Forged By Fire

Ryan Stephens, Rob Hefley, and Daniel Shaw host the Forge by Fire podcast, welcoming their special guest, James Ash. James is a Marine Corps combat veteran, law enforcement officer, and combat veteran who has been a close friend of Ryan's for over 20 years. As the hosts and James reminisce about their shared experiences, James opens up about his recent cancer diagnosis - a rare form called multiple myeloma that affects less than 2% of all cancer patients. Diagnosed at just 41 years old, decades younger than the typical patient, James reveals that he sought treatment at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), known as the world's leading institute for this type of cancer. He expresses his determination to fight the disease, which has caused bone lesions and weakened his immune system. The group discusses the alarming rates of cancer among veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, emphasizing the importance of early screening and accessing available benefits. Despite his difficult diagnosis, Jame