As we discuss from his book, digital technologies of all sorts push the production of provision of value (products, services, experiences) ever closer to the MOMENT of demand in time and space. Few have noticed this trend, but when you see it, you see it everywhere. PROXIMITY offers unprecedented foresight for business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers... and for each of us as citizens.

We also discuss the power of serendipity and the joy of unexpected connections. Having been happily married for almost 25 years to my late wife, for whom Team Powdered Donut is dedicated, I love to ask couples how they met. Why? Because love stories are typically ones that come from wonderful unexpected connections. The ultimate serendipity engine.

And, that is the point of the podcast and my upcoming road trip via Airstream to all of the major cancer centers around the country. To find unexpected connections. Unexpected connections in one person’s story, and unexpected connections between stories. Because like Rob and I talk about, everything is getting closer. And, “One Story. One Moment. One Donut at a time.” I hope to bring us all closer to each other. To our one thing. And to love… and you’re going to love this episode!!

Who Is Rob Wolcott?

Adjunct Professor of Innovation, Booth, University of Chicago, and Kellogg, Northwestern University. 2007 – 2019, Clinical Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Kellogg. Four-time Teacher of the Year in Kellogg’s EMBA program. Visiting Fellow, Imperial College London.

Venture investor in nearly 50 companies and venture funds. Founder & Chair, TWIN Global (www.twinglobal.org), a global community of innovation leaders. Board member, Abroad.io and global non-profit CureBlindness Project.

Author: PROXIMITY, (Columbia University Press, 2024), shortlisted for the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea of 2025 award. His work has appeared in MIT Sloan Management Review, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications worldwide. Contributor for Forbes on the impact of technology on business and humanity. BA, History; Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, Northwestern University.

Show Notes:

Proximity - How Coming Breakthroughs in Just-in-Time Transform Business, Society, and Daily Life

The fight with cancer - can a new internet change the terms of battle? | TEDxTallaght - The Atelier of Ideas | Gary Thompson | October 17, 2013

On that fateful morning of her passing on October 21, 2014, I wondered what to do next. Fortunately, we had been introduced to Wonders & Worries. We never had a chance to visit with them as a family of five, but I at least had a contact. Someone I could call. What do I do next? How do I tell my kids? Looking back, I remember just how hard that day was. Made a little bit easier by the advice of this excellent organization that Meredith cofounded.

We talk about her own passion for the work, her journey as a cofounder, the transition to new leadership, and their expansion, both virtually and geographically around the country to bring their incredible resources to more families and their children. We also talk about the power of people and community. The power of communication. The power of time. The power of healing even when the questions are hard and the answers harder.

Who Is Meredith Cooper, MA, CCLS, LPC?

Former Executive Director and Co-Founder Meredith Cooper envisioned, launched and grew Wonders & Worries from its beginnings in 2001. Following 15 years of success, Meredith stepped into a founder role in 2017, where she continues providing strategic direction for national growth and programmatic initiatives. Meredith has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Child Development. She is a certified Child Life Specialist and a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been involved with children’s healthcare in the Austin community for more than 35 years, including being the first pediatric oncology child life specialist for Austin. In 2010 Meredith received the Helping Hand Home’s Champion for Children Award and the Girl Scout Woman of Distinction Award in 2013. Meredith is married with one son, two daughters and five grandsons and three granddaughters.

Who is Janice Kruger?

Janice coached college volleyball for thirty years. She began coaching at the Community College level for one year, then spent nine years at the University of Nebraska at Omaha NCAA Division II level and finished her collegiate coaching career as the head coach of the University of Maryland Terrapins Division I program for 20 years. She led four teams into the Division II National Championship, won 10 career conference titles, and was recognized 6 times both for Conference and Region Coach of the Year honors. Her peers honored her success in coaching by voting her twice as the NCAA Division II American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year.

Leave It Better™ Podcast (Hosted By Janice Kruger)

With over 30 years of experience in the culinary industry, and author of the cookbook Cured, Chef Steve McHugh currently serves as a Chef Consultant for the Spurs Club, leveraging his expertise in restaurants, menu development, kitchen/bar design and culinary skills. His role focuses on creating innovative dining experiences, enhancing menu offerings, and supporting teams in delivering exceptional culinary services. As both a consultant and a long-standing chef/owner at Cured, He brings a unique perspective to developing creative, high-quality cuisine that aligns with organizational goals while fostering collaboration and excellence in the kitchen. His passion lies in driving culinary innovation and enriching customer experiences. And, along the way, he picked up 6 James Beard Foundation Finalist nods for Best Chef Texas and blessed by his wife, Sylvie, daughter, Sophia, and grandson, all currently residing in San Antonio.

From Cured to Cures | Excerpt From Original Blog Post (The Love of My Life | "Cured")- June 6, 2015

As I discussed with Henry, I am a proud alum of Northwestern, both as an undergraduate, studying economics and political science, as well as an MBA student studying at the Kellogg School of Management at night during my early career at Apple in Chicago. My parents emmigrated to the United States so that my younger sister and I would have a chance to pursue college. We are both first generation college students, and the opportunity to pursue our degrees opened doors to new opportunity and new lives.

Henry continues to open doors for others and has opened so many across his long career. Soon, I will be opening the door to my Airstream to conversations just like this one. I am so thankful to Henry for this conversation, as well as to all of my guests since last fall. Sharing their stories, sharing their one things, just like the many things Henry shares in this episode have been an incredible honor and pleasure. Hail to purple. Hail to White. Hail to thee Northwestern! Go Cats!!

Who Is Henry S. Bienen?

President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen served as Northwestern’s 15th president and returned on September 16, 2025, to serve as interim president. A nationally recognized leader in higher education, Interim President Bienen led Northwestern to increased academic prominence, research prowess, financial strength and athletic success during his tenure. Among other posts, he served as Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton.

He received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Northwestern University in 2009. In 2008, Northwestern’s Board of Trustees honored Henry Bienen and his wife, Leigh, a senior lecturer emerita at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, by naming the University’s School of Music the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music.

"Live from Stage 4" is a bold, hopeful podcast where people living with metastatic breast cancer, clinicians, and researchers take center stage. They share real stories, decode the science, and spotlight the ideas and breakthroughs that matter — for patients, caregivers, and anyone who believes progress is possible. In their words, "this podcast is for us, by us, and all about us."

Why This Episode?

Gary, founder and host of the Team Powdered Donut™ podcast, is interviewed by Victoria Goldberg and Abigail Johnston, founders of the Live From Stage 4 podcast, members of the MBC Alliance, and dealing with metastatic breast cancer themselves. Gary talks about his late wife, Maureen, who passed of MBC on 10.21.2014 and how it inspired Team Powdered Donut.

Read More About the Podcasters Roundtable & A Summary Here

“Resilience isn't about bouncing back with relentless toughness. It's about learning how to fall forward into the unknown, into the mess, into the life you didn't plan for but have to live anyway.”

Who Is Keith Bellizzi?

Keith Bellizzi is a professor at the University of Connecticut, with over 100 publications in the areas of resilience, cancer survivorship, and how individuals and families navigate life-altering challenges. His research has been featured in The LA Times, The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, The Independent, and Psychology Today. A four-time cancer survivor himself, Keith wrote Falling Forward to share the lessons he’s learned about overcoming adversity and building strength in the face of hardship. When he’s not researching or writing, he enjoys thrill-seeking adventures, exploring new places and cultures, and spending time with his family.

Show Notes

Falling Forward: The New Science of Resilience and Personal Transformation (Click to buy your copy from Amazon)

In addition to being a highly sought-after forum facilitator and consultant to corporate leadership teams, Mo is a very engaging keynote speaker and emcee. He has delivered keynote addresses to large audiences, including TEDx, Conscious Capitalism, Scale Up, SOSi, and SHRM. Prior to launching Forum Resources Network, Mo served as executive director of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (1991-1997), where he launched 100s of CEO peer groups and grew the organization from 100 to 2,000 global members.

Personally, Mo is dedicated to health and fitness. He loves skiing, sailing, yoga, and stand-up paddle boarding. He has completed three marathons, an Ironman, and, in 2018, placed first in USA Yoga’s Midwest regional championships for men over 50. Mo serves on the boards of Young Presidents’ Organization Washington and Baltimore Gold Chapter and Beyond CEO Coaching. Mo lives in Alexandria, VA.

When Gary Thompson lost his wife Maureen to metastatic breast cancer almost 10 years ago, his kids (15, 13, and 10 1/2 at the time) lost their mom. He and his family leaned into a variety of philanthropic endeavors to honor her legacy. As a result of his daughters spearheading Dig Pink® games (raising over $75K over 6 years) at their high school in Austin, TX, Gary was brought to the Side-Out Foundation and now serves as the Board Chair. Gary talks with Janice about his mission to give others battling cancer a chance to “have more tomorrows.”

Links mentioned:

1. For more of Gary and his daughters' story with Dig Pink, visit his blog post, When Pink is the Color of Love, Not Cancer https://side-out.org/dig-pink/when-pink-is-the-color-of-love-not-cancer/
2. For more information go to www.side-out.org.
3. Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
4. Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

Who is Daniel Bussius?

Best-Selling Author | Serial Entrepreneur | Architect of Love-Built Brands

Daniel Bussius is the rare force behind the curtain of over 1,700 breakthrough marketing campaigns and more than $100 million in client-generated revenue. With a career spanning three decades—working alongside Fortune 100 giants, celebrities, serial entrepreneurs, and $100M+ brands—Daniel has earned his place as one of the most trusted minds in modern marketing.

As the founder and CEO of Built by Love®, a boutique marketing agency revered for its creative precision and neuroscience-driven strategies, Daniel blends psychological insight with battle-tested frameworks to build marketing that moves people—and profits.

He is the creator of the Marketing RAMP®, a proprietary system and software platform grounded in neuroscience that transforms marketing chaos into a predictable, scalable operating system. His acclaimed book, Marketing Built By Love—a 3x Amazon Best-Seller and Independent Book Gold Medal Winner—guides readers through the 5 scientific stages of human relationship development, unlocking the secrets to lasting customer connection and brand devotion.

Daniel’s thought leadership has earned national recognition, with his book available nationwide at Barnes & Noble, on Target.com, Amazon, and virtually everywhere books are sold.

