Team Powdered Donut™ Podcast

Gary Thompson
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Documentary

Over the past ten years, Gary has honored his late wife, Maureen’s, memory by delivering bags of powdered donuts to meaningful places each year on October 21, the day of her passing. What began as a way to turn grief into joy has sparked powerful connections and moments of healing. Team Powdered Donut™ takes this tradition and makes it about all of us. "One Story. One Moment. One Donut at a time." The podcast is going "on the air" ahead of Team Powdered Donut heading out on the road via Airstream® in 2026 to visit all 73 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and other meaningful locations along the way. At every stop, powdered donuts will be shared and stories will be collected – echoing the spirit of StoryCorps® – with a mobile podcast studio in the Airstream in which Gary will travel. From patients to those who love them, from oncologists to their healthcare teams, stories will be captured and shared along the way.

  1. 5d ago

    From Rockets to Individual Cells. Investing in Community and Leaders. | Wendy Law, Assoc. Dir. of Admin., Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium

    In this episode, Wendy Law shares her journey from aspiring aerospace engineer to leading cancer research at Fred Hutch, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, mentorship, community, and innovation in advancing cancer care and research. Key Topics Wendy Law's personal journey and career developmentThe role of mentorship and community in scientific careersThe structure and importance of cancer centers and networksThe integration of AI and data science in cancer researchStrategies for effective collaboration and leadership in healthcare Who Is Wendy Law? Wendy trained at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, also known as “the Hutch”, as a graduate student and postdoc before taking on a science policy position with then-Hutch President and Nobel Laureate Dr. Lee Hartwell to help the National Cancer Institute (NCI) develop their Proteomics Initiative. Following a successfully funded Proteomics Initiative, she joined the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research as their Director of Scientific Programs & Operations for nearly 8 years. Wendy returned to the Hutch in 2016 to serve in her current role as the Associate Director of Administration for the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium. The Cancer Consortium has been continuously designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the NCI since 1973. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 03:02 Her Role at Fred Hutch and Focus on Cancer Research 06:16 Early Influences and Mentors in Science 11:27 Understanding the Cancer Ecosystem Today 16:00 Mentorship and Near-Peer Programs for Trainees 19:20 The Role of Cancer Centers and the NCI Network 23:34 Fred Hutch's Culture and Innovation 26:49 The Consortium of Seattle Cancer Centers 34:26 The Power of Philanthropy and Community Support 39:50 Explaining Complex Science to the Public 44:02 Pattern Recognition in Science and Leadership 44:54 Leadership Qualities Beyond Scientific Expertise 46:29 The Importance of Presence and Curiosity in Leadership 47:18 The Role of Curiosity and Problem Solving in Leadership 48:31 Building a Supportive Community of Cancer Center Leaders 50:45 The Evolution and Future of Cancer Center Networks 53:28 The Spirit of Sharing and Collaboration Among Centers 55:24 The Impact of Philanthropy and Community Involvement 57:47 One Thing to Change for Better Cancer Care 58:55 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

    From Rockets to Individual Cells. Investing in Community and Leaders. | Wendy Law, Assoc. Dir. of Admin., Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium

  2. Sep 29

    One Year at the Helm as Director of the National Cancer Institute | Dr. Anthony Letai, MD, PhD

    NCI Director Dr. Anthony LetaiNCI Director Dr. Anthony Letai Credit: National Cancer Institute Dr. Anthony Letai, M.D., Ph.D., joined NCI as the 18th director on September 29, 2025. He previously served as professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Letai received his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Princeton University. After receiving his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago with Elaine Fuchs, Ph.D., Dr. Letai completed his residency in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His interest in cancer cell death evolved during his post-doctoral research training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Stanley Korsmeyer. His career and pioneering work in functional precision oncology helped advance therapies such as BCL-2 inhibitors—drugs that are now standard treatment for many adults with leukemia. In addition, his team developed a technique, called BH3 profiling, that helps predict how cancer cells will respond to chemotherapies. BH3 profiling is now being tested to discover how it can be used in clinical practice to find the right drugs for the right patients. An advocate for research that can quickly bring new, effective treatments to patients, Dr. Letai served as co-founder and President of the Society for Functional Precision Medicine , which works to improve patient care and outcomes by supporting the use of functional assays in clinical care. Additionally, he is the recipient of the Sidney Kimmel Foundation Scholar Award, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar Award , the European Cell Death Organization Career Award, the Smith Family Prize for Outstanding Scientific Contributions, the University of Chicago Biomedical Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. and the NCI Outstanding Investigator Award. He also serves as an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and Association of American Physicians, and is a Fellow if the American Association of Cancer Research Academy. Dr. Letai’s work has helped transform cancer treatment and advance functional precision medicine.

