The Kidney Collective

American Kidney Fund

5.0 (10)
Health & Fitness

A podcast that gives voice to the many facets of living with kidney disease. Learn more at kidneyfund.org/podcast.

Oct 20

S3E5: "Our Stories Are Singular", with Chris Bryant

When You Have a Transplant: AKF Ambassador Christopher Bryant joins The Kidney Collective to talk about his kidney disease journey. He explains how he had been living with type 1 diabetes for 20 years without any knowledge that it could impact his kidneys until he was crashing into kidney failure. He describes the shock, fear and confusion he felt when he was suddenly starting dialysis. Fortunately, he says he had his family’s support and his own motto of “never give up” from his diabetes diagnosis to help him keep pushing to when he received a transplant four months later from his wife’s co-worker, Sophia. After 12 years with Sophia’s kidney, Chris describes the emotional roller coaster—from feeling better than he ever had in his adult life to learning his transplanted kidney was failing. They discuss how different the experience of dialysis and transplant is when you are prepared and educated, how Chris’s second kidney donor Mark’s family “turned a tragedy into a miracle” and the mixed feelings about getting a transplant when others on dialysis have not. The three also talk about Chris’s passion for kidney advocacy and addressing the health disparities that exist in the kidney community. More resources: Mental health and kidney disease Mental health and support after transplant Kidney donation and transplant Diabetes and kidney health Join our Advocacy Network Kidney Health for All™ BK virus after kidney transplant Life after transplant: Rejection prevention and healthy tips Kidney transplant guides and resources
Oct 6

S3E4: “A Journey That Has Made Us Stronger and Smarter”, with Amelia Rowniewski and Wanda Kietlinski

When You Grow Up With Kidney Disease: Mike and Tamara are joined by two kidney disease advocates who are also mother and daughter: Amelia Rowniewski and Wanda Kietlinski. They talk about the mental health impacts of growing up with kidney disease (like Amelia did) and raising a child with kidney disease (like Wanda did). Wanda shares how their life was turned upside down when Amelia was just 3 years old and what seemed like a cold turned out to be a strain of pneumonia that ultimately led to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure. She talks about how her faith and support system helped them through watching their daughter go from being a healthy toddler to receiving dialysis and needing a kidney transplant. Amelia tells us how little she remembers of the experience and how she has navigated the transition from being a pediatric patient to an adult patient, taking charge of her own health with encouragement from her mom. Wanda advises other parents to practice self-care and to “bend with the wind” as much as they can, while Amelia encourages other children living with kidney disease to find their identity outside of their illness and find activities that help them get out of their heads on days that are particularly difficult. More resources: Mental health and kidney disease Kidney disease in children Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) Acute kidney injury (AKI) Kidney transplant in children: Preparing, types, surgery and life after Join our Advocacy Network Ambassador spotlight: Amelia Rowniewski Spreading the word about organ donation at American University and beyond
Sep 22

S3E3: "We Don't See the Depression or Anxiety", with Lupita Ayala

When You're On Dialysis: Lupita Ayala joins Tamara and Mike to share her experiences managing her mental health while navigating her kidney disease journey. After a urinary tract infection (UTI) recurred for two months, Lupita was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. The three discuss how challenging it was for Lupita to accept her diagnosis and how having a nonjudgmental provider who took the time to explain her condition helped her take the steps needed to care for herself. Lupita describes her reluctance to begin dialysis and vulnerably shares how she struggled with depression and anxiety throughout her experience. However, she shares how leaning on her husband for support, opening up to others and talking with a therapist helped her through those challenges. She explains how receiving a kidney transplant came with a mix of emotions, including surprise, excitement and relief along with grief for her donor and anxiety about the potential of losing the kidney. They also talk about the stigma around seeking out mental health help and advise others to use resources available, even if they don’t have a personal support system. More resources: Mental health and kidney diseaseMental health and support after transplantNew to dialysisHome dialysisStep Forward: Living Well with Stage 3 Kidney DiseaseAKF community resource finderYour Mental Health Matters (Dialysis at Home)Become a Kidney Health CoachJoin our Advocacy NetworkYour kidney care teamAKF blog post: Why community matters for kidney disease and mental health
Sep 8

S3E2: "We Were Learning It As We Were Living It", with Kelly Harris-DeBerry and Naomi DeBerry

When Your Loved One Has Kidney Failure: Tamara and Mike are joined on this episode by a mother-daughter duo: Kelly Harris-DeBerry and Naomi DeBerry. Kelly’s husband and Naomi’s father, Jarvis, was diagnosed with kidney failure and began doing home dialysis treatments in 2019. In February 2020, he received a new kidney from a living donor. In this episode, we talk with Kelly and Naomi about the impact of Jarvis’s kidney disease journey on their lives. Kelly shares how she and Jarvis navigated his focal segmental glomerulosclerosis diagnosis when they were still newlyweds; the challenges they faced deciding when and how much to share with others, including their daughter; and the stress and isolation she felt before she allowed herself to lean on her community. Naomi also explains how she didn’t necessarily understand what her dad was going through, but that she could sense the fear and stress when he began at home dialysis when she was six years old. Kelly and Naomi share how Disney World® became “the happiest place on Earth” in a different way when Jarvis learned he would get a new kidney on their trip, and how Naomi was inspired by their family’s journey to write a book, “My Daddy Needs a Gift.” They also tell the hosts about Naomi’s love for LEGO builds and ambitions to become a transplant surgeon. More resources: Mental health and kidney diseaseCaring for someone with kidney diseaseFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)Home dialysisKidney donation and transplantNaomi DeBerry’s author site
Aug 25