Beyond the boardroom, Daniel is a devoted husband and father, an adventurer at heart, and a passionate philanthropist. He spends his time cycling, rock climbing, coaching youth ice hockey, supporting his local church, and working with nonprofits across the United States. He even tested his limits as a contestant on Amazon’s The World’s Toughest Race with Bear Grylls. In everything he does, Daniel leads with love, strategy, and an unshakable commitment to helping others grow.

Company website:

www.builtbylove.com

Speaker social handles:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/danbussius

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbussius/

Instagram: https://www.instgram.com/danbussius

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/builtbyloveagency

https://www.facebook.com/danielbussius

It's been so much fun going back and re-listening to these conversations. Thank you to each of these incredible leaders for not only for being guests during my inaugural season but for your friendships. Each of you has made my life better as you make life better for others through your work and your #onething. Listed in order of appearance:

• Kelly Shanahan, President, METAvivor
• Mitch Marczewski, CEO, Nightbirde Foundation & Jane's Big Brother
• Paula Schneider, Honorary Vice Chair, Susan G. Komen
• Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong
• Dr. Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, Medical Oncologist, MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Richard Dunetz, Founder & Chief Vision Officer, Side-Out Foundation
• Kristen Doyle, CEO, Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
• Gwen Nichols, EVP, Chief Medical Officer, Blood Cancer United
• Louis DeGennaro, Vie Ventures, fmr CEO, Blood Cancer United
• Mark Roithmayr, fmr CEO, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

With love being at the heart of my upcoming "love crusade" via Airstream, I'm so excited to share this conversation with my dear friend Janelle Keegan, Billy's widow.

After graduating Northwestern, I met my late wife Maureen (for whom the Team Powdered Donut™ podcast and road trip are dedicated) at Apple in the late 1980s in Chicago. Steve Jobs once said at a commencement address to Stanford University that you can't connect the dots looking forward. You just have to trust your passion. And when you look back, you'll see how the dots connect. That is definitely the case with how I met Leon. Just months earlier, I had finished the last of three TEDx talks just outside of Dublin, Ireland, having traveled to Malaysia, then Rome, and finally Dublin in under a week.

One of my fellow speakers in Dublin was named president of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the months to follow. When I came up to Chicago to visit, he had invited Leon to our meeting. I've been blessed by over a decade of friendship with Leon, as well as blessed by his help back in 2014 getting a second opinion from one of Lurie's leading breast cancer oncologists, Dr. William Gradishar. Maureen's breast cancer had metastasized at that point, and I wanted as many perspectives as possible on what to do next for her. You will quickly discover Leon's humble spirit as you listen to this episode. However, as a Northwestern alum, I can't help but brag on all that he has done for Lurie, leading them to the National Cancer Institute's highest rating of exceptional over more than a decade as Lurie's director. Lurie is not only exceptional, but Leon is too. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Who is Leon Platanias?

Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD, leads the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Centers Network (NCCN). He is the Jesse, Sara, Andrew, Abigail, Benjamin and Elizabeth Lurie Professor of Oncology and Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Since Dr. Platanias became director in 2014, the Lurie Cancer Center has experienced dramatic growth, doubling its NCI funding and recruiting over 160 new faculty members. Under his leadership, the Lurie Cancer Center received the highest rating in its history, an overall “exceptional” ranking in both the 2018 and 2025 NCI comprehensive designation NCI renewals.

Dr. Platanias was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He earned his medical degree from the University of Patras Medical School in Greece. He subsequently moved to the US and began his research career at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, as a Fogarty Fellow studying the immune mechanisms of bone marrow failure syndromes. He subsequently moved to New York City where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and eventually to Chicago where he completed his fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Chicago. He joined Northwestern in 2002, initially as Deputy Director and eventually as Director of the Lurie Cancer Center in 2014. Prior to joining Northwestern, he was Professor and Chief of the Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Platanias is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, with clinical expertise in leukemia. Dr. Platanias’ research work focuses on cytokine signaling pathways in malignant cells, with translational applications in leukemia and brain tumors. He has published more than 390 papers with an h-index of 100. In addition to being the principal investigator of the largest institutional grant (CCSG) at Northwestern, he has been principal investigator of multiple NIH R01 grants and has been continuously funded by the NIH for over 30 years. He has made significant contributions in the interferon and cytokine signaling field for 3 decades. His early work on interferon signaling, along with the work of others, led to discoveries that helped define the modern cancer immunotherapy field and resulted in clinical applications for the treatment of malignancies. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award for outstanding contributions in cytokine research and the Leadership 100 Excellence Award.

Dr. Platanias previously served as President of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society and he was an elected member of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) Board of Directors. He serves as Editor for several oncology and immunology journals and has been a chair or member of several study sections and site visit teams for the NIH, including more recently the NCI Subcommittee A for Cancer Centers. He has also served as chair or member of several grant panels for the US Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is an elected member of the Association of American Physicians (AAP) and currently serves as Chair of several external advisory boards for NCI-designated cancer centers across the country.

Who is Emma Halter?

With the 14th overall pick in the 2nd round of the Major League Volleyball Draft, the Indy Ignite selected Emma Halter. Emma returns to her home state of Indiana to continue her volleyball career professionally after her final season with the Longhorns concluded. She is the second libero picked in the draft and joins former Louisville libero Elena Scott to anchor the back row for the Ignite.

