Welcome back to the Ultraviolet Tide podcast. Today, we are joined by Valerie Schimel, the founder of JOJU. Since 2022, JOJU has provided buttery-soft, ultra-lightweight UPF 50+ sun shirts for men, women, and teens. JOJU UV sun shirts protect against 98% of UVA & UVB rays.

SHOP JOJU: https://livejoju.com/
CONNECT WITH JOJU: https://www.instagram.com/livejoju/

CONNECT WITH LOW ULTRAVIOLET:
Website: https://www.lowultraviolet.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowultraviolet/
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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and in this episode, Erica and Leah take a deep dive into why this month matters and what the latest research reveals about pediatric cancers and their long-term impact. From global disparities in care to the overlooked risks of melanoma in children and survivors, this is a must-listen for anyone invested in the health and future of our youngest fighters. Plus—a big giveaway alert you won’t want to miss.

Follow us on Instagram for giveaways, updates, and sun-smart tips all summer long. Questions or feedback? DM us—we love hearing from you.

GIVEAWAY TIME:

We're running a weekly giveaway through the end of Season 5 (October)
Here’s how to enter:

1. Rate & review the show on Apple or Spotify
2. Screenshot your review
3. Either: DM us the screenshot OR share it to your IG Stories and tag us
4. One winner announced each week!

THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES:

1. Overview: Why is September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?

• Global Stats: Childhood cancer affects ~400,000 kids (0–19 yrs) globally each year.
  Survival Rates: Increased from 58-68% in the 1970s to 83-88% today in high-income countries.
  Global Disparities: Only 30% survival in low/middle-income countries.
  WHO & St. Jude Partnership: The 2018 Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer aims to boost global survival to 60% by 2030.

2. Study Reveals New Clues Into Childhood Cancer Survivors’ Increased Risk of Melanoma

• Childhood cancer survivors are 2x more likely to develop melanoma.
• Their risk of dying from melanoma is also doubled.
• Study looked at 25,000+ survivors across the U.S. and Canada.
• Risk Factors:
  • High-dose radiation
  • Alkylating agents
  • Bleomycin (increases sun sensitivity)

3. Pediatric Melanoma

• Pediatric melanoma cases rose ~1.7% yearly (1975–1994), then declined.
• Sharpest rise in girls 15–19, possibly due to tanning habits.
• ~400 pediatric melanoma cases diagnosed in the U.S. annually.
• 🔗 Listen to Episode 37 for our conversation with her mother, Marianne Banister, founder of the Claire Marie Foundation.

4. Parents warned of skin cancer risk in children

• Emphasizes that children’s skin is more vulnerable than adults’.
• Sunburns in childhood = higher risk of skin cancer later.

Join us for our upcoming Yoga Event with the Claire Marie Foundation! Sign up & learn more here.

CONNECT WITH LOW ULTRAVIOLET:
Website: https://www.lowultraviolet.com
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TikTok: @lowultraviolet

CONNECT WITH LEAH ADAMS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleahalexis/

This month on The Skin Check with Jenn, we’re taking things global with our very first international guest! Jenn is joined by Michelle, a Stage III and IV melanoma survivor from Australia, a country with one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world.

If Michelle’s name sounds familiar, you might recognize her from the viral “Dear Melanoma” reel she shared during Melanoma Awareness Month last year. That post sparked a movement of others writing their own open letters to melanoma, and Michelle has continued using her platform to raise awareness and build connections ever since.

In this deeply personal and eye-opening conversation, Michelle opens up about:

• The differences between nodular and cutaneous melanoma
• The moment everything changed with her Stage IV diagnosis
• How she manages medical trauma and long-term survivorship anxiety
• What it was like to start sharing her story publicly
• The cultural contrast between sun safety attitudes in Australia vs. the U.S.

From navigating surgeries that never happened to feeling unseen in traditional beauty standards, Michelle shares with honesty, clarity, and a refreshing openness that makes you feel less alone — whether you’re a fellow patient, survivor, or someone who loves one.

CONNECT WITH JENN:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn_patrice/
Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/thenextchapterwithjenn/

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mish.melanoma/

CONNECT WITH LOW ULTRAVIOLET:
Website: https://www.lowultraviolet.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowultraviolet/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LowUltraviolet

BUZZSPROUT:
Podcasting isn’t hard when you have the right partners! The team at Buzzsprout is passionate about helping you succeed. Join over a hundred thousand podcasters already using Buzzsprout to get their message out to the world.

Ready to start your own podcast? Sign up now for a paid plan and you'll receive a $20 Buzzsprout Credit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2074401