MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast

MesotheliomaPodcast.com
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MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is a supportive, medically informed, and deeply human show dedicated to helping families navigate life after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Hosted by patient advocate, Dave Foster, the podcast brings together the voices of doctors, survivors, caregivers, and leading experts to deliver clarity, guidance, and hope when it’s needed most. Sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, one of the nation’s most experienced mesothelioma law firms, the show offers more than legal insight—it provides practical direction, emotional support, and a roadmap for getting the best medical care as quickly as possible. Whether you or a loved one has just been diagnosed or you're searching for trusted information, MESO breaks down the medical, legal, and personal impact of this rare disease in a way that’s easy to understand and compassionate at every step. Every episode delivers meaningful conversations, survivor stories, expert interviews, and actionable next steps so families can make informed decisions with confidence. If you need answers, support, or guidance—you’re in the right place. For more information, visit Danziger & De Llano at Dandell.com.

  1. 2D AGO

    How Mesothelioma Cases Really Get Built

    Mesothelioma commercials make it sound like there’s one easy path to compensation, but the real work happens in the details most people never see. We sit down with Leslie Cooper, a mesothelioma investigator with 23 years of experience and roughly 1,000 client interviews, to explain how a strong case actually gets built from the first in-home meeting forward. We talk through why mesothelioma is rare, why these lawsuits are not class actions, and why one client often has multiple defendants tied to different asbestos-containing products. Leslie explains her step-by-step approach to reconstructing a person’s exposure history chronologically, starting at birth and moving through childhood, military service, career, and household exposure. Along the way, we dig into the moments that surprise families most, including secondhand exposure from a parent’s job and “forgotten” asbestos contact from home projects or hobbies. We also clear up a major misconception about asbestos trust funds. There is not one giant trust you can call for a check. There are dozens of separate bankruptcy trusts, and compensation depends on identifying the right manufacturers and documenting the exposure. Finally, we cover how records help shape the legal strategy and why the state where a claim is filed can matter more than people expect, plus a candid warning about high-volume “meso mills” that don’t treat cases as truly individual. If you or someone you love is navigating mesothelioma, listen, share this with a caregiver, and subscribe for more practical guidance. After you listen, leave a review and tell us what question you want answered next. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    18 min

  2. MAY 5

    Mesothelioma Deadlines And How To Beat Them

    One missed deadline can wipe out a mesothelioma claim, even when the exposure happened 30 or 40 years ago. We talk about the statute of limitations in mesothelioma cases and why the clock is so unforgiving once a diagnosis arrives. Depending on the state, you may have as little as one year to file and if you pass that limit by even a second, the opportunity can be gone. We also get personal. Larry shares what happened when his dad was diagnosed, how the family focused on finding the best doctor and a treatment plan first, and how quickly the disease progressed. It’s a reminder that mesothelioma is not only a medical emergency, it’s a time-sensitive legal situation too. We connect the dots between asbestos exposure at demanding jobs like refinery work, the lack of warnings or protective gear, and why accountability matters when companies put profit over people. Along the way, we dig into what compensation can actually help with: expensive care like chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, and the everyday bills that pile up while families are already stretched thin. We explain why working with an experienced nationwide mesothelioma law firm can matter, especially when exposure, products, and filing rules vary across states and when you need investigators and resources to move fast. If you want clear next steps after diagnosis, press play, then subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find timely help. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    12 min

  3. APR 27

    How Two Patient Advocates Guide Families Through Mesothelioma And The Legal Process

