Our Episodes
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Episode 166: Pancreatic Cancer Series, Pt. 1 – Biology, Diagnosis, and Staging
Episode 166: Pancreatic Cancer Series, Pt. 1 – Biology, Diagnosis, and Staging
This week we kick off a brand-new series on pancreatic cancer, starting with the fundamentals. Using the case of a 68-year-old man with painless jaundice, weight loss, and new-onset diabetes, we cover the epidemiology and sobering survival statistics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the major risk factors (and why late-onset diabetes is often a consequence rather than a cause), universal germline testing and the hereditary syndromes worth knowing for the boards, and how tumor location in the head, body, or tail shapes presentation. We then walk through the diagnostic workup (pancreatic-protocol CT, MRI/MRCP, EUS-guided biopsy, and the therapeutic role of ERCP), the pitfalls of CA 19-9, precursor lesions and the four-gene molecular story led by KRAS, somatic profiling for actionable targets, and the resectability framework that will drive treatment decisions for the rest of the series.
Episode 165: CLL Updates Series, Pt. 2 – Relapsed/Refractory in 2026
Episode 165: CLL Updates Series, Pt. 2 – Relapsed/Refractory in 2026
This week we wrap up our two-part CLL update by turning to relapsed and refractory disease. We pick up with the 68-year-old man from Part 1, now a year out from frontline therapy and showing signs of relapse. We cover when relapse actually needs treatment, the history of BTK inhibitor resistance and why BTK mutation testing matters, and how to sequence therapy now that BTK inhibitors and venetoclax have both moved into the frontline. From there we get into venetoclax retreatment, the pirtobrutinib data from BRUIN CLL-321 and the new BRUIN CLL-322 triplet trial, the real-world CAR T experience that is changing how we think about cell therapy in CLL, bispecific antibodies, and the emerging class of BTK degraders. As always, if you haven't heard the earlier episodes in this series, start there first.
If you haven’t done so, be sure to check out our original CLL Series and our CLL Updates Part I episode as this update will draw on concepts covered previously!
Episode 164: CLL Updates Series, Pt. 1 – Frontline Therapy in 2026
Episode 164: CLL Updates Series, Pt. 1 – Frontline Therapy in 2026
This week we kick off a two-part update to our CLL series, covering what has changed in frontline management since our original episodes. Using the case of a 68-year-old man with newly diagnosed, symptomatic CLL, we revisit the essential steps before treatment: confirming an indication to treat, ruling out Richter's transformation, and risk stratification, with the history behind FISH cytogenetics, IGHV status, and the CLL-IPI. We then trace how continuous BTK inhibitors and fixed-duration venetoclax-obinutuzumab displaced chemoimmunotherapy, before digging into the trials reshaping practice in 2026: AMPLIFY, SEQUOIA Arm D, and CLL17. Along the way, we cover the open questions for TP53-aberrant disease and why MRD, although prognostic, is not yet a reliable guide for treatment decisions with novel agents.
If you haven’t done so, be sure to check out our original CLL Series, as these updates will draw on concepts covered previously!
Episode 163: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 5 – Recurrent, Relapsed, and Metastatic Disease
Episode 163: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 5 – Recurrent, Relapsed, and Metastatic Disease
This week the Head and Neck series turns to what happens when local therapy isn't enough — recurrent, relapsed, and metastatic disease. Using the case of a woman with a laryngeal cancer recurrence, we work through the first and most important question (recurrence versus second primary), the workup and biomarkers that steer therapy, local salvage options, the CPS-driven first-line systemic algorithm, second-line and beyond, the distinct world of nasopharyngeal cancer, oligometastatic disease, and the central role of early palliative and supportive care. As always, if you haven't heard the earlier episodes in this series, start there first.
Episode 162: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 4 – Discussion with Radiation Oncology
Episode 162: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 4 – Discussion with Radiation Oncology
This week the Head and Neck series turns to radiation oncology, with guest Dr. David Palma, a Professor and Radiation Oncologist at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre and professor at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University (London, Ontario). A clinician-scientist who splits his time between clinical-trials research and treating head and neck and lung cancers, David walks us through how radiation actually works and gets planned, the de-escalation question, PET after treatment, larynx preservation, re-irradiation, oligometastatic disease, and the proton-versus-photon debate - all with some of the best analogies we've had on the show.
