Joel Krikston - Managing Director Venture Investments, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund / Co-Founder, MSD Idea Studios - Investments To Improve Patients' Lives

Send us a textDouglas Leech is Founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services ( https://www.ascensionrs.com/ ), an organization focused on developing and managing comprehensive, fully integrated behavioral health systems, treating Substance Use Disorders and co-occurring mental illness across the full continuum of care.Mr. Leech has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and worked at Ernst & Young in Pittsburgh before returning to Morgantown, West Virginia and founding Ascension RS. Through his own struggles with addiction and subsequent recovery, Mr. Leech developed a passion for helping those suffering from the diseases of addiction and set out to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across West Virginia and the United States. Mr. Leech has built Ascension RS into a national leader for developing comprehensive behavioral health systems that provide the highest quality clinical care with a sustainable business model. Mr. Leech also founded West Virginia Sober Living ( WVSL - https://westvirginiasoberliving.com/ ), a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) non-profit, operating recovery residences, job creation and reintegration programming, and a network of peer recovery coaches providing broad community support for SUD throughout West Virginia. #DouglasLeech #AscensionRecoveryServices #SubstanceUseDisorders #MentalIllness #BehavioralHealth #IntensiveOutpatientPrograms #PartialHospitalizationPrograms #ResidentialTreatmentCenters #RecoveryResidences #PeerRecoveryCoachNetworks #WorkforceDevelopmentPrograms #WestVirginiaSoberLiving #AmericanSocietyOfAddictionMedicine #PawneeNationOfOklahoma #NativeAmericans #CulturallyTailoredApproaches #HarmReduction #OverdosePrevention #TraditionalHealingPractices#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textYael Elish is CEO and Founder of StuffThatWorks (https://www.stuffthatworks.health/open-stuff), a company that offers an online platform where people suffering from chronic diseases can share information to learn which treatments work best for their specific condition, based on the experience of their peers combined with a smart, AI-based crowdsourcing system.Last week, StuffThatWorks announced the alpha launch of OpenStuff ( https://www.openstuff.com/open-stuff ), the world’s first patient-powered AI health search. Built on 1.3 billion structured data points shared by over 3 million people living with 1,250 chronic conditions, OpenStuff transforms lived patient health experiences into real-time, actionable insights.A passionate entrepreneur with expertise in crowdsourcing and consumer-facing products, Yael was on the Waze founding team (Waze is now a subsidiary company of Google that provides satellite navigation software on smartphones and other computers), where she drove the overall product strategy that led the company from User One to one of the world’s most notable crowdsourcing endeavors. Yael also co-founded eSnips and NetSnippet, and was part of the senior management team that took Commtouch to its successful NASDAQ IPO in 2000.Prior to Commtouch, Yael led the sales and marketing efforts for various start-ups in Israel. Yael holds a first degree in Foreign Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.#StuffThatWorks #OpenStuff #YaelElish #Crowdsourcing #ChronicDiseases #RareDiseases #ArtificialIntelligence #Healthcare #Medicine #Repurposing #ClinicalTrials #RealWorldData #RealWorldEvidence #PatientAdvocacy #Israel #PharmaceuticalResearch #Waze #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textJoel Krikston is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in venture investments and strategic innovation within the healthcare sector.Joel currently serves as Managing Director Venture Investments Merck Global Health Innovation Fund ( https://www.merckghifund.com/?profile=joel-krikston ) and Co-Founder of MSD Idea Studios ( https://www.msd.de/ideastudio/ ), a global innovation hub organization that is committing $38 million to scale high-impact health technologies that directly align with Merck’s access and R&D priorities. They are strategically located in the innovation hubs of Singapore and Berlin. With a career spanning over two decades, Joel has held pivotal roles at renowned organizations like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and JPMorgan, focusing on biotechnology, corporate development, and health equity. As the Managing Director of Venture Investments and Head of Strategic Innovation Alliances, Joel excels in bridging the gap between life sciences and digital health technology. He is a recognized advocate for diversity and inclusion, emphasizing health equity in his professional endeavors. Joel’s board engagements extend to various innovative healthcare startups, showcasing his commitment to shaping the future of healthcare. Joel also contributes to academia as a venture mentor and guest lecturer at prestigious institutions, including NYU Stern and Princeton University. Joel has an MBA from the Stern School of Business at NYU, completed his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Business at Fairfield University, and has specialized certifications from Harvard and MIT, underscoring his dedication to ongoing learning and leadership in healthcare innovation.