The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Improve your knowledge about organ, tissue and eye donation as your hosts Lori Steele, Nila Schwab, and Joey Boudreaux have entertaining and informative conversations about donation. We address donation in the news, myths about donation, what's new in the community, new technologies, special guest interviews and much more.

Episodes

May 1, 2026 29 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Join us as actor Larry Hyatt discusses The Tin Woman, a play based on a true story about Joy, a heart transplant recipient struggling with her second chance who seeks closure from her donor's grieving parents. The play powerfully explores themes of grief, acceptance, second chances, a...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this episode, we have an inspiring conversation with Christian Bergeron about his daughter and donor hero, Elleanor "Ella" Claire Bergeron. Christian and his family created the Elleanor Claire Memorial Foundation. Discover how the Foundation aims to comfort donor families through d...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We sit down with retired physician, Dr. Matthew Harmody, whose life took on new purpose after becoming a living kidney donor in 2017. What began as a personal decision to give the gift of life has grown into a powerful mission of advocacy, and his advocacy has reached new heights, lit...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this episode, we celebrate generosity and the impact of stepping forward to give the gift of life to a stranger. Andrea Childers, a living kidney donor, and Jennifer Davis, her transplant recipient, join us to reflect on the journey that saved Jennifer's life. Andrea's confidence i...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 2, 2026 31 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we share a 30-year journey rooted in service as we highlight the extraordinary impact of longtime donation advocate and LOPA Board Member David Puckett. David reflects on his family’s transplant journey with his daughter, Lauren, a journey t...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 5, 2025 32 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We welcome Beth Sparks, mother of donor hero Clayton Sparks, to share more about her son whose legacy continues to touch so many lives. Clayton, became an organ donor at the age of 24, and was the inspiration for the children’s book Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark, written by Abby Gray...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 7, 2025 42 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome Abby Gray, author of Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark and Impatiently Waiting for Miracles. In January 2017, Abby began writing as a therapeutic outlet while she and her husband, Reid, faced serious health challenges. Four years lat...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode we shine a spotlight on an incredible woman whose story combines generosity and advocacy with a touch of pageant sparkle. Jeri Gill, an altruistic living kidney donor, was recently crowned 2025 Ms. Senior World Louisiana in the 60’s age category. Jeri's platform is org...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 5, 2025 26 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast we welcome Miss Louisiana’s Teen 2025, Virginia Kirkpatrick. 17 year old Virginia is an impressive leader on every level, but what really stood out is her Community Service Initiative to educate and encourage registration as an organ and tiss...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 1, 2025 37 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode, we sit down with donor mom and author Maggie Fanara, whose debut book is titled Beautifully Broken. Maggie opens up about the lies she once believed about herself, and how God met her in the depths of abuse, heartbreak, and loss to rewrite her story. Maggie invites us...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this episode, we spotlight a groundbreaking advancement in transplantation offering new hope to patients with stage 4 colorectal cancer. At Northwestern Medicine, surgeons successfully split a donor's liver to save two lives. One portion of the donor's liver went for a traditional ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 6, 2025 39 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we sit down with Robert Boudwin who's a man known for his larger-than-life presence both on and off the court as the Houston Rockets’ beloved mascot “Clutch the Rocket Bear”. However, Robert’s story goes far beyond entertainment. He’s also a...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 2, 2025 25 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We’re joined by Ron Chapman — lung transplant recipient, author, and passionate advocate for those awaiting a second chance at life. In a powerful conversation, Ron shares his deeply personal story of resilience, fear, hope, and gratitude. Through his heartfelt discussion with our hos...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
April 4, 2025 35 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: For our milestone 250th episode, we bring you an inspiring conversation with Louis Smith, an Army veteran and heart transplant recipient, alongside Dr. Benjamin Bryner, a cardiac surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital who saved more than just his life. After serving in the military...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 7, 2025 34 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this powerful episode, we sit down with Todd and Carrie Hensel. Todd underwent a two day surgery which included a seven-organ transplant, during which he died five times. Fate had other plans and organ donation gave Todd a second chance at life. Now, Todd and Carrie live on a peace...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In September of 2024, 4 women kidney donors, over 4 days, biked 444 miles to promote living organ donation. We’re excited to have Diane Mills, one of the four women behind the event, join us to share the story of how it all began and the incredible success it achieved. She’ll talk abo...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode, we welcome Deputy Kim Bergeron of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, an extraordinary individual who serves, protects and saves lives. Deputy Bergeron shares her inspiring story as a living kidney donor to her high school friend, and her recent experience as a s...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2024 31 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We welcome Angie Mikkelson, a heart transplant recipient who’s galloping into her second chance at life. Angie shares her incredible journey from living with a lifelong heart defect to receiving the lifesaving gift of a heart at 25 years old. She shares how the generosity of her donor...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 1, 2024 44 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this episode, we explore the journey of living with kidney disease. We talk to Pesh Patel, who has transformed a life altering diagnosis into his mission. Pesh shares his personal story and how he founded A Kidney Life, which includes a podcast, Talk Kidney to Me. This podcast is d...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Dr. Satish Nadig with Northwestern Medicine and kidney transplant recipient, John Nicholas, join us to share details about a medical breakthrough in kidney transplantation. The AWAKE Kidney Program (Accelerated Surgery Without General Anesthesia in Kidney Transplantation) is a new app...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    20/20

    Unforgettable true crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high profile stories. Now listen throughout the week with the official 20/20 After Show, the True Crime Vault, and our spotlight of true crime originals.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices