We're Here to Help - Bonus: S1 Caller, Corrine Norris, Send Off & Re-Release

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

Jake and Gareth say farewell to Corrine Norris, a caller from Episode 15: Dougie McBuckets and Episode 84: Kevin's Fresh Lobotomy Smile. Listen to a re-release of Corrine's calls after the intro.Corrine NorrisAugust 20, 1995 - June 20, 2026“Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” - Emily Dickinson Corrine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asscancercor/Corrine's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ass.cancer.corSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

And we are back. This, as you know, is a unique drop. This is going to be on a Friday, I believe. And it's a season one caller update. That's sad. Yeah, it's our worst update for sure. But I wanted to read the email that I got from a dear friend of a season one caller.

And that's it. That we're going to replay her call. I believe there's also a follow-up. And this is just a shout out to sweet Corinne. Hi, Jake and Gareth. I'm reaching out with an update on one of your season one callers, Corinne. She was on episode 15, Dougie McBuckett's. She had called in asking for help on how to navigate dating

while battling cancer. She hilariously referred to it as ass cancer. She even made Instagram called at ass cancer OR. To document her journey, if you want, take a look at her page, it'll give you the best view of the kind of person she was. I wish this update was happier,

but knowing how excited and star-struck she was to get the opportunity to talk to you both, I felt obligated to reach out on her behalf. She is who introduced me to your pod, and I've been a listener since day one because of her I've been a new girl fan for years, so it was easy to love this podcast. On June 20th, Corinne laid down her shield and passed away surrounded by her friends and family. She was 30 years old. After three failed clinical trials, she had moved from the Chicago Burs to Pennsylvania to be closer to the rest of her siblings and family and begin her care, and she took. took a turn for the worse after developing blood clots in her lungs, where the tumors had been

spreading. Her initial question to you both was essentially if when she should disclose to her dates that she was battling cancer because she was worried it would get in the way of her getting laid. I'm thrilled to say that she did get laid. That's the good news. I mean, sure is, Gareth. I know it's a long shot, but her celebration of life is June 29th in Warrington, Pennsylvania. We will be doing an open mic of sorts from 630 to 10.30. She would shit her angel wings if you showed up. However, I know it's incredibly short notice and that both of you are working, so please don't feel pressure to do so.

I'm linking the Evite to her send-off below. We have a website dedicated to her linked in the info of the. the invite, and even if you just took the time to read about her, which I already have, that would mean the world to her. She requested a black tie event where we are all dressed in our absolute best, the most dramatic of our ensemble. The irony of making the event a pain in the ass. That's such a great call.

Truly. I love this. The better. Think Princess Diana level morning. Coring was a fashionista thrown through. Just a shout out to our, to Corinne and to everybody else. Let's all make our celebration of lives as ridiculous and difficult to people as possible. In everybody's will right now, everybody make a list of things people have to do.

Because I saw a great thing on Instagram of a guy crying because his best friend had died. And he was in a light green miniskirt, dress, tube top. And they said if one of us does it for the other one, the other one has to wear a mini skirt tube top to the funeral. It really is an opportunity for one last bit. It is. And one last way until you get to like mess with your friends. Yeah.

So, Corinne, thank you. As a community, we will always now push that forward. That is an agenda. We will not stop. I'm also attaching a TikTok we made on Craft Night where we took our favorite Nick Miller quotes and made some home decor. Her quote encompasses her reaction

to being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and perfectly depicts her life philosophy and how she approached the next few years of care. Natalie or Jesse, can you please attach that TikTok to this? Thank you for contributing to making her life what it was.

Then the Corinne sendoff and that's it, Gia. Yeah, I mean, you know, when you sent that email, it was, it starts, I was like, please, and then obviously it goes dark. But it's also, it says, it's funny because I do remember her and the idea of a black tie event and all that does not seem out of character, even for our short time just chatting with her. It's also It says a lot about the world here That we're having a somber moment

On an episode called Dougie McBuckets But no I mean, yeah You know I mean she had such a good sense of humor about it And 30 years old is just so young It's crazy I re-listened

She's so funny And it's so sad Because she was talking about How everything was looking positive and her body was responding so... Yeah, her follow-up was, like, optimistic. And so you just go to, like, it's just, what a nightmare. Yeah, it's no other way to put it.

