Built in the Fire: Buddy Clay’s Journey Through Cancer, Faith, and Finding Humor

On this episode of the Cancer and Comedy Podcast, Dr. Brad Miller sits down with Buddy Clay—husband, dad of three girls, mental health CEO, and author of Built in the Fire—to unpack what it really looks like to live, lead, and love in the middle of a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis.

Buddy shares how a “harmless” mole on his back turned into a life-altering cancer journey, why he walked away from a traditional treatment plan, and how faith, radical lifestyle changes, and honest conversations have reshaped everything—from his kitchen pantry to how he runs a 50-person mental health and substance use treatment organization.

In this raw, hopeful, and surprisingly light conversation, Brad and Buddy explore:

• How a casual nudge from friends led to a life-saving melanoma diagnosis
• The shock of going from “healthy athlete” to stage 4 cancer—and the fear of not seeing his daughters grow up
• Why he chose a holistic path (Gerson-style protocol, raw vegan diet, detox, whole-house changes) after surgery
• The tension of faith as an anchor and faith as a wrestling match: “God, why me?” vs. “God is still sovereign”
• What his biopsy revealed—and why he needed proof his lifestyle changes were actually doing something
• The meaning behind “Built in the Fire” and why we don’t rise to the occasion, we fall to our foundation
• Leading a mental health and substance use facility while battling cancer—and what happened when he finally got honest with his staff
• How his diagnosis made him a more empathetic leader, especially with clients facing addiction, anxiety, and depression
• A powerful story of a client with cancer who dropped his “chip on the shoulder” after Buddy shared his own struggle
• Why vulnerability from the “CEO” can transform an organization’s culture
• Finding humor in the weirdest places (including drinking coffee… from the other end)
• Practical first steps Buddy recommends for anyone who just heard, “You have cancer”—including why you should slow down, breathe, get second opinions, and take things one day at a time

This episode isn’t a polished “success story”—it’s a real-time look at a man living in the fire, building a stronger foundation for his faith, family, and work while nothing is guaranteed.

If you or someone you love is facing cancer, leadership stress, or just the weight of life’s uncertainties, this conversation will help you:

• See that nobody is immune to fear, anxiety, or mental health struggles
• Trade pretending for honest vulnerability
• Start building (or rebuilding) the foundation you’ll fall back on when life heats up

Together, we keep working to turn the grim of cancer into the grin of a fulfilled life—even when the fire is still burning.