    A mesothelioma diagnosis can make everything feel urgent and unreal at the same time, and the hardest part is often not knowing what to do first. We sit down with Kathleen Bono and Sarah Bono, a mother-daughter team who have spent more than a decade meeting hundreds of mesothelioma families face to face, often days after diagnosis or loss. They share what actually helps when a stranger walks into your home, how they build trust quickly, and why families deserve clarity before they ever talk about claims or compensation. We get practical about the asbestos exposure interview: how to reduce pressure when someone is sick, older, or grieving, and how simple “timeline anchors” like weddings, kids, and career chapters can unlock the details needed for a strong case. We also talk about what it feels like to walk into rooms filled with relatives, the power of listening, and the small human moments that stay with you, from veterans’ stories to unexpected laughs that cut through the heaviness. Then we tackle the legal process head-on, including fears about going to court, what a deposition really means, and why mesothelioma commercials can be misleading. Kathleen and Sarah explain the difference between asbestos bankruptcy trusts and solvent company claims, and how transparency and steady communication can make the process feel manageable. If you know someone facing mesothelioma or asbestos-related cancer, share this conversation with them. Subscribe for more, leave a review, and tell us in the comments: what question would you want answered first after a diagnosis? MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    37 min

  4. APR 20

    Larry Gates Explains What Families Should Do After A Mesothelioma Diagnosis

    A cough. A pain along the ribs. Getting winded on the walk to the mailbox. Those small changes can be the first hints of something much bigger for people with a past asbestos exposure, and they’re the moments that still stick with us after talking with Larry Gates. We sit down with Larry to hear the story of his father, a World War II veteran who worked for decades at a Shell refinery in Pasadena, Texas and was never warned about the danger of asbestos. Larry walks us through what the family noticed first, how quickly mesothelioma progressed after diagnosis, and what it was like to watch an active man decline in a matter of months. If you’re searching for real-world mesothelioma support, this part of the conversation brings the human side into focus, not just the medical terms. We also dig into the practical side families need when life is upside down: how mesothelioma legal claims and settlements work, why early choices matter, and what to do if you’re offered a number that feels wrong. Larry shares how he talks with patients and caregivers today about work history, timelines, and what “fair compensation” can actually mean when you’re trying to protect a spouse and cover treatment costs. We end with clear guidance: get to a doctor fast, ask about modern options like immunotherapy and surgery when appropriate, and don’t let pressure or confusion force a decision you can’t undo. If this helped you, please subscribe, share it with someone facing an asbestos-related diagnosis, and leave a review so more families can find real mesothelioma resources when they need them most. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    14 min

  5. MAR 2

    From Diagnosis To Goodbye; A Caregiver’s Journey

    Mesothelioma caregivers provide an average of 4+ years of full-time support — and 70% report that the emotional toll remains raw decades later. In this episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster — Executive Director of Patient Advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience — and Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support, talk with Marilyn Fake, a mesothelioma victim advocate whose husband Billy — a boilermaker/welder with 36 years of power plant and nuclear plant exposure — survived 4.5 years after his pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. Together, they cover: Billy's diagnosis in Billings, Montana — how an ER doctor identified mesothelioma on first examination and connected the family to MD Anderson in HoustonA 9-hour extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) at MD Anderson under Dr. Rice — including Gore-Tex diaphragm replacement and Kevlar heart coveringThe devastating toll of radiation, chemotherapy with Avastin (bevacizumab), and the kidney failure that ultimately ended treatment optionsA hospital bedside wedding for two children on February 26, 2009 — and a son-in-law airlifted from Iraq by the Red Cross to say goodbye before Billy passedMarilyn's post-loss advocacy — traveling to Washington, D.C. with MARF, becoming a CNA, and creating a nutritional guide for mesothelioma patientsWhether you're a mesothelioma caregiver seeking support, navigating treatment decisions, or looking for practical guidance on patient nutrition and daily care — this episode shares one family's complete journey. FAQ What does mesothelioma caregiving involve day-to-day? Marilyn quit her job as a loan closer to provide 24/7 care for 4.5 years. Daily tasks included managing medications, nutritional supplements, travel logistics for MD Anderson visits, and emotional support through radiation side effects that prevented Billy from eating normal food. What is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)? An EPP removes the affected lung, diaphragm, and surrounding tissue. Billy's 9-hour surgery at MD Anderson included a Gore-Tex diaphragm replacement and Kevlar heart covering. His surgeon, Dr. Rice, credited Marilyn's caregiving for Billy's 4.5-year survival. How can families cope after a mesothelioma loss? Marilyn channeled her grief into advocacy — lobbying Congress with MARF to ban asbestos, becoming a CNA to work with dying patients, and spreading Billy's ashes at his favorite Montana mountain spot 16 years later with family and their four-wheel-drive club. Expert Source Dave Foster — Executive Director of Patient Advocacy, Danziger & De Llano. 18-year veteran helping mesothelioma families. dandell.com/david-foster/ Resources Mesothelioma Overview: dandell.com/mesothelioma/Compensation Options: dandell.com/mesothelioma-compensation/Free Consultation: dandell.com/contact-us/ MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    14 min