So to Corinne, I am a believer that when you pass, your energy is somewhere. I had a really crazy dream in Costa Rica, just a really weird out. and where I was dying and I could feel my energy or my soul or whatever you want leaving and I was kind of halfway out of my body and the immensity of what I was entering was so exciting that I was genuinely thrilled. I was like, holy shit.

It was like everything times 100. And I thought, but once I go, I am going to totally forget about all this because it's just too immense. And I thought, but not my family, my friends, it just doesn't seem like the right time. But the show.

I didn't think of the show, but you were part of the friends. I'll take it. But it was the first time that I thought where we are going might be excellent. You just, that is,

there you go. go. That's a, that's a, a version of what Iowaska is. Oh, really? Yeah. There's this, that's exactly, that's kind of it. I mean, it's different for everyone, but that is sort of part of it. Interesting. Because there's, when you think about the way we view life and existence, we have this, you know, this endless quest to live forever. Totally. Some people in society. And we feel like life is finite and, you know, we're battling for these whatever, 70 years or whatever our averages. And, but, you know, I think that's, it's non-specified religion in the sense that it's like, there's maybe more.

And if there is, I could see it being better than like there's Arby's on every corner. As well as this just becomes nothingness. And we're all part of that. Yes. We will all be that we won't remember like, do you remember that day I regretfully said that joke about your jeans? It's like, well, none of this matters. But what that felt like for the first time, I was like, if that's reality, if that's what's going to happen, okay. Yeah.

Jackie Jay's not scared of that. That's, that's, that's, that's, if there was Gareth, if there's golden arches and a dude with a list. I'm scared of that. that I worry about for sure I mean I'll have a lot of stuff I'll be like yeah you're right it'll be like being in an argument with like a spouse

by the way I'll walk in there they'll show me the list and I'll go like I don't think I'm getting in and then if hell is the way they said I'm like with my body type especially because I'm always going through a heavy stage I can't deal with that hate saying especially

that I'm always going through a heavy by the way you just encapsulated my POV on my health. Well, because Gareth, here's the true. I'm my body type is lead singer of a rock band from the 70s.

I should be, I should basically be falling out of ladies' jeans. That's my natural body type. I should lift my shirt up, have a crop top. And you're not only seeing core muscles, you're seeing like veins.

You're like, I should look like Iggy Pop then, and not what Eric Adolstein likes. I, I really do think that it's the fighter point of what you're saying is how I feel. And it's like, I remember the first time I did ayahuasca, my grandmother had died like a week before. I was flying to England for the funeral. And I did ayahuasca on the Sunday, flew to England on the Monday.

Crazy. And the way I felt on the Saturday about the funeral was so different as how I felt on the Monday. Right. And the way that I was sort of counseling my mother through it was similar to this, where I'm like, She's here. She's here. People live in memories. You know, you go back to the galactic soup. It gets a stir. And then you're going... Wait, Jesse. I was just talking to Gareth.

Wait, hold on. Hold on. I have to go back to it. Really fast because we were finishing a Zoom. Okay, sorry, sorry. I got to go. I got to go. We're finishing. This is the problem with sharing a Zoom account with them. Hold on. Hold on. This is hilarious. And this all needs to stay in. I got to record, though, because it's not letting me record. Hold on. Okay, part two.

In hilarious news, we got cut off because Jesse got on the Zoom. So we're not going to finish the story. What we are going to say is Corinne, we love you. We thank you so much for calling and being part of our show. The callers are the show. It is a choose-your-own adventure. We are being shaped by who calls in and what people say and what happens. And Corinne, early on, you are our first.

real call. You were the first call where after Gareth and I had to process it and talk and go, everything we said we do mean. If a woman has cancer, you don't have to say that on a date. If a guy says that, you should be able to get laid. It's not contagious. And so thank you for sharing your story with this community. If Gareth, Iowaska trips and my dreams are anywhere near what's going to happen. We will see you soon. and we love you and we thank you and we're hoping you're in a wonderful place. Gareth?

