Podcast Episode 42: Nancy Allen & Marlene McGuirt

Alison: Hey everybody! If you enjoy the inspiring conversations on Inside Wink, you were going to love the Good Mood Revolution podcast. It’s hosted by happiness expert Matt O’Neill, and the Good Mood Revolution combines laughter, positivity and key insights to help you navigate life’s challenges with a smile.

Jean: Each episode dives into the art of conscious happiness, offering fun and practical tips to boost your mood. Matt chats with leading experts to share their amazing stories and clever techniques for staying positive, even when life gets tough.

Alison: So whether you’re looking to overcome challenges, add more joy to your life, or you just want another good reason to smile, Good Mood Revolution has you covered. So catch it on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your best mood is one podcast away!

Jean: It is.

Alison: Hi, Jean.

Jean: Hi, Alison.

Alison: Okay, so you had something exciting yesterday, didn’t you?

Jean: Yeah. My, uh… I like your teeth, Alison.

Alison: Do you? We both wearing Invisalign, so we always are looking at each other’s teeth. Yours look good, too.

Jean: And I’m staring right at your mouth. And your teeth look beautiful.

Alison: Okay, but tell us about the stamp.

Jean: Alex was given the title of a Forever stamp, and it was such a beautiful event yesterday. It was held at Sony Studios, and Matthew and Emily and Nikki were there, uh, with their significant others. And it was a beautiful tribute to the life of of Alex.

Alison: I love that. And you had a speech that you did.

Jean: I did, with your help. You helped me fine tune it. Thank you. Allison.

Alison: I wished I had been there. I bet you were great.

Jean: I don’t know if I was great. I got, you know, I get nervous in the beginning. Public speaking is really not my thing. But although I do do it. But I felt a little bit better as the speech went on and definitely reading from my speech, when I go off tangent and try to improvise and sound funny, I lose it. So I got to stick to my speech and there it is.

Alison: Right.. And then you feel good and confident.

Jean: And then I look for the glass of wine.

Alison: Right.. Exactly, exactly. Well, that’s exciting though, Jean. It’s very exciting.

Jean: It’s was a really distinctive honor for Alex.

Alison: Yeah. Um, who would have thought a stamp?

Jean: I know.

Alison: It’s very, it’s interesting. Um, and I’m going to buy them and use them on all my letters. Jean, I’m going to think of you all the time when i mail a letter.

Jean: Well, think of Alex.

Alison: Yeah, well, I do think he’s on my. He’s on my refrigerator um, so today we’re having a great talk with Nancy Allen and Marlene McGirt from We Spark.

Jean: Yes. And you’re friends with Marlene? right?

Alison: Yeah, because our children went to high school together.

Jean: Right. And and I feel so honored to be part of knowing this, this amazing organization. Um, it was founded by Wendie Jo Sperber.

Alison: That’s right. A really great actress. And it started in 2001. And, um. Oh, you’re being honored by them in September.

Jean: I am.

Alison: That’s right. Yeah, I love that. Um, so let’s listen because they have a they’re a great organization that is a cancer support organization and really helps friends, families.

Jean: It’s a very holistic healing center.

Alison: Yes. It’s great. So let’s listen to them okay?

Jean: Yes.

Alison: Okay, good.

Alison: Thank you guys so much for coming i i’m so flattered to do it.

Alison: It’s unbelievable. So let’s talk a little bit about Westpark and how it began and what its mission is and its goals, because it’s such a great organization.

Nancy: Well, thanks for having us here today. Uh, and, uh, And to talk about we spark. Um, Wendie Jo Sperber is an actress, uh, back in the 70s and 80s and 90s, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she was 47 years old. Uh, she had two young children, and, uh, she lived in the valley. And she realized there was really no place for her to go outside of a hospital setting to meet other women in, uh, support groups there, or drive all the way out to the west side, where at that time the wellness community was really the gold standard. And so she said, uh, no, we’re going to open something in the valley, and it’s not going to just be for the cancer patients because it affects your families, your children, your friends, your whole community. And it’s going to be free for everybody. And she was told, oh, no, no, you absolutely can’t do that. But, Wendy, uh, being Wendy is not someone that understood the word no. And so she really single handedly spearheaded, with a help, a huge amount of the community, the entertainment community really showed up and did their first, golf tournament, first fundraiser. And in 2001, um, I got a call from Wendy and she said, I’m opening this center. I found a place and you need to help me. And I said, well, okay. I mean, I don’t know what she’s no, you’re going to be the creative program director. And I thought, well, what on earth is that? And she said, oh, you know, you’re into all that woowoo stuff, all that stuff that’s good for healing.

