The Talk
Your friend calls you. She never calls.
Your mind races through a million scenarios before you answer the phone.
“I just found out I have cancer,” she says.
You gasp as time seems to stop.
Your eyes well up.
What do you say?
Are you the…
…friend who freezes at bad news?
…colleague wondering how to show they care?
…family member seeking better ways to connect?
…one who is ready to do this differently?
Raw, honest, and deeply moving. Heat’s insight and hard-earned wisdom as a survivor coupled with her humor will leave you better prepared to offer genuine support to anyone battling cancer.
Heat’s cancer chat is like a TED talk on steroids, well, on cancer medicine anyways. It takes the real thing and puts it front and center in a way that will make you really help the person you want to really help. You’ve never heard a cancer talk like this before, and you owe it to yourself.
Heat, what you have created is so helpful and provides so much relief. While this work may have been born out of moments of frustration, what you are paying forward is thoughtful empowerment.
And generosity, and kindness, and understanding.
It was incredible. Her slides were simple and clear. Her talk was full of passion, care, and truth.
She gave us examples of how not to say dumb stuff. Which I just loved and resonated with. I can do better. She reminded me to text a friend who’s still in the thick of it.
Thank you so much Heat for allowing me to listen.
Heat’s presentation helped me connect the dots between the cards and real-world moments. Her delivery? No fluff, straight shooter — totally refreshing. It made me reflect hard on past situations where I didn’t know what to say or how to act. Her message is universal, and I’d recommend her to any audience.
Heat’s talk is a beautifully moving guide to navigating the universal experience of wanting to support a friend through tough times but not knowing how to do so without blundering through and making it worse. Perfect for the well-meaning but sometimes awkward supporter of a cancer patient.
I found Heat’s talk to be transformative. Her presentation is engaging and crystal clear. I love that she goes so far beyond “don’t do this, do this” to providing her audience with a deep understanding and practical tools in supporting people with cancer. She packs a lifetime of learning (drawing on her own experience and that of others) into a succinct, meaningful talk.
Listening to Heat’s talk is like having her wonderful cards come to full-colour, 3D life. Hearing about her own experience and that of many others was eye-opening and made me realise how much people vary in what they need, hence the importance of assuming nothing. We’re scared of saying the wrong thing but we can learn to give support, instead of avoidance or poor attempts at jokes or worse.
Panic to presence in 18 minutes
The talk + Q&A (up to one hour total) is available for:
• Healthcare organizations • Community groups •
• Professional development events • Conferences •
• Religious organizations •
Three simple steps
1. Fill out the form below
2. Schedule a call to discuss your event
3. Receive a custom proposal within 24 hours
FAQs
Is this talk available virtually?
This talk is designed for in-person delivery for maximum impact and audience connection.
What's the ideal audience size?
One or two is awkward. Around a dozen is when people seem to feel invisible enough to be comfortable. Haven’t reached an upper limit yet.
How is the time structured?
The talk itself is 18 minutes long with Q&A immediately to follow for up to an hour total. Depending on your venue and your people, some audiences prefer to write their questions as they go and some prefer to ask at a mic. Both work for me.
What's the necessary setup?
I need a projector that will play nicely with my Mac; a screen or blank space to project onto; a podium or music stand for my notes; a mic if the room is large enough to warrant one; a table to set out merch.
Are there tangible materials?
No. There are slides as part of the presentation, but there’s no handout. That said, if you’d like a handout, I can make one (no cost). And if you’d like your participants each to receive a deck or the app, let me know and we can work out pricing.
How far ahead should we book?
At least a month is ideal, but if you’re looking for someone on a short timeline, no harm in checking my availability. I won’t say no just because it’s tomorrow, but tomorrow is more likely to have something penciled in already.
What makes this talk different?
It addresses problems without mincing words while acknowledging the complexity of the situation and human nature. And at the end, the audience has a toolkit with actionable tools.