Well put. Co-signed. And with this episode without any ads, we can truly, for the first time, say, without further ado. But we are brought to you by Squarespace. Hello. Hello there. How are you?

I'm great. How are you? Really good. Thank you. You're on, we're here to help. You're with Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds. Can we get your name, your age, and where you're calling from, and then we'll figure out how to solve a huge issue for you. Yes. My name is Corinne. I'm 27, and I am calling from the Chicagoland area. Karim, what is your issue today? Why don't you tell us what's going on and we'll try to figure out what we can do for you, if anything. I hope you guys can figure it out because I promise nothing.

Read the fine print on the email. We promise very little. Okay, so I'm 27, and I've been single for a few years, and I was really looking forward to living in Chicago and finding love, but instead I found cancers. Oh, dear. Yeah, yeah, really crazy. and I've just been figuring out how to navigate dating

and finding a partner while also, you know, trying to stay alive. Wow. Well, first of all, I'll speak for us. All three of us were really sorry about that. And then do you mind if I ask you some questions about the cancer so we can get a picture of where you're at and anything you're not comfortable showing?

Yes. Oh, my gosh. an open book. Ask anything. I love it. What type of cancer do you have and when was it diagnosed? Okay. Rectal. So that's sexy. I was diagnosed in January after a colonoscopy where we all thought it was just going to be hemorrhoids or something, but turned out to be a tumor, unfortunately. but it's not that sexy of a cancer, but there's loads of jokes to unpack, that's for sure. And what has been the process of it?

So it's kind of a world when one day you get a call and then you get 7,500 appointments on your calendar. I've already finished chemotherapy and I am currently in the radiation stage. stage and then to end things up would be a surgery to remove the tumor and then hopefully at that point I would be no evidence of disease. Okay. And how are the doctor's feeling? What's the kind of, what's everybody, what do you hear in? It's really positive so far. My body reacted really great to the chemotherapy. So nothing but good signs so far.

Okay. Well, that, I think obviously, yeah, I mean, that sounds very difficult. It sounds like you said, I mean, Whirlwind sounds like it is an understatement. Now, obviously, it's a very difficult position, but what is the, if you were to boil down the main problem that you would like us to give you advice on, what would that be? What is the exact question? I guess I really want to know how to navigate dating and finding a partner when you have a lot of complex kind of life-changing things going on. I feel like before I used to be like, oh, my parents are divorced, but now it's like, well, I'm not quite a thing. Your laundry list of stories of like, well, I used to be like this is now different. But here's my question. Are you looking for, when you say that, is it, are you looking for advice on a partner? Are you looking for, because you were saying you were in your 20s, you were excited to get to Chicago and date?

Is part of it you're just looking for a little bit of fun? Because I'll tell you what, somebody having cancer, cancer is not contagious. So it's not like, if you were doing this same call and you had a contagious disease, I'd be like, that's going to be a pretty tough red flag. You can't catch cancer by hooking up with. That's true. How do you feel? I mean, do you feel like physically?

Do you feel like you're healthy enough to start dating? I think physically, for the most part, yes. But some days I could sleep 14 hours and some days I don't feel great. I'm not even trying to make a joke. Most days I could sleep 14 hours. So, you know, I don't think that's anything that should nix you from dating. That's great. Well, this is a difficult one because of many reasons, obviously.

But I think if you feel physically well enough to date, you should totally try. I mean, it might be a- But hold. Let me just ask, let me ask Gareth a question here as just a guy to guy for a second. If you go on a first date with somebody that you meet on a app, you don't have to tell everything right away. No. So you don't have to lead out with, hey, I'm 27. I'm in the St. Charles area.

I'm in Chicago for fun. I have rectal cancer. Totally. Erase that last part. And if somebody goes like, hey, where were you? We were going to get together a Wednesday and your symptoms are kicking your ass. You're allowed to say, I'm not feeling well today. And the specifics are part of nobody's business.