#JoelKrikston #MSDIdeaStudios #MerckGlobalHealthInnovationFund #InvestmentBanking #CorporateVentureCapital #LifeSciences #DigitalHealth #NYUStern #BNPParibas #ABNAMRO #InnovationHubs #LungCancer #VentureMentor #JohnsonAndJohnson #JPMorgan #BillTaranto #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Théau Peronnin, Ph.D. is a physicist by training and a visionary leader in the field of quantum computing. After earning his master’s degree from École Polytechnique in Paris and completing his PhD in quantum physics at École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Dr. Peronnin embarked on a mission to tackle one of the greatest technological challenges of our time: building a truly fault-tolerant quantum computer. In 2020, Dr. Peronnin co-founded the quantum‐computing start-up Alice & Bob ( https://alice-bob.com/ - based in Paris with global ambitions) and took the helm as its CEO. Under his leadership, the company has focused on a novel architecture known as “cat qubits” — a design that embeds error correction directly into the qubits, aiming to significantly reduce the hardware complexity and error rates compared with more conventional quantum-computing approaches. Dr. Peronnin’s work sits at the intersection of deep physics and engineering enterprise. He was part of academic research advancing superconducting qubit read-out and control techniques, and has since translated that research momentum into building infrastructure: labs, cleanrooms, cryogenic systems, and a growing team of quantum experts. Dr. Peronnin frequently speaks about how quantum computing will not simply accelerate existing algorithms, but unlock totally new classes of problems — in materials, chemistry, biology and beyond. Beyond technology, Dr. Peronnin emphasizes the importance of ecosystem, funding and audacity: he argues that Europe must pair deep science with industrial scale and ambition if it hopes to lead in the quantum race.Important Episode Link - Cat Qubits and LDPC Codes, a New Step Towards Quantum Error Correction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI0Yg-QRAns#ThéauPeronnin #AliceAndBob #QuantumComputing #CatQubits #Superposition #Entanglement #QuantumInterference #Coherence #Decoherence #NISQ #NoisyIntermediateScaleQuantum #MicrowaveQuantumNode #SuperconductingQubits #MicrowaveSuperconducting #CryogenicEngineering #QuantumNode #QuantumCommunication #SchrödingersCat #SuperconductingMicrowaveCavities #BosonicQubit #TransmonQubit #TrappedIons #PhotonicQubits #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textXaque Gruber ( https://www.xaquegruber.com/ ) is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and artist.Xaque is the writer and director of the hit independent film Sallywood ( https://sallywoodmovie.com/ ) — a touching, funny and deeply insightful look at the career of actress Sally Kirkland ( https://www.sallykirkland.com/ ), as well as current trials and tribulations navigating life and identity in the film industry. The limited theatrical release for Sallywood debuted on November 8, 2024 and Buffalo 8 will release the film on digital platforms on November 14, 2025.Through Sallywood, Xaque explores themes of ageism, resilience, and the quiet struggles faced by Hollywood’s “working class” — the actors, crew members, and creatives who live just outside the spotlight but keep the dream machine running.Xaque’s first TV writing credit came with reuniting the cast of his favorite 80s soap “Dynasty” for the 2006 CBS special “Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar.” Since then, he’s written “The Scream Awards (Spike),” “The World Music Awards (ABC),” “The Producer’s Guild of America Awards,” and many others.Xaque has written for feature length films including "M.I.A." and "Broken Roads" and for the short films "The Pistol", "THE" and  "Laurel Casey: The Hurting Truth". Before his filmmaking career, Xaque wrote for outlets including The Huffington Post, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Miami Herald, and worked in television, visual art, and education. His storytelling — across every medium — is known for its empathy, wit, and sharp social observation.Xaque is also the author/illustrator of the book "A Big Adventure In The Smallest State: A History of Rhode Island For All Ages" ( https://www.amazon.com/Big-Adventure-Smallest-State/dp/1403333262 ).Xaque has an MA in Education from Tufts University and an MS in Television Production & Writing from Boston University.Important Episode Link - Support Sally Kirkland's Urgent Medical Care -https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sally-kirklands-urgent-medical-care#XaqueGruber #Sallywood #SallyKirkland #Ageism #Hollywood #Resilience #IntergenerationalFriendships #EricRoberts #JenniferTilly #KeithCarradine #MariaConchitaAlonso #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textKaren Mayer Cunningham is a nationally recognized leader in special education advocacy and the Founder and CEO of the Special Education Academy ( https://specialeducationacademy.com/ ), an organization dedicated to empowering parents to navigate the complex world of special education with clarity, confidence, and purpose.After confronting the challenges of the system firsthand as a parent, Karen transformed her experience into a mission — helping families across the country understand their rights, communicate effectively with schools, and ensure that every child receives the support and services they are entitled to under the law.Through the Special Education Academy, Karen has built a trusted community and a practical, education-based training model that bridges the gap between parents and educators. Her work emphasizes collaboration, knowledge, and empowerment — giving families the tools to become informed, effective advocates for their children.Known for her energy, honesty, and engaging communication style, Karen has become a leading voice for reform