    One Year at the Helm as Director of the National Cancer Institute | Dr. Anthony Letai, MD, PhD

  3. Sep 22

    From Piano Keys to Podcast Mics to We the Patients | Matthew Zachary, American Patient Rights Activist, Author, We The Patients

    Show Notes Matthew Zachary shares his remarkable journey from a concert pianist to a cancer advocate and healthcare reformer, highlighting the power of storytelling, advocacy, and systemic change in the fight against cancer. Keywords Cancer advocacy, healthcare reform, patient stories, Stupid Cancer, We the Patients, medical system, survivorship, policy change, patient voice, healthcare history key Topics Matthew Zachary's journey from musician to cancer advocateThe origins and evolution of Stupid Cancer and We the PatientsThe role of storytelling and advocacy in healthcare reformSystemic issues in the American healthcare system and potential solutionsThe importance of patient voice and community in cancer care Sound Bites "I forgive the system for this.""Survivorship is how you choose to get busy living.""I no longer believe morals and community will affect policy." Chapters 00:00Introduction and Guest Background 01:19Matthew's High School and College Years 02:27Diagnosis of Brain Cancer and Its Impact 03:19Family, Recreation, and Personal Interests 07:10Early Career and Tech Skills Development 09:22Deciding Against Chemotherapy to Preserve Music Ability 11:03The Fork in the Road: Choosing Life and Advocacy 13:11Learning About Cancer Treatments and Side Effects 15:43The Birth of Stupid Cancer and Its Mission 20:35Early Public Performances and Community Engagement 22:53The Evolution of Advocacy and Community Building 27:22The Role of Policy and Systemic Change 33:23The Naming and Branding of Stupid Cancer 40:12Transition to Out of Patience Podcast 42:42The Future of Healthcare and Patient Advocacy 46:34Writing We the Patients and Healthcare System Insights 52:43Key Messages and Call to Action 58:37Matthew's One Thing and Final Advice Who Is Matthew Zachary? (In His Own Words) Thirty years ago, a doctor told me to get my affairs in order. Brain cancer. Age 21. It was 1996. Dial-up internet. Blockbuster Video. Nobody had a podcast because nobody knew what a podcast was. I had other plans. I went on to found Stupid Cancer and help build the young adult cancer movement before most of healthcare knew young adults with cancer were even a distinct population. I also launched The Stupid Cancer Show, which became one of healthcare’s earliest and longest-running independent podcasts and eventually evolved into the award-winning Out of Patients. Along the way, I produced The Cancer Mavericks, a documentary series about the rebel patients who changed modern oncology. And after 30 years of surviving, studying, navigating, and occasionally screaming at the American healthcare system, I wrote the book on it. Literally. We the Patients: Understanding, Navigating, and Surviving America’s Healthcare Nightmare, published by Wiley, is my field guide, history lesson, and indictment of a system that somehow manages to be the most expensive in the world while routinely asking sick people to fax things. Today, I co-lead We the Patients, a national movement transforming patient experience into policy, protections, and civic power. I speak to the rooms that need to hear what they may not particularly want to hear. My work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, People, Time, and The Atlantic, and I’ve worked with organizations including Merck, GSK, Pfizer, Novartis, Amgen, and Bristol Myers Squibb. I’m also a concert pianist who has performed for audiences of 30,000, because apparently one career was insufficient. Thirty years after being told to get my affairs in order, my affairs remain aggressively out of order. I am... healthcare’s unfiltered voice of reason.

    From Piano Keys to Podcast Mics to We the Patients | Matthew Zachary, American Patient Rights Activist, Author, We The Patients

  4. Sep 15

    Can Your #OneThing be ZERO? | Courtney Bugler, President & CEO, ZERO Prostate Cancer

    Who Is Courtney Bugler? Currently serving as the CEO and President of ZERO Prostate Cancer, Courtney is committed to advancing the organization's mission and making a tangible impact in the fight against prostate cancer. Under her leadership, ZERO Prostate Cancer continues to achieve remarkable milestones and drive meaningful change. Prior to her role at ZERO Prostate Cancer, Courtney served as the Chief Development and Marketing Officer at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, she successfully elevated the organization's profile and expanded its philanthropic efforts. Courtney's career highlights also include her tenure as the National Director of the Race for the Cure / MORE THAN PINK Walk Series at Susan G. Komen, where she led a nationwide team to transform a top-ten National Peer-to-Peer Walk Series. Her strategic vision and leadership led to significant organizational growth and fundraising success. With a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Northwestern University and certification as a Certified Fundraising Executive®, Courtney combines her academic background with hands-on experience to drive results. Passionate about cancer advocacy and survivorship, Courtney has lobbied on Capitol Hill for funding toward cancer research programs and has served as a consumer advocate research grant reviewer. She has also developed successful programs and health communication tools for young women with breast cancer and at-risk populations.

    Can Your #OneThing be ZERO? | Courtney Bugler, President & CEO, ZERO Prostate Cancer

  5. Sep 8

    How to Get to 1M Signatures on the Mobile Love Letter? Ask One of the Authors of Go-Giver®!! | Bob Burg, Co-Author, International Bestseller, Go-Giver®

    Who Is Bob Burg? Bob Burg shares how a subtle shift in focus is not only a more uplifting and fulfilling way of conducting business but the most financially profitable way, as well. For more than 30 years he has helped companies, sales leaders, and their teams to more effectively communicate their value, sell at higher prices with less resistance, and grow their businesses based on Endless Referrals. Bob has regularly addressed audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000 — sharing the platform with notables including today’s top thought leaders, broadcast personalities, Olympic athletes and political leaders including a former United States President. Although for years he was best known for his book Endless Referrals, it’s his business parable, The Go-Giver (coauthored with John David Mann) that captured the imagination of his readers. The Go-Giver, a Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek Bestseller, has sold well over 1.5 million copies. Since its release, it has consistently stayed in the Top 25 on Porchlight’s (formerly 800-CEO-READ) Business Book Bestsellers List. The book has been translated into 30 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Most Motivational Books Ever Written, and was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time. Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, referrals, influence, persuasion, and people skills, with total book sales exceeding two million copies. Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender, of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic and serves as part of a South Florida rescue, foster, and adoption organization. Learn more: https://burg.com/about/

    How to Get to 1M Signatures on the Mobile Love Letter? Ask One of the Authors of Go-Giver®!! | Bob Burg, Co-Author, International Bestseller, Go-Giver®

  6. Aug 25

    Channeling 35 Years at the Helm of SXSW to Transform Global Events | Hugh Forrest, Gather & Grow Experiences

    Who is Hugh Forrest? A transformative leader in the global events industry, Hugh Forrest dedicated more than three decades of his life to building South by Southwest (SXSW) into one of the world's most influential gatherings of technology, innovation and culture. Over the course of his 30+ year tenure at SXSW, Hugh was honored as "Austinite of the Year" by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (in 2012) and was also awarded as "Austin Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young (in 2014). Austin Mayor Steve Adler honored him with a key to the city in January 2023. And in September 2025, Hugh was given the Legacy CEO of the Year Award by the Austin Business Journal. Kenyon College, his alma mater, bestowed him with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2018, acknowledging his significant impact on arts, culture, and education. His commitment to diversity and inclusion was likewise recognized when Hugh received the Diversity Champion of the Year award from the Austin Black Business Journal in June 2021. In addition to SXSW, Hugh served as the co-organizer of the Austin Reggae Festival for more than 30 years. This event raised more than one million dollars to help the Central Texas Food Bank feed hungry families in the Lone Star State. Hugh now channels his experience and expertise into exciting new directions with Gather & Grow Experiences, a consultancy that serves community-focused events, experiences and organizations globally. Current clients include SP2B (an eight-day celebration of culture and business scheduled for August 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil), the Texas Tribune Festival (September 24-26 in Austin), the Austin Forum (a weekly ATX-based event series) and Borderlands AI (a new event launching in San Antonio in the spring of 2027). Learn more about these and other projects at gatherandgrowexperiences.com He is also lending his insights to the Austin Sister Cities International (ASCI), as an at-large board member for this important committee. Other current Board positions include the school food program Common Threads and as as a Trustee for the Foundation for Better Business (Heart of Texas Chapter). He previously served on the Board for Austin Habitat for Humanity.

