Progress, Potential, and Possibilities

Send a textDonna Letier is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gardenuity ( https://gardenuity.com/ ), a gardening and well-being company dedicated to helping people grow healthier lifestyles through accessible, personalized gardening experiences.An entrepreneur with a background spanning consumer brands, hospitality, and lifestyle innovation, Donna launched Gardenuity to bridge the gap between everyday wellness and nature — making gardening approachable even for people without outdoor space, time, or prior experience.Under her leadership, Gardenuity has pioneered customized container and desktop gardening systems designed to support mental health, stress reduction, nutrition, and meaningful daily rituals. Her work sits at the intersection of preventive health, behavioral wellness, and environmental connection, with growing recognition of gardening's role in cognitive health, emotional regulation, and caregiver resilience.Donna is also an advocate for using gardening as a tool for intergenerational connection and memory engagement, exploring how sensory interaction with plants — from scent and touch to nurturing routines — can support individuals living with memory loss while providing caregivers with moments of restoration and purpose.#Alzheimers #BrainHealth #CognitiveHealth #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #HealthyAging #Longevity #Neuroplasticity #MentalWellness #PreventiveHealth #Gardening #HorticulturalTherapy #MemoryCare #AgingWell #LifestyleMedicine #Wellness #BrainLongevity #Caregiving #NatureHeals #ProgressPotentialPossibilitiesSupport the show

Send a textDr. Karsten Eastman, Ph.D. is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sethera Therapeutics ( https://setheratx.com/ ), a company focused revolutionizing peptide-based drug development with a cutting-edge enzymatic cross-linking technology, and their platform enables the synthesis of highly stable, polymacrocyclic peptides designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously, offering unparalleled precision in therapeutic design.Trained as a chemist at the University of Utah, where he earned his PhD in 2023, Dr. Eastman has built his career at the intersection of peptide synthesis, protein engineering, and radical enzymology. His work focuses on understanding how enzymes choreograph complex molecular transformations — and then harnessing those principles to build programmable, drug-like molecules.In collaboration with researchers at the University of Utah, Dr. Eastman and his team recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a breakthrough discovery involving PapB, a radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzyme capable of installing precise, durable thioether “staples” into peptides in a single enzymatic step. This work opens vast new chemical space for macrocyclic peptide therapeutics and offers a powerful new approach to targeting diseases long considered “undruggable.”At Sethera Therapeutics, Dr. Eastman is translating this enzymatic platform into next-generation peptide medicines that aim to combine the selectivity of biologics with the drug-like properties of small molecules.#PeptideTherapeutics #DrugDiscovery #Biotechnology #Enzymology#RadicalSAM #PapB #SetheraTherapeutics #UndruggableDiseases#MacrocyclicPeptides #Bioengineering #Therapeutics #Innovation #ScienceBreakthrough #PeptideDrugs #EnzymeTechnologySupport the show

Send a textSusie Singer Carter ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susie_Singer_Carter ) is an award-winning filmmaker ( https://www.gogirlmedia.com/ ) and caregiver advocate with a powerful new docuseries, No Country For Old People ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0F7D1RR5X/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r  ), a Gold Anthem Award-winning exposé on nursing home neglect and the systemic failures facing America's elderly. Through film, podcasting, and activism, she has become one of the most compelling creative voices in Alzheimer's awareness and elder care reform.Susie first captured international attention with her Oscar-qualified short film My Mom and The Girl, starring Valerie Harper in her final performance — a deeply personal story born from Susie's own caregiving journey. From writing and producing Bratz the Movie, to co-producing Soul Surfer, Susie has navigated Hollywood at every level — but it's her advocacy-driven work that has become her defining voice.Susie is also the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Love Conquers Alz ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-conquers-alz/id1492023291 ), and she serves as host of the 3rd & Fairfax for the Writers Guild of America West.Most recently, Susie wrote, directed, and produced the 3-part docuseries No Country For Old People ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loa4tGZ3GwI ), recipient of the 2024 Gold Anthem Award for Health Awareness. The film is a searing examination of nursing home neglect, systemic healthcare failures, and the human cost of institutional indifference — a subject she knows not just as a filmmaker, but as a daughter who lost her mother to Alzheimer's.Susie also leads Respect Oversight Advocacy Reform for Long Term Care ( https://www.roar4ltc.org/ ) a 501c3 nonprofit movement that is embracing the power of storytelling to engage and mobilize the public, with a strong focus on younger generations, to demand dignity,  accountability, and reform in long-term care.Susie Singer Carter doesn't just tell stories. She uses them to fight for change.Important Episode LinksNo Country For Old People; a Nursing Home Exposé -https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0F7D1RR5X/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r http://nocountryforoldpeople.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@UCZGC8Htb549M2TNVSR67FOw My Mom and the Girl - https://vimeo.com/266772460 Respect Oversight Advocacy Reform for Long Term Care - https://www.roar4ltc.org/#SusieSingerCarter #NoCountryForOldPeople #ElderCare #NursingHomeCrisis #CaregiverAdvocacy #AlzheimersAwareness#HealthcareReform #DementiaCare #PublicHealth #AgingPopulation#LongTermCare #HealthPolicy #CaregiverLife #ElderJustice #LongevitySupport the show

Send a textWhy do some scientific breakthroughs begin with ridicule?In this episode, we explore cancer research, serendipity, and the philosophy behind unconventional biomedical innovation.Dr. Alexander Shneider, Ph.D. is a biotech entrepreneur and scientist with more than three decades of experience spanning oncology, immunology, vaccines, and translational medicine. He is the Founder and CEO of CureLab Oncology ( https://www.curelaboncology.com/ ), where he is leading the development of a novel biological agent designed to fight cancer through a dual approach—stimulating anti-tumor immunity while also addressing the chronic inflammation that often underlies disease progression.CureLab's lead therapeutic, Elenagen, has demonstrated a strong safety profile and encouraging signals of clinical benefit in international Phase II studies, and is being explored both as an adjunct to standard cancer treatments and for its broader potential in inflammation-driven and age-associated diseases. The platform's reach may extend beyond human medicine, with ongoing interest in applications for oncology in companion animals.Over the course of his career, Dr. Shneider has advised biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and investment organizations across areas including R&D strategy, licensing, technology transfer, product development, and intellectual property. He previously founded CureLab, Inc., where he worked on tools for the rational design of DNA vaccines and the development of broad-spectrum influenza vaccine concepts.In academia, Dr. Shneider has held professor-level appointments and led the Genetic Vaccine Laboratory at Sechenov University, where he helped establish multicenter clinical research infrastructure focused on diseases involving chronic inflammation. His research has also explored evolutionarily conserved RNA structures as targets for antiviral therapies and next-generation vaccine design.In addition to his scientific and entrepreneurial work, he serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals in immunology and aging research, reflecting his long-standing engagement at the intersection of basic science, clinical translation, and biotechnology innovation.#CancerResearch #BiomedicalScience #CancerInnovation#ScientificDiscovery #PhilosophyOfScience #Biotech #MedicalInnovation#Oncology #BreakthroughScience #StartupScience #SciencePodcast #DrugDevelopment #Serendipity #Innovation  #FutureOfMedicineSupport the show

Send a textDr. Raza Bokhari, MD ( https://www.razabokhari.com/ ) is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medicus Pharma Ltd. ( https://medicuspharma.com/ ), a precision-guided biotechnology company focused on accelerating the clinical development of novel and potentially disruptive therapeutic assets designed to transform the standard of care.A physician turned serial entrepreneur, Dr. Bokhari has built a distinguished career identifying, aggregating, and advancing life sciences, healthcare services, and pharmaceutical R&D companies. He is also the Managing Partner of RBx Capital, LP, an investment fund dedicated to biotech and life sciences innovation.Previously, Dr. Bokhari served as Executive Chairman and CEO of FSD Pharma, where he led a strategic transformation of the company from medicinal cannabis into a clinical-stage pharmaceutical R&D organization. Under his leadership, the company achieved a NASDAQ listing in January 2020 and raised nearly $100 million in institutional capital to support growth and expansion.Dr. Bokhari earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Rawalpindi Medical College at the University of Punjab and holds an Executive MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business.Beyond his corporate leadership, Dr. Bokhari is Vice Chairman of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. He previously served on the Board of Temple University's Fox School of Business as Chairman of the Executive Advisory Committee, and as a Trustee of both The Franklin Institute and the Foreign Policy Research Institute.Through his family foundation, Dr. Bokhari is deeply committed to philanthropy and community engagement. In recognition of a $1 million gift to Temple University, the Fox School named its Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute Suite in his honor. In 2018, he was named a Centennial Honoree by the Fox School — recognized among a select group of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and disruptors who have shaped the institution and the broader business world since 1918.#Biotech  #Pharma #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials #LifeSciences #MedicusPharma #Phase2Biotech #BiotechStrategy #DeRiskThenPartner #CapitalEfficient #Investing #PharmaInvesting #PrecisionBiotech #OncologyInnovation #DrugRepurposing #MedicalInnovation #HealthcareStrategy #ClinicalDevelopment #BiotechBusinessModelSupport the show

Send a textAntimicrobial resistance is a systems failure — not just a prescribing problem.  Olivier Niyonshima, Founder of ZeroX Intelligence and Medikal Africa, explains how NVIDIA-backed edge AI infrastructure is transforming healthcare across Africa.Olivier Niyonshima ( https://olivierniyonshima.com/ ) is the Founder and CEO of ZeroX Intelligence ( https://zeroxintelligence.com/ ), a Rwandan–Canadian AI company focused on building practical, production-grade technology for healthcare, agriculture, and education across Africa.He leads Medikal Africa ( https://www.medikalafrica.com/ ), an AI-powered clinical intelligence platform designed to combat antimicrobial resistance and strengthen digital health systems in real-world African healthcare environments. Rather than treating AMR as an awareness problem, Olivier approaches it as a systems failure—one driven by delayed diagnostics, fragmented data, and weak decision support—and is building infrastructure to fix that.Olivier's work has been recognized globally. Medikal Africa is an NVIDIA Inception Startup, selected after technical and product review for its work in GPU-accelerated, edge-first healthcare AI. He also serves as a Youth Digital Health Champion with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, contributing to continental digital health strategy, policy dialogue, and systems strengthening.Through ZeroX Intelligence, Olivier is also leading on-the-ground healthcare infrastructure initiatives, including the deployment of autonomous UV-C disinfection robotics to improve infection prevention in clinical settings. His work is grounded in a clear mission: ensuring Africa doesn't just host pilots or consume technology, but leads in building scalable systems that work in real conditions.#OlivierNiyonshima #ZeroXIntelligence #MedikalAfrica#AntimicrobialResistance #AMR #HealthAI #DigitalHealth #AfricaInnovation #NVIDIAInception #EdgeAI #ClinicalAI #HealthcareTechnology #AIinHealthcare #PublicHealth #SuperbugsSupport the show

Send a textNishant Rastogi is the inaugural Managing Director of Lupus Ventures ( https://www.lupusventures.org/ ), the venture investment fund of the Lupus Research Alliance ( LRA - https://www.lupusresearch.org/ ), where he serves on the Investment Committee. In this role, he leads all aspects of the fund — from sourcing and evaluating opportunities to structuring deals and managing the portfolio — while overseeing team recruitment, business development, and coordination with the fund's Investment Committee and Scientific Advisory Board.Lupus Ventures is the world's only venture fund dedicated to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related autoimmune conditions. It aims to accelerate the development of new therapies and diagnostics that improve care and deliver meaningful impact for the millions of people living with lupus worldwide.A seasoned life sciences investor with over a decade of experience in venture capital and private equity, Mr. Rastogi has served as a Board Director and operating partner for multiple biotech and medtech companies. Prior to Lupus Ventures, he was Vice President and Head of Transactions at New Rhein Healthcare Investors, where he helped establish the firm's U.S. office, executed transactions across diverse therapeutic areas, and managed a portfolio totaling over $200 million in direct investments. His work spanned financing, clinical development, regulatory strategy, manufacturing, and commercialization. Notable investments include Corsair, Theranica, Alveus, American Injectables, Butterfly Medical, Softhale, EirCor, and Neuraptive.Earlier in his career, Mr. Rastogi was a founding associate at Broadview Ventures, a Boston-based venture capital fund focused on cardiovascular innovation, and has advised multiple disease research foundations — including Beyond Celiac and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy — on venture fund formation and the intersection of philanthropy and private investment in advancing medicines and health equity. He began his career as an analyst at Fidelity Investments.Mr. Rastogi holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematical Finance from Dartmouth College, an MBA from Northwestern University (Kellogg), a Medical Science Certificate from Harvard, and a Certificate in Climate Change and Health from Yale.#Lupus #AutoimmuneDisease #LupusResearch #BiotechInnovation #Immunology #HealthcareInnovation #PrecisionMedicine #WomensHealth #HealthEquity #VentureCapital #Biotechnology #SystemicLupus #LupusAwareness #MedicalBreakthrough #LifeSciencesSupport the show

