Episoder
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What if the key to reversing ALS isn't replacing dead neurons, but reawakening the
connections between the ones that are still alive?
In this groundbreaking episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Stella Sarraf,
serial biotech entrepreneur, Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree for Innovation, and founder and
CEO of both Spinogenix and Amydis. A PhD chemist turned drug developer, Dr. Sarraf
is pioneering first-in-class neuroregenerative therapeutics that work at the synaptic level
to restore brain function in ALS, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and Fragile X syndrome.
Her investigational drug SPG302 has received FDA expanded access authorization to
treat 200 ALS patients, and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines
Agency.
This conversation is both a masterclass in drug development and a deeply personal
story of loss and purpose. Dr. Sarraf opens up about losing her father to Parkinson's
and her mother to breast cancer, and how those experiences ignited her mission to
transform neurology from a field of late diagnosis and limited options into one of early
detection and real treatment. She describes the decade-long marathon from lab bench
to clinical trial, the mouse that started running circles after treatment, and the impossible
dream of turning ALS from a death sentence into a chronic, manageable disease.
The impossible dream shines brightest in Dr. Sarraf's patient-first approach to expanded
access. Rather than wait years for traditional clinical trial pathways, she fought for FDA
authorization to offer SPG302 to ALS patients who wouldn't otherwise qualify, passing
costs to patients rather than profits to shareholders. It's the same spirit that drove her to
found Amydis: using the eye as a window to the brain to detect neurodegenerative
disease proteins like TDP-43 before symptoms appear, potentially catching ALS at the
earliest possible stage.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Stella Sarraf is a visionary biotech entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of
Spinogenix and Amydis. Named to Forbes 50 Over 50: Innovation (2025), she holds a
PhD in organic chemistry from Columbia University and a BA in biochemistry and
molecular biology from UC Berkeley. Dr. Sarraf began her career as a senior research
chemist at Merck Research Laboratories, where she developed novel drug synthesis
processes for clinical trials. She then spent over a decade in healthcare venture capital
at Foresite Capital Management and Prospect Venture Partners, leading diligence on
400+ investment opportunities in therapeutics and diagnostics. In 2013, she founded
Amydis to develop ocular tracers for early detection of neurodegenerative disease
biomarkers including TDP-43 (present in 97% of ALS patients) and amyloid beta. In
2016, she founded Spinogenix to develop synaptic regenerative therapies. The
company's lead drug SPG302 is in clinical trials for ALS, Alzheimer's, and
schizophrenia, with FDA expanded access authorization to treat 200 ALS patients. Hall
of Fame quarterback Steve Young serves on the Spinogenix board. Dr. Sarraf was born
in Iran and is driven by her personal experience losing both parents to
neurodegenerative disease.
Learn more about Dr. Stella Sarraf:
Spinogenix
Amydis
LinkedIn
Forbes 50 Over 50: Innovation (2025)
Xtalks Life Science Podcast Interview
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Episode Navigation:
1. 00:00 - How a PhD in organic chemistry is basically cooking with chemicals
2. 05:04 - Living the impossible dream: FDA expanded access for 200 ALS patients
3. 08:13 - The marathon of drug development: From cell to animal to human
4. 10:21 - The mouse that ran circles: When the drug worked in an ALS animal model
5. 22:28 - Combination therapy: Why ALS won't be solved by a single silver bullet
6. 27:20 - Amydis and the eye: Detecting TDP-43 and diagnosing ALS early
7. 39:47 - AI meets ophthalmology: Analyzing retinal images to track disease
8. 44:06 - Steve Young, Dwight Clark, and the power of education and advocacy
9. 48:55 - Fighting the system: Why expanded access programs face hospital
bottlenecks
10. 53:38 - Flora and Whooshing: Fighting for her parents and all of us
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What if the challenges you face in this lifetime were chosen by your soul before you were born, and understanding why could change everything?
In this profound episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Linda Backman, licensed psychologist, world-renowned regression therapist, and author of four groundbreaking books on soul evolution and past life healing. Featured on Gaia TV and Coast to Coast AM, Dr. Backman has spent over 47 years in private practice and 30 years guiding thousands of between-life soul regressions. She co-founded The Newton Institute with pioneering hypnotherapist Dr. Michael Newton and has trained therapists worldwide in the art of soul regression.
This conversation is both an awakening and a homecoming. Dr. Backman opens up about her own transformation and how the sudden passing of a colleague in 1993 opened a doorway to the other side, triggering visions of past lives they had shared and launching her into decades of soul work. With her husband Earl's unexpected validation that he too had remembered past lives as a child, Linda found the support she needed to pursue what she calls her dharma. The impossible dream shines brightest in Dr. Backman's revelation that there are three types of souls incarnating on Earth: Earth-based souls, interplanetary souls who bring advanced wisdom from other star systems, and angelic souls who serve as emissaries of unconditional love. Through her regression work, clients have described spacecraft, non-human physical forms, life reviews with councils of guides, and the pre-birth agreements that shape our greatest challenges and relationships.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Linda Backman is a licensed psychologist and internationally recognized expert in between-life soul regression therapy. With 47 years of private practice experience and over 30 years guiding thousands of past-life and between-life regressions, she is one of the foremost authorities on soul evolution and reincarnation. Dr. Backman studied and co-taught with Dr. Michael Newton, author of Journey of Souls, and was a co-founding member of The Society for Spiritual Regression (now The Newton Institute). She holds degrees from the University of Oregon, University of North Carolina, and Northern Arizona University. In 1997, she and her husband Dr. Earl Backman founded The RavenHeart Center in Boulder, Colorado—a mystery school dedicated to soul-level healing and training. Dr. Backman is the author of four books: Soul Design, Souls on Earth, The Evolving Soul, and Bringing Your Soul to Light. Featured on Gaia TV and Coast to Coast AM, she conducts regression sessions remotely via Zoom with clients worldwide.
Learn more about Dr. Linda Backman:
RavenHeart Center
YouTube - RavenHeart Center
Facebook - Ravenheart Center
Instagram (@ravenheartcenter)
Gaia TV - Dr. Linda Backman Interviews
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
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Episode Navigation:
1. 00:00 - Welcome and introducing soul therapy
2. 03:54 - Two flavors of spiritual seekers: Which one are you?
3. 06:27 - Linda's awakening: When her colleague spoke from the other side
4. 12:46 - Earl's revelation: Remembering past lives as a child
5. 26:29 - What is a soul? Higher Self, energy, and the pie analogy
6. 37:23 - Soul pods, spirit guides, and the higher realm
7. 52:38 - Life reviews and the Council: What happens when we cross over
8. 57:47 - When bad things happen: Free will, karma, and the Holocaust
9. 01:02:19 - The three types of souls: Earth-based, interplanetary, and angelic
10. 01:10:22 - Linda's impossible dream: A planet of inclusivity
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Mangler du episoder?
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What if the same state of consciousness that allows extreme athletes to redefine human limits could also help you heal from a disease doctors said was incurable?
In this powerful episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Steven Kotler—New York Times bestselling author, three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, and the world's leading expert on the neuroscience of flow and peak performance. As founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, Steven has spent decades decoding how humans accomplish the impossible, training everyone from Navy SEALs and Olympic athletes to Fortune 500 executives. His books—including The Art of Impossible, Stealing Fire, and The Rise of Superman—have shaped our understanding of human potential.
This conversation is both a deep dive into the science of peak performance and a profoundly personal exploration of healing against the odds. Steven opens up about his battle with Lyme disease—years spent barely able to get out of bed, doctors who gave up on him, and the moment he nearly ended his own life. Then came surfing, flow states, and a recovery that modern medicine couldn't explain. What he learned changed everything.