S3E1: "Honor Your Feelings", with Dr. Molly Kierein

When You're Adjusting to Your Diagnosis: AKF President and CEO LaVarne Burton kicks off a new season of The Kidney Collective focusing on the mental health impact of kidney disease by interviewing Dr. Molly Kierein. Dr. Kierein is a licensed clinical psychologist in California and the founder of the Kidney Psychologist, which provides individual and group therapy for kidney patients living in California. Dr. Kierein shares her Alport syndrome diagnosis, which led to kidney failure, a kidney transplant and ultimately, to a new direction for her clinical practice. She explains how surprised she was to realize how few mental health resources are available to kidney patients and how she decided to pursue the lesser-known field of renal psychology, with the goal of seeing exclusively kidney disease patients someday. Dr. Kierein and LaVarne also talk about some of the common mental health struggles people with kidney disease face at each stage of the disease—including symptom, education and decision burden; feelings of powerlessness; and getting comfortable in your own body again with a new organ. More resources: Alport syndromeMental health and kidney diseaseYour kidney care teamBalancing work, family & travelKidney donation and transplantTypes of living donor kidney transplantsImmunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medicinesKidney PsychologistThe Hope Line
Aug 11

Special Episode: "A New Frontier", CKM with Dr. Chiadi Ndumele

On this episode of The Kidney Collective, Mike Spigler is joined by guest co-host, Dr. Pranav Garimella, a nephrologist and AKF’s chief medical officer. They interview special guest Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, director of obesity and cardiometabolic research, director of the Heart Failure Prevention Program and associate professor of medicine and epidemiology in the Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ndumele serves as chair of the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome guideline writing group. For his leadership efforts related to CKM health, Dr. Ndumele was awarded the American Heart Association Award for Meritorious Achievement in 2024. The three discuss what CKM syndrome is and why the guideline, released in June 2026 by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, is an important step to addressing the rise of multiple chronic conditions in the U.S. Dr. Ndumele walks through the stages of CKM syndrome and explains how identifying the syndrome is not about labeling people, but reflecting what healthcare professionals are seeing in patients. The guideline is part of an effort to address the interconnected nature of heart, kidney and metabolic conditions (including diabetes and obesity) to improve patient outcomes overall. They also discuss the new PREVENT equation, a tool that patients and clinicians can use to determine someone’s risk and CKM stage. Finally, they talk about new therapies like GLP-1s and SGLT2 inhibitors and the importance of community-based health education programs and clinicians having a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach to help improve health outcomes. Our thanks to the American Heart Association for helping bring this crucial conversation on cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health to The Kidney Collective! More resources: CKM syndrome (AKF) CKM syndrome (AHA) New CKM syndrome guideline: What it means for kidney healthAHA PREVENT™ Equation CKM guideline Heart disease and CKD GLP-1 RAs SGLT2 inhibitors Kidney Health Coach® Kidney Health Coach: All in This Together: The CKM connection
Jul 7

S2E8: "You Turn Your Pain Into Purpose", Alport Syndrome with Ellie Kugler

Mike and Tamara are joined by Ellie Kugler, an AKF Ambassador, Kidney Health Coach and bodybuilder who is living with Alport syndrome and lupus. Ellie talks about the difficulty she faced getting a diagnosis and how the relatively new understanding of Alport syndrome—along with misconceptions about who it can affect—played a role. Ellie describes how she started educating herself and others about her disease, participating in clinical trials and talking to legislators on Capitol Hill. She also shares the bittersweet story of her kidney transplant, which was a directed donation from a deceased donor. More resources: Alport syndrome 'Do the hard work': How AKF Ambassador and bodybuilder Ellie Kugler navigates living with Alport Syndrome Genetic testing and counseling for kidney disease Kidney biopsy Proteinuria (protein in the urine) Hematuria (blood in the urine) AKF Ambassador network Become a Kidney Health Coach
Jun 23

S2E7: "My Will to Live is Stronger Than This Disease", Lupus Nephritis with Della Major

Mike and Tamara talk with Della Major, an AKF Ambassador, Kidney Health Coach, teacher and life coach who is living with lupus nephritis. As a self-proclaimed “squawker”, Della is practiced in sharing her story of learning about both kidney disease and lupus while navigating the grief associated with this change in her health. She describes her initial resistance to starting dialysis, but how an experience with another patient at her center helped turn her mindset around. Della also talks about receiving a “high risk” kidney for her first transplant and the challenges associated with a treatment that is often talked about like a cure. Della explains how she is “here to change the game,” through educating her community, advocating for kidney legislation and sharing her story so others know they are not alone in their kidney disease journeys. More resources: Looped In on Lupus Nephritis AKF Ambassador network Become a Kidney Health Coach Mental health and kidney disease End-stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure Life after transplant Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP)

Trailer

Season 1 Teaser: An Introduction to the Collective

Welcome to The Kidney Collective™, American Kidney Fund’s limited series featuring unscripted conversations with someone who shares their journey—from what it's like to crash into dialysis to becoming a living donor. Whether you're living with kidney disease yourself or caring for someone who is, join us for a personal look at what life is like in The Kidney Collective and come away with information and inspiration to help you know how to take charge of your kidney health.

5

out of 5

10 Ratings

A podcast that gives voice to the many facets of living with kidney disease. Learn more at kidneyfund.org/podcast.

Creator

American Kidney Fund
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

23
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 The Kidney Collective
Show Website

The Kidney Collective