The Young Tongues Podcast is a space for honest, unfiltered conversations about life with and after tongue cancer.
Hosted by founder Barbara Fountain and fellow survivors, Jamie and Stef, the podcast brings together real patient voices, expert insights, and the conversations that don’t usually happen in clinical settings — from diagnosis and treatment to long-term effects, identity, and everything in between.
Young Tongues is a global support charity for people aged 18–64 diagnosed with tongue cancer. Built from lived experience, it exists to make sure no one faces this diagnosis alone — providing community, practical support, and a platform to amplify the patient voice.
Through this podcast, we share stories, challenge assumptions, and work towards a future where young people are diagnosed earlier, better supported, and truly understood.
Whether you’re a patient, survivor, carer, clinician or researcher — you’re part of this conversation.
https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/ (https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/ )
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
What does it take to run an ultramarathon just months after cancer treatment?
In this episode, Barbara is joined by Danielle Welsh from Melbourne, Australia, who shares her experience of being diagnosed with tongue cancer at 43, undergoing surgery and radiotherapy, and navigating the challenges of recovery while raising two young children.
A lifelong endurance athlete, Danielle was determined to keep moving throughout treatment, adapting her exercise routine even as the side effects became increasingly difficult. But her story goes far beyond physical fitness.
Together, Barbara and Danielle explore the importance of self-advocacy, the difficult decisions patients face around treatment, and the gaps in care that often emerge once treatment ends. They discuss why survivorship needs a more holistic approach, the value of finding the right healthcare professionals, and the emotional challenges of explaining cancer to young children.
An insightful and thought-provoking conversation about resilience, patient-centred care, and finding ways to regain control when cancer turns your world upside down.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
11 Oct 2026
Kylie Young on Life and Leadership After Tongue Cancer
What happens when tongue cancer threatens not just your health, but your ability to communicate, work and live life on your own terms?
In this episode, Barbara is joined by Kylie Young from New Zealand, who shares her remarkable journey from a persistent tongue ulcer and delayed diagnosis to major surgery, radiotherapy and life beyond treatment.
Kylie speaks candidly about the challenges she faced, including complications with feeding, feeling unheard by healthcare professionals, and navigating the emotional and physical impact of losing her tongue.
But this is also a story of resilience, humour and rediscovering what's possible. Despite initially being told her teaching career might be over, Kylie has gone on to become a General Manager, demonstrating that a speech impairment doesn't have to stand in the way of leadership.
Together, Barbara and Kylie explore the importance of individualised care, supportive employers, finding your voice after cancer, and learning to embrace life with its new challenges.
An honest, uplifting and thought-provoking conversation about being heard, challenging expectations and refusing to let cancer define your future.
💬 Need Support?
If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:
🌍 Website (https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/)
🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website
💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com
📢 Get Involved
We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:
✨ Volunteer & share your experience
🎙️ Apply (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9GZY22V) to appear on the podcast
🧠 Take part in research opportunities
💛 Support Our Work
We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.
👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here (https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/support-us)
📲 Follow & Connect
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/youngtonguesglobal) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/youngtonguesglobal) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@youngtonguesglobal) | Mailing List (https://youngtongues.beaconforms.com/form/9debd432?bcn_source=qr)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
1 Oct 2026
When the Nurse Becomes the Patient
Tara Hanley was used to being the nurse — not the patient.
In this episode, Tara joins Barbara to share her journey from a persistent tongue ulcer and repeated biopsies to eventually hearing the words: “It’s cancer.”
As a public health nurse and mum of two young children, Tara talks candidly about trying to stay positive for everyone around her while privately confronting her own fears. She shares how she prepared her children for surgery, why she recorded herself reading their favourite stories before treatment, and what it was like returning to work and everyday life afterwards.
They also explore the parts of recovery that others don’t always see: scanxiety, lymphoedema, changes to eating and speech, survivor guilt, and the strange experience of everyone else moving on while you’re only beginning to process what happened.
Warm, funny and deeply relatable, this is a conversation about becoming the patient, finding your new normal and recognising that you don’t have to have had the “worst” cancer experience for it to have changed your life.
💬 Need Support?
If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:
🌍 Website (https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/)
🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website
💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com
📢 Get Involved
We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:
✨ Volunteer & share your experience
🎙️ Apply (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9GZY22V) to appear on the podcast
🧠 Take part in research opportunities
💛 Support Our Work
We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.
👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here (https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/support-us)
📲 Follow & Connect
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/youngtonguesglobal) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/youngtonguesglobal) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@youngtonguesglobal) | Mailing List (https://youngtongues.beaconforms.com/form/9debd432?bcn_source=qr)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on Young Tongues
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Amy
Elfie
Krishna Suchak
Lynsi
Susan
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
5,714
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
39
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
Contact Young Tongues
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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