The impossible dream shines brightest in Steven's revelation that tragedy is teleportation—a doorway to becoming the most authentic version of yourself. From the spectrum of micro-flow to macro-flow, the neurochemical reset that heals autoimmune conditions, to why AI can't touch the creative lateral thinking that flow unlocks, this episode offers both hope and a roadmap for anyone facing their own impossible challenge.
Guest Bio:
Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and the founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective—the world's leading neuroscience-based peak performance research and training organization. He has authored fifteen books, including eleven bestsellers, with three Pulitzer Prize nominations. His work has been translated into over 80 languages and appeared in more than 100 publications including The New York Times Magazine, Wired, TIME, and the Harvard Business Review. Steven was recently named a Research Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he co-founded Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special needs dog sanctuary in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. His newest book with Peter Diamandis, We Are as Gods: A Survival Guide for the Age of Abundance, releases April 2026.
Learn more about Steven Kotler:
stevenkotler.com
Flow Research Collective
The Art of Impossible
X/Twitter (@steven_kotler)
Instagram (@stevenkotler)
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What if the key to career success isn't following the safe path—but chasing the thing that gives you energy instead of draining it?
In this inspiring episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Bill Gurley—legendary venture capitalist, General Partner at Benchmark, early investor in Uber, Zillow, and OpenTable, and New York Times bestselling author of Runnin' Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love. From his days as a college basketball player at the University of Florida to leading the Amazon IPO as a Wall Street analyst to backing some of the most transformative companies in tech history, Bill shares the unconventional wisdom that took him a decade to distill into his first book.
This conversation is both a masterclass in career navigation and a deeply personal reflection on what it means to find your calling. Bill opens up about the humbling experience of realizing basketball wasn't his future, how that failure fueled his drive to find a field where he could truly thrive, and why he believes the people studying their craft out of obsession—not obligation—will always win.
The impossible dream shines brightest in Bill's six principles for career success: chase your curiosity, hone your craft, develop mentors, embrace your peers, move to the epicenter, and always give back. Through stories of Jerry Seinfeld, Danny Meyer, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Harvey, Bill reveals why giving yourself permission to dream—and having the methods to execute—changes everything.
Guest Bio:
Bill Gurley is a General Partner at Benchmark, one of Silicon Valley's most prestigious venture capital firms, where he has spent over two decades backing transformative companies. His investments include Uber, Zillow, OpenTable, GrubHub, Stitch Fix, and Nextdoor. Before venture capital, Bill was a top-ranked Wall Street research analyst at CS First Boston, where he led the Amazon IPO. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Florida—where he played on the men's basketball team—and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, which awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2025. Bill's blog Above the Crowd has shaped industry thinking on technology, marketplaces, and investing for over two decades. His first book, Runnin' Down a Dream, became a New York Times bestseller. Bill lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and three children.
Learn more about Bill Gurley:
Above the Crowd Blog
Runnin' Down a Dream (Penguin Random House)
Benchmark Capital
LinkedIn
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
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When Jimmy DiResta was a kid sneaking into his father's OCD-perfect basement workshop, using hockey sticks to flip power switches and carefully erasing sawdust footprints, he had no idea he was training for a revolution. The Long Island maker who once cheated his way through high school physics would go on to pioneer an entire genre of YouTube content, influence millions of creators worldwide, and prove that sometimes the most impossible dreams are the ones you never dare to imagine.
This conversation cuts deep into the heart of authentic creation — from Jimmy's early days making toys and traveling to China 100 times over two decades, to the serendipitous moment a Hollywood executive asked "Are you afraid to be on camera?" that launched his television career. But it's his journey from network TV rejection to YouTube mastery that reveals the real magic: how staying true to your process, letting tools do the talking, and remaining open to unexpected opportunities can turn a basement hobby into a global phenomenon.
For anyone who's ever felt misunderstood in school, dismissed by traditional systems, or wondered if their weird passion could ever become something more — Jimmy's story is proof that your quirks aren't bugs, they're features. And sometimes the most profound success comes from simply being yourself, louder and more authentically than everyone else dares to be.
Guest Bio
Jimmy DiResta is a maker, inventor, and YouTube pioneer whose tool-focused, music-free video style has influenced countless creators worldwide. A former toy designer who spent decades traveling to China and developing products for major companies, Jimmy transitioned from network television shows like "Hammered" on HGTV and "Dirty Money" on Discovery to building a massive online following. He taught at the School of Visual Arts for 25 years, mentoring students in hands-on creation and problem-solving, and continues to inspire makers through his YouTube channel and ongoing projects like the Graveyard.
Learn more about Jimmy DiResta:
Official Website: jimmydiresta.com
Instagram: @jimmydiresta
YouTube: Jimmy DiResta
Podcast: Making It with Jimmy DiResta
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr
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Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1
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EPISODE NAVIGATION:
[00:30] - The grandfather's workshop: How a construction legacy shaped an unlikely creative path
[01:47] - Growing up in the basement shop: When your father's OCD becomes your first lesson in precision
[04:07] - The hockey stick rebellion: How three brothers outsmarted their father's power cutoff switch
[06:00] - From fabricator to maker: The moment a magazine changed everything
[08:24] - Architecture school dreams meet mathematical reality: Why some artists aren't meant for equations
[13:10] - Complete fraud for ten years: The impostor syndrome that haunted a global superstar
[15:28] - The 65 and out strategy: When a future maker gamed the educational system
[20:08] - You go to school on the first one: The philosophy that transforms failure into education
[24:22] - Fork in the road moments: How following curiosity creates impossible opportunities
[30:35] - The call that changed everything: Aaron sitting in the chair where his ALS symptoms started
[36:19] - From cop to comedian to sitcom star: The Hollywood dream that almost worked
[38:48] - Reality reorganizes around your clarity: When the impossible becomes inevitable
[42:14] - The pitch meeting that changed two lives: How being yourself becomes your superpower
[46:28] - Thrown out with the bathwater: When network politics destroy good shows
[48:05] - Let the tools do the talking: The birth of a YouTube revolution
[50:42] - Keeping it loose: How staying open creates space for magic to happen
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What if following your excitement isn't just advice — but the language your soul uses to talk to you?
Host Aaron Lazar sits down with Darryl Anka — the renowned channel, filmmaker, and creative visionary who has spent over 40 years bringing through the teachings of Bashar — for a conversation that bridges the extraordinary and the deeply practical. From UFO sightings in broad daylight to a telepathic agreement made before this lifetime, Darryl's path to becoming one of the most sought-after channels in the world is as remarkable as the information itself. And the information, as Aaron discovers episode after episode of his own healing journey, is not about belief — it is about results.
At the center of this episode is Bashar's five-part Formula — a deceptively simple framework for navigating every challenge, decision, and crossroads life presents. Follow your passion and excitement. Act with integrity. Release all insistence on outcomes. Remain in a positive state no matter what happens. And examine the fear-based beliefs standing between you and who you truly are. Aaron, living with ALS, shares how this formula has become a lifeline — not an escape from his physical reality, but a way of moving through it with purpose, momentum, and something that keeps surprising him: joy.
Together, Aaron and Darryl explore the nature of spirit guides and synchronicity, the soul's reasons for choosing profound challenges, and what Bashar says is coming for humanity in the very near future. Darryl's perspective lands with quiet confidence: "The easiest thing in the world to be is yourself. The hardest thing in the world to be is someone you are not. We have those things completely reversed."