As a driven and motivated volleyball student-athlete, Emma graduated from The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. She is dedicated to achieving excellence in every area of her life. While on the court, in the classroom, and as a friend she worked to be collaborative, understanding, and the best leader that she can be. Along with this, being a part of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee gives her the opportunity to display my passions of working with people, taking on community projects, and being as involved in athletics as much as she could. In pursuing her bachelors degree in management, she was, and remains, passionate about helping those around her, growing in any environment that she is put in, and being an encouraging teammate. Being a student athlete on the volleyball team, she became more aware of the idea that the pursuit of excellence is where I thrive the most.

Emma Halter - Her Texas Volleyball Bio

Honors and Awards

2025:

• Finished as No. 8 on the All-Time Dig List in Texas history
• AVCA All-American - Honorable Mention
• AVCA All-Southwest Region Team
• Texas Record in Digs in 3-set matches (25)
• No. 8 All-Time UT Carrer Digs
• All-SEC Second Team
• SEC Defensive Player of the Week (9/1)

2024:

• SEC Defensive Player of the Week (9/2)
• Preseason Volleyball All-SEC Team

2023:

• NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team

2025:

Played in all 30 matches and all 110 sets during the season... Led Texas on defense at the Opening Spike Classic earning SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 28 digs in two matches against No. 12 Creighton and No. 8 Wisconsin... Registered a career high nine assists and led the team with 18 digs in the win against Rice... Recorded 10 digs and seven assists in the win over Stanford... Notched 17 digs and eight assists in the 3-2 win against No. 4 Louisville... Finished with her first career double-double in the win against No. 9 ASU with 11 assists and 10 digs... Notched ten digs and three assists in the win against Vanderbilt... Totaled ten digs along with six assists in the win against No. 21 Missouri... Recorded four assists and 12 digs in the win against Mississippi State... One assist away from a double-double with 15 digs and two aces in the win against No. 17 Tennessee... Notched 25 digs, six assists, and one service aces in the win over Alabama... Finished with four aces, tying her career high, along with seven digs in the win against Oklahoma... Totaled 18 digs and seven assists in the win against Ole Miss... Registered 12 digs, four assists, and two aces in the win at LSU... Recorded 16 digs, nine assists and an ace at No. 9 A&M... Added 10 digs and five assists against No. 3 Kentucky... Registered 16 digs and five assists in the win at Florida... Put up 17 digs and four assists in the win at Auburn... Finished with ten digs and eight assists in the win over South Carolina... Finished with eight digs and four assists in the win over Ole Miss at the SEC Championships... Added 11 digs and six assists in the SEC Semifinal win over No. 6 Texas A&M.. Posted a season high 26 digs and assists in the final against No. 3 Kentucky... Set the Texas record in three sets with 25 digs in the NCAA First Round win over FAMU... Had four digs and six assists in the Second Round win over No. 25 Penn State... Totaled eight digs and five assists in the Regional Semis win over No. 15 Indiana... Finished the season with 13 assists and three assists in the final match of the season against No. 10 Wisconsin.

2024:

Played in all 27 matches and 99 sets in the season…led the team in digs with 344 and 3.47 digs per set…led the team with 30 service aces…third on the team with 109 assists and 1.10 assists per set… had a career-high digs against Wisconsin with 28… tied career-high four service aces in the match against Indiana (9/5)…had a career-high digs against Wisconsin with 28… had season-high seven assists against Indiana (9/5)

Continued at: https://texaslonghorns.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/emma-halter/14349

Every episode and every guest of Season 2 will give all of us an opportunity to hear about someone's one thing. And it is my hope that each episode and each guest provides an inspiration to all of us to find our one thing to make a difference. The wheels are truly in motion for my upcoming road trip via Airstream starting this fall. More news on that to come. Season Three of the podcast will kick off as I hit the road.

Team Powdered Donut is also thrilled to welcome Entenmann's as a title sponsor of both the podcast and the road trip. As I joked in the inaugural episode of the podcast last season with Maureen Sticco, I had always wanted to meet the "donut people," and I am thrilled and honored by their support. We will be making a more formal announcement of their participation in the weeks to come. For now, welcome back and enjoy Season Two.

At the time, Team Powdered Donut™ wasn't even a figment of my imagination. It is truly amazing what has happened in just six months and all that is ahead. It is all in trusting our stories. It is all in being open to new connections. It is all in being open to the ultimate connection which we celebrate on Christmas Day, the birth of Christ. Enjoy the episode. Enjoy the season, not just this season of the podcast, but the holiday season itself. Will be back early in the New Year to start 2026 and Season Two the Team Powdered Donut podcast.

Show Resources

• Gail Bones' Music
• Emily Weeks' Music (Gail's daughter)
• Gail Bones' Writing & Bible Studies

Who Is Gail Bones?

Dr. Gail Nelson Bones is the founder of CrossWise Living, a ministry devoted to helping people at all stages in life navigate change through cross-generational relationships. She has been engaging audiences as a speaker, songwriter, and worship leader for over thirty years. Formerly a professor of education at San Diego Christian College, Dr. Bones is the author of Living CrossWise: Hope and Help for Navigating Transition.