The first few months and weeks of a relationship, you don't even know. of you like this guy, and I can guarantee he's not telling you everything. I was just going to say, you never reveal everything. I think that's a really good point, is that, yeah, you just simply don't have to say it. You can just be yourself. I mean, for you, it's like obviously so life-defining right now. But yeah, I mean, I don't think that's necessarily something you need to get off your chest right away unless you want to, right? I think if you're in a situation where you feel, what you want to do is

bring it up, then you have, obviously, you have every right. But certain guys are going to be scared away from that simply because you think, well, this is a lot to deal with. And I don't even really know this person yet. And a lot of guys are really immature. And they're like, honestly, like, I think she's hot. This was fun. Even if it wasn't. rectal cancer, if you said you get a lot of can't can't put up with that shit, a lot of guys are going to do like, dude, I can't put up with that shit. She gets canker scars.

Or rectal cancer. On the opposite. Like, I think, well, what are you, are you looking for a relationship? Or you're just more excited to hook up? I mean, I'm open to anything, but I would say. Well, let me tell you, let me tell you something. And this is the, if you go weird on a fetish for rectal cancer, I am cutting all of this out.

This is the beauty and the nightmare of men. Never underestimate a man's desire to get laid. I don't think there's something you, I think to you're like, this could be a huge turnoff. I think just like anything else, potentially there are guys who are going to be like, who are going to see that as a problem for whatever reason.

I also think there's just going to be a ton of dudes who don't even give a shit when they find out. I think if you're looking to hook up, that is really, I think you're in a fine position to do that. If you feel physically okay to do it, I think you should just do what Jake said and just get out there.

Now, if you're like, well, how do I meet guys in Chicago? I mean, that's its own pickle. So here's my in conclusion for you on this one, my two cents. Do whatever makes you happy early on the dates. I don't think you owe them anything. If you start falling for somebody,

then you're an asshole to keep lying. You'll know when a relationship starts to turn. and you're getting out of that appetizer stage and you're entering the meal. And at that point, you got to transition into the, I do have to tell you something. I'm sorry I didn't tell you on our first two dates. I didn't know how serious this was. But now that I'm having feelings, blank, right? And then you can kind of infest where you're at.

But early on, you're allowed to goof around a little bit. And while you're going through something as hard as what you're going through, you're allowed to have a little bit of fun. And I would highly recommend you do whatever makes you happy in this stage, you know, until you're out of the mess a little bit. Yeah, I will echo that and say that anybody who would be advising you just in general during this phase would be like it's important for your own physical and mental well-being to live your life. So live your life. Do what you think you want to do. And, you know, I would just for now set up some dating programs.

profiles, make it about who you are, not what you're going through, and see what comes your way. And then you'll be able to make those judgment calls as it evolves or develops in whatever way. Yes, that's so great. I loved hearing what you guys had to say, especially from guys, because I feel like just talking to my girlfriends, I needed some male perspective. I think most of the men you're going to experience on a date aren't good. Some will, but the majority of the guys, I think, will be just fine to enjoy the date and not hear what's deeper going on in your life, but just connect on the fun level and just go like, man, I had a lot of fun with her. And we didn't go deep. We didn't hear about all each other's problems. We just had fun.

Yep. It's a good escape for you, too. I mean, this is on your mind so much. That's just a good way to just kind of get your head out of it too. Yeah. All right. Thank you for the call. We'll be thinking of it. Go on. Have a lot of fun. Thanks, guys. Yes, I will. Go ahead. have some fun with some men. That's right. I'll have some fun with some men. Hello.

Hey, Kevin, you want to intro this one? Yeah, go for it, Kev. Let's see what you could do. Why don't you try to host for a minute, Kev? Okay, here I go. That's terrible. Hey, caller, this is a follow-up. We don't know who you are or why you're calling,

but can you remind the guys? Nice. Yeah, yeah. I'll try to make this one really fun and light. I'm Corinne. I am the 27, now 28-year-old who had emphasis on had rectal cancer. Oh, yes.