Guest Bio:
Darryl Anka is a world-renowned channel, filmmaker, and creative visionary based in Los Angeles. After witnessing two close-range UFO sightings in 1973, Darryl spent a decade researching metaphysics and the nature of consciousness before beginning to channel Bashar — a non-physical being who describes himself as an extraterrestrial intelligence communicating from what we perceive as the future. Over more than 40 years of live events, recordings, and teachings, the Bashar material has been recognized alongside the works of Edgar Cayce, Seth, and Abraham-Hicks as some of the most consistent, detailed, and practically applicable channeled information ever transmitted. Darryl wrote, produced, and directed the documentary First Contact, which explores his life as a channel and the core messages Bashar shares. In addition to his channeling work, Darryl expresses his creative passions through his production company Zia Films and, with his wife, co-owns Boggled Escape Rooms in Los Angeles — an environment designed to help people think outside the box, solve problems creatively, and discover what they're truly capable of. A mainstream publishing deal for new Bashar material is forthcoming.
Learn More About Darryl Anka and Bashar:
Website: bashar.org
Instagram: @basharchanneling
Documentary — First Contact: Available at bashar.org
Boggled Escape Rooms (Los Angeles): boggled.com
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
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Episode Navigation:
1. 00:08 — The Formula in real life: Aaron shares how Bashar's five principles have become a daily compass through ALS
2. 02:20 — The five principles unpacked
3. 08:18 — Two UFOs in broad daylight — 1973, Los Angeles — and the decade of research that followed
4. 08:53 — How channeling actually began
5. 14:38 — You don't have to believe in Bashar — you just have to try the information
6. 19:51 — Spirit guides, synchronicity, and the channeling state
7. 26:51 — Is consciousness actually rising?
8. 32:00 — Bashar's formula for facing any challenge
9. 37:35 — Aaron's hardest question — did souls choose the Holocaust?
10. 42:28 — Reality as virtual reality
11. 46:06 — Open contact: ETs have already been here for millennia
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What if the illness you can't explain is trying to tell you something your doctor never will?
Host Aaron Lazar sits down with Jonathan Hammond — Harvard graduate, former Broadway actor, and one of the world's most sought-after shamanic practitioners — for a conversation that reaches beyond the ordinary and into the hidden blueprint of your life. Jonathan has been Aaron's spiritual counselor for nearly two years, working with him twice a month through his journey with ALS, and what emerges in this episode is raw, wise, and deeply human: a reframing of illness, transformation, and what it actually means to heal.
Drawing on Hawaiian Huna tradition, transpersonal psychology, and more than two decades of private practice in Maui, Jonathan introduces the concept of the hidden story — the soul-level narrative running underneath your conscious life, shaping everything from your health to your relationships to the career that once felt like a dream but now feels like a cage. This is the conversation for anyone who has ever had the unsettling feeling that something bigger is happening to them than what appears on the surface.
Together, Aaron and Jonathan explore the philosophy at the heart of shamanic healing — that nature is always authentic, culture is often not, and the body will eventually demand the life the soul intended. Jonathan's message lands with quiet power: "You go to the doctor to set your arm. You go to the shaman to find out why you broke it."
Guest Bio: Jonathan Hammond is a Maui-based author, spiritual teacher, shamanic practitioner, and spiritual counselor whose work bridges Hawaiian Huna tradition, transpersonal psychology, indigenous earth wisdom, and energy healing. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan, Jonathan enjoyed a successful career as an award-winning actor on Broadway and television before a profound personal healing journey led him to devote his life to shamanism and soul work. He is an ordained Alakaʻi (leader and guide) in the Kahili Hawaiian shamanic tradition, a certified Master Teacher in Shamanic Reiki, and holds certifications in Cherokee Bodywork, Huna, and HoʻoʻponoponoHe has taught at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, The Shift Network, and Penn State University. He is the author of The Shaman's Mind: Huna Wisdom to Change Your Life, creator of the audio course The Shaman Within (produced by Hemi-Sync®), and his forthcoming book Shamanism and Natural Magick: A Guide to Your Rewilding will be released in 2026. Jonathan maintains a thriving international private practice from Kihei, Maui.
Learn More About Jonathan Hammond:
Website: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/rotpZF
Instagram: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/M5Stt1
Book — The Shaman's Mind: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/kB3ttj
Audio Course — The Shaman Within: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Kfyeu6
Teachings at Omega Institute: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/S6Mfqj
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Episode Navigation:
1. 00:08 — What is a shaman? Aaron and Jonathan reconnect after 16 years — from Lake Louise acting workshop to Maui healing practice — and Jonathan strips away the mysticism to answer the question everyone is afraid to ask
2. 01:20 — The hidden story: Why the body keeps the score, why Western therapy alone isn't enough, and the transpersonal realm — soul, ancestors, energy, purpose — that shamanism addresses where psychology stops
3. 06:37 — How Aaron's ALS diagnosis and a social media book list led him to Jonathan's door — and why the first principle of Hawaiian Huna, "The world is what you think it is," became the foundation of their work together
4. 11:34 — The hidden story made real: Jonathan shares the story of a grieving mother whose baby's death carried a soul contract — the felt truth that exists beneath what is empirically verifiable
5. 14:32 — How do you know it's truth and not just a story you're telling yourself? Jonathan explains the language of nature, discernment, and why the voice that moves you toward growth is always worth trusting
6. 21:00 — Nature vs. culture: Everything in nature is authentic to itself, advocates for itself, and gives its gift. Human culture creates separation from that authenticity — and healing is the journey back
7. 29:00 — The Gaia theory and the sacredness of all life: With 8 billion people and 16 billion hands, humanity can be a force of stewardship on Earth — and recognizing your own sacred nature changes how you treat everything you encounter
8. 40:36 — Jonathan's impossible dream: What it felt like to stand on a Broadway stage on opening night and realize, with terrifying clarity, "If this is it, I am in the wrong life" — and the volcano messages that changed his path
9. 44:38 — Shamanic illness and the soul that won't be ignored: Why illness sometimes comes to make you over, why the soul doesn't care about your preferences, and why the
in-between place — where the old way is gone and the new way isn't formed — is where transformation lives
10. 49:09 — Empath without boundaries is a doormat. Empath with boundaries is a force of nature: The sacred prostitute vs. the goddess, why martyrdom is not found anywhere in nature, and how knowing what you are changes everything about what you attract
11. 56:43 — 5D consciousness, the Wetiko virus, and the narcissist in the room: The Cree concept of a mind parasite that drives greed, separation, and dehumanization — and why the best response is not engagement, but becoming the best version of yourself
12. 01:03:52 — Creating the preferred world from the inside out: How light bearers, truth tellers, and those who lend their heart and creativity to collective service are ushering in a new consciousness — one lived reality at a time
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What if the lessons you've spent a lifetime learning were meant to help someone else survive their hardest days?
Host Aaron Lazar sits down with bestselling author, journalist, and humanitarian Mitch Albom for a conversation that will stop you IN YOUR TRACKS - one rooted in shared history, hard-won wisdom, and the kind of hope that refuses to be extinguished. Mitch opens up about the childhood commute that accidentally sparked his music career, the rabbi who dared him to write a eulogy before earning the right to give one, and the accidental newspaper story in New York City that launched one of the most celebrated literary careers of our time.
Together, Aaron and Mitch explore the philosophy at the beating heart of Tuesdays With Morrie—detachment, surrender, and the radical act of living in hope—and apply it directly to Aaron’s journey with ALS. Mitch’s message lands like the luge metaphor he shares: “The more you lay back and let it go, the more you may end up exactly where you wanted to be.”
Guest Bio:
Mitch Albom is the author of eight consecutive New York Times #1 bestsellers, including Tuesdays With Morrie—the bestselling memoir of all time—and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. A celebrated sports journalist, playwright, screenwriter, and musician, Mitch has had four of his books adapted into films or television movies. He runs Have Faith Haiti, an orphanage in Port-au-Prince he has operated for over 16 years, and hosts the podcast Tuesday People. His life’s work is a testament to the power of authentic human connection, the courage to pursue unlikely dreams, and the profound lessons we learn from those facing the end of their lives.
