Podcasts about cancer survivors

Long before cancer survivors organized into a movement, Hollywood had already shaped how Americans understood the disease. Films rarely used the word “cancer,” physicians often withheld diagnoses from patients, and the people who survived were almost nowhere to be found on screen.Recorded before The Cancer Mavericks: A History of Survivorship became a documentary series, this bonus conversation explores where the project first began. Matthew Zachary sits down with his mother, Roz Greenzweig, a retired educator and lifelong film enthusiast whose memories of classic cinema became an unexpected lens for understanding how cancer was portrayed throughout the twentieth century.Together, they revisit landmark films including Dark Victory, Love Story, and other iconic portrayals that reflected an era when cancer was treated as unspeakable, inevitable, and almost always fatal. Their conversation contrasts those carefully constructed Hollywood narratives with the lived reality of a family confronting a brain cancer diagnosis in 1995, revealing how popular culture both reflected and reinforced the fears surrounding the disease.The discussion also foreshadows many of the themes explored throughout the documentary series: the evolution of patient advocacy, the emergence of cancer survivorship, the role of caregivers, and the power of storytelling to influence public understanding. Before policy changed, before advocacy organizations grew into national movements, conversations like these were already challenging long-held assumptions about what cancer looked like and who had the right to tell its story.Consider this the prologue to The Cancer Mavericks. Before the movement found its history, it began with a family trying to make sense of the stories they had inherited.RELATED LINKSAmerican Cancer Society⁠National Cancer Institute⁠American Film Institute⁠ER (NBC)⁠50/50 (Official)⁠Chasing Life (ABC Family Archive)⁠FEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review The Cancer Mavericks: A History of Survivorship on your favorite podcast platform. For more information, visit CancerMavericks.com. Questions? Email podcasts@matthewzachary.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would you do if you were told you might only have two years to live?In this inspiring and deeply practical episode of Linda's Corner Podcast, I sit down with Glenn Sturm — bestselling author, astrophotographer, attorney, decorated military officer, and cancer survivor — to discuss multidisciplinary cancer care, emotional resilience, and what it really takes to fight for joy and quality of life after a devastating diagnosis.Glenn's life story is extraordinary. A graduate with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a decorated military officer with more than three decades of service, Glenn built a remarkable career as both a lawyer and leader. But in 2009, his life changed overnight when doctors discovered he had aggressive T-cell lymphoma.The diagnosis came completely out of the blue. Glenn didn't even realize he had been screened for cancer. Doctors told him there was no cure — only management — and estimated he might survive for only two years.That was seventeen years ago.Since then, Glenn has endured continuous chemotherapy and more than 55 surgeries, yet he continues to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. His perspective is powerful and refreshingly honest. Glenn openly shares what people are rarely told about surviving cancer: how important it is to protect your energy, maintain emotional resilience, and intentionally pursue hope and joy.One of the central themes of our conversation is the importance of multidisciplinary cancer care. Glenn explains why creating a collaborative treatment team can dramatically improve outcomes for cancer patients. He shared research suggesting that multidisciplinary approaches may reduce mortality rates anywhere from 14% to 90% compared to isolated or solo treatment strategies. His upcoming book, More Than Hope, explores these integrated cancer care approaches in greater depth.We also discuss the importance of quality of life during treatment. Glenn shares how finding the right medication dramatically improved his energy levels, which in turn improved both his daily life and longevity. As Glenn explains, improving quality of life is not just about comfort — it can also help people live longer. A true win-win.Beyond medicine, Glenn speaks candidly about the emotional side of survivorship and the daily decision to keep moving forward. His message is grounded in practical emotional survival and the belief that while we cannot control every circumstance, we can choose how we respond. As Glenn says, “Only you can stop you.”This episode is a powerful reminder that hope is not passive. It's something we actively build through connection, resilience, strategy, and purpose.You can learn more about Glenn Sturm and his work at:Glenn Sturm Official WebsiteGlenn is the author of several bestselling books, including:Cancer Set Me FreeWarriors Hate WarSyzygiesThe Great American Eclipse of 2017More Than Hope (upcoming)If you or someone you love has been impacted by cancer, chronic illness, or difficult life challenges, this episode offers practical wisdom, encouragement, and a hopeful reminder that life can still hold meaning, joy, and purpose — even in the middle of hardship.Listen, Share, and SupportIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who may need hope today.Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating and review, and help us spread more healing and inspiration to the world.Free Resource for HealingIf you're ready to release stress, calm your mind, and begin healing from within, visit:

Kirsten Eom studies everything that goes into getting a cancer survivor from their front door to a doctor's office: insurance, transportation, follow-up care, and more. The UT Health San Antonio researcher has found that a surprising number of survivors stop seeing doctors once initial treatment ends. Now she's working to build a statewide registry to track the barriers keeping them away.

Brandi Benson is a Georgia REALTOR®, keynote speaker, U.S. Army veteran, and 17-year survivor of rare and aggressive Ewing sarcoma. With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and brand strategy, she helps buyers and sellers position themselves for success through data-driven marketing, strategic negotiations, and honest guidance.Brandi specializes in working with veterans, helping them maximize their VA loan benefits and build long-term wealth through real estate ownership. Her mission is to educate, empower, and create generational wealth—one home at a time.Beyond real estate, Brandi serves on the Board of Directors for the Sarcoma Alliance and is a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP), helping shape future cancer research. She is also a nationally recognized speaker who shares her journey of resilience, leadership, and hope with audiences across the country.Whether she's helping a family buy their first home, guiding a seller through the listing process, or speaking on a national stage, Brandi believes every decision should be rooted in integrity, education, and service.#brandibenson #georgiarealtor #keynotespeaker #cancersurvivor #chrispomay #livewithcdptalkshow #barrycullenchevrolet https://www.brandilbenson.com/  / brandi.benson.92    / realtorbrandil.benson  https://beacons.ai/brandilbensonhttps://beacons.ai/chrisdpomayhttps://www.cameo.com/chrispomay book a personalized video message from yours truly CDP! https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/chris... if you wish to support my media content on my You Tube Channel. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...https://www.barrycullen.com/

My name is Carlene Lee. I am an author, wellness speaker, and advocate for resilience, personal growth, and holistic well-being. After a career as an Analyst and Quality Assurance professional, where I also had the privilegeof leading and mentoring others, I learned how to turn adversity into a purpose-driven mission to inspire others. With a Fitness and Nutrition Certification, I am passionate about helping people live healthier, more balanced lives.I believe challenges can become stepping stones to greatness and that true success is measured not only by our achievements but also by how we grow through life's experiences. I have had the privilege of speaking at workplace wellness sessions and serving as a keynote speaker, encouraging audiences to embrace wellness of the mind, body, soul, and spirit, recognizing thatthis journey looks different for everyone.Through my books and speaking engagements, I strive to uplift others with hope, encouragement, and practical wisdom. My mission is to help people recognize their potential, keep moving forward, and live a life of purpose,resilience, and lasting impact.#carlenelee #author #wellnessspeaker #chrispomay #livewithcdptalkshow #barrycullenchevroletdealership   / carlene_lee1  https://www.threads.com/@carlene_lee1https://linktr.ee/carlenelhttps://beacons.ai/chrisdpomayhttps://www.cameo.com/chrispomay book a personalized video message from yours truly CDP! https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/chris... if you wish to support my You Tube Channel media content https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...https://www.barrycullen.com/

You survived cancer — so why does no one talk about what comes next? In this solo episode, Jen opens up the five conversations every survivor should be having, but almost no one starts: hormones, intimacy, mental health, purpose, and energy. These are the quiet struggles that hit after treatment ends, when the appointments stop and everyone else exhales — and you're left figuring out how to feel like yourself again. This is your permission slip to break the silence. Jen walks through each conversation with warmth and honesty, naming the things survivors feel but rarely say out loud — and giving you one real conversation to start and one small step to take this week for each. In this episode: Why hormone changes after treatment aren't "you falling apart" — and how to advocate for yourself with your care team The intimacy conversation nobody prepares you for (and it's about way more than sex) Why finishing treatment can be one of the hardest mental health moments of the whole journey How cancer rearranges your sense of purpose — and why that's not ingratitude Cancer fatigue vs. regular tired, and how to protect your energy without guilt Whether you're newly out of treatment or years into survivorship, this episode will make you feel seen — and give you the words for something you've been carrying. ➡️ Your challenge this week: Pick the ONE conversation that made your chest tighten. That's the one you need most. Take one small step — send the text, book the appointment, or say the honest thing out loud. If this episode spoke to you, share it with a survivor who needs to hear they're not the only one. And come tell Jen which of the five hit home — solo episodes like this come straight from your questions. Not today, Cancer.

Rebecca Bloom is a former employee benefits and executive compensation attorney who spent more than 25 years helping women navigate cancer, work, insurance, disability coverage, and financial survival. She is the founder and author of When Women Get Sick, a book built from decades inside the legal, workplace, and patient advocacy systems most people only discover after diagnosis.Bloom started in Big Law at Simpson Thacher handling employee benefits and compensation work she originally chose to pay off student loans. Then her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly the language she used in corporate law offices became the language of survival at home. Explanation of benefits forms. Coverage disputes. Second opinions. Disability protections. Medical leave. Bills no one could explain.That collision changed the direction of her life.In this episode, Bloom explains how serious illness quietly turns patients into unpaid administrators managing paperwork, logistics, financial risk, and emotional labor while trying to survive treatment. She breaks down how employer based health insurance shapes nearly every aspect of cancer care in America and why women often carry the invisible burden of protecting everyone else from discomfort while they themselves fall apart.The conversation digs into workplace power, the illusion of the healthcare “safety net,” caregiver exhaustion, and the class divide hiding underneath patient empowerment culture. Bloom explains why educated, insured women with resources still struggle to navigate healthcare bureaucracy and what happens to patients without those advantages.This episode explores cancer care, health insurance, employee benefits, patient advocacy, workplace protections, caregiving, and the structural incentives that force sick people to become project managers of their own survival.RELATED LINKSRebecca BloomWhen Women Get SickBay Area Cancer ConnectionsSimpson Thacher & BartlettFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ann Keil Dux is a person of significance. Former TV journalist, Emmy Award winner and cancer survivor, she has lived a remarkable life. You will be inspired by this whip smart, executive communications coach and strategist. Ann talks about the important soft skills fueled by emotional intelligence. She dives into high impact communication moments and how we should react authentically. Show up as the best version of yoursefl. Communicate from your real self from real places. Consider active verbs that describe you and connect with those words. Self proclaimed as THE GLUE, connect with Ann Keil Dux on LinkedIn or www.DuxCommunications.com. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

Jerry McCormick, longtime journalist, educator, and prostate cancer survivor, shares how he transformed a life-threatening diagnosis into a mission to educate Black men about early prostate cancer detection and proactive healthcare. Jerry chats about the cultural barriers to care, the power of honest storytelling and his work to build support networks and advocacy platforms for men's health. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

At 21, Liana Werner-Gray was diagnosed with a 3.7-centimeter tumor after years of eating refined sugar, fried food and fast food nearly every day. She sits down with Dr. Josh Axe to discuss the food, lifestyle and spiritual changes she credits with transforming her health, including green juice, broccoli sprouts, restorative sleep and healthier food swaps. They also explore seed oils, sugar addiction, emotional trauma and the deeper issue Liana believes food alone could never fix. Uncover what's really going on in your body with advanced biomarker testing for hormones, thyroid, and metabolism— plus a 1-hour consultation with a Senior Health Advisor! →  http://mybloodwork.com Thank you to our sponsors! Sunlighten Sauna: https://get.sunlighten.com/axepodcast Manukora Manuka Honey: https://manukora.com/axe Caraway Home: carawayhome.com/drjoshaxe (Use code DRJOSHAXE) for an exclusive discount Watch The Dr. Josh Axe Show every Monday & Thursday on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjoshaxe?sub_confirmation=1

Air Date - 22 July 2026Join Host Marc Lainhart – The Intuitive Prospector™ this Wisdom Wednesday as Marc welcomes pioneering Psychotherapist and Cancer Survivor, Ms. Heather A. Lee, who will help fill a critical gap in the national conversation on Psychedelic healing. At a moment when psychedelic medicine is moving from the margins to the mainstream, debated in Congress, studied at Johns Hopkins University and NYU, and embraced by a growing number of clinicians, one important voice emerges from the national conversation: women's. In her new book, Heather shares powerful stories of women's transformation through psychedelic healing. These real-life testimonials are from women who navigated some of the hardest transitions of their lives, including cancer diagnoses, sexual trauma and abuse, loss of a spouse, estrangement from children, confronting mortality, and post-sixty identity. The book arrives amid increasing public and scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. Rather than focusing solely on research, “The Psilocybin Sessions” centers on the lived experiences of women, offering readers a deeply personal and human perspective on a rapidly evolving field.Please join us for another inspiring, encouraging, educational, healing, motivational, and transformational show! “Prospecting to discover the diamond within and the many hidden gems all around us!”#HeatherALee #MarcLainhart #InspiredLivingAbout the GuestHeather Lee is one of the first leading psychedelic-assisted psychotherapists with 25+ years of clinical experience in integrative mental health. She has mind-body training from Harvard University and specializes in helping women build emotional resilience through transformational psilocybin experiences. She is a keynote speaker and leads international retreats that blend science, soul, and plant medicine to support healing, growth, and lasting inner peace. She is the author of “The Psilocybin Sessions: Real-Life Stories of Women's Awakening with Psychedelic Medicine” (Modern Wisdom Press). With 25+ years of clinical experience in integrative mental health and mind-body training from Harvard University, Heather Lee is one of the first leading psychedelic-assisted psychotherapists in the U.S.WEBSITE: https://heatheralee.com/Visit the Inspired Living show page https://omtimes.com/iom/shows/inspired-living-radio/Connect with Marc Lainhart at http://www.marclainhart.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter https://omtimes.com/subscribe-omtimes-magazineConnect with OMTimes on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Omtimes.Magazine/ and OMTimes Radio https://www.facebook.com/ConsciousRadiowebtv.OMTimes/X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmTimes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omtimes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2798417/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/omtimes/

Most people spend their lives trying not to feel broken, but poet and spiritual philosopher Mark Nepo believes that breaking is actually where life begins. In this deeply moving conversation from Making Space, the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awakening sits down with Hoda Kotb to pull back the curtain on how we can stay open, even when we are hurting, overwhelmed, or just trying to get through the day. Mark reflects on the wisdom he gained from his own life threatening cancer diagnosis and a debilitating back surgery, sharing how he learned to ground himself in the present when fear threatened to take over. He and Hoda explore his newest book, The Language of the Soul, discussing why the words we choose matter in a world that often feels divided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jim McCarthy talks to cancer survivor Evan Gear, associate pastor at Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA. Special thanks to Nathan Clark George for our opening and closing instrumental. Nathan serves as the Pastor of Worship alongside Kevin DeYoung at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC. You can access Nathan's fantastic catalog here.

Vasanta Pundarika built her career inside healthcare investment banking before launching Lotuspring, an advisory firm focused on women's health and behavioral health. She spent nearly 20 years advising healthcare systems, treatment providers, and growth stage companies on mergers, financing, and operational strategy while watching the industry repeatedly misunderstand the people it claimed to serve.The conversation starts unexpectedly with anthropology, bread, and language. Vasanta explains how she spent years changing the pronunciation of her own name to make other people comfortable before eventually reclaiming it. That thread opens into a much larger discussion about adaptation, identity, and what institutions quietly train people to tolerate.From there, the discussion moves into behavioral health, women delaying care, and the invisible labor that healthcare business models routinely ignore. During COVID, Vasanta noticed men's behavioral health units refilled faster than women's units. The reason had nothing to do with demand. Women were still home managing caregiving responsibilities, children, aging parents, and households while their own mental health collapsed in the background.The episode examines what happens when healthcare companies become “snazzy big brands” before building real clinical substance underneath. Vasanta describes the tension between mission and margin inside healthcare startups, private equity backed care models, and behavioral health expansion. The conversation pushes on who benefits when healthcare scales aggressively, who absorbs the operational pressure, and how patient trust erodes long before executives notice it on a dashboard.They also discuss patient advocacy culture, anthropology as systems analysis, healthcare capitalism, prior authorization, investor language, and why some clinically excellent companies never survive long enough to scale.RELATED LINKSVasanta PundarikaLotuspringWomen's Health HorizonsSakhi for South Asian SurvivorsNACDPrinceton University Anthropology DepartmentFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the symptoms you're fighting aren't the real problem? In this powerful episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with functional medicine pioneer and bestselling author Dr. Jill Carnahan to explore her extraordinary journey from a 25-year-old battling aggressive breast cancer and Crohn's disease to becoming one of the leading voices in root-cause medicine. Dr. Jill shares how a seemingly healthy childhood on a family farm exposed her to hidden environmental toxins, setting the stage for a health crisis that would ultimately transform her life's mission. Through her own healing journey, she discovered that true health isn't just physical—it's deeply connected to our emotional resilience, spiritual perspective, and willingness to ask better questions. But this conversation goes far beyond disease and diagnosis. We dive into why modern healthcare is failing both patients and practitioners, the burnout epidemic among clinicians, and the critical importance of treating people as human beings rather than collections of symptoms. Dr. Jill reveals the mindset shifts that helped her overcome seemingly impossible odds, why curiosity may be one of the most powerful healing tools available, and how she's now helping an entirely new generation of practitioners rediscover the humanity at the heart of medicine. If you've ever struggled with chronic illness, felt unheard by the medical system, or wondered how adversity can become your greatest gift, this episode is one you won't forget.

Rob Rene spent 25 years in Fortune 500 enterprise tech before five near-death experiences, including cancer, ignited a radical pivot to build Exodus Strong, a faith-based wellness company powered by AI. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Your body is your true business infrastructure; optimize it first, and everything downstream improves. 2. Corporate experience can be a massive advantage in startups if you leverage systems, discipline, and real-world sales lessons. 3. The future of entrepreneurship is leverage through AI; founders who build systems early will outpace those relying on hustle alone. Check out Rob's website for exclusive offers. Access the Total Body Reset Kit and bonus tools. Learn about AI-powered business systems for founders - Exodus Strong Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. Nexus Install - Have a high-ticket offer? Nexus Install builds you a custom LinkedIn prospect booking system designed to generate more quality sales calls. Email JLD at John@EOFire.com to learn more.

Brad Power spent years advising major corporations on systems design, process engineering, and decision making before lymphoma shoved him into the patient side of American healthcare. Instead of accepting the experience at face value, he started reverse engineering the machinery around cancer itself. Brad is the founder of Cancer Patient Lab and Open Cancer AI, two projects built around a blunt reality most patients discover too late: the healthcare system rewards people who know how to navigate it. Everyone else risks getting steamrolled by information asymmetry, insurance barriers, administrative friction, and institutional incentives designed around efficiency instead of human survival.The conversation starts with Harvard Business Review and Tumblr blogs before moving directly into the darker architecture underneath modern cancer care. Power explains how hospitals optimize for throughput, how insurance companies reward operational consistency over personalized medicine, and why many patients quietly end up needing a crash course in oncology, reimbursement policy, and behavioral psychology while fighting for their lives.The discussion digs into CAR-T therapy, functional testing, AI assisted decision support, and the growing collision between personalized medicine and standardized care pathways. Power argues that engaged patients often get better outcomes because they learn how to push for off guideline treatments, contest denials, and ask smarter questions. The counterpoint lands hard: patients should never have needed to become experts in the first place.The episode also explores the cultural consequences of AI entering cancer care. OpenAI advertising, data privacy, trust erosion, pharmaceutical influence, and “agentic AI” all collide inside a healthcare economy already drowning in distrust. Power sees artificial intelligence as a force multiplier for patient literacy and access. The larger system still decides who gets approved, who gets delayed, and who gets left behind.By the end, the conversation lands exactly where modern healthcare keeps forcing people to land: survival increasingly depends on learning how the machine works before the machine works on you.RELATED LINKSBrad PowerCancer Patient LabOpen Cancer AIHarvard Business ReviewResearch to the PeopleCAR T Cell TherapyFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At just 16 years old, Hayden Laufgraven heard the words no teenager expects:"You have leukemia."What followed was hospitalisation, chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, remission, relapse, another transplant, months of isolation, and learning how to never give up. In this deeply moving episode of Talking Smack 415, Jamie the Great and I sit down with Hayden to talk about what it's really like to be diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) as a teenager, the emotional toll of the diagnosis and surviving cancer, and the often-overlooked reality of PTSD after cancer treatment.Hayden shares his remarkable perspective on resilience, friendship, identity, and why surviving cancer doesn't mean the journey is over.Whether you've experienced cancer yourself, love someone who has, or simply need a reminder of the strength of the human spirit, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Hayden is wise beyond his years. In this episode we discuss:What it's like being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at age 16The signs and symptoms that led to his leukemia diagnosisChemotherapy, remission, relapse, and undergoing two bone marrow transplantsHow donor registries and bone marrow matching workThe physical and emotional impact of cancer treatmentPTSD and trauma after surviving cancerRebuilding strength after months of chemotherapy and isolationThe importance of friendship, family, and community during illnessMental resilience and finding hope through uncertaintyLife after cancer and returning to college, sports, and everyday lifeHayden's honesty, maturity, and optimism offer an extraordinary reminder that resilience isn't about pretending you're fearless—it's about continuing to move forward anyway.Follow Hayden on TikTok: @haydenlaufIf this episode resonates with you...Please subscribe, rate, and review Talking Smack 415. Sharing this episode may help someone navigating cancer, supporting a loved one through treatment, or healing from the invisible emotional scars that often remain after remission.Cancer changes lives—but so does hope.Share this episode with your friends and family who love to laugh.  Subscribe to Talking Smack 415 and leave us a rating and review so more peeps can find us for laughter and friendship to feed your soul!  

Avery HeffernanBS, School of Education and Human Sciences, 2021CERT, School of Education and Human Sciences, 2024Office Associate, UAB Department of PediatricsMore InformationAvery Heffernan - LinkedIn

Our guest this week is Damian Buchman of Wauwatosa, WI, disability advocate, cancer survivor and father of three adopted children.  This is Part 2 of the interview with Damian. At age 12, Damian was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, in his right leg.  Seven months later and after undergoing chemotherapy, limb-salvage surgery, and remission, he was also diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left leg.  His physicians believed surviving two primary bilateral osteosarcomas was extraordinarily unlikely.  Because of his cancer treatments, he has undergone more than three dozen major knee replacement and revision surgeries over the years and lives with a permanent ambulatory disability.Damian and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 18 years.  Unable to have children of their own, due to Damian's cancer treatments, the couple adopted three children as newborns: Lenon (10), Harrison (12) and Jackson (14), who has ADHD.Rather than allowing disbility to define him, Damian has dedicated his career to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. He is the founder of:The Ability CenterWisconsin Adaptive Sports Association, and The Opportunity Center initiative, an ambitious vision for a universally accessible recreation and wellness destination.We also learn about Damian's journey as an adaptive athlete. This is the concluding segment of this two-part interview.It's a remarkable story about beating the odds, overcoming a life-time of obstacles, living a full and meaningful life and creating opportunities for countless others.  Show Notes -Phone – (262) 385-5738Email – damian@tacwi.orgLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianbuchman/The Ability Center - https://tacwi.org/Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Assn - https://www.wasa.org/The Opportunity Center - https://tocwi.org/Website: https://www.damianbuchman.comSpecial thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60+ stop tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 1,000+ complimentary copies of our new book: Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads. Special Fathers Network –SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: “I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through.”SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  

By the time the paper hit version 71, Dr. Nirosha Murugan had already done the hard part. The data were real. The experiment had worked. A team of researchers had used a wearable bioreactor to trigger limb regeneration in frogs, a result with obvious implications for regenerative medicine. But the science still wasn't getting over the line. The problem wasn't the work. It was the translation.On this episode of Standard Deviation, host Oliver Bogler talks with Dr. Nirosha Murugan, a biophysicist and Tier II Canada Research Chair in Tissue Biophysics at Wilfrid Laurier University, about what happens when a scientist working at the edges of quantum biology, bioelectricity, and tissue regeneration runs headfirst into the unwritten rules of academic publishing. Murugan's research asks biologists to think beyond molecules and chemistry alone, and to consider the physical signals, electromagnetic fields, and invisible forces that shape development and healing. It is ambitious science. It is also exactly the kind of work that can make gatekeepers nervous.Bogler follows Murugan through the less glamorous part of discovery: the hidden curriculum of getting a paper published, securing scientific credibility, and learning that data do not simply “speak for themselves.” Murugan describes how jargon buried the pitch of her own work, how a lack of editorial support left her at a disadvantage, and how the JEDI program at the Life Science Editors Foundation paired her with a former journal editor who taught her how to structure a manuscript, write a cover letter, and survive peer review.The result was publication in Science Advances, but the larger story is about power. Who gets taught the rules of biomedical research. Who has access to grant writers, editors, and institutional polish. Who is left to brute-force their way through the maze. And how one scientist, having finally found the map, now makes sure her own trainees do not have to learn it the hard way.RELATED LINKSDr. Nirosha Murugan⁠Wilfrid Laurier University⁠Life Science Editors Foundation⁠JEDI Program⁠Science Advances paper on limb regeneration⁠FEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Jess Peatross trained in conventional medicine and worked as a hospitalist before she started questioning why so many chronically ill patients kept getting worse inside the healthcare system she trusted. Her perspective carries weight because she spent years following every protocol exactly as taught before walking away from hospital medicine entirely.Raised in Huntington, West Virginia during the opioid crisis, she entered medicine believing the system existed to heal people. Instead, she found hospitals driven by billing codes, liability management, and pharmaceutical dependence while patients with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, mold exposure, and chronic pain cycled endlessly through appointments and prescriptions.Dr. Peatross explains what pushed her toward functional medicine, cannabis therapy, and prevention focused care after watching patients improve only after leaving conventional treatment pipelines behind. The conversation tackles physician burnout, chronic illness stigma, healthcare incentives, and the growing collapse of trust between patients and institutions.The discussion also moves into supplements, environmental toxins, ultra processed food, and the uncomfortable economics behind keeping people permanently sick but continuously billable. Dr. Peatross describes the professional backlash that comes with challenging medical orthodoxy while Matthew connects her experience to the broader erosion of public trust across American healthcare.Together they unpack what happens when patients stop believing the system can help them and start searching elsewhere for answers.RELATED LINKSDr. Jess PeatrossInstagramMarshall UniversityBrave New WeedFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest this week is Damian Buchman of Wauwatosa, WI, disability advocate, cancer survivor and father of three adopted children. At age 12, Damian was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, in his right leg.  Seven months later and after undergoing chemotherapy, limb-salvage surgery, and remission, he was also diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left leg.  His physicians believed surviving two primary bilateral osteosarcomas was extraordinarily unlikely.  Because of his cancer treatments, he has undergone more than three dozen major knee replacement and revision surgeries over the years and lives with a permanent ambulatory disability.Damian and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 18 years.  Unable to have children of their own, due to Damian's cancer treatments, the couple adopted three children as newborns: Lenon (10), Harrison (12) and Jackson (14), who has ADHD.Rather than allowing disbility to define him, Damian has dedicated his career to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. He is the founder of:The Ability CenterWisconsin Adaptive Sports Association, and The Opportunity Center initiative, an ambitious vision for a universally accessible recreation and wellness destination.We also learn about Damian's journey as an adaptive athlete. It's a remarkable story about beating the odds, overcoming a life-time of obstacles, living a full and meaningful life and creating opportunities for countless others.  Show Notes -Phone – (262) 385-5738Email – damian@tacwi.orgLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianbuchman/The Ability Center - https://tacwi.org/Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Assn - https://www.wasa.org/The Opportunity Center - https://tocwi.org/Website: https://www.damianbuchman.comSpecial thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60+ stop tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 1,000+ complimentary copies of our new book: Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads. Special Fathers Network –SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: “I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through.”SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  

Nicht selten berichten Cancer Survivor nach abgeschlossener Behandlung von anhaltenden Konzentrationsschwierigkeiten. Die Gründe dafür sind vielfältig, aber es gibt Behandlungsmöglichkeiten. Da mögen viele sagen: «Ach ja, ich vergesse auch viel, um meine Konzentration steht es auch nicht zum Besten.» Die Konzentrationsschwierigkeiten der Cancer Survivors liessen sich aber nicht mit der normalen Vergesslichkeit vergleichen, sagt Sarah Stoll, Cancer Survivor-Beraterin bei der Krebsliga Ostschweiz. Ihre Konzentrationsschwierigkeiten können so weit führen, dass jemand den Job verliert. Kein Wunder, denn MRI-Aufnahmen haben tatsächlich hirnorganische Veränderungen bei Menschen, die Krebs überstanden haben, gezeigt.

Nicht nur der Körper leidet, wenn jemand an Krebs erkrankt ist, auch die Psyche wird in Mitleidenschaft gezogen. Lange über den körperlichen Genesungsprozess hinaus. In psychischer Hinsicht ist da vor allem die Angst, dass der Krebs zurückkommt. «Die Angst vor einem Rezidiv ist nicht abstrakt», sagt Sarah Stoll, Beraterin für Cancer Survivor der Krebsliga Ostschweiz. «Menschen, die eine Krebserkrankung überstanden haben, haben mit der Diagnose schon einmal einen Donnerschlag in ihrem Leben erfahren und alles stand Kopf.»

Dr. Jeff Musgrave, PT, DPT, shares 3 research-based tips to improve results with those who have survived cancer!

What does it take to keep going when things get tough?In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Anthony Cheung is joined by endurance cyclist, two-time cancer survivor and motivational speaker James Golding for a conversation about resilience, mental toughness and performing under pressure. While James has completed some of the world's toughest endurance challenges, this isn't a podcast about cycling. It's about the mindset behind sustained success and how anyone can apply those lessons in their career.Together they explore how to deal with rejection, overcome self-doubt, recover from setbacks and stay focused on long-term goals. Whether you're preparing for interviews, working in investment banking, trading, or simply looking to become more resilient in your professional life, this episode is full of practical insights that can be applied immediately.If you've ever wondered what separates those who thrive under pressure from those who give up, this is an episode you won't want to miss.(00:00) Introduction(01:30) James Golding's Story(06:20) Why Cycling Changed Everything(10:33) Cycling Across America(14:28) Building Resilience(24:12) Small Wins Matter(28:35) The Power of Reflection(32:21) Overcoming Self-Doubt(35:30) Performing Under Pressure(41:52) Why Your Team Matters(50:05) Dealing with Rejection(55:46) Tour de France Challenge21 stages of the Tour de France in just 12 days - DONATEJames Speaker enquiries - info@onestepatatimeuk.com

In Part 2, Christopher Cogle examines the long-term realities facing cancer survivors. From vaccine hesitancy and quality-of-life disparities to healthcare access and survivorship policy, this episode explores how systems can better support patients beyond active treatment.  Timestamps:  00:50 – Vaccine hesitancy  04:33 – QoL after cancer  07:30 – Policy support   11:10 – Survivorship care 

Becca sits down with one of her closest friends, Asha Mevlana, for an honest conversation about becoming a single mom by choice. Asha opens up about choosing the sperm donor route, raising her son with complete honesty about his story, building the village of support every parent needs, and the life lessons she's determined to pass on. It's a heartfelt, eye-opening episode about redefining what family looks like, and why there's no one right way to become a parent.Purchase Asha's book, To Hell With NO! Adventures In Finally Saying YES!: https://www.ashamevlana.com/book Thank you for supporting our sponsors!BabyGang is presented by Better Help. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/BABYGANGSkylight Frames: Go to https://MySkylight.com/BABYGANG for $30 off your 15-inch Calendar.HERS: Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/babygang to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Da sind nicht nur die Operationsnarbe und die fehlenden Haare bei einer Chemotherapie. Oft gehen mit Krebstherapien auch andere körperliche Veränderungen einher. Hormontherapien können bei Männern und Frauen gleichermassen die Libido beeinträchtigen. Auch mit einer Gewichtszunahme haben einige Cancer Survivor zu kämpfen. Wieder im eigenen, nun veränderten Körper zu Hause zu sein und sich wohlzufühlen braucht unter Umständen professionelle Beratung. Weiterhelfen können die Beraterinnen und Berater der regionalen Krebsligen oder das Krebstelefon der Krebsliga Schweiz.

Farla Efros is a senior retail executive and former CEO who built and sold companies before facing her own breast cancer diagnosis. She brings that same operational mindset into a healthcare system that expects patients to manage complexity while they are at their most vulnerable.She was on a client call in Spain when the diagnosis came through. A clear mammogram had missed it. An MRI caught it. Within hours, she was ordering binders, building a plan, and structuring her treatment like a turnaround strategy. Every appointment became a meeting. Every doctor faced an agenda with dozens of questions. She paid out of pocket for PET scans that were denied and hired a third party firm to validate her treatment path when her own doctors resisted outside input. The conversation tracks what happens when a high-functioning executive enters a system built on delay, denial, and fragmentation. Efros describes negotiating for tests, managing physician relationships, and assembling an “executive board” of advisors across conventional and alternative care. She calls the experience “the worst client I ever had,” exposing how administrative burden shifts onto patients and families.The tension sits between what worked for her and what is inaccessible to most. Her approach requires confidence, time, and fluency in navigating power. The system rewards that behavior while quietly failing patients who cannot replicate it. Insurance coverage still left her paying out of pocket. Doctors pushed standard protocols over precision medicine. Survivorship offered little support once treatment ended.This episode examines how cancer care operates as a series of incentives rather than a coordinated system, and why patients are forced to become operators just to get through it.RELATED LINKSFarla EfrosFarla Efros on LinkedInF*ck CancerF*ck Cancer on AmazonAccentureCTOAMPULL QUOTES“I treated cancer like the worst client I ever had.”“They wouldn't approve the test, so I paid for it myself.”“Every appointment was a negotiation.”FEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do when life changes in an instant?In this powerful and deeply inspiring episode, I sit down with Tim McDonald—research advocate, speaker, podcast host, and author of From Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship into Impact. Tim shares his remarkable journey from a life-altering stage IV cancer diagnosis to becoming a voice of hope, change, and advocacy for others.At age 52, thriving in his career and with no family history of colorectal cancer, Tim heard the words no one expects: “You have cancer.” Not only that—but it had already progressed to stage IV and spread to his liver.What followed wasn't just a fight for survival.It became a mission.

Gegen eine halbe Million sogenannter Cancer Survivor leben in der Schweiz. Und es werden dank besserer Therapien und Früherkennung immer mehr werden. Sie haben überlebt, sind aber nicht mehr die selben, wenn sie in ihr altes Leben zurückgeworfen werden. Die Probleme der Cancer Survivor sind vielfältig: Da ist der Kampf gegen die Fatigue, eine bleierne Müdigkeit. Dazu kommen Konzentrationsschwierigkeiten und die Angst vor einem Rezidiv, also dass der Krebs zurückkommt. Auch die Wiedereingliederung am Arbeitsplatz ist nicht einfach. Freunde, Angehörige und das berufliche Umfeld haben ebenfalls Mühe, dass die Cancer Survivor zwar überlebt haben, aber nicht mehr die selben sind. In der Ratgeberwoche werden bekannte Probleme der Cancer Survivor und ihres Umfelds beleuchtet und erklärt.

Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself!In this episode, Wendy sits down with Cara Lockwood, a USA Today bestselling author. When Cara was diagnosed with breast cancer, she discovered something unexpected: you don't have to be positive to be strong. You can fight cancer salty, sarcastic, and real. In this conversation, she talks about the power of authenticity, the mythology of toxic positivity, and why the universe responds to your vibration, not your words.They explore:Why vulnerability isn't weakness, and how being honest about fear, anger, and overwhelm is actually the strongest choice you can makeYou still get to decide: how to maintain agency and power even when crisis feels like it's driving the busFocus as a superpower: how intentionally looking for joy (an English muffin with jam or a cup of tea) grounds you and helps change what's possibleCara's whole philosophy is about refusing to choose between authenticity and strength. You don't have to fake positivity to access joy. You don't have to deny the hard thing to focus on what you love. What matters is your vibration, your focus, and your willingness to stay real about where you are while choosing what brings you alive. That's how you keep your power: not by pretending everything's fine, but by refusing to let the hard thing be the only thing.Connect with Cara:CaraTheAuthor.comHer Books: caratheauthor.com/authorInstagram: instagram.com/cara.the.authorLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cara-tanamachi-lockwood-benoit-563b5040Referenced in this Episode:A Course in Miracles (Wendy's favorite links):apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020amazon.com/Course-Miracles-Combined-Quality/dp/1883360242?tag=syty-20marianne.com/acim/________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with Wendy:LinkedinInstagram: @wendy.harropFacebook: Phineas Wright HouseWebsite: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm StaysPWH Curated Experience and TravelInterested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.comPodcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat!If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

Send us Fan MailRane Bowen is a seasoned software and web developer with over 20 years of experience in the technology sector. Originally from New Zealand, Rane now resides in Melbourne, Australia, where he combines his passion for technology and yoga. He is the co-host of the Flow Artist Podcast alongside his wife, Jo Stewart, a yoga teacher and author. Rane is the creator of innovative platforms like Sound Made Scene and Guest Made Simple, designed to enhance the podcasting experience. He is also a yoga teacher who has used yoga as a tool for healing and personal growth.Visit Rane: https://gardenofyoga.com.au/Key Takeaways:Rane Bowen has a rich background in software development and utilizes his skills to enhance podcasting through AI-driven tools like Sound Made Scene.His experience as a yoga teacher and cancer survivor gives him a unique perspective on combining technology with holistic practices.The advances in AI are transforming industries, but Rane underscores the importance of using these tools responsibly and creatively.Platforms like Sound Made Scene and Guest Made Simple aim to simplify the podcasting process by automating tedious tasks and improving workflow.Rane highlights the significance of approaching tech innovations with both optimism and skepticism to balance progress with ethical considerations.Check out:

Skate, Paint, Heal: Rewiring Trauma into Flow with Brett Ashby Contemporary Performance Artist with 20+ Years of International Practice Creating Portrait Paintings While Rolling and Exploring Human Connection Brett Ashby is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting, photography, video, sculpture, and installation, grounded in formal training and over two decades of international practice. He innovatively merges movement-driven painting with live performance, notably painting while skateboarding, to dissolve fear, balance, and synchronicity into layered, expressive works. His distinctive, gestural style unites physicality with compositional discipline, making each artwork a dynamic record of being present. Ashby's art radiates energy, vulnerability, and deep human connection, inviting the viewer to feel the resonance of body, space, and collective experience.Linkshttps://www.brettashby.com/https://www.instagram.com/brettashbyartist@brettashbyartist Tagspodcast for creatives,creative podcast,podcast creator interviews,professional podcast,creative podcasts,podcast host interviews,creative podcast ideas,Artist,Cancer Survivor,Entrepreneur,Entrepreneurial Mindset,Mental Health,Music Producer,Painter,Performing Arts,Trauma Recovery,Visual ArtsSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

In 2020, Emily Mendenhall drove from Washington, DC to Okoboji, Iowa, a town of 800 that swells to 200,000 every summer, and walked into a pandemic that looked nothing like the one dominating national headlines. Inside gas stations and bars, masks marked you as an outsider. In one stop, a man told her family they would not be served if they kept theirs on. Her 6 year old daughter cried, confused. Mendenhall, a medical anthropologist at Georgetown University, did what she always does. She started asking questions. Over months, she interviewed neighbors, former classmates, and local officials, including her own brother in law who helped lead the local COVID response. The result became Unmasked, a case study in how community identity, economics, and politics shaped public health decisions in real time. That work led directly into her latest book, Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long COVID, where she tracks a much older problem. Patients with chronic illness, especially women, often fail to meet medicine's demand for proof. Without a clear diagnosis, they lose access to care, insurance coverage, and legitimacy. Mendenhall argues that long COVID did not create this failure. It exposed it.This conversation centers on how healthcare systems reward certainty and punish complexity. Long COVID clinics send patients to 17 specialists without resolution. Insurance structures require diagnoses that many conditions cannot provide. Medical training still struggles to integrate trauma, mental health, and chronic disease into a coherent model of care.Mendenhall brings lived experience into the conversation. After COVID, she dealt with months of fatigue and escalating anxiety that altered her baseline health. She does not claim the label of long COVID, but she understands how quickly the system becomes harder to navigate once symptoms stop fitting clean categories. The stakes are not theoretical. In the United States, access to healthcare, disability benefits, and treatment still depends on whether a condition can be measured, coded, and reimbursed. For millions living with invisible illness, the burden of proof becomes the illness itself.RELATED LINKSEmily MendenhallInvisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long COVIDScience PoliticsGeorgetown UniversityFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Christchurch cancer survivor who won a privacy case is furious that a company director has told her that two of his companies can't pay tribunal-ordered damages. The Human Rights Review Tribunal found Richard Brady's companies breached Cheryl Horrell's privacy, and ordered them to pay her more than $10,000. Mr Brady says the companies are broke, although another of his businesses has received more than $11 million in taxpayer funding. Keiller MacDuff reports.

Join us as Tim McDonald shares his inspiring journey through cancer, mental health challenges, and community advocacy. Discover practical tips for managing stress, the power of community, and how writing and podcasting can be therapeutic."We can't control what happens, only how we react."Chapters00:00 Facing the Diagnosis: A Journey Begins01:50 The Power of Community and Advocacy05:33 Mental Health and Survivor Guilt09:28 Finding Purpose Through Writing11:41 Practical Mental Health Strategies15:40 Advice for Navigating Tough Times"Pretending it's not there is not healthy."Other Takeaways*Mental health challenges during cancer treatment*The role of community and support groups in recovery*Writing and podcasting as therapeutic tools*Stress management techniques: walks, reflection, and perspective*The importance of control over reactions, not events*Building advocacy for chronic illness and mental healthSupport the showEnjoy the show and thank you for being here. Please subscribe to stay current and share with a friend who could use this episode.All questions for the host or guest: Email Danica at PodcastsByLanci@gmail.com.This show is brought to you by Living Proof TBI Coaching specializing in recovery for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors, Families, and CaregiversCRISIS LINE: DIAL 988

She had a six-pack, a thriving ER career, and did everything right on the surface. Then she was diagnosed with cancer. The cause was not genetics. It was the lifestyle pattern most founders follow every day.Dr. Jennifer Ron is an ER physician turned Integrative Cancer Care specialist and cancer survivor. She breaks down which founder habits accelerate aging and the protocols that reset your health fast.00:00:00 Introduction00:02:05Q: What are the habits that founders have right now that are accelerating their aging?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron shares her story of being a fit ER doctor diagnosed with cancer. The four pillars: nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep.00:05:48Q: Did your lifestyle cause the cancer?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says it was 100% stress and sleep deprivation, averaging four to six hours per night during shift work.00:08:18Q: How much of cancer is actually genetic versus lifestyle?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron explains genetics cause only 5-10% of cancers. The other 90% are epigenetic lifestyle factors founders can control.00:13:28Q: What do you say to the busy founder who thinks they don't have time for health?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says founders are models for their team and recommends morning routines, meal prep, and hard time boundaries.00:22:18Q: Which is worse for you — sugar, alcohol, or processed foods?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says ultra-processed foods are the absolute worst and should be cut first, even before sugar and alcohol.00:29:30Q: How does intermittent fasting work and what does it do?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron explains the 16:8 window, metabolic flexibility, and how fasting promotes gut health and immune function.00:37:10Q: Are oncologists teaching patients about nutrition and lifestyle?A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says most oncologists lack bandwidth. Integrative care fills the gap alongside conventional treatment.Subscribe to Founder Talk so you never miss an episode.

This Men's Health Month, Navigating Cancer TOGETHER sits down with Clarence Jones, prostate cancer survivor and one of Minnesota's most trusted names in community health.Clarence Jones, MA, CHW, CPH, CPE, is the Executive Director and Community Health Strategist of the Hue-MAN Partnership, a founding member of the organization he helped build into one of Minnesota's most trusted voices in public health. He serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, is a founding member of the Minnesota Fathers and Families Network, has served as the Mayor's Representative and co-chair of the Public Health Advisory Committee for the City of Minneapolis, and holds affiliations with the CTSI Executive Leadership team and the University of Minnesota's CEARCH initiative. He is also a fatherhood doula, the host of the Community Health Dialogue radio show on KMOJ 89.9 FM, and co-host of the Health Chatter podcast.In this warm, honest, and personal conversation, Clarence opens up about his own journey through prostate cancer, from watching his PSA numbers climb year after year and practicing watchful waiting, to eventually choosing surgery. He shares why the digital exam scares men, and why early detection is the greatest gift you can give your family.But Clarence's story doesn't stop at survival. He shares how his experience deepened his mission to make sure the men and families in his community have access to credible, culturally relevant, evidence-based health information. That's the heartbeat of everything Hue-MAN does.You'll also hear him talk about what he wants every man facing a cancer diagnosis to know right now.✨ Episode Highlights:00:04:38 The Moment He Knew: Clarence's Prostate Cancer Journey00:09:22 How to Invite Men into Health Conversations Without Lecturing Them00:14:44 What Young Men Need to Know About PSA Screening and Biopsies00:27:45 Fatherhood Doula: What That Means and Why Fathers Matter00:36:55 What 'Navigating Cancer TOGETHER' Really MeansTranscript: https://bit.ly/podscript184Connect & Engage with ClarenceWebsite: www.huemanpartnershipalliance.orgHealth Chatter Podcast: www.healthchatterpodcast.comKMOJ Community Health Dialogue: 89.9 KMOJ FM

When Claire Rumore was lifted into a hospital gurney to undergo her first biopsy, she stepped aside to use the restroom first. And while she was there, she heard a quiet internal voice ask her a question: Do you want to go back to the life you had before? Is that what you want? Without hesitation, her answer was no. What followed was one of the most unusual cancer journeys in modern medicine. Claire was 43 years old. She had stage four pancreatic cancer — a diagnosis that typically affects older men, and that her medical team never actually disclosed to her during treatment. She went through two major abdominal surgeries, dropped to 74 pounds, lost her menstrual cycle, lost her libido, and lost the person she had been. And then, slowly, over the course of eighteen months, she found her way back. Not to who she was- but to someone clearer, more embodied, and more deeply connected to her own desire than she had ever been before. In this episode, Dr. Jenni Skyler and Daniel Lebowitz sit down with Claire for a conversation about the emotional, relational, and erotic dimensions of cancer recovery that medicine almost never addresses. Claire is the founder of Cancer and Intimacy, an education platform built on a three-part framework she developed from her own experience and her work with patients, survivors, and their partners. The first lily pad is erotic grief, the deeply under addressed process of mourning what's been lost: The body you knew, the sexuality you had, the intimacy you can no longer access in the same way. Claire has written a free ebook on erotic grief and makes a compelling case that this experience is not exclusive to cancer. It's universal to anyone navigating major change. The second is libido listening. The slow, quiet, inward practice of reacquainting yourself with your own body's signals after illness or loss. Claire describes learning to feel pleasure in the sheets against her skin, in the air in the room, in the gentlest forms of touch, what she calls subtle sexuality. A term she coined to describe the low, soft, sensory orientation to desire that becomes the entry point back to conventional sexuality. Claire Rumore WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 25, Jace Yawnick was building a career in health and wellness sales, chasing growth, status, and the usual young adult fantasy of getting somewhere fast. Then his body stopped cooperating. Fatigue turned into chemotherapy. The diagnosis was primary mediastinal B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma, and the rest of his life split into before and after. Now in remission, he talks about cancer the way people actually live it, not the way nonprofits package it. He gets into survivorship, mental health, young adult isolation, and the deadening absurdity of prior authorization. One of the sharpest parts of the conversation lands on a simple American insult disguised as policy: treatment innovation means very little when insurance can still deny the scan, the drug, or the next step. Jace has seen that firsthand, including during routine monitoring after active treatment. This episode tracks what happens when a young cancer patient becomes a public voice and refuses to play mascot. It covers oncology, insurance, remission, advocacy, and the long mental hangover that follows survival. It also names the part too many institutions dodge: the system works great right up until it doesn't, and when it fails, patients get handed the bill, the panic, and a camera if they want anyone to care. RELATED LINKSJace Beats CancerJace Yawnick on LinkedImConquer Cancer ArticleCURE Today ArticlePyure BrandsFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Karen Mustian is an energetic, passionate scientist, world traveler, yogi, scuba diver, and foodie whose life's work is dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals affected by cancer. Through her research, leadership, and advocacy, she strives to help cancer patients and survivors not only live longer, but live better.Dr. Mustian is a Dean's Distinguished Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center and an internationally recognized leader in Cancer Survivorship, Integrative Oncology, Exercise Oncology, Geriatric Oncology, Behavioral Oncology, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Health.She serves as Associate Director for Population Science at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, Director of the University of Rochester Cancer Center NCI Community Oncology Research Program Clinical Trial Network and Founding Director of the PEAK Human Performance Research Laboratory at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is also a Faculty Associate with the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies.At the national level, Dr. Mustian serves on the National Cancer Institute Cancer Advisory Board Working Group for Extramural Research Concepts and Programs and the National Cancer Institute Symptom Management and Quality of Life Steering Committee, where she helps shape the future of cancer research and supportive care. Dr. Mustian has secured more than $145 million in peer-reviewed research funding and ranks among the most highly NIH-funded researchers in the United States. She has authored more than 250 scientific publications and is widely recognized for her pioneering contributions to oncology research, supportive care, and clinical trial innovation.Her accomplishments have been honored with more than 45 national and international awards, including recognition as a Fulbright Scholar, recipient of the ASCO Walther Supportive Oncology Lifetime Achievement Award, and recipient of the Prime Minister's Yoga Award for her transformative impact on yoga research worldwide. Dr. Mustian is best known for advancing evidence-based, integrative approaches to cancer care. Through groundbreaking research on yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, and exercise, she has helped establish non-pharmacologic interventions as effective strategies for reducing treatment- related toxicities, improving symptom management, and enhancing the health and well-being ofcancer patients and survivors around the globe.Support the show

