Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us a textProfessor Dragan Primorac, MD., PhD ( https://www.draganprimorac.com/ ) is a globally recognized physician-scientist whose work spans personalized medicine, regenerative therapies, and forensic genetics. From 2003 to 2009 Prof. Primorac served as the Minister of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.  The Ministry of Science and Education of Croatia is the ministry in the Government of Croatia which is in charge of primary, secondary and tertiary education, research institutions and sports ( https://mzom.gov.hr/en ).Prof. Primorac is the Founder of St. Catherine Specialty Hospital in Zagreb Croatia ( https://www.stcatherine.com/ ), the official hospital of the Croatian Olympic Committee as well as the official hospital of the Croatian Football Federation. St. Catherine Hospital is affiliated with four medical schools and the Ministry of Science and Education recently announced that the St. Catherine Hospital became “Scientific Center of Excellence for the Personalized Medicine" in the Republic of Croatia. Prof. Primorac is also Co-Founder of the International Society for Applied Biological Sciences ( ISABS https://isabs.hr/ ), a global scientific platform organized with Mayo Clinic that brings together Nobel laureates and researchers from over 75 countries. A pioneer in applying DNA technology to identify war victims, he helped establish international standards in clinical and forensic genetics. Prof. Primorac has authored nearly 300 scientific papers, received over 20 international honors including Croatia’s highest state awards, and was recently named among the top 2% of global scientists by Elsevier for career impact. Prof. Primorac also serves as professor at Penn State, the University of New Haven, and several European medical schools.Prof. Primorac is an inductee of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, based in the United States.Prof. Primorac received his medical degree and PhD at University of Zagreb School of Medicine, and did post-doctoral work in Molecular Medicine at The University of Connecticut Health Center.#DraganPrimorac #MinisterOfScienceEducationAndSports #Croatia #InternationalSocietyForAppliedBiologicalSciences #OsteogenesisImperfecta #AdministrationForDetainedAndMissingPersons #ForensicGenetics #RegenerativeMedicine #PrecisionMedicine #PersonalizedMedicine #Genomics #Glycome #CancersOfUnknownPrimary #StCatherineSpecialtyHospital #ClinicalDiagnostics #OncoOriginAI #LiquidBiopsy #MedicalTourism #Nutrigenomics #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Juho Jalkanen, M.D., Ph.D. is CEO and Founder of Faron Pharmaceuticals ( https://faron.com/ ), is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on creating innovative cancer treatments that leverage the patient’s own immune system. The Company’s lead asset bexmarilimab is currently being investigated in clinical trials as a potential therapy for patients with hematological cancers, with an initial focus on higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR MDS), in combination with other standard treatments.Dr. Jalkanen an experienced biopharmaceutical industry executive with extensive leadership experience across key functional areas including operations, business development, clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs.   Dr. Jalkanen earned a Master´s degree in economics and business administration from the Turku School of Economics and both his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Turku. He is a fully licensed general practitioner and specialist in vascular surgery.#JuhoJalkanen #FaronPharmaceuticals #Bexmarilimab #MyelodysplasticSyndrome #HematologicalCancers #HematologicalMalignancies #BloodCancer #AcuteMyeloidLeukemia #Clever1 #Macrophages #Oncology #Immunooncology #Cancer #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textAnnalee Kruger is the President of Care Right Inc. ( https://carerightinc.com/ ), a consultancy providing corporate training and consulting services for organizations wanting to learn more about aging, family caregiving, dementia, end-of-life, as well as direct to consumer family caregivers who are realizing caregiving without a plan is not safe, nor sustainable.Annalee has spent over 28 years helping more than 20,000 families navigate the emotional, financial, and logistical complexities of aging, caregiving, dementia, and long-term care planning. She is the founder of Care Right Inc., a global virtual consultancy that develops fully customized Aging Strategies for high-achieving, high-net-worth families. Her white-glove approach guides families through difficult transitions with clarity and compassion. To ensure accessibility, Care Right also offers scalable hybrid and DIY planning options for families with more modest means.In addition to her work with families, Annalee provides workforce solutions for employers who want to support employees dealing with aging loved ones. Options include white-glove Aging Strategy consulting for leadership, product bundles like the Grab and Go e-Binder and The Aging Guide, or the 8-week DIY Aging Plan Hybrid Program, complete with weekly office hours with Annalee to help employees complete their plans. These services help reduce absenteeism, stress, and turnover caused by caregiving crises—preserving employee well-being and workplace productivity. Annalee is also the co-founder of Plan4Life ( https://plan4lifenow.com/ ), home of the Certified Elder Planning Specialist Program, a training and credentialing program that equips financial advisors to better serve aging clients. It teaches advisors how to build deeper