Learn More About Mitch Albom:
Website: https://www.mitchalbom.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchalbom
Tuesday People Podcast: https://www.mitchalbom.com/tuesday-people/
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Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
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Episode Navigation:
1. 00:08 – Welcome and shared roots: Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and a synagogue that connected two families
2. 01:20 – Rabbi Lewis and “Have a Little Faith”: The eulogy request that became an eight-year friendship—and a book
3. 06:37 – Faith, fear, and a Jewish day school: How a grueling commute secretly launched Mitch’s music career
4. 11:34 – Morrie and the spiritual awakening: Why sitting with a dying man changed everything Mitch believed about life
5. 14:32 – Dreams change—and that’s the point: From cartoonist to musician to writer, the impossible dream that found him
6. 21:00 – Stranded in Athens with no money: The accidental audition in Crete that became seven months in paradise
7. 29:00 – A parking meter story changed his life: How volunteering at a tiny New York newspaper launched a literary empire
8. 40:36 – The luge metaphor: Laying back, trusting God, and why controlling your dream may be killing it
9. 44:38 – Morrie’s 45-minute morning ritual: The art of feeling it, naming it, and choosing to live anyway
10. 49:09 – Living in hope: Why believing — even without guaranteed results — is always the better way to go
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What if the answers you're searching for have been waiting inside you all along?
Host Aaron Lazar welcomes psychic channel and spiritual advisor Noella Risley for an ILLUMINATING conversation about intuition, healing, and the courage to embrace your gifts. Noella opens up about her journey from visual artist to actress to spiritual reader, the formative experience with a fraudulent psychic that awakened her own abilities, and the twelve years it took to fully accept that what she could see and feel was real.
Now a certified Kundalini yoga instructor and trusted advisor to those navigating life's biggest questions, Noella shares her philosophy of compassion over empathy, her insights on channelers like Bashar and Abraham Hicks, and performs a live tarot reading for Aaron that reveals the power of alignment over striving. Her message is clear: "Believe it more than they call it delusion—because your vision is more real than their reality."
Guest Bio: Noella Risley is a psychic channel, spiritual advisor, and certified Kundalini yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. Originally trained as a fine artist with a background in painting and illustration, Noella's spiritual path began unexpectedly after a disillusioning encounter with a fraudulent psychic led her to discover her own intuitive gifts. After twelve years of developing her abilities—and overcoming her own skepticism—Noella now guides clients through life's most profound questions using tarot, intuition, and spiritual wisdom. Her journey through addiction and recovery informs her compassionate approach to helping others sit with discomfort and find their own inner knowing. Noelle has studied with energy healer Rob Morgan and integrates teachings from ascended masters and divine light into her practice.
Learn more about Noella Risley:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplayfulmystic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplayfulmystic
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr
Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh
Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1
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Episode Navigation:
1. 00:09 - Welcome and introduction to healing events
2. 03:20 - What is a reader? Accepting your spiritual gifts
3. 08:40 - Bridging science and spirituality: "God made me good at this"
4. 12:34 - The fake psychic who changed everything
5. 20:16 - From acting to healing: "Show business will never love you back"
6. 26:16 - Channels and ascended masters: Bashar, Abraham Hicks, and Seth
7. 40:36 - Recovery and the root of addiction: Learning to be uncomfortable
8. 48:00 - Creating your life: "Believe it more than they call it delusion"
9. 56:15 - Aaron's first reading with Noelle: A recording revealed
10. 59:10 - Live tarot reading: Alignment over striving
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Vin Baker: Every Morning, New Mercies
What if the road to your purpose runs straight through your deepest pain? Host Aaron Lazar welcomes four-time NBA All-Star Vin Baker for a POWERFUL conversation about faith, addiction, and finding purpose on the other side of rock bottom. Vin opens up about growing up as a preacher's son in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, the meteoric rise from late basketball bloomer to Olympic Gold Medalist, and the private battle with alcoholism that played out in public and cost him nearly everything.
Now 15 years sober and serving as an ordained minister, Vin shares the moment in his childhood bathroom when he looked in the mirror and surrendered completely—not to save his career or reputation, but simply to live. His story is a testament to the scripture he lives by: "Every morning, new mercies I see."
Guest Bio:
Vin Baker is a four-time NBA All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist (2000 Sydney Games), and ordained minister. Selected 8th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1993, Vin played 13 seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston, Houston, and New York. He was an original Team Jordan member and one of the most dominant power forwards of his era. After a public battle with alcoholism that nearly took his life, Vin found sobriety in 2010 and has since dedicated himself to helping others through their recovery. He is the founder of Struggle, a medication-assisted treatment and recovery center in Milwaukee. Vin previously served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, contributing to their 2021 NBA Championship run. His book, God and Starbucks, chronicles his journey from NBA stardom through addiction to redemption.
Learn more about Vin Baker:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinbaker42
Struggle Recovery Center: https://www.strugglellc.com
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr
Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh
Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1
Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe
Episode Navigation:
1. 01:19 - Welcome and opening
2. 02:35 - Growing up in Old Saybrook as a preacher's son
3. 05:01 - Early dreams: The NBA and the ministry
4. 08:18 - From fear of God to walking in faith
5. 11:16 - "You never realize God is all you need until God is all you have"
6. 16:21 - When drinking began: Junior year of college
7. 20:37 - The hidden life of a functional alcoholic
8. 22:53 - Five attempts at sobriety and the mirror moment
9. 34:19 - Building Struggle: A recovery center born from experience
10. 37:34 - Lamentations 3:22-23: "Every morning, new mercies I see"
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In this deeply personal episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with his lifelong friend David Perpich—Vice Chairman of the Board of The New York Times and Publisher of The Athletic. From their Duke fraternity days to sharing a roach-free New York apartment (thanks to strategically placed tissues), Aaron and David's three-decade friendship provides the backdrop for a candid conversation about legacy, leadership, and the courage to choose your own path.
This conversation is both intimate and illuminating. David opens up about growing up as fifth-generation New York Times family while his dad's side had no running water, surviving a car accident the day before his bar mitzvah trip to Disney World (his 13-year-old dream was to own the place), and the pivotal moment when he chose to stay at the Times rather than default into it. He shares the remarkable story of sending an unsolicited email to his cousin proposing a digital subscription model—an idea that would transform the newspaper industry—and the lessons learned from leading acquisitions like Wordle and Wirecutter.
David's impossible dream shines brightest when he talks about leadership as service—surrounding yourself with talented people, maintaining editorial integrity over short-term profits, and finding meaning in work that matters. His philosophy that "it's important that people choose to commit versus default to commit" serves as a rallying cry for anyone navigating family expectations, or simply trying to prove they're worthy of the opportunities they've been given.
Guest Bio:
David Perpich is Vice Chairman of the Board of The New York Times Company and Publisher of The Athletic. A fifth-generation member of the Sulzberger-Ochs family, David has been instrumental in transforming The Times into a digital-first subscription business. He led the operational launch of the company's groundbreaking digital subscription model in 2011, created the New Products division that launched NYT Games and NYT Cooking, and helped bring Wordle to millions of daily players. David previously served as General Manager of Wirecutter following its acquisition by The Times. He holds a degree in Public Policy from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Before joining The Times, David worked in consulting at Booz & Company and founded a small business in Durham, North Carolina.
Learn more about David Perpich:
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com
The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-perpich
✨ LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network: https://www.alsnetwork.org
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios: https://www.evrybdystudios.com
Learn more at https://www.aaronlazar.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ALImpossibleDreams
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/impossible-dreams
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/impossibledreams
Merch: https://impossibledreamshop.myshopify.com
Episode Navigation:
1. 00:48 - Opening welcome and intro
2. 02:35 - Roommates in New York: The roach motel and tissue paper story
3. 05:39 - Fifth-generation New York Times legacy
4. 06:56 - Bar mitzvah dream: "I'm going to own Disney World"
5. 08:16 - Uncle Rudy: Governor of Minnesota
6. 10:52 - "Am I worthy of this opportunity?"