You're trying to... Corinne, it's in the past. It is in this past. And I don't want to say you guys cured it. But I think you guys have a positive testimony. We're here to help your cancer. You said it. You didn't say it. You said it.

Well, first of all, I can say it. First of all, walk us through where you're at. So when you say it's in the past, you're out of the woods. I am. I am. I had a tumor resection in November. And thank you. So now I will just be scanned on that three to six months basis.

Fine. Easy. Return to normal life. So now that we are out of the. the woods with cancer, which we are very happy about. You're part of our group, so we are glad. Now let's get to the important stuff. Have the sex life. Yeah. Because you didn't call in saying, help me cure cancer. You said, how do I get back into the sexual swing of this with this? And we said, I don't think guys care. Yep. We were pretty clear.

And I was like, we also said, I don't think you need to tell anybody. Just, I don't. I don't think a guy's going to be like, wait a second, we had a wild 69 and I found out after you're battling cancer. You lied to me. Yeah, no, they were like a bit of a shit. I take back that 13 minutes. So what is what's going on now, current? Well, unfortunately, I still haven't gotten laid. It's sorry. But I'm working on it. I'm working on it. So nothing happened with the men. What's going on there? This doesn't make sense. No. Okay. But I, but I did put myself out there, which I was out of because I feel like when when your own morality comes into play nothing really matters anymore. So I think that has helped a lot with dating because that's cool. Like there's no stakes.

It's like that's great. It's like if you put yourself out there and you get turned down, I was proud that I did that because that was normally not my vibe. But when you're like, I could die. Yeah. Really, you really just don't. Yeah. That's awesome. How have you been trying to meet people? What were the ways you, because we were talking about setting up dating profiles and all that stuff. Have you tried anything outside of that?

Yes, yes. And I have, I have dating profile set up. But then the person I tried to pursue was actually a friend. So I went to, I just went rogue. I just went to put you said, how about keep it, keep it normal. And then I decided to go after someone who knew everything about my. my current situation. And what happened?

I just said Yolo. That person isn't interested in dating right now, which is fine. And I didn't take it personally. But you just got to risk it sometimes. It's quite a time when you've figured out how to beat rectal cancer, but dating still alludes us. It really says a lot about the state of the world.

Yes. That just goes to show modern dating. The rectal cancer was the easy part. And now we're to the actual challenging bit. And so where we're ending on this is that you at 28 years old have beat rectal cancer. You are cancer free and you are ready to mingle. And you're now going to see what happens. Because you went, look, you went through, what was it, about 18 months this whole ordeal?

Probably like a year. A year. So that was a wild year. So like COVID, you get to erase that year. That was a year that doesn't count on your record. So now you're starting over. And so now that you're cancer-free, you've got a new attitude. And that new attitude is, as you say, Yolo, let's go for it.

So I think from 28 to 30, let's just go fucking nuts. That's what I'm thinking. Yeah, I think you should just go. Let me jump in once and twos. No, what I was going to say also is that, do that. And even though it seems, you will find at some point someone who finds this story and this ordeal, like, so compelling and will value it. And until then, yeah, just enjoy yourself. Don't worry about it. But it, you know, I think at some point you'll find value in the fact that, and someone else will as well.

Okay. And while I have you guys, I do have a... We got to go, Corritt. Oh, no, go. Thank you so much for the call. All right, no, no, go ahead. No, because of this whole ordeal, like it took up a year of my life and I wasn't dating previously, I'm now like 28 and I haven't had sex in two years. And I feel like that's something people don't really talk about

or it just feels kind of weird. And I just don't know if I'm putting that on myself, if anyone actually does give a fuck, you know? Nobody gives a fuck. What's your worry that you forgot how to fuck? You didn't. Trust me. Believe me, you haven't.

It'll be fine. No man will notice. It's like being ridden by it. It's like you're the bicycle. Yes. The person on top of you still will remember how to ride the bike. Yes. And it'll be.