Send a textOver the past few years, artificial intelligence has rapidly entered drug discovery — but one of the true “holy grail” challenges inside pharma is no longer just predicting what proteins look like, but understanding how molecules actually interact: how proteins bind drugs, antibodies, RNA, and each other, and how those insights can guide better decisions long before anything reaches the lab.Early breakthroughs in structure prediction made protein models widely accessible, but real biology happens at interfaces, in motion, and often in fleeting conformations that determine whether a therapy ultimately succeeds or fails. Today's conversation explores what it means to move into this next chapter — where structural predictions are translated into actionable insight for real-world drug development.Joining us are two scientists from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany ( https://www.emdgroup.com/en ), working at the intersection of protein structure prediction, molecular dynamics, and generative design, helping to build internal platforms that turn computational models into practical decision tools for therapeutic discovery.Dr. Stephanie Linker, Ph.D. is a Senior Computational Biochemist in Merck's Group Digital Innovation unit, where she leads initiatives in generative antibody design, de novo protein binder development, and advanced structure prediction platforms. Her work focuses on how molecular shape, flexibility, and dynamics influence whether a designed molecule actually performs in biological systems.Dr. Philipp Schnee, Ph.D. is a Computational Protein Design expert at Merck KGaA, currently part of the GoGlobal Data & AI rotation program. His research bridges high-resolution molecular dynamics simulations with experimental biochemistry to understand protein function, mutation effects, and mechanisms that can be leveraged for enzyme engineering and inhibitor design.Together, their work reflects a broader shift happening across the pharmaceutical industry — away from static structures and standalone models, and toward integrated platforms that combine folding, binding, ranking, and experimental validation to guide smarter, faster therapeutic decisions.In this episode, we explore what these next-generation tools can do today, where their limitations remain, and why the ability to move from structure prediction to decision-ready insight may become one of the most important frontiers in modern drug discovery.AI drug discovery, protein structure prediction, computational biology, biologics design, pharmaceutical R&D#DrugDiscovery #ArtificialIntelligence #AlphaFold #ProteinFolding#Biotech #PharmaInnovation #ComputationalBiology #StructuralBiology #AIinHealthcare #AntibodyEngineering #MolecularDynamics #FutureOfMedicine #SystemsBiology #LifeSciences #ProgressPotentialPossibilities #MachineLearning #BioTechPodcastSupport the show

Send a textJoin us for a deep dive with Dr. Sonia Grego, scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur at the forefront of redefining human health through everyday biological data.In this episode, we explore how Dr. Grego's groundbreaking work with Coprata's smart toilet platform is turning stool into actionable health insights — passively, seamlessly, and in the comfort of your own home. We discuss biomarkers, gut health monitoring, and how cutting-edge sensor and AI technologies are making preventive medicine more personalized and accessible.Dr. Grego is Co-Founder & CEO of Coprata and Director of the Duke Smart Toilet Lab, where she studies biochemical signals in everyday human waste to unlock early, equitable, and personalized health insights. With a PhD in Physics from the University of Copenhagen, dozens of peer-reviewed publications, and multiple U.S. patents, she bridges rigorous science, sensor technology, and real-world health impact.This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in digital health, preventive medicine, gut health, sensors, and the future of biomedical technology.Learn more about Coprata: https://www.coprata.comLearn more about the Duke Smart Toilet Lab: https://smarttoilet.pratt.duke.edu/peopleLearn more about the Nestlé Health Science FIBER-IMPACT study:  https://www.nestlehealthscience.us/stories/nestle-health-science-launches-landmark-study-uncover-impact-lifestyle-gut-healthFollow the show for more deep dives into health innovation and emerging biotech.#SmartToilet #Coprata #GutHealth #DigitalHealth #PreventiveMedicine #Biomarkers #HealthTech #StoolAnalysis #MedicalInnovation #FutureOfHealthcare  #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #PodcastSupport the show

Send a textMeduza documentary interview with director Roc Morin.A Ukrainian actor who once played a sniper on screen is recruited as one in real life—this conversation explores how war reshapes identity, memory, and meaning.Roc Morin is a filmmaker and journalist whose work explores the intersection of conflict, culture, and the inner lives of people living through historical rupture.He is the director of the documentary MEDUZA, which follows Ukrainian artist and actor Pavlo Aldoshyn, who became a sniper when the full-scale invasion began in 2022—drawing, uncannily, on skills he had previously learned playing a sniper in a film role. Shot over two years, MEDUZA traces Pavlo's psychological and spiritual transformation as war reshapes not only his life, but the framework he uses to understand himself and the world.Before turning to documentary filmmaking, Roc reported extensively on Ukraine beginning in 2014. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, he entered the country in the earliest days of the war, crossing the border on foot and making his way to Lviv when no formal transportation was available.Roc previously directed the documentary You Are My Audience and served as a producer on Werner Herzog's Family Romance, LLC. MEDUZA was produced with his longtime collaborator Leïla Wolf, whose creative partnership deeply shaped the film.Filmed across Ukraine, the United States, Japan, India, and Ecuador, MEDUZA reflects Roc's distinctive approach to documentary filmmaking—one that resists spectacle in favor of intimacy, and asks not only what is happening in the world, but how people metabolize it internally.This episode features MEDUZA director Roc Morin discussing the story behind the documentary.Important Episode Links:https://www.rocmorin.com/Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwcjBl2RayoIMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9128669/#Meduza #UkraineWar #DocumentaryFilm #WarAndIdentity #Transformation #ImmortalJellyfish #HumanCondition #WarStories#Filmmaking #IndependentFilm #PsychologyOfWar#ArtAndWar #DocumentaryInterview #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #PodcastSupport the show

Send us a textBrandon Ganske is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of LifeRx.md ( https://liferx.md/ ), a U.S.-based telehealth and wellness company providing clinically supervised programs for metabolic, hormonal, cellular, and performance health. Through its secure, customer-centric digital platform, LifeRx.md connects patients with licensed U.S. medical providers, streamlines treatment access, and delivers provider-reviewed therapies in a secure and private environment.LifeRx.md empowers individuals to take control of their health with confidence, clarity, and support. Brandon comes to healthcare from the front lines of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brand building, with more than a decade of experience scaling high-growth digital businesses. Before entering telehealth, he founded and operated multiple e-commerce ventures, overseeing everything from product development and sourcing to performance marketing and customer acquisition.Brandon is also the founder of Influenceish ( https://www.influenceish.com/ ), a marketing and growth consultancy focused on helping brands build authentic customer relationships in increasingly crowded digital marketplaces.Today, at LifeRx.md, Brandon sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and consumer behavior—working on how telehealth platforms earn trust, communicate clinical value, and adapt to rapidly changing expectations around weight loss, hormones, and performance-driven medicine.#FutureOfHealthcare #Telehealth #PrimaryCare #DigitalHealth #HealthInnovation #TrustInMedicine #ClinicalCare #MedicalEthics#ResponsibleInnovation #EvidenceBasedMedicine #HumanOptimization#PreventiveHealth #PerformanceHealth #Longevity #MetabolicHealth#HealthcareTransformation #CareDelivery #HealthSystems #BrandonGanske #PatientCentricCare #ValueBasedCare #HealthPodcast #SciencePodcast #MedTech #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textMohammed “Mo” Abouelsoud is a neuroscientist-entrepreneur whose career sits at the intersection of brain science, noninvasive neuromodulation, and precision healthcare. He is the CEO of U: The Mind Company ( https://uthemind.company ), where he leads the development of precision, noninvasive neuromodulation technologies aimed at restoring dysfunctional brain networks in Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. Mo's journey into neuroscience began long before the boardroom—rooted instead in hands-on clinical exposure and early immersion in brain imaging and data science. While training at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, he worked in a neuromodulation data analysis lab, learning to map structural and functional brain connectivity using DTI and fMRI, and gaining fluency in tools such as MATLAB and FSL. This early exposure shaped his enduring interest in the brain not as isolated regions, but as dynamic, networked systems that can be measured, modeled, and—critically—modulated.At OSU, Mo further expanded his technical foundation through research spanning nanotechnology, fluorescence imaging, and signal measurement, synthesizing DNA-gold nanoparticle conjugates for precision sensing. Across these experiences, a unifying question emerged: how can we quantify brain function objectively, and how can we intervene noninvasively to restore lost connectivity?That question became the backbone of his entrepreneurial work. Prior to founding U: The Mind Company, Mo co-founded Tremo, a quantitative tracking platform designed to objectively measure motor symptoms and treatment response in neurological disease—an early step toward personalized, data-driven neurology.At U: The Mind Company, Mo now leads a multidisciplinary effort combining transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), neuroimaging, advanced signal analytics, and AI-driven interpretation within the company's Compressive Healthcare Intelligence Platform (CHIP). His work has helped demonstrate that targeted frontal lobe stimulation can significantly enhance functional connectivity in Alzheimer's disease networks, with observed increases in local and interhemispheric coherence that suggest meaningful neuroplastic re-engagement of impaired circuits. In Parkinson's disease, his team has shown measurable reductions in tremor and dyskinesia using objective video analysis and motor tracking—bringing rigor and quantification to outcomes that have traditionally been subjective.Threaded throughout Mo's neuroscience journey is an unusually holistic worldview. Before entering research and medicine, he spent years working in permaculture and regenerative farming, an experience that deeply influenced his systems-level thinking. Just as ecosystems thrive through balance, feedback, and interdependence, Mo approaches the brain as a living network—one that can be guided back toward health through precise, adaptive intervention rather than blunt force. Today, Mo Abouelsoud is driven by a singular mission: to translate neuroscience into scalable, noninvasive technologies that restore brain function, dignity, and agency to patients, while redefining how neurological disease is measured, treated, and understood.Important Episode Link - Virtual tES Device Treatment for Parkinson's Disease Motor Symptoms -https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07182058 #MohammedAbouelsoud #UTheMindCompany #Noninvasive #Neurotechnology #Neuromodulation #Electroceuticals #TranscranialElectricalStimulation #TranscranialDirectCurrentStimulation #TranscranialAlternatingCurrentStimulation #AlzheimersDisease #ParkinsonsDisease #PsychiatricDisorders #DigitalTwinBrain #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ReSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Christopher Buck, Ph.D. ( https://cbuck.substack.com/ ) is Senior Investigator, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, And Head, Tumor Virus Molecular Biology Section, Center for Cancer Research, at the U.S. National Cancer Institute ( https://ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/christopher-b-buck ).Dr. Buck's lab focuses on the virion proteins of a family of viruses called polyomaviruses, and their research ranges from basic investigation of the mechanisms through which polyomaviruses infect cells to translational development of virus-like particle vaccines. They also maintain an active interest in discovering new virus species, with the goals of uncovering human disease associations and understanding the evolutionary history of cancer-causing viruses.Dr. Buck received a bachelor's degree in Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.  Dr. Buck's graduate research in Dr. Robert Siliciano's lab focused on the translation and immunogenicity of the HIV-1 capsid protein Gag. For his graduate work, Dr. Buck received the Alicia Showalter Reynolds Award. In 2001, Dr. Buck began post-doctoral training in the Lab of Cellular Oncology, where he developed systems for producing human papillomavirus (HPV)-based gene transfer vectors (pseudoviruses). His work using HPV vectors ranged from basic studies of HPV virion structure and morphogenesis to translational research identifying candidate topical microbicides for blocking HPV transmission. For his work in these areas, Dr. Buck, and his mentors, Drs. John Schiller and Doug Lowy, shared the 2006 Norman P. Salzman Award. In 2007, Dr. Buck joined the faculty of the NCI's Center for Cancer Research as an Investigator. In 2013, he shared a second Salzman Award in recognition of his mentoring of Dr. Rachel Schowalter.  