Gail and her husband Jeff have been married for over 30 years and together have recorded seven albums of original Christian music. Along with their now-grown children, they spent many years presenting family concerts at churches across the United States. Gail is currently a women’s ministry leader and member of the worship team at her home church in La Mesa, California.

Just like Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, once said "love is in the mortar joints." It is that same spirit of love that infuses Team Powdered Donut™. As President Carter once said, "my faith demands that I do whatever I can wherever I am whenever I can for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference." We each have that same ability to take our one thing to make a difference. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Jonathan about his career, his faith and how he came to Habitat for Humanity and thrilled to have him as a guest on the podcast.

Who is Jonathan Reckford?

Jonathan Reckford is chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International, a global Christian housing organization that has helped more than 62 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve their homes. Since 2005, when he took the top leadership position, local Habitat organizations in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries have grown from serving 125,000 individuals each year to helping more than 3 million people last year build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he was a Morehead Scholar, Jonathan worked as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. He was also the recipient of a Henry Luce Scholarship, which enabled him to do marketing work for the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee and coach the Korean rowing team in preparation for the 1988 Olympics.

He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business before spending the first part of his career in the for-profit sector, including executive and managerial positions at Marriott, The Walt Disney Co., and Best Buy. While serving as executive pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church near Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was recruited for the CEO position at Habitat.

Jonathan is the chair of Leadership 18, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Global Future Council on the Future of Cities for the World Economic Forum, and a board member of the Barron Collier Companies.

Named the most influential nonprofit leader in America in 2017 by The NonProfit Times, Jonathan is the author of Our Better Angels: Seven Simple Virtues That Will Change Your Life and the World.

He and his wife, Ashley, have three children and live in Atlanta.

Her ability to say, “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy” in the face of terminal cancer gave hope to millions of people watching. She knew that she was so much more than the bad things that had happened to her, and that truth gave tens of thousands of people the encouragement to keep going.

Such an inspiring conversation with her big brother, Mitch. About hope. About love.

America's Got Talent - Jane's Performance

Nightbirde Foundation

Toolbox Ministries

Paula has an incredible story from her career in fashion to her own journey through breast cancer to her leadership at Susan G. Komen. She has indeed kept love strong and has made a dent in both cancer and cancer research. That dent matters deeply to me. I do what I do with cancer advocacy, and with this podcast and road trip because my love for my late wife, Maureen, was and remains strong. For those coming together in San Antonio now, know how much I love each of you, especially the patients and patient advocates. You are incredibly important to me, and I am thankful to Paula for sharing her story and for her leadership at Komen to make a dent in cancer because that dent means another day of life for those faced by this disease.

Love Stays Strong (Available at Amazon)

Who Is Paula Schneider?

Paula Schneider is honorary vice chair of Susan G. Komen®. From 2017-2025 Paula served as president & CEO of Susan G. Komen and was responsible for day-to-day operations, strategic direction, and was accountable for the world’s largest breast cancer organization. As a breast cancer survivor, and having lost her mother to metastatic breast cancer, Schneider’s work is personal as she brings a unique combination of business expertise and real-world perspective to Komen’s mission as CEO.

During her tenure, Schneider led Komen through a critical period, transforming Komen’s national network of local affiliate organizations into a single, unified entity to increase efficiency and impact across the country. Under her leadership, Komen accelerated research, advocacy, community outreach and patient care, leaving the organization well-positioned for future success. To date, Komen has invested more than $3.5 billion in these critical areas, advancing its mission to save lives and to prevent and cure breast cancer. Schneider continues to serve the organization using her renowned and respected voice to support the urgent mission to end deaths from breast cancer in our lifetime.

Schneider is widely regarded as a business expert in organizational management and finance. Prior to Komen, she served as CEO of American Apparel, which was the largest vertically integrated clothing manufacturer in the U.S. with over 8,500 employees and 600 retail stores internationally. She previously served as president of the Warnaco Swimwear Group, the largest swimwear company in the world, with brands such as Speedo and Calvin Klein. Subsequently, Schneider became a senior advisor at the private equity firm, The Gores Group, where she created platform strategies for best-in-class operations and potential acquisitions. Schneider became the first female CEO in The Gores Group’s portfolio of companies.

Schneider is a sought-after public speaker on impactful leadership and women’s health. She has been a featured speaker at such thought leadership events as Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, Yahoo! Finance, Women in Retail, Milken Institute, SXSW, Google AI Cancer Symposium and Dreamforce. She was recognized as one of the 2025 Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market by CEO Connection. She was also named one of the top 100 Influential Women in Oncology Key Opinion Leaders by OncoDaily. Schneider is currently a member and keynote speaker of C200, the preeminent global organization for the advancement of women business leaders. She also serves on the Bloomberg New Economy Forum’s International Cancer Coalition and is a member of Fast Company’s Impact Council and CEO Connection.

In 2025, Paula became an author, publishing the children's book Love Stays Strong alongside Penguin Random House. Inspired by her own experience with breast cancer, the book is about the strength of a family’s love, especially during times of illness.

Who is Gwen Nichols?

