In this raw, "on-the-go" episode, Brian and Ashley take you on a Thursday afternoon walk in California to discuss the most intense season of their lives. Recorded just after receiving life-changing medical imaging results, this conversation bridges the gap between the clinical "battle" and the human "journey."

From the "hangover" of chemotherapy to a radical shift in nutrition, this is a deep dive into what it means to "make" a life when the foundation is shaken.

🎙️ In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Miracle of the Scans: Brian shares the incredible news from his recent MRI and PET scans—showing a near-total response to chemo and immunotherapy.
• The Military Mindset vs. Medical Reality: How Brian’s history as an athlete and physician led to "stupidly optimistic" expectations for chemo, and the humble reality of the "full-body rash" that stopped him in his tracks.
• Phase 0 of Nutrition: Why they pivoted from a strict Keto diet to a plant-centric, whole-foods approach (and the science of the "Warburg Effect").
• Fasting through Chemo: Brian explains his experience with "fasted infusions" to mitigate nausea and the "permanent hangover" feeling.
• The Power Couple Stress-Test: Ashley opens up about the "non-caretaker" side of being a companion—the fights, the frustration, and the grace required to survive a trauma season.
• Community as Medicine: How a random connection with a doctor in Maine led to a vital "buddy system" with another patient going through the exact same diagnosis.
• The Road to UCSF: What the upcoming surgery looks like and why "giving up control" was the hardest lesson of all.

Connect with The Making Of...:

• Instagram: @themaking.of
• Website: www.themakingofpodcast.com
• Ashley: @ashleyjovesdds

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