Dr. Buck was awarded tenure in 2014.#ChristopherBuck #CellularOncology #TumorVirus #MolecularBiology #NationalCancerInstitute #Pseudovirus #Papillomavirus #Capsid #Polyomaviruses #OralVaccines #YeastProducedAntigens #MucosalImmunology #FermentedBeverages #BeerBasedVaccines #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Frederic Bertley, Ph.D. ( https://www.fredericbertley.com/ ) is President & CEO: Center of Science and Industry ( COSI - https://cosi.org/ ), as well as interim CEO or the National Veterans Memorial and Museum ( NVMM - https://nationalvmm.org/ ).Dr. Bertley is a renowned, civic-minded leader, strategist, innovator, scientist, educator, and communicator.In his role at COSI, Dr. Bertley works incessantly towards elevating science literacy globally, helping reimagine the STEM workforce development pipeline for the nation and creating engaging, empathetic and innovative citizens.As interim CEO of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM), Dr. Bertley is leading the national museum through a transformational phase to continue to honor and celebrate the lives of Veterans, their families, and our community. Dr. Bertley's drive to innovate has elevated COSI's on-site science museum experience, as well as taken COSI beyond Central Ohio, with programming across the United States and around the world. His leadership has led to highly engaging experiences including the COSI Science Festival, The Color of Science TM and EiPIC TM programs, as well as the celebrated COSI Connects STEM Kit Learning Lunchboxes. Dr. Bertley co-created and hosted the prime-time television show QED with Dr. B ( https://www.pbs.org/show/qed-dr-b/ ), in partnership with PBS-WOSU Public Media. He also created the animated online series, Dr. B in 3.Prior to his leadership of COSI, Dr. Bertley served for 9 years as senior vice president for science and education at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Dr. Bertley has won numerous prestigious awards some of which include:• Three (3) Honorary Doctorates (McGill University, Otterbein University, Columbus State)• National Medal (IMLS-White House)• Eleven (11) EMMY® Awards.• Five-time #1 Science Museum in the nation (USA Today)• President's Medal (The Ohio State University)• Dell's 100 Most Innovative Individuals• Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer (UK)• CEO of The Year (Columbus CEO)• Four-time commencement speaker (McGill, OSU, Otterbein, Columbus State)• The Spirit of Columbus Award• George Washington Carver Award for Science Engagement (City of Philadelphia)Dr. Bertley earned a bachelor's in physiology, mathematics and the history of science, as well as a doctorate in immunology, both from McGill University. He completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and MIT, working on the development of DNA vaccinesfor HIV/AIDS. His global health work includes preventative medicine and basic vaccines in Haiti, Sudan and the Canadian Arctic. His international STEM education impact includes programs in Barbados, Dominica, Egypt, England, India, Italy, Japan, Malta, Paraguay, Senegal, and UAE.#FredericBertley #CenterOfScienceAndIndustry #COSI #TheFranklinInstitute #Measles #Immunopathogenesis #HIVVaccination #ScienceLeadershipAcademy #AntibioticResistance #CreativeAging #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfLearning #ImmersiveMedia #DataVisualization #ContextAwareEnvironments #BioInteractiveExperiences #NeuroResponsiveExperiences #SyntheticMedia #LivingArchives #CrossRealityContinuums #DigitalTwins#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Aaron Hartman, MD is a board-certified physician, clinical researcher, and founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine ( https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/ ). Trained in conventional family medicine, Dr. Hartman earned his MD from the Medical College of Virginia and served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force, where he led medical clinics in both the United States and Europe and received additional training in cardiology, dermatology, and nuclear and biological warfare medicine.Over the course of his career, Dr. Hartman has participated in more than 70 clinical trials, published research including work in The Lancet, and cared for patients across four continents in more than 100,000 clinical encounters. He is triple board-certified, with advanced credentials in integrative, functional, metabolic, regenerative, and anti-aging medicine, and he previously served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University.Dr. Hartman's professional focus was profoundly reshaped by a deeply personal experience: adopting his daughter Anna, who was born with severe neurological injury and cerebral palsy and was labeled “incurable” by conventional standards. Her extraordinary progress—achieved through personalized, root-cause, and systems-based approaches to care—became the catalyst for Dr. Hartman's transition into functional and precision medicine.Dr. Hartman is the author of the 2025 book Uncurable ( https://www.amazon.com/UnCurable-Hopeless-Diagnosis-Defying-Odds-ebook/dp/B0FWQ21FDV ), which blends memoir, medical critique, and practical strategy to challenge how modern healthcare defines—and limits—healing. In the book, Dr. Hartman argues that many so-called incurable conditions reflect systemic blind spots rather than biological absolutes, and he calls on patients and clinicians alike to rethink personalized care, patient advocacy, and the foundations of health.Today, Dr. Hartman continues to practice, teach, and research while advocating for a more individualized, curiosity-driven, and human-centered model of medicine—one that treats patients not as protocols, but as complex, exceptional individuals.#AaronHartman #FunctionalMedicine #IntegrativeMedicine #Uncurable #RootCauseMedicine #Nutrigenomics #Neuroplasticity #Rehabilitation #EnvironmentalMedicine #OffLabel #CerebralPalsy #BrainDamage #PersonalizedCare #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Chris Oswald, DC, CNS, is Head of Medical Affairs for Pure Encapsulations ( https://www.pureencapsulations.com/ ), part of Nestlé Health Science family. He is a chiropractor, certified nutrition specialist and certified functional medicine practitioner and has been treating patients since 2007. At Pure Encapsulations, Dr. Oswald leads medical education, scientific strategy, and innovation across well-known professional brands including Pure Encapsulations, Douglas Labs, Klean Athlete, Genestra, and others. In this role, he sits at the intersection of clinical science, practitioner education, and product innovation — translating complex evidence into practical tools that help healthcare professionals practice more confident, personalized nutritional medicine. Dr. Oswald's clinical work, in combination with his work in professional dietary supplement companies, gives him unique insight into the creation of clinically useful tools and education to support the unique needs of clinicians and patients in functional, integrative and natural health.Before joining Pure Encapsulations, Dr. Oswald held senior leadership roles across the nutraceutical and health tech landscape, including Chief Science Officer, Head of Product Innovation and R&D, Head of Operations, Interim Head of Sales, and VP of Nutraceuticals at companies like January AI and Further Food. Across those roles, he's led everything from supply chain and regulatory strategy to product development, claims substantiation, and national practitioner education.At the core of Dr. Oswald's work is a consistent theme: bridging rigorous science, real-world clinical practice, and responsible commercialization — all with the goal of improving patient outcomes and advancing the future of personalized, integrative healthcare.#ChrisOswald #PureEncapsulations #NestleHealthScience #FunctionalMedicine #Nutrition #DietarySupplements #Nutraceuticals #PureGenomics #DeniseFurness #Nutrigenomics #Genetics #Epigenetics #PersonalizedHealth #BiologicalAgeProtocol #BiologicalAging #Telomeres #Proteomics #Metabolomics #Biomarkers #Glycans#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Sheryl Genco, Ph.D. ( https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/contributors/q-t/dr-sheryl-genco ) is Chief Technology Officer of the Advanced Technology Group at Ericsson, one of the world's largest and oldest telecommunications infrastructure companies that is involved in building the equipment, software, and services that make mobile networks work.Dr. Genco has over 30 years of experience in engineering and management at organizations spanning industrial, entrepreneurial ventures and the public sector. At Ericsson, Dr. Genco spearheads activities with industry and the U.S. government to exploit 5G and 6G for increased security and economic benefits. Her career has focused on developing technologies with an emphasis on transforming state-of-the-possible ideas into commercial reality. Dr. Genco has also served as a senior advisor to the Defense Innovation Board ( https://stib.cto.mil/ ), a senior consultant to DARPA ( https://www.darpa.mil/ ) Commercialization Strategy, and on the Executive Board of CO-Labs ( https://www.co-labs.org/ ), a non-profit consortium of federal research laboratories & institutions, universities, colleges, businesses and economic development organizations that provide financial and in-kind support for programs that promote the retention and expansion of Colorado's scientific resources. Dr. Genco was previously a member of the Senior Executive Service for the Department of Commerce where she was laboratory director for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ( NTIA - https://www.ntia.gov/ ) Institute for Telecommunication Sciences. Before NTIA, Dr. Genco was engineering director at Honeywell Quantum Solutions, where she led an organization developing trapped ion quantum computers. She also served at the National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST - https://www.nist.gov/ ), where she led the National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network, managing programs in wireless communications (LTE), 3.5GHz, GPS, and AWS-3. Dr. Genco is an IEEE Senior Member, IEEE MILCOM VIP Chair, and received a Ph.D. (University of Colorado at Boulder), M.S. (Syracuse), and B.S. (Northeastern) degrees in electrical engineering.  Dr. Genco is passionate about enabling socio-economic prosperity through STEM education. She founded a STEM-focused K-8 public school that has won multiple awards and has educated more than 20,000 students over two decades of operation. She was also one of the founders of NSC's Women in Spectrum Scholarship ( https://www.nationalspectrumconsortium.org/women-in-spectrum-scholarship-winners ). Important Episode Link - FutureG for Defense & Warfare Summit 2026 - March 25-26, 2026 - Washington, DC - https://www.defenseadvancement.com/events/futureg-for-defense-summit/#SherylGenco #ChiefTechnologyOfficer #AdvancedTechnologyGroup #Ericsson #5G #6G #AI #Cybersecurity #QuantumComputers #SpectrumSharingSystems #LaserCommunications #Nanomaterials #DefenseModernization #SpectrumPolicy #CognitiveNetworks #JammingResistance #NetworkIntegratedSensing #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Ph.D. is one of the world's leading stewards of ancient heritage and the Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities ( https://egymonuments.gov.eg/en ), where he leads the organization responsible for Egypt's monuments, museums, and archaeological sites—from the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings to newly discovered sites that continue to reshape our understanding of human civilization.Dr. Khaled holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Egyptian Antiquities from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic and previously worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities, University of Würzburg, Germany.Dr. Khaled received a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Henkel Foundation in Germany, in recognition of his collaborative efforts and his scientific research has been published in numerous prestigious, international peer-reviewed publications.Dr. Khaled has also worked as a visiting professor at the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Yale University, USA.Dr. Khaled devoted his early career to field research, excavation, and scholarly study of ancient Egyptian civilization.   He began his career as an antiquities inspector with the SCA in the Giza Pyramids area, ascending through various leadership roles within the council.Dr. Khaled was also Director of the Technical Office of the head of Central Administration of Cairo and Giza Antiquities, Scientific Research Department, and Foreign Mission Affairs. He also supervised the Development and Site Management Project of Pyramids at the Giza Plateau.Under Dr. Khaled's stewardship, Egyptian archaeology stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation, embracing new technologies, confronting misinformation, and preparing for a future where heritage preservation is more critical than ever.