relationships and deliver more holistic, aging-informed guidance through a collaborative, team-based approach. She is also the creator of the Aging Strategy Coaching Academy ( ASCA - https://www.joinasca.com/ ), a 150-hour training and certification program for professionals entering the senior care consulting field. As a keynote speaker, Annalee has delivered more than 500 live events and 2,000 webinars on topics including aging planning, dementia care, family dynamics, and caregiver burnout. Her powerful personal stories—like surviving being hit by a bus—resonate deeply with audiences. Her clients include financial firms, healthcare systems, associations, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies seeking to humanize aging in the workplace and improve morale and retention.Annalee is the author of The Invisible Patient: The Emotional, Financial, and Physical Toll on Family Caregivers, a practical guide to navigating caregiving challenges with clarity and compassion ( https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Patient-Emotional-Financial-Caregivers-ebook/dp/B09J64RGJW ).Annalee has her Bachelor of Science in Social Work, from University of Northern Iowa, and an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin.#AnnaleeKruger #CareRightInc #Aging #FamilyCaregiving #DementiaCare #EndOfLife #LongTermCare #Plan4Life #AgingStrategyCoachingAcademy #TheInvisiblePatient #SandwichGeneration #SilverTsunami #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Torkil Færø, MD ( https://thepulsecure.com/ ) is a Norwegian medical doctor, author, documentary filmmaker and photographer whose work sits at the intersection of frontline medicine and practical preventive health. As a clinician who received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from University of Oslo, he’s served as both a general practitioner and emergency-room physician, and in 1996 was among the first Norwegian medics to work with Doctors Without Borders in Angola. Over more than two decades as a travelling, freelance physician around Norway, he has conducted tens of thousands of consultations — an experience that shaped his conviction that many modern diseases are rooted in chronic stress and lifestyle mismatches. His debut English-language book, The Pulse Cure ( https://www.amazon.com/Pulse-Cure-revolutionary-balance-optimise/dp/1529437334 - original Norwegian title Pulskuren ), became a national bestseller and has been published internationally. In the book Dr. Færø explains heart-rate variability (HRV) — the tiny variations in the time between heartbeats — and how readily available wearables (smartwatches, rings, chest straps) can give people a real-time window into their autonomic nervous system, sleep, recovery and inflammation. He combines clinical case stories, accessible physiology and hands-on protocols so readers can personalize sleep, exercise, alcohol and relaxation practices based on measurable feedback rather than guesswork. Beyond the book, Dr. Færø translates his ideas through podcasts, public talks and the online community pulskuren.no. His personal health work — applying the same monitoring and behavioral changes he recommends — has driven measurable results: significant weight loss, markedly improved sleep and dramatic reductions in alcohol and fatigue for himself and many of his clients and readers. He frames wearables and HRV as tools to catch problems early, prevent chronic disease and extend healthy, functional years of life.#TorkilFærø #ThePulseCure #HeartRateVariability #Wearables #AutonomicNervousSystem #ParasympatheticNervousSystem #SympatheticNervousSystem #Electrocardiogram #Longevity #Healthspan #Aging #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Neal Baer, MD ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Baer ) is an award-winning showrunner, television writer/producer, physician, author, and a public health advocate and expert.Dr. Baer lectures on Global Health and Social Medicine and is the Co-Director of the master’s degree program in Media, Medicine, and Health at Harvard Medical School ( https://ghsm.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/neal-baer ). Previously, Dr. Baer was Clinical Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Community Health at the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA where he established the Global Media Center for Social Impact using new media to promote global health.Dr. Baer  was an Executive Producer and showrunner for Designated Survivor, Under the Dome, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and a writer and producer on ER ( https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0046371/ ). Dr. Baer is an accomplished author with both fictional novels, including Kill Switch and Kill Again, and non-fiction titles, including The Promise and Peril of CRISPR ( https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Peril-CRISPR-Neal-Baer/dp/1421449307 ), a timely collection of essays on the pressing possibilities and risks of gene-editing technology, available at major booksellers.Dr. Baer graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed his internship in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. He received the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Scholarship from the American Medical Association as the most outstanding medical student who has contributed to promoting a better understanding of medicine in the media.  The American Association for the Advancement of Science selected him as a Mass Media Fellow.