The Cracking Cancer Podcast

The Metabolic Blueprint: Weighing the Evidence on GLP-1s and Cancer Survival
In this highly anticipated episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down with patient advocate Samantha Murrell and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, to tackle the most talked-about presentation from the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting: the intersection of GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) and oncology. Samantha reveals that she has been using an off-label microdose of a GLP-1 alongside her targeted therapy for Stage IV HER2-mutant lung cancer, not for weight loss, but to target systemic, chronic inflammation.
The trio breaks down large-scale real-world data tracking over 25,000 patients, which uncovered a striking associative signal: patients taking GLP-1s alongside traditional targeted therapies were twice as likely to be alive at five years compared to matched cohorts. Dr. Kyle and Rob dissect what this means from a biochemical perspective. They separate mere association from actual causation, explore why chronic inflammation can act as a shield for tumors, and detail the strict clinical rules patients must follow—such as preserving lean muscle mass to prevent cachexia—if they choose to discuss these metabolically active compounds with their oncology teams.
 
Key Takeaways:
The Staggering ASCO Survival Signal
Chronic Inflammation vs. Acute Immune Response
The Metformin Connection
The Critical Muscle Mass Warning
The "Healthy Baseline" Confounder
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Sugar Feeds Cancer(01:57) Why GLP-1s Are Buzzing(05:15) Association vs Causation(07:06) Patient Concerns and Anecdotes(10:54) Inflammation Theory and ASCO Data(15:22) Evidence Review and Metformin Link(21:12) Glucose Control Mythbusting(28:00) What GLP-1 Drugs Are(30:36) Next Gen GLP-1s(31:31) Long Acting and Oral Options(32:07) ASCO Lung Cancer Signal(36:23) Interpreting Retrospective Data(39:13) Why Samantha Tried It(40:14) Absorption Theory and Dosing(41:28) Early Side Effects and Adaptation(43:01) Microdosing Caveats(45:14) Autoimmune and Histamine Effects(50:55) Broader Cancer Survival Data(53:35) Practical Safety Guidance(56:34) What We Still Dont Know
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

In this special behind-the-scenes episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down for a candid, scientist-to-scientist conversation with science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD. Stepping away from the traditional patient-interview format, Kyle and Rob pull back the curtain on their own medical paths to explore a profound systemic challenge: the widening chasm between complex oncology research and the everyday patient.
Rob shares his viral origin story, which began during his doctoral work at Cornell studying mRNA therapeutics for kidney cancer. When the pandemic hit, a simple explanatory video made for his own family skyrocketed into a full-time mission to demystify laboratory science. Kyle shares a deeply personal, never-before-told story about growing up in a low-healthcare-literacy household in rural Vermont, navigating his brother’s rare genetic liver disorder, and the decades of silent anxiety his mother carried simply because she lacked the vocabulary to ask her doctors the right questions. Together, they deconstruct the broken incentives of modern academic publishing, the flaws of the journal "impact factor" business, and how breaking down elitist medical jargon empowers patients to reclaim control over their own clinical destinies.
 
Key Takeaways:
The Widening Scientific Chasm
The "Whiteboard" Anchor for Clinical Care
The Fragmented Reality of Learning
The Business of the Peer-Review "Paywall"
Empathy as a Clinical Metric
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to Cracking Cancer
(00:22) Why Those mRNA Videos Took Off
(09:55) How to Explain Complex Science
(13:35) Empowering Patients and Caregivers
(18:37) Many Ways to Communicate Science
(23:08) Finding Credible Information
(25:09) Peer Review and Impact Factor
(35:05) AI as a Learning Tool
(40:22) Kyle’s Personal Why
(50:42) Advice and Wrap Up
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Deconstructing Fenbendazole: Scaffolding, Solvents, and the "Joe Tippens" Protocol
In this highly requested follow-up to their Ivermectin discussion, host Dr. Kyle Concannon, patient advocate Samantha Murrell, and science communicator Rob Swanda, PhD, touch the hot stove of alternative oncology once again. This time, they dive deep into Fenbendazole (commonly called "Fenben"), an antiparasitic veterinary drug that has exploded in popularity across cancer forums due to the viral "Joe Tippens Protocol." Samantha opens up about her personal choice to take Fenbendazole secretly for eight months alongside conventional chemotherapy, providing an unfiltered look at the immense "what if" pressure patients face behind closed doors.
The conversation shifts to rigorous biochemical scrutiny as Dr. Kyle and Rob break down what the drug actually does inside a petri dish and a living organism. They expose the fascinating irony of alternative health branding: while Fenbendazole is frequently marketed online as a "natural, holistic alternative to harsh toxins," it is completely synthetic. Conversely, the very chemotherapies it seeks to replace are the ones derived directly from nature. Moving step-by-step through peer-reviewed data, they analyze how this compound disrupts cellular architecture, why its therapeutic thresholds carry hidden toxicities, and how missing variables in animal models can obscure the difference between a true anti-tumor signal and a general cellular poison.
 
