On this episode of The Real Me podcast, I am so excited to introduce you to the truly incredible Elissa Waller.

Imagine this: you’ve just graduated college, moved across the country to start your dream job, and your entire world is suddenly turned upside down by a life-altering brain tumor diagnosis. Instead of letting it define her, Elissa channeled her experience into one of the most kickass ska-punk anthems I’ve heard, with the absolutely brilliant title, “This Is Not An Angry Song”—but you have to hear who the lyrics are for!

Join us as we dive into her powerful story of survival, the community she found with Teen Cancer America’s Play It Back Program, and the surprising way she turned her classical music training into a raw, unfiltered masterpiece.

How does a young adult transform a terrifying medical journey into a powerful statement of self-love and independence? You simply have to listen to find out.

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What happens when a talented musical theater kid's world is turned upside down not once, but twice by a cancer diagnosis and its after-effects?

Stephen shares his powerful story of resilience and how he went from the stage to the songwriting studio with Teen Cancer America to create his amazing song, "Pretend." How does someone find their creative voice in the middle of so much uncertainty?

You have to listen to this inspiring conversation and hear the beautiful song that came from it all.

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Brandon is another one of our OGs here at TCA, and we had a great conversation.

Wait until you hear his song called, “It’s Time.” His music is described as “quirky alternative” on our website, and when you hear this song you’re gonna know.

This just fits him perfectly. He gets very candid about his cancer journey, and he speaks about how now he’s giving back and working in the same community.

So let's just jump right in, and first speak with Kenli Mattus.

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Savannah truly is a product of Southern charm; her voice is so soothing, and she gets quite candid about her cancer journey, finding the Play It Back Music Program and how songwriting really helped her find her voice.

We get to listen to her beautiful song, "I Say Free," which is so good you won't forget about the song or her voice once you've heard it.

You'll have to listen to our entire conversation to hear about her journey and the full song!

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She is eloquent, philosophical, and has a wisdom that will honestly take your breath away.

Alexa shares her incredible journey through a difficult cancer diagnosis, a path complicated by everything from misdiagnosis to being treated during Hurricane Harvey. Through it all, she found her powerful voice and created the beautiful song, "Let's Just Be." What does it mean to hold space for others while fighting for your own life?

And speaking of the Play It Back Music Program's incredible community... you won't believe the surprise love story that came out of it at the end of this episode.

You have to tune in for this one!

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What happens when you're just 12 years old, navigating middle school, and a cancer diagnosis suddenly isolates you from everything you know? You channel it all into an absolute banger of a song, that's what!

Join me as Nathan shares his powerful journey and the story behind his triumphant anthem, "I'm Back." We talk about everything from the pain of losing friends to finding your voice, the creative process with Kenli Mattus, and yes, even his love for Afroman! This is a story of turning struggle into strength, and you have to hear it to believe it. How do you find the confidence to declare "I'm back" to the world? Listen in and find out.

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Her voice is absolutely effortless, filled with so much soul and power... but what happens when that incredible gift is silenced by a life-changing cancer diagnosis? Samantha takes us on her journey, from the moment she put her passion for music aside to how the Teen Cancer America’s Play It Back Music Program helped her find her voice again. What does it take to reclaim your joy and sing from the heart when you've been through the unimaginable?

This is a story of resilience you won't want to miss, and you simply have to hear her stunning song, "Like to Be Me," that came from it all.

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Imagine being a passionate musician with dreams of a professional career, only to be diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer at the age of 15. Amara shares her profound journey of battling a cancer believed to be linked to "forever chemicals" in her community's water supply.

This is a story of unimaginable challenges, unwavering determination, and the sheer power of the human spirit. In her final months, Amara chose to use her voice not just for music, but to advocate for change, testifying before the Minnesota legislature to protect others from the same fate. How does someone facing their own mortality find the strength to fight for a future she knew she would not see? You have to listen to believe the incredible impact of her advocacy, which led to the passage of "Amara's Law," and the enduring power of her voice.

