Join us as we highlight the latest in kidney research, dispel myths, bring you up-to-date news in kidney care, and answer questions from patients to help them live well with kidney disease or a transplant.
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Recent Episodes
Herbal Remedies and Supplements: Medical Myth-Busting
They promise to boost energy, improve immunity, and even ‘cleanse’ your body — but are herbal and dietary supplements really safe for your kidneys? Today, we’re diving into the truth behind their labels.
Navigating Kidney Cancer Treatment Side Effects: What to Expect
Behind every kidney cancer diagnosis is a person navigating difficult decisions about treatment and care. Today, we’re diving into how to navigate the side effects of kidney cancer treatments and how to tell the difference between side effects and warning signs. Supported by Exelixis.
Speaking Up About Phosphorus on Dialysis
Join us for the discussion on the treatment and management of hyperphosphatemia or high phosphorus levels in the blood, a common challenge experienced by people living with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. This episode is supported by Ardelyx.
Diversity in Clinical Trials
For people living with kidney disease, clinical trials can offer hope—but not without questions or concerns. Today, we talk with Dr. Nadine Barrett, Glenda Roberts, and Luz Baqueiro about lived experience, community trust, and the power of being asked.
A Conversation with Xenotransplantation Experts
Last time we talked about kidney xenotransplantation, we were joined by Towana Loony and Tim Andrews, who shared their personal experiences with receiving a xenotransplant. Today, two doctors who helped propel xenotransplantation forward, Dr. Vineeta Kumar and Dr. Leonardo Riella, are here to explain the science and what comes next.
This episode is supported by eGenesis and United Therapeutics
"I Had a Xenotransplant."
History is often made through science, but it is lived through people. Today, only four living people in the US have received a xenotransplant or a transplant using a gene-edited pig kidney. Two of these pioneers are here to share in their own words what it means to be part of medical history. Their stories remind us that behind every breakthrough is a person waiting, hoping, and choosing to move forward even when the path ahead is uncertain.
This episode is supported by eGenesis and United Therapeutics
Transplant Medications
A recent online survey of more than 10,000 transplant recipients across the U.S. and Canada found that ninety-two percent had side effects from their immunosuppressive medications. And while most patients trust their care teams, one in four skips doses because of their side effects. Four in ten skip due to cost. Today, I’m joined by Anne Bina, a kidney transplant recipient, and Nurse Practitioner, Nicole McCormick, to discuss the importance of immunosuppressive or anti-rejection medications and how to manage side effects associated with them.
Mental Health and Kidney Disease
When it comes to kidney health, taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. Tune in to explore how mental health support can improve your overall well-being and breaking the stigma around therapy and medications.
EnROUTE Study: Dialysis Transportation
What does it mean to design a study with patients, not just for them, and why does that shift matter for kidney care outcomes? Dr. Na'mah, Bethney Bonilla, and Jennifer McClung answer these questions and more with insights from their En-ROUTE Study, which explores transportation challenges through the lived experiences of dialysis patients.
Vaccines: What Kidney Patients Need to Know
According to a 2024 World Health Organization study, over the last 50 years vaccines have saved over 154 million lives worldwide from over 20 life threatening diseases. As vaccines are facing skepticism, we are here to cut through the noise and lay out the facts as to why staying up-to-date on vaccinations is especially important for kidney patients.
This episode is sponsored by Moderna.