Cancer Fighter – Jenna Bryson (multi-hyphenate: comedian, playwright/producer, author, singer-songwriter) Ep. 41

What does it take to turn life's toughest challenges into inspiration? In this heartfelt and humor-filled episode, we welcome “multi-hyphenate” artist Jenna Bryson, whose creative journey has been shaped by resilience, humor, and a deep connection to her storytelling roots. Jenna is a singer-songwriter, comedian, kids' book author, former Disney party princess, and now a cancer survivor with an incredible story to share.

Jenna opens up about her unexpected diagnosis of stage-four uterine cancer and her fight to reclaim her health. Through candid humor and uplifting music, she reveals how creativity has been a lifeline through adversity. Steven and Jenna delve into her work with Quick and Funny Musicals at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and reflect on the transformative power of art during her recovery. From recording on her iPad to navigating complex medical journeys, Jenna’s optimism is as inspiring as her multifaceted career. We hear the original song from Jenna's successful GoFundMe campaign, talk about the challenges of being a full-time artist while undergoing treatment, and her unforgettable near-death experience during a 12-hour surgery. 

Jenna Bryson is a creative polymath who couldn’t pick a lane if she tried, and so now she has a background in dance, digital content, improv, music, producing, sketch comedy, and voiceover. She co-created the popular web-series “According to Kids”, wrote & published her first children’s book “Grace from Outer Space”, and wrote & recorded several songs that have been featured in some movies and TV shows. Also, she writes pilots that she really wants to see on her TV (and that sometimes place in contests), makes super-niche TikTok videos, and cooks a drool-inducing Filipino Chicken Adobo.

This episode is a celebration of courage, creativity, and the healing power of laughter and art. As Jenna says in her song Cancer Fighter: “Strike a match and light a fire, 'cause I can beat it.” Join us as we explore how creativity can be both a shield and a sword in the battle of life.

 

Guest: Jenna Bryson
Website: JennaBryson.com
Instagram: @JennaBryson

Grace from Outer Space – Amazon Books
Spotify Artist Profile – Jenna Bryson on Spotify

Jenna's iPad drawing of her NDE.

References:
"Help Jenna Bryson Overcome Stage 4 Cancer" – GoFundMe.com
Period Piece – Broadway World | UCBcomedy
Susan Egan – Playbill

UCLA Medical Center Oncology
Uterine Cancer Awareness – igcs.org
The Future of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment – (North Huston Cancer Clinics)

Waiting for Guffman – imdb
Best in Show – imdb
What We Do in the Shadows – imdb

National Novel Writing Month – NaNoWriMo.org
Timeline Jumping (from medium.com)

Don't Call Us Tori
Gary Tharp, music producer (AlanGuno.com/team)

Featured Works in This Episode:
Cancer Fighter – Written and recorded by Jenna Bryson (YouTube)
Eternity – Performed live at Don't Call Us Tori (Karma Coffeehouse) on January 28, 2006
Promise Me (episode edit) – Written and performed by Jenna Bryson (Spotify)

Tags:
#CancerFighter #CancerSurvivor #CancerAwareness #CancerJourney #Chemo #Chemotherapy #​​EndometrioidAdenocarcinoma #SurvivingCancer #GoFundMe #CancerFundraiser #UterineCancer #menstruation #Health #Recovery #MusicTherapy #CreativeOutlet #Storytelling #Comedy #UprightCitizensBrigade #UCBTheater #DisneyPrincess #Inspiration #CancerDiagnosis #Immunotherapy #Keytruda #HealthJourney #CancerTreatment #Hope #CityOfHope #Spirituality #Mindfulness #MedicalAdvocacy #ArtTherapy #GoFundMeSuccess #MultiHyphenateArtist #SingerSongwriter #KidsBookAuthor #PartyPlanner #MusicalWriter #DontCallUsTori #QuickAndFunnyMusicals #PeriodPiecePlay #GaryTharp #BroadwayLegend #BeautyAndTheBeast #TheLittleMermaid #PrincessParties #Karaoke #HollywoodKaraoke #ResilienceThroughArt #HealingThroughArt #NearDeathExperience #ChristopherGuest #NaNoWriMo #QuantumLeap #QuantumJumping #QuickAndFunnyMusicals #TimelineJumping #CreativeResilience #Mockumentaries #WaitingForGuffman #BestInShow #WhatWeDoInTheShadows #FaithJones #KarmaCoffeehouse #improvcomedy #musicals #periods