Connected by Cancer: Honest and uplifting stories

The Premise (from Apple Podcasts):

Every day, the waiting rooms, labs, and clinics at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia fill up with people. Some are there to care for others. Others are searching for the next big breakthrough. Many are there to try to feel like themselves again. Connected by Cancer is a six-part series that tells their stories.

Series or standalone:

Standalone

Begin listening to:

Any episode (There only 6 total, plus a bonus)

Format:

Narrative with stories/interviews

Sound/production quality:

Good

Rating/age suitability:

Intended for adults but fine for all; CW: Cancer/treatments

Approximate length of episodes:

20 minutes

Curricular ties:

N/A

Similar recommended pods:

Julie: The Unwinding of a Miracle

Podcast Librarian’s Review:

This is a branded (but not obnoxiously so) podcast from Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is located outside of Philadelphia. I live nearby and know a couple doctors who work there, which is why this smaller and relatively unknown podcast caught my eye (or should I say, ear?). The pod offers a look inside the facility and is full of human interest stories from patients and staff that are overwhelmingly positive. It is surprisingly quite well-made, with good audio quality, especially when you consider that many of the people are interviewed in a busy hospital setting. The background music sometimes comes close to overwhelming the spoken audio, but that is truly a minor complaint. I usually like to recommend an episode that is a highlight, but I’ve been truly impressed by and interested in each of the first four episodes which cover: the bell that a patient rings at the conclusion of their treatment (E1), a mobile mammogram clinic (E2), what it’s like being an oncology nurse (E3), and researchers who are determining the cause of colon cancer (E4). This is a planned 6-episode series. Personally, I hope it continues beyond that because despite being somewhat specific to this hospital, the stories are universally interesting and important.