#NealBaer #HarvardMedicalSchool #CRISPR #GeneEditing #Pediatrics #DesignatedSurvivor #UnderTheDome #LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit #ER #SocialImpact #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #JenniferDoudna #EmmanuelleCharpentier #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Michael Lebenstein-Gumovski, Ph.D. is Senior Scientific Officer and Neurosurgeon, in the Neurosurgery Department, of the Sklifosovsky Clinical and Research Institute for Emergency Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation ( https://sklif.mos.ru/ ), where his team is engaged in both neurosurgical and experimental practice, conducting advanced research in the field of spinal cord injury restoration, spinal cord transplantation and head transplantation.The Sklifosovsky Institute for Emergency Medicine is a large multidisciplinary scientific and practical center dealing with problems of emergency medical care, emergency surgery, resuscitation, combined and burn trauma, emergency cardiology and acute poisoning.Since 2013, Dr. Lebenstein-Gumovski has been studying spinal cord injury, and also developing methods for restoring the full functional and morphological repair of the spinal cord.Dr. Lebenstein-Gumovski's work is aimed at studying the effect of fusogens on nervous tissue, developing new methods and techniques for treating spinal cord injury, developing methods for its resection and transplantation. The lab develops and studies various methods of neuroprotection, combining methods to achieve better results and the current focus is the study of combination fusogen-induced (PEG-chitosan, Neuro-PEG) axonal restoration of the spinal cord after its complete transection.Dr. Lebenstein-Gumovski did his doctoral studies in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of the Stavropol State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.Dr. Lebenstein-Gumovski is also a Scientific Advisor to Dowell Bio, Inc. ( https://dowell.bio/ ), a start-up company developing his various technologies.Andrei Panferov is the Chief Executive Officer of Dowell Bio, Inc.  Andrei is a deep-tech entrepreneur and does the Russian-English / English-Russian translations during this episode.#MichaelLebensteinGumovski #DowellBio #SklifosovskyClinicalAndResearchInstituteForEmergencyMedicine #Neurosurgery #SpinalCordInjuryRestoration #SpinalCordTransplantation #HeadTransplantation #EmergencyMedicalCare #EmergencySurgery #Resuscitation #Trauma #SpinalCordInjury #Fusogens #PEGChitosan #Neuroscience #SergioCanavero #Chitosan #PolyethyleneGlycol #EyeTransplant #BrainTransplant #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textCristina Durán is President of Evinova ( https://evinova.com/ ), a healthtech company empowering global life sciences organizations to accelerate better health outcomes with a suite of globally scaled digital health solutions, empowering sites, sponsors and contract research organizations to optimize the entire clinical development lifecycle.Prior to launching Evinova in November 2023, Cristina led AstraZeneca’s Digital Health function in Research & Development (R&D) across key therapy areas: Oncology; Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism; and Respiratory and Immunology.Cristina previously held senior leadership roles at AstraZeneca across global commercial, in-country commercial, finance and R&D, and led a global transformation in clinical development across R&D functions, focusing on patients’ experiences and outcomes with benefits delivered globally.Before joining AstraZeneca, Cristina was a senior management consultant at Accenture, leading large transformation programs, including the set up, from scratch, of a new joint venture between two technology companies, which is now a major business for a top retailer, as well as guiding business transformation strategy reviews and implementing global change initiatives for large telecoms.Cristina is passionate about innovation and increasing enterprise value by inspiring organizations to change for the future and has spoken about using innovative technologies to transform patients' lives at conferences, including the Digital Health World Congress, HLTH EU, BiotechX EU, and the Financial Times Global Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Conference. Cristina is a chartered accountant (CIMA) and has completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Leading Enterprise Transformation program.#CristinaDuran #Evinova #AstraZeneca #DigitalHealth #ClinicalTrials #PatientExperience #RemoteMonitoring #DecentralizedClinicalTrials #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textProfessor Dr. Anders Hviid ( https://en.ssi.dk/about-us/contact/employees/a/anders-peter-hviid-aii ) is Head of Department and Professor of Epidemiology at the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark — one of the world’s foremost public health and infectious disease research centers.Professor Dr. Hviid has dedicated his career to using large-scale population data to answer critical questions in medicine and public health. His expertise lies in pharmacoepidemiology, vaccine safety, and the long-term health outcomes of medical interventions. Over the years, he has become internationally recognized for his rigorous, evidence-based research that directly informs vaccine policy and clinical practice around the world.Perhaps most notably, Professor Dr. Hviid has led groundbreaking studies using Denmark’s unique nationwide health registries to investigate the safety of childhood vaccines. His work has been pivotal in debunking claims of links between vaccines and autism, as well as reassuring the global public about the safety of vaccines against influenza, HPV, and COVID-19. These studies are widely cited and have influenced not only European but also global vaccination guidelines.In addition to his research, Professor Dr. Hviid is a frequent contributor to the scientific literature, with over 200 peer-reviewed publications in top journals, and he is often called upon to advise governments, health agencies, and international organizations on vaccine safety and public health monitoring.Beyond his professional accomplishments, Professor Dr. Hviid represents a new generation of epidemiologists who bridge data science, medicine, and public trust — ensuring that scientific evidence can serve as a guide for both policy and individual health decisions.Professor Dr. Hviid received his of Doctor of Medical Science in Epidemiology, from University of Copenhagen and his Master of Science (M.Sc.), in Mathematics and Statistics from Aalborg University.