Episode 10 Description

In this deeply personal season finale of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about the appointment he never expected to change his journey. What began as a routine MRI and follow up visit slowly turned into a moment that shifted everything.

For over a year, Johnathan had settled into a rhythm of appointments, scans, and quiet monitoring. The symptoms that once felt frightening had become familiar. Fatigue, nausea, pressure, and mental fog were no longer alarming, they were part of daily life. He convinced himself this was simply the new normal. But during this visit, the routine finally broke.

This episode walks listeners through the subtle emotional and physical shifts that led up to that appointment, the calm conversations on the drive there, the sense of comfort in repetition, and the unexpected moment when the doctor’s tone changed. Suddenly, watch and wait was no longer the plan. Surgery entered the conversation. And Johnathan found himself sitting in a room where the future felt heavier than it had just moments before.

Johnathan shares what it felt like to absorb that news in real time, how he tried to remain steady for his wife, and how the ride home became a quiet space of processing, reflection, and faith. He also opens up about calling his mother, hearing the pause in her voice, and watching both his wife and his mom step into powerful roles of emotional and spiritual support.

This episode is not just about medical news. It is about what happens internally when life shifts without warning. It explores the emotional weight of uncertainty, the tension between staying strong and being honest, and the importance of allowing yourself to be supported when you are used to carrying everything alone.

Johnathan also reflects on a lesson from his grandfather, a reminder that strength is not just about enduring hardship. It is about knowing when to stop, listen, and trust God in moments when you cannot control the outcome.

If you have ever walked into a situation thinking everything was fine only to discover that something had changed, if you are supporting someone through illness, or if you are navigating your own diagnosis, this episode will resonate deeply. It is honest, reflective, and rooted in the shared human experience of facing the unknown with faith and community.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:• What it felt like when a routine brain tumor MRI became something more• The emotional shift when the doctor’s tone changed• How he processed the news with his wife and family• The quiet ride home and the internal weight of uncertainty• The role of faith during moments of loss of control• A powerful lesson from his grandfather about real strength• How this moment leads into Season 2 and the road to surgery

☕ Support the podcast:Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival. If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Your support helps spread hope to others walking through hard seasons.

#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #FaithAndHealing #FamilySupport #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling

If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who might need to hear it. Every message helps build a community of support and understanding.

🧠 Episode Description

In this deeply personal episode of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about the moment his brain tumor symptoms began returning in ways he could no longer push through. After weeks of quiet warnings, subtle pains, pressure, fatigue, and moments where the world seemed to shift around him, something changed. The symptoms did not stay quiet anymore, and his body started telling the truth he had been trying not to face.

Up until now, Johnathan had been operating in two realities. There was the version he showed the world, the strong one who kept working, creating, motivating, and pushing forward no matter how he felt. Then there was the private version, the man wrestling with returning brain tumor symptoms and convincing himself it was just part of his new normal. Episode 9 steps into the tension between those two identities and the moment he could no longer hide what was happening inside.

This episode explores the emotional weight of recognizing the signs before any doctor confirms them. The frustration of trying to explain away pain. The fear of what returning symptoms might mean. The exhaustion that settles in when your body forces you to slow down. And the spiritual tug of war that happens when faith is strong but your physical strength is fading.

For the first time, Johnathan speaks openly about how these worsening brain tumor symptoms affected his work, his routine, his relationships, and his confidence. He shares the interruptions, the sharp pains, the pressure behind his eye, the late nights of discomfort, and the moments when he could not pretend anymore. His honesty pulls listeners into the internal battle between fear and faith, courage and concern, hope and reality.

Johnathan also returns to a powerful lesson from his grandfather. Growing up, he watched his grandfather push through challenges with quiet strength, but he also witnessed the wisdom of knowing when something needed real attention. That lesson resurfaced during this chapter of his journey, reminding him that strength is not just about enduring pain. It is about knowing when to stop, listen, and take action before the situation grows worse.

If you have ever ignored the signs because you hoped they would fade, if you have ever pushed yourself past your limits while hiding your struggle, or if you understand the fear that rises when symptoms return after a diagnosis, this episode will resonate deeply. It is honest, vulnerable, and a part of the brain tumor journey many survivors rarely talk about.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:

• ​ What it felt like when his brain tumor symptoms began returning• The physical signs that grew harder to ignore• Why he tried to push through the pain and pretend everything was normal• How worsening symptoms affected his work and daily life• The emotional toll of balancing fear, faith, and frustration• The moment his body stopped negotiating• A powerful lesson from his grandfather about real strength• How this chapter leads directly to the shocking news in Episode 10

☕ Support the podcast:📱 Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival. If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Your support helps spread hope to others walking through hard seasons.