At 20 years old, newly arrived from Puerto Rico and trying to build a future in science, Benjamin Suarez Jimenez found himself sitting in front of two senior faculty members accused of plagiarism. He knew the material. He had done the work. His mistake came from failing to cite class notes during an exam because nobody had told him that was expected. In a matter of minutes, he watched what felt like his entire career flash before him.On this episode of Standard Deviation, host Oliver Bogler examines the hidden architecture of academic science through the experiences of Dr. Benjamin Suarez Jimenez, Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester and a neuroscientist studying PTSD, anxiety, trauma, and spatial cognition through virtual reality and video game environments.Benjamin traces his path from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, through the NIH, Columbia University, and eventually to leading his own laboratory. Along the way, he encountered a series of barriers that had little to do with scientific ability and everything to do with access to unwritten rules. From academic gatekeeping to grant writing expectations, he learned that success in biomedical research often depends on knowledge that never appears in a textbook.Oliver explores how those invisible obstacles shape careers, influence research funding, and determine who gains access to opportunity. The conversation also examines the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Program at the Life Science Editors Foundation, which pairs scientists from underrepresented backgrounds with experienced scientific editors. Through that mentorship, Benjamin transformed a critical grant proposal into a successful pilot award that helped launch an NIH R01 application.The discussion extends beyond one scientist's experience. Benjamin describes helping a former mentee navigate dissertation roadblocks that threatened her graduation, illustrating how institutional bureaucracy can delay careers and discourage talented researchers. Together, they explore the hidden administrative burden, cultural barriers, and bias that many scientists carry alongside their research, and what happens when someone who receives support turns around and opens the door for others.RELATED LINKSLife Science Editors FoundationBenjamin Suarez Jimenez LabDr. Benjamin Suarez JimenezBenjamin Suarez JimenezFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Men's Health Month, Navigating Cancer TOGETHER sits down with Samuel "Sam" Simmons, a trauma-informed healing advocate with over 36 years of experience supporting men and their communities. Sam is the author of Just Sam: A Black Man's Journey to Healing, the visionary behind the 18th Annual Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing Conference, co-host of Voices Radio Show on 89.9 KMOJ, and the 2024 NAMI Minnesota Professional of the Year. In this powerful conversation, Sam opens up about his own journey through trauma, addiction, and healing, and shares why telling the full truth is the first step toward freedom.✨ Episode Highlights:00:01:08 Meet Sam Simmons: 36 Years of Healing Work00:08:07 Growing Up Angry: Sam's Personal Trauma Story00:36:54 Male Trauma, Silence, and Why Men Don't Ask for Help00:52:25 The 18th Annual Black Men Healing Conference00:56:47 A Message for the Black Man Who Just Got a Cancer DiagnosisTranscript: https://bit.ly/podscript183Connect & Engage with Sam SimmonsWebsite: samuelsimmonsconsulting.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simmonsconsulting/18th Annual Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing Conference: June 25 & 26 at St. Paul College — Register at brothershealing.comBook: https://a.co/d/03IvmBdM

Dr. Sarah Matt trained as a burn surgeon, working in a field where patients arrive with catastrophic injuries and survival depends on speed, skill, and resources. She left the bedside after confronting a limit that medicine does not like to admit. One physician can only see so many people in a day. The system surrounding those patients decides the rest. She moved into health technology, held leadership roles in startups, and built global infrastructure at Oracle to scale care across populations. Then she watched billions of dollars in digital health and AI initiatives stall out when they hit real clinical environments.This episode follows that pivot from surgeon to strategist and back into direct patient care in rural New York, where she now treats uninsured patients, migrant workers, and communities pushed to the margins. The conversation centers on a persistent failure across healthcare systems. Products get built for regulators, executives, and investors instead of the people who use them. The result shows up in failed adoption, broken workflows, prior authorization delays, and rising physician burnout.The discussion cuts through health policy language and lands on lived consequence. The system rewards speed over usability, scale over trust, and compliance over care. Patients absorb the fallout. Physicians carry the liability. The incentives remain intact.RELATED LINKSDr. Sarah MattThe Borderless Healthcare RevolutionThe Clinical RealistJessica FedererSovatoFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the late 1980s, a child exposed to fallout from the Chernobyl disaster lay in a hospital bed while doctors told his family there were no clear answers and no reliable path forward. Decades later, that same child, Yan Leyfman, walks into exam rooms as a hematology oncology fellow, expected to deliver clarity inside a system that still runs on delay, uncertainty, and institutional self preservation.This episode traces the throughline from early life shaped by radiation exposure and hospice level uncertainty to a career inside academic medicine, translational research, and oncology media. Yan built his identity around survival and usefulness, moving from patient to physician while carrying the memory of what it feels like to sit on the other side of the table. He helped launch MedNews Week during the COVID crisis to push back on misinformation and expand access to medical knowledge, stepping into a public role while still in training.The conversation stays grounded in the friction between personal narrative and system reality. Clinical training demands efficiency, hierarchy, and emotional distance. Cancer care demands time, clarity, and human connection. Those forces collide in real patient encounters where prior authorization delays, insurance barriers, and fragmented care pathways shape outcomes as much as any treatment protocol.Yan speaks openly about mentorship, belonging, and the drive to make meaning out of survival. The discussion pushes further into what the healthcare system actually rewards, what it quietly strips away, and how quickly empathy can erode under institutional pressure. The episode also examines the role of medical media, where education, industry influence, and narrative control often blur together.This is a conversation about identity under construction, about what happens when someone who remembers powerlessness steps into a role that carries authority, and about whether that memory can survive long enough to change anything.RELATED LINKSYan Leyfman on LinkedInYan Leyfman on InstagramSurviving ChernobylFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the medical system tells you you're clear, but the hardest part of your recovery is actually just beginning? In this special roundtable episode, brought to you in partnership with Postcode Lottery, we explore the unseen side of living through and beyond cancer.Joining Jake in the studio are legendary solo sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur, Frank Fletcher (CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust), and Josh Rands, a young survivor who rebuilt his life after a rare cancer diagnosis at just 19. Together, they share a raw, open conversation about why true bravery isn't always something you choose, the reality of life when treatment structures suddenly fall away, and how reclaiming independence on the open sea can give young people their futures back. It's a powerful look at resilience, the daily grind of running a purpose-driven charity, and why finding a genuine sense of belonging is often the ultimate medicine.Postcode Lottery

Matthew Zachary is a brain cancer survivor, healthcare advocate, founder of Stupid Cancer and We the Patients, and host of Out of Patients. In April 2026, he returned to the stage at Merkin Hall near Lincoln Center for his first solo public piano concert in almost 22 years while launching his debut book, We the Patients: Understanding, Navigating, and Surviving America's Healthcare Nightmare.What unfolded became far larger than a concert.Over 2 hours, survivors, clinicians, advocates, nonprofit founders, journalists, pharmaceutical sponsors, and healthcare insiders gathered in one room to reflect on 30 years of survivorship, institutional failure, accidental advocacy, and the emotional afterlife of cancer. The evening moved through original piano performances, live chapter readings, and deeply personal conversations about infertility, disability, financial toxicity, insurance denials, grief, burnout, and what happens when patients spend decades navigating systems designed around transactions instead of continuity.Guests including Wendell Potter, Maimah Karmo, Craig Lustig, Shelly Fuld Nasso, Tamika Felder, and others reflected on how the modern cancer advocacy movement emerged largely because patients built parallel systems where healthcare infrastructure failed to meet human needs. The conversation explored how prior authorization, reimbursement incentives, administrative fragmentation, and institutional distrust continue shaping the patient experience across oncology and survivorship.The performance also marked a deeply personal milestone. After brain cancer compromised his left hand at age 21, Zachary spent 6 months rehabilitating both hands to return to public performance for the first time in over 2 decades. The result became part concert, part civic gathering, and part historical record of a generation of survivors who refused to disappear quietly.RELATED LINKSMZLIVE Official WebsiteMZLIVE YouTube VideoFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.