Cheat Codes: A Sickle Cell Podcast

In this special Sickle Cell Warrior Takeover of Cheat Codes, Kyle Smith and Shamonica Wiggins-Mayes sit down with Brian Goff, CEO of Agios Pharmaceuticals, for a candid conversation about the relationship between the sickle cell community and the biopharma industry. They discuss what meaningful partnership looks like, why trust must be earned over time, and how listening to people with lived experience can shape research, education, and drug development. Brian also reflects on what he has learned from the sickle cell community, while Kyle and Shamonica share what they want industry leaders to better understand about the realities of living with sickle cell disease.   SHOW DESCRIPTION Cheat Codes is intended for patients, caregivers, providers, and the greater community of people who are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease.  Each episode, Cheat Codes strives to provide listeners with critical education, the latest scientific updates, and voices from the Sickle Cell community.     Join an inclusive community and build connections with other hemolytic anemia allies by following @AllyVoicesRising on Instagram.   TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT  Cheat Codes: A Sickle Cell Podcast is made possible by Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc. Visit Agios.com to learn more. The following Agios-supported programs are intended for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions. Hosts Drs. Ahmar Zaidi and Mike Callaghan are Agios employees. Guests have been compensated for their time.  

This special episode of Cheat Codes marks the podcast's first-ever conversation in Arabic, expanding the global reach of sickle cell education and advocacy. Dr. Miguel Abboud, a pioneer in sickle cell disease and longtime leader at the American University of Beirut, joins Dr. Karim Osman for an in-depth discussion on care across the lifespan, research advancements, and challenges facing patients in the Arab world. Together, they explore newborn screening, access to treatment, and the future of sickle cell care for Arabic-speaking communities worldwide.   SHOW DESCRIPTION Cheat Codes is intended for patients, caregivers, providers, and the greater community of people who are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease.  Each episode, Cheat Codes strives to provide listeners with critical education, the latest scientific updates, and voices from the Sickle Cell community.     Join an inclusive community and build connections with other hemolytic anemia allies by following @AllyVoicesRising on Instagram.   TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT  Cheat Codes: A Sickle Cell Podcast is made possible by Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc. Visit Agios.com to learn more. The following Agios-supported programs are intended for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions. Host and guests featured in this episode have been compensated for their time.  

In this inspiring Legends of Sickle Cell episode of Cheat Codes, Dr. Z and Dr. C sit down with Dr. Miguel Abboud, a global leader whose work has shaped modern sickle cell care for decades. Dr. Abboud shares the pivotal patient stories that guided his career, his groundbreaking contributions to transplantation, acute chest syndrome research, and stroke prevention, and the international perspective he brings from working across Lebanon, the United States, Africa, and India. He reflects on the mentors who influenced him, the ongoing challenges of access to care worldwide, and the urgent need to expand treatments to low- and middle-income countries. This is a powerful conversation with a true pioneer whose impact continues to guide the future of sickle cell medicine. SHOW DESCRIPTION Cheat Codes is intended for patients, caregivers, providers, and the greater community of people who are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease.  Each episode, Cheat Codes strives to provide listeners with critical education, the latest scientific updates, and voices from the Sickle Cell community.   Join an inclusive community and build connections with other hemolytic anemia allies by following @AllyVoicesRising on Instagram.

Dr. Z and Dr. C sit down with Dr. Sarah Gheuens, Chief Medical Officer and Head of R&D at Agios Pharmaceuticals, to break down one of the most frequently heard but least understood terms in the treatment conversation: FDA approval. From the phases of clinical development and the role of regulators, to the difference between traditional and accelerated approval pathways, Dr. Gheuens demystifies the science and the process in plain language. They also discuss why asking questions of physicians about their care is one of the most important things a patient can do. SHOW DESCRIPTION Cheat Codes is intended for patients, caregivers, providers, and the greater community of people who are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease.  Each episode, Cheat Codes strives to provide listeners with critical education, the latest scientific updates, and voices from the Sickle Cell community.   Join an inclusive community and build connections with other hemolytic anemia allies by following @AllyVoicesRising on Instagram. TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT  Cheat Codes: A Sickle Cell Podcast is made possible by Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc. Visit Agios.com to learn more. The following Agios-supported programs are intended for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions. Hosts Drs. Ahmar Zaidi and Mike Callaghan are Agios employees.  

To commemorate World Sickle Cell Day 2026, the Cheat Codes podcast is re-releasing this powerful  live episode from the 2025 National Alliance of Sickle Cell Centers (NASCC) meeting. In this episode, Dr. Z and Dr. C are joined by a powerhouse panel: Dr. Payal Desai, Dr. Seethal Jacob, Dr. Pat McGann, and Dr. Andy Ellner to unpack what truly defines great sickle cell care. It's a topic well in line with the theme of this year's World Sickle Cell Day, "Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Care." SHOW DESCRIPTION Cheat Codes is intended for patients, caregivers, providers, and the greater community of people who are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease. With each episode, Cheat Codes strives to provide listeners with critical education, the latest scientific updates, and voices from the Sickle Cell community.   Join an inclusive community and build connections with other hemolytic anemia allies by following @AllyVoicesRising on Instagram.