#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #InvisibleSymptoms #EmotionalHealth #FaithOverFear #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling

If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who may be carrying more than they show. Every message helps build a community of support and understanding.

🧠 Episode Description
In this deeply personal episode of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith shares the moment when the mask he had been wearing finally slipped, not at home and not with family, but at work. After weeks of pushing through dizziness, pressure, fatigue, and moments of zoning out, someone finally noticed. A trusted coworker saw what others missed, the truth that his symptoms were breaking through the image of strength he tried so hard to maintain.

Up until this moment, Johnathan had been living two versions of himself. There was the version everyone saw at work, the leader, the motivator, the dependable presence. Then there was the version he carried in private, the man silently fighting a brain tumor diagnosis while trying to convince himself that he could handle it alone. Episode 8 steps into the tension between those two identities and the moment they collided.

This episode explores the emotional shock of being seen when you are trying your hardest not to be. The fear of exposure. The vulnerability of having someone notice the pain you worked so hard to hide. And the strange mix of relief and discomfort that happens when someone caring steps in and says, “Are you sure you are okay?”

For the first time, Johnathan talks openly about how a coworker’s concern became the turning point that forced him to face reality. Her questions, her observations, and her genuine worry helped him accept that the situation was more serious than he was allowing himself to believe.

Johnathan also reflects on a powerful lesson from his grandfather. Growing up, his grandfather took him to youth sports practices and taught him the meaning of never quitting, even when things felt tough or uncomfortable. That lesson resurfaced in this chapter of his journey, reminding him that perseverance does not always mean hiding the pain. Sometimes it means knowing when to trust someone enough to let them in.

If you have ever tried to hide your struggle, if you have ever kept going until someone else noticed the weight you were carrying, or if you understand the fear of letting someone see the real you in a vulnerable moment, this episode will resonate deeply. It is honest, it is human, and it is part of the story many survivors never talk about.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:• What it felt like when his symptoms began showing at work• The moment a coworker noticed something was wrong• Why he tried to hide the truth for so long• The inner battle between strength and vulnerability• How being seen unexpectedly forced him to face reality• The emotional shift that came from trusting someone with the truth• A powerful childhood lesson from his grandfather about perseverance• How this moment sets the stage for the worsening symptoms

💬 If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who may be carrying more than they show. Every message helps build a community of support and understanding.

☕ Support the podcast:If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Every contribution helps spread hope to others walking through hard seasons.

📱 Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival.
#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #InvisibleSymptoms #EmotionalHealth #FaithOverFear #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling

🧠 Episode Description

In this emotional episode of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about one of the hardest parts of his journey, the part no one could see. It was not the headaches or the dizziness this time. It was the emotional pressure that slowly built inside him after hearing the words “you have a brain tumor.”

Life did not pause after the diagnosis. Work kept going. Family life kept going. Responsibilities kept going. But inside, a quiet tension was rising day by day, the kind you cannot always explain, the kind people do not notice unless you tell them. And like many survivors, Johnathan tried to keep it all inside so he would not worry the people he loved most.

This episode explores what that silent pressure felt like. The fear that grows when you try to protect your family from the truth. The guilt that shows up when you feel responsible for everyone’s peace. And the emotional weight of pretending to be strong when you are scared on the inside. Johnathan talks about how he tried to hold everything together at home while keeping his deepest worries hidden from his wife and child.

Along the way, he shares how this season gave him new empathy for his wife, who had survived her own brain tumor years before. Seeing his own fear made him understand hers in a new way, and it deepened his appreciation for her quiet strength.

Johnathan also reflects on a powerful life lesson from his grandfather. As a child, his grandfather took him to youth sports practices and taught him never to quit, no matter how hard things felt. That childhood lesson became a source of strength during this emotional chapter, reminding him to keep going even when the pressure felt overwhelming.

If you have ever protected your family from your pain, if you have ever carried fear silently, or if you know the feeling of trying to hold everything together after life hits you with something heavy, this episode will speak to your soul. It is honest, it is vulnerable, and it is a reminder that emotional weight is real, but you do not have to carry it alone.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:• What emotional pressure felt like after his brain tumor diagnosis• Why he hid fears from his family to protect them• The weight of trying to stay strong for others• How his wife’s past brain tumor journey took on new meaning• The spiritual and mental battle he faced in silence• A powerful lesson from his grandfather about never quitting• How this emotional chapter leads into the next turning point in his story

💬 If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who may be carrying more than they show. Your feedback helps build this community.