Nancy: And so on March 1st of 2001, we opened our doors in Sherman Oaks. We had one cancer support group, one group for caregivers called hugs. Wendy liked acronyms, helping others gain strength, and of course, a game night because she liked games. And, um, I taught a yoga class, a restorative yoga class, and that was the beginning. And, um, and from there, it just developed. And our mission basically is to help. We’re dedicated to, um. Oh, my God. I’m blanking on the mission dedicated to enriching the lives of cancer patients and their families and friends. All the services are free, and all the services help with the emotional and physical side effects of a cancer diagnosis. And for any of you which I know most people have been through either themselves or family member or friend, the it’s tough. It’s really a tough recovery process. So, um, at the end of the first year, we were so excited. We had one program at least every day, and now I think we have about 40 programs a week, so it’s been an incredible journey. Sadly, we did lose Wendy in our third year. Fourth year, I guess it was. And but the, uh, the mission thrives and the organization is thriving and, um, really proud to have been asked to participate in it.

Alison: You probably thought you were just going to go there, like for I’ll just go like once or twice. And now you’re the executive director, right?

Nancy: Go figure, I told her, I said, well, I had a few hours a week, but, you know, it was life transformative for me. And I was really looking for that. I mean, I’d been, you know, acting since I was 15 years old. And at this point I was 50. So do the math. But anyway, um, I just didn’t have I just didn’t have, I don’t know, life happened. My father had cancer. I’d lost my two brothers, uh, seven months apart. And it just didn’t hold. It wasn’t holding the magic for me, you know? Uh, and so this was an opportunity, really, to continue a journey that I didn’t even realize that I had been on for a long time, which is, you know, investing myself and my being in meditation and yoga and, you know, other modalities that was about, you know, healing my being as opposed to getting the outside stuff, which I thought was what was going to fix me.

Jean: Yeah. That’s interesting. That’s so beautifully said. Nancy and I and I think that’s what’s so important We Spark is that you’re a holistic organization. You address all parts of our being as spiritual, mental, physical and um, having been through, you know, the the journey of having  beloved Alex have cancer and everything, it it is a two by four when you get that diagnosis. It it it’s just like a a tidal wave that comes into your life. And one of the things that I love about your organization and specifically just going to your website, is you say there’s a tab that says Begin here. Yeah. And that’s what you need because you have so much information thrown at you. Plus your brain is just it’s it’s like out there. You don’t you can’t even understand what the journey you’ve stepped into. So you you have this. Just begin here. Push this button and we you fill out a welcome form. Someone’s going to call you, and we will help, um, navigate you to where we can offer you your, your best support. And I love that. So so thank you.

Nancy: Thank you you for that.

Jean: I just wanted to say that because there’s so much involved, it is a different land. You are in a different country when you get a cancer diagnosis.

Nancy: Yeah. Well, your your life is paused as you know it. And now you are in-  set up this appointment, set up that appointment, meet this doctor and have this scan. Get these results. Oh my God, how long do we have to wait to find out what the pathology of the tumor is? I mean, it is it is an ongoing siege. Like going, like literally going to war, you know, and, um, and of course, everything is on…. Everything else is on hold. So, um, it’s certainly really helpful to have to have the opportunity to share with other people what’s going on with you, other cancer patients, other family members. And I just, you know, want to mention it’s always interesting when a couple comes in, um, whoever looks at the best is the cancer patient. Whoever looks like looks like everything’s coming apart at the seams. It’s the caregiver because everything’s going into taking care of the patient. So, you know, they we always say, please, let us take care of you, while you take care of them, because, you know, it’s a big deal for a caregiver to say, you know, I’m just going to for an hour and a half, I’m going to go and I’m going to go to my group and oh, my God, is it okay to leave this person? Is it, you know, any of that stuff? But it’s so important to self-care is essential whether you’re the patient or the caregiver, or the family member or the child, to really have that space and have someone hold that space to make sure that your emotional needs are getting, that you have a place to download because you don’t want to tell the cancer patient, oh my God, I’m so terrified. You don’t want to do that, right? Someplace else to say that, you know? Uh, so anyway, I yeah, I have such admiration for you, Jean, and what you went through, it’s really quite extraordinary. Living out loud. You did it.

Alison: That’s right. It was. And being in the public eye and going through it is a whole, you know… Marlene, how did you get involved in Westpark? Because you’re you’re from a different background, huh?

Marlene: No, I’ve been a a professional fundraiser for over 25 years.

Alison: I meant not an actress.

