What happens when one of the internet's favorite science communicators becomes the patient?

In Episode 3 of Big C Energy, Alison Haislip sits down with author, educator, YouTuber, and Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor Hank Green for an honest, funny, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about navigating a cancer diagnosis.

Together, they compare treatment experiences, chemo side effects, brain fog, survivorship, and the strange reality that cancer forces you to become an expert in your own body. Along the way, Hank explains why every cancer is different, why early detection matters, how humor helped him through treatment, and why he turned his experience into a comedy special.

Topics discussed:

• Hank Green's Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis

• Recognizing the early warning signs

• Chemo brain, fatigue, and treatment side effects

• Radiation vs. chemotherapy

• Becoming an "informed patient"

• The science behind cancer treatments

• Turning cancer into comedy

• Journaling through treatments

• Finding the little wins

▶️ Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Jsg9UzEqv9k

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, CastBox & iHeartRadio

Big C Energy is part of the Community Health Media Podcast Network, where meaningful conversations help patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare professionals learn from one another, one story at a time.

Featured music: "Lived to Tell the Story" by Coby Brown. Support the artist here:

https://cobybrown.bandcamp.com/track/lived-to-tell-the-story

#BigCEnergy #HankGreen #CancerPodcast #Lymphoma #Cancer #AlisonHaislip #Breastcancer

The worst club with the best members.

In Episode 2 of Big C Energy, Alison Haislip sits down with comedian, creator, and breast cancer survivor Grace Helbig for an honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable conversation about navigating a breast cancer diagnosis.

Although Alison and Grace shared the exact same diagnosis — triple-positive breast cancer — their experiences and treatment journeys were completely different. Together, they talk about mammograms, biopsies, chemo brain, surgery, fertility, menopause, asking for help, and the strange reality that some of the best advice comes from other patients.

They also discuss the importance of advocating for yourself, finding humor during treatment, and why every newly diagnosed patient deserves a good blanket.

Topics discussed:

• Triple-positive breast cancer

• Mammograms and early detection

• Chemo brain and menopause

• Surgery and reconstruction

• Fertility preservation

• Asking for help

• Humor during treatment

• Supporting other patients

• Life after cancer

▶️ Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Augrp_6Lk7k

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, CastBox & iHeartRadio

Big C Energy is part of the Community Health Media Podcast Network, where meaningful conversations help patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare professionals learn from one another, one story at a time.

Featured music: "Lived to Tell the Story" by Coby Brown. Support the artist here:

https://cobybrown.bandcamp.com/track/lived-to-tell-the-story

#BigCEnergy #GraceHelbig #BreastCancer #CancerSurvivor

What happens when one of television's most beloved doctors gets a cancer diagnosis of his own?

In the premiere episode of Big C Energy, Alison Haislip sits down with actor James Pickens Jr. (Grey's Anatomy) to talk about joining what he calls "the club nobody wants to be in."

James opens up about his prostate cancer diagnosis, the family history that made him vigilant about screenings, and the phone call that changed everything. Together, he and Alison swap stories about awkward medical procedures, scanxiety, compression socks, surgery, side effects, and the strange reality that sometimes cancer is less terrifying than your imagination makes it out to be.

They also discuss how James used his own diagnosis to inspire a prostate cancer storyline on Grey's Anatomy, helping encourage thousands of people to get screened and take charge of their health.

It's honest. It's emotional. It's surprisingly funny. And it's exactly the kind of conversation Big C Energy was created to have.

Topics discussed:

• James Pickens Jr.'s prostate cancer diagnosis

• Why family history matters

• PSA testing and early detection

• Scanxiety and life after treatment

• Surgery, recovery, and survivorship

• Bringing prostate cancer awareness to Grey's Anatomy

• Alison's breast cancer journey

• The importance of advocating for your own health

Subscribe for new episodes of Big C Energy, hosted by Alison Haislip, featuring candid conversations with patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, and experts who understand what it's really like to hear the words: "You have cancer."

▶️ Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/hNXPiUS9-4M

Featured music: "Lived to Tell the Story" by Coby Brown. Support the artist and purchase the track here: https://cobybrown.bandcamp.com/track/lived-to-tell-the-story

#BigCEnergy #JamesPickensJr #ProstateCancer #CancerSurvivor #GreysAnatomy