☕ Support the podcast:If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Every contribution helps spread hope to others walking through difficult seasons.

📱 Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival.

#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #EmotionalHealth #InvisibleWeight #FaithOverFear #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling

🧠 Episode Description

In this emotional episode of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens the door to a part of the journey many people never talk about, what it feels like to go to work every day while silently carrying brain tumor symptoms that no one else can see.

Before the surgery, before sharing his diagnosis widely, and before connecting with a support community, Johnathan was trying to function at work while experiencing dizziness, headaches, anxiety, and the mental weight of knowing something was wrong. On the outside he looked the same, but inside everything had changed.

He talks about the pressure of keeping up with deadlines, expectations, and everyday conversations while privately fighting fear and exhaustion. He shares how being quieter at work led to misunderstandings, questions, and assumptions from people who had no idea what he was facing. His silence was seen as distance. His exhaustion was misread as disinterest. Meanwhile, he was just trying to make it through the day without alarming anyone.

This episode explores the emotional reality of living with an invisible illness and the impact it can have on your work life, your confidence, and your sense of identity. Johnathan opens up about the fear of being judged, the fear of being treated differently, and the concern that revealing too much too soon might change the way people viewed him professionally.

He also reflects on the lessons he learned from his grandfather, a man who carried himself with quiet strength and integrity regardless of what he was going through. That example helped Johnathan navigate one of the hardest seasons of his life, reminding him to stay grounded, stay respectful, and keep moving with purpose, even when his world felt unstable.

This episode is for anyone who has ever tried to hold it together at work while battling something privately. It is for people living with invisible illnesses, chronic symptoms, mental health struggles, or overwhelming life events that others cannot see. It is a reminder that you never truly know what someone is carrying and that kindness, patience, and empathy matter more than ever.

Johnathan encourages listeners to give themselves grace, to protect their peace, and to remember that unseen struggles are still real, still heavy, and still deserving of compassion. Through vulnerability and faith, he offers hope to anyone walking through their own silent battle.

💭 In this episode you will hear about:

• Working while experiencing brain tumor symptoms• How invisible illnesses create misunderstanding in the workplace• The emotional weight of staying silent while struggling• The fear of being judged or treated differently• Trying to maintain professionalism during a personal crisis• How faith and family lessons helped Johnathan stay grounded

If this episode encouraged you or someone you love, you can support the podcast at:
BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn

Your support helps spread awareness, hope, and faith to others navigating brain tumor diagnoses, invisible illnesses, and difficult seasons of life. Every contribution strengthens the mission.

Subscribe and follow for new weekly episodes.

🧠 Episode Description

In this episode of I Have A What? Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about one of the most overwhelming parts of the journey, the long nights after diagnosis when the world is quiet, but your mind will not let you rest. It is the season when fear grows louder, anxiety feels heavier, and Google becomes both a comfort and a trap.

After hearing the words “you have a brain tumor,” everyone expects you to stay strong. But what happens when strength runs out late at night? Johnathan shares what it was like lying awake at 2 AM, scrolling through brain tumor forums, medical articles, and survivor stories trying to find peace. The more he read, the more the fear grew. Every worst case scenario jumped out, every statistic felt personal, and every story left him wondering what his own future would look like.

But in the middle of that late-night spiral, something unexpected happened. Johnathan stumbled onto a community of real survivors who understood exactly what he was feeling. Reading their words brought a sense of hope he had not felt in weeks. It reminded him that fear does not get the final say, and that healing is not something you do alone.

Through prayer, reflection, and the quiet wisdom passed down from his grandfather, Johnathan began to realize that true peace does not come from information. It comes from faith, connection, and the right voices speaking into your life when you need it most.

This episode is a reminder that the emotional side of healing is just as real as the physical one. You can be searching for answers, searching for hope, and still be on your way to healing. And it is okay to need community along the way.

💭 In this episode:

• Late-night searching after a brain tumor diagnosis

• The anxiety and fear that come from endless Google spirals

• Finding surprising hope in a support group of real survivors

• Balancing faith, fear, and mental health

• The quiet wisdom that came from his grandfather

☕ Support the show:

BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn

Every contribution helps spread awareness, encouragement, and hope to others walking through hard seasons.

📱 Follow the podcast for more stories of faith, resilience, and strength.

