Soapbox Redemption

Episode 11: Dr. James Olson on Medulloblastoma Cancer Research

This episode is another very personal one. My son eight year old son William was diagnosed with medulloblastoma nearly a year ago. He’s since on embarked on an incredible journey of brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy – and recently rang the bell completing his treatment right before Thanksgiving.His response to this adversity has been nothing short of amazing and awe-inspiring. His smile and laughter has never ceased, his poise and strength are well-beyond his years, and I’ve chronicled his story on LinkedIn – where you’ll see his incredible strength and optimism on display. Along the way, I’ve met some incredible people and world changers. One of those world changers is Dr. Jim Olson from Seattle Children’s. James M. Olson, MD, PhD, is program director for the Invent at Seattle Children's Postdoctoral Scholars Program, a principal investigator in the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Research, and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He co-founded three biotechnology companies and has mentored more than 30 graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows. He chaired a national phase III clinical trial for high-risk medulloblastoma patients that led to a 20% improvement in five-year survival for Group 3 patients. Dr. Olson is the principal investigator on multiple projects that focus on developing effective new therapies for pediatric brain tumors; methods that allow surgeons to better visualize the border of brain cancer and normal brain, and the discovery of immunotherapeutics for several cancers. Dr. Olson’s game changing research in immunotherapy could potentially revolutionize the standard of care as we know it – and has the potential to replace radiation and chemotherapy. In lab trials, this treatment completely eliminated cancer in 90% of brain tumors that are otherwise universally fatal in children. Mice that received the treatment were alive and disease-free, while the untreated mice died within 18 days.In this podcast, we discuss his research, next steps for funding and clinical trials – and what this could mean for families moving forward. Please enjoy this conversation and donate to Dr. Olson's groundbreaking immunotherapy trial here.

Episode 10: Fernando Goldsztein on the Medulloblastoma Initiative

This episode is a deeply personal one. The Soapbox Redemption podcast has always been aimed at the big questions- and of course, served with swagger. Since my last podcast, I’ve come across the biggest question yet in my life with my seven year old son William’s brain and spine cancer diagnosis called medulloblastoma.Words fail to relay the horror that this reality is for a family. Everything immediately looks different and the life you knew before (and expected ahead) is forever changed. This episode features a conversation with Fernando Goldsztein who has also felt the horror of a medulloblastoma diagnosis. Fernando is married and has two children and is a businessman from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil with an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. After Fernando’s son Federico was diagnosed with medulloblastoma which then relapsed after treatment, Fernando founded the Medulloblastoma Initiative in 2021 to accelerate the development of a cure. the Medulloblastoma Initiative serves as a beacon of hope for families like Fernando who have been told "there is nothing further we can do."The Medulloblastoma Initiative is an entirely unique model. It's an open source innovation model with physicians with 14 of the world’s most prestigious labs and hospitals from across North America, Europe, and Brazil all working together - no bureaucracy or red tape - just full transparency - and 100% of private donated funds going towards actualizing cutting edge clinical trial therapies NOW - and two such trials have been initiated with three more in the pipeline. This model is extremely timely given the cut-backs to recent pediatric cancer research - and has far reaching implications beyond medulloblastoma. On his recent MSNBC interview, Fernando has assertively stated "giving up on my son was not an option" and "finding a cure is not an if, but a when."Like in one of my favorite Bruce Hornsby songs "That's Just the Way It Is", Fernando and the Medulloblastoma Initiative have stated in their actions - and in no uncertain terms - "ah, but don't you believe them." Please enjoy this conversation and donate to the Medulloblastoma Initiative here.