Marlene: OHH, I’m not an actress…I may look like one.  hahah–just kidding.  It’s not my thing, but I always like, um. Yeah, I just, I, I came from Chicago, so I was a fundraiser then. And then, um, my family and I, um, moved to Los Angeles and, um, and I continued and I tried to do the producing thing for a little while, and, and, um, but I was still consulting. And then I started working with the Alliance for Children’s Rights, which for a little over six years. And I did that, and my kids were growing up, and then they went into high school and, and then I, Nancy, have known she we’ve been friends for a long time. And we would have lunch and I would consult with her because there was no real development department. And then she became the executive director. And, so we would talk, we would have lunches. And she goes, oh, I want to hire you. One day I’ll find the money. And then so one day she found the money and she, we met for lunch or something… I’d like to,  can hire you?

Nancy: and I’m thinking, what would it take to get you to jump ship? What would it take?

Alison: I love that, yeah.

Marlene: So you know, it was interesting, I was at the Alliance is a non-profit law firm. So it was a big budget, very, you know, high powered, dealing with a lot of entertainment people and, you know, support and I loved it, I loved it. But when Nancy’s ,when there was the opportunity with Nancy and I got to talk with her, I, um, decided it was a good time because it was close to home. And, um, I loved the mission. And then I remember her giving me a tour, and I walked the old place. You saw the old place? Um, Allison? And it was very homey. And, you know, I had to go into, like, first gear because it was so quiet. Very beautiful and centering and almost mystical. And I’m almost getting chills because I remember walking through the little halls, and then I saw a couch in one of the support group room. I went, ooh, if I worked here, maybe I could take a nap. It’s been ten years. I’ve never taken a nap.  It was just such a cool environment. And, I’ve been here for, you know, since 2014. You know, it’ll be ten years in August. And it’s been really a joy to work with Nancy and see her commitment to the organization. And the board of directors  are great. And then the guests, oh my God, I see, you know, I see them come in like a deer in headlights. And then I see them like laughing and meeting people in the community, that happens here is amazing, you know, and um, and so and the work it’s,  I remember we used to be called the woo woo and now we’re the go to, you know, and uh, and it’s, it’s been really great. And so, you know,  the guests are the ones who keep me coming back and the work is always challenging. And, um, because of the climate and whatever, it’s, you know, people say, how do you fundraise? You know, that’d be so hard. You know, they said, well, you know, I don’t beg people for money. I just give people the opportunity to be of service. If it’s not with us, it’ll be with, you know, hopefully you’re supporting something because it makes you feel good. And I get to see the best in people. I got to tell you, I really do. And then Allison, I met you at in, you know, in grade school, you know, when the kids were going to grade school and and you are so of service. I remember you were the volunteer for everything and and you were just so inspiring and, and I remember I had to go back to work full time. So I was volunteering and then I couldn’t do it anymore as a single mom. And then I remember you just continued. And then we went to high school and then Maxwell, my son, and I went to high school. I saw Allison, I went through, I hit the jackpot. I said I got the most committed person to her children and to others children.

Alison: Oh, you’re so sweet. You know, it’s so interesting when we talk about giving back to others, right? And how that can make you feel like you could you could definitely look at someone like you, Nancy, and say, oh, you had it all. You were in all these movies and you were the star and the celebrity. And yet I feel like you’re saying that really coming into your own on this journey about giving it out and being of service. Like, why do you think that? Why do you think that touches the human soul so deeply? What is it about being of service that is really our connective tissue. From your own personal view, what do you think?

Nancy: Wel…I really think I think it’s one of the big secrets in life. You know, we start out and we’re trying to get all this stuff, and we’re going to get it and we’re going to be happy, and it’s all going to be great. And the big secret is, the more I give, the better I feel. Yeah, the more I help you, the better I feel. It’s somehow much more fulfilling. You know, we’re provided for. Everything we need comes around us and we’re taken care of. But to be able to listen to someone, it’s the greatest gift. Just really be present. Witness someone’s life, whatever witness they’re passing, hold their hand, whatever it is. And I think that’s I mean, I think that’s the real juice in life. I mean, it’s we’re designed we’re here together. We’re not on an island by ourselves. We’re here together, and together we can do a lot of things to support and help one another. And, uh, I love it. I love, um, I love the feeling. And I’m greedy for that. Now. Now I’m greedy for that feeling. Can I just, i just want to mention, since you talked about Marlene joining, and one of the things that I like to have all the staff do is experience the services so they can literally, from their experience, be able to articulate what it’s about, you know, go in and have a Reiki session, uh, reflexology session? Uh, one of the classes. Go on and listen to the group. So so they can really experience and not just be in their office… There aren’t as many people that come on a daily basis since the pandemic. There’s a lot of things are still virtual, but still it’s really important to not just be there saying, oh yeah, it’s great. It’s so great, and you should try it. No, really be able to say it, it moved me. Yeah, or it relaxed me or I laughed or, you know, whatever it is. Anyway, I just wanted to mention that.