Episode 161: Career Development Series- Building a Career in Clinical Research
Episode 161: Career Development Series - Building a Career in Clinical Research
This week, we are so excited to share the third episode of our Career Development Series episodes, developed in partnership with The American Society of Hematology, The ASH Trainee Council, and Hematopoiesis!
For years, our listeners have reached out to our show asking for guidance to help navigate their careers. We are so excited to be partnering with an amazing organization like ASH to help make this happen!
This week, we interview Hanny Al-Samkari, MD as he shares his insights on what constitutes clinical research, what a career in clinical research might look like, and how trainees can get involved in clinical research.
Episode 160: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 3 – Discussion with ENT
Episode 160: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 3 – Discussion with ENT
Throughout this series, we have discussed how multidisciplinary the management of head and neck cancer is and the critical role that our surgical colleagues play in the management of this disease. This week, we welcome Dr. Michael Topf, Associate Professor for Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to our show to share with us how he determines which patients are appropriate for surgery, what his approach is, and so much more. It’s rare that we get insights into the factors that our surgery colleagues think about when determining surgical candidacy and surgical approaches and so get ready for an incredibly informative conversation! Another high yield episode you do not to miss!
Episode 159: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 2 – Locoregional Disease
Episode 159: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 2 – Locoregional Disease
This week we get into treatment. Building on Part 1's workup and staging, we walk through three cases to highlight the important distinguishing details: an oral cavity cancer, a locally advanced oropharynx cancer, and a larynx cancer.
Episode 158: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 1 - Introduction
Episode 158: Head and Neck Cancer Series, Pt. 1 – Introduction
This week, we kick off our Head and Neck Cancer series. Using the case of a man with a painless neck mass, we build a framework for the whole series.
Episode 157: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Series, Pt 3- Challenging Scenarios in ITP
Episode 157: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Series, Pt 3- Challenging Scenarios in ITP
This week, we put everything we talked about in our ITP series together and talk about how we manage ITP in complicated patient scenarios. Through a case-based discussion, we discuss how to we would approach each of these complicated scenarios. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out episodes 155 and 156!
Episode 156: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Series, Pt 2- Relapsed/Refractory
Episode 156: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Series, Pt 2- Relapsed/Refractory
This week, we move to the relapsed/refractory ITP setting, focusing on what options are available to patients after their initial treatment with steroids ± IVIg, which we discussed in Episode 155. If you have not done so already, definitely listen to that episode as we build on the topics discussed here today!
Episode 155: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Series, Pt 1- First Line Management
Episode 155: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Series, Pt 1- First Line Management
This week, we go back to Classical Hematology! We previously discussed the initial workup and management of ITP in Episode 009, but now it’s time to dig deeper. What do we do once we make the diagnosis? How do we approach management when we have a new diagnosis?
Episode 154: Ask The Program Directors-The Do’s and Don'ts of Applying to Hematology Fellowship (Career Development Series)
Episode 154: Ask The Program Directors-The Do’s and Don'ts of Applying to Hematology Fellowship (Career Development Series)
This week, we are so excited to share the second episode of our Career Development Series episodes, developed in partnership with The American Society of Hematology, The ASH Trainee Council, and Hematopoiesis!
For years, our listeners have reached out to our show asking for guidance to help navigate their careers. We are so excited to be partnering with an amazing organization like ASH to help make this happen!
With fellowship application season around the corner, we thought that this was the perfect time to understand what program directors are looking for in their applicants. This time, we welcome Dr. Alice Ma, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Director at UNC, and Dr. Gerald Hsu, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Director at UCSF. Along with our guest hosts, Nick and Claire, we ask the tough questions that all of wish we could ask but never could. This is an episode you do not want to miss!