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Imagine being a passionate singer and then, on top of a cancer diagnosis, losing the very sense you rely on to create music.

McKenzy shares her incredible journey of profound hearing loss and how, through Teen Cancer America's Play It Back Artist Program, she is literally relearning how to hear and sing again. It’s a story of unimaginable challenges, unwavering determination, and the sheer power of the human spirit. How does someone find their pitch when their own voice is a stranger?

You have to listen to believe it and hear her beautiful, soulful song, "No Reason At All."

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You know how sometimes the craziest ideas turn into the most incredible realities?

Well, get ready for a story that starts with, "Hey, I want to produce a Spinal Tap tribute album for charity..." and ends with something so much bigger.

Join me, Erin Alden, as we pull back the curtain on this amazing collaboration benefitting Teen Cancer America.

You'll hear the unbelievable behind-the-scenes story of how our own Play It Back artists—our incredible AYA cancer survivors—were brought in to record their powerful version of "Majesty of Rock." How does a legendary mockumentary, a wild idea, and the healing power of music come together?

You’ll have to listen to find out and hear the absolutely mind-blowing final track for yourself

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We share stories, make some music, and laugh a lot.

The Real Me follows the stories of young songwriters and performers with cancer who found hope, healing and connection through music.

Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

www.teencanceramerica.org

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Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

This episode we welcome Samantha Kayne!

Samantha Kayne is a singer/songwriter. Before cancer, Samantha wrote, sang, and listened to music. Her favorite genre is pop and her biggest influence is Meghan Trainor. At the beginning of her cancer experience, Samantha was unable to sing. She did, however, find her voice again and began creating her own music. Play It Back has made her experience with music awesome and helped make her dreams come true to record her own songs. It allowed her to connect with other singers and cancer survivors around her age. Her favorite memory of Play It Back thus far is when Kenli sent Samantha her first song and she played it in her mom’s car. She said it was like she was on the radio.

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Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

Our Guest this week is Audrey Rene, a singer/songwriter from College Station TX.

Audrey grew up in a musical family, and as a singer herself, has grown up singing in her school choirs throughout her junior high, high school and college years. She auditioned for the state choir in Texas, and got to perform with her varsity women’s ensemble at TMEA. After being diagnosed with cancer, music became even more important to her.

Spending some time speaking with Audrey, I can tell you she has such a great sense of humor and tells it like it is. Cancer was not going to slow her down. She has a driving force and passion for writing and recording music especially now that she's been a part of the Play it Back Program. Her song "Not the End" says it all. Take a listen!

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

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Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

Up this week...Brian Smith!

Brian “RiGHtSiDE” Smith came up as an avid underground-punk fan and a hardcore-rap fan. Although he’s mostly moved on from those genres, his deep love and wonder for music has only grown. CR2 records and Mark Brown provided beats Brian wrote many of his songs too and the results are extraordinary. Brian’s natural gift for hooks and lyrics has developed so much that he has collaborated with new Play It Back artists in different genres, indoctrinating them into his sensitive and attention-to- detail writing process. RiGHtSiDE has also taken to performing. He performed his songs in several venues including the 2019 AYA convention in Fort Worth, Texas where he received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

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Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

In this show...Christina Best!

Play It Back artist, Christina Best, is an educator and artist from rural North Carolina. She has always been a creative person, known to pop lock, sing/beat-box in a group, or photograph as a side hustle, but her experience as a cancer survivor pushed her to honor her creative talents more intentionally. She loves music, with R&B, Neo-Soul, and Hip Hop holding special places in her heart. She’s so excited to join the Play It Back family, and looks forward to continuing her artistry.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

Now up...Nathan Hooper!