#MohamedIsmailKhaled #SecretaryGeneral #Egypt #SupremeCouncilOfAntiquities #Pyramids #ValleyOfTheKings #CradleOfCivilization #ArchaeologicalMissions #MinistryOfTourismAndAntiquities #GreatPyramidOfGiza #SaqqaraNecropolis #AbuGhurabSunTemple #Archaeology #SatelliteImaging #GroundPenetratingRadar #Photogrammetry #PseudoArchaeology #Atlantis #LostCivilizations #AlienBuilders #ZahiHawass #WadiAlNasb #TellElFaraoon #SanElHagar #QubbetElHawa #Sphinx #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textLieutenant Colonel Erin Maurer is the CBRN Defense Lead, J3 Force Protection Directorate, at NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum, The Netherlands ( https://jfcbs.nato.int/ ), a position she has held since July 2024.LTC Maurer enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 2004, and upon graduating from Penn State University in 2008, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), branched Chemical Corps. Her assignments have included: - Brigade Chemical Officer, Company Executive Officer, and Forward Operating Base Operations Officer, for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; - Headquarters Company Commander, Support Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne); - AFRICOM/EUCOM Desk Officer, United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC); - Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer, Special Troops Battalion, 528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne); - U.S. Army Exchange Officer to the United Kingdom's Defence CBRN Centre, Winterbourne Gunner, United Kingdom.LTC Maurer holds a Master Degree in Strategic Security, from the Joint Special Operations program at the National Defense University, completed in 2019, with a defended thesis focused on military response to nuclear terrorism. She has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.The J3 Force Protection Directorate ( or J3 Operations - https://www.jcs.mil/directorates/j3-operations/ ) is a critical component within military joint staffs, responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing operational plans, security measures, and threat protection. J3 often integrates force protection (FP) to align security measures against all hazards and threats, ensuring effective command and control. #LieutenantColonelErinMaurer #CBRN #J3ForceProtectionDirectorate #NATOJointForceCommandBrunssum #ChemicalCorps #NuclearTerrorism #WeaponsOfMassDestruction #NationalDefenseUniversity #ArmyExchangeOfficer #UKDefenceCBRNCentre #MedicalCountermeasures #DecontaminationConcepts #ChemicalBiologicalRadiologicalAndNuclear #ImprovisedNuclearDevice #RadiologicalDispersalDevices #DirtyBombs #JointSpecialOperations#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Ellen de Brabander, Ph.D. is Executive Vice President, Research, Development and Regulatory Affairs at Elanco Animal Health ( https://www.elanco.com/us/leadership/executive-committee/ellen-de-brabander ), one of the world's largest animal pharmaceutical companys that develops, manufactures, and sells medicines, vaccines, and other health-care products for both pets (companion animals) and farm livestock (cattle, swine, poultry, etc.). Dr. de Brabander joined Elanco in October 2021 and is responsible for the global research and development organization and regulatory affairs. She is a highly experienced R&D leader with a proven background of accomplishments in animal health research and development.From March 2014 to October 2021, Dr. de Brabander served as Senior Vice President for Research and Development with PepsiCo, the global food and beverage company, most recently having company-wide responsibility for food safety, quality, regulatory and R&D digital transformation. Prior to PepsiCo, Dr. de Brabander led R&D organizations for Merial (now Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health), Intervet (now Merck Animal Health) and DSM.Dr. de Brabander earned her doctorate (cum laude) in bio-organic chemistry from Leiden University in the Netherlands and completed her post-doctoral work in molecular biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has lived in six different countries, is the co-author of more than 60 publications in scientific journals, holds 18 patents and has received multiple awards for her research, including the Golden Medal from the Royal Dutch Chemical Society in 2000 for Best Chemist Under 40.Important Episode Links -Investor Day Presentation - Defining Elanco's New Era of Growth - December 9, 2025https://s1.q4cdn.com/466533431/files/doc_events/2025/Dec/09/FINAL_ELAN-2025-Investor-Day-Presentation.pdf#EllenDeBrabander #ElancoAnimalHealth #Parasiticides #Therapeutics #Pharmaceuticals #Vaccines #PreventiveCare #Ruminants #Cattle #Swine #Poultry #Cats #Dogs #OneHealth #FutureProtein #Biologics #AdvancedTherapeutics #MonoclonalAntibodies #Zenrelia #CredelioQuattro #IntestinalIntegrity #Microbiome #Bovaer #MethaneReduction #CattleEmissions #AntimicrobialResistance #ChronicKidneyDisease #AtopicDermatitis #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, Ph.D. is Co-Founder and CEO of Minovia Therapeutics ( https://minoviatx.com/ ), a biotech company dedicated to rapidly advance life-changing therapies that address the unmet need of serious and complex mitochondrial diseases, and are the first clinical-stage company to develop a mitochondrial transplantation approach to treat a broad range of indications generated by a mitochondrial dysfunction which lead to rare-genetic or age-related diseases.Dr. Yivgi-Ohana has twenty years of experience in mitochondrial research and received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at The Hebrew University, after which she completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Dr. Yivgi-Ohana also has her B.Sc., Medical Sciences Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and her Master's Degree, Human Reproduction Bar-Ilan University. Dr. Yivgi-Ohana founded Minovia with a passion to help children and adults with mitochondrial diseases worldwide.#NatalieYivgiOhana #MinoviaTherapeutics #MitochondrialDysfunction #Mitochondria #ATPProduction #MetabolicRegulation #CalciumHandling #Redox #Balance #CellFateDecisions #Heteroplasmy #ThresholdEffect #MitochondrialAugmentationTechnology #PearsonSyndrome #KearnsSayreSyndrome #LowRiskMyelodysplasticSyndrome #SyngeneicMaternalMitochondria #AllogeneicMitochondria #Bioenergetics #Aging #Healthspan #Lifespan #Longevity #Israel #Geroscience #RareDiseases #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Tom Frieden, MD, MPH ( https://drtomfrieden.net/ ) is the Founder and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives ( https://resolvetosavelives.org/ ), a global health organization that accelerates action against the world's deadliest health threats. The organization has partnered with countries around the world to support implementation of programs that will prevent more than 9 million deaths.Dr. Frieden is a physician who has specialized in internal medicine, infectious diseases, public health, and epidemiology. He has served a Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York City Health Commissioner, and helped start Mayor Michael Bloomberg's global health philanthropy, particularly the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use.Dr. Frieden's work has appeared in medical journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and The Lancet as well as media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.Dr. Frieden's new book, The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own ( MIT Press, September 2025 - https://www.amazon.com/Formula-Better-Health-Millions-Lives-Including-ebook/dp/B0DVC5Y6JD ), distills four decades of public health leadership into a clear, actionable framework to extend healthy lives. Dr. Frieden completed his Doctor of Medicine - MD and Master of Public Health - MPH at Columbia University and did a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Yale University.#TomFrieden #ResolveToSaveLives #CentersforDiseaseControlAndPrevention #NewYorkCityHealthCommissioner #MayorMichaelBloomberg #TheFormulaForBetterHealth #HighBloodPressure #UnhealthyLipids #PhysicalActivity #HealthyNutrition #SufficientSleep #AvoidingToxins #TuberculosisControl #Hypertension #BloombergPhilanthropies #Obesity #HeartAttacks #Strokes #LipidLowering #CancerPrevention #Vaccines #OpioidAddictionEpidemic #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #OneHealth #Trust #Disinformation #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. James Mackay, Ph.D. is President, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Crystalys Therapeutics Inc. ( https://crystalystx.com/ ), a development stage pharmaceutical company addressing the significant unmet medical needs of people living with gout and dedicated to developing new therapeutics and helping improve the lives of patients.Dr. Mackay has over 40 years of development and commercialization expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, including 6 drug product approvals across multiple therapeutic areas. Prior to founding Crystalys Therapeutics, he was CEO and co-founder of Aristea Therapeutics and President and CEO of Ardea Biosciences.  Prior to Ardea, Dr. Mackay held senior executive positions over a 30 year period at AstraZeneca where he led the development and commercialization of drugs across a range of therapy areas and managed significant global functional departments.Dr. Mackay plays a pivotal role in the San Diego innovation ecosystem and currently sits on the Board and Executive Committee of CONNECT and sits on the Board of Advisors of BIOCOM. He is a former Board member of the San Diego Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Dr. Mackay holds a BS in Genetics and Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from Aberdeen University, Scotland.Important Episode Link - JEWEL Program - https://jewelprogram.com/#JamesMackay #CrystalysTherapeutics #Gout #CrystalInducedArthritis #UricAcid #Hyperuricemia #GoutyArthritis #Allopurinol #UrateLoweringTherapy #XanthineOxidaseInhibitors #UricosuricAgents #Dotinurad #TophaceousGout #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textJoel Latham is the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Incannex Healthcare Inc. ( https://incannex.com/ ) a science-led combination medicines company leading the way in developing cannabinoid-based medicines and psychedelic-based regimens for people living with challenging chronic conditions.Incannex Healthcare's science-driven programs are exploring the therapeutic potential of oral synthetic cannabinoid and psilocybin drug candidates in sleep apnea, anxiety, and inflammatory diseases. Joel brings more than 20 years of senior management and operations experience in both public and private sectors, and under Joel's leadership, Incannex has advanced, and prioritized multiple therapeutic candidates into clinical-stage development. Previously, Joel was the CEO and Managing Director of Incannex Australia, where he played a key role in the company's growth and its successful transition to Nasdaq. Joel has also held senior leadership roles in corporate strategy and global market development at Mars Foods, Tabcorp, and Philip Morris International.#JoelLatham #IncannexHealthcare #CombinationMedicines #CannabinoidBasedMedicines #PsychedelicBasedRegimens #ObstructiveSleepApnea #RheumatoidArthritis #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #Acetazolamide #Dronabinol #Cannabidiol #Hydroxychloroquine #Psilocybin #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textPeter Basica ( https://peterbasica.com/ ) is the Founder and Chairman of 360 Smarter Care ( https://360smartercare.com/ ), an independent, AI-driven healthcare company redefining how self-funded employers manage healthcare costs and population health. Under his leadership, 360 Smarter Care applies advanced behavioral science, proprietary artificial intelligence, and deep human empathy to deliver personalized, one-to-one engagement at scale — improving health outcomes while significantly reducing costs. Free from venture capital pressure and legacy healthcare conflicts, Peter built 360 to challenge a system he believes too often prioritizes profit over people.Before launching 360, Peter spent nearly three decades building and leading high-performance organizations across industries including insurance, automotive, marine, manufacturing, and financial services. He is the founder of Silver Bullet Partners, where for 18 years he served as President and Senior Educator, working directly with C-suite executives on sales performance, leadership development, executive coaching, and culture change. His proprietary methodologies helped clients dramatically increase revenue, reverse sales declines, and build durable performance cultures — including doubling sales at Fountain Powerboats, adding tens of millions in revenue at Monterey Boats, and restoring growth at ISG.Earlier in his career, Peter held senior leadership roles in sales, marketing, and operations, including transforming Pier 33 Marina from an underperforming two-location business into a five-location, multi-state powerhouse growing revenues from $8 million to $50 million. As Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Arrington Performance Industries, he led market expansion initiatives, operational turnarounds, and high-profile brand placements — blending strategic vision with hands-on execution.In parallel with his business ventures, Peter is also the Founder of Digital Consumerism ( https://digitalconsumerism.com/ ), a platform designed to help individuals maximize financial wellness, protect digital assets, and make smarter everyday decisions across banking, healthcare, travel, and cybersecurity.Deeply committed to service, Peter founded Remember Our Military ( https://www.rememberourmilitary.com/ ), a volunteer-driven nonprofit ensuring that no active-duty service member or veteran spends a holiday meal alone. He also serves on advisory boards including the Carle Illinois College of Medicine's Global Consortium for Innovation and Engineering in Medicine and Newark Youth Career Pathways, reflecting his dedication to education, innovation, and community impact.