The Cracking Cancer Podcast

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down with patient advocate Samantha Murrell (living with Stage IV HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer) and science communicator Dr. Rob Swanda to demystify two of the most foundational—yet frequently misunderstood—pillars of modern precision oncology: Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy. Dr. Kyle and Samantha break down the biologi...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, science communicator Dr. Rob Swanda is joined by breast surgical oncologist Dr. Monique Gary (Dr. Mo) and 17-year male breast cancer survivor and patient advocate Harvey Singer, co-founder of HIS Breast Cancer Awareness. The panel shines a much-needed light on a reality frequently overlooked during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: men have breast tissue, and men c...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon reunites with patient advocate Samantha Murrell and science communicator Dr. Rob Swanda to tackle some of the most persistent, widespread myths and misconceptions in oncology. The team explores the emotional and practical realities of navigating a cancer diagnosis, addressing online health claims, and clearing up common misunderstandings...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by breast surgical oncologist Dr. Monique Gary (Dr. Mo) and Stage IV metastatic breast cancer advocate Lindsay Campbell. The panel unpacks the complex and often overwhelming world of breast cancer surgery, moving step-by-step from the initial consultation through the operating room experience to post-operative recovery. Lindsay...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by breast radiologist Dr. Deepa Sheth and Stage IV metastatic breast cancer advocate Lindsay Campbell. Lindsay shares her personal story of being diagnosed at age 38 after facing nearly a year of medical delays. Despite noticing visible skin dimpling and localized pain, she was repeatedly turned away because she was under the tr...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down in person with science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, to tackle one of the most persistent and anxiety-inducing topics in oncology: Does sugar feed cancer? Rob and Kyle break down the biochemistry behind how the body processes carbohydrates, deconstruct online misconceptions, and address the real-world harm caused when cancer pat...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, is joined by glioblastoma researcher Dr. Julio Sanchez, a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA. Julio pulls back the curtain on early-stage cancer research, shedding light on the quiet, rigorous, and often high-failure world of preclinical science that takes place long before a new drug ever reaches a clinical trial. Julio details th...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by GI medical oncologist Dr. Chris Lieu (University of Colorado Cancer Center) and Stage IV neuroendocrine rectal cancer patient advocate Bill Thach. Bill brings an incredible, rare perspective—having navigated 11 lines of therapy and participated in 5 distinct clinical trials since his diagnosis in 2018. Dr. Lieu and Bill break...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, is joined by virologist and gene therapy researcher Dr. Cole Peters to pull back the curtain on the hidden mechanics of academic cancer funding in the United States. Dr. Peters walks listeners through the pipeline of National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) grants—from training awards to multi-...

In this solo episode of Cracking Cancer, patient advocate Samantha Murrell and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, dive into an unexpected topic in integrative oncology: the potential anti-cancer properties of statins—the most widely prescribed class of cardiovascular medications in the world. Driven by digital discussions around drug repurposing (similar to their recent exploration of GLP-1s),...

In this eye-opening episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Max Doppelt, founder of Patient Data Vault, to tackle one of the most frustrating aspects of modern oncology: clinical trial exclusion criteria. Max shares the heartbreaking story of his mother, who was diagnosed with EGFR Exon 20 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). After weeks of agonizing screening to access a p...

The Ethics and Impacts of Clinical Trial Prediction Markets In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by patient advocate Samantha Murrell and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, to tackle an unforeseen intersection in modern medicine: the rise of prediction markets on clinical trial outcomes. The panel dissects the recent introduction of prediction markets for FDA re...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by GI medical oncologist Dr. Sam Klempner (Mass General Brigham) and Stage IV gastric cancer patient advocate Frank Blandon. Frank shares his journey of navigating a diagnostic whirlwind—from being initially misdiagnosed with testicular cancer to finding that a "collapsed stomach" on CT scans hid the true primary tumor. Dr. Klem...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Jeanne Zurek, a Stage IV EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer patient from Minnesota, and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD. The episode focuses on how the route of drug administration impacts a patient's quality of life, moving from oral TKIs to intravenous (IV) infusions and, ultimately, to subcutaneous (SubQ) injecti...

The Metabolic Blueprint: Weighing the Evidence on GLP-1s and Cancer Survival In this highly anticipated episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down with patient advocate Samantha Murrell and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, to tackle the most talked-about presentation from the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting: the intersection of GLP-1 recepto...

In this special behind-the-scenes episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down for a candid, scientist-to-scientist conversation with science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD. Stepping away from the traditional patient-interview format, Kyle and Rob pull back the curtain on their own medical paths to explore a profound systemic challenge: the widening chasm between complex oncology re...

Deconstructing Fenbendazole: Scaffolding, Solvents, and the "Joe Tippens" Protocol In this highly requested follow-up to their Ivermectin discussion, host Dr. Kyle Concannon, patient advocate Samantha Murrell, and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, touch the hot stove of alternative oncology once again. This time, they dive deep into Fenbendazole (commonly called "Fenben"), an antiparasitic vet...

In this critical episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon reunites with co-host JJ Singleton and welcomes Zach Schroeder, a first-year intern at Wake Forest and the founder of the Rural Cancer Institute. Zach sharing his harrowing personal journey as a 21-year-old diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in a tiny Kansas town anchors the conversation. To receive life-saving surgeries and radia...

Touching the Hot Stove: The Truth About Ivermectin and Cancer In this high-stakes episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by patient advocate Samantha Morrell and biochemist Rob, PhD, to dissect the data behind the Ivermectin "miracle cure" narrative. Samantha candidly shares her personal experience with the drug, including the social pressure that led her to try it and the s...

Inside the "Scientific City": Navigating the AACR Conference with Max Doppelt In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon and patient advocate Max Doppelt pull back the curtain on one of the world's largest oncology events: the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. While clinical conferences focus on what drugs work now, AACR is a massive "scientific city"...

Smashing the Stigma: New Hope and Breakthroughs in Small Cell Lung Cancer In this powerful episode, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Matthew Baker, a never-smoker living with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and Dr. Misty Shields, a physician-scientist at Indiana University and founder of the "Small Cell Smashers." Together, they strip away the "Google-induced" terror of an SCLC di...

Demystifying Radiation: From "Adult Coloring" to Molecular Smart Drugs In this enlightening episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by academic radiation oncologist Dr. Tim Waxweiler and stage IV neuroendocrine patient Bill Thach. They strip away the "sci-fi" mystery surrounding radiation therapy, addressing common patient fears—such as "Am I radioactive?"—and explaining the...

Young, Sick, and Isolated: Navigating the AYA Cancer Crisis with Stupid Cancer In this vital episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by JJ Singleton, a colorectal cancer survivor diagnosed at age 27, and Alison Silberman, CEO of Stupid Cancer. They dive into the world of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer—defined as patients diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 39. While...

In this crucial episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by patient advocate Samantha Murrell and world-renowned expert Dr. Laura Alder, a thoracic oncologist at Duke University. Together, they demystify Leptomeningeal Disease (LMD)—a condition where cancer cells spread to the thin layers of tissue (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. LMD is often considered "the...

In this poignant episode of Cracking Cancer, co-host Ashley Holt steps into a different role to interview Lauren Case, whose sister, Lexi, is living with Stage IV EGFR Exon 20 lung cancer. While the spotlight often remains on the patient, this conversation illuminates the emotional and logistical weight carried by sisters who become researchers, advocates, and "truth-tellers" in the face of termin...