From the Prologue

I sat in our dining room, waiting for a call I both wanted and dreaded. The coffee had gone cold, and I’d already spent entirely too much time Googling bits and pieces of information from my lab results. Like most guys, my prostate knowledge amounted to this: it’s a walnut-sized organ—probably not doing that much—which I couldn’t have found with a map; right up until mine wasn’t optional. That’s when the call finally came:

Doctor: “Mr. Temple, I have some good news and some not so good news.”
Me: “Let’s start with the good.”
Doctor: “You’ll live. And likely be fine.”
Me: “Okaaaaay… and the rest?”
Doctor: “You have prostate cancer. And we should move quickly.”

My hand stayed on the table. But the room tilted. What? I called Tammy into the room. And in seconds, I was on a trajectory that changed my life forever.

WHY LISTEN TO ME TALK ABOUT CANCER?

The answer won’t blow your mind, but it’s honest, and it proves this disease can hit anyone, regardless of social class, age, income, or where you live. Does it matter what you eat or drink or consume? Maybe. Does it matter how much you exercise or sleep or meditate? Perhaps. Are toxins, stress, and daily life working against us? Absolutely possible. Either way, both of us—or someone you know—has ended up here. We need answers. We need solutions. We need calm.

WHY MY VOICE MAY HELP

I’m a man in my mid-60s who has lived an extraordinary life packed with professional milestones and a fair bit of synchronicity. My childhood dream was radio — and I chased it hard. From a tiny AM station in Lynchburg…to Norfolk…to Detroit…to Chicago…
to Los Angeles and New York. Radio shaped me for 25 years. Commercials, promos, networks — the whole thing.

Fun fact:
For three decades, my voice has echoed through Disneyland on the Indiana Jones ride — and it still makes me smile every time someone says, “Wait, you’re that voice?”

I’ve also worked in television and film as a writer, producer, director, and talent. One career highlight: writing, producing, and starring in the indie film Chasing Grace, which ended up streaming on Netflix, Hallmark, and now Amazon Prime.

None of that makes me special. But it makes me fortunate. And deeply grateful.

Life’s best gift came when I met my wife Tammy — brilliant, funny, wise, and one of the most heart-centric women I’ve ever known. Long-distance calls turned into a life together. And along the way, I learned a simple truth: Sometimes life doesn’t ask for permission; it just happens.

Where I come from

Small-town North Carolina. Then Lynchburg, Virginia, where my father worked as a hospital chaplain for 30 years. Second oldest of four. Middle-class home. Faith. Kindness. Structure. Support. My father, Edward, was my childhood hero — a chaplain and part-time Methodist minister with a PhD from Duke. My mother, Barbara, was sharp, creative, and my best friend. They gave us everything we needed: love, discipline, and the expectation that we treat people well.

Why share this backstory?

Because I did the things you’re “supposed” to do. Eat well. Move daily. Avoid smoking. Cut back on drinking. Stay healthy. Be responsible. And I still got cancer. Sometimes that’s just the draw. Would earlier checkups have helped? Maybe. Would moving faster have changed the treatment? Possibly. I’ll never know. What I do know is I’m lucky — incredible doctors, excellent insurance, and friends and family who’ve shown up for me every step of the way. For that, I’m eternally grateful.

A quick word on luck and responsibility

Luck matters. So does timing. So does insurance. But responsibility matters, too. If something feels off… If you’re in that age bracket where things begin to shift…Get checked. Not next year. Not when life slows down. NOW! Medicine isn’t perfect, but you have agency. Ask questions. Press for clarity. Take notes.

At the end of this book, I’ve included a list of questions to take to every appointment — because any help you can get makes a difference. Okay. Now let’s get to your…

LIFE IN TWO COLUMNS: Shit That Matters. And Everything Else.

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