Episode 153: Myeloma Capstone, Pt 2 - MRD-Guided Therapy, Maintenance, and Relapsed/Refractory Sequencing
Episode 153: Myeloma Capstone, Pt 2 - MRD-Guided Therapy, Maintenance, and Relapsed/Refractory Sequencing
This week, we kick off the first of our myeloma capstone roundtable discussions with two experts who treat myeloma every single day. We welcome back Dr. Manni Mohyuddin from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, and introduce a new friend of the show, Dr. Adeel Khan from UT Southwestern. In part two, we cover three practical and rapidly evolving topics: the role of MRD testing in guiding treatment decisions, how to individualize maintenance therapy in 2026, and how to approach sequencing of CAR-T and bispecific therapies in the relapsed/refractory setting.
In this week’s show notes, we summarize the key thoughts about how our experts think about approach to their patients.
If you have not already done so, be sure to check out Part 1 of this discussion!
Episode 152: Myeloma Capstone, Pt 1 - Smoldering Myeloma & Frontline Treatment in the Elderly
Episode 152: Myeloma Capstone, Pt 1 - Smoldering Myeloma & Frontline Treatment in the Elderly
This week, we kick off the first of our myeloma capstone roundtable discussions with two experts who treat myeloma every single day. We welcome back Dr. Manni Mohyuddin from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, and introduce a new friend of the show, Dr. Adeel Khan from UT Southwestern. In part one, we tackle two highly practical topics: the AQUILA trial and its real-world implications for smoldering myeloma management, and how to approach frontline therapy in the older myeloma patient.
In this week’s show notes, we summarize the key thoughts about how our experts think about approach to their patients.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this discussion next week!
Episode 151: Myeloma Series, Pt. 11 - Role of bispecific T-cell engagers for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (2026)
Episode 151: Myeloma Series, Pt. 11 - Role of bispecific T-cell engagers for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (2026)
In this week’s episode, we continue our journey through the relapsed/refractory myeloma space, with a focus on the role of bispecific T-cell engagers. Another incredibly important conversation that is so important in the current treatment landscape and one that you don’t want to miss.
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out our CAR T episode.
Episode 150: Myeloma Series, Pt. 10 - Role of CAR T for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (2026)
Episode 150: Myeloma Series, Pt. 10 - Role of CAR T for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
In this week’s episode, we take a practical dive into the relapsed/refractory myeloma space, with a focus on the role of CAR T therapy for relapsed/refractory. In our next episode, we will continue on with a discussion on bispecific agents! This is a conversation that is so important in the current treatment landscape and one that you don’t want to miss.
Episode 149: Myeloma Series, Pt. 9 - Maintenance for Multiple Myeloma (2026)
Episode 149: Myeloma Series, Pt. 9 - Maintenance for Multiple Myeloma (2026)
This week, we turn our attention to what we do in the maintenance setting for management of myeloma. At this point, our patient has gone through initial therapy; for patients who are able to undergo a transplant, we have consolidated their disease with a transplant; and now, we want to maintain that response using a lower dose of therapy, all while trying to minimize toxicity and maximize the patient’s quality of life. We discuss this in detail in this week’s episode!
Episode 148: Myeloma Series, Pt. 8- Transplant in Multiple Myeloma (2026)
Episode 148: Myeloma Series, Pt.8- Transplant in Multiple Myeloma (2026)
Throughout this series, we have discussed that for eligible patients, the current standard of care is to take patients for autologous stem cell transplant as consolidation for their multiple myeloma. In this reboot episode, we sit down with two incredible hematologists who specialize in transplant to discuss the real-life decision-making that goes into evaluating each patient. We are so excited to welcome two special guests this week, Dr. Shonali Midha and Dr. Amar Kelkar, joining us from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston!
Episode 147: Myeloma Series, Pt. 7 - Transplant Consolidation for Multiple Myeloma (2026)
Episode 147: Myeloma Series, Pt. 7 - Transplant Consolidation for Multiple Myeloma (2026)
This week, we discuss the role of the “consolidation” phase of treatment in multiple myeloma, focusing on three key trials: IFM 2009, DETERMINATION, and the MIDAS Trial.