Voices for Victory

Joining us is small town athlete to national sports anchor, Michael Eaves. On this episode, Michael speaks to the challenges of climbing the ladder, competition in the game of broadcasting, and appreciating the small successes along the way. He also speaks to how a small introduction turns into huge opportunity to impact millions through cancer research fundraising. Tune in to hear how Michael ref...

In April of 2023, Bricoleur Vineyards co-founder Sarah Hanson Citron received the challenging diagnosis of breast cancer. As an extraordinary leader and devoted young mother, Sarah's strength is an inspiration. In this episode, Sarah shares more about her breast cancer journey and her view of victory. While almost misdiagnosed because of her age, she kept persevering. She wants everyone to know th...

Joining us today is Suleika Jaouad, an Emmy award-winning journalist and celebrated Ted Speaker. Suleika is the author of the instant New York Times Bestselling memoir: Between Two Kingdoms, which recounts her odyssey of healing and self-discovery after a leukemia diagnosis at the age of 22, which has only a 35% chance of survival. Suleika is now cancer free and is our featured speaker for our win...

Dereck Whittenberg was a starting guard on Jim Valvano’s 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship team at NCSU. After a successful career at NCSU, the Phoenix Suns drafted him in the 1983 NBA Draft. Dereck later established a coaching career of his own. He joined NC State University (NCSU) as the Director of Player Development in 2013. He was promoted in October 2015 to Associate Athletics Director for C...

Dr. Susanna Greer, Ph. D. is the Chief Scientific Officer of the V Foundation. In this role, Dr. Greer is a visionary ambassador of the V Foundation who works with our scientific advisory committee to steer funding to the most promising research opportunities. An accomplished strategist. She develops and articulates priorities to enhance the V Foundation's research portfolio, gifts, grants, and sp...

Greg Simon served as the president of the Biden Cancer Initiative from 2017 to 2019. Previously, he was the executive director of the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force under then Vice President Joe Biden in the Obama administration. Greg has held senior positions in both chambers of Congress, served in two presidential administrations, and was a senior strategy consultant to a variety of inte...

Tylee Craft plays wide receiver on the UNC Tar Heels football team. A lifelong athlete, Tylee's life changed on March 14, 2022, when he visited his doctor to discuss issues with back pain and spasms. Tylee's pain indicated a bigger problem, and he was diagnosed with Stage IV large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Since the diagnosis, Tylee has stayed active with his team and shared a message of hope...

In 2019, Larry Holm’s wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with uterine cancer. After a 21-month battle, she ultimately lost her life to the disease. During Sarah’s cancer treatment, Larry became her primary caregiver — managing doctor’s appointments, treatments, and daily life tasks — in addition to navigating the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining his role as a Supervising Producer at t...

Stan Verrett is a SportsCenter anchor based in Los Angeles who has hosted on ESPN for 22 years and counting. Stan will co-host Boo-Yah! A Celebration of Stuart Scott on December 5th with Hill Harper in New York City. In this episode, Stan reflects on the broadcasting legacy of Stuart Scott and John Saunders and shares stories of his most memorable moments at ESPN so far.

Duane Mitchell, MD, PhD, and a V Foundation Scholar, doesn’t settle for good. He aims to be great. He’s working on more individualized cancer treatments by training the body’s own immune system to attack cancer.

Donna Orender has been an inspiring, driving force in women’s sports. A lifelong basketball player, Donna began playing professionally – in the first professional women’s basketball league - in 1979. Her career took her across the sports world — as a television producer for ABC Sports, senior vice president of strategic development for the PGA Tour, and commissioner of the WNBA. Today, Donna serve...

Chaunte Lowe is an inspiration. As a four-time Olympic high-jumper, breast cancer survivor, mom, and public speaker, Chaunte has a lot to share about how to work hard, overcome obstacles, and give back in the process. On this episode, Jon Alhart talks with Chaunte about winning an Olympic medal, the story of her breast cancer diagnosis and how it impacted her family, and her excitement about the T...

In 2014, Devon Still‘s life changed forever when his daughter Leah was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer. In the midst of his NFL career as a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, Devon stopped playing to focus on his daughter and her recovery. During Leah’s treatment, Still became a champion for cancer research and raised $1 million by selling his jersey. On today’s show, Devon Stil...