7. 14:11 - Pressure and inner demons: The drive to be perfect
8. 21:15 - The email that changed everything: Proposing the digital subscription model
9. 27:29 - Launching the subscription business against doubters
10. 29:46 - Creating NYT Games, Cooking, and the New Products division
11. 33:43 - Bringing Wordle to The New York Times
12. 36:35 - Wirecutter acquisition and leadership lessons
13. 37:08 - The family succession process: "Choose to commit versus default to
commit"
14. 44:01 - Mission matters: Why he stayed at The Times
15. 48:02 - Publisher of The Athletic: Building profitability
16. 55:53 - Journalism in a polarized world
17. 01:05:04 - David's impossible dreams: Family, friends, and Disney World with Aaron
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What if the key to unlocking your creative potential isn't knowing the right people, but knowing who you are?
In this powerful episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Adam Glass—Emmy-nominated television showrunner, New York Times bestselling comic book writer, and the man who put Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad. From the Bronx to Hollywood, from meeting his biological father through a Plexiglas window in a Georgia State Penitentiary to running writers' rooms on some of television's biggest shows, Adam's story is a masterclass in resilience, self-belief, and the power of knowing exactly who you are.
This conversation is both raw and profoundly inspiring. Adam opens up about discovering at age 13 that everything he thought he knew about his identity was wrong, being adopted by a neighbor who became his father, and the pivotal moment at age 12 when he realized he was "on his own" and would have to trust himself. He shares hard-won wisdom from decades in Hollywood's trenches—from writing for Supernatural and showrunning The Equalizer with Queen Latifah, to co-founding a horror comics imprint with The Boys creator Garth Ennis.
Adam's impossible dream shines brightest when he talks about leadership as love—knowing every crew member's name, giving credit where it's due, and creating environments where artists can thrive. His philosophy of "once you know who you are, it sets you free" serves as a rallying cry for anyone navigating an industry built on rejection, or simply trying to find their authentic voice in a world of noise.
Guest Bio:
Adam Glass is a television showrunner, executive producer, and New York Times bestselling comic book writer. He has written and produced for acclaimed series including Supernatural, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, The Chi, and served as co-showrunner of CBS's hit drama The Equalizer alongside Queen Latifah. Adam created and showran the Netflix series In From The Cold. In comics, he is best known for his groundbreaking run on DC's Suicide Squad, where he introduced Harley Quinn to the team—a decision that helped spawn a billion-dollar franchise. His work spans Marvel's Deadpool and Luke Cage to creator-owned titles like Rough Riders. Adam is a co-founder of Ninth Circle, a horror comics imprint at Image Comics alongside Garth Ennis (The Boys) and other industry legends.
Learn more about Adam Glass:
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1380122/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamianglass
X: https://twitter.com/adamglass44
Ninth Circle Comics: https://imagecomics.com/creators/adam-glass
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr
Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh
Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1
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Episode Navigation:
00:47 - Opening welcome and intro
02:35 - Adam's origin story: Born in Georgia, raised in the Bronx
05:46 - Meeting his biological father in prison
07:00 - "I'm a Jubilee" - identity across cultures
11:24 - Comic books as childhood salvation
14:09 - Putting Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad
17:29 - The personal inspiration behind Harley's emancipation
23:00 - Leadership as love: Running The Equalizer set
29:24 - Ram Dass wisdom: "Love everyone and tell the truth"
34:30 - The moment at 12 that changed everything
38:22 - "Once you know who you are, it sets you free"
42:16 - Belief and generational trauma
46:30 - On death, cremation, and what lives on
55:19 - 50 as a turning point: Finding true happiness
56:49 - Scott's story: Living with ALS for 15 years
01:03:27 - Adam's impossible dreams: novels, films, family, and teaching
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What if the most profound lessons about living don’t just come from adversity and life’scurve balls, but from transforming these experiences into legendary purpose?
In this powerful episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Montel William—Emmy Award-winning television host, decorated Naval Academy graduate, advocate, author, and MS warrior who has been living with multiple sclerosis for over 45 years.
This conversation goes far beyond celebrity and illness; it's a masterclass in resilience, critical thinking, and the courage to question everything while fighting for what matters most.This conversation is both honest and profoundly hopeful. Montel opens up about his decades-long journey with MS, from misdiagnosis to advocacy, from powerlifting to a devastating stroke, and from near-death experiences to finding beauty in the smallest moments. He challenges the medical establishment, questions Big Pharma's motives, and shares the hard-won wisdom that comes from facing mortality multiple times.
Montel's impossible dream shines brightest when he talks about being in the "last quarter" of life—not with despair, but with fierce determination to score a touchdown in the final seconds. His philosophy of "I alone own the definition of who I am" serves as a rallying cry for anyone facing chronic illness, uncertainty, or the pressure to conform to someone else's narrative about their life.
Guest Bio:
Montel Williams is an Emmy Award-winning television personality, decorated U.S. Naval Academy graduate, advocate, and author. For 17 years, he hosted "The Montel Williams Show," becoming a household name and trusted voice on issues ranging from social justice to health advocacy. A former Marine and Naval intelligence officer, Montel has lived with multiple sclerosis for over 45 years and has become one of the most vocal advocates for MS research, patient rights, and medical cannabis. He is the author of multiple books, including "Climbing Higher" and "The Intrepid: An Epic Story of Survival and Bravery," and hosts the podcasts "Free Thinking with Montel" and "Let's Be Blunt."Learn more about Montel Williams:
Official Website: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/gKUdfK
Instagram: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/OzZUoZ
Podcasts: Free Thinking with Montel & Let's Be Blunt
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr
Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh
Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1
Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe
Episode Navigation:
00:47 - Opening welcome and intro
02:35 - "Get busy living or get busy dying"
05:53 - Big Pharma reality check
10:17 - Self-advocacy as survival
15:26 - Montel's problem-solving philosophy
24:26 - The MS diagnosis story
39:39 - The devastating stroke story
44:08 - "I alone own the definition of who I am"
47:57 - Near-death experiences
01:00:04 - The USS Intrepid resilience story
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What if the most powerful art comes not from performance, but from radical truth-telling and allowing yourself to be a vessel for something greater?
In this soul-stirring episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with the extraordinary Sara Bareilles—Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and creator of the beloved musical Waitress. Sara joins from a place of deep reflection, having recently delivered the commencement speech at her alma mater UCLA, where she spoke about embracing the "both/and" nature of life—the glorious and the awful, the joy and the fear, all existing simultaneously.
This conversation is both intimately personal and universally resonant. Sara opens up about her lifelong allergy to anything inauthentic, her belief that music is her church and that she's simply a vessel translating divine particles into song. She shares her journey with anxiety, the transformative power of meditation and therapy, and why she's no longer interested in brand-building—only in genuine connection and being of service.
Sara's impossible dream shines brightest when she talks about surrendering to life's flow, recognizing that resistance only amplifies suffering, and trusting that even our most painful experiences carry profound lessons. This episode is for anyone navigating anxiety, loss, creative blocks, or the fundamental human challenge of showing up authentically in a world that constantly asks us to perform.
Guest Bio:
Sara Bareilles is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and New York Times bestselling author. Best known for her chart-topping hits including "Love Song," "Brave," and "Gravity," Sara has sold millions of albums worldwide and earned critical acclaim for her honest, emotionally resonant songwriting. She made her Broadway debut in 2016 when she composed the music and lyrics for Waitress, which became a cultural phenomenon and earned her a Tony nomination for Best Original Score. She later stepped into the lead role, showcasing her remarkable acting talents. Sara has also starred in Broadway's Into the Woods, earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, and published the bestselling memoir Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song. A graduate of UCLA, Sara recently returned to deliver the 2024 commencement address. She continues to create music that serves as medicine for millions, believing deeply that art is about connection, truth-telling, and being of service.