As Blood Cancer United’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Gwen Nichols, MD, plays a critical role in advancing cures through a unique combination of clinical, academic and pharmaceutical experience. She oversees Blood Cancer United’s scientific research portfolio, patient services and policy and advocacy initiatives. Dr. Nichols leads an international team of preeminent leaders in pediatric acute leukemia to conceive, develop and implement PedAL BCU, a first of its kind global master clinical trial and a key component of the Dare to Dream Project, transforming treatment and care for kids with blood cancer.

A physician and scientific researcher, Dr. Nichols has dedicated her career to advancing cures for cancers. Before joining Blood Cancer United, she was oncology site head of the Roche Translational Clinical Research Center, where she worked to develop new cancer therapies, translating them from the laboratory to clinical trials. Prior to joining Roche in 2007, Dr. Nichols was at Columbia University for more than ten years, where she served as the director of the Hematologic Malignancies Program.

While at Columbia University, Dr. Nichols maintained an active clinical practice and received the prestigious honors of “Physician of the Year” from Columbia University and the “Humanism in Medicine Award” from the American Association of Medical Colleges.

Who is Dr. Lou?

Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., is managing partner at Cantlous Advisory Partners (CAP), a pioneering consulting firm working at the intersection of venture philanthropy, non-profit fundraising, and biotechnology innovation. CAP’s mission is to drive collaborative efforts that result in transformative advancements in healthcare. Prior to his current role, Dr. DeGennaro was president and chief executive officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a global leader in the fight against cancer with an annual budget of $500 million.

As the key architect of LLS's cures and access agenda, Dr. DeGennaro conceived and pioneered LLS’s Therapy Acceleration Program® - a venture philanthropy approach to accelerating new treatments to patients through drug discovery and development partnerships with the biotechnology industry. LLS’s foray into venture philanthropy helped redefine the activist role of non-profits to meet urgent unmet medical needs. Under Dr. DeGennaro’s leadership LLS also launched its groundbreaking precision medicine Beat AML® Master Clinical Trial and Dare to Dream, a research, advocacy, and patient support effort that features a global, master clinical trial in pediatric leukemia.

In his operating role at LLS, Dr. DeGennaro oversaw the growth of annual revenue from $225 million in 2014 to $500 million in 2023 through innovative fundraising programs that cut across peer-to-peer, corporate partnership, major gift, and service revenue channels.

After receiving his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California at San Francisco, Dr. DeGennaro conducted post-doctoral research at the Yale University School of Medicine. His previous academic appointments include research group leader, Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany and associate professor of neurology and cell biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School. His previous private sector appointments included Senior Director, Molecular Genetics, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Executive Vice President, Synex Pharmaceuticals. Dr. DeGennaro is the author of 100 scientific publications.

Enjoy our full conversation here, and you can also listen to the other episode that dropped today with some outtakes from both this episode and others about the road trip and advice I've received to date about my mobile love letter and "love crusade" hitting the road next fall.

This episode captures the seeds of the idea in a conversation with Rick Dunetz, Founder of the Side-Out Foundation, along with some fun outtakes from past episodes with advice from previous guests. This upcoming journey is truly more than a road trip. It is a mobile love letter. A love crusade. "One Story. One Moment. One Donut at a time."

"We don't have to change everything. We just have to change our one thing. And if we each indeed change our one thing, then we will have changed everything." Kethan changed me like he changed Mark. Please listen into this heartfelt conversation with dear friend, Mark Roithmayr, as we reflect on a career that is not only rich in memories, but rich in impact.

Who Is Mark Roithmayr?

Mark Roithmayr is an admired nonprofit leader with four decades of experience in both start-ups and mature organizations. As Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), Mr. Roithmayr is responsible for steering the Foundation’s overall strategy, focus, and business operations. Since joining the ADDF in 2017, the organization has transformed dramatically in impact, scale, presence, and brand. Under his leadership, ADDF’s revenue has increased five-fold from $17M to an excess of $90M and mission-related investing has grown over 100%.

As such, Mr. Roithmayr sets the strategic vision of the ADDF and works in partnership with the Co-Founder and CSO, Howard Fillit, MD, Executive Leadership, and the Board of Governors and Overseers to advance and execute the Foundation’s mission of accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. His areas of expertise and focus include venture philanthropy, strategic planning, volunteer development, and brand-building. One of Mr. Roithmayr’s milestone accomplishments was securing Bill Gates, as well as Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott, as donors to further the Foundation’s venture philanthropy efforts. Additionally, he secured a 10-figure gift from the families of Leonard and Ronald Lauder, ensuring all overhead costs will be covered at the ADDF for the next two decades.

Mr. Roithmayr actively participates in the Milken Institute’s LeadersLink Program, where he serves as seasoned mentor and advisor to emerging executive leaders. Additionally, he is routinely asked to guest lecture on the topic of non-profit leadership at Columbia University, Harvard School of Business, New York University, and Yale University. In 2019, Mr. Roithmayr was published in a Health Administration Press textbook “The Healthcare Nonprofit: Keys to Effective Management” in which he authored a chapter titled “Managing Volunteers.”

Prior to joining the ADDF, Mr. Roithmayr was Chief Relationship Officer at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There, he helped launch its venture philanthropy initiative, directed its 56 national chapters, and led annual fundraising of over $200 million. Prior his time at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, he served for seven years as president of Autism Speaks. As that organization's first president, he shepherded its growth from a start-up into the world's largest autism research and advocacy organization. Earlier in his career, Mr. Roithmayr held several executive positions, spanning two decades, with the March of Dimes. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications at Rowan University.