Jean: Yeah. Me too. And I think that’s so important, sharing your direct experience. Because then, then your words really have some meat to them and uh and I think that’s what we all want. Can you share some of the programs that there are available, there are so many great programs you offer? Can you give a list of some of your favorites?

Alison: Yeah, I was going to say, Marlene, what was your favorite since you got to do it all?

Marlene: Well, I call it the perk of working at We Spark.  Well, I think, you know, reflexology has always been really… I love massages, reflexology, which is so calming and comfortable, but I didn’t know anything about Reiki or qigong. and that was like, wow, that was… I had a little bit in Chicago. I did the Reiki, but but we have such we have like Reiki masters here and it was so centering and and so slight and so all I remember is waking up feeling so, not even waking up like-  like coming out of a trance like and feeling so relaxed and centered and my stresses, like my mind stopped working and I stopped thinking, you know, it was so meditative and beautiful. And I felt taken care of, you know, it was interesting, it was just-  I love it. And I can see when the, when our guests come out of the rooms, you know, our individual rooms, they’re like blissed out and I  go sit down for a minute, here’s some water.

Alison: That’s right. What about you, Nancy? What is something that you really love?

Nancy: Well, I’ll just say the anchor. The beginning anchor, of course, are the support groups. Right. So that’s their, um, movement. Tai chi, yoga, very important for physical recovery and for relaxation. Um, I love the individual appointments. I love paint and play as a new favorite. I mean, it’s just fabulous.. jewelry making, all of the creative things. Lectures are great…All of that’s great for me, um, I love, love hypnotherapy. I love the mind, body connection for me is powerful. And, um, you know, it started with meditation. We’ve had certainly different kinds of meditation classes, but I remember hearing a young lady, she was 20… I don’t know, 24 years old, healthy, athletic, lived and did everything right. And she said, how did I end up with breast cancer? And she was so distraught and she was getting ready for surgery. And imagine being that age and having to go through a double mastectomy. So she has every right to be terrified. And, um, I remember seeing her after her surgery. I saw her before, and then she had whatever session she had after her surgery. She was so happy. She said, you know, I’m so grateful there was a cancellation. And I got in to go to hypnotherapy to prepare her for her surgery, to the point where she went in there. She said,  I felt safe, I felt centered. Wow. Um, I think they were looking to see if… she said, I think they were looking to see if I was on some sort of medication, you know?

Nancy: And I never, ever, ever forgot that. And, um, you know, sometime after that, I, I tried it for something very specific, and I found it to be life transformative. Of course, one has to have just a tiny bit of an open mind. Just a little bit. You don’t have to be clever, but just say it’s possible. And I do think that that is a very powerful, uh, modality. And I think they all can be, because generally when you’re doing those one on ones, you’re kind of transported, you’re emotionally, mentally and emotionally transported. And it’s almost not that you’re leaving your body. I want to get to woo woo, but it’s your mind almost is suspended into the possibilities, you know? So I love all that stuff.

Alison: Oh that’s fantastic.

Jean: And  Nancy, I love that you shared about your,  the support groups that we spark offers. And something that I noticed which was so great, is that not only for men and teens, because women, we have our girlfriends, But you also have something called solo, for people that that don’t have family or friends. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Nancy: Oh yeah, I love that program. And it’s a very, very, uh, it is a really thriving and popular class group. Uh, there was a number of years ago, there was a young she was probably, you know, late 30s, uh, maybe 40 years old, a therapist who was a cancer survivor, breast cancer survivor. And she said, what I’m seeing, what I’m hearing and what I experienced is there are a lot of people who are going through this alone. Not that they don’t have anyone who loved them, but maybe their families live far away. Maybe they live alone and whatever it was, or maybe they were isolated in some way. So she said, I think there’s something there. Well, I’ve got to tell. I said, I don’t know, I don’t know. Right from the get go. That group just populated with people and from young to old. And it is a very powerful and wonderful, wonderful group. And, um, I, I love it, and I’m so grateful to her. Unfortunately, you know, that now is part of her legacy. She had a rediagnosis and passed a number of years later, but boy, it’s a exceptionally popular group.

Marlene: And people who have moved on from the group, there’s they still come in volunteer in groups, you know, there’s like Jane and Mary and they’re still hanging out together and they’re still very, very close.

