What happens when you blend the soul of Mr. Rogers, the boldness of RuPaul, and just a pinch of Carrie Bradshaw? You get Sally Wolf.

She’s a Harvard and Stanford powerhouse who ditched corporate media to help people actually flourish at work and in life—because cancer kicked her ass and she kicked it back, with a pole dance routine on Netflix for good measure.

In this episode, we unpack what it means to live (really live) with metastatic breast cancer. We talk about the toxic PR machine behind "pink ribbon" cancer, how the healthcare system gaslights survivors when treatment ends, and why spreadsheets and dance classes saved her sanity. Sally doesn’t just survive. She rewrites the script, calls out the BS, and shows up in full color.

If you've ever asked “Why me?”—or refused to—this one’s for you.

RELATED LINKS:

Sally Wolf's Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Cosmopolitan Essay: "What It's Like to Have the 'Good' Cancer"

Oprah Daily Article: "Five Things I Wish Everyone Understood About My Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis"

Allure Photo Shoot

The Story of Our Trauma Podcast

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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 with the Helen Keller National Center (yes, she knows finger spelling), her accidental journey into cancer nonprofit leadership, the weirdness of dermoid cysts, the ridiculousness of writing grants, and the absolute hellscape of diagnosis delay. Oh, and the fallopian tubes. You’ll never look at them the same way again.

This episode is funny, raw, deeply personal, and loaded with Gen X movie references and random facts about Paul Rudd, Terminator 2, and flipbook apps at 3am. Audra drops wisdom, humility, and a few hot takes on AI, advocacy, and what it really means to lead when the boulder keeps rolling downhill.

RELATED LINKS

Audra Moran on LinkedIn

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)

Audra's profile on OCRA

CURE Today interview: Leading the Fight

OCRA + AI & Data: Overlooked Podcast

FEEDBACK

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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 industry to impact, what it's like trying to scale empathy without losing your soul, and the daily gut-punch of knowing there are millions of people who still have no idea that CancerCare exists. Christine gets real about leadership, advocacy, burnout, and why being “pan-cancer” matters more than ever in a world obsessed with biomarkers, buckets, and branding.

She also dishes on what AI gets dead wrong, what patients actually want when they call for help, and why “ghosting” someone with cancer is still a thing. Buckle up. This one's packed with heart, brains, and a little righteous rage.

RELATED LINKS

• CancerCare
• Christine Verini on LinkedIn
• Christine’s CEO Announcement – PR Newswire
• Cancer Health 25: Christine Verini
• Christine on HealthyWomen
• BIO Convention Speaker Profile

FEEDBACK

Like this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship inquiries, email podcast@matthewzachary.com

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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 have cancer while looking for the remote. Jen drops real talk about founding a nonprofit when nothing existed for her age group, why mental health support isn’t optional, and how passing down designer scarves can mean arming someone for battle.

If you’re looking for honesty, grit, and a few inappropriate jokes about gastroenterology, this one’s for you. You'll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely leave knowing why Jennifer Finkelstein is a survivor, a fighter, and a damn legend.

RELATED LINKS

5 Under 40 Foundation

Jennifer Finkelstein on LinkedIn

About 5 Under 40: Board of Directors

Dan’s Papers: 5 Under 40 Supports Young Breast Cancer Survivors

FEEDBACK

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Let me know if you want shorter pull quotes, audiogram text, or promotional copy for LinkedIn, Instagram, or your newsletter.

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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 about what happens when everything you built your life on—movement, strength, purpose—gets sideswiped by disease. Twice. Ilaria opens up about diagnosis shock, bad doctor vibes, wielding swords post-mastectomy, and why working out through treatment is the best revenge.

We get into scanxiety, menopause side effects, nutrition spirals, and the moment she realized the fitness industry needed more truth—and less bullshit.

This one’s real, raw, and will either guilt you into planking or inspire you to finally cancel that gym membership you’ve never used. Either way, you’re gonna feel something.

RELATED LINKS

Stronger for Life documentary

Powerstrike official site

Ilaria on Instagram

Ilaria on LinkedIn

Workout programs and DVDs

Forza Sword Workout on Amazon

FEEDBACK

Like this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship inquiries, email podcast@matthewzachary.com

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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 warning labels, and how American healthcare gaslights patients like it's a competitive sport. She also explains why she’s giving away her new book for free, one chapter at a time, and how AI might actually be useful—if it stops hallucinating citations.

This is not a light listen. It’s the real deal. You’ll walk away angry, inspired, and a lot more dangerous as a patient.

RELATED LINKS

Helene's Substack: https://helenemepstein.substack.com

Patient Safety Resources: https://www.pfps.us

Helene's Website: https://www.hmepstein.com/meet-helene

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

FEEDBACK

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For guest suggestions or sponsorship inquiries, email podcast@matthewzachary.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 let their son’s memory fade into the void.

Jon and Jenn open up about what Zach taught them, how they’ve reshaped their lives in his honor, and why “Be Like Zach” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a call to action. We talk about the power of community, the frustrating gaps in pediatric cancer care, and how they’re making sure no other family has to walk this road alone. If you’ve ever wondered what real resilience looks like, this is it.

RELATED LINKS:

• Zach’s Bridge
• Zach’s Rules for Life
• Be Like Zach - Substack
• Jonathan Wall on LinkedIn
• Jon’s Post: What Cancer Taught Me About Work
• Rett’s Roost Blog - Jonathan’s Writing
• Zach’s Story - OSI

FEEDBACK:

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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 honor, and I was right there with her every step of the way.

This episode is a love letter to friendship, music, and those moments that change your life forever. We nerd out over Sondheim, Binghamton's infamous "Theater 101 with Dr. Susan Peters." and the weird and wonderful rabbit holes that turn into entire alternate realities across decades of aging gracefully and falling with style.

We talk about how cancer is the worst club with the best people and how surviving it together just adds another verse to the song we’ve been singing for 30 years. It’s funny. It’s real. It’s a master class in love, laughter, and musicals that should have been bigger; with a big tip of the hat to Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer for their acclaimed musical "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road"

Oh, and RIP to the legendary Denny’s on Vestal Parkway. You will be missed.

FEEDBACK:

Like this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship inquiries, email podcast@matthewzachary.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.