Although Gary's powdered donut tradition was born from his late wife, Maureen’s, passing from #metastaticbreastcancer, Team Powdered Donut's "one thing" ethos is bigger than cancer. Bigger than disease. Arena Lab's manifesto puts it best. It is about "The Service Archetype."

Arena's manifesto reflects their belief in the power of service and the responsibility we all share to support those who protect, heal, and advance society. Arena’s mission is to set a higher standard in healthcare by empowering frontline professionals with the tools and knowledge to thrive in their sacred calling. Their manifesto truly reflects their founder.

From the shores of Lake Erie to Miami University, as well as 20 years in high-performing teams across national security, special operations, and sports, Brian has indeed been in the arena. Was great to have him "in the (virtual) studio," too. Excited to share our conversation with you now. So many great stories and nuggets of wisdom.

Who Is Brian Ferguson?

Brian has spent his career working in high-performance organizations, learning from leaders and decision-makers in US national security, the military, and emerging technology. He has used those experiences to build Arena Labs, a company pioneering the field of High Performance Medicine ® and working across healthcare, elite military, the performing arts and professional sports.

Arena Labs partners with the top surgical, trauma, ICU and emergency department teams to use human performance data as a means of reducing medical error. By providing frontline doctors and nurses with tools and frameworks used by the world’s top performers under pressure, Arena Labs is redefining healthcare and using lessons-learned from hospitals for best-practices in sport, business and the military.

In 2018 Brian also co-founded The Liminal Collective, a unique human performance company focused on “enabling humanity’s boldest endeavors” in space travel, deep sea

exploration, and advancing the science of human creativity and expression. Earlier in his career Brian served in the military as a Navy Officer where he deployed to Afghanistan and various parts of the Middle East while being heavily involved in emerging technology and human performance efforts across special operations. Prior to joining the military, he worked in national security in both the Pentagon and the White House.

Brian is an advisor to the Brooklyn Nets and on faculty at Singularity University in Silicon Valley. He remains heavily involved in Veteran transition programs.

Kristen and I unpacked so many fun stories from our shared journeys in Austin over the past two decades. As fellow parents of students, now alumni of St. Andrew's Episcopal School, to our shared experiences as students at the University of Texas School of Law, to our shared advocacy with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (now Blood Cancer United), including my cycling with her husband and son with Team In Training. This episode covers the gamut.

Once you listen, you'll understand how Kristen is truly living out her one thing. As a Texan who lost his wife to metastatic breast cancer, I am comforted knowing that Kristen is at the helm of CPRIT and ensuring that we no longer have to be lucky to not die of cancer.

Who is Kristen Doyle?

Kristen Doyle is Chief Executive Officer for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Created by the Texas Legislature and approved by a statewide vote in 2007, CPRIT leads the state’s unprecedented $6 billion investment initiative in cancer research and prevention. To date, the agency has awarded $4 billion in grants to Texas research institutions, community organizations, and companies through its academic research, prevention, and product development research programs. CPRIT has recruited 340 distinguished researchers to Texas, supported the establishment, expansion, or relocation of 72 companies, and funded the delivery of 11 million prevention services reaching all 254 Texas counties.

Ms. Doyle joined CPRIT at its inception, serving in various roles, including as CPRIT’s general counsel, interim chief product development officer, and deputy executive officer. Ms. Doyle has played a pivotal role in establishing the policies and legal and regulatory foundations that ensure CPRIT maintains the highest standards in fulfilling our mission to accelerate cancer cures and treatments, and providing vital cancer prevention services throughout Texas.

Prior to joining CPRIT, Ms. Doyle was a partner at an Austin-based law firm practicing electric utility and natural gas law and served as Assistant Public Counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel. She received a B.S. in Public Policy from Indiana University and her J.D. and M.S. in Technology Commercialization from The University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Doyle, a cancer survivor, is the president of the board of directors for Wonders & Worries, a Texas-based non-profit, and previously served as vice chair of the board of directors for the Central Texas Chapter for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

In this engaging podcast episode, Gary Thompson interviews Suzanne Stone, the CEO of Livestrong, exploring her personal journey, professional experiences, and the impactful work of Livestrong in supporting cancer survivors. The conversation delves into themes of community, philanthropy, and the importance of moving forward in the face of challenges. Suzanne shares her insights on leadership, personal growth, and the significance of connection in the cancer community, emphasizing that no one should face cancer alone.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection to Livestrong

02:56 Getting to Know Suzanne Stone

06:09 Recreation and Personal Growth

09:03 Dreams and Aspirations

11:59 Early Career in Storytelling, Production and TV

17:57 Transition to Nonprofit Work

22:50 Philanthropy and Social Impact

29:59 Leadership at Susan G. Komen

37:32 Becoming CEO of Livestrong

44:36 The Livestrong Challenge and Community Impact

51:25 Sustainable Programs and Future Vision

Everyone Deserves To Grow Up With a Mom, Real Pink Podcast, Suzanne Stone and Kyla Thompson, Originally Aired July 14, 2018

From TV to Livestrong: Suzanne Stone's Journey of Impact, Her Success Story, Presented by Ivy Slater, December 23, 2024

Who Is Suzanne Stone?