Key Takeaways:
The Microtubule Mechanism (Chemo in Disguise)
The P53 Gene Context
The "Healthy Tissue" Toxicity Flaw
Flawed Mouse Models & Missing Data
Association vs. Causation
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
For more information on Fenbendazole, check out Rob's info-packed video below!
https://youtu.be/DDVko6G84wo
 
Want to see the data yourself? Check out the actual papers below:
Fenbendazole acts as a moderate microtubule destabilizing agent and causes cancer cell death by modulating multiple cellular pathways
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6085345/
Fenbendazole Exhibits Differential Anticancer Effects In Vitro and In Vivo in Models of Mouse Lymphoma
https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/11/560 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Why Fenbendazole Now
(01:38) Samantha Tries Fenben
(02:09) Joe Tippens Protocol Buzz
(04:04) How She Took It
(06:14) Social Pressure and Disclosure
(08:23) What Fenbendazole Is
(11:17) Microtubules and Cancer Logic
(13:29) Natural Versus Synthetic Debate
(17:25) Preclinical Evidence Deep Dive
(19:31) Mouse Study Caveats
(25:57) Safety Unknowns and Next Steps
(30:39) Paper Rigor Check
(31:42) Dose Response Reality
(33:15) P53 Dependency Explained
(38:25) Healthy Cell Toxicity
(40:32) Missing Controls Bias
(42:28) Second Study Lymphoma
(44:42) Why Immune Free Mice
(49:30) How Strong Is Evidence
(54:38) Anecdotes Versus Causation
(57:00) Mechanism Gaps Takeaways
(59:33) Final Verdict Sign Off
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

In this critical episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon reunites with co-host JJ Singleton and welcomes Zach Schroeder, a first-year intern at Wake Forest and the founder of the Rural Cancer Institute. Zach sharing his harrowing personal journey as a 21-year-old diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in a tiny Kansas town anchors the conversation. To receive life-saving surgeries and radiation at MD Anderson, Zach faced an 1100-mile round trip, waking up at 2:00 AM on treatment days to fly across state lines—all while balancing his junior year of college.
The trio dives into the staggering statistics defining the "Rural Cancer Gap." They explore the reality that while cancer mortality is declining nationwide, urban survival rates are improving significantly faster than rural ones.
From local hospital closures and severe screening shortages (like having only seven providers to perform colonoscopies across a 14-county region in western North Carolina) to systemic medical licensing laws that legally prohibit academic oncologists from billing for telehealth across state lines, this episode exposes the bureaucratic and geographic barriers holding back rural survival. But it also highlights a powerful cultural truth: the profound community support unique to small-town medicine, and how model frameworks like the "Rural Oncology Home" are blending high-tier academic decision-making with local, close-to-home infusion care.
 
Key Takeaways:
The Widening Rural Mortality Gap
The Telehealth "Billing Wall"
The "Rural Oncology Home" Model
Severe Screening Deserts
The Sibling/Caregiver Strain
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Zach Melanoma Journey
(08:16) JJ Colon Cancer Travel
(10:34) Rural Care Barriers Data
(16:35) Rural Cancer Gap Explained
(20:45) Rural Oncology Home Model
(25:18) Telehealth and Licensing
(39:41) Isolation and Culture Shock
(49:45) Solutions Training and Teams
(53:20) Second Opinions and Support
(56:22) Final Advice and Wrap
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Touching the Hot Stove: The Truth About Ivermectin and Cancer
In this high-stakes episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by patient advocate Samantha Morrell and biochemist Rob, PhD, to dissect the data behind the Ivermectin "miracle cure" narrative. Samantha candidly shares her personal experience with the drug, including the social pressure that led her to try it and the subsequent disease progression she experienced while on it.
The conversation moves from social media anecdotes to the hard science of the petri dish. Rob explains the actual mechanism of Ivermectin as an antiparasitic and why the "cancer is a parasite" theory is biologically incorrect. They deconstruct the preclinical studies often cited by proponents, revealing a massive dosing gap: the concentrations required to kill cancer cells in a lab are 10 to 100 times higher than what the human body can safely tolerate. From the dangers of DMSO as a solvent to the ICU-level risks of high-dose toxicity, this episode provides a grounded, peer-reviewed reality check for patients navigating the "what if" pressure of alternative therapies.
 
