Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us Fan MailDr. Marc Hedrick, MD is President and CEO of Plus Therapeutics, Inc. ( https://plustherapeutics.com/ ), a U.S. clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, focused on developing innovative, targeted radiotherapeutics for adults and children with difficult-to-treat cancers of the central nervous system. The company’s lead programs focus on leptomeningeal metastases (LM) and recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), leveraging image-guided local beta radiation and targeted drug delivery to improve outcomes.Additionally, Plus' subsidiary CNSide Diagnostics develops proprietary lab tests such as CNSide®, designed to identify tumor cells that have metastasized to the central nervous system in patients with carcinomas and melanomas. The CNSide® CSF Assay Platform enables quantitative analysis and molecular characterization of tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid that inform and improve the management of patients with leptomeningeal metastases.Previously, Dr. Hedrick served in a number of executive leadership roles including President, CEO, and Director at Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., and President and CEO of StemSource, Inc.  Dr. Hedrick is a trained general, vascular, and plastic surgeon and former Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  Dr. Hedrick also served as Co-Director of the Laboratory of Regenerative Bioengineering and Repair at UCLA.Dr. Hedrick obtained his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas and a MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA in 2005.#MarcHedrick #PlusTherapeutics #Radiotherapeutics #Cancer #CentralNervousSystem #Glioblastoma #LeptomeningealMetastases #Rhenium #ConvectionEnhancedDelivery #Oncology #Theranostic #NanoliposomeTechnology #Radioembolization #AlginateMicrospheres#BMEDAChelation#CNSide #REYOBIQ #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Sadie Elisseou, MD is Founder and CEO of Trauma-Informed Practices, LLC (https://www.sadie-elisseou.com/). Dr. Elisseou is a nationally recognized physician-educator and one of the leading voices in trauma-informed care, a strategic framework for supporting survivors of physical, sexual, psychological, and structural traumas. Dr. Elisseou is a board-certified primary care physician, who received her B.A. and M.D. at Brown University and completed residency and chief residency at Yale School of Medicine. She a practicing physician in the VA healthcare system, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine, where she has become widely known for transforming how clinicians understand and care for patients with trauma histories.Dr. Elisseou is the co-developer of some of the country’s most widely adopted trauma-informed physical exam trainings, helping thousands of healthcare professionals integrate compassion, safety, and empathy into routine clinical encounters. Her work has been implemented across the VA, community health centers, academic medical systems, and national professional societies.Dr. Elisseou is also the co-founder of the National Veterans Health Administration TIC Collaborative, a member of the Trauma Informed Health Care, Education and Research (TIHCHER) collaborative, and a member of the Harvard Medical School TIC Steering Committee. She is invited to speak about TIC for broad audiences including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), disaster relief organizations, and health officials in developing nations. She has also been named an Ambassador of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. #SadieElisseou #TraumaInformedPractices #BrownUniversity #YaleSchoolOfMedicine #HarvardMedicalSchool #BostonUniversitySchoolOfMedicine #VeteransHealthAdministration #Trauma #TraumaInformedCare #ReTraumatization #SubstanceAbuseAndMentalHealthServicesAdministration #SAMHSA #UniversalTraumaPrecautions #ClinicianBurnout #EmergencyDepartment #Telehealth #BodySizeDiversity #Healing #Resilience #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Jamuna Ravi is the Chief Executive Officer of Vayah Vikas ( https://vayah-vikas.org/ ), an organization dedicated to transforming well-being and quality of life for older adults across India. Under her leadership, Vayah Vikas has emerged as one of the most forward-thinking initiatives in the aging sector—integrating digital health, preventive care, social engagement, and evidence-based longevity practices to support India’s rapidly growing elder population.Dr. Ravi is a seasoned technology leader who has spent more than three decades building and leading large IT organizations before turning her attention to social impact and healthy-aging initiatives. A computer-science engineering graduate of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, she has held senior leadership and delivery roles across India and internationally, including long tenures at Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys, senior roles with Shell and HSBC Technology, and a period as founder-director of an IT consultancy. Over the course