Backstage @ Upstage

HOST:  Hildy Grossman    CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich

GUESTS:   Melina Marmarelis, MD   

What if the secret to defeating lung cancer is already hidden inside our own cells?

In this episode of Backstage @ Upstage, we explore the cutting edge of cancer care and how tiny biological clues are completely revolutionizing how we detect, understand, and treat lung cancer.

We are joined by Dr. Melina Marmarelis, a leading thoracic oncologist and researcher at Penn Medicine (University of Pennsylvania). Dr. Marmarelis breaks down the vital role of biomarker testing and introduces us to the future of precision medicine: Next-Generation Sequencing. Discover how oncology is moving away from traditional, “one-size-fits-all” therapies toward hyper-customized treatment plans tailored to every individual patient—and how Artificial Intelligence is stepping in to analyze massive amounts of complex medical data to make it all possible.

Tune in to discover the future of biomarker testing and how science, technology, and precision medicine are changing the outlook of lung cancer care to come!

HOST:  Hildy Grossman    CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich

GUESTS:   Sahil Patel, MD, Pulmonologist

Inflammation is a brilliant lifesaver when you twist an ankle—and a silent danger when your body forgets how to turn it off. In this eye-opening episode of Backstage @ Upstage, host Hildy Grossman sits down with pulmonologist Dr. Sahil Patel to demystify the hidden biological forces shaping our health.

Together, they translate complex cellular science and modern environmental hazards—from microplastics and smog to the surge of chronic conditions in younger populations—into clear, practical takeaways. Dr. Patel reveals how short-term healing can mutate into tissue damage, interstitial lung disease, and cancer, while introducing the idea of an immune “thermostat” that balances over-active autoimmune responses against under-active cancer defenses. From cutting-edge diagnostic breakthroughs to next-generation therapies designed to cool down internal inflammation before disease takes hold, this essential conversation offers a masterclass in protecting your body from the inside out.

Tune in to discover how disease takes root—and how science is learning to stop it!

HOST:  Hildy Grossman    CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich

GUESTS:    John Lamb, Taylor Kirkwood, and Hildy Grossman

What does it take to build a musical—and turn personal tragedy into a mission? Join hosts Hildy Grossman & Jordan Rich with guests John Lamb and Taylor Kirkwood. Together, they pull back the curtain on the 20-year journey of Ziegfeld! What started as a Broadway tribute grew into a story of ambition, glamour, and grit. When Hildy faced an unexpected lung cancer diagnosis, the show took on a new purpose. Original composer Seth Rubin completed the score before tragically losing his life to lung cancer. After new script edits, composer Taylor Kirkwood joined the team to write two final songs. Now, Upstage Lung Cancer presents an exclusive workshop/concert on August 9, 2026. ULC is the only organization using performing arts to fund early-detection research. With over $4.5 million raised to date, art and community are actively saving lives. Audience feedback will help shape Ziegfeld! while every ticket supports the cause. Tune in for an intimate conversation on passion, heartbreaking loss, and creative victory. Discover how a shared love for the theater transformed into a lifesaving movement. Listen now and learn how you can be part of this unforgettable win-win evening!

HOST:  Hildy Grossman CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich

GUESTS:   Joan H. Schiller, MD and Francine Jacobson, MD, MPH

In 2021, the World Health Organization issued a stark warning: climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. And yet, the public often perceives climate change as an abstract concept or a political debate, not a health problem. It’s time to change this perception.

Alarmingly, lung cancer deaths have surged by nearly 30% since 2007. Every year we experience accelerating heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather events. Moreover, all these changes impact cancer occurrence and care. Our guests probe deeply into this serious problem, looking at causes and possible solutions.   

Are we ready to treat climate change and air pollution like the medical emergency it is? Tune in to uncover the link between our environment and cancer - and how we can fight back.

HOST:  Hildy Grossman CO-HOST:  Jordan Rich

GUESTS: Kyle Concannon, MD, Samantha Murrell, Bianca Bye and Leah Phillips

The face of lung cancer is changing. No longer viewed simply as a “smoker’s disease” that only impacts older adults, there is a rising and concerning trend of younger adults and non-smokers being diagnosed with advanced disease. 

Our guests today have so much light to shine on this issue. In this powerhouse episode, we hear from Samantha Murrell, diagnosed with Stage 4 with a HER2 biomarker at age 37. She notes that her way of coping with her diagnosis was to learn everything possible about her disease. She tells how hope comes with new, cutting-edge drugs targeting HER2 because they allow her to live a full and active life. 

 Our guest, Leah Phillips, a mother of three young children, also was shocked by her diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer at 43. She tells how she joined Bianca Bye, who faced the advanced diagnosis and tragic loss of both parents, within months of each other, to lung cancer. Leah and Bianca joined forces to create the Young Lung Cancer Initiative. Oncologist, Dr. Kyle Concannon notes how these three resilient women are finding meaning in advocacy as they work to transform suffering into meaning by helping others. This is an unforgettable, action-driven look at hope, survival, and taking control.

HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich

We are building on our previous "All in the Family" episode, with Jaclyn Lo Piccolo,

HOST: Hildy Grossman CO-HOST, Jordan Rich

Think you’re too young for lung cancer? Think again! This week, we’re joined by

HOST:  Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich

Why did singer and cabaret performer Hildy Grossman launch Upstage Lung Cancer 18

We thank our sponsors Lilly, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Revolution Medicines, Boehringer

HOST: Hildy Grossman CO-HOST, Jordan Rich

Guests: Justin Gainor, MD, Director of Targeted Immunotherapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital and David Barbie, MD, Director of the Barbie Lab at Dana Farber Cancer Institute Targeting Innate Immunity in Cancer

Lung cancer has long been one of the most complex and difficult cancers to treat. But what if we could outsmart it—not just with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, but by training the immune system itself? This episode explores a revolutionary question: Could a vaccine change the future of lung cancer? To shed light on answers to this question are Dr. Justin Gainor, whose interest is in vaccine development, and Dr. David Barbie, who returns to Backstage @ Upstage to explain how the immune system responds to cancer. Our renowned guests describe the challenges of creating a therapeutic vaccine and why a preventative vaccine is less likely to succeed. They detail how the immune system’s delicate operations need to be understood to successfully develop a vaccine to treat lung cancer. Moreover, you’ll want to hear about the groundbreaking promise of “personalized vaccines” tailored to an individual’s unique genomic markers, and how these cutting-edge vaccines will change the future of oncology forever. 

HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich

Hearing the diagnosis of Stage 4 can be devastating, but today, it is no longer the final word. More people are living with Stage 4 lung cancer than ever before, thanks to a revolution in innovative treatments, immunotherapy and precision medicine.