#AndersHviid #StatensSerumInstitut #Pharmacoepidemiology #VaccineSafety #ChildhoodVaccines #Debunking #RfkJr #Epidemiology #UniversityOfCopenhagen #ChildhoodVaccination #Thimerosal #AluminumAdsorbedVaccines #InfectiousDisease #PublicHealth #AntimicrobialResistance #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textCourtney Barriger ( https://www.courtneybarriger.com/ ) is a fashion expert, sustainability advocate, writer, and entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to reimagining the way we create and consume clothing. After building a successful career in the fashion world, Courtney shifted her focus to tackling the urgent environmental and ethical issues caused by fast fashion. She has since launched several sustainability-driven initiatives that combine style with conscious design, helping brands and consumers alike make choices that respect both people and the planet.Courtney’s work spans across consulting, content creation, and advocacy, where she educates global audiences about the hidden costs of fashion and the innovations leading us toward a more sustainable future. Through her voice and vision, she has become a leading figure in the movement to transform fashion from one of the world’s most polluting industries into one of its greatest opportunities for positive change.Courtney’s apparel line Holding Court ( https://holdingcourtinc.com/ ) was featured in Vanity Fair and GQ and won the Sustainability Award at iHollywood Film Festival and the prize of Americas It Girl on the eponymous TV Show on Oprah's WE TV network.Courtney has written investigative pieces and deep dives into culture and power dynamics for the LA Times and has been honored as "The Future of Fashion" by United Nations non-profit, Fashion Fights Poverty.Courtney is also the producer and host of Environmental Style Now, a leading international information hub on sustainable and ethical fashion, where she and contributors explain the science and sustainability of fashion to shoppers and industry pros alike with prominent guests like Adrian Grenier and Fair Trade.Courtney frequently serves as a guest lecturer at universities in the United States and internationally and conducts art exhibitions, films and literature that push the conversation for sustainability in fashion.Courtney is an accomplished author with her book ReFashion Workshop: The Planet Healing Mindset ( https://www.amazon.com/ReFashion-Workshop-Planet-Healing-Courtney-Barriger/dp/1803414227 ) which just came out in April 2025.Courtney studied Communications, International Relations, Broadcasting and Broadcast Journalism at the University of North Florida.#CourtneyBarriger #Clothing #Fashion #Sustainability #FastFashion #HoldingCourt #FutureOfFashion #EnvironmentalStyle #ReFashionWorkshop #CircularManufacturing #SustainableDesign #CircularOffsets #OrganicTextiles #EthicalManufacturing #SustainableClothingCare #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textKurt Avery is the Founder and Owner of Sawyer Products  ( https://www.sawyer.com/) and currently serves as President. Sawyer is a leading provider of high-performance outdoor protection products, specializing in water filtration, insect repellents, sunscreens, and first aid solutions. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Safety Harbor, Florida, Sawyer is committed to safeguarding individuals from microscopic threats in both wilderness and everyday settings. Their innovative products utilize advanced technologies, such as time-released liposome insect repellents, to ensure effective and long-lasting protection. Beyond product development, Sawyer is deeply invested in social responsibility, partnering with over 140 nonprofits across more than 80 countries to provide clean water solutions to underserved communities.Kurt is also the founder of the Sawyer Foundation ( https://www.sawyerfoundation.org/ ) and through initiatives like the installation of Sawyer filters and wells, the company has positively impacted over 28 million lives globally.Before founding Sawyer, Kurt served as a marketer for several globally known brands. Kurt is passionate about and committed to creating disease-free water for life in communities throughout the world. He is a graduate of Hope College and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.Kurt is also an accomplished author with his book Sawyer Think: How a Small Company Disrupts Markets and Changes the World ( https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Think-Company-Disrupts-Markets-ebook/dp/B0DNKDRYD5 ) available at all major book sellers.#KurtAvery #SawyerProducts #SawyerFoundation #OutdoorProtectionProducts #WaterFiltration #InsectRepellents #Sunscreens #FirstAidSolutions #GlobalWaterCrisis #WaterborneIllness #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show