The Game On Glio Podcast

Chris Schuler is a fierce advocate for the brain cancer community, a journey that found him due to his experience losing his father to glioblastoma. My take away from my interview with Chris is his perspective on his anticipatory grief compared to his mother's traumatic grief after his dad's death. The way Chris views the gift he was given during his dad's illness is an eye-opening take away. A child of adoption, Chris feels he was meant to be adopted by the Schuler's, just as he was meant to help his mom care for his dad. His story on care-giving is beautifully told.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile (gammatile.com) Imvax Inc. (imvax.com)   Episode Sponsor: Carthera Therapy 

  In the United States, there are more than 3 million women widowed! But, of that number, only 12% are under the age of 50. Let that sink in for a minute. That means that 360,000 women in the U.S. are widowed before they ever hit 50 years old. You know what else it means? It means 3 million of us loved and loved fearlessly! When your partner dies, you ache- you ache because you loved them. It means you are human. It might sound like a depressing number, but the reality is, there are more of us out there than we know. We are not alone. Our guest today, Erica Jane Cheatham-Ormeno, knows this all to well. But the way she has  approached grieving, and how she is handling being single is a viewpoint I think we can all learn from.   Listen now.   Episode Sponsors: GammaTile (gammatile.com) Imvax (Imvax.com) Plus Therapeutics

Every once in a while you get a perspective that changes the way you see a certain view of life. Ty Ferrell is not just a cowboy. There's so much more beyond the hat. He's a dad, a farmer, a photographer, a rodeo rider (retired), and an insurance adjuster. He's also single. We aren't talking about "let's get this guy a date" single. We are talking, hardship in our 40's and living single.We are pulling back the curtain on relationships. Learning the 5 love languages, the 3 insecure attachment styles, the healthiest ways to communicate, and what it takes to combat the loneliness while also owning our single life. After a divorce left him as a single dad and running a farm on his own, Ty spent a great deal of time trying to tap into his inner vulnerability so that he  could be a better man for himself, his daughter, and a potential partner. And, a brief stint on the reality t.v. show, Farmer Wants a Wife, catapulted him into the spotlight. Listen now! Game On Glio is syndicated. Listen on iHeart, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Audible and more!   Premier Sponsors: GammaTile (gammatile.com)   Imvax Inc. (imvax.com)

There is no training manual for how to move through grief. When you become widowed, there are no guidelines that you can turn to. As adults, our brains want to hold onto grief like a weed. Constantly growing back, we replay and run through the death over and over again. The brain processes grief differently than the heart does. But for those who have children, grief is seen through a completely different lens--and sometimes, it changes how grief is viewed. In today's episode, I talk with Widower Gary Andrews about how culture teaches men and women to grieve differently (yet we all grieve the same). Gary opens up about the need for men to be more vulnerable with their emotions, and how his children helped him navigate grief and taught him a valuable lesson.   Visit our website www.thegameongliopodcast.com and watch video episodes on our YouTube channel where you will also see sponsor details and special food segments.   Season Premier Sponsors: GammaTile (gammatile.com)   Imvax Inc. (imvax.com)

Outcome-death, emotion-darkness and grief. How do we move through one of the hardest things that happens in life? The movie, The Color of Rain happened to be airing on Hallmark three or four months after Mike's death. I remember thinking, "Why is this really sad movie on the regular Hallmark channel?" I tried watching 30 minutes of it, I couldn't do it. I was transported back to Mike's death. However, like a sign from the Universe, the movie continued to air on the regular Hallmark channel and eventually I watched it. Gina Kell-Spehn's story mirrored so much of my own, with two exceptions; she has two children, and she found love in the most unlikely of places. Shortly after Gina's husband Matt died, across town Michael Spehn was dealt his own tragedy when his wife was diagnosed and died within 17 days of brain cancer.    This story of love, hope and trust in God is a powerful story. Listen now anywhere podcasts are played or watch on our YouTube Channel.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy (gammatile.com) Imvax Inc. (Imvax.com)   Episode sponsor: Highmark Bluecross Blueshield of WNY

Imagine life trucking along, young healthy children, pursuing a dream career, a wonderful marriage, a beautiful home. When you are in your 30's, you don't think that life can change so rapidly. But that's the tricky thing about life, it doesn't matter how old you are, life has a way of veering us of course and onto a whole new path. Today's guest, Ellen Duncan knows this experience all to well. Her late husband's life was cut short very suddenly-barely into his mid 30's. With two young girls, Ellen was faced with figuring out how to navigate a new path forced upon her. Ellen learned that she needed to lean in completely. What does that look like--this idea of leaning in? Leaning into what? Grief? Happiness? Widowhood? Motherhood? Life? All of the above. Most importantly Ellen had to lean into her faith and rely on her instincts to help her navigate leaning on herself more than anything else.   You can listen anywhere you get your podcasts or watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Want our homemade creamy Mac & Cheese recipe (lactose friendly)? Get it in episode 3 of this season and watch how it's made on our YouTube channel.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy (gammatile.com) Imvax Inc. (imvax.com)   Episode Sponsor: Highmark Bluecross Blueshield of WNY (highmark.com)

We are all guilty of it; something overwhelming happens or a trauma and we try to bury our grief, our stress, our feelings over what's happened. But, we can't outrun our grief or trauma. Eventually it manifests in other ways, sometimes physically. In today's episode, I talk with Grief Coach Kelci Jager of Rise with Grief, & author of A Millions Miracles and the One That Didn't Come.  Kelci's journey through her own grief started with a car accident with her boys that led to a discovery they didn't expect. While trying to navigate that health crisis, her husband then became diagnosed with cancer. This interview is a poignant account of how significant trauma can truly make us feel lost unless we face it head on. Listen now and visit our website for the directions to the recipe talked about in this episode!  For a "how to" on the recipe, visit our YouTube channel. At the end of this episode is a special video of Shannon's homemade Mac & Cheese!   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Plus Therapeutics

There is a Chinese proverb- "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed." We never know what we are on the cusp of until we finish the journey. And, while failing teaches us many things, we don't have to be scared of failing. We should only be scared of walking away. In today's episode, our 50th episode of The Game On Glio Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sheri Dewan, a board certified Neurosurgeon with expertise in neurological and spine surgery. Dr. Dewan is also a best selling author, having recently published her book- Cutting A Path: The Power of Purpose, Discipline, and Determination. She performs neurosurgery at Ascension Health Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI, and treats patients with brain and spine issues, brain tumors, degenerative disc disease and SI joint dysfunction. Dr. Dewan specializes in minimally invasive robotic spine surgery.  She and I sit down, during this brain cancer awareness month, to talk about her life in neurosurgery, her book, where she sees the area of brain tumor advancements, and her hopes for the neuro-medicine and surgery in the coming years.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsors: Highmark Bluecross Blueshield Plus Therapeutics Carthera Inc.

Compassion and creativity are vitally important these days in cancer care. The old rule of thumb, especially in brain cancer, of standard of care just isn't enough anymore. Patients and families need a voice, and need to know that they are heard when asking questions about clinical trials, supplements, holistic options, and cross-collaboration across neuro-oncology care. Enter Dr.'s Soma Sengupta and Dominique Higgins of UNC School of Medicine in North Carolina. On today's episode (in total the 49th episode for Game On Glio), kicking off brain cancer awareness month, I sit down with them to discuss the crucial need for elevating patient voices, the importance of clinical trials like IGV-001, out of the box treatments (like GammaTile), and the novel way the doctors at UNC are helping patients reach new heights in their care.   Listen now or watch the full video episode on YouTube. Thank you so much for making Game On Glio a top 10 podcast nationally! Welcome to Season 5.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Plus Therapeutics

