Believe in Progress: an American Association for Cancer Research Foundation Podcast

In this episode, we explore a quiet revolution underway in cancer care. Instead of a painful biopsy or months of anxious waiting between scans, a single vial of blood may be able to indicate whether cancer is present, whether it is responding to treatment, or whether it has returned. The technology is here today. Most patients do not know it exists. Two women sit on opposite sides of the same miss...

In this episode, we hear the remarkable story of how personal loss and friendship became the foundation for a 25-year mission to ensure no young adult faces cancer alone. When Brock Yetso was 23, his mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. She passed away in just weeks. At the same time, his best friend, Doug Ulman, was fighting cancer for the third time as a college student at Brown...

In this episode, we hear the remarkable story of how a son, an elder brother, and a family dealt with a devastating cancer diagnosis with love and determination. When George John "GJ" Gerner III was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at the age of 27 in 2017, he and his close-knit family came together. Inspired by GJ's grit, his younger brother, Colin Gerner, founded and now leads Stache...

Derek DeAngelis has spent his career making millions of people laugh. Known to his fans as Derek D, he’s hosted more than 2,300 episodes of the two-time Webby Award-winning show Fast Lane Daily, earned three Telly Awards, and appeared on the Key of Awesome YouTube channel. In December 2024, a routine blood test changed everything. After weeks of unexplained fatigue, a CT scan revealed a massive tu...

Despite facing a long family history of cancer, testing positive for a BRCA mutation at 30, and surviving breast cancer at 32, Katie Rabinowitz was living her best life as an attorney and marathon runner. Then she ran through severe chest pain at a Boulder, Colorado marathon. Initially, her doctors thought running was the cause of the 35-year-old’s chest pain. But then, everything changed. Katie’s...

Behind every breakthrough in cancer science and medicine is a complex ecosystem of funding, peer review, and strategic support that allows innovative investigators to thrive. On this episode of Believe in Progress, we meet two of the key players in that ecosystem at the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR). Dr. Yixian (John) Zhang is the Vice President of Research and Grants Administra...

What does it take for high school students to raise more than $500,000 for cancer research? In this episode of Believe in Progress, we meet Suhani Makwana, who turned her teacher's cancer diagnosis into a movement that's funding breakthrough research in blood cancers. You will hear from two extraordinary individuals whose relationship exemplifies the ripple effect of mentorship, resilience, and pu...

What does it take to revive a beloved Philadelphia tradition after a decade-long hiatus? In this episode of Believe in Progress, a podcast of the AACR Foundation, we sit down with two men who are bringing professional cycling back to the streets of Philadelphia. Part One introduces the grassroots origins of the revival. We meet Carlos Rogers, a local hairstylist and cycling enthusiast who spent th...

What happens when a healthy 8-year-old boy begins tripping, falling, and experiencing double vision? For Katie and Nick Macri, and grandparents Tim and Maggie McNiff, these early warning signs led to every family’s worst nightmare: a diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive tumor located in the brainstem. In this emotional episode of Believe in Progress, brought...

What happens when an elite athlete, known for his focus and discipline, faces a life-changing diagnosis? In this episode of Believe in Progress, a podcast of the AACR Foundation, we sit down with Steve Dawson, a titan in the world of pickleball, to discuss his experiences with prostate cancer. Part One: We explore Steve’s initial diagnosis, which came as a shock following a routine physical with n...

What happens when a life in media, advocacy, and leadership converges on a mission to transform the way we support people with cancer? On this episode of Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation’s podcast, we hear from Suzanne Stone, an Emmy-winning storyteller, nonprofit champion, and the President and CEO of Livestrong. From television studios to basketball courts to cancer care nonprofits, Suza...

What does it take to lead one of the world’s largest gatherings of cancer researchers and to deliver cancer care on the front lines of a war zone? In this powerful episode of Believe in Progress, brought to you by the AACR Foundation, we sit down with two extraordinary individuals shaping efforts to drive progress in cancer science and medicine. Part One features Dr. Matthew G. Vander Heiden, Coch...

What does it take to face cancer head-on, twice, and still find the strength to run toward progress? In this powerful episode of Believe in Progress, brought to you by the AACR Foundation, Rhett Austell shares his deeply personal journey through stage 4 appendix cancer, fatherhood, advocacy, and the fight for his life. Rhett’s story is one of resilience. From the sudden onset of cancer in his late...

Your support matters. Help accelerate progress against cancer: - Donate to the AACR: Fuel lifesaving cancer research at https://AACR.org/Give. - Share this episode: Amplify Patty’s and Vicki’s messages of early detection, advocacy, and hope. - Subscribe to Believe in Progress: Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. What does it look like to face breast cancer with c...

Your support matters! Take action to propel progress in cancer science and medicine: - Donate to the AACR: Fuel lifesaving innovation by supporting cutting-edge cancer research at https://AACR.org/Give - Share this episode: Help amplify Justin’s story and advance research for the benefit of caregivers, survivors, and all those impacted by cancer - Subscribe to Believe in Progress: Find us on Apple...

Your support matters. Help us take action in the fight against cancer: - Donate to the AACR: Fuel innovation by supporting cutting-edge cancer research at https://AACR.org/Give - Share this episode: Help amplify Larry’s story and inspire action to advance cancer research - Listen and subscribe: Find Believe in Progress on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts How can...

Take Action: Help Accelerate Progress in Cancer Science and Medicine - Donate to the AACR: Fuel lifesaving innovation by supporting cutting-edge cancer research at https://AACR.org/Give - Share this episode: Inspire others by amplifying Karlie’s story of resilience and recovery in the face of cancer - Listen and subscribe: Find Believe in Progress on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever y...

Want to know how you can take action in the fight against cancer? Help the AACR accelerate progress: - Donate to the AACR: Fuel lifesaving innovation by supporting cutting-edge cancer research at www. AACR.org/Give. - Share this episode: Help amplify the message that strategic investments and scientific breakthroughs can change the future of cancer care. - Listen and subscribe: Find Believe in Pro...

In this powerful episode of Believe in Progress, John Matthews, founder of Ride Hard Breathe Easy, and Jack Owens, a University of Notre Dame student, share their deeply personal journeys to fight lung cancer through action, advocacy, and cycling. Segment 1: A Promise Becomes a Mission John shares how a promise to his mother led to Ride Hard Breathe Easy and its first cross-country fundraising rid...

In this emotional episode of Believe in Progress, host Mitch Stoller, Chief Philanthropic Officer at the AACR, is joined by Joe Krajewski, a father, runner, and advocate who transformed personal tragedy into a powerful mission. After losing his only child, Will, to osteosarcoma in 2016, Joe began running in Will’s memory as part of “Team Will Power,” raising vital funds and awareness in the fight...

In this special 50th episode of Believe in Progress, Mitch Stoller, the host of Believe in Progress and Chief Philanthropic Officer of the AACR, sits in the guest chair. Special guest host, Anthony Lopes, Esq., the executive producer of Believe in Progress, leads a reflective and inspiring retrospective conversation with Mitch. They discuss the early days of Believe in Progress, at the AACR, as we...

This episode of Believe in Progress brings together two individuals leading global investments in cancer research: Dr. Christiana Bardon of MPM BioImpact and Mark Haefele of UBS Global Wealth Management. Dr. Bardon and Mr. Haefele are uniting science, finance, and philanthropy to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Their collaboration has led to the Oncology Impact Fund, a revolutionary...

This special episode of Believe in Progress, recorded live at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, features two compelling conversations that spotlight the human side of cancer research. From confronting rare diagnoses to reshaping clinical trials, our guests reveal how personal experience and advocacy are essential to scientific progress. Featured Guests Bill Day – Marketing Executive, Rare C...

This special episode of Believe in Progress, recorded live at the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting in Chicago, features dynamic conversations with researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and student scholars, each contributing uniquely to the fight against cancer. From breakthrough diagnostics to trailblazing health services research, our guests share their stories of science, innovation, and hope. Featur...

What happens when deep science meets bold cancer-fighting innovation? In this episode of Believe in Progress, we sit down with Dr. Ajit Singh—Managing Director at Artiman Ventures and a Trustee of the AACR Foundation—for a compelling conversation about the technologies and ideas shaping the future of cancer care. With decades of experience leading both Fortune 500 healthcare companies and high-imp...