Episode 9: Daniele Bolelli on Philosophy, Martial Arts, and Some Big Questions

This episode features a conversation with Daniele Bolelli. Daniele is a writer, martial artist, university professor, and podcaster. He was born in Italy and currently lives in Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Anthropology and earning graduate degrees in American Indian Studies and History at UCLA and Cal State Long Beach, he began teaching at several colleges in Southern California. He’s lectured on a wide range of subjects including American Indian history and philosophy, history of the United States, world religions, history of ancient Rome, history and philosophy of martial arts, the ethnic experience in the United States, world history, plus several courses on the relationship between cinema and history. He’s written several books, including On the Warrior’s Path and Not Afraid – both of which I’ve read and were outstanding. He was featured in I Am Bruce Lee which broke Spike TV’s rating record for documentaries. He’s also appeared as a guest on popular podcasts such as Duncan Trussell’s, Adam Carolla’s and Joe Rogan. He also hosts two popular podcasts, The Drunken Taoist and History on Fire. In this podcast, Danielle and I discuss a wide range of topics including the evolution of martial arts, the idea of epistemological humility and anarchism, Eastern philosophy, the bushido spirit of the samurai – and how martial arts and philosophy has helped carry him through some of the most challenging times in his life including losing his wife and having to raise his baby daughter as a single parent. In these experiences and in the octagon and as a mixed martial artist, Danielle has exemplified the bushido spirit and way of the warrior – having faced his deepest fears with honor and courage – and coming out stronger… So please… Enjoy the conversation between yours truly and Daniele Bolelli…

Episode 8: Jonathan Zimmerman on Free Speech and Some Big Questions

This episode features a conversation with Jonathan Zimmerman, Professor of History of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. A former Peace Corps volunteer and high school social studies teacher, he holds a Ph.D. in history from the Johns Hopkins University. His scholarship has focused broadly on the ways that different peoples have imagined and debated education across time and space. He has authored books about sex and alcohol education, history and religion in the curriculum, Americans who taught overseas, and historical memory in public schooling. His most recent work examines campus politics in the United States, the teaching of controversial issues in public schools, and the history of college teaching. He has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Chronicle of Higher Education, The New York Review of Books, and The Atlantic. I came across Jon’s book after hearing him on the Joe Rogan podcast and binge read his book Free Speech and Why Should Give a Damn which was both outstanding and timely - and recently reviewed with these sentiments on the blog. In this podcast, we discussed his book, the importance of free speech, the climate of censorship and tribalism in our culture and academia, the role of Big Tech, and the ultimate problem of untested ideas. Jon is incredibly intelligent and threads the needle nicely reminding us of the freedoms we enjoy, while calling attention the problem of censorship that is alive and well at the present time. So please, enjoy the conversation between yours truly and Johnathan Zimmerman… Note: In this podcast, I mentioned Brett Weinstein had a dialogue on critical race theory on the Bill Maher Show. It was actually Ben Shapiro.

Episode 7: Hanni Stoklosa on Fighting Human Trafficking in the Healthcare Setting

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Hanni Stoklosa. Hanni is the Executive Director of HEAL Trafficking, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) with appointments at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Dr. Stoklosa is an internationally-recognized expert, advocate, researcher, and speaker on the wellbeing of trafficking survivors in the U.S. and internationally through a public health lens. She has advised the United Nations, International Organization for Migration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of State, and the National Academy of Medicine on issues of human trafficking and testified as an expert witness multiple times before the U.S. Congress. Moreover, she has conducted research on trafficking and persons facing the most significant social, economic, and health challenges in several countries throughout the world. Among other accolades, Dr. Stoklosa has been honored with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women's Health Emerging Leader award, the Harvard Medical School Dean's Faculty Community Service award, has been named as an Aspen Health Innovator and National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leader. Her anti-trafficking work has been featured by the New York Times, National Public Radio, Fortune, Glamour, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, STAT News, and Marketplace. Dr. Stoklosa published the first textbook addressing the public health response to trafficking entitled Human Trafficking Is a Public Health Issue, A Paradigm Expansion in the United States. In this podcast, Hanni and I discuss her background, the epidemic of human trafficking, and some counterintuitive ideas on what the optimal response is for healthcare worker who might suspect that their patient is a victim. Hanni is an amazing world changer and leader in this movement. I’m confident you’ll be impressed with her passion, outlook, and experience. So please, enjoy the conversation between yours truly and Hanni Stoklosa...