#PeterBasica #360SmarterCare #RuralHealthTransformationFund #OneBigBeautifulBillAct #ExpandingAccess #ImprovingHealthOutcomes #WorkforceDevelopment #InnovativeCareModels #Telehealth #RemoteCare #PrimaryCare #PrenatalCare #MaternalServices #ChronicDiseaseManagement #BehavioralHealthServices #CommunityHealthWorkers #DataSharing #Interoperability #ValueBasedCare #AlternativePaymentModels #AdvancedAI #RuralPatients #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Steven Quay, MD, Ph.D. ( https://drquay.com/ ) is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Atossa Therapeutics ( https://atossatherapeutics.com/ ), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.Dr. Quay is certified in Anatomic Pathology with the American Board of Pathology, completed both an internship and residency in anatomic pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, and is a former faculty member of the Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine.Dr. Quay is a named inventor on 87 U.S. patents, 130 pending U.S. patent applications, and is named inventor on patents covering five pharmaceutical products that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Quay received an MD and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He received his B.A. degree in biology, chemistry and mathematics from Western Michigan University. #StevenQuay #AtossaTherapeutics #BreastCancer #SelectiveEstrogenReceptorModulators #AromataseInhibitors #SelectiveEstrogenReceptorDegraders #Tamoxifen #Zendoxifen #MetastaticDisease #MammographicBreastDensity #GlioblastomaMultiforme #DuchenneMuscularDystrophy #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textLewis Bender is CEO and Founder of Intensity Therapeutics ( https://intensitytherapeutics.com/ ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company whose mission is to help patients live longer, higher quality lives by discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class cancer drugs that attenuate tumors with minimal side effects, while training the patient's own immune system to fight the cancer. Intensity's novel engineered chemistry (lead candidate INT230-6) enables aqueous cytotoxic-containing drug formulations to mix and saturate a tumor's dense, high-fat, pressurized environment following direct intra-tumoral injection. As a result of the saturation, Intensity's clinical trials have demonstrated the ability of INT230-6 to kill tumors and elicit an adaptive immune response within days of injection, representing a new approach to cancer cell death that holds the potential to shift the treatment paradigm and turn many deadly cancers into chronic diseases, even for malignancies that do not respond to conventional immunotherapy.Prior to founding Intensity Therapeutics, Mr. Bender was the CEO of Interleukin Genetics, a personalized medicine company. At Interleukin Mr. Bender successfully restructured the Company, increased sales eight-fold, developed a new genetic-based testing platform and partnered with a large insurance provider to initiate studies leading to reimbursement of the Company's lead product.Prior to joining Interleukin Genetics, Mr. Bender held numerous positions at Emisphere Technologies, Inc., a drug delivery company specializing in the oral delivery of poorly absorbed molecules. While at Emisphere Mr. Bender held positions as; Interim President & CEO, Chief Technology Officer, Senior Vice President of Business Development, and Vice President of Manufacturing and Process Development. During his career Mr. Bender has partnered with several major pharmaceutical and biotech companies using structures such as joint ventures, licensing and research collaboration agreements.Mr. Bender has over 25 years of biotech and pharmaceutical experience having led teams taking products from discovery to Phase III for compounds using novel drug delivery techniques. In addition, Mr. Bender has been successful in raising (or helping to raise) capital with institutional investors using several vehicles such as registered direct placements, PIPES, S-3 & S-1 filings, and convertible debt. For Intensity Therapeutics he has raised approximately $13,000,000 in capital with multiple types of investors.Mr. Bender has both a B.S and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, an MBA from UPenn's Wharton School, and an MA in International studies also from UPenn. He spent several years living in Switzerland and speaks French, German and Swiss-German dialect.#LewisBender #IntensityTherapeutics #Intratumoral #Immunotherapy #CellPenetrationAndDispersionEnhancer #AmphiphilicMolecule #CytotoxicChemotherapy #Cisplatin #Vinblastine #DfuseRx #DirectCytotoxicity #NeoantigenRelease #AdaptiveImmuneResponse #SoftTissueSarcoma #TripleNegativeBreastCancer #LocallyAdvancedBreastCancer #Metastatic #RefractorySolidTumors #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D., CMPC, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant known for his work with elite athletes, including members of the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. Dr. Jenkins also serves as Assistant Director of Psychology Training at Harvard Medical School's Massachusetts General Hospital ( https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/22465/jonathan-jenkins ) as well as in private practice, Mental Fitness and Psychotherapy ( https://www.mentalfitnesspsych.com/ ), where he integrates performance psychology into clinical care for youth and adults.With his Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from University of Denver, Dr. Jenkins multidisciplinary expertise in mental health, sport psychology, and resilience positions him as a leading voice on the intersection of mental health and elite performance. Dr. Kimberly O'Brien, Ph.D. is the founder and director of Unlimited Resilience, LLC ( https://unlimitedresiliencellc.com/ ), a group mental health practice designed for athletes by athletes, and co-founder and director of Athletes Better Together ( https://www.athletesbettertogether.com/ ), an athlete peer mentoring program. She is also a research and training consultant at the Behavioral Research & Training Institute at Rutgers University ( https://ubhc.rutgers.edu/education/brti-overview.xml ). Dr. O'Brien received her BA from Harvard University, where she was a four-year member and co-captain of the hockey team which won a National Championship in 1999. She obtained her MSW and PhD from Boston College and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University. Dr. O'Brien's research is focused on intervention development for suicidal adolescents and their families, with additional specializations in substance use, interventions which utilize technology, and athlete mental health and suicide prevention. Dr. O'Brien has co-authored over 75 articles and book chapters related to adolescent suicide, substance use, and mental health, and was awarded the Young Investigator Research Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2019. Together, Dr. Jenkins and Dr. O'Brien are co-authors of the upcoming book Mentality Wins: The Athlete's Playbook for Thriving in Sport and Life ( https://www.mentalitywins.com/ ), exploring the fascinating connections between athletic performance and mental health.Important Episode Links Mentality Wins Instagram Page -https://www.instagram.com/mentalitywinsbook/Dr. Jonathan Jenkins Instagram Page -https://www.instagram.com/dr.jonathanjenkins/?hl=enDr. Kimberly O'Brien Instagram Page -https://www.instagram.com/unlimited_resilience/Webinar: Thriving Under Pressure- Mental Fitness for Athletes - Feb 26, 2026 -https://mentalhealthawarenesseducation.com/events/webinar-thriving-under-pressure-a-mental-fitness-guide-for-athletes/2nd Annual Coalition of Athletic Communities for Mental Health (COACMH) Conference - Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - https://calendar.cuanschutz.edu/event/2nd-annual-coalition-of-athletic-communities-for-mental-health-coacmh-conference#JonathanJenkins #KimberlyOBrien #NewEnglandPatriots #BostonRedSox #MassachusettsGeneralHospital #MentalFitnessAndPsychotherapy #ClinicalPsychology #UnlimitedResilience #AthletesBetterTogether #BehavioralResearchAndTrainingInstitute #RutgersUniversity #MentalityWins #Resilience #Flow #Play #EliteAthletes #SportPsychology #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #SubstanceUse #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textMarcel Ishimwe is a pharmacist and public health advocate based in Kigali, Rwanda who is also the Founder and CEO of AMR Initiative Rwanda ( https://amrinitiativerwanda.org/ ), an organization dedicated to tackling antimicrobial resistance through awareness, stewardship, and community-driven solutions.With a BS in Pharmacy from Unversity of Rwanda, certificates in organizational leadership from Harvard and in Advanced TB Research Training and Epidemiology from University of Washington, and a strong commitment to public health, Marcel works at the intersection of medicine, education, and policy to promote responsible antimicrobial use and strengthen health systems in Rwanda and beyond. Through AMR Initiative Rwanda, he has helped elevate the conversation around antimicrobial resistance—one of the most pressing and often overlooked global health threats of our time—by engaging healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public.On this episode, we discuss Marcel's journey into pharmacy, the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries, and how locally led initiatives like his are shaping the future of global health.Important Episode Link  - Medikal - Revolutionizing African Healthcare with AI - https://www.medikalafrica.com/#MarcelIshimwe #AMRInitiativeRwanda #AntimicrobialResistance #SilentPandemic #EColi #KlebsiellaPneumoniae #ThirdGenerationCephalosporins #Resistance #AntibioticStewardship #CommunityOutreach #DigitalCampaigns #ProfessionalTraining #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #ScientificIntegrity #SocialStability#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Tara Williams, Ph.D. is the owner and founder of Innovative Collegiate Consultants, Inc. ( https://innovativecollegiateconsultants.com/ ), a consultancy that provides educational assistance and guides neurodivergent students to build academic confidence and independence through advocacy and personalized executive functioning support in their coursework and daily lives.Dr. Williams earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Sussex in Falmer, United Kingdom. Dr. Williams is currently a tenured professor at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California, and has been teaching for the last twenty years. She has been working with neurodivergent students across the U.S. since 2010, after noticing that these students were struggling with the transition from K-12 support in their Individualized Education Program to college, where self-advocacy and identification were required by a system built for the neurotypical. Dr. Williams and her team specialize in executive functioning coaching, with an emphasis on academics. Work with students includes accommodation management, email and Learning Management System support, course planning and registration, summer school transfer courses, housing, internship and job searching, and much more. This work also includes concepts of Universal Design which helps both neurodiverse and neurotypical students build confidence, advocate for themselves and thrive in school and college. Dr. Williams is currently writing a book about her own experiences and struggles in K-12 and higher education, and documenting several case studies working with neurodivergent college students. This book will be released early next year and is entitled "The Neurodivergent Student Journey: A Story of Hope and Breaking Out of the Box".#TaraWilliams #InnovativeCollegiateConsultants #Neurodivergent #ADHD #Dyslexia #Dyscalculia #Autism #ExecutiveFunctioning #Education #AcademicConsultancy #AccommodationManagement #Advocacy#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Casey Perley, Ph.D. is Executive Director of the Army Applications Laboratory ( https://aal.mil/ ) where she leads the mission to reshape how the U.S. Army works with industry to provide the best tech in the world to the best Army in the world. Her vision is for AAL to work from problem inception to sustainment hand in glove with stakeholders across the Army and the Department of War to accelerate and assess the Army's ability to ingest innovation.Dr. Perley previously served most recently as the deputy director of AAL and before that as the first director of Insights and Analysis, where their scientists and entrepreneurs collaborate to bring the best companies and technologies into solving Army problems. Prior to AAL, Dr. Perley was a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), where she managed research projects across a range of topics and stakeholders. She designed DNA vaccines and worked in the lab with bio threats including Ebola. Dr. Perley holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Duke University and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale.Dr. Perley's is also an accomplished harpist, and her orchestral harp work can be heard on more than 120 recordings, one of which was nominated for two Grammy awards.#CaseyPerley #ArmyApplicationsLaboratory #USArmyTransformationAndTrainingCommand #ArmyFuturesCommand #UnitedStatesArmyTrainingAndDoctrineCommand #DepartmentOfTheArmy #AutonomousBridgingKit #CasualtyCareTraining #QuantumHardening #ModularElectromagneticWarfarePayload #BroadAgencyAnnouncement #DisruptiveApplications #USAMRIID #USArmyMedicalResearchInstituteOfInfectiousDiseases #Hanta #Ebola #Tuberculosis #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Marie-Angélique Sene, Ph.D. is Head of Advanced Vaccine Bioprocessing at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar ( https://institutpasteurdakar.sn/ ), one of the most strategically important vaccine manufacturing and research centers in the world—particularly as Africa works to build long-term, sovereign capacity to develop and produce its own vaccines, and she leads their laboratory responsible for the acquisition and transfer of novel technology. Dr. Sene began her studies in engineering school studying Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Quantum Physics, and Relativity while conducting research at one of the French Atomic Energy Commission laboratories. Afterwards, Dr. Sene joined the graduate program in Seoul National University to do her Master's work, specializing in Micro/Nano engineering, while overseeing the Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center's photolithography equipment quality control and offering consulting services for local Korean companies wishing to integrate micro/nanotechnology to their Point-of-Care devices. Dr. Sene worked on projects from various fields such as Agriculture, Green Energies, Semiconductors, Optics, and Health among others. Dr. Sene now specializes in Vaccines manufacturing and applies her previously acquired knowledge to this field to contribute in the effort to advance equitable access to vaccines. During her Ph.D. at McGill University in the Kamen Lab, with a focus on Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Sene obtained a patent as main inventor, in collaboration with Sanofi-Pasteur, focusing on the genetic engineering of the Vero cell vaccine production platform, providing new possibilities to quickly generate high throughput, globally accessible, and pandemic ready cell-based vaccine platforms to efficiently protect global populations from current and emerging diseases. #MarieAngéliqueSene #VaccineBioprocessing #InstitutPasteurDeDakar #VeroCells #PandemicPreparedness #AdvancedBiomanufacturing #GlobalHealthSecurity #Senegal #MRNAVaccineDevelopment #RiftValleyFever #MADIBA #ManufacturingInAfricaForDiseaseImmunizationandBuildingAutonomy #RheumaticHeartDisease#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. James Giordano, Ph.D. is the Director of the Center for Disruptive Technologies and Future Warfare in the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University ( https://inss.ndu.edu/Centers/Center-for-Disruptive-Technology-and-Future-Warfare/ ). He is Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Neurology and Biochemistry, and Senior Scholar Emeritus of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics of Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. Dr. Giordano has served as Senior Scientific Advisory Fellow of the Strategic Multilayer Assessment Branch of the Joint Staff, Pentagon; Senior Bioethicist of the Defense Medical Ethics Center; Distinguished Fellow in Science, Technology and Ethics of the Stockdale Center for Ethics at the United States Naval Academy; and as an appointed member of the Neuroethics, Legal and Social Advisory Panel of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), and an appointed member of the Department of Health and Human Services' Secretary's Advisory Committee for Human Research Protections. Dr. Giordano is internationally recognized for his research on the use of neurocognitive sciences and technology in military and intelligence operations.A widely published author of over 350 peer-reviewed papers in the international scientific literature, and 25 governmental reports, Dr. Giordano's recent books include Brains and Bioethics; Neuroscience, Neuroculture and Neuroethics; and Neurotechnology in National Security and Defense: Technical Considerations, Neuroethical Concerns ( https://www.amazon.com/Neurotechnology-National-Security-Defense-Considerations/dp/1482228335 ).Dr. Giordano received a Ph.D. in biopsychology from the City University of New York, a Master of Arts in neuropsychology from Norwich University; a B.Sc. in physiological psychology from St. Peter's College; completed post-doctoral training in neuropathology and toxicology at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, and is currently completing a D.Phil. in political philosophy of science at the East Bavaria Technical University-Regensburg, Germany. Dr. Giordano is a former Fulbright Fellow; an elected Fellow of the Hastings Center for Ethics; the European Academy of Science and Arts; and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK); and frequently lectures in German and Italian.