Learn more about Sara Bareilles:
Official Website: https://www.sarabareilles.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarabareilles
Waitress the Musical: https://waitressthemusical.com
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios
Learn more at aaronlazar.com
Instagram: @impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: @ALImpossibleDreams
Apple: Impossible Dreams Podcast
Spotify: Impossible Dreams Podcast
Merch: impossibledreamshop.myshopify.com
Episode Navigation:
00:00 - ALS Network champion message and the importance of their mission supporting
patients and families
00:47 - Sara Bareilles welcomes us to a conversation about truth, connection, and what really
matters
01:32 - Meeting through Project ALS: The power of purpose-driven work and singing together
03:02 - Beyond brand-building: Why Sara cares only about connection in this insane, amazing
time to be alive
05:12 - UCLA commencement speech: Life as "both/and"—glorious and awful, grateful and
scared, all at once
06:51 - Truth as a divining rod: Sara's lifelong allergy to anything inauthentic and performing
personality
09:22 - Music as church: Why Sara believes she's simply a vessel translating divine particles into
song
11:49 - The mystical nature of music as medicine and its power to heal both performer and
audience
15:42 - Gavin Creel's wisdom: His tattoo of "both," and how life holds all contradictions
simultaneously
20:38 - Navigating anxiety: The frequency of fear and learning to meet the energy before
unpacking it
27:05 - Therapy, medication, and breaking stigma: Why Sara is grateful for her "little white pill"
38:23 - The Lexapro jingle: Humor, honesty, and why SSRIs shouldn't get such a bad rap
40:27 - Collaboration with life: Being present, not in resistance, and trusting the journey
42:22 - Being of service: Why Sara wants to offer up what she can do and make music that
comforts
43:40 - The Surrender Experiment: Trusting that life knows what it's doing without human
interference
45:01 - Soul-to-soul connection: Gratitude for music that touches the deepest parts of being
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What if, for once, a conversation about ALS didn’t begin with despair—but with hope?
This holiday season, host Aaron Lazar invites listeners into a radically different kind of dialogue: one grounded not in fear, but in possibility. The ALS community is too often met with messages of limitation and inevitability. In this special episode, we turn that narrative on its head.
Joining Aaron are three extraordinary individuals— CEO of the ALS network Sheri Strahl, head of the ALS clinic at Duke university Dr. Rick Bedlack, and chief data scientist for PCCI Albert Karam—who each bring a voice of courage, compassion, and conviction. Together, they illuminate what’s possible when advocacy, clinical wisdom, and human connection come together in service of healing.
This conversation lifts up the stories, insights, and lived experiences that inspire strength. Sheri shares how the ALS Network supports families with unwavering dedication. Dr. Bedlack reflects on decades of caring for patients with an open heart and an open mind. Albert speaks to the power of innovation and imagination when seeking answers that bring genuine hope to the community.
This episode is a reminder that while ALS is daunting, the people living with it—and those standing beside them—are even more powerful. Their stories reveal pathways to resilience, connection, and possibility. This is a conversation for anyone who needs to hear that light still breaks through, even in the hardest moments.
This holiday, we offer a gift: a space where hope leads the way.
About the Guests:
Sheri Strahl is President and CEO of the ALS Network, one of the nation's largest ALS advocacy organizations. With a background in public health and business, she leads through three mission pillars: comprehensive care coordination, groundbreaking research partnerships, and tireless policy advocacy. Under her leadership, the ALS Network doesn't just support families—they're actively working to solve ALS.
Dr. Rick Bedlack is a neurologist at Duke University who has dedicated 28 years to transforming ALS care and research. He pioneered a radical approach: partnering with patients as equals in research. Today, he leads ALS Untangled and studies ALS outliers—patients doing extraordinarily well—to identify three key factors that could transform outcomes for everyone.
Albert Karam is Chief Information Officer at the Center for Clinical Innovation, a nonprofit think tank specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence. As a mathematician and data scientist, Albert develops AI solutions that look beyond medical records to understand the whole person—combining clinical data with social determinants of health to reveal patterns invisible to traditional research.
Connect:
ALS Network Official Website
Become an ALS Advocate
Duke ALS Clinic
ALS Untangled - Alternative Treatment Research
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe to Impossible Dreams Podcast. Listen, believe, and transform your life.
Presented by The ALS Network
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios
Host: Aaron Lazar
Instagram: @impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: @ALImpossibleDreams
Listen on Apple Podcasts: Impossible Dreams
Listen on Spotify: Impossible Dreams
Shop Merch: Impossible Dreams Store
Episode Topics & Timestamps:
02:06 - From "Nothing We Can Do" to Revolutionary Partnership: Dr. Bedlack's 28-year journey transforming ALS care from hopelessness to patient-powered research
05:05 - The Discovery That Changed Everything: Learning about 60 documented ALS reversals and the birth of a mission to understand why
05:53 - Inside the Impossible Dream Machine: How AI, clinical expertise, and patient advocacy are combining to analyze ALS progression in ways never before possible
09:27 - The Three Differences That Define Outliers: What makes some ALS patients thrive while others decline—and how we can apply these insights universally
19:08 - How AI Sees What Humans Miss: Understanding how machine learning identifies patterns in ALS progression that could lead to breakthrough treatments
26:16 - Care Coordination That Saves Lives: How the ALS Network's comprehensive support system helps families navigate the overwhelming complexity of ALS
38:22 - Studying Success, Not Just Decline: Why Dr. Bedlack focuses on people doing well rather than those who are struggling—and what that reveals
48:15 - The Power of Advocacy: How ALS patients and families secured $500 million in federal research funding and what it means for the future
56:25 - The Impossible Dream: Making every ALS patient an outlier—the ultimate goal of combining AI research with clinical innovation
01:00:12 - Hope, Healing, and Gratitude: Final reflections on community, connection, and what the future holds for people living with ALS
-
The Banker Who Nearly Ended His Life—and the Buddhist Temple That Saved It
Before he became a world-record-breaking endurance athlete, Matt Dawson was a wealthy New York investment banker silently falling apart. Despite the cars, the clubs, and the money, he woke up every morning wanting his life to end. Depression took over. Success meant nothing. And one night, Matt reached a breaking point: he truly believed the world would be better without him.
Instead of ending his life, he made one desperate choice—to run toward something bigger than himself.
He flew to Nepal with no plan except survival. At the base of Mount Everest, inside a small Buddhist temple, Matt experienced the moment that shattered his old identity and pulled him back into life. That spiritual awakening became the turning point that led him from self-destruction to service.
Now, Matt holds six World Records, has rowed solo across the Atlantic, climbed Everest, skied to the South Pole, and created Dawson’s Peak Foundation—donating 100% of net proceeds to Hope for the Warriors and the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Matt’s journey is proof that the human spirit can rise from absolute darkness and become a force of unstoppable good.
Connect with Matt Dawson:
Dawson's Peak Foundation Official Website
Matt Dawson on Instagram
Hope for the Warriors - Veteran Support
Gary Sinise Foundation - Military Veterans
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Listen, believe, and transform your life.