and accountability in special education, inspiring parents and professionals alike to work together toward a more equitable and inclusive educational system.Karen is also an accomplished stand-up comedian.Karen's new book, The Epic IEP: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates Navigating the Special Education Process  ( https://theepiciep.com/ )  is available for pre-order and will be released January 27, 2026 ( https://www.amazon.com/Epic-IEP-Educators-Advocates-Navigating/dp/1637635125 ).:Links to Karen's Podcast -• Buzzsprout: https://specialeducationboss.buzzsprout.com• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-boss-with-karen-mayer-cunningham/id1805933912• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03I43tikXlYvR6xIe3F24w?si=53e4f3b73e514a06• iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/271518986/• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d75378a3-0f8b-4fd1-989b-67a5723b5377/special-education-boss%C2%AE-with-karen-mayer-cunningham• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI3YgeQrpe51K4Ia4GWqS3fTnGj_DGLan#KarenMayerCunningham #SpecialEducationAcademy #IndividualizedEducationProgram #IndividualsWithDisabilitiesEducationAct #504Plan #RehabilitationActOf1973 #AutismSpectrumDisorder #EmotionalDisturbance #Deafness #Blindness #IntellectualDisability #OrthopedicImpairment #SpecificLearningDisability #LanguageImpairment #SpeechImpairment #TraumaticBrainInjury #PresentLevelsOfAcademicAchievementAndFunctionalPerformance #Comedy #Humor #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textEdward You is recently coming off an amazing career at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where most recently he served in roles as Supervisory Special Agent, National Counterintelligence Task Force, Counterintelligence Division, as well as a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate.  He was also previously simultaneously detailed as a Liaison Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of National Security, and as a National Counterintelligence Officer for Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).Mr. You was responsible for creating programs and activities to coordinate and improve FBI and interagency activities to identify, assess, and respond to biological threats or incidents.  He supported FBI initiatives to build partnerships with the life sciences community, domestically and internationally, and lead efforts to identify and address potential security challenges in advanced biotechnology. His overall goal was to safeguard the scientific community, the life science research enterprise, and the U.S. bioeconomy.  Before being promoted to the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Mr. You served as a member of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI Hazardous Evidence Response Team. Mr. You has also been directly involved in policy-making efforts with a focus on biosecurity.  He served as an active Working Group member of the White House National Security Council Policy Coordinating Committee on Countering Biological Threats and represented the FBI as an Ex Officio member of the National Institutes of Health National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity.  He also served on two National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committees, the Institute of Medicine’s Forum on Microbial Threats and the Committee on Science, Technology, and Law’s Forum on Synthetic Biology.  He is currently a Senior Fellow for the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. You had extensive experience in academic research having worked for three years in autoimmune disease research at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and six years in human gene therapy and retrovirology at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, where he received his Master of Science (M.S.), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  Just prior to joining the FBI, Mr. You worked for three years in the commercial biotechnology sector conducting cancer research and assay development at AMGEN, Inc.Mr. You recently set up EHY Consulting LLC, dedicated to consulting activities focused on safeguarding science and innovation at the intersection of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and national security.#EdwardYou #FederalBureauOfInvestigation #WeaponsOfMassDestructionDirectorate #FBI #SupervisorySpecialAgent #Biosecurity #Bioeconomy #Biohackers #DualUse #Anthrax #Ricin #FBIHazardousEvidenceResponseTeam #JointTerrorismTaskForce #AutoimmuneDisease #MolecularBiology #GeneTherapy #Angiogenesis #WMDCoordinator #Chemical #Biological #CBRN #UnitedNationsInterregionalCrimeAndJusticeResearchInstitute #UNICRI #NationalAcademies #NationalCounterintelligenceAndSecurityCenter #OfficeOfTheDirectorOfNationalIntelligence #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textChristian Maugee is a PhD Candidate at the University of Florida, in Genetics and Genomics ( http://www.vulpelab.net/graduate-and-undergrad-students.html ), where his research explores how gene expression differs in the hearts of individuals with Friedrich’s Ataxia (FA), a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease.  