Suzanne Stone is a Texas Christian University graduate and Louisiana native whose career began in television, earning a regional Emmy Award for her work in Dallas. In 1998, she transitioned from producing television to teaching it in the nonprofit sector, leading public access television initiatives in Naperville, Illinois, and later in upstate New York.

Beyond media, Suzanne spent four years as Head Coach of a New York community college women’s basketball team while simultaneously managing a local TV station. Her passion for impact-driven work led her back to Texas, where she has since dedicated her career to leading nonprofit organizations across the state, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Children’s Miracle Network, Lake Travis Education Foundation, and Susan G. Komen Greater Central and East Texas.

In 2019, she joined Livestrong to spearhead its mission initiatives, and in November 2023, she was named President & CEO. Today, she leads the organization in its commitment to ensuring that anyone affected by cancer has the resources and support they need to truly Livestrong.

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, Medical Oncologist, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MSc, FASCO, is a tenured Professor in the Health Services Research Department, where she serves as ad interim Chair. She is also a Professor in the Breast Medical Oncology Department at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is a breast medical oncologist committed to improving the outcomes of her patients while preserving their quality of life and providing evidence-based, research-driven, compassionate care. She is recognized as a key opinion leader who is devoted to contributing to the field through patient care, research, and education by fostering the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

Her research interests focus on outcomes and cancer care delivery. Her work extends to areas related treatment-related complications and to studying the impact and determinants of treatment delays. In addition, she has been involved in the planning, design, and implementation of clinical trials and has been deeply involved in guideline methodology, having participated in the development of national and international breast cancer treatment guidelines. She serves as the Executive Officer for international affairs at SWOG, where she leads the Latin America Initiative. She has served ASCO in many roles, recently completing her last year as a member of the Board of Directors and currently serving as the Chair-elect of the Scientific Program committee.

Ellen Dempsey, Executive Director

Ellen joined the Side-Out Foundation after a successful career in collegiate volleyball. Ellen’s teams participated in 11-NCAC Tournament Championships, 4-NCAA Tournaments, and she was named the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year, 4-times. “My family has been touched deeply by breast cancer. I’ve spent my career building and fostering relationships. In some way, It feels that my life’s work has been to prepare me for this next, most important chapter.

Rick Dunetz, Founder & Chief Vision Officer

Rick’s passion for volleyball and his dual role as a coach and caregiver, led him to create the Side-Out Foundation in honor of his mother, Gloria, who lived with stage IV breast cancer for 6 years before passing in 2010. Side-Out is now a leader in metastatic breast cancer research with the support of thousands of athletes, coaches, parents, and donors. Rick’s passion for volleyball has never waned and he still coaches at the school where it all started.

About The Side-Out Foundation

In volleyball, “side-out” means regaining control of the ball. The Side-Out Foundation helps people with breast cancer regain control of their lives – and we started our fundraising efforts through the sport of volleyball. Our Executive Director and Founder, Rick Dunetz, was a high school volleyball coach when his mother, Gloria, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Together he and his father, Bryant, decided to tell her story, and the story of all those with metastatic breast cancer, through dedicated volleyball matches across the U.S., where communities would rally and fundraise to support breast cancer research. This is how Dig Pink® was born – and it is still a central program of The Side-Out Foundation.

As Kelly and Gary discuss, when breast cancer becomes #MetastaticBreastCancer is when things go "all to heck," leading to 117/118 deaths a day from this stage of the disease. Research, like that funded by Metavivor, leads to hope, not just for MBC but early stage disease, too. 🍩 🩷

Kelly Shanahan, METAvivor, President

In 2008, I had everything going for me: a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the University of Virginia School of Medicine, I had a busy and successful ob-gyn practice in South Lake Tahoe, CA; a precocious 9 year old daughter; and a well-used passport from traveling all over the world with my family to attend conferences, with a liberal dose of vacation on the side. When I was diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer in April 2008, I considered it a mere bump in the road, returning to work two weeks after my bilateral mastectomy and continuing to work all through the four months of chemo.

And for five years, breast cancer was an aside, something to put in the past medical history section of forms. Even when I developed sudden back pain, I never thought it could be breast cancer rearing its ugly head – a pulled muscle, a herniated disc but not what it turned out to be: metastatic breast cancer in virtually every bone in my body, with a fractured vertebra and an about to break left femur. I was diagnosed on my 53rd birthday.

I have been extremely lucky, for after an unconventional 14-month course of combination IV chemo and zometa, followed by a more conventional aromatase inhibitor, I have remained NEAD – No Evidence of Active Disease — since April 2014. Neuropathy from the chemo did cost me my career, but I have found a new purpose in advocacy. I am a volunteer and grant reviewer for METAvivor; a member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and the ABC Global Alliance; a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program; and past medical director of METUP. I will fight for more research funding for the already metastasized patient until my dying breath by continuing to contact my state and federal representatives and participating in legislative advocacy days on Capitol Hill, as I have since 2015.

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a doctor, a woman LIVING with metastatic breast cancer. I am an advocate.

(Editor's note - Where Sara Lee's brand is mentioned as being owned, Maureen means licensed.)