What if the future of brain tumor treatment is closer than we think?

On this episode of Game On Glio, we sit down with Dr. Annick Desjardins, neuro-oncologist and Director of Clinical Research at Duke’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, for a powerful conversation about where brain tumor research and treatment are headed—and what that could mean for patients and families facing a diagnosis.

Dr. Desjardins takes us beyond the medical jargon and into the rapidly evolving world of brain tumor care, sharing insight into emerging treatments-including oncolytic and infection driven treatments, and clinical research. We also talk about the importance of hope, innovation, and continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to treating brain tumors.

Find brain cancer clinical trials on our website episode bio page.

Listen to this episode here, on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or watch on our YouTube channel.

Season sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy (gammatile.com)

Curtana Pharmaceuticals (curtanapharma.com)

In this inspiring episode of Game On Glio, actress and pediatric cancer survivor Grace Wethor shares her remarkable journey of resilience, purpose, and hope after a life-changing diagnosis. Grace opens up about what it was like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age, how she continues to navigate the uncertainty that comes with survivorship, and why she made the intentional choice to embrace life instead of living in fear.Together, we explore the emotional reality of living with the "not knowing."

Whether you're a cancer survivor, caregiver, advocate, or someone searching for hope in the midst of uncertainty, this conversation offers an honest and uplifting perspective on resilience, courage, and rewriting the script when life doesn't go according to plan. If you're looking for inspiration, meaningful conversations, or stories that remind you to live fully despite the unknown, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Watch the video episode on our YouTube channel.

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Season Sponsors:

Curtana Pharmaceuticals (curtanapharma.com)

GammaTile Therapy (gammatile.com)

Do you know what insecure attachment styles are? What is the difference between secure and surviving? As someone with a graduate degree and years in the social work field, I didn't even know the answer to these.

So, I decided to find answers. It led me to a host of discoveries about what it means to have a childhood upbringing in a secure environment and how that leads to secure attachments in adulthood. But, more importantly, it led me to the realization that even if you grow up securely attached, trauma in adulthood can lead to issues with insecure attachment. Traumas like the death of a spouse.

Our guest today, Dr. Maika Steinborn, is a clinical and educational psychologist passionate about sharing uplifting and practical insights from psychology to help empower people to do what’s important on the deepest level of their heart. With a deep understanding the nuances and complications of how lard life can be, she supports people in making sense of themselves and connecting with, unleashing and guiding their inner power. Her approach is based on the idea that with the right mindset, knowledge and skills, humans are much more capable of growth and happiness than we often assume.

She breaks all this down for us in today's episode and how we can move into secure attachments in all relationships and how to navigate healing over surviving.

Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

This season is sponsored by:

GammaTile Therapy (gammatile.com)

Curtana Pharmaceuticals (curtana pharma.com)

This episode is supported by:

Highmark BlueCross Blueshield

Alpheus Medical

When Diane Pathieu first sat down with us, it was alongside her husband Nick. we talked about life, challenges, and everything in between. Since then, life has handed her a chapter she never asked to write—the loss of her husband.

This past year, Nick Adamski lost his battle with brain cancer. He fought his battle with courage, joy, humility, and honesty.

In this powerful return appearance, Diane joins us to talk candidly about widowhood, grief, love that doesn't end when a life does, and how we find our footing when the world shifts beneath us. It's heartbreaking, hopeful, and profoundly human.

Some stories deserve a sequel--we're incredibly grateful Diane chose to share her story with us. This is what life looks like after goodbye......

This episode is supported by our Premier Sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

Our episode sponsors:

Highmark Bluecross BlueShield of WNY

Alpheus Medical

When you think of ultrasounds, you probably think of sonograms, pregnancy, mammograms, and gynecology. At least I do!

I never would have associated ultrasound with brain cancer-until now. Our guest today, Dr. Vijay Agarwal, CEO of Alpheus Medical, has developed an investigational therapy that pairs a tumor-accumulating drug with low-intensity ultrasound to achieve localized activation inside the brain — an approach sometimes referred to as sonodynamic therapy (SDT).

After the drug has accumulated, the Alpheus LIDU® system delivers low-intensity, diffuse ultrasound across the affected brain hemisphere.

Dr. Agarwal discusses with me why this technology pairs so well with treating brain cancer. He stresses the importance for more innovative ways to treat brain cancer, and why funding is so crucial to work of many companies like his. More importantly, he sheds light on his passion for this work and his hope for the future.

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Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel.

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Premier sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

That Brainy Blonde! That's right, our guest today is That Brainy Blonde-Rebecca Devine.

How else would we kick off season 6 and brain cancer awareness month than with an eight year survivor of glioblastoma.

Rebecca's story is inspiring in so many ways, not least of which, her determination to find innovative ways to keep this cancer at bay. Rebecca's story is one of hope and resilience.

We have an intimate discussion around the clinical trial she did that has gotten her to where she is today. We also discuss her daily habits and how she views life from this different lens.

If you are looking for clinical trials our resource information-visit thegameongliopodcast.com

If you would like to work with us-visit writelifemediallc.com

Our premier sponsors for this season include:

GammaTile Therapy

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

Episode sponsors:

Alpheus Medical

Tactical Therapeutics

Highmark BCBS of WNY

It's fitting to end our 5th season with this interview. Every once in a while you come across a story that reminds you miracles do happen in this world. In covering such hard stories, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.

I've learned from my own experience, and through others stories, that when we see or are faced with death up close, it has the tendency to shine a light on what we truly need to put our energy into. It brings the present moment into focus, and all other problems or future worries fade away. But, it does something else too- it reminds us we don't have control over everything that happens in our life, no matter how much we might want to believe we do.

That's what today's story is about. From aspiring high school baseball player with a potential for a future professional career, to brain cancer patient fighting for his life. Bryce Newman never expected his life would be put into hyper-focus, with only one single motivation-to live. By all accounts, fighting medulablastoma, one of the most aggressive pediatric brain cancers there is, takes the life within a couple of years. Not Bryce, not this patient, not this life. Nearly eight years on, and working towards his Master's degree in sports management, Bryce says, "The minute I was diagnosed, I put it in God's hands." He says he was calm, he trusted God. But he wasn't the only one. His entire school did too.

And from that one act, his life was seemingly spared. The movie "Miracle at Manchester", starring Eddie McClintock was then made Bryce found renewed purpose, founding Miracle Children's Foundation.

Listen now or watch on YouTube.

Season Sponsors:

GammaTile (gammatile.com)

Imvax (imvax.com)

episode sponsors:

Highmark BCBS of WNY

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

Cypris Therapeutics