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Through poignant