On this episode of the Filter Life Podcast, host Dan Holmes sits down with living kidney donor and advocate Mark Scotch, whose extraordinary act of generosity began with a chance conversation in a bar — and led to a life-saving kidney donation for a complete stranger.

Mark shares the moment that sparked his decision, the physical and emotional journey of becoming a living donor, how the living donor voucher program works, and why awareness, advocacy, and communication are critical in the fight against chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Mark also introduces us to The Organ Trail, his nationwide kidney donation awareness project designed to spark conversations, connect patients with resources, and normalize living organ donation. Through long-distance cycling and public engagement, The Organ Trail is reframing what it means to donate an organ and showing how one storyteller can impact an entire community.

This episode unpacks:
✔ the realities of kidney donation and living donor recovery
✔ misconceptions and barriers to organ donation
✔ how donor health is monitored and protected
✔ why more living donors aren’t coming forward (and how to change that)
✔ how storytelling can save lives by increasing kidney disease awareness

Mark’s journey demonstrates how ordinary conversations can lead to extraordinary outcomes — and why living a Filtered Life means using your time, energy, and relationships with intention and purpose.

If you're interested in organ donation, transplant advocacy, kidney health, or how one person can create a ripple effect of impact, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we introduce you to Gail Ray Garwood—a lifelong educator, acclaimed non-fiction writer, and one of the most respected voices in the chronic kidney disease community.

A New York native turned Arizona resident, Gail holds advanced degrees in English and Communications and spent decades teaching research, writing, and literature before CKD changed the direction—but not the purpose—of her life.

Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2008, she turned her skills as a researcher and storyteller into what she calls “the kidney work,” authoring more than a dozen CKD education books and the internationally recognized SlowItDownCKD blog, read in over 100 countries.

In this conversation, Gail shares how she continues to dance with disease—using knowledge, advocacy, humor, and community to live fully, adapt boldly, and show others that CKD is something you manage, not something that defines you.

To learn more about Gail Ray Garwood, explore her writing, advocacy work, and the internationally recognized SlowItDownCKD blog, visit her website and discover her books—trusted resources for anyone navigating chronic kidney disease with knowledge, clarity, and hope.

👉 Website & Books: https://www.gail-raegarwood.com/about-me

🎥 Interview with Dr. Laurence H. Beck, Jr. — A Rare Opportunity Welcome to our special conversation with Dr. Beck, a true leader in the world of rare kidney disease research. If you or someone you care about is navigating the challenges of a glomerular kidney disorder, this is one session you won’t want to miss.

About Dr. Beck: Dr. Laurence H. Beck, Jr., MD, PhD, serves as the David J. Salant Professor of Nephrology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and practices at Boston Medical Center (BMC). He leads the clinical program for glomerular diseases at BMC, focusing on rare and immune-mediated kidney conditions like Membranous Nephropathy, FSGS, and Minimal Change Disease. Back in 2009, Dr. Beck and his team made a landmark discovery identifying the M-type phospholipase A₂ receptor (PLA2R) as a key autoantigen in membranous nephropathy — a finding that transformed how doctors diagnose and treat this rare condition. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he received the inaugural Mid-Career Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) in 2019.

Why this conversation matters: When you’re dealing with a rare kidney disease, especially one like membranous nephropathy where protocols and access can be murky, who better to ask than the person leading the science? We brought Dr. Beck’s expertise directly to you.

In this interview we cover: Navigating the insurance hurdles and securing approval for therapies like Rituximab when standard treatments aren’t enough. Real-world advice about working with nephrologists, transplant teams, and kidney disease networks. Insights into what to ask your doctor if you’re newly diagnosed, or if you’ve been told “you’re rare” and don’t know who to turn to. How to engage proactively with your care team, advocate for yourself, and use the latest science to your advantage. What you’ll walk away with: A clearer understanding of how cutting-edge research is being translated into practice for rare kidney diseases. Practical steps you can take now — with your physician or as a caregiver — to improve your care pathway. Renewed hope that you’re not alone in this: there is someone leading the charge who understands these conditions deeply.

👉 If you or someone you love is living with a glomerular kidney disease, especially membranous nephropathy, this conversation is a must-watch.

👍 Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay connected — more expert interviews and kidney-health strategy sessions are on the way.

🔔 Have questions for Dr. Beck or topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes? Drop them in the comments below.

About us – The Enlisted Kidney Foundation (EKF) We are a veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting kidney disease patients — especially our fellow veterans — by connecting them with trusted resources, expert voices, and community. Learn more at: www.EnlistedKidneyFoundation.org Thank you for watching. Stay hopeful. Stay connected. And remember: when you’re fighting a rare kidney disease, you don’t have to do it alone. — The EKF Team