#️⃣ Hashtags:

#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #TeflonJohn #BrainTumorJourney #PodcastStorytelling #FaithOverFear #HealingJourney #ResilienceAndRecovery #RealLifeStories #TheArtOfReinvention

🧠Episode Description

In this episode of I Have A What? Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about a part of the journey that many survivors never talk about. It is the season after the diagnosis, when everyone expects you to be strong, but inside you are still searching for peace.

After the first visit to UVA and hearing the words “watch and wait,” life was supposed to return to normal. But how do you live normally when there is something inside your head that could change everything? Johnathan reflects on what it felt like to wear a mask every day, smiling for friends, coworkers, and church members while quietly carrying the fear of the unknown.

Late at night, he turned to Google, scrolling through brain tumor forums and survivor stories, trying to find reassurance that he was not alone. Every story he read brought both comfort and anxiety. He was trying to understand what might come next, but the deeper he searched, the more he realized that peace does not come from information. It comes from faith.

Through prayer, reflection, and the lessons of his grandfather, Johnathan began to find balance between fear and faith. His grandfather’s quiet wisdom reminded him that true strength is not about having all the answers. It is about continuing to show up every day, even when you are scared.

This episode is a reminder that healing is not just physical. It is emotional, mental, and spiritual. You can appear fine on the outside and still be searching for peace on the inside, and that is okay.

💭 In this episode:

• ​Living a double life after diagnosis
• ​Balancing faith and fear
• ​Searching for peace late at night
• ​Finding strength in the wisdom of his grandfather
• ​

☕ Support the show: BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn📱 Follow I Have A What? Surviving a Brain Tumor for more stories of faith, resilience, and hope.

#IHaveAWhatPodcast#SurvivingABrainTumor#TeflonJohn#BrainTumorJourney#PodcastStorytelling#FaithOverFear#HealingJourney#ResilienceAndRecovery#RealLifeStories#TheArtOfReinvention

🧠 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Every story has a moment where everything starts to make sense, even if it is hard to accept.In Episode 3 of I Have a What? Surviving a Brain Tumor, I, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith, share the day I went to UVA Medical Center for my first major appointment. It was the day I would finally get clarity about what was happening inside my head and what my future might look like.

Before meeting my neurosurgeon, Dr. Ryan Kellogg, I had another MRI scheduled. That scan would become part of my new six-month routine. I take you inside that moment, describing the sights, sounds, and emotions of the experience. The cold room, the mechanical knocking of the MRI machine, the stillness you must hold for what feels like forever, and the thoughts that fill your mind as the minutes drag on. You think about your family, your life, your purpose, and you realize how powerless you feel when all you can do is wait.

After the scan, my wife and I had hours before seeing the doctor. Those gaps between appointments became our new normal. We would grab coffee, talk about everyday things, or just sit in silence trying to stay calm. Those hospital visits turned into all-day experiences, filled with hope, fear, and prayer. It was not just physical fatigue, it was emotional exhaustion.

When Dr. Kellogg entered the room, his tone was calm but serious. He explained that my tumor was located in the parietal lobe, the area of the brain that controls balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. For the first time, everything began to connect. The dizziness, the headaches, and the pain behind my eye were no longer random. He told me the tumor appeared to be a meningioma, likely benign and slow growing. It was a relief, but hearing the words “brain tumor” still made time stand still.

That was when I heard the plan: watch and wait. No surgery yet, just close observation with follow-up scans every six months. It sounded simple at first, but emotionally, it was one of the hardest things to accept. I talk about what that plan really means, both medically and mentally, and how it tests your patience, faith, and mindset. Living with something you cannot see or feel every day creates its own kind of anxiety. It makes you question everything while trying to look normal on the outside.

This episode also touches on how my grandfather, James Smith Jr., taught me to stay calm in the middle of chaos. He showed me through his life that peace is not about ignoring fear, it is about facing it with stillness and grace. His lesson became my anchor through this stage of uncertainty.

If you have ever experienced a health scare, waited for test results, or had to live in the unknown, this episode will speak directly to you. It is about learning to breathe through fear, to trust time, and to find strength in surrender. It is about understanding that patience is not weakness, it is quiet courage.

Every episode of I Have a What? is meant to give you insight, encouragement, and real-life perspective from someone who has been there. My goal is to help others recognize symptoms early, advocate for their health, and hold onto hope through every season of life.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to I Have a What? Surviving a Brain Tumor on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Join me as I share my journey of faith, awareness, and resilience, one story at a time.

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If you enjoy my content and want to help me keep creating inspiring stories and conversations, you can support my work here: https://buymeacoffee.com/Teflonjohn

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