Bluestock Talk

Allison Komiyama

Hosted by Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, founder of Bluestocking Health, Bluestock Talk is a podcast dedicated to authentic conversations and unique takes about the incredible impact of MedTech on our guests' lives. Each episode focuses on innovative medical devices, stories that spark joy, and how all of our lives benefit from advances in healthcare. Allison graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, earned her doctorate Neuroscience at Stanford, and was an FDA reviewer in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Episodes

  1. 3D AGO

    Genetics, Prevention, and Heart Health: A Conversation with Dr. Pradeep Natarajan

    What if one of the biggest challenges in healthcare is not treating disease… but preventing it before symptoms ever begin? In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison is joined by Dr. Pradeep Natarajan, preventive cardiologist, physician scientist, and leader in cardiovascular genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, to explore how genomics, wearable technologies, and systems thinking are reshaping the future of preventive medicine. As Pradeep points out, medicine is still largely designed to react once people become sick, not necessarily to stop disease before it starts. Yet advances in genetics, biomarker research, imaging, and wearable technologies are beginning to shift healthcare toward earlier prediction, personalized prevention, and more proactive care. The conversation explores how human genetics helps researchers move beyond correlation toward a deeper understanding of what actually causes disease, and why those discoveries are increasingly shaping the development of new therapies and risk prediction tools. One of Pradeep’s most powerful takeaways: “Longevity is just rebranded prevention.” That idea becomes a jumping off point for a much larger conversation about why prevention has historically been underfunded, difficult to scale, and surprisingly hard to integrate into modern healthcare systems, even though almost everyone agrees it matters. Allison and Pradeep also unpack why “longevity” has suddenly become one of healthcare’s biggest conversations and why, underneath the branding, it is really a conversation about prevention, systems, access, and behavior. Along the way Allison and Pradeep discuss: • Why prevention is still not a major focus in medicine • How genetics improves disease prediction and therapeutic development • How wearable technologies may improve public health • Why evidence matters in preventive medicine • How AI may improve workflows without replacing physicians KEY TAKEAWAYS • Prevention requires long-term thinking • Genetics can improve prediction and treatment development • Personalized medicine depends on both technology and communication • AI may improve healthcare workflows when thoughtfully implemented CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Pradeep Natarajan 03:00 From UC Berkeley to cardiovascular genetics 07:00 Combining medicine, research, and patient care 12:00 Why prevention remains difficult in healthcare 17:00 Longevity, prevention, and healthcare systems 20:00 Human genetics and causal inference in disease 27:00 Communicating prevention to patients 29:00 AI, clinician workflows, and healthcare technology 33:00 Wearables, fitness tracking, and digital health 39:00 Blood pressure monitoring and future consumer health tools 43:00 The future of preventive cardiovascular medicine Read more about Dr. Pradeep Natarajan: https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/19689/pradeep-natarajan #BluestockTalk #PreventiveMedicine #Cardiology #PrecisionMedicine #Genetics #DigitalHealth #Wearables #HealthcareInnovation #MedTech #CardiovascularHealth #AIinHealthcare #Longevity #PradeepNatarajan 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.

    45 min

  2. APR 28

    How Play Can Change Pediatric Healthcare: A Conversation with Mary Jenner

    What if one of the most powerful tools in pediatric healthcare is not a device at all, but something much more fundamental? Play. In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison is joined by Mary Jenner, RN, BSNS, CTSS, former pediatric oncology nurse and founder of The Butterfly Pig, to explore how play is transforming the healthcare experience for children and families. Mary shares the moment that started everything: a frightened young patient, a teddy bear, and a simple idea to treat the toy first. What followed was a shift in trust, cooperation, and care. That moment revealed something deeper. When children understand what is happening to them, they feel safer. And when they feel safer, everything changes. Today, Mary designs imaginative, medically inclusive toys that help children process complex medical experiences, from IV lines and feeding tubes to imaging procedures. They are intended as tools for preparation, communication, and emotional safety. One of Mary’s most powerful takeaways: “Kids’ language is play. They deserve the right to play with things that represent their world.” Allison and Mary explore how small moments in healthcare can shape lifelong perceptions of care, and how unaddressed medical trauma can lead to fear, avoidance, and worse outcomes later in life. They also discuss the reality clinicians face, including “transient empathic blindness,” where providers must prioritize tasks over emotional connection in high pressure moments, and how that can unintentionally contribute to trauma. Mary also shares a personal story about a life-saving medical technology that helped her daughter recover from a traumatic birth, a powerful reminder of how innovation and care intersect in real life. Along the way Allison and Mary discuss: • How play builds trust and reduces fear • Why children need preparation, not surprise • The role of child life specialists • How small clinical moments can have lasting impact • Why medical trauma can lead to healthcare avoidance • How toys give children a sense of control • The importance of collaboration across care teams KEY TAKEAWAYS • Play is a powerful tool for communication and emotional safety • Preparing children improves care experiences • Medical trauma has long term consequences • Emotional safety should be part of standard care • Innovation does not always have to be complex CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Mary Jenner 02:00 The moment that sparked Butterfly Pig 06:00 Building trust through play 12:00 Understanding medical trauma 18:00 The role of child life specialists 24:00 Designing medical toys 30:00 Preparing children for procedures 36:00 Long term impact of care experiences 42:00 A life-saving medical technology story #BluestockTalk #PediatricCare #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalDevices #PatientExperience #ChildLife #TraumaInformedCare #DigitalHealth #MaryJenner 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.