of her technology career Dr. Ravi led large portfolios, global delivery centers and cross-functional teams — with responsibility for strategy, program delivery, and people management across banking, energy, utilities and other verticals. She is widely recognized in the IT community as an advocate for inclusion and women in technology, and as a leader who combines deep technical knowledge with pragmatic enterprise execution. After retiring from full-time executive work in technology, Dr. Ravi moved into pro-bono and social impact roles focused on aging, leadership and community well-being. She joined Vayah Vikas as Chief Executive Officer, bringing her product, systems and program-management experience to bear on building scalable, tech-enabled programs for older adults in India. At Vayah Vikas Dr. Ravi has focused on translating enterprise best practices into impact-oriented initiatives: strengthening organizational operations, expanding member engagement, and championing age-friendly digital inclusion and workplace healthy-aging programs. She has represented Vayah Vikas at industry forums and moderated sessions at national senior-care conclaves, signaling her role as a bridge between the tech world and the elder-care ecosystem. Beyond Vayah Vikas, Dr. Ravi has taken on board and advisory roles that leverage her governance and governance-scale experience including at Bank Of India.  She is also active in mentoring and speaking on leadership, emotional intelligence, and purposeful retirement. Her career arc—from computer-science engineer and global IT leader to social-impact CEO—gives her a rare combination of operational discipline, technical literacy, and a commitment to dignity and connection in aging. #JamunaRavi #VayahVikas #BirlaInstituteOfTechnologyAndScience #TataConsultancyServices #Infosys #AlexanderThomas #KrisGopalakrishnan #DeviPrasadShetty #Health #Healthcare #LegalAdvisory #FinancialGuidance #CommunityBuilding #Longevity #Aging #FamilyCaregiving #DementiaCare #Loneliness #DigitalLiteracy #AIAwareness #Intergenerationality #RohiniNilekaniPhilanthropies #MultiGenerationalWorkplaces #SocialConnectedness #AgeTech #Geroscience #AgingInPlace #Lonliness  #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Ritu Saluja-Sharma, MD is a double-board–certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, and the visionary founder of Head Heart Hands ( https://www.headhearthandsmd.com/ ), a comprehensive, holistic wellness program for individuals and organizations.Dr.  Saluja-Sharma earned her M.D. from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For over 15 years, Dr. Saluja-Sharma has worked on the front lines in hospital emergency departments in the Washington, D.C. area, confronting firsthand the chronic and lifestyle-driven illnesses that plaque a large portion of our population and lead to many of the acute emergencies she saw in the ER.Driven by the belief that many conditions she treated in the ER could have been prevented, she created Head Heart Hands to offer science-based coaching, corporate wellness programs, and engaging family-friendly resources. Her latest work, The Wonder of What We Eat Cookbook / Workbook series ( https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FPMLYSYB/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=71acc446-4655-42d6-908b-da16920d4108&ref_=ap_rdr ) , co-created with her children, focuses on the pediatric obesity epidemic and brings more than 75 kid-friendly, nourishing recipes to life, grounded in her teaching framework that connects Head (knowledge), Heart (mindset), and Hands (practical skills).Dr. Saluja-Sharma’s work stands at the intersection of acute care and long-term prevention. She’s passionate about shifting healthcare from reaction to resilience—helping individuals and communities thrive, not just survive.#RituSalujaSharma #EmergencyMedicine #LifestyleMedicine #HeadHeartHands #WakeForestUniversitySchoolOfMedicine #MetabolicHealth #RootCauses #UltraProcessedFoods #CalorieDenseFoods #SedentaryLifestyles #SleepDisruption #Stress #Genetics #Epigenetics #SocioeconomicFactors #FoodAsMedicine #TheWonderOfWhatWeEat #Incretin #Insulin #Leptin #Ghrelin #Microbiome #Phytochemicals #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailRichard Daly is President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals ( https://catalystpharma.com/ ), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing novel medicines for patients living with rare diseases.Catalyst has successfully brought three therapies to market: FIRDAPSE ( https://firdapse.com/ ) for Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), AGAMREE ( https://agamree.com/ ) for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and FYCOMPA ( https://www.fycompa.com/ ) for epilepsy.Prior to joining Catalyst, Mr. Daly served as President of CARsgen Therapeutics Corporation, an emerging oncology company focused on developing CAR-T therapies for both liquid and solid tumors, and as Chief Operating Officer of BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals, a pre-commercial biotech company focused on oncology with assets in late Phase 3 clinical trials. Before joining BeyondSpring, Mr. Daly served as Chairman and CEO of Neuralstem, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of central nervous system therapies based on its neuronal stem cell technology; as a partner of RavineRock Partners, a commercial consulting practice focused on biotech and pharmaceuticals; and as President of AstraZeneca US Diabetes. Mr. Daly also has served on the board of directors of Opiant Pharmaceuticals and Synergy Pharmaceuticals.Mr. Daly received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.