#JamesGiordano #CenterForDisruptiveTechnologiesAndFutureWarfare #InstituteForNationalStrategicStudies #NationalDefenseUniversity #Neurobiology #Nociception #Neuroethics #Biosecurity #Neurotechnology #Biotechnology #Biomanufacturing #ArtificialIntelligence #DirectedEnergyWeapons #AutonomousSystems #QuantumTechnologies #SuperSoldiers #Bioenhancement #MilitaryMedicalOperations #WarfighterPerformanceAugmentation #Neuroscience #Weaponization #Countermeasures #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textSami Tellatin is Head of Water & Climate Solutions at Kilimo ( https://kilimo.com/en/ ), an organization that  connects companies with farmers in the same watershed to implement water-positive practices, generate measurable water savings, and secure resources for both communities and companies. Kilimo's operations already span 7 countries, helping steward water resources across more than 500,000 acres of land and partnering with global leaders like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and major CPGs.In her role, Sami leads the design and deployment of scalable water-positive solutions that help companies, farmers, and communities address water scarcity through more efficient and sustainable irrigation practices.Prior to this role, Sami co-founded FarmRaise, an enterprise that unlocks funding for farmers and ranchers seeking to invest in their profitability and sustainability, allowing farmers to learn which public and private funding opportunities they're eligible for and streamlines the application process, moving the industry toward one common application that unlocks funding to drive conservation practice adoption.Sami has an MBA and MS (Land Use and Agriculture) at Stanford University. She previously conducted research and education efforts at the USDA-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and University of Missouri Extension, focusing on the economic and environmental impacts of cover crops in Midwestern farming communities. She has worked on farms in Missouri and Costa Rica and also holds a bachelor's degree in Biological Engineering from the University of Missouri.#SamiTellatin #Kilimo #WaterPositive #FreshwaterUsage #WatershedProtection #Agriculture #Farming #WatershedDegradation #ClimateChange #SystemicRisk #Ecosystems #HumanSurvival #GlobalStability #AquaticSpeciesLoss #BiodiversityDecline #DisruptedNutrientCycles #WaterborneDiseases #SanitationChallenges #ContaminatedDrinkingWater #GeopoliticalStrains #WaterConflicts #MigrationPressure  #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textJanuary 2026 marks National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States ( https://www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month/ ) and the 100th anniversary of the 1926 Slavery Convention that intended to abolish slavery worldwide. But, the highest number of people ever recorded are currently trapped in modern slavery.Dr. Xanthe Scharff, Ph.D. is the Managing Director for External Affairs and Editor-at-Large at The Freedom Fund ( https://www.freedomfund.org/person/xanthe-scharff/ ), a global fund seeking to end modern slavery, acting as a catalyst, working in the countries and sectors where it is still highly prevalent, and she leads development and communications efforts and serves as an ambassador for the organization in the United States.Dr. Scharff is a media executive, nonprofit founder, and journalist with a deep commitment to centering the stories and leadership of people on the frontlines of change. She co-founded The Fuller Project—the global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking journalism about women—while reporting in Turkey and on the Syrian border in 2014. Under her leadership, The Fuller Project drove large-scale policy change, won 39 industry awards, and investigated trafficking and workplace exploitation in Somaliland, Lesotho, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Bangladesh. Dr. Scharff is the founder and board chair emeritus of Advancing Girls' Education in Africa, an education nonprofit that provides scholarships and peer mentoring in Malawi. The National Association of Black Journalists gave her the Salute To Excellence Award in ‘24 for magazine reporting about the girls that inspired her to start the nonprofit. Dr. Scharff is the former deputy of the Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution, where she helped advance education policies that impacted billions of dollars in development spending. She has received distinguished alumni awards from Tufts University, The Fletcher School  and National Cathedral School; was named top 40 under 40 by the Center for Leadership Excellence; and received a Genius Grant for climate journalism from the HGB Foundation. Dr.  Scharff's and her teams' work has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, TIME, The Associated Press, Politico, Reuters, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, The Telegraph, USA Today, CBS, NBC, Al Jazeera, the BBC and beyond.Dr. Scharff has BA in International Affairs and Latin American Politics, from New York University, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations and Affairs and a Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, in International Security, Human Security, and International Development, both from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. #XantheScharff #TheFreedomFund #ModernSlavery #HumanTrafficking #BondedLabour #ForcedLabour #DomesticServitude #ChildLabour #ExploitativeChildWork #ForcedMarriage #MigrationRelatedExploitation #SexualExploitation #MacKenzieScott #HumanRights #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Andrew Holman, MD is Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Inmedix ( https://inmedix.com/ ), a medical diagnostics company pioneering the field of stress biology through its FDA-cleared CloudHRV® platform. Inmedix brings cloud-based clinical diagnostics and immuno-autonomics to medicine to improve outcomes in autoimmune diseases and beyond.Dr. Holman is the founding rheumatologist at Pacific Rheumatology Associates Inc PS, Director of Research at Pacific Rheumatology Research Inc., a former President of the Northwest Rheumatism Society (2005) and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington.Dr. Holman has 25 year clinical (and 19 year rheumatology) research career experience with 16 lead author published papers, and 25 lead author published abstracts.  For Inmedix, he has designed, completed and published 15 clinical studies, including FDA negotiations, involving nearly 1500 patients.Dr. Holman's research highlights include, but are not limited to, studying the use of dopamine agonists as a treatment of fibromyalgia, exploring the impact of hypermobility syndromes, evaluating innovative autonomic nervous system (ANS) analysis with 5-min heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, and broadening understanding of pain in patients with PC3 (positional cervical cord compression) using dynamic flexion-extension, cervical magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Dr. Holman has his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Medicine from University of Missouri-Columbia and did his Rheumatology Fellowship at the University of Washington - School of Medicine.#AndrewHolman #Inmedix #CloudHRV #ClinicalDiagnostics #ImmunoAutonomics #AutoimmuneDiseases #StressBiology #Rheumatology #Fibromyalgia #RheumatoidArthritis #HeartRateVariability #HRV #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Marco de Baar, Ph.D. is a full professor and Chair of Plasma Fusion Operation and Control at the Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Eindhoven University of Technology ( TU/e - https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/marco-de-baar ). In addition to his work at TU/e, Dr. de Baar is also head of fusion research at the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research ( DIFFER - https://www.differ.nl/ ) located on the TU/e campus. As member of DIFFER's management team, he has also served as the Dutch representative in the European fusion research consortium EUROfusion ( https://euro-fusion.org/ ). From 2004 to 2007, Dr. de Baar headed the operations department at JET (Joint European Torus), Europe's largest fusion experiment to date, where he was responsible for the successful operation and development of the reactor. From 2007, he was deputy project leader in the international consortium that develops the upper port launcher. He is program-leader for the Magnetohydrodynamics stabilization work package in ITER-NL ( International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor - https://www.iter.org/ ). Dr. de Baar's main scientific interest is the control of nuclear fusion plasmas, with a focus on control of Magnetohydrodynamics modes (for plasma stability) and current density profile (for performance optimization). In his research program, all elements of the control loops are considered, including actuator and sensor design, and advanced control oriented modelling. He also has a keen interest in the operations and the remote maintainability of nuclear fusion reactors.Dr. de Baar's research largely focuses on understanding and controlling the turbulent plasma in a fusion reactor or tokamak: hot, charged and magnetised gas. Fusion could be a clean, safe, large-scale energy source, but the big challenge to realizing commercially attractive fusion energy is protecting the wall of the fusion reactor against the hot fusion exhaust.In the research program Dr. de Baar is carrying out with DIFFER, the aim is to start managing the heat load inside the plasma, and bring the energy to the wall in a controlled way. As a physicist, Dr. de Baar has a strong interest in control engineering, as the two fields make it possible to combine very different viewpoints.Dr. de Baar received his Ph.D. is physics from TU/e and also holds an MSc in experimental physics from the University of Utrecht. #MarcoDeBaar #EindhovenUniversityOfTechnology #PlasmaFusion #FusionResearch #DutchInstituteForFundamentalEnergyResearch #EUROfusion #DIFFER #JointEuropeanTorus #InternationalThermonuclearExperimentalReactor #Magnetohydrodynamics #PlasmaStability #ControlEngineering #Tokamak #ControlTheory #FusionEnergy #Nuclear #ITER #Thermonuclear #ExperimentalPhysics #Energy #PlasmaPhysics #NuclearFusion #Tritium #Deuterium  #InertialConfinementFusion #MagneticConfinementFusion #SustainedPlasmaBurns #FuelCycle #ElectricityGeneration #BurningPlasma #TritiumBreeding #BreedingBlankets #EdgePlasma #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities  #Science #Engineering #Technology #STEMSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, MD, MPH is the Public Health Officer, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), County of San Diego ( https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/public-health-officer-.html ).Dr. Thihalolipavan is a board-certified physician in Public Health and Preventive Medicine with a distinguished public health career that started in New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as the Medical Director of Tobacco Control and Chronic Disease Prevention. He joined the County of San Diego's Health and Human Services Agency 10 years ago as the County's Deputy Public Health Officer in Public Health Services. Most recently Dr. Thihalolipavan worked as a Public Health Medical Officer within the Medical Care Services Department where he led HHSA's justice-involved health efforts. He has served as a liaison with health and justice partners to improve care coordination for individuals before, at and after incarceration as well as collaborating with community, justice and other partners on various initiatives to prevent and reduce incarceration. He has helped lead the countywide Street Medicine Initiative (which facilitates and enhances the direct provision of health care to the unsheltered homeless where they live), bringing together lived experience voices, community street medicine providers, and Medi-Cal Managed Care plans to collaborate on how to expand the capacity of street medicine in San Diego County. He also supports the County's response to the Tijuana River Valley transboundary sewage and pollution crisis.  Dr. Thihalolipavan has played a pivotal role in multiple County public health responses. These include the Covid-19 pandemic, Hepatitis A, meningococcal, Zika, and opioid epidemic among others. During the pandemic, he drafted and reviewed health alerts, public communications and health orders. He also led a team of medical experts to communicate with various communities and stakeholders.    Recently, Dr. Thihalolipavan worked with the Medical Examiner, Public Health Services , and others to conceptualize the idea of overdose fatality reviews, which was sponsored and passed as legislation (AB 2871) in California's last legislative cycle . In 2021, he served as the Interim Tuberculosis Control and Refugee Health Medical Director while the position was being filled.      Throughout his career, Dr. Thihalolipavan has cherished direct clinical time with patients. Efforts include helping NYC government employees quit smoking at the City's government smoking cessation clinic, working in San Diego County's sexual health clinic for a year, providing medical oversight and consultations to nurses at isolation hotels and at the Convention Center's homeless shelter during the pandemic. For many years and through spring 2025, he would take occasional shifts as a tuberculosis clinic physician.     