    Channeling 35 Years at the Helm of SXSW to Transform Global Events | Hugh Forrest, Gather & Grow Experiences

  7. Aug 11

    #BeyondTheRedDot | Living Exponentially and Playing Big | Nancy Giordano, Founder, Strategist Futurist, Curator

    Who Is Nancy? Described as endlessly optimistic, Nancy is an exponential strategist, gatherer, and best-selling author of LEADERing: The Ways Visionary Leaders Play Bigger. As founder of the Femme Futurist Society, the Futurist(Mom) podcast and mother of three, her expertise and experiences range from A.I. to frozen foods to reinventing the internet. And with a drive to help caring leaders play bigger to meet the escalating expectations ahead, she is recognized as one of the world’s top female futurists and has delivered more than 200 keynotes across the world. More From Nancy: https://nancygiordano.com https://podcast.futuristmom.com https://nancygiordano.substack.com/

    #BeyondTheRedDot | Living Exponentially and Playing Big | Nancy Giordano, Founder, Strategist Futurist, Curator

  8. Jul 28

    Beyond the Red Dot - Curating Connection From Libraries to Art, Creativity, Nature and the Spirit

    Who is Patricia Fitzgerald? Patricia is a visual artist, author and mindfulness meditation facilitator located in Dublin, Ireland. Her main focus is on the art of Mandala and the power of mandala as a tool for the expansion of consciousness. Her internationally selling work has been exhibited extensively in Ireland and abroad. As well as creating stunningly detailed mandalas, she also hosts workshops and retreats on Mandala creation and meditation. She is a part of the creative collective outlet who are situated in the Courtyard at Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Patricia studied Visual Education and Communication at Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design (IADT) and also holds a first class honours degree in Philosophy and Sociology from University College, Dublin where she was also awarded a post graduate scholarship. Her first book Healing Creations: Discover your mindful self through mandala colouring and journaling (Collins Press 2016) contains forty hand drawn mandalas for you to engage with, positive quotations and wisdom from many of the world's best thinkers plus meditation. Her second book ‘Who Would You Be If..’ is a personal development book for women and was published by Red Stag Books in December 2018. She has featured on The RTE Today Show, The Irish Times, The Independent, Irish Examiner, Victoria Mary Clarke's The Art of Living Show, Derry City FM's Arts show, Positive Life, Live Encounters, The Dublin Enquirer and on many other radio shows and magazine features. Patricia was a Senior Librarian and Arts Officer with South Dublin Libraries for over 27 years until she changed her career in 2017 to pursue her art and meditation practice full time. During her time there, she organised many events including TEDxTallaght (she was the principal organiser and license holder for nine years), The Red Line Book Festival, Culture Night, Seachtain na Gaeilge, Children's Book Festival, Bealtaine, and more. She underwent treatment for TNBC Breast Cancer treatment in 2021/22 whilst simultaneously losing both of her parents during that time. She believes that the tools she has built up creatively and through meditation greatly helped navigate this extraordinarily difficult time. She is also an advocate for women with breast cancer and for the rights of women and children to have single sex spaces and keep safeguarding and language in tact. Peace@healingcreations.ie

    Beyond the Red Dot - Curating Connection From Libraries to Art, Creativity, Nature and the Spirit
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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Over the past ten years, Gary has honored his late wife, Maureen’s, memory by delivering bags of powdered donuts to meaningful places each year on October 21, the day of her passing. What began as a way to turn grief into joy has sparked powerful connections and moments of healing. Team Powdered Donut™ takes this tradition and makes it about all of us. "One Story. One Moment. One Donut at a time." The podcast is going "on the air" ahead of Team Powdered Donut heading out on the road via Airstream® in 2026 to visit all 73 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and other meaningful locations along the way. At every stop, powdered donuts will be shared and stories will be collected – echoing the spirit of StoryCorps® – with a mobile podcast studio in the Airstream in which Gary will travel. From patients to those who love them, from oncologists to their healthcare teams, stories will be captured and shared along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Gary Thompson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Gary Thompson
  • Show Website
    Team Powdered Donut™ Podcast