#RichardDaly #CatalystPharmaceuticals #RareDiseases #OrphanDiseases #FIRDAPSE #LambertEatonMyasthenicSyndrome #AGAMREE #DuchenneMuscularDystrophy #FYCOMPA #Epilepsy #PotassiumChannelBlocker #VoltageGatedCalciumChannels #Dystrophin #NextGenerationSteroid #DissociativeSteroid #GlucocorticoidReceptor #AMPAReceptorAntagonist #Glutamate #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Carina Kern, Ph.D. is the CEO of LinkGevity ( https://www.linkgevity.com/ ),  an AI-powered biotech company driving innovation in drug discovery for aging and resilience loss. Dr. Kern has developed a new Blueprint Theory of Aging, which takes an integrative approach to understanding aging, combining evolutionary theory, genetics, molecular mechanisms and medicine, and is used to structure LinkGevity’s AI. Dr. Kern’s labs are based at the Babraham Research Campus, affiliated with the University of Cambridge and her research has led to the development of a first-in-class necrosis inhibitor targeting cellular degeneration (Anti-Necrotic™). This novel therapeutic is ready to begin Phase II clinical trials later this year, as a potential breakthrough treatment for aging, with UK Government, Francis Crick Institute KQ labs, and European Union (Horizon) support. The Anti-Necrotic™ has also been selected as one of only 12 global innovations for NASA’s Space-Health program, recognizing its potential to mitigate accelerated aging in astronauts on long-duration space missions. Dr. Kern has held academic and leadership roles in interdisciplinary networks, including serving as President of the London Evolutionary Research Network and Co-Chair of the CleanTech Business Challenge, an initiative co-led by University College London and the London Business School.Dr. Kern completed her PhD at UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing.#CarinaKern #LinkGevity #BlueprintTheoryOfAging #BiologicalResilience #UniversityOfCambridge #BabrahamResearchCampus #CellularDegeneration #NecrosisInhibitor #AntiNecrotic #CaenorhabditisElegans #UCLInstituteOfHealthyAgeing #Senescence #Apoptosis #CellDeath #Necroptosis #Pyroptosis #Ferroptosis #PathoPathways #Gerotherapeutics #RyanodineReceptorInhibitors #CellPermeantCalciumChelators #LINK001 #AcuteKidneyInjury #SpaceMedicine #Exposome #Longevity#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThijs Spoor is Chief Executive Officer at Perspective Therapeutics ( https://perspectivetherapeutics.com/ ), a clinical-stage, radiopharmaceutical company that is pioneering innovative treatments for cancers. The Company’s proprietary technology utilizes the alpha emitting isotope Pb-212 to deliver powerful radiation directly to cancer cells via high-affinity targeting peptides.Prior to this, Thijs was the Chairman at Verifi H2O. Thijs also held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, Inc. and KBP BioSciences.Thijs also has served as CEO at AzurRx BioPharma, where they focused on developing targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases, and CEO at FluoroPharma, a company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization novel molecular positron emission tomography (PET) agents for the cardiovascular, oncology and neurology arenas.Thijs also worked as a Strategy Consultant at Oliver Wyman, a Biotechnology Analyst at J.P. Morgan, and a Medical Devices Analyst at Credit Suisse. Thijs began their career at GE Healthcare, where he served as the Director of Strategic Marketing and played a key role in reshaping the company's strategic directions in various areas.Thijs completed his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto and an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School.#ThijsSpoor #PerspectiveTherapeutics #Radiopharmaceuticals #NuclearMedicine #Cancer #Oncology #AlphaEmittingIsotopes #AlphaParticles #BetaParticles #Radiation #Lead #Pb212 #Lutetium #Actinium #CellTargetingPeptide #Chelator #Linker #NeuroendocrineTumors #SomatostatinReceptorSubtype2 #Melanoma #Theranostic #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailNeil Klompas, CPA, CA is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Augurex ( https://augurex.com/ ), a leading edge diagnostic company focused on developing and commercializing advanced diagnostics with the aim of improving patient outcomes and ending diagnostic delays in autoimmune conditions.Mr. Klompas has been involved in healthcare and biotechnology for over 30 years in various senior leadership roles spanning operational, financial and research and development responsibilities. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Zymeworks (NASDAQ: ZYME), where he had previously held the role of Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, Mr. Klompas’ experience included roles with KPMG, a global financial services firm, in both the United States and Canada where he advised on transactions and financial engagements across the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices sectors. Mr. Klompas serves as a director on the boards of InMed Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ; INM), NervGen Pharma (TSXV; NGEN), and HTuO Biosciences. He has previously served as a director and advisor to various biotechnology companies, including previously serving on the boards of Ovensa Inc., and Liminal Biotherapeutics. Mr. Klompas holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia, and is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant.#NeilKlompas #Augurex #AutoimmuneConditions #Diagnostics #AxialSpondyloarthritis #axSpA #ChronicInflammatoryDisease #AnkylosingSpondylitis #BackPain #1433ηEtaProtein #Anti1433EtaAutoantibody #SPINEstat #JOINTstat#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailBen Zimmer is CEO of Priovant Therapeutics ( https://www.priovanttx.com/ ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on delivering novel therapies for autoimmune diseases associated with the greatest morbidity and mortality. Priovant is developing oral brepocitinib, a potential first-in-class dual inhibitor of TYK2 and JAK1, across multiple severe autoimmune indications, unlocking new treatment options for patients who are underserved by existing therapies.Ben joined Priovant from Roivant, where he was a member of the founding team in early 2015 and held multiple leadership roles across the organization, including President, Roivant Health, Chief Operating Officer, and Head, Public Affairs. As President, Roivant Health, Ben led and oversaw the launch of Roivant's Chinese biopharmaceutical subsidiaries, healthcare technology companies (including Datavant), and computationally powered drug discovery platform (including VantAI). Earlier in his career, Ben was a consultant at McKinsey & Co and co-founded and led a public policy non-profit. He holds a BA magna cum laude from Harvard College and a JD from Yale Law School.#BenZimmer #PriovantTherapeutics #AutoimmuneDiseases #Brepocitinib #TYK2 #JAK1 #Dermatomyositis #NonInfectiousUveitis #Pfizer #Roivant #VivekRamaswamy #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailEvan Mathis ( https://evanmathis.co/ ) is a three-time Emmy Award–winning, multi-disciplinary creative director and filmmaker whose work spans sports, entertainment, brand storytelling, and cinematic short-form content.Evan recently expanded his creative scope into deeply human, health-centered storytelling with the short film The Hemingway ( https://www.thehemingway.film/ ) which he co-directed with ALS patient Patrick Sean O’Brien. The film offers an intimate, unfiltered, and darkly humorous look at life with this severe disability ( The Hemingway Trailer HD 2025 - https://vimeo.com/1044832501 ).The Hemingway has been celebrated on the festival circuit, earning awards and recognition for its originality, emotional depth, and collaborative spirit including Best Documentary Short at the San Francisco International Film Festival.With an educational foundation in fine art and journalism, and a deep fluency in design and technology, throughout his career, Evan has collaborated with leading agencies and global brands. Evan’s career has been defined by a versatile creative curiosity. In sports and competition, Evan has led major campaigns for the Daytona 500, the U.S. Open, NFL on FOX, College Football on FOX, ESPN’s World Cup coverage, UFC Fight Night, WWE Raw, and high-profile personality-driven work such as Skip Bayless.In entertainment, Evan has contributed to prestige series and blockbuster titles, including World War Z, Furious 6, Homeland, The Normal Heart, Monk, Burn Notice, White Collar, and key branding for USA Network, TNT Originals, TV Land, and others. Evan's brand and lifestyle portfolio includes campaigns for L’Oréal, Discover Card, Scion, Velocity, and a wide range of integrated commercial and digital initiatives.Evan’s work has earned accolades from the Emmys (three times over), as well as from One Show, Clios, and Promax BDA. He has also judged for Promax BDA, The Television Academy, and SXSW Interactive. His projects and design thinking have been featured in top publications such as Adweek, Ad Age, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated. In addition to his creative output, Evan is a sought-after speaker: he has presented at major design and media conferences in New York, Los Angeles, London, Cape Town, Toronto, and Chicago. #EvanMathis #PatrickSeanOBrien #TheHemingway #ALS #Documentary #AmyotrophicLateralSclerosis #LouGehrigsDisease #TransFattyLives #LeonardFlorenceCenterForLiving #Humor #Dignity #Neuralink #SevereDisabilities #EyeTracking #Imagination #Escapism #Advocacy #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show