HOST:  Hildy Grossman CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich GUESTS: Kyle Concannon, MD, Samantha Murrell, Bianca Bye and Leah Phillips The face of lung cancer is changing. No longer viewed simply as a “smoker’s disease” that only impacts older adults, there is a rising and concerning trend of younger adults and non-smokers being diagnosed with advanced disease.  Our guests today have so much light to shine on this issue. In this powerhouse episode, we hear from Samantha Murrell, diagnosed with Stage 4 with a HER2 biomarker at age 37. She notes that her way of coping with her diagnosis was to learn everything possible about her disease. She tells how hope comes with new, cutting-edge drugs targeting HER2 because they allow her to live a full and active life.   Our guest, Leah Phillips, a mother of three young children, also was shocked by her diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer at 43. She tells how she joined Bianca Bye, who faced the advanced diagnosis and tragic loss of both parents, within months of each other, to lung cancer. Leah and Bianca joined forces to create the Young Lung Cancer Initiative. Oncologist, Dr. Kyle Concannon notes how these three resilient women are finding meaning in advocacy as they work to transform suffering into meaning by helping others. This is an unforgettable, action-driven look at hope, survival, and taking control.

HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUESTS: Lecia Sequist, MD and Allison Chang, MD, Ph.D. We are building on our previous "All in the Family" episode, with Jaclyn Lo Piccolo, MD, Ph.D., Pasi Janne, MD, Ph.D., of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Jill Feldman from EGFR Resisters. To look deeper into how a family history of lung cancer might increase the risk for other members, we invited Drs. Lecia Sequist and Allison Chang from Mass General Hospital to discuss their latest research on risk factors and the role of family history in lung cancer. We examine the current array of diagnostic tools—from CT scans to germline genetic testing—and the mystery of why some family members are more vulnerable to environmental pollutants than others. Tune in to see how Drs. Sequist and Chang are using AI- driven CT analysis to identify risk in those with a family history of lung cancer and learn if you qualify to participate in their

HOST: Hildy Grossman CO-HOST, Jordan Rich Guests: Sachi Badola and Lauren Coye Think you’re too young for lung cancer? Think again! This week, we’re joined by two incredible young women who are highlighting the realities and breaking the stigma. Our first guest, Lauren Coye, shares her grueling journey to finally being diagnosed with lung cancer.  After being told she had recurring upper respiratory infections, starting at age 14, Lauren’s persistence led to the discovery 10 years later that saved her life. Her story is a testament to the life-saving power of self- advocacy. Our next guest, Sachi Badola, is a pre-med student at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. On top of that, she is taking over the reins to become the producer of Upstage Lung Cancer’s 10th annual Sing Out! concert on April 4, 2026. Bringing together eight a cappella groups to sing out about lung cancer, the concert will also be live-streamed and afterwards be available on YouTube and on our website. Both young women continue to raise awareness of lung cancer as Board Members of Upstage Lung Cancer. From the doctor’s office to the center stage, we’re exploring how the next generation can raise their voices to fund research and demand better care. It’s time to listen.

HOST:  Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUEST: Sumati Ram-Mohan, Vice President of Upstage Lung Cancer Why did singer and cabaret performer Hildy Grossman launch Upstage Lung Cancer 18 years ago? In this episode, Hildy describes how a fluke accident resulted in early detection of her lung cancer and put her on a life-changing path. When faced with an early diagnosis, Hildy didn’t just ask "Why me?"—she asked, "What now?" She realized that while anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, not everyone has a stage to fight it. Thus, Upstage Lung Cancer was created as the only lung cancer organization to exclusively produce concerts and the performing arts to raise awareness, reduce stigma and fund cutting edge medical research. In a meeting of Art & Science, our guest, Sumati Ram-Mohan, a scientist and dancer, shares her story of how and why she reached out to Hildy. Now the Vice President of Upstage Lung Cancer, Sumati discusses how her experience in lung research and her passion for the stage help move this organization forward. Among other things, this podcast series, now ranked in the top 5 out of 40 lung cancer podcasts, was created to be both engaging, enjoyable and informative. They discuss almost two decades of outreach and impact, ending with a look ahead to this year's Fall Concert – an evening of joy aimed at this difficult disease. We thank our sponsors Lilly, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Revolution Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Takeda for their generous support of our podcast series Backstage @ Upstage.

HOST: Hildy Grossman CO-HOST, Jordan Rich Guests: Justin Gainor, MD, Director of Targeted Immunotherapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital and David Barbie, MD, Director of the Barbie Lab at Dana Farber Cancer Institute Targeting Innate Immunity in Cancer Lung cancer has long been one of the most complex and difficult cancers to treat. But what if we could outsmart it—not just with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, but by training the immune system itself? This episode explores a revolutionary question: Could a vaccine change the future of lung cancer? To shed light on answers to this question are Dr. Justin Gainor, whose interest is in vaccine development, and Dr. David Barbie, who returns to Backstage @ Upstage to explain how the immune system responds to cancer. Our renowned guests describe the challenges of creating a therapeutic vaccine and why a preventative vaccine is less likely to succeed. They detail how the immune system’s delicate operations need to be understood to successfully develop a vaccine to treat lung cancer. Moreover, you’ll want to hear about the groundbreaking promise of “personalized vaccines” tailored to an individual’s unique genomic markers, and how these cutting-edge vaccines will change the future of oncology forever.   

HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUESTS: Jessica Lin, MD., Sarah Craig, Frank Marotta Hearing the diagnosis of Stage 4 can be devastating, but today, it is no longer the final word. More people are living with Stage 4 lung cancer than ever before, thanks to a revolution in innovative treatments, immunotherapy and precision medicine. Join us for a profoundly moving and informative episode. Sarah Craig, 31 years old with a cough and Frank Marotta, reporting to his geriatrician concerns about memory loss, share the terrifying moment they heard their diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. They graciously share their personal lung cancer journeys and where they found hope. Renowned medical oncologist Dr. Jessica Lin answers the difficult questions: How does lung cancer metastasize, and how does a doctor compassionately deliver a life-altering diagnosis? She shares her approach to guiding patients through their darkest moments. Dr. Lin also describes how cutting-edge tools like Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and PD-L1 testing are now standard biomarker evaluations, fundamentally shifting care from generalized chemo to truly personalized targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Learn how this new era of evaluation and treatment is bringing tangible hope to those who need it most.

How a silent killer invades our homes and our genes HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUESTS: Jackie Nixon, Citizens for Radon Reduction; Jane Malone, National Policy Director Indoor Environments Association; Khadijah Mitchell, Ph.D., Temple University, School of Public Health Your DNA is not a fixed blueprint. Dr. Khadijah Mitchell elucidates epigenetics, showing that our environment and behaviors can “flip switches” on our genes, turning them on or off. But what happens when that environment is toxic? Enter a silent, invisible threat: radon. This naturally occurring radioactive gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer and seeps into 1 in 15 homes. For lung cancer survivor and activist, Jackie Nixon, this statistic is deeply personal. She shares her powerful story and her fight to educate others. This podcast isn’t just a science lesson; it’s a story of survival and a crucial public health warning. Hear from environmental advocate Jane Malone on why simple testing is vital and the need for life-saving regulations that are still missing in many high-risk states. This episode is a powerful mix of cutting-edge science and real-world action. Discover how to protect your home with a simple, inexpensive kit and how you can help.

HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUEST: Chi Fu Jeffrey Yang. MD, Thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School For any cancer patient facing surgery, there are always questions and worries. Hildy interviews an outstanding thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, Chi Fu Jeffrey yang, MD. They discuss the current trends in lung cancer surgery, particularly the movement from taking as much tissue as possible to taking as little lung tissue as possible. This trend has not been without conflict and disagreement. Recent studies show that, for earlier stages, taking a wedge is preferable to taking an entire lobe. Dr. Yang delves into why and explains the different ways surgery is conducted. The goal of this, and all our podcasts, is to provide accurate and current information for patients, providers and caregivers. Please listen and share with anyone you know facing surgical treatment for their cancer.

From Lung Cancer Patient to Full Time Advocate HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUEST: Dusty Donaldson, Lung Cancer Patient Advocate, LiveLung Founder At fifty-one, Dusty’s life was a whirlwind. A mother of three, she was also juggling a full-time career and graduate school when a lung cancer diagnosis stopped everything in its tracks. Her treatment included the surgical removal of two lobes of her lung and adjuvant chemotherapy. Now, twenty years later, with no recurrence, Dusty has gone from patient to full-time advocate. Her determination has led her to establish a national lung cancer organization dedicated to creating patient and caregiver groups, offering vital education and providing community for those facing this disease. In September 2025, to celebrate survival, she’ll take off for a road trip around the US in her “Skan Van” to raise awareness about early detection and the urgent need for research funding. She’ll join Hildy in Boston for Upstage Lung Cancer’s concert in October. How did she do all this? Listen to this inspiring story.

HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUEST: Jacy Dawn Valeras, Award-winning Television Host, Producer, Podcaster and Music Business Executive Hildy welcomes Jacy Dawn Valeras—television host, producer, music business executive, and podcaster with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Jacy shares her life-long dream of becoming a country music singer. With her father’s encouragement, family’s support, and her own determination and talent, she succeeded in sharing the stage with some of country music’s biggest names. But just as her star was rising, a vocal cord injury forced her to stop singing—for at least a year. Overcome and unsure of her future, Jacy faced a turning point. By refusing to give up, she found a new way to channel her love for country music: writing songs and helping other artists shine. She also mastered digital marketing, launched her own successful business, and began guiding performers at every stage of their careers. Her journey didn’t stop there. Jacy now hosts a popular podcast where she interviews high-profile guests about their paths to success. What’s more, in honor of her father who ultimately lost his life to lung cancer, she works tirelessly as a passionate advocate for Upstage Lung Cancer to raise awareness and inspire hope. Tune in to hear the powerful story of a woman with true grit, resilience, and a deep love for music that never quit—even when life tried to stop her.