In this episode of the Unspoken podcast, Anna Morgan-Palardy interviews Elaine Perlman, the executive director of Waitlist Zero, about the urgent need for kidney donations and the legislative efforts to pass the End Kidney Deaths Act. 

Elaine shares her personal journey into the world of organ donation, the challenges faced by living donors, and the potential impact of the proposed legislation, which aims to provide tax credits to altruistic kidney donors. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community support and advocacy in addressing the kidney crisis in America.

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In this episode of the Unspoken Podcast, host Anna Morgan-Palardy speaks with Brian Martindale, the Program and Communications Director at Kidneys for Kids. They discuss the importance of living kidney donation, particularly for pediatric patients, and the various initiatives aimed at raising awareness and advocating for organ donation. Brian shares his personal journey as a kidney donor and the impact of his work in recruiting donors for children in need. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in finding donors, the role of media in promoting organ donation, and the need for education and legislative efforts to support living donors.

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Anna is joined by the 2024 CKF Award Winners Mark Scotch, Denise Redeker and Abby Gray. They share their journeys and experiences joining and within the transplant and donation community. They share their experience as the CKF Award Winners and attending CKF's Wine & Dine Gala. Finally, they announced the winners of the 2025 CKF Awards! 

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In this episode of the Unspoken podcast, Anna Morgan-Palardy speaks with Dave Galbenski from the Living Liver Foundation about the importance of living liver donation. They discuss the mission of the foundation, the significance of raising awareness about living organ donation, and the personal experiences that drive advocacy. The conversation highlights the psychological aspects of being a living donor, the legislative efforts to support donors, and the future initiatives aimed at promoting living donation. The episode emphasizes the need for community engagement and the power of conversations in inspiring potential donors.

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In this episode of The Unspoken Podcast, host Anna Morgan-Palardy speaks with Paula from NMDP about the critical topic of stem cell donation. They discuss the importance of increasing the donor registry, the myths surrounding the donation process, and the personal journey of becoming a donor. Paula shares her own experience as a donor, the significance of diversity in the registry, and the support provided to donors throughout the process. The conversation emphasizes the need for education and outreach to encourage more individuals to join the registry and help save lives.

00:00 Introduction

01:01 CKF In The Brief

04:27 Introduction to NMDP and Stem Cell Donation

06:57 Understanding Stem Cell Donation and Its Importance

09:47 Debunking Myths About Stem Cell Donation

13:54 The Importance of Diversity in the Registry

17:39 Personal Stories and Experiences with Donation

22:09 Support for Donors and Overcoming Barriers

27:49 How to Register as a Stem Cell Donor

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In this episode of The Unspoken, Anna Morgan-Palardy is joined by Heartfelt Help Foundation founder Denise Redeker. Denise and Anna discuss the critical issue of financial toxicity in transplantation. They explore the economic burdens faced by patients and their families and the limited resources available to assist those in need. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community support, sharing personal experiences, and advocating for better financial assistance programs to help alleviate the stress of financial toxicity in the transplant community.

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In this episode of the Unspoken podcast, host Anna Morgan-Palardy welcomes Jessi Rochel, the executive director of the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF). They discuss Jessi's journey to CKF, the importance of organ donation, and the foundation's mission to educate and inspire individuals about organ, eye, and tissue donation. The conversation highlights the Summit for Life event, which raises awareness and funds for organ donation, and the various initiatives CKF is undertaking to engage the community and support transplant recipients. Jessi shares her passion for blood donation and the significance of intergenerational conversations about organ donation. In this episode, Anna Morgan-Palardy and Jessi Rochel discuss various aspects of organ donation, including engaging seniors in the process, the significance of the Sydney Marathon as a charity partner, innovative campaigns like Sip and Save, and the future of their podcast. They emphasize the importance of awareness and education around organ and blood donation, and the need for open conversations about these topics.

If you are interested in suggesting a topic, appearing on the website or sponsoring please head to https://www.chrisklugfoundation.org/the-unspoken-podcast. 

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