From Befuddled to Blessed: Russ Hedge’s Approach to Cancer and Adversity

From Befuddled to Blessed: Russ Hedge’s Approach to Cancer and Adversity

Author: Dr. Brad Miller September 11, 2025 Duration: 58:54

Russ Hedge is Dr. Brad Miller’s guest on this episode of “Cancer and Comedy.” 

Russ is an inspirational speaker, author of Befuddled: Live the Life You Choose, and the host of “Marketing with Russ.” He’s also a cancer survivor whose journey through stage 4 melanoma reshaped his faith, perspective, and mission in life. 

In this episode, Russ shares how a small wart on his foot turned into a life-altering diagnosis that spread to his lungs and brain. He opens up about the physical toll of surgeries, failed treatments, and the unexpected side effects that left him with type 1 diabetes and other lifelong challenges. Yet, Russ proclaims, “I will not die, but live and proclaim what the Lord has done,” choosing every day to live with hope, joy, and purpose. 

Russ talks with Dr. Brad about: 

  • Losing both parents within a short time, while also receiving his cancer diagnosis. 
  • How faith, community, and perspective helped him navigate grief, illness, and setbacks. 
  • The role of laughter, joy, and even funny car-alarm mishaps in his healing journey. 
  • Why connection and service to others are at the core of his mission. 
  • His upcoming book Life Happens, Then You Choose, which builds on his belief that while we can’t choose what happens to us, we can always choose our response. 

Russ’s story is a powerful testimony of resilience, faith, and choosing joy despite adversity. His daily routines, inspirational speaking, and unwavering belief in God have made him a beacon of hope for those facing cancer and other life challenges. 


Episode ___ of Cancer and Comedy is a must-listen for anyone seeking encouragement, practical wisdom, and a reminder that laughter and faith can carry us through life’s darkest valleys. 


Connect with Russ Hedge: 

🌐 RussHedge.com 

📘 Book: Befuddled: Live the Life You Choose 

🎥 YouTube: @RussHedge 

“The Cancer and Comedy Podcast with Dr. Brad Miller” is published weekly to help people cope with hope as they navigate adversity with humor, perspective, and faith. 


There's a particular kind of alchemy that happens when serious things meet sincere laughter, and that's the space where you'll find Cancer and Comedy: Helping Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor. Hosted by Dr. Brad Miller, this podcast emerged from a deeply personal place. Fresh into retirement after 43 years as a pastor, Brad received a prostate cancer diagnosis during the Christmas season of 2022. His instinctive reaction-to laugh as a way to keep from crying-sparked a mission. Each episode is built on the belief that those touched by cancer are not done living, and that facing the grim with a grin is a powerful form of resilience. You'll hear conversations that blend candid stories from the cancer journey with a genuine, often surprising, sense of humor. It’s not about dismissing the difficulty, but about discovering pockets of light and levity within it. Brad brings his unique perspective as both a longtime spiritual guide and a current patient, creating dialogues that are as educational about mental and physical wellness as they are uplifting. This isn't a lecture; it's a companionable audio experience for anyone seeking to fortify their spirit with hope and an honest, sometimes healing, laugh. Tune in for a podcast that redefines strength, proving that coping can be a creative, and even comedic, act of self-improvement.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cancer and Comedy: Helping Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor
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