I'm Dying to Tell You

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the life you’re just beginning suddenly changes forever? Hannah Broermann and Logan Chowning were newly married, building a home, and dreaming about the future when Hannah began experiencing symptoms that eventually led to a diagnosis of ALS at just 27 years old. In this episode, Hannah and Logan share the shock of diagnosis, the uncertainty that followed and how...

Send us Fan Mail Here, I’m joined by six members of Many Shades of ALS , a community team within I AM ALS , for a roundtable that breaks the stereotype of who gets ALS.  We talk honestly about “ghosting” after diagnosis and why people disappear even when they care, then get specific about what real support looks like. We also name the moments that sting most: when people speak to our caregivers in...

Send us Fan Mail Meet the inspiring duo behind the @unsteadyandready Instagram account, sharing life with ALS.  Here, I sit down with Erin Taylor, diagnosed with ALS at 23, to hear what it’s like to build a life in your twenties while your body changes fast and your natural voice fades.  Erin and her mom Lily show us how advocacy, humor, and everyday love can keep you feeling like a whole person e...

Send us Fan Mail For six years, Sam Cunningham felt the subtle but persistent signs that something in his body wasn’t right—leg heaviness, twitching, and strength loss that didn’t add up.  As an athlete, he knew his body, but getting answers proved to be a long and frustrating journey.  In this episode, Sam shares what it’s like to finally receive an ALS diagnosis at 35, the emotional weight of be...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is tender.   In 2021, I interviewed a 28-year-old woman named Leah Stavenhagen. She had been diagnosed with ALS at 26. I remember thinking how young she was. How unfair it felt.  But Leah didn’t shrink after her diagnosis. She built something incredible.  What began as “In Her ALS Shoes” is now known as Her ALS Story — a sisterhood for women diagnosed with ALS under 3...

Send us Fan Mail Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling singer-songwriter Eric Paslay joins me to talk about about the night he drew my song idea out of a hat. Eric brought his unique songwriting experience, "Song In A Hat" to Hop On A Cure's "Harmony for Hope"" event and something magical happened there.  My "Song In A Hat " idea was randomly drawn.  This led t...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Salym Liufau , a 33-year-old mother of four living with ALS, whose grace and honesty have touched thousands online. Salym opens up about adapting to a body that’s changing while holding tight to joy, purpose, and presence. We talk about motherhood in the face of uncertainty, the traditions she’s building for her children, the legacy s...

Send us Fan Mail In this second part of my chat with 33-year-old widow Melanie Lang, we talk about her & her husband Tyler’s biggest miracle, their daughter.   Tyler only spent 6 weeks with his precious baby girl before he died of ALS at a young 33. Melanie’s perspective & big heart shines through as she talks about using their platform “Don’t Waste A Day” to help other families in Tyler’s...

Send us Fan Mail I catch up with 33-year-old widow Melanie Lang to share how she and her husband Tyler faced ALS with relentless honesty, deep faith, and a simple motto that became their North Star: Don’t Waste A Day! If you’re navigating illness, grief, or the heavy unknown, this conversation offers a grounded way forward: focus on today, serve the people in front of you, and let purpose be pract...

Send us Fan Mail This Veterans Day episode brings together three service members living with ALS—Liz Fassler (Army), Ron Faretra (Air Force), and John Hudacek (Army)—to share how the discipline, teamwork, and purpose they learned in uniform now guide them through life with this disease. They talk candidly about the realities of ALS, the unique challenges and resources available to veterans, and th...

Send us Fan Mail In this Happy Hour Chat, I talk with Tina Cascio, Mira Hudson and Kelly McGinn, all young women who share their journey living with ALS after being diagnosed in their 20's and 30's.  John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band who is also battling ALS joins the conversation too. We discuss finding community, maintaining independence, and embracing joy despite a terminal diag...

Send us Fan Mail This episode follows the powerful and unexpectedly uplifting story of Jake Popyura , a musician and multi-instrumentalist in the indie rock band Supermilk , who was diagnosed with ALS at just 38. Rather than despair, Jake felt relief—finally understanding the cause behind years of unexplained symptoms. As his physical abilities shift, Jake and his bandmates have chosen adaptation...