Presented by The ALS Network
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios
Host: Aaron Lazar
Instagram: @impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: @ALImpossibleDreams
Listen on Apple Podcasts: Impossible Dreams
Listen on Spotify: Impossible Dreams
Shop Merch: Impossible Dreams Store
Episode Navigation:
03:22 - How Matt Dawson set 6 World Records for endurance athletics
09:35 - Dawson's Peak Foundation mission: Supporting military veterans through Hope for the Warriors and Gary Sinise Foundation
16:30 - Understanding the difference between profession and purpose in life
17:07 - Breaking free from autopilot: How 95% of your identity becomes programmed by age 35
19:08 - The hidden darkness behind professional success and material wealth
20:28 - Matt's turning point: "Check in or check out" - confronting suicidal thoughts and choosing transformation
23:31 - Solo spiritual pilgrimage to Nepal and Everest Base Camp as life-saving journey
24:33 - Why this Nepal trek was Matt's last-ditch effort to save his own life
25:45 - Moving from head to heart: Transitioning from analytical thinking to embodied awareness
41:27 - Using personal transformation to help others overcome depression, pain, and darkness
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What if the voice that guided you through your darkest depression came from a grandmother you barely knew—who had been dead for nearly a decade? What if that voice opened a door to an entirely different dimension of existence, one that would transform your life and help thousands of others find peace?
In this profoundly moving episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Rebecca Rosen—internationally renowned psychic medium, bestselling author, and one of the most gifted spiritual practitioners of our generation. From her skeptical beginnings as a college student in Gainesville, Florida to becoming a trusted guide for people seeking connection with loved ones who have passed, Rebecca shares a journey that began with automatic writing in a bookstore and evolved into a 25-year calling of service.
Rosen explains how her dead grandmother—a woman who took her own life when Rebecca was just ten years old—reached across the veil to help her granddaughter heal from depression, offering specific evidence that left even Rebecca's skeptical father speechless. She talks about the difference between psychics and mediums, and how she spent years demanding proof before finally accepting her extraordinary ability to communicate with discarded beings.
But this episode is about more than just Rebecca's story. It's about the universal truths she's learned from spirit—that we are all enough simply for being born, and that the only thing that transcends this physical experience is love. Rebecca offers profound insight into Aaron's journey with ALS, explaining root issues, calling energy back from the future, and the importance of healing not just for ourselves but for generations to come.
This conversation is raw and transformative. It's for anyone who has ever questioned their worth despite their success, or anyone who needs a reminder that miracles happen when we get out of our own way and align with our Higher Self.
Guest Bio:
Rebecca Rosen is an internationally renowned psychic medium, bestselling author, and spiritual teacher who has spent 25 years helping people connect with loved ones who have passed and find healing through divine guidance. Her work bridges the physical and spiritual realms, offering evidence-based readings that provide comfort, clarity, and validation to thousands of clients. Rebecca is the author of multiple books including "Spirited," where she explores root issues and universal spiritual truths. She hosts the podcast "Small Medium at Large" and is known for her compassionate, authentic approach to mediumship—one that honors both the skeptics and the believers. With her gift, Rebecca helps people understand that we are all connected to something greater and that love is the only thing that truly matters.
Learn more about Rebecca Rosen:
Official Website: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/wq0G0e
Instagram: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/9wAuPL
Small Medium at Large Podcast: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/T8a8lU
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT
About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW
Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr
Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh
Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1
Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe
Episode Navigation:
02:00 - Welcome to the table: Aaron introduces one of the coolest, most gifted humans he's met
02:44 - What's the difference?: Understanding psychics versus mediums and why we're all born with the gift
03:14 - How Rebecca demanded evidence and proof from the other side
05:03 - Learning a foreign language: How Rebecca built her vocabulary of signs over 25 years
05:48 - Nice Jewish girl from Omaha: How this found Rebecca, not the other way around
07:25 - When a dead grandmother interrupted a marketing exam to offer help
08:03 - The white sheets and details nobody knew except her father09:36 - Building trust with grandma and developing the gift
12:12 - Meeting Ryan: When impossible predictions about a soulmate came true exactly as foretold
23:07 - Why Rebecca focuses on healing, not just connecting with the dead
33:29 - Understanding why we're here and what we're meant to learn
58:34 - Root issues and karma: Breaking generational patterns for our children and their children
1:17:15 - Understanding self-worth as the psychological root cause of disease
1:13:20 - Why projecting into the future creates suffering
1:13:34 - Recognizing signs without deciding what they should be
1:16:04 - How to align with Higher Self and bypass fearful thinking
1:18:07 - The fundamental truth that our worth isn't earned but inherent
1:16:40 - Finding unconditional love and staying in the light01:19:26 - Healing for ourselves and future generations
1:18:32 - Why only love, compassion, and memories go with us when we die
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In this deeply intimate episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Josh Groban-the multi-platinum recording artist, Broadway star, and one of the most beloved voices of a generation. From standing on stage with Celine Dion at just 17 years old to selling millions of albums while battling impostor syndrome, Josh opens up about a journey that was anything but what it appeared from the outside.
This conversation reveals the real Josh Groban. He shares why he felt like a "complete fraud" for the first ten years of his career, performing by "the skin of my teeth" while terrified someone would discover he didn't belong. He talks about being plucked from obscurity at such a young age that he missed those crucial formative years of failure, friendship, and figuring it out in private-years he's now jealous of other artists for having.
But this episode is about more than just Josh's story. It's about the moment when The Impossible Dream-a song Josh had reimagined years ago-became the anthem for Aaron's album and his battle with ALS. Josh explains why he said yes immediately when asked to contribute, what it means to be of service through music, and why at 44, he's still dreaming impossible dreams: from writing for film and television to conquering his fear of creating without the security blanket of his voice.
This conversation is raw, funny, healing, and inspiring. It's for anyone who has ever felt like a fraud despite their success, anyone who's wondered if they missed their shot, or anyone who needs a reminder that it's never too late to dream something new.
Guest Bio:
Josh Groban is a multi-platinum recording artist, actor, and one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. Since bursting onto the scene at age 17, Josh has sold millions of albums, performed on the world's biggest stages, and established himself as both a classical crossover phenomenon and a Broadway star. Beyond his musical accomplishments, Josh is known for his philanthropy, his genuine connection with fans, and his willingness to use his platform for meaningful causes. Josh founded the Find Your Light Foundation dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience quality arts education. His reimagined arrangement of The Impossible Dream has become a modern classic, inspiring countless performers-including Aaron Lazar-to bring new life to this timeless anthem of hope and perseverance.
Learn more about Josh Groban:
Official Website: joshgroban.com
Find Your Light Foundation: https://fylf.org
Instagram: @joshgroban
YouTube: @JoshGroban
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios
Learn more at aaronlazar.com
Instagram: @impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: @ALImpossibleDreams
Apple: Impossible Dreams Podcast
Spotify: Impossible Dreams Podcast
Merch: impossibledreamshop.myshopify.com
Episode Navigation:
02:10 – How Aaron and Josh first connected
15:01 – Early career moments & influences
25:10 – Teachers who changed Josh’s life
27:00 – Singing with Celine Dion at 17
29:21 – How Celine shaped his confidence
30:17 – ALS Network message
33:00 – Spirituality & faith
39:14 – Navigating uncertainty
43:18 – Songwriting vs. interpreting classics
51:54 – Artistic integrity
53:08 – Listener gratitude
1:04:47 – Josh Groban Foundation & arts education
1:12:30 – Vocal warmups & technique
1:14:11 – Hollywood Bowl stories
1:27:30 – Sweeney Todd experience
1:30:37 – Closing reflections
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What happens when one of Broadway’s most iconic voices sits down and decides to tell the truth behind her talent, her faith, her heartbreaks, and the next chapter of her legendary career?
In this electrifying episode, Aaron Lazar welcomes one of Broadway‘s, most legendary divas Kristin Chenoweth — Tony & Emmy winner, comedic assassin, spiritual warrior, and the original Glinda — joining us straight from a New York rehearsal studio where she was building her newest Broadway musical as both star and producer.
And in a stroke of cosmic timing, this conversation is being released the very week that Queen of Versailles opens on Broadway. You’ll feel the adrenaline of a show still being sculpted, the exhaustion and joy of creation, and the pulse of someone who knows she’s standing on the brink of something monumental.
Kristin opens the vault on the five-year journey that brought this musical to life, the pressure of carrying a multi-million-dollar production on her shoulders, and the private spiritual practices that have kept her grounded through impossible highs, painful setbacks, and the beautiful chaos of showbiz.
You’ll hear about the dreams that shaped her, the faith that sustains her, the mentors who molded her, and why she’s fiercely committed to lifting up the next generation through her Broadway Bootcamp, where artists like Tatum Hopkins are being launched into their own impossible dream.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever dreamed audaciously, fallen down, gotten back up, and kept shining. It’s a story of faith, fire, reinvention, and the unstoppable force of a woman who refuses to stop believing in joy.
If you love Broadway, brilliance, or beautiful truth… you won’t stop listening.
Guest Bio:
Kristin Chenoweth is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and Broadway legend best known for originating the role of Glinda in Wicked and winning the Tony Award for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. With a career spanning Broadway, film, television, and concert stages around the world, Kristin has captivated audiences with her extraordinary voice, comedic brilliance, and radiant spirit. She holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl. A proud Oklahoma native and graduate of Oklahoma City University, Kristin is deeply committed to arts education through her Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp, a competitive two-week intensive program that trains the next generation of theater artists. She is currently starring in and producing the new Broadway musical Queen of Versailles, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Lindsey Ferrentino, and direction by Michael Arden, opening November 2025 at the St. James Theatre.
Learn more about Kristin Chenoweth:
Official Website: https://www.kristinchenoweth.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kchenoweth
Queen of Versailles on Broadway: https://www.queenofversaillesthemusical.com
Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp: https://www.kristinchenowethbootcamp.com
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network: https://www.alsnetwork.org
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios: https://www.evrydbystudios.com
Learn more at https://www.aaronlazar.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ALImpossibleDreams
Apple: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/impossiblereams
Merch: https://impossibledreamshop.myshopify.com
Episode Navigation:
00:00 - Kristin Chenoweth welcomes us from a New York rehearsal studio, preparing for Queen of Versailles on Broadway
02:18 - Creating a new musical: The challenges, blessings, and constant evolution of putting a new show on its feet
03:11 - Being a producer on Broadway: How Kristin is learning the business side and advocating for every character
06:30 - The actor-producer divide: How being on both sides of the table changes everything
09:07 - Five years in the making: From the first reading during COVID to opening night at the St. James Theatre
12:46 - Queen of Versailles and the American Dream: Why this show speaks to wealth, loss, and family
13:18 - Jackie Siegel's impossible dream: Building the biggest house to keep her family together forever
17:19 - Faith and positivity in show business: How Kristin stays grounded in an industry that demands so much
23:18 - Prayer and meditation: Kristin's spiritual practices, sound baths, and challenging Bible Belt traditions
27:04 - Florence Birdwell and Oklahoma City University: The voice teacher who changed everything
43:38 - Awards, Tonys, and legacy: Why the work matters more than the accolades
46:09 - Advocacy and mentorship: The Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp and creating opportunities for young artists
48:03 - Tatum Hopkins's story: How a camper earned her role in Queen of Versailles fair and square
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What if ALS-one of the most devastating neurological diseases-is closer to being treatable than ever before? What if the cure is not decades away, but within reach in our lifetime?
In this powerful episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Merit Cudkowicz-one of the world's leading ALS researchers and clinicians, the Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Cudkowicz, affectionately known as the "greatest ALS doctor in the world" by countless patients, has dedicated her career to finding better treatments and ultimately a cure for ALS since witnessing the discovery of the first ALS gene in 1993.
This conversation is both deeply scientific and profoundly human. Dr. Cudkowicz walks through the challenging journey of ALS diagnosis-why it typically takes a year and 3-4 doctors before patients get answers-and explains the complexity of a disease that mimics many other conditions. She shares the groundbreaking advances happening right now, from the remarkable success of SOD1 gene therapy (which can halt or even reverse progression in certain patients) to the new wave of therapies targeting TDP-43 protein, the underlying biology present in nearly all ALS cases.
Throughout this episode, Dr. Cudkowicz's message is clear and urgent: "I don't think curing ALS is impossible. I absolutely think it's possible." She explains why staying connected to research centers, being part of the ALS community, maintaining physical and mental well-being, and never giving up hope are essential for patients navigating this disease. This episode is not just for those living with ALS, it’s for anyone who is living through the unknown of a life-changing diagnosis or has ever cared for someone who has. It's about spreading hope and community in the face of what feels impossible
Guest Bio:
Dr. Merit Cudkowicz is the Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. A chemical engineer from MIT who went on to complete her medical training at Harvard, Dr. Cudkowicz has been at the forefront of ALS research since 1993, when her mentor Dr. Robert Brown discovered the first ALS gene (SOD1). She is the founder and director of the Healey ALS Platform Trial, a revolutionary multi-drug testing system that is dramatically accelerating the pace of ALS drug development. Dr. Cudkowicz has dedicated her career to clinical trials, patient care, and translating laboratory discoveries into treatments that can help people living with ALS.
Learn more about Dr. Merit Cudkowicz:
Mass General Neurology
Healey ALS Platform Trial
Harvard Medical School Faculty Profile
LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS
✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.
Presented by the ALS Network
Produced by EVRYBDY Studios
Learn more at Aaron Lazar
Instagram: @impossibledreamspodcast
YouTube: @ALImpossibleDreams
Apple: Impossible Dreams Podcast
Spotify: Impossible Dreams Podcast
Merch: impossibledreamshop.myshopify.com
Episode Navigation:
03:15 - I do not think curing ALS is impossible: Dr. Cudkowicz's opening declaration of hope and possibility
03:24 - From MIT chemical engineering to ALS research: The journey that began with the 1993 SOD1 gene discovery
05:05 - Learning the basics at Harvard: Why clinical trial design and epidemiology matter for ALS breakthroughs
05:42 - The brain science frontier: Why neurological diseases like ALS are finally getting the treatments they deserve
07:45 - The year-long diagnosis journey: Why it takes 3-4 doctors and 12 months to get an ALS diagnosis
08:26 - It is a clinical diagnosis: Understanding why there is no single test for ALS and why ruling out mimics is critical
14:24 - The SOD1 breakthrough: How gene therapy can halt or reverse ALS in certain genetic forms and why it is revolutionary
30:43 - The Healey Platform Trial revolution: Testing multiple drugs at once to accelerate the path to treatments
31:55 - Compassionate use and expanded access: How patients can get promising therapies before full FDA approval
34:19 - The cost crisis: Why ALS drugs cost millions and what needs to change to make treatments accessible
38:42 - Why clinical trials are hard: The challenges of running ALS studies and getting drugs to patients faster
40:53 - The TDP-43 breakthrough coming: New therapies targeting the biology present in nearly all ALS cases
41:50 - UNC13A and the upstream approach: Going after the root causes rather than just symptoms
42:20 - VectorY Therapeutics antibody: Using gene therapy to deliver misfolded protein-targeting antibodies
43:23 - The MyMatch precision medicine program: Matching patients to the right drug based on their unique biology
44:56 - Screening with every biomarker: Motor neurons from blood, inflammation imaging, and personalized matching
47:33 - Earlier compassionate access: Why patients do not need to wait for Phase 3 anymore
48:31 - Dr. Cudkowicz's advice for patients: Positive mindset, community, wellness, research participation, and hope
49:17 - It can happen: The unexpected power of the SOD1 results and why we should never give up
- Se mer