Nathan Hooper is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was born in Nashville, TN and loves all kinds of music. He has played drums since he was four and has played the guitar and bass since the fifth grade. Before Cancer, Nathan played in percussion ensemble, the jazz band at his school and a rock band with some of his friends. Some of his favorite bands/artists include Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Los Lobos, and Ween. Nathan enjoys seeing live music concerts. While in Nashville, he saw Peter Frampton at the Nashville Symphony and The Who in their 2015 North American Tour. One artist that he would love to sit in with is Beck. Nathan is a one-man band for sure. A creative force, Nathan is a prolific creator whose vision is as strong as his ability. As they say, “if you can learn an instrument, you can learn anything.” Nathan will likely add to the list of instruments he already mastered, he’s that kind of dedicated artist. Play It Back has helped Nathan by giving him opportunities to write songs with a producer and learn the music production process.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

https://teencanceramerica.org/play-it-back-music-program/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

On this episode...Sage Escalante!

Sage Escalante is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has been taking piano lessons since she was 5 and voice lessons for many years as well. She’s also an excellent guitar player. She’s another musical monster. Sage started writing her own songs after she was diagnosed. Her influences include Sara Bareilles, Boston, Queen, Kehlani and Charlie Puth. Cancer caused Sage to write songs about not giving up and persevering through difficult circumstances and her writing is growing by leaps and bounds. Cancer stopped her from performing and doing lessons, but she took her Ukulele to all of her appointments and treatment. It kept her occupied and allowed her to learn new songs. Play It Back afforded Sage the opportunity to work with a professional producer which has allowed her to dive deep into songwriting and production. It also introduced her to others who have similar life experiences and share the common interest in creating music. Her favorite memory is when Benny Blanco came onto one of the weekly Zoom calls. She was truly inspired by him and feels lucky to have had that experience.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

https://teencanceramerica.org/play-it-back-music-program/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

The first episode is with JC!

Juan Carlos “JC” Razuri is a singer/songwriter and instrumentalist. In high school, he performed with the orchestra, marching band, and jazz ensemble. Before cancer, he played violin, marching bass drum, keyboard, percussion, and the drum set. JC had also just started fiddling with music production before his diagnosis. His favorite genres are Classic Rock, Indie Rock, R & B, and Pop. JC’s musical influences include Queen, Abba, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Boy Pablo, Khalid, and Lord Huron. Cancer temporarily stopped him from creating and performing music, but it did cause him to listen to music more often. Play It Back has allowed JC to get a look into the modern-day music producing process, to be more creative, and to connect with people in similar circumstances. His favorite memory in Play It Back is when he had an “aha!” moment on the first song he worked on with Kenli. It came from a melody he was improvising on violin.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

https://teencanceramerica.org/play-it-back-music-program

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

Up this week...Patrick!

Patrick Eck grew up in a musical tribe surrounded by a brother and close friends with whom he immersed himself in music playing guitar in numerous bands. His love of progressive rock is deep. He’s a thoughtful writer, poet and thinker and his songs reflect that. During his cancer experience, he admits he backed away from music, but through Play It Back he took his first steps as a singer-songwriter. The results are inspiring. Patrick is a family man with a deep sense of social responsibility and compassion for the world.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

https://teencanceramerica.org/play-it-back-music-program/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Teen Cancer America, the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

This episode is about Sara!

Sara Carreras is a singer/songwriter and instrumentalist. She grew up in a family of music and has been singing in church since she was 12. Her voice is as clear as a bell...and as Belle’s. Sara plays the guitar, but recently got into keys, bass, and drums. Her favorite genres are Gospel, R & B, and 90s/2000s Pop (she loves N’SYNC). And she will school you on the K-Pop group Red Velvet. Sara is hilarious and loves to entertain. Although cancer took away her energy to practice instruments and listen to music, she grew to love gospel music (Kirk Franklin & Fred Hammond) while in the hospital. Her church recently reopened and she’s back to singing on stage. Sara loves working with the other artists in Play It Back. Play It Back gives her hope that she can live a normal life after cancer and continue to pursue her dream of being a songwriter. Her favorite Play It Back memory was learning about Kenli’s obsession with bananas from a call with Benny Blanco.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

https://teencanceramerica.org/play-it-back-music-program/

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