A Rare Purpose

Jemma Caprioli

Health & Fitness

Medicine

Science

Life Sciences

In rarity we unite, connect and find our way to purpose.

Last refreshed: August 15th, 2025 at 3:16 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Having Cancer Saved My Life, Andres Varela's Story.

"I didn't expect the cancer to fix everything." Many of us sit on cruise control through life, and it can be hard for people to find true perspective on both the fragility and the beauty of being alive until either something earth shattering happens or we are faced with our own mortality. Andres Varela spent most of his life from teen years struggling through depression, so when he was told by the doctor at only 30 years old that he had stage 3 colorectal cancer he didn't react like most others ...

Sep 22, 2024•54 min•Ep. 7

Finding Calm Amid The Chaos: Sandra Russell's Journey Through Cancer With Mindfulness

In this episode, I had an incredibly moving conversation with Sandra Russell, a former psychotherapist and author of "The Feeling of Cancer". Diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Sandra faces a relentless battle with an incurable cancer, which has pushed her to reevaluate life's priorities, embrace mindfulness, and navigate the complex layers of emotional health and self-care. Her profound insights into self-compassion, the nuances of empathy versus sympathy, and the importance enjoying simple pleas...

Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 8

The Government Doesn't Care That Your Cancer Is Rare, With Cathy Slattery, Head of Patient Programs At Rare Cancers Australia.

Imagine you are diagnosed with a cancer that's so uncommon that even your doctor is uncertain of the pathway you need to take. You are isolated in your illness and you turn to investigating yourself online. Is it right that because your cancer is rare, that you should receive less support? When you have a rare cancer the treatment options are often more complex, and alongside complexity comes expense. Rare Cancers Australia is a pillar of support for more than 40,000 Australians facing their own...

Jul 17, 2024•44 min•Ep. 5

When Cancer Affects More Than Just Your Body, with Michele Molnar, Founder of Cancer Chicks.

A compelling and emotional episode that touches on the many challenges young women affected by Cancer go through. Joined by the founder of the not for profit Cancer Chicks, Michele Molnar. We have a candid conversation about relationships, emotional wellbeing, parenting, and grieving our body parts. Although Cancer can take a lot from you, Cancer Chicks is about finding community, your tribe, and a place of belonging so you can find meaning and friendships beyond your diagnosis. https://www.canc...

Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 4

A Cancer Discovery with Professor Parry Guilford: Clinical Trials, Research Funding and a Candid Chat about Hereditary Cancers

Professor Parry Guilford is known for successfully in identifying the first known genetic mutations in the CDH1 gene, leading to the description of a new cancer syndrome Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC). This discovery has conservatively saved 27,000 people from developing a severe form of stomach cancer. Parry is determined to continue to change the course of HDGC stomach cancer patients outcomes, he is invested in the CDH1 mutation families and feels their trials as if they were his ow...

May 30, 2024•59 min•Ep. 3

GI Cancers and Genetics with Professor Alex Boussioutas

Professor Alex Boussioutas is one of Australia's most prominent and accomplished Gastroenterologists. We dive right into a conversation about the latest innovations in cancer surveillance and precision medicine. As a GI Cancer specialist Alex talks about the prevalence of bowel cancer in Australia and we chat about screening challenges and the need for further education in the community. Alex is also the Director of Genetics and Genomics at The Alfred, so we touch on genetics in respect of rare ...

May 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 2

Life without a stomach with endurance athlete Julian Grennell

'What do you mean you don't have a stomach?' This is a question our very first podcast guest Julian Grennell often encounters, and a reality he shared with many other members of his family after discovering they all carry the rare genetic mutation of CDH1 Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer. We dive into life post total gastrectomy and how Julian was inspired by his diagnosis to challenge himself by pursuing endurance events. Through his journey he has questioned the support available for cancer p...

May 07, 2024•39 min•Ep. 1

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