  6. FEB 9

    From ICU To Lifeline: Nursing Mesothelioma Care

    Over 80% of mesothelioma patients are initially misdiagnosed. For those who reach a specialist center, the work that happens after surgery often decides the outcome. In this episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster — Executive Director of Patient Advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience — sits down with Lisa and Ellie Erickson, registered nurses with 30+ years at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, to discuss how specialist nursing transformed mesothelioma care through Dr. David Sugarbaker's International Mesothelioma Program. Together, they cover: How Dr. Sugarbaker's International Mesothelioma Program launched in 2002 — and how two ICU nurses pioneered transitional care to reduce preventable readmissionsThe shift from surgery-first to immunotherapy as frontline treatment, and why Dr. Raphael Bueno performs 10-hour pleurectomies at BrighamWhy a primary care doctor may see only one mesothelioma case in a career — and what specialist centers offer that general oncology cannotComplicated grief — a recognized psychiatric diagnosis — and the toll mesothelioma takes on families long after treatment endsThe ongoing global debate at iMig conferences over surgery's role, and why Europe is now revisiting its stanceWhether you're evaluating mesothelioma treatment centers, navigating post-surgical care, or seeking guidance on specialist support — this episode explains what to ask for and why aftercare matters. FAQ Why should mesothelioma patients choose a specialist center? With only ~3,000 U.S. cases annually, a general doctor may see one case in a career. Specialist centers know the cell subtypes, offer clinical trials, and provide coordinated teams — including the aftercare Dr. Sugarbaker called essential to survival. What is the difference between a pleurectomy and an EPP? A pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) removes diseased tissue while preserving the lung. An extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) removes the entire lung. Brigham now performs only pleurectomies under Dr. Bueno; Dr. Joseph Friedberg continues EPPs elsewhere. What is complicated grief? A psychiatric diagnosis where a bereaved person cannot move forward after loss. Nurse Ellie Erickson describes encountering it at mesothelioma conferences — families retelling the same story years later, unable to process the sudden progression of this disease. Expert Source Dave Foster — Executive Director of Patient Advocacy, Danziger & De Llano. 18-year veteran helping mesothelioma families. dandell.com/david-foster/ Resources Mesothelioma Overview: dandell.com/mesothelioma/Compensation Options: dandell.com/mesothelioma-compensation/Free Consultation: dandell.com/contact-us/MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    19 min

