Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary

Episode Description

Audra Moran is the President and CEO of OCRA—Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance—which means she spends her days doing things most of us wouldn’t survive five minutes doing: merging nonprofits, leading national patient support programs, funding lifesaving research, surviving pharma grant hell, and trying to reach every woman in America who might be slipping through the cracks. We talk about her time working...

Christine Verini is a pharmacist by training, a nonprofit CEO by title, and an unapologetic empath by design. She now leads CancerCare, one of the oldest, least-known, and most impactful organizations in the country that actually helps real cancer patients deal with the practical garbage no one likes to talk about—like paying rent, affording a ride to chemo, or feeding their kids.

We talk about her career pivot from industr...

Jennifer Finkelstein is not here for your pity, your pinkwashed slogans, or your performative awareness campaigns. She’s a 20-year young adult breast cancer survivor who turned trauma into a blueprint for action and built 5 Under 40, a no-BS nonprofit supporting women diagnosed with breast cancer under 40.

In this episode, we go full Gen X therapy session—from SNL nostalgia and cold caps to the absurdity of finding out you ...

What happens when a black belt, sword-slinging fitness icon gets cancer—twice? She picks up a camera and dares the universe to test her again.

Ilaria Montagnani is not your average anything. She’s been building strong bodies (and stronger minds) for over 30 years as the founder of Powerstrike. She’s part Jane Fonda, part Uma Thurman, and very much the action hero you wish was your personal trainer.

In this episode, we talk a...

Helene M. Epstein is not here to make friends with the healthcare system. She's here to dismantle the bullshit, one catastrophic medical error at a time. An ad agency veteran turned patient safety firebrand, Helene’s journey from business development to writer to “badass queen of patient safety,” is one hell of a ride.

We talk about how her son was misdiagnosed over 15 times (yes, really), why some doctors should come with ...

Jonathan and Jennifer Wall didn’t choose this path, but they’re walking it with purpose. After losing their son, Zach, they turned their grief into action, founding Zach’s Bridge, a lifeline for families navigating pediatric cancer. This episode isn’t about platitudes or silver linings—it’s about the raw, unfiltered reality of love and loss, the relentless unfairness of childhood cancer, and how the Walls are refusing to l...

Sarah Armstrong—forever Sarah Oakden to me, no matter what the legal documents say—isn't just my best friend. 

She's my first college friend, my musical theater soulmate, and the first person who truly saw me as an artist. She was there when I walked onto Binghamton’s campus, and she was there when I walked into cancer hell. And, because we’re nothing if not in sync, a few decades later, she got her own cancer badge of...

Food for Thought: Cancer, Calories, and Kicking Ass

Vanessa Rissetto is back, and she’s bringing the same energy, wit, and unapologetic realness that made her a fan favorite. Last time, we talked nutrition and the rise of Culina Health. This time, life threw her a plot twist—breast cancer. Because, you know, irony.

Vanessa was busy building a nutrition empire when she got diagnosed. So, naturally, she texted, “WTF do I do no...

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Lillian Kreppel doesn’t hold back. A seven-year anal cancer survivor and co-founder of the HPV Cancers Alliance, she has made it her mission to challenge stigma, fight misinformation, and push for better awareness of HPV-related cancers. In this episode, she sits down with Matthew Zachary to talk about her journey from high-powered sales to full-time advocacy, the absurd misconceptions surrounding HPV, a...

Grace Charrier—a powerhouse advocate, author, and cancer survivor—whose journey from a Stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis to global advocacy is nothing short of extraordinary. Originally from Nigeria, Grace's life was upended when she was diagnosed following an unexpected health scare. Instead of retreating, she turned her experience into action, launching Cancer Convos with Grace B, writing the memoir IMPOSSI...

Buckle up, because Amy Gittelman is back, and this episode is one for the ages. A fellow SUNY Binghamton (yes, we still call it that) alum, Amy joins me for a hilarious and brutally honest deep dive into the absurdities of healthcare, insurance fuckery, and the general nonsense that plagues the system. From dodging medical debt landmines to battling insurance companies that seem hellbent on denying care, we go all in.

But w...

Welcome to another episode of Out of Patients, where we get real about the absolute circus that is the American healthcare system. If you've ever been trapped in a medical billing nightmare, gaslit by insurance reps, or just generally felt like healthcare is an elaborate game designed to screw you—this one’s for you.

Joining me is the indomitable Deb Gordon, a relentless champion for healthcare consumers, co-founder of Umbr...

You know how some people enter your life with a knock, a bang, or maybe even a LinkedIn request? Not Rebecca Batterman, returning champion to Out of Patients, making her dramatic second appearance,

Back in 2019, she karmically appeared like a plot twist in a film noir—unexpected, inevitable, and full of surprises. 

An AI strategist, an optimist (yes, those exist), and a young adult cancer survivor, Rebecca is here to sc...

Tricia Brouk isn’t just a storyteller—she’s a story architect, crafting narratives that connect humanity. A former ballet dancer turned award-winning director, choreographer, and transformational speaker coach, Tricia brings her unique journey to the mic in this captivating conversation. From dancing in iconic opera houses to choreographing Hollywood blockbusters, she has mastered the art of turning moments into movements.

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Get ready for a wild ride with Matt Lewis, the Tony Stark-meets-Jerry Seinfeld of the mental health AI world. As a multi-degreed polymath, Matt has been ahead of the curve on AI since MySpace was a thing. In this episode, we dive into everything from neuroethics and AI-powered mental health solutions to existential fears of Skynet ruining your day. Matt shares the real scoop on how AI can revolutionize diagnosis, therapy, ...

What happens when you give a 14-year-old the mic and let her fly solo without her twin brother? Magic, that’s what. This episode of Out of Patients features my daughter, Hannah, on her seventh (yes, seventh) appearance on the show, but this time she’s stealing the spotlight solo. From reminiscing about slushy Christmas Eves and rare baby illnesses to deep dives into the hexagonal perfection of honeycombs, this mini-episode...

Prepare for a whirlwind of brilliance with Dr. Natanya Wachtel—a self-proclaimed "failed therapist" turned media maven, behavioral strategist, and all-around badass. In this episode, we dive into her transformative journey from navigating personal loss to spearheading innovative mental health initiatives and reimagining her own identity in a world that loves labels. From her esoteric love of theater and eclectic career in ...

Back for Round 2 and wielding her wit like a machete, Jen Singer returns to Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary. Cancer survivor, heart failure "graduate," and creator of the 'Just Diagnosed Guides,' Jen has seen it all — and she's here to help YOU see it all more clearly. From dismantling medical jargon to calling BS on "Stay Strong" toxic positivity, this conversation is a masterclass in how to survive, thrive, and laug...

Prepare to be inspired and entertained as Sean Wachter returns to Out of Patients! Sean, aka "The Cancer Fighter," is a two-time melanoma survivor, professional wrestler, coffee shop entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed 'f**ked up Forrest Gump.' With a resume that includes Madison Square Garden, WWE dreams, and a 'We Got This' People's Champion belt, Sean's journey of triumph over cancer (and doctors who didn’t believe him) i...