Join us for a moving conversation with Gary Thompson, creator of the Team Powdered Donut™️ podcast and advocate for the metastatic breast cancer community. After losing his wife Maureen to stage IV breast cancer in 2014, Gary has dedicated over a decade to cancer advocacy, keeping her memory alive through a simple yet profound tradition—powdered donuts.
In this episode, Gary shares the origin of his podcast name, the challenges of raising three children as a widower, and why he's embarking on an ambitious cross-country road trip to 73 NCI-designated cancer centers. He'll capture stories from patients, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare professionals—creating what he calls "StoryCorp for cancer centers."
We discuss the value of storytelling in the cancer community, sustainability in podcasting, finding your "one thing" that can create meaningful change, and how Gary is discovering himself again in the empty nest years. From his unexpected podcast guests met while Uber driving to his vision for a future retreat center, Gary reminds us that love isn't just big or small—it's always enough.
Memorable quotes:
Episode Highlights:
• The powdered donut tradition and how it became a podcast
• Planning a multi-year road trip to cancer centers across America
• The lasting impact of cancer on caregivers and families
• Why there's no such thing as too many patient stories
• Advice for aspiring podcasters: start with purpose, not platform
Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and leave a review — it really helps. Follow us on social media @livefromstage4 and visit our website at www.livefromstage4.org for show notes and links.
Your support helps us continue to share important stories and advocate for those living with metastatic breast cancer.
Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.