    35 min

  3. APR 14

    Avoid the Healthcare Valley of Death: A Conversation with Dr. Adam Brown

    Brilliant medical technologies are invented every year though many never reach patients. Why? In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison sits down with Dr. Adam Brown, physician, healthcare strategist, and founder of ABIG Health, to unpack one of the most misunderstood challenges in MedTech innovation: the long and complicated journey from idea to real-world adoption. Dr. Brown explains how he is helping MedTech founders navigate the journey from ideation to commercialization, translating the value of new technologies for the many stakeholders involved in healthcare systems. As he discusses, inventors often build brilliant technology but struggle to communicate its value to hospital leaders, regulators, payers, and investors. Each group evaluates innovation through a completely different lens. The conversation explores why early strategic planning is critical to avoid what many in healthcare call the “Valley of Death,” the stage where technologies receive regulatory clearance but fail to reach real clinical adoption. One of Adam’s most powerful takeaways: “Early conversations with regulators and stakeholders can prevent the Valley of Death in product development.”Understanding the entire ecosystem of healthcare innovation from regulation to reimbursement to hospital adoption can dramatically increase the chances that a technology actually reaches patients. Along the way Allison and Adam discuss: • Why many MedTech innovations fail after regulatory approval • How ABIG Health helps innovators translate technology value across stakeholders • Why founders should start commercialization planning at the ideation stage • The global impact of geopolitical decisions on drug and device availability • How artificial intelligence tools may improve clinical workflows • Why user centered design is critical for clinician adoption Key Takeaways• Healthcare commercialization requires understanding multiple stakeholders • Early planning can prevent costly delays and product failure • Even simple medical technologies can dramatically change lives Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Adam Brown 02:25 The mission behind ABIG Health 06:10 Understanding the Healthcare “Valley of Death” 10:30 Stakeholder health and the global healthcare ecosystem 17:30 COVID trauma and healthcare workforce challenges 26:45 AI and clinical workflow improvements 33:40 Medical devices that transform care 37:20 Personal story of vision restoration through medical technology #BluestockTalk #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalDevices #DigitalHealth #HealthPolicy #HealthcareLeadership #StartupInnovation #HealthcarePodcast #AdamBrown 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bluestocking.Health/podcasts  🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bluestock-talk/id1874148438  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T2mEj0NfMNnMznqtKHKmZ?si=e37e0b2c88904172  Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.

    45 min

  4. APR 1

    How Words Shape Reality: A Conversation with Dr. Taylor Nichols

    What if one of the most powerful forces shaping healthcare is not a technology at all, but the words we use to describe it? In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison sits down with Dr. Taylor Nichols, emergency physician, addiction medicine specialist, and healthcare policy advocate, to explore how language, culture, and innovation intersect in modern medicine. Together they discuss how the words we use about drugs, disease, patients, and technology shape stigma, influence policy, and affect who receives care. From person-first language in addiction medicine to the systemic forces behind the war on drugs, Dr. Nichols explains why changing the language around healthcare can help change the system itself. The conversation also explores the role of innovation and medical technology in improving care. They discuss life-saving advances in imaging, the rapid expansion of telehealth after COVID, and breakthrough emergency devices that are transforming patient outcomes. Dr. Nichols also shares why he calls himself a cynical optimist. He understands the flaws in the healthcare system but still believes strongly that progress is possible when people work together to improve it. One of Dr. Nichols’ Most Powerful Points:“Culture is built on language. If we want to change culture, we have to change the language we use.” From addiction treatment to healthcare innovation, the words we choose can reinforce stigma or open the door to better care and better policy. Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction to Dr. Taylor Nichols 02:39 From emergency medicine to addiction medicine 06:39 Why person-first language matters 14:38 Drugs, morality, and language in healthcare 24:45 Shared facts and the challenge of misinformation 34:37 Policy, prohibition, and the roots of drug laws 41:09 Cynical optimism and improving healthcare systems 52:00 Telehealth and expanding access to care 54:06 Medical technologies that save lives Key Takeaways:• Language shapes how society understands disease and addiction • Stigma can influence healthcare policy and patient outcomes • Shared facts and scientific evidence are essential for meaningful policy discussions • Innovation such as imaging, telehealth, and new medical devices continues to improve care Connect with Dr. Taylor NicholsFollow Dr. Nichols for insights on addiction medicine, harm reduction, and healthcare policy: https://www.tnicholsmd.com/about.  💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare: 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bluestocking.Health/podcasts  🎧Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bluestock-talk/id1874148438  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T2mEj0NfMNnMznqtKHKmZ?si=e37e0b2c88904172  Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to feature? Let us know in the comments. #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #AddictionMedicine #HealthPolicy #MedicalTechnology #HarmReduction #DigitalHealth #HealthcarePodcast #BluestockTalk