Send us Fan Mail The emotional aftermath of losing someone to ALS is a journey rarely discussed but vitally important to understand. Caroline, Jill, Jenny, and Deb—four remarkable women who lost husbands and a sister to ALS—share their paths through grief toward finding purpose and even joy again.  Years after their losses, these women formed " Antiques Roadshow for ALS ," a cycling team...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, we meet the individuals behind Always Lifting Spirits , Chair Force 1 Foundation , Operation Ramp It Up , Que4Care and the Cincinnati Reds — a community who turned their ALS grief into life-changing support for others. From accessible vans to wheelchair ramps to lift chairs and patient care, these local nonprofits are honoring those they've lost to...

Send us Fan Mail Here, Elin Adcock shares her powerful journey through her husband’s ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnoses—and how she’s now leading the charge to support families facing the same fight.  When Elin's husband, Larry was diagnosed with both ALS and FTD, her world changed forever.  In this episode, Elin shares how she navigated the overwhelming challenges of caregiving...

Send us Fan Mail When faced with an ALS diagnosis, finding trustworthy information shouldn't add to your burden. This episode introduces a groundbreaking solution born from one son's love for his father. Vikram Bhaskaran takes us through the painful journey that sparked innovation – watching his father battle ALS in India while struggling to access reliable information and expertise. The...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you learn that your DNA carries the same mutation that led to a loved one’s battle with ALS? In this episode, I sit down with Mindy Uhrlaub , who discovered she is a carrier of the C9orf72 gene—the most common genetic cause of ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia. Mindy shares her emotional journey of genetic testing, the weight of living in the unknown and the unique...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to "I'm Dying to Tell You," where we shine a light on resilience and hope.  In this special episode, we’re celebrating six years of I AM ALS, an organization created for patients, by patients. Why is this so important? Because for far too long, those most impacted by ALS weren’t leading the charge in our collective mission for a cure. But I AM ALS changed th...

Send us Fan Mail Here I chat with Dr. Richard Bedlack, a neurologist known not only for his relentless ALS research but also for his unique style. This episode unfolds the fascinating story of how an encounter with legendary designer Manuel Cuevas led to the creation of a special jacket that embodies Dr. Bedlack's fight against ALS. We also celebrate the powerful alliances formed through advo...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine facing a life-changing ALS diagnosis and tackling it with resilience and positivity. That’s what Johnny Rodriguez, a 35-year-old high school lacrosse coach, husband, and father, has done. Johnny’s story is one of inspiration, determination, and the power of community. From playing lacrosse in Hawaii to mentoring athletes at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, h...

Send us Fan Mail What if two young siblings could inspire an entire community to rally against a devastating disease? Brady and Brooklyn Yozwiak from Hudson, Ohio, are doing just that with their initiative, Clayton Rakes. Their story begins with a deeply personal journey, motivated by their father Chris's battle with ALS. Sadly, Chris passed away in early 2024, but these incredible kids, aged...

Send us Fan Mail "LUKi and the Lights" is not just an animated short film; it's a beacon for children trying to grasp the complexities of ALS. Inspired by the real-life journey of Anjo Snijders and Sascha Groen, this episode unravels how their personal ALS/MND experiences fueled the creation of a groundbreaking resource for families worldwide.  Hear how the layers of creativity, med...

Send us Fan Mail To celebrate Episode 100 of this podcast, here I chat with 100-year-old Mildred Kirschenbaum.  Mildred has become a social media star and is happily sharing some life lessons of her ten decades.  She not only became an author at 100, Mildred entertains over 100,000 on TikTok and Instagram.  Her videos have been featured on mainstream media outlets like the Today Show, CBS and Fox....

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Aaron Lazar shares how he discovered a new life purpose after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, ALS.  Aaron has been in the spotlight for over two decades in his successful career as a singer, actor and now speaker and advocate.  Aaron took a couple years before going public with his ALS in order to discover how he would shape and control his future. ...

Send us Fan Mail Grateful to catch up with John Driskell Hopkins (Hop) again to see how he’s doing with his ALS diagnosis.  About 2.5 years after being told he had ALS, John continues to perform with the Zac Brown Band.  Despite seeing some progression of the disease, Hop is living a full and joyful life.  He's busy creating new music, being a family man and promoting Hop On A Cure, the found...