I just along for the ride. At least for the first three minutes of the first one and then you get to go like, now you're the bike. Yeah. You will really have, You guys, it'll be, yeah. And I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you another thing here. There's something really appealing to the majority of guys that are going,

it's been two years and nothing's happened and you go, because I'm so goddamn sexy and cool that I am the guy and you go, it's all been waiting for you. And the guy goes like, of course. So this is, if anything, I would say a positive. It's a spelling point. It's way, wait, wait, hold on, Gareth. It's way better saying, I haven't been doing somebody in two years then.

I've been with 4,200 people in the last year and a half. Well, by the way, neither would dissuade. Neither would dissuade. But it's great because it's basically like you get to try to get a layup against someone who just had MCL surgery and got the green light to start again. That's way better. That's exactly right. They're going to relish it and it'll work out.

This is a big one. You're in such a good zone. Here's what I got to suggest as the premise of this, as we're in a bar just pitching to you. don't create obstacles. Even that to you, this is a non-obstacle. And I will say having rectal cancer while going on a date, to me is also, these are non-obstacles.

You are 100% in the clear. There's no, I haven't done this in two years. Who cares? Even if you said, I'm 28 years old and I've never kissed a guy, fine. Yeah. These are non-obstacles. That's not. That's really good to hear.

But I also wouldn't be, I think if you're on a date, I also think it's a hot thing to say to go like, I got to be honest with you, I haven't had sex in two years. Great. Yeah. I don't think I, again, there are, you know, there are many, many flaws within the male psyche. Among them is there will be no judgment on that. Sex will be sex. I wonder if Garfin, this is a question to both you guys, if in reverse it is different. Like if you were on a date, Karen, and a guy said to you, I haven't had sex in two years. Is that a bit of a turnoff? I have been with someone in the past who wasn't very sexually experienced. And it was definitely different because I feel like at least in my sexual experiences as a woman, sometimes I find the driving force comes from the man. So I just feel like there was a little bit of a dynamic shift.

But it wasn't a bad thing. I kind of felt like a badass. Now we're talking. The men that, listen, the upside of the downside to being the guy in the straight fucking is that you are in charge of the time. And unfortunately, that is on you. So if the time is great, hey, listen, you're with a pro. As they say, time is short.

Whoopsies. As they say, the heavyweight fight was scheduled for 10 rounds, but it rarely goes 10 rounds. And then a boxer knocked himself out before he got in the ring. Not great. Because the other boxer did like a really sexy, cute dance that was unexpected at the beginning. And the fights canceled. The fights. There's no fight.

Well, as I was walking out, I didn't know the other boxer was going to have that song on and do that cool thing with their road. And you just, you walk out, you get to the ring, you turn around, you walk back. I have a concussion. A comcussion. Couldn't be a more Gareth line in the history of Gareth lines. I'm out of it. Hey, Corinne, thank you for the call. we appreciate you and all bits aside. Congratulations. I mean cancer-free. Congratulations.

Thanks, guys. Thanks so much. It was lovely chatting. Will you follow up again? And this is now just going to be creep. It's going to sound creeper than I intend it. But will you follow up after you have broken the seal? Yes. I would love nothing more. So now we are pushing you. We are invested in your story. Let us know. So we want you on soon. So get out there. We want to hear the story, good, bad, or indifferent. But we want to know what happens when that two-year curse is lifted. Yes.

Okay. I will get, I'll get to work. We appreciate you. Thanks for calling that. Wow. Thanks, guys. Bye, buddy. All right.

Thank you. Bye. We're here to help is hosted by Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds. If you'd like to be on the show, Please email us your question at HelpfulPod at gmail.com. And if you want to watch video episodes of we're here to help, you can go to our Patreon at patreon.com slash here to help pod to see our entire catalog. We're Here to Help is produced by Rabbit Grimm Productions,

executive producers Rob Hollis, Jeff Porter, and Natalie Hollis, Associate producer Jesse Thurston, editing mix and master by Chris Fowler. The song by Oliver Raleigh. The cover artwork is by James Fostike, animations by Andrew Strelicki. And if you'd like to see Gareth, you stand up on the road, go to garethrethrenolds.com. Remember all of the advice, given on we're here to help, is for entertainment purposes only, and all listeners should be adults and make their own decisions.