Dr. Thihalolipavan holds a Master's in Public Health from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and a Medical Degree from New York University School of Medicine. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the San Diego County Top Doctors award in 2022 and the Kresge Foundation Emerging Leaders in Public Health award in 2018, and has led or contributed to various peer-reviewed publications.#SayoneThihalolipavan #PublicHealthOfficer #HealthAndHumanServicesAgency #CountyOfSanDiego #JusticeInvolvedHealth #StreetMedicineInitiative #OpioidEpidemic #Ebola #Pertussis #HealthMisinformation #Trust #Vaccination #Aging#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Christie M. Ballantyne, MD is a Cardiologist and is one of the nation's foremost experts on lipids, atherosclerosis and heart disease prevention. He holds many leadership positions at Baylor College of Medicine ( https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/christie-ballantyne-17846 ), including director of the Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention, co-director of the Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic, and chief of the Section of Cardiology. With over 1000 publications in the area of atherosclerosis, lipids, and inflammation, Dr. Ballantyne's research on heart disease prevention has led him to become an established investigator for the American Heart Association and the recipient of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health with a core focus on in basic research of leukocyte–endothelial interactions, translational research in biomarkers, and clinical trials.Dr. Ballantyne's many accomplishments have included being elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the Association of American Physicians. In 2012, he received the American College of Cardiology Distinguished Scientist Award (Basic Domain). In 2014 and 2015, Thomson Reuters recognized Dr. Ballantyne as one of “The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds.” Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science, named Dr. Ballantyne as a “Highly Cited Researcher” 2017-2022 in the top 1% of researchers most cited. In 2019, Dr. Ballantyne was awarded the Baylor College of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., Excellence in Research Award. His research in biomarkers has led to the FDA approval of 2 biomarkers for cardiovascular risk prediction, and he has played a prominent role in the development and FDA approval of new therapies for treatment of lipids.Dr. Ballantyne also serves on the Editorial Board for Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. He received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine with internal medicine residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and cardiology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and an AHA fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Institute for Molecular Genetics at Baylor.Dr. Alexander Tal, MD is an accomplished and recently retired board-certified Endocrinologist ( https://www.doximity.com/pub/alexander-tal-md ) with extensive training from institutions like Baylor College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University/Quillen College of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center of Chicago and Tel Aviv University Sackler, where he specialized in Diabetes, Metabolism, and Geriatric Medicine, and held Fellow status with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, treating various hormonal conditions.Important Episode Link - Merck's Enlicitide Decanoate, an Investigational Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor, Significantly Reduced LDL-C in Phase 3 CORALreef Lipids Trial - https://www.merck.com/news/mercks-enlicitide-decanoate-an-investigational-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-significantly-reduced-ldl-c-in-phase-3-coralreef-lipids-trial/#ChristieBallantyne #Cardiologist #Lipids #Atherosclerosis #HeartDiseasePrevention #BaylorCollegeOfMedicine #CardiometabolicDisease #LipidMetabolism #Cardiology #AlexanderTal #Endocrinologist #Diabetes #Metabolism #GeriatricMedicine #Merck #Enlicitide #OralPCSK9Inhibitor #Statins #Ezetimibe #Hypercholesterolemia #apoB #Lpa #Lipoproteins #Healthspan #Longevity #Aging #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textProfessor Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei, Ph.D. is a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University ( https://mae.ncsu.edu/people/arabiei/ ) and a leading innovator in advanced materials engineering. She is also the founder and CEO of Advanced Materials Manufacturing ( https://advancemnm.com/ ).Prof. Rabiei is best known for inventing Composite Metal Foam, a novel class of lightweight, high-performance materials that combine exceptional strength, energy absorption, and multifunctional capabilities.Prof. Rabiei's research sits at the intersection of materials science, mechanical engineering, and real-world application, with a particular focus on materials that can improve safety, resilience, and performance in extreme environments. Prof. Rabiei holds a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology, a Ph.D. in Advanced Materials from the University of Tokyo, and conducted her post-doctoral research at the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University in Boston. Over the course of her career, Professor Rabiei has led and collaborated on research supported by government agencies and industry partners, translating fundamental materials science into technologies with potential applications in defense, transportation, nuclear energy, space systems, and critical infrastructure. In addition to her research contributions, she is a dedicated educator and mentor, committed to training the next generation of engineers and materials scientists.Prof. Rabiei's work exemplifies how innovative materials can redefine what's possible—turning bold ideas from the laboratory into solutions for some of society's most demanding engineering challenges.#AfsanehRabiei #NorthCarolinaStateUniversity #MechanicalEngineering #AerospaceEngineering #AdvancedMaterialsManufacturing #CompositeMetalFoam #BallisticResistance #ArmorSystems #BlastMitigation #RadiationShielding #NeutronShielding #ExtremeEnvironments #ThermalStress #AcousticPerformance #MaterialScience #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Philip Huang, MD, MPH is the Director of Dallas Health and Human Services ( https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/  ), which is a nationally accredited public health department responsible for providing health and social services that protect the health and well-being of over 2.6 million people that call Dallas County home. Dr. Huang previously served as the Medical Director and Health Authority for Austin Public Health for 11 years. Dr. Huang also formerly served as Medical Director for Chronic Disease Prevention at the Texas Department of State Health Services and Chief of the Bureau of Chronic Disease and Tobacco Prevention at the former Texas Department of Health (TDH). Dr. Huang received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Rice University, his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and his Master of Public Health degree from Harvard with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. Dr. Huang completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, and served two years as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assigned to the Illinois Department of Public Health where he conducted epidemiologic studies in chronic disease and infectious disease outbreak investigations. Dr. Huang is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Texas School of Public Health and also with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. He has served as Principal Investigator for numerous CDC and State-funded public health cooperative agreements. He recently received national recognition by Governing Magazine as one of six “Public Officials of the Year” for 2024.#PhilipHuang #DallasHealthAndHumanServices #PublicHealth #CDC #EpidemicIntelligenceService #Cyclospora #ChronicDiseasePrevention #TobaccoPrevention #CommunicableDisease #CancerControl #CardiovascularHealth #InfectiousDisease #PediatricAsthmaSurveillanceSystem #MentalAndBehavioralHealth #SexualHealth #HealthEquity #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #Vaccination #BigCitiesHealthCoalition #NationalAssociationOfCountyAndCityHealthOfficials #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textThomas Gaffney is the COO of OFA Group ( https://www.ofacorp.com/ ), which through its wholly owned operating subsidiary, Office for Fine Architecture Limited, is a premier architectural firm that provides comprehensive architectural services, including design and fit out services for commercial and residential buildings. OFA's mission is to leverage not just expertise in architectural design, but also tools like AI and digital assets, to maximize the potential of every property, ensuring that its unique attributes are highlighted and enhanced. The OFA Group is focused on innovation, efficiency, and scalability in it's business model and service offerings.Mr. Gaffney is a seasoned startup financing attorney with over a decade of experience representing and advising technology startups throughout their growth journey, from seed stage through to IPO or strategic acquisitions. His expertise encompasses venture capital financing, equity structuring, and navigating the complex legal landscape of the tech industry. Mr. Gaffney holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law.#ThomasGaffney #OFAGroup #OfficeForFineArchitectureLimited #ArchitecturalServices #AI #DigitalAssets #Architecture #Regulation #Compliance #Sustainability #RealEstate #ArtificialIntelligence #PlanAid #BuildingCodes #RealWorldAsset #Hearth #Tokenization #DigitalTokens #Blockchain #Web3 #QikBIM #SeniorHousing #SeniorCare #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Edward Holland is a world-renowned leader in corneal transplantation and severe ocular surface disease, and is the Co-Founder of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration ( HFSR - https://www.hollandfoundationforsight.org/ ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals affected by these conditions, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) – a rare and devastating condition that can result in chronic pain, profound vision loss, and blindness.Through this HFSR initiative, Centers of Excellence (COEs) focused on the advanced sight restoration procedures of Ocular Surface Stem Cell Transplantation (OSST) are being launched across the country. As part of its mission, the foundation is also committed to broadening education and training so that more physicians nationwide can learn and implement The Cincinnati ProtocolTM for the management of these patients.Dr. Holland is also the Director of Cornea Services at Cincinnati Eye Institute ( https://www.cincinnatieye.com/doctors/edward-j-holland-m-d/ ) and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati ( https://med.uc.edu/landing-pages/profile/Index/Pubs/hollanej ). Dr. Holland attended the Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and trained in Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota.  He completed a fellowship in cornea and external disease at the University of Iowa and then completed a second fellowship in ocular immunology at the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Holland formerly served as the President for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and served as the Program Chair for 12 years.  Dr. Holland was a former member of the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and served as the Secretariat of the Annual Meeting.  Dr. Holland has served as the Chair of the Eye Bank Association and was the former Chair of the Medical Advisory Board as well as a longtime member of the Board of Directors.  Robert Dempsey, MBA is also a Co-Founder of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration.Mr. Dempsey brings more than two decades of domestic and global experience in the ophthalmic space driving successful drug development, business transactions and commercialization. His widespread experience in Ophthalmology stems from diverse Leadership roles across Commercial, Business Development, Medical Affairs and Venture Backed Startups. He brings deep relationships with Key Opinion Leaders and comprehensive knowledge of the ophthalmic ecosystem. Most recently, Mr. Dempsey served as the Chief Executive Officer for AsclepiX Therapeutics, following his CEO role at TearClear accelerating business and commercial strategies which led to several value inflection points and positive FDA engagements. Mr. Dempsey holds a Master's in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in healthcare marketing from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.Important Episode Link - Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration Launches Light After Darkness Fundraising Campaign - https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/22/3171067/0/en/Holland-Foundation-for-Sight-Restoration-Launches-Light-After-Darkness-Fundraising-Campaign.html#EdwardHolland #RobertDempsey #HollandFoundationForSightRestoration #OcularSurfaceStemCellTransplantation #Ophthalmology #LightAfterDarkness #Cornea #LimbalStemCell #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textMeghan Gutierrez is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lymphoma Research Foundation ( https://lymphoma.org/ ), the nation's largest nonprofit organization devoted to funding lymphoma research and education, advancing both the study of new cancer therapies and improved patient care.An expert in government relations and health care policy, Meghan has pursued an array of public policy issues during her career, ranging from mental health parity and rare disease awareness to medical technology and the treatment of chronic disease. Following her work as a Congressional staff member for Dr. Greg Ganske, one of the U.S. House of Representatives' foremost leaders on health care policy, she served as a health policy and communications advisor for several national nonprofit and educational institutions, including Columbia University and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.Meghan joined the Lymphoma Research Foundation in 2008 as its chief program, policy and communications officer. She was a driving force behind programs such as the country's only Adolescent and Young Adult Lymphoma Initiative and development of the first mobile app for people with lymphoma. She became Chief Executive Officer in 2014. In this role Meghan represents the Foundation before several audiences, including the U.S. Congress, Department of Defense, Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health. She has written and lectured extensively about the needs of lymphoma patients and served on committees and panels of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Institute of Medicine, and National Cancer Institute, among others.Jennifer Branstetter is Executive Director, North America Corporate Affairs & Patient Advocacy Lead at BeOne Medicines USA ( https://beonemedicines.com/ ), a global oncology company that is discovering and developing innovative treatments that are more affordable and accessible to cancer patients worldwide. With a portfolio spanning hematology and solid tumors, BeOne is expediting development of its diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through its internal capabilities and collaborations.Jennifer has a demonstrated 25+ year history of working with Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies, in government, and with nonprofits and the media, and has been a strategist for multi-faceted state and federal public affairs and patient advocacy campaigns.Previously, Jennifer was a Senior Director, Corporate Affairs (North America) at BeOne and also held positions at Cullari Communications Global, Branstetter Consulting, as Director of Policy and Planning in the Commonwealth of PA, Governor's Office, for Governor Tom Corbett, as Director of Education and Outreach for Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, as Communications Manager for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and as Deputy Press Secretary in the Pennsylvania Office of the Lieutenant Governor during the administration of Governor Tom Ridge.#MeghanGutierrez #JenniferBranstetter #BeOneMedicines #LymphomaResearchFoundation #PatientAdvocacy #PatientCentricAI #PatientNavigation #ClinicalTrialEligibility #FinancialToxicityDetection #PatientDistress #AutomatedInsuranceNavigation #EquityRadar #RegulatoryAdvocacy  #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textTony Baldassarre is CEO, President and Director of UniDoc ( https://unidoctor.com/ ), an eHealth Innovator and creator of the H3 Health Cube ( https://unidochealth.com/h3-health-cube/ ), a self-contained virtual clinic that enables patients to have comprehensive medical appointments remotely, offering access to physicians and specialists in real-time, and opens the doors to a large segment of the population challenged by access, experience, or understanding of the evolving Internet Of Medical Things. Mr. Baldassarre has held senior management and director positions of new business start-ups and established multinational organizations with over 30 years of experience in the Security, Information Technology and Communications industries.Mr. Baldassarre is involved in all aspects of UniDoc's business model from Operations, P&L oversight, product distribution, product promotions, sales and development activities and initiatives.Mr. Baldassare is also the President of LRG Security Canada Inc. and LRG Security Europe, companies involved in security and low-voltage products, distributing items like cameras, networking gear, and tools.#AntonioBaldassarre #TonyBaldassarre #UniDoc #InternetOfMedicalThings #DocInABox #UniDocHealthCorp #VerizonInnovationLabs #ClinicianAssistedExaminations #H3HealthCube #Telemedicine #Interoperability #HealthProfessionalShortage #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Claudia Mahler, Ph.D. is the United Nations Independent Expert on the Human Rights of Older Persons ( https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-older-persons/ms-claudia-mahler-independent-expert-enjoyment-all-human-rights-older-persons ). Dr. Mahler holds a law degree and a doctorate from Leopold‑Franzens‑Universität Innsbruck in Austria, and has spent over two decades researching and advocating for human rights. She has worked extensively on economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as minority rights, asylum law, and social protection, bringing a deep expertise in the legal and policy frameworks that protect vulnerable populations.Before joining the UNHRC, Dr. Mahler was a senior researcher at the German Institute for Human Rights, taught human rights law at several universities, and served as a consultant to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. In her current role, Dr. Mahler focuses on advancing the rights of older persons globally, including promoting access to work, protecting older adults in conflict zones, and leading efforts to draft a legally binding international instrument on their rights. Her work combines rigorous research, international advocacy, and a passionate commitment to ensuring that older adults can live with dignity, security, and equality worldwide. Important Episode Links Report - Older persons in armed conflict and peacebuilding - https://docs.un.org/en/A/80/203Report - Intersection between older persons' right to social protectionand their right to work -https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/60/24#ClaudiaMahler #UnitedNations #IndependentExpert #HumanRightsOfOlderPersons #MinorityRights #AsylumLaw #SocialProtection #UnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil #OlderPersonsInArmedConflicts #AccessToWork #Ageism #AgeDiscrimination #AgeTech #Longevity #Lonliness #SocialIsolation #Aging #Ageing #HumanRights #OlderPersons#STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Justin T. Collier, MD is Healthcare CTO for North America at Lenovo ( https://www.lenovo.com/ ) where he brings his expertise in clinical informatics and technology together to help advance clinical outcomes and patient experience ( https://techtoday.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/healthcare ).  Prior to joining Lenovo, Dr. Collier served for nearly 6 years as the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry Practice manager at World Wide Technology, the global technology solutions provider that offers digital strategy, supply chain, and IT services to large commercial and public sector organizations, supporting their healthcare ecosystem clients nationwide. Before that, Dr. Collier served HCA Healthcare as their TriStar Division Chief Medical Information Officer for over 7 years, tackling initiatives in EHR, data and analytics, telemedicine, and clinician mobility solutions. Dr. Collier has been a long-time member of the Tennessee HIMSS chapter, previously serving on their board and continuing to serve on their advisory council.Dr. Collier has a MD from the Medical College of Georgia and did his Residency in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, at The Ohio State University.Lenovo is a global technology company headquartered in Beijing, China, with operational headquarters in Morrisville, North Carolina (USA).#JustinCollier #Lenovo #Healthcare #Digitization #ElectronicHealthRecords #EHR #Interoperability #ApplicationProgrammingInterfaces #SmartHospital #Automation #ClinicalWorkflowModernization #Cybersecurity #EdgeAI #HumanCenteredTechnologyDesign #CaregiverSupport #ClinicalWellBeing #Burnout #DigitalTherapeutics #Biometrics #Robotics #RemoteMonitoring #VirtualCare #AgingInPlace #PhysicalMedicine #Rehabilitation #IoT #SmartDevices #EdgeComputing #AIEnableSolutions #CloudInfrastructure#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textSiouxie Boshoff is the founder of SWITCH ( https://switchsweets.com/ ), formerly known as Scrummy Sweets, where she has turned a personal mission to enjoy candy without compromising health into a thriving business, creating sugar-free, keto-friendly, and blood-sugar-conscious treats made with clean, natural ingredients.From humble kitchen experiments to launching a full line of guilt-free sweets, Siouxie has built a brand that proves candy can be delicious, clean, and healthy. Siouxie joins us today to share her journey, the evolution from Scrummy Sweets to SWITCH, and her insights on creating a purpose-driven company in a sugar-saturated world.Siouxie also has two lifestyle blogs - Lipedema Living ( https://lipedemaliving.com/ ) and 365 Days of Awesome  ( https://www.365daysofawesome.com/ ) where she blogs about her personally journey and experiences.#SiouxieBoshoff #Switch #ScrummySweets #SugarFree #KetoFriendly #Lipedema #Obesity #Diabetes #DercumsDisease #SugarAlcohols #Starches #Allulose #MonkFruitExtract #SolubleFiber #CassavaRoot #TapiocaFiber #ArtificialSweeteners #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Amar Rewari MD, MBA, FASTRO ( https://amarrewari.com/ ) is a physician executive and oncology leader with over 20 years of experience bridging clinical medicine, healthcare finance, and health policy.After earning his MD and MBA from Yale University, Dr. Rewari began his career in healthcare investment banking at Credit Suisse—an experience that shaped how he approaches the business and economics of healthcare.Today, Dr. Rewari leads the radiation oncology service line at Luminis Health ( https://www.luminishealth.org/en/find-a-provider/amar-rewari?language_content_entity=en ), overseeing operations and strategic growth for a program that serves more than 200 patients daily across three centers, and teaches health policy and economics as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.Nationally, Dr. Rewari serves on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Radiation Oncology ( ASTRO - https://www.astro.org/about-astro/board-and-leadership/board-of-directors/bios/amar-rewari ), where he chairs both the Health Policy Council and the Corporate Advisory Council. In these roles, he leads efforts around payment reform, advocacy, value-based innovation, and collaboration between providers and industry to advance the field of radiation oncology.Dr. Rewari is also the founder and co-host of Value Health Voices ( https://www.valuehealthvoices.com/ ), a podcast that makes health policy and economics accessible to clinicians and leaders, and Chair of the Board for the Fund for Education Abroad ( https://fundforeducationabroad.org/ ), advancing nonprofit governance and global education access for students with financial need.Featured by NBC News, TIME, Politico, and NewsNation, Dr. Rewari is driven to connect insights from the front lines of care to the broader policies shaping a smarter, fairer, and more sustainable healthcare system.#AmarRewari #RadiationOncology #LuminisHealth #FundForEducationAbroad #AmericanSocietyForRadiationOncology #ValueHealthVoices #Radiotherapy #PaymentReform #ReimbursementLevels #Medicare #AlternativePaymentModels #ValueBasedPaymentDesign #HealthPolicy #EpisodeBasedPayment #RelativeValueUnits #Coding #PriorAuthorization #FederalResearchFunding #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Abba Zubair, MD, PhD is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida ( https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/zubair-abba-c-m-d-ph-d/bio-00092417 ), where he also has served as the medical director of Transfusion Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy. Dr. Zubair earned his medical degree from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Cancer Immunobiology at the University of Sheffield in England. From there, he pursued advanced training in pathology and transfusion medicine in the U.S., completing a residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a clinical fellowship at Harvard Medical School. For more than two decades, Dr. Zubair led the Stem Cell Therapy Laboratory at Mayo Clinic Florida, pioneering the development of clinical-grade cell therapy products. His research has focused on mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC), hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), immune cells, and extracellular vesicles — with the aim of translating basic research into therapies for degenerative disease, brain injury, transplant-related complications, and beyond.In perhaps one of the most extraordinary bridges between earthly medicine and outer space, Dr. Zubair has sent his lab's stem cells to the International Space Station — aiming to understand how microgravity affects cell behavior, bone loss, and regenerative potential. This research has profound implications not only for astronauts, but for patients on Earth suffering from osteoporosis, bone degeneration, and other conditions. Beyond his scientific and clinical roles, Dr. Zubair is a devoted educator and leader: in 2024 he was named Vice Dean of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Florida), shaping the next generation of physicians; previously he served as Associate Dean of the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences and as Dean of Education at a Mayo-Clinic affiliated hospital venture in Abu Dhabi. #AbbaZubair #MayoClinic #LaboratoryMedicine #Pathology #TransfusionMedicine #StemCellTherapy #MesenchymalStemCells #StromalCells #HematopoieticStemCells #ImmuneCells #ExtracellularVesicles #Exosomes #Secretome #RegenerativeMedicine #Immunotherapy #Bioreactors #ClinicalGradeManufacturing #CosmicRadiation #DeepSpaceExploration #Microgravity #InternationalSpaceStation #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Brian Wang, PhD is a Program Director at ARIA ( https://www.aria.org.uk/ ), the UK's bold, mission-driven R&D funding agency, where he leads the Sculpting Innate Immunity opportunity space ( https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/sculpting-innate-immunity/ ): a fascinating initiative to see if rather than harnessing the adaptive immune system in infectious disease for new antibodies, instead asking how we can better mobilize the body's first line of defense, the innate immune response.With a PhD in organic chemistry at Berkeley and having conducted post-doctorate research in synthetic biology at MIT, Dr. Wang moved into pandemic preparedness during COVID — leading R&D at Alvea and later co-founding Panoplia Laboratories, a nonprofit organization that evaluates AI-driven biology and conducts biosecurity research in the public interest — before joining ARIA. ARIA, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, is the UK's new experiment in high-risk, high-reward research. Modeled in part on America's DARPA for high-risk, high-reward science, ARIA funds bold bets that might not find a home in academia or industry.Important Episode Link - Sustained Viral Resilience Programhttps://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/sculpting-innate-immunity/sustained-viral-resilience/#BrianWang #ARIA #AdvancedResearchAndInventionAgency #SculptingInnateImmunity #SustainedViralResilience #SustainedInnateImmunoprophylactics #SyntheticBiology #Biosecurity #Countermeasures #DayZeroAntivirals #BroadSpectrumAntivirals #InnateImmuneSystem #OpportunitySpace #ProgramDirector #RespiratoryViruses #SystemsImmunology #MaterialsChemistry #ArtificialIntelligence #Biodefense #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show