  7. FEB 3

    From Grief To Advocacy

    Episode Title From Grief to Advocacy: How One Caregiver's Photo Album Changed a Senator's Mind Episode Description A mesothelioma caregiver's photo album—with no written words—moved a U.S. Senator to tears and earned her a spot at a national press conference. Marilyn Fake's journey from Capitol Hill advocate to hospital emergency department technician reveals how caregiving transforms lives long after a loved one passes. In this episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Anna Jackson—Director of Patient Support at Danziger & De Llano with over 15 years of experience helping mesothelioma families—sits down with Marilyn Fake, who cared for her husband Billy through a nine-hour extrapleural pneumonectomy and radiation treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center before becoming a hospital caregiver and "No One Dies Alone" volunteer. Together, they cover: How visual storytelling—photos of Billy before and after surgery—proved more powerful than written testimony when lobbying for an asbestos ban in Washington, D.C.The talc-mesothelioma connection Marilyn raised at a 2009 MARF banquet—a link scientists later confirmed between baby powder and peritoneal mesothelioma in womenPractical nutrition strategies for patients with radiation-damaged esophagus, including why raspberry parfait gelatin became essential for swallowing pillsThe "No One Dies Alone" hospital program where trained volunteers sit with dying patients who have no family—carrying a duffel bag with instrumental music and gentle lightWhy it took 16 years to scatter Billy's ashes at his favorite Montana mountain—and how 25 friends from his four-wheel drive club made the memorial unforgettableWhether you're caring for a loved one with mesothelioma, navigating treatment side effects, or seeking connection with others who understand this journey, this conversation offers rare practical wisdom and emotional support. Resources: Caregiver Support: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-diagnosis/Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support: https://dandell.com/anna-jackson/Mesothelioma Information: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/Free Consultation: https://dandell.com/contact-us/MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    22 min

  8. JAN 28

    Love, Loss, and Mesothelioma: What 4.5 Years as a Caregiver Taught One Family

    Episode Description: Mesothelioma patients given 6-12 months to live sometimes survive years longer — but what does that journey actually look like for the families who walk it with them? In this episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, Anna Jackson — Director of Patient Support at Danziger & De Llano with 15+ years of experience helping mesothelioma families — sits down with Marilyn Fake, a mesothelioma victim advocate whose husband Billy survived 4.5 years after his pleural mesothelioma diagnosis following 36 years of occupational asbestos exposure as a boilermaker welder. Together, they cover: The diagnosis moment: How a Montana ER doctor's question — "Have you ever heard of mesothelioma?" — changed everything, and why Billy's thoracic surgeon's recent MD Anderson Cancer Center fellowship opened doors to specialized treatmentTreatment decisions: Why Billy chose extrapleural pneumonectomy (complete lung removal) to extend his life beyond the initial 6-12 month prognosis, and what daily radiation treatment at MD Anderson was really likeThe caregiver reality: How Marilyn quit her job to provide full-time care for 4.5 years — a commitment his surgeon credited with keeping Billy alive longer than expectedFinding meaning in loss: When Billy couldn't attend his children's weddings, the family brought the weddings to his hospital room — cake, champagne, and hand squeezes that said "I'm here"The final goodbye: How a Red Cross-arranged visit from a son-in-law deployed in Iraq allowed Billy to let go peacefully, just 90 minutes after Ryan walked through the doorWhether you're newly diagnosed with mesothelioma, caring for a loved one with this disease, or processing your own journey through grief, this episode offers honest perspective from someone who's been there — 17 years later, still raw, still willing to help. Resources: Mesothelioma Overview: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/Mesothelioma Compensation: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-compensation/Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support: https://dandell.com/anna-jackson/Free Consultation: https://dandell.com/contact-us/MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

    14 min
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About

MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is a supportive, medically informed, and deeply human show dedicated to helping families navigate life after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Hosted by patient advocate, Dave Foster, the podcast brings together the voices of doctors, survivors, caregivers, and leading experts to deliver clarity, guidance, and hope when it’s needed most. Sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, one of the nation’s most experienced mesothelioma law firms, the show offers more than legal insight—it provides practical direction, emotional support, and a roadmap for getting the best medical care as quickly as possible. Whether you or a loved one has just been diagnosed or you're searching for trusted information, MESO breaks down the medical, legal, and personal impact of this rare disease in a way that’s easy to understand and compassionate at every step. Every episode delivers meaningful conversations, survivor stories, expert interviews, and actionable next steps so families can make informed decisions with confidence. If you need answers, support, or guidance—you’re in the right place. For more information, visit Danziger & De Llano at Dandell.com.

Information

  • Creator
    MesotheliomaPodcast.com
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast
  • Show Website
    MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast