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.