Key Takeaways:
The Dosing Disconnect
Cancer is Not a Parasite
The Danger of "False Hope" Time-Loss
The "Immune Cold to Hot" Myth
Repurposing vs. Folklore
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Want to learn more about Ivermectin? Watch Rob's quick explainer video in the link below!
https://youtu.be/gpaowjmeiLc
 
Chapters:
00:00 Why Ivermectin Now02:35 Samantha Tried It04:55 Pressure and Regret06:28 What Ivermectin Is12:32 Why Trials Matter20:31 Doses and Toxicity29:47 Does It Kill Cells34:31 DMSO As Alternative Therapy38:26 Toxicity And Neuro Risks43:18 Glutamate Cancer Metabolism46:41 Why Petri Dish Misleads51:29 If It Worked Pharma Would Pivot53:36 Anecdotes And Missing Case Reports55:41 Self Dosing And False Hope57:44 Wrap Up And Key Takeaways
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Inside the "Scientific City": Navigating the AACR Conference with Max Doppelt
In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon and patient advocate Max Doppelt pull back the curtain on one of the world's largest oncology events: the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. While clinical conferences focus on what drugs work now, AACR is a massive "scientific city" dedicated to the deep biology and technological breakthroughs that will define cancer care three to five years from now.
From navigating the half-mile-long San Diego Convention Center to decoding posters filled with PhD-level jargon, Kyle and Max share the "sneakers-on-the-ground" reality of attending a conference where patients make up less than 1% of the audience. They discuss the striking knowledge gap between basic scientists and clinicians, the overwhelming pharmaceutical presence, and why the most valuable moments often happen over eclectic dinners rather than in lecture halls. Whether you are a researcher looking for a similarity-search algorithm for posters or a patient searching for a "seed of hope," this conversation offers a roadmap for making sense of pure scientific chaos.
 
Key Takeaways:
AACR is Preclinical, Not Clinical
The "Half-Mile" Planning Rule
Scientists Are Accessible
The "Similarity Index" Need
Networking is the Real Dividend
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Why AACR Matters
(01:37) Conference Scale Tour
(05:20) Planning and Navigating
(08:41) Making Research Accessible
(15:04) Patient Tracks and Lunch
(16:10) Exon 20 and Relevance Gap
(21:18) Basic Biology vs Clinic
(27:57) Hope and Collaboration
(30:51) AI for Smarter Networking
(35:58) Best Moments and People
(42:40) Booths and Home Base
(44:11) Wrap Up and Next Year
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Smashing the Stigma: New Hope and Breakthroughs in Small Cell Lung Cancer
In this powerful episode, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Matthew Baker, a never-smoker living with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and Dr. Misty Shields, a physician-scientist at Indiana University and founder of the "Small Cell Smashers." Together, they strip away the "Google-induced" terror of an SCLC diagnosis to reveal a rapidly changing clinical landscape.
The conversation covers the grueling reality of standard "classic" chemotherapies, the emotional weight of radiation, and the traumatic side effects like ototoxicity (hearing loss) that Matt has navigated. Dr. Shields explains why small cell is uniquely "addicted to growth," making it highly sensitive to treatment but also prone to rapid resistance. However, the focus is on the future: the trio discusses the "transformative" rise of T-cell engagers (BiTEs), Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), and the controversial shift away from prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). It’s an episode about finding your "tribe," advocating for second opinions, and reclaiming hope in a field that is finally seeing its first major breakthroughs in decades.
 