Nancy: You see that a lot in the in the grief groups, very much so. They get, they bond and support one another. And um, well, we did have one wedding out of one of the groups. hahah

Alison:  I love that.

Nancy: I know it was really funny when one of the facilitators, uh, check ins or clinical check in. Apparently there was a gentleman who was the widower, and one of the ladies really took offense that he was dating so short a short time after his wife died, and she just went on and on. It’s disgraceful. Anyway, don’t you know they ended up together? I just thought that was just sort of a sweet story.

Alison: Love that. That’s so funny.

Nancy: But the relationships, the bonds that people form, you know, you go through something like cancer, it really bonds you…it’s a shortcut., It’s a shortcut language. It’s like you hear them laughing. They’ll mention something. Oh yeah. Laugh about their doctor. Oh, can you believe they said this? Or, you know, or cry together and you know and then survive. Uh, it’s it’s amazing. Truly amazing. And they’re definitely the inspiration of the organization.

Alison: I think it’s amazing that I know, we all know people that have had a cancer diagnosis. And I think I see that it’s hard. We live in a world that it’s hard for people to ask for help. It’s hard for people to be vulnerable and say, I need some help. And I think that’s what’s so great about you, because someone can just walk in the door, I bet, and not even say anything and get and get help. How do you how do you bridge that? Because I think sometimes people…  my friend has cancer right now. And I’ll say, you know, what do you need? And I realize they’re really not going to tell me, you know, I have to sort of be active. Do you know what I mean?

Nancy: Totally. Totally. No. I mean, I myself was raised to believe, to never ask for help, that I should be completely independent and never need anything from anybody. Right. So there is that mentality hopefully with the younger generations is changing, but,  it is not uncommon for someone to send in their forms or pick up the phone and say, I’ve been trying to do this for three months, i’ve been trying to do and and it’s it makes me so sad because it’s such a lonely place to have that diagnosis and to not get that helping hand and And but once they do, once they walk through the door, I mean outreach is key for us going to health fairs, you know, putting things out on the internet to talking one person to the other. I always keep cards or, uh, pamphlets in my car. So because you never know. Right. And I always give that card to people and say, I hope you never need this or anyone you know never did. But if they do, please, it’s very hard to give away free services. I hate to say it, but it really is. There’s there’s a lot of skepticism, really..what’s the catch? You know, there is no catch, you know, and we just want to be here for you. And it’s a it’s a beautiful thing when people come in and they you can see them exhale probably for the first time in however long they’ve been diagnosed, you know.

Jean: Right. so so obviously to offer all of these beautiful free services you need to fundraise. And so back to you, Marlene. What are your fundraisers? What are your events that you’re, um, putting out there so that our listeners can can join.

Marlene: We have a development mix. Mix. We we get grant money. We have major gifts. We have appeals that go out twice a year. Um, people love to give in honor and in memory of people. So that’s the straight gifts, you know. And then we have the fundraisers and then like, as you know, we have the drag queen bingo happening next Tuesday. I’m so happy you guys are going to be there. It’s a full house booked, and you know because in Nancy’s background we did we called it a Carrie reunion. I think I sent you the invitation. Carrie reunion… I don’t know, I sent that out, and we kind of doubled what we had anticipated for that day.

Nancy: And so, i think Billy Katt was the draw because my name is was last year and it didn’t get sold out.

Marlene: I always liked to see Nancy… And then, of course, our comedy event is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we are so excited that we are able to honor you, Jean with the heart of We Spark Award. It’s so sweet and you’re just the you embody that what that this award is all about. And so you know, or you know, we’re hoping to raise $210,000. That’s our budgeted goal. And then plus I have my own goal in mind, um, for what we want, it’s usually more than what we budgeted for. But it’s such a fun event you guys are having going to have a great, great time. You know.

Jean: I’m so honored. That is an understatement. I’m so honored to be number one, just part of your stunning organization. My family and I, we will be there because we we have a direct experience with with cancer. And I want to say something that, um, Wendie Jo Sperber, I heard her say this on an interview. She says, you know, we’re living with cancer. It’s it’s not about pushing it away, you know, it’s how to more embrace it, you know, and and yes, we all hope and know that cancer absolutely can go into remission. And that’s wonderful. But it is… We are living with these situations in life that we know we don’t, we don’t say sign me up for this like we don’t think we do. But it’s part of our growth. And I know how it it’s a hard way to grow, but it does seem like that is on planet Earth, that we we are given a situation that we we need to embrace and change our perspective over and again, you know, and hopefully for the most part, for, I mean, I hope your organization doesn’t need to exist in many years, you know, but right now, we are so grateful you are here And, um, but I’m also a champion that we’re going to dissolve this, this cancer that that is taking lives of our loved ones.