His work could lead to new insights into the cardiac complications that can be associated with FA and how to potential treat them better.Christian’s dissertation work is focused on identifying gene modulators of the transcriptional phenotype of FA in human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated into cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs). He accomplishes this through use of a novel method: Perturb-seq - a CRISPR screen coupled with single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) readout. Christian is driven by much more than academic curiosity, as he brings a unique and deeply human perspective to his work as someone living with FA. He doesn’t just study the challenges faced by those with disabilities; he lives them. His work is not only informed by data and theory, but by resilience, authenticity, and a commitment to making research more inclusive and impactful.In the lab, Christian loves mentoring, and outside of the lab he loves fundraising and raising awareness for FA, mainly through FARA ( https://www.curefa.org/ ) and MDA ( https://www.mda.org/disease/friedreichs-ataxia ).Christian received a Bachelor's degree in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, from the University of South Florida.Important Episode Link - The Science Guy: Back In The Lab For FAhttps://www.ataxia.org/billnye-for-fa/#ChristianMaugee #FriedreichsAtaxia #UniversityOfFlorida #Genetics #Genomics #MolecularBiology #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #Frataxin #MitochondrialDysfunction #OxidativeStress #Neurodegeneration #AmyotrophicLateralSclerosis #FrontotemporalDementia #Dystonia #HypertrophicCardiomyopathy #DilatedCardiomyopathy #Cardiomyocytes #InducedPluripotentStemCells #Epigenetic #BillNye #Mitochondria #RareDisease #Neurology #Biogen #Omaveloxolone #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textKenneth Russell DeGraff ( https://www.russelldegraff.com/ ) is a Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School ( https://shorensteincenter.org/person/k-russell-degraff/ ), where he focuses on the challenges American voters face in understanding how legislation in Congress affects them, and how they can engage with or benefit from these laws. He is also a Visiting Scholar Vanderbilt University Law School.Kenneth spent nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, culminating in 12 years as the chief climate and technology advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Kenneth played several key roles in helping Congress architect, enact, explain and enforce significant legislation as well as helping form coalitions and lead negotiations to enact policies and laws spanning administrations from different parties, reflecting his skill in bipartisan collaboration. Kenneth’s work included pivotal contributions to President Biden’s “Investing in America” jobs strategy, featuring landmark laws like the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS & Science Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.Before his advisory role to Speaker Pelosi, Kenneth served as the Legislative Director and Assistant to Congressman Mike Doyle, focusing on sectors such as technology, healthcare, and consumer protection. Prior to working on the Hill, Kenneth was a Policy Analyst at Consumer Union and was a Truman Scholar from Butler University where he received a B.A., Communications and Political Science.Important Episode Link - Truth in the Machine -https://www.truthinthemachine.com/#KennethRussellDeGraff #CapitolHill #HouseSpeakerNancyPelosi #Congress #Legislation #Policies #Laws #Bipartisan #Moonshots #ClimateChange #InvestingInAmerica #InflationReductionAct #CHIPSAndScienceAct #InfrastructureInvestmentAndJobsAct #CongressmanMikeDoyle #ConsumerUnion #RecursiveSelfImprovement #ArtificialIntelligence #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us a textDr. Douglas G. Adler, MD, F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F., F.A.S.G.E. ( https://douglasgadler.com/ ) is Director of the Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy, AdventHealth Porter in Denver, Colorado ( https://www.adventhealth.com/find-doctor/doctor/douglas-adler-md-1891748687 ). Dr. Adler is also the Editor-in-Chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ( https://www.giejournal.org/ ). Prior to moving to Colorado, Dr. Adler was a tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Adler was also the GI Fellowship Program Director at the University of Utah School of Medicine for seven years. Dr. Adler focuses his clinical, educational, and research efforts on the diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal cancers and complex gastrointestinal disease, with an emphasis on therapeutic endoscopy. Dr. Adler is an internationally recognized expert on all facets of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), gastrointestinal stenting, Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (GPOEM), and other topics. He is the author of more than 600 scientific publications, articles, and book chapters and he has published 9 gastroenterology textbooks, including the first textbook on Interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound. Dr. Adler has also published more than 70 articles on history, aviation, aerospace, and astronomy.Dr. Adler received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York, NY. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Adler completed both a general gastrointestinal fellowship and a therapeutic endoscopy/ERCP fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He then returned to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for a fellowship in endoscopic ultrasound.#DouglasAdler #TherapeuticEndoscopy #AdventHealthPorter #GastrointestinalEndoscopy #EndoscopicRetrogradeCholangiopancreatography #EndoscopicUltrasound #GastrointestinalStenting #GastricPeroralEndoscopicMyotomy #Transluminal #Lumen #Choledochoduodenostomy #MinimallyInvasive #GlucagonLikePeptide1Agonists #FecalMicrobiotaTransplantation #Colonoscopy #AdvancedPancreaticobiliaryEndoscopy #NeilArmstrong #BuzzAldrin #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show