Grief is a reflection of love. It's a natural part of life, and the more we love, the more profound our grief will be when that love is lost. If we think about the fact that grief is grounded in love, it does help us move through the journey. This is part of the work that grief coaches like Emily Bingham do. She helps people navigate significant life traumas. But this isn't just Emily's profession. She has personally walked through the flames of grief herself, having lost her 32 year old husband Ian to a rare cancer. Hear her story and her thoughts on navigating the dating scene as a widow and young mother.   From all of us at Game On Glio Podcast (produced through Write Life Media LLC), have a peaceful holiday season. Game On Glio is ranked in the top 10% of all podcasts globally, and that's because of you! Thank you. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or give us a review!   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Alliance Advisory Group

Dr. Horbinski sits down with me to discuss the complexities of brain tumors and how his work in the Feinberg School of Medicine lab is looking into mutIDH1 and how it dramatically alters the glioma’s micro-environmental landscape by preventing the thrombosis-necrosis phenomenon that is characteristic of IDH1 wild-type gliomas. Furthermore, mutIDH1 increases the risk of seizures in patients. He explains why his team's work may improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. For methylation profiling patient care and information, please send samples to: Northwestern Department of Pathology. Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsors: Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of WNY Mimivax Inc.

Robert and Melanie Ham were young, with two young children when Melanie was diagnosed with an incurable rare form of Sarcoma in 2020. Robert, an award winning film maker and military veteran, decided he wanted to document her journey, their love, to help others. The documentary aired in 2022 after Melanie's death and has been viewed more than 1 million times on YouTube. Robert knew that a part of his grief journey included finding a way forward for himself and his children. That mean, not giving up on love and the lessons it teaches us. Enter Brooke. Brooke had been battling her own hard grief journey after her marriage ended in divorce. With two children of her own, Brooke had to find a way to balance single motherhood while also redefining what life was to look like for her. Brooke knew that she never wanted to give up on love, because a life without love is only half a life. This is a story of love, of hope, of longing, of enduring memory. Listen now! Or watch the video episode on our YouTube channel.   Premier Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode sponsors: Mimivax Inc. Alliance Advisory Group

Having glioblastoma doesn't mean life is over. In fact, it can be viewed as an opportunity! Tara McCaughan from Northern Ireland has been living with gbm for nearly five years. Her story shows us how human resilience and internal cognitive reshuffling can be our biggest weapon in battling such a formidable disease. But she doesn't do it alone, her partner Stephen is her rock. We need stories like hers! I sit down with Tara and Stephen to learn how she realigned her life after her diagnosis, and what motivates her today to see the beauty in her disease.   Season Premier Sponsors: Imvax Inc. GammaTile Therapy   Episode Sponsors: Alliance Advisory Group Mimivax Inc.

There are so many facets of the grief and loss journey. One that many don't think of is financial understanding. Whether it's starting a non-profit organization after a loss or trying to navigate investing from money left to you after a death, it's vital to know how to advocate for your own best interests. Self advocating is important in in all areas of life, not just in caregiving or physical health. Today, I sit down with Frank Randall and Dan Schlein of Alliance Advisory Group to discuss the who, what, where, when, and why of financial advising and important questions people should be asking when meeting with a financial advisor.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Mimivax Inc.

Grief is something that crashes into us. It takes a toll on us emotionally and physically. But when it does, it also teaches us. We grow from our journeys in life--the good and the bad. Emily Peterson, CEO of Saranoni Luxury Blankets, knows this journey all to well. Emily's husband Nathan was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer just 3 months after launching their Saranoni Cares initiative for cancer patients, including brain cancer. Nathan, just in his early 50's, only had two months before the cancer took his life. With six kids to care for, Emily hardly had any time to grieve. Hear her story only on Game ON Glio! Listen now.   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Highmark BCBS of WNY

Love is infinite. You don't run out of love. You don't stop loving your late spouse just because a "new and different love" introduces itself. Your heart grows around what was to make room for what is. Annie and Matt teach us just that. In this episode, we sit down with the two to talk about finding love again after loss, and what it truly looks like to live life in the transitions. Annie and Matt both have children and lost their late spouses early in life. Yet the universe found a way to bring these two together to create a second chapter in life. Listen to their inspiring story. Listen now!   Season Sponsors GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor Highmark Bluecross Blueshield of WNY