Key Takeaways:
The "Neuroendocrine" Factor
The Platinum Standard
The "Silent" Side Effect—Ototoxicity
The PCI Controversy
The New Era of BiTEs and ADCs
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Meet the Guests(04:32) What Small Cell Is(06:03) Staging Confusion Explained(08:03) Chemo and Radiation Reality(14:00) Radiation Process and Support(18:48) Side Effects and Safety Tips(21:56) Hair Loss and Hearing Loss(25:05) Caregivers and Not Burdening(32:22) Extensive Stage Treatment Basics(37:57) Second Opinions Self Advocacy(39:55) PCI Controversy Explained(50:15) Transformative Trials New Drugs(52:03) Biomarkers Personalized Therapy
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Demystifying Radiation: From "Adult Coloring" to Molecular Smart Drugs
In this enlightening episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by academic radiation oncologist Dr. Tim Waxweiler and stage IV neuroendocrine patient Bill Thach. They strip away the "sci-fi" mystery surrounding radiation therapy, addressing common patient fears—such as "Am I radioactive?"—and explaining the meticulous physics behind modern treatment.
The trio discusses the evolution of radiation from broad-beam "front-to-back" treatments to modern dose painting, where specialists use complex algorithms to steer energy toward tumors while sparing healthy organs. Bill shares his raw experience navigating 25 rounds of external radiation and the cutting-edge world of Radiopharmaceuticals (PRRT). Dr. Waxweiler breaks down the "Goldilocks" quest for the perfect dose, the nuances of Proton Therapy, and why staying physically active is the most powerful tool a patient has to combat radiation-induced fatigue. This episode is an essential guide for anyone facing a radiation referral, offering clarity on everything from simulation casts to the cumulative risks of diagnostic scans.
 
Key Takeaways:
Radiation is "Targeted Energy"
External Beam vs. Brachytherapy
The Rise of Radiopharmaceuticals (PRRT)
The Proton Therapy Debate
The Cumulative "Radiation Bucket"
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) Radiation Basics Explained
(07:47) Planning and Beam Shaping
(17:59) Why Not Radiate Everything
(29:10) Risks of Repeat Radiation
(33:18) Lutathera Side Effects
(41:39) How Targeted Particles Work
(52:05) Choosing Treatment Together
(58:35) Advice for New Patients
 
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Young, Sick, and Isolated: Navigating the AYA Cancer Crisis with Stupid Cancer
In this vital episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by JJ Singleton, a colorectal cancer survivor diagnosed at age 27, and Alison Silberman, CEO of Stupid Cancer. They dive into the world of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer—defined as patients diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 39. While cancer rates in younger adults are rising, the medical system remains largely tailored to older populations, leaving AYAs in a "clinical gap" between pediatrics and geriatrics.
The trio discusses the profound isolation felt by young patients who don't see themselves reflected in oncology waiting rooms and the specific milestones—fertility, career building, and financial independence—that cancer abruptly derails. Alison highlights the work of Stupid Cancer in providing "hub and spoke" resources for this community, while JJ shares his journey from "stunted growth" and mental health struggles to finding a life-changing community. This episode is a call to action for providers to integrate psychosocial checklists into clinical care and a roadmap for young survivors to stop isolating and "say yes" to community.
 
Key Takeaways:
The AYA "Clinical Gap"
The rising Incidence is Real
The "Burden" of the Stoic Male
Psychosocial Checklists are Needed
Stop the Isolation
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
Chapters:
(00:00) Why AYA Cancer Matters
(02:41) Allison’s Advocacy Origin
(03:35) JJ’s Diagnosis Story
(13:43) Unique AYA Life Challenges
(17:32) Fixing Care Communication Gaps
(25:49) Family Planning After Cancer
(27:53) Stupid Cancer Programs
(37:21) AYA Biology and Trials
(41:58) Defining AYA Care Standards
(46:55) Finding Resources and Community
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

In this crucial episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by patient advocate Samantha Murrell and world-renowned expert Dr. Laura Alder, a thoracic oncologist at Duke University. Together, they demystify Leptomeningeal Disease (LMD)—a condition where cancer cells spread to the thin layers of tissue (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
LMD is often considered "the scariest" diagnosis by patients because of its historic poor prognosis and the diagnostic difficulty it presents. The team explores why an MRI alone isn't always enough for a diagnosis, the "50/50" reality of lumbar punctures, and the revolutionary shift toward CSF genomic profiling. Dr. Alder highlights the "multi-disciplinary tumor board" approach to treatment, discussing everything from intrathecal chemotherapy via Ommaya reservoirs to the latest CNS-penetrant targeted therapies. This conversation moves past the fear to focus on the emerging tools and clinical trials that are offering new hope and extended quality of life for those facing LMD.
 
Key Takeaways:
LMD vs. Brain Metastases
The Diagnostic Challenge
Know the Neurological Red Flags
The "Blood-Brain Barrier" Hurdle
Advocating for Inclusion
 
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer 
 
Chapters:
(00:00) What Is LMD
(06:51) Patient Fears And Misconceptions
(14:08) Diagnosing LMD MRI And Spinal Tap
(23:57) Timing Risk And Why It Happens
(31:47) Targeted Drugs for CNS
(37:43) CNS Patients Excluded
(48:06) Prognosis and Urgency
(53:05) CNS vs Spine Confusion
 
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
 
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
 
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos