA climbsRadiation, ADT, and the mental battleThe Prostate Education Project (English + Spanish)Marriage, intimacy, and what men avoid talking aboutPractical tools and core beliefsLife after “you have prostate cancer” This guide offers: Clear explanations of PSA, staging, surgery, radiation, and ADT in everyday languageSupport for couples redefining intimacy, manhood, and connection after treatmentA roadmap for the first weeks after diagnosis, so patients and loved ones aren’t lost in jargon and fearEncouragement to keep asking questions, keep testing, and keep choosing education over silence The harsh realities of prostate cancer don’t disappear—but with information, honest talk, and a bit of humor, they become challenges you can face with clarity, courage, and support.

    Breaking the Silence on Prostate Cancer: Michael Bovarnick’s Mission to Educate and Empower

  8. Aug 14

    Paralyzed but Not Defeated: How Geri Carlson Found Hope and Humor After Diagnosis

    On this episode of the Cancer and Comedy Podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier walk through one of the most vulnerable moments in the cancer journey: How do you tell the people you love, “I have cancer”? Drawing from Deb’s experience with breast cancer, Brad’s with prostate cancer, and countless conversations with patients, families, and friends, they unpack how to share your diagnosis in a way that’s honest, emotionally safe, and true to who you are—without feeling like you have to manage everyone else’s reactions. In this real, compassionate, and surprisingly light-hearted conversation, Brad and Deb explore: How to decide who to tell, when, and in what order Text, call, post, or in-person? Choosing the right way to share What to do if you feel more afraid of their reaction than your diagnosis Setting boundaries around questions, advice, and “miracle cures” How much detail to share (and what you’re allowed to keep private) Letting people help without feeling guilty or like a burden Using humor to break tension—without dismissing your own pain Handling unhelpful comments with grace (and a little internal eye-roll) Creating a “communication plan” so you’re not updating everyone 24/7 This episode isn’t a script for how you should tell people—it’s a guide to finding a way that fits you. If you’ve just received a diagnosis, are preparing for that conversation, or love someone who’s wrestling with how to share their news, this discussion will help you: Communicate instead of shutting down, Share honestly instead of oversharing or sugarcoating, and Invite support instead of trying to “be strong” alone. Together, we can keep turning “the grim of cancer into the grin of a fulfilled life”—one brave, honest conversation at a time. https://www.hopeblvd.org/episodes/ https://gericarlson.com/

    Paralyzed but Not Defeated: How Geri Carlson Found Hope and Humor After Diagnosis
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The Cancer and Comedy Podcast is for Cancer Impacted People Who are Not Done Living and Are Passionate About Facing the Grim with a Grin. My name is Dr. Brad Miller and The Cancer and Comedy Podcast became my Passion Project At Christmas time 2022 when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer just after retiring from a 43 year career as a pastor. My response was to laugh to keep from crying. I decided after a Christmas visit with my pre-school granddaughters that God wasn't done with me yet and I was going to fully live my life in such a way as to see those granddaughters grow up. I decided to combine my experience as a pastor with my Doctoral Degree in Transformational Leadership with my love of comedy to create the Cancer and Comedy Podcast as place for Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor. I like to say the Cancer and Comedy Podcast is a Place to Turn the Grim into a Grin. Along with my co-host Deb Krier from TryingNotToDie.Live, who is a cancer warrior in her own right, we are dedicated to produce a weekly podcast which brings education, inspiration and entertainment to our audience with practical stories, interviews, funny stories and bad jokes which are designed to help cancer impacted people cope with hope. We will also have faith-based segments in the episodes. Moreover, we love to feature uplifting stories of how people kicked cancer in the butt and won at life. So if you are a cancer impacted person please join me right here on the Cancer and Comedy Podcast where we are all set to lift you up. Dr. Brad Miller, January 2025

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