    59 min

  5. MAR 16

    Why Facts Alone Don’t Change Minds: A Conversation with Cameron Kit

    What if one of the most powerful tools in MedTech isn’t a device at all… but a story? In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison sits down with Cameron Kit: filmmaker, founder of Yo-Yos, and one of the sharpest storytellers working in healthcare and MedTech today. Together, they talk about: Why storytelling is essential in healthcare innovationHow patient voice can shape better products earlierWhy stories can save companies time, money, and missed opportunitiesHow storytelling inspires clinicians, patients, and internal teamsWhat makes a story feel true in the age of AIand why facts matter… but stories are often what actually move people. One of Cameron’s most powerful points: “Facts cannot change someone’s mind. Only a good story does that. So then it’s backed up by facts.” That idea sits right at the heart of this conversation. If you’ve ever thought storytelling was “just marketing,” this episode may lovingly ruin that idea for you. 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bluestocking.Health/podcasts  🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bluestock-talk/id1874148438  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T2mEj0NfMNnMznqtKHKmZ?si=e37e0b2c88904172  Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.

    42 min

  6. FEB 18

    The Power of Storytelling and Innovation in Medicine: A Conversation with David Hindin

    What happens when a trauma surgeon, innovator, and storyteller sits down to talk about how medicine actually moves forward? In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison sits down with Dr. David Hindin: trauma surgeon, entrepreneur, host of the First in Human podcast, and Associate Director of the Stanford Biodesign Faculty Fellowship. Together they explore two forces that quietly shape modern healthcare: storytelling and innovation. From the life-saving impact of cross-sectional imaging like MRI and CT scans to the human challenge of communicating complex diagnoses, they unpack how medicine is just as much about narrative, empathy, and listening as it is about science and technology. They also dive into the innovation engine behind Stanford’s Biodesign program, and how collaboration between clinicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs transforms real clinical problems into world-changing medical technologies. Along the way they discuss: Why storytelling is essential for communicating complex medical ideasHow empathy improves doctor-patient communicationThe life-saving impact of cross-sectional imaging (MRI and CT)How Stanford Biodesign turns clinical needs into real medical technologiesWhy innovation adoption in medicine follows a predictable curveHow physicians stay current with rapidly evolving medical technologies One of David’s most powerful points: "Stories are how knowledge and experience get passed down in medicine." From mentors guiding difficult clinical decisions to the narratives physicians carry with them into the operating room, storytelling plays a central role in how doctors learn, communicate, and care for patients. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. David Hindin 02:39 – David’s path from trauma surgery to Stanford Biodesign 06:39 – Empathy and the evolving doctor-patient relationship 14:38 – Why storytelling matters in medicine and innovation 24:45 – The life-saving impact of medical technology 34:37 – How new medical technologies are adopted in clinical practice 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bluestocking.Health/podcasts  🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bluestock-talk/id1874148438  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T2mEj0NfMNnMznqtKHKmZ?si=e37e0b2c88904172  Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.

    44 min

  7. FEB 4

    Media Literacy and Critical Thinking: A Conversation with Vanessa Otero

    How do we actually know what’s true online? In this premiere episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison sits down with Vanessa Otero, founder of Ad Fontes Media and creator of the Media Bias Chart, to unpack truth, bias, and the skills we all need to navigate today’s chaotic information landscape. Vanessa explains the RELI framework for evaluating truth and why evidence, not vibes, is the most important signal when assessing information online. From viral videos and AI-generated content to health claims and medical technology, this conversation explores how media literacy and medtech literacy overlap more than you might think. Along the way, Vanessa shares practical strategies for fact-checking, avoiding misinformation, and becoming a more thoughtful consumer of information. One of Vanessa's most powerful points: “The most important signal when determining what’s true is evidence.” People often rely on reputation, popularity, or incentives instead, but those signals can easily mislead us. Episode Highlights: 00:00 — Understanding Truth and Reliability 11:40 — Implementing Critical Thinking 18:16 — Verifying Information and Contextual Facts 27:14 — Trust, Authenticity, and Bias 36:00 — Life-Changing Medical Devices Key Takeaways: • Evidence is the most reliable signal of truth • Lateral reading is essential for verifying information • Critical thinking starts with asking “Why might this not be true?” • Trust and truth are not the same thing • Media literacy and medtech literacy rely on the same skills Explore Vanessa’s work and the Media Bias Chart: https://adfontesmedia.com 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bluestocking.Health/podcasts  🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bluestock-talk/id1874148438  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T2mEj0NfMNnMznqtKHKmZ?si=e37e0b2c88904172  Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.

    48 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Hosted by Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, founder of Bluestocking Health, Bluestock Talk is a podcast dedicated to authentic conversations and unique takes about the incredible impact of MedTech on our guests' lives. Each episode focuses on innovative medical devices, stories that spark joy, and how all of our lives benefit from advances in healthcare. Allison graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, earned her doctorate Neuroscience at Stanford, and was an FDA reviewer in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Information

  • Creator
    Allison Komiyama
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Allison Komiyama
  • Show Website
    Bluestock Talk

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