Nancy: Well, Wendy’s Prayer used to be, I just want to say this Wendy’s prayer used to say she’d say, please put us out of business.

Alison: Yeah.

Marlene: Right. Exactly. Jean.

Marlene: Jean, you’re doing your part, you know, in what you did with the pancreatic cancer fund for stand up for cancer. So thank you for what you’re doing with research. And, um, and, uh, that effort and raising awareness.

Jean: Well, yes, I’m happy that I can contribute and I, I just want to say to all the listeners that cancer really is making great strides, the healing of cancer, the treatments. There’s so much more available than when Wendy, your founder, was around.

Alison: And to know that there are people like you guys that are really taking a different approach because when my family members had cancer, it was all very clinical and very harsh, and you felt like you were like, uh, go to this room, go to like it just felt very impersonal sometimes. And then when I walked into your space, I feel like I’m at home.

Jean: It’s the antithesis of going to the chemo place or your… It’s not clinical. It’s not medical. Like Allison said, it is very personal, homey and loving sanctuary and like to your what you also said Nancy you can exhale it’s like ah.

Nancy: Ah but to your and to your point, I just want to say that there has been so much progress made… It isn’t a one size fits all anymore. It used to be, oh, this is your diagnosis. This is what you’re going to get. Oh, you have to get radiation. We’re just going to blast you. They’re targeted approaches, you know, they can diagnose much earlier. Screenings are so important. Please, ladies, please get breast cancer screenings. Please, everyone do your colonoscopies. Because these are things that can save lives, you know. Yes, they see more, but they’re diagnosing early now. So this is a really great thing. And um, immunotherapy there’s there’s just, there’s  always progress. And I also would like to say I mean, we’re not a medical facility, but truly do your homework. Do your homework about your doctors– like you were going to marry them. You know what I mean? Find out who they are, where they come from, where they went to school, what their history is. And, you know, I just think that kind of– it’s a empower yourself to ask questions and not just to say, okay, whatever you want to do to me, do it. No. Ask questions. Do the homework. I think it’s very important.

Alison: So I think that’s true for most anything in life, you know?

Nancy: Agreed.

Alison: Know what you’re know what you’re stepping into. And, um, you know, be be your own advocate.

Jean: Yeah. Wendy says that on that interview. She says, be proactive. Don’t give your power away to some guru or some doctor that you’re just, oh, you know, tell me… put anything into me and everything. Ask questions and be curious.

Nancy: She was always very funny. I hate to say this, but every time we went, I used to go on her appointments with her. We would walk out of there laughing. I mean, not crying, but laughing. We went to see they were going to, uh.. For those of the listeners who don’t know, if you’re going to have extensive chemo and things like that, a lot of times they use a port so that there’s like an easy way to just so you’re not stuck with needles all the time- anyway. So she finally got to the point where she said, okay, I think I’m going to consider it. So we went and she was going to the best of the best, and we went in and this man comes in, this doctor and he says, uh, are you the patient? I’m the plumber. And then he starts to say, well, here’s what we do. Da da da da da da da. And she said, excuse me, do you like your job?

Nancy: And it literally time stopped for him. You know what to say, what to do. We ended up leaving there and she said to me. Yeah, I’m never seeing him again. You know what I mean? It was like his bedside, but I just thought, you know, you have to. It’s so crazy, some of it. You have to laugh… If you don’t laugh, I don’t know, it’s such an important part of life, you know, getting through anything.

Alison: Totally agree. Just try to, you know…I walked through cancer with a very good friend of mine, and we’d go to these doctor’s offices, and we made a plan. I guess I shouldn’t really say this, but at every doctor’s appointment, I stole a stethoscope…no Um, like one of those tongue depressors, uh, and every place. And we dated, and we would just laugh because I’d have to sneak it, and and it was sick. And we had this all these tongue depressors and cotton balls and just these things that I had that I had pinched from these places just to make her laugh. And we would we’d be hysterically laughing. And at one point in one of the last ones, I said, do you think I could get away with a gown like one of these? And she’s like, no, no, because, you know, it just– you have to just connect in a more, in your own way, like your own normal human way. So, Marlene, if we go to your website, we’ll be able to see how to donate or even how to get involved. And is that just we spark.com?

Marlene: It’s wespark.org –very very important. For just for educational purposes, Org is for nonprofit organizations.

Alison: Oh, I didn’t even realize that. Is that true? Because I just typed in we Spark and you immediately come up.

Marlene: Well that’s good.

Alison: Yeah. So you’re you’re high on the search. That’s excellent…Wespark.org – we’ll put that in the, in the blurb for our listeners and readers. So that’ll be excellent. And are there buttons there and things that express ways that people can…

Marlene: Oh sure ways to give?  We have straight donations. We have monthly donations, which I’m like, that’s my next campaign is really increasing the monthly donations. And then we have torchbearers. Anybody who gives straight gifts 250 and up will be a torchbearer. And if you give $1,000 or more, then you can be on a plaque that hangs at Westpark prominently. It’s really cool. You can put it in memory in honor. And then we have, um, matrix. We have a room naming opportunities where you can name a room or a section of  we spark and uh, that’s the higher level money. And then um, and then we also have planned giving, you know, if somebody wants to bequeath something or leave us in their will,  which is starting to, I hate to say ramp up, but it’s being more exposed that we have this opportunity– we’re going to be here for unfortunately, longer than we’d like. And, um, so we need the support in that way. And then our special events and everything, especially with the planned giving, there’s all the documents that you need and then torchbearers, you know, that’s you know, that’s kind of leads us into regular giving. And, uh, so we can count on people to help keep this going. We are very lucky. We have a lot of people that really, um, want to give back. Yeah. You know, and, um, and, and we have volunteer opportunities. You can fill out an application or you can just call here and, um, and we’ll be happy to find a place for you, especially mostly in special events. So we have everything you need on the, on the website. It’s, um, and you can give me a call anytime.

Nancy: Also, I’m just going to add to that that there is no donation that’s too small. No, but there’s also no donation too large.

Marlene: So that’s right, Nancy.

Nancy: I don’t want anyone to think that, oh, I can only give $10 or I can only give five. That counts. It really does. And those small donations pay for help to play for classes and services. It’s it all matters. You know, everyone can give back. Yeah.

Marlene: I remember one of our guests came up to me and she was an older woman, and she gave me a check for $10, and she was really embarrassed about it. And she was just so happy that she was able to give back. And I said, oh, my God, this means the world to me, because it  just shows your appreciation. Like Nancy said, there’s no donation too small and people feel good about giving back to us because they feel that they’ve really gotten some value and some hope and inspiration and, um, and to help, you know, calm down the uncertainty of the disease.

Alison: That’s right- hope is what you are.

Nancy: We’re going to be launching, um, a program, uh, an ambassador program for our people, our guests who have been with us a long time, and there’s still attached, and they still want to be involved, so we’re going to have a monthly program for them and then, uh, provide, um, I believe it’s a monthly program where they come and can answer questions and talk to people who are new and provide some, you know, hope and perspective on…

Alison: That’s great.

Nancy: Yeah, we’re very excited about it.

Alison: Yeah. It’s like mentoring.

Nancy: That’s exactly.

Alison: Really someone taking you by the hand I love that. Do you guys were you guys just tell us what you think inside wink means?

Nancy: Well, I thought a little bit about this. And, you know, I think it’s sort of– I first I thought that, you know, for me, a wink is almost like a, a secret, you know, a little secret communication and an inside perspective on things and a shared perspective. So I think in a nutshell, that’s  kind of what it means to me. And you can extrapolate that on think about it inside job and all. But I think on first thought, I thought, yeah, it’s like I got some inside info for you.

Alison: I love that, Marlene?

Marlene: Thought about it too, and At first it said it’s a knowing, you know, when you’re when you give somebody a wink or a group of people a wink, it’s like there’s a knowing that you all have, you know, so it’s like inside job, you know, um, a perspective, a similar perspective. But then I thought a little bit more, and I remember there was a time, there are times when I was giving a speech or doing something that I’m afraid of, or having to accomplish something for a group. And the one person that, like I loved or a friend or a family member or mom, she gives me that wink and she and it’s like, you’re doing okay, kid, or you’re okay. And it kind of is feeling like, um, like a I don’t know what it is… It’s like you’re okay. Yeah. Give you a wink. Like a little flirty kind of. And and kind of calms me. I remember that my mother would do that. Or or a good friend or an ex-husband, you know.

Nancy: Uh, other otherwise known as a wasband.hahah

Nancy: I’d feel Oh, okay. Everything’s okay. That one person gives you that a okay kind of wink. So that was a beautiful question, by the way, because I got to think introspectively about that.

Alison: And you’re both right. Which is the best news, you know.

Jean: So there’s no right or wrong. And we can’t thank you enough for this great interview..

Alison: Should we ask them about pie, cake or ice cream?

Jean: Oh, right.

Alison: Pie. Cake or ice cream. Really quickly.

Marlene: Go ahead. Nancy.

Nancy: Cake, no so much— pie yes, but you can’t have apple pie without ice cream, so I’m just going to go say ice cream. okay.

Alison: Marlene?

Marlene: I love apple pie, but any kind of pie with really great crust.

Alison: Oh yeah. Mhm. The crust is good. .

Nancy: How about you, what do you guys like?

Alison: I like I like the turducken of all three. I would like something that was like a cake with a pie in the middle, and ice cream. I don’t even know if that’s possible, and put some hot fudge on it. What are we holding back for? Just go. Yeah. You know?  What do you like Jean?

Jean: I like cake. There’s something for everybody. Which is so good.

Alison:  And we so appreciate you two. Thank you so much. And we’ll be seeing so much more of you at the drag bingo and at the at your ceremony.

Jean: And what you’re doing is so inspiring. And thank you for everything that you’re doing.

Nancy: And thank you for that. And thank you for what you’re doing. Because I love I really love what you guys are doing with this, the podcast. It’s remarkable.

Alison: Thank you.

Marlene: It was fun to listen to to your podcast. And I finally figured out on Spotify how to play it in my car. Well, thank you for having us. It was really nice. And you guys are just lovely. Thank you.

Alison: thank you very, very much. And we’ll see you soon.

Nancy: See you next week.

Alison:  Bye. Take care.

Nancy: Oh, wait a minute. Yeah. I just wanted to congratulate you, Jean, on  the stamp.

Jean: Oh, yes. That was a big honor for Alex yesterday. It was really lovely. He’s beautiful subject of a forever stamp. And, uh, we had a beautiful celebration and revealing of the stamp down at Sony Studios. So, um, they could not have made it a more beautiful time for my family and I. And oh, so everyone on my Christmas list is getting a stamp from him.

Marlene: Well, maybe we’ll put it on the invitation of our invite…

Nancy: Oh, that’s a great idea,

Marlene: I saw it last night.

Jean: That’s clever yesterday.

Marlene: Yeah I think that would be really great — Well, you’ll see the invitation, you know, it’ll say honoring Jean Trebek with the heart of We Spark Award and it’s going to be really nice. We’re so excited about this whole thing. And thank you again for accepting us this award. And Allison, thanks for all your help with, you know, moving forward and it’s going to be great.

Alison: I get to sit next to her.

Jean: Oh that’s just so sweet.

Alison: Thank you guys so much. You really are so wonderful. I’m so glad that we know each other.

Marlene: Me too.

Alison: Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Bye bye.

Nancy: Bye, everybody.

Jean: Bye bye.

Alison: They are fantastic.

Jean: Wasn’t that great?

Alison: I just love their energy. And I love that they’re friends. And I love what they’re doing. Like, I think what they’re doing is so important.

Jean: Yes. I mean, how wonderful it is that there is a sanctuary, a place that people can go and get all these wonderful services. Yeah. And I love they have guided imagery and sound healing and massages. There are support groups for groups for men and teens. And if you’re a solo person without any family or you know if your friends are too busy, this place offers something for everybody.

Alison: And I know Marlene McGirt and she is the like, she’s so nice. Like any time I’ve seen her, she’s just exuded niceness, you know what I mean? Like and and Nancy Allen, like I’m like a fan of Nancy Allen’s. And to see how she is glowing and down to earth and and like her whole life, she’s like, adjusted her whole life to this passion to to continue her friend’s mission. You know, I just love that. I think it’s so important.

Jean: talk about a legacy of love. Yeah, that these women are leaving, passing the torch, you know? Uh.. From Wendy to Nancy.

Alison: You know, and they have a small group like their crew, their team is small. And so you feel like that must be like  such a nice place to work, right?

Jean:  so you and I went there for lunch, and we had a beautiful lunch with Nancy and Marlene, and I love their place that they had that beautiful like turquoise color and all the treatment rooms and a beautiful sit down place for for lunch to bring your lunch or make your lunch there. It was so cozy and comforting.

Alison: So please, please look them up. We Spark.org – I learned that today too, not dot com. And you know if you can donate or volunteer or go to their events. It really it’s worthwhile.

Jean: Right, and if you need any support with yourself or someone you love that is dealing with cancer, this place will get you on the right track. Because I know firsthand there is so much information thrown at you, and if nothing else, We Spark will help you navigate some of it.

Alison: Perfectly said. And you ended so quickly. That’s it. Uh. Thank you Jean.

Jean: That was my, uh…. What’s it called when you when when you’re in Olympics and you get off the vault… My dismount.

Alison: You landed, you stuck- you stuck the landing.  Have a great day. And thanks for listening.

Jean: Bye.

Alison: Bye.