Big Tree Memorial Fund, a 501c3 was started in honor of Erik Knapp who died from glioblastoma in his early 30's.  The fund is unique in that it doesn't just focus on brain cancer, but any family suffering from hardship due to a cancer diagnosis. The fund helps supports families and caregivers through resource and financial assistance. Erik was Lauren's best friend, and to honor his memory and the man he was, she could think of nothing better than finding a way to help others! Lauren sits down with me in this wonderful friendly interview between two women who have such respect for each other, lifting and elevating each other, to discuss how brain cancer impacted her life through her best friend Erik Knapp and how the Big Tree Memorial Fund was started.   Listen now!! Please share with others. 🙏   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Highmark Bluecross Blueshield of WNY

There are people you meet in life, whether through words, groups, from a community or work that redefine how you interact with and see life. For me, it started with words; a little book I found one rainy Sunday morning at the bookstore-- Be Like Water. I flipped through this tiny paperback, it's first sentence reading, "More than 70% of the Earth's surface is water. Every living thing is composed of water." I was intrigued so I bought it. Little did I know that book would help me through some difficult times in my life. Whether finding my center, conquering fear, channeling my energy or freeing my mind of anger and guilt. So back to the store I went and purchased his other book that I relied on heavily, Bow to Life. Dr. Cardillo is a best-selling author in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. His books, which include The 12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More at Work; Body Intelligence - Harness Your Body's Energies for Your Best Life; The Five Seasons; Your Playlist Can Change Your Life; Can I Have Your Attention? How to Think Fast, Find Your Focus and Sharpen Your Concentration; Bow to Life; and the body-energy classic, Be Like Water  have inspired people of all ages and backgrounds worldwide. Foreign language editions of his work have appeared in German, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Malaysian, and Indian. He co-writes books for Harvard Health Publications. Joseph teaches workshops in Health and Wellness at various colleges and institutions. He is a Research Associate at the Mind-Body Science Institute and writes a health column for Live Happy Magazine. He is a black belt martial arts specialist and a master teacher of Chinese and Filipino martial systems and philosophy.   Podcast: Available Now! 👂Stream, watch, or listen here: https://thegameongliopodcast.podbean.com/ I hope you guys enjoy this!  👉 If you enjoy this video, Please like, Comment and share it. PLEASE leave us a review on any podcast platform  👉 Don't forget to subscribe to this channel for more updates.  👉 Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR3RxfGgBJ79-mrEctD8vmw    This episode is sponsored by Highmark Bluecross Blueshield   This season is sponsored by: GammaTile Therapy (learn more at gammatile.com) & Imvax Inc. (imvax.com)

How can you comprehend become a widower at 35 years old after 16 years with the one you love? How do you make sense of losing that spouse (only 33) 11 months after giving birth to your first child? This is exactly what Alan Johnstone faced when his young 33 year-old healthy wife Anneka was diagnosed with glioblastoma five months after giving birth to their daughter Sienna. Six months after diagnosis, Anneka was gone. Sienna not even one year old.  Game On Glio traveled to Boston Massachusetts to spend some time with Alan, his daughter, Anneka's mother as well as Alan's mother (both of whom are absolutely lovely and a joy to be with) and dive into his story. And we were there to cheer him on! Hear this amazing story and how brain cancer brought a man from Scotland here to the States to run the Boston marathon for brain cancer.  (Read more of this story on our website thegameongliopodcast.com)   Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Roon.com

To kick off brain cancer awareness month 2024, I sit down with Roon app creators Rohan Ramakrishna & Vikram Bhaskaran in episode 1 of Season 4 of The Game On Glio Podcast. We dive into the importance of real time information and the need for advocacy when it comes to serious diseases like Glioblastoma. My guests also explain why they felt the need to create an app like Roon. The Roon app offers people an opportunity to get extensive information from actual clinicians and doctors, to search for questions they didn't get to ask with their own personal doctors, and to hear from mental health experts, patients, caregivers, and holistic practitioners.    Season Sponsors: GammaTile Therapy Imvax Inc.   Episode Sponsor: Roon.com