Noah Reeb was diagnosed with brain cancer in February 2021. During his treatments, watching his favorite NFL player, Tom Brady, helped Noah pass the hours in the hospital. When Noah’s treatment ended, he attended a Buccaneers game with a homemade sign that read “Tom Brady helped me beat cancer.” Inspired by his courage, Brady gifted Noah and his dad tickets to the Super Bowl. Here today to share h...

Dr. Shruti Naik leads a laboratory at New York University’s Langone Health that focuses on three major research areas: inflammation, tissue regeneration, and cancer, host-microbe interactions, and early in-life immunity. She is also a V Scholar Grant Recipient. On today’s show, host Mick McDonald talks to Dr. Naik about the importance of cutting-edge research in solving hard problems and why donat...

On today’s episode, host Mick McDonald talks with Rannen Roberson, the Associate Director of Student-Athlete Support Services at the University of Cincinnati. Rannen shares his journey of being diagnosed with testicular cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, and how his understanding of cancer research has evolved as he fights against his cancer diagnosis.

On today’s episode, host Mick McDonald talks with longtime sportscaster for the University of Maryland, Johnny Holliday. Johnny shares the story of his grandson Jack’s battle with cancer and the toll that took on his entire family. He also reflects on some unforgettable moments in his career including covering the Olympics, as well as his memories of Jim Valvano in the ACC.

Ray Cole is a long-time TV executive and supporter of the V Foundation. Ray's new book, Hangin' with Winners, features 32 profiles of impactful people and organizations. The V Foundation is classified as one of the five featured "winning organizations" in Ray's book. In this episode, Ray and Mick talk about Ray's longtime friendship with Dick Vitale, the process of writing his first book, and what...

Jamie Valvano is not only the daughter of Jim Valvano, but she's also a cancer survivor and an inspirational speaker. In this episode, Mick and Jamie chat about the precious moments Jamie spent with her dad on the road after he received his cancer diagnosis, how she believes he prophetically spoke to her in his famous ESPY speech, and the legacy that her dad has left with the V Foundation for Canc...

On this episode of the Voices for Victory Podcast, host Mick McDonald talks to Daryn Young. Daryn works for Constellation Brands in the beer division. Over the years, Constellation Brands has helped raise millions in support of the V Foundation. Not only is Daryn a long-time supporter of the V Foundation, but he's also a cancer survivor himself.    Mick and Daryn talk about Daryn's battle with can...

On today's episode of the Voices for Victory Podcast, host Mick McDonald talks with Jasmine McDonald, Ph. D. from Columbia University's Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.    Dr. McDonald's research on postpartum breast cancer was awarded a V Foundation Grant in 2021. The award goes to researchers who are working on projects that are designed to change the course of cancer. Dr. McDonald’s...

This is the Voices for Victory Podcast, brought to you by the V Foundation for Cancer Research - welcome to this week’s episode! On this episode, Mick chats with former president of ESPN and long-time V Foundation board member, George Bodenheimer,   In each episode, host Mick McDonald talks to courageous and impactful people who have been touched by cancer or who are leading cutting-edge cancer re...

As we wrap up a successful year, we chat with a few of the many V Foundation donors who allow us to fund the best and brightest researchers in the fight against cancer! In our last episode of Voices for Victory, we hear from Monet Leyva, Will Reeves and Brittany Bello and the personal journeys that lead each of them to their commitment to supporting cancer research and why they chose the V Foundat...

For #GivingTuesday and as we launch V Week, we're talking with ESPN's Jay Harris. Jay has been with ESPN for nearly two decades and knows firsthand what it means to be right in the mix with V Week. We chat with him about his personal connection to cancer, the influence that Stuart Scott had on other black broadcasters and the importance of taking on disparities in cancer.    If you'd like to join...

On today's episode, we talk with ESPN Senior Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions Ilan Ben-Hanan. Ilan is a three-time cancer survivor and was an instrumental voice in conceptualizing what is now ESPN's V Week. Ben-Hanan was initially reserved about sharing his personal cancer story with colleagues at ESPN, but was so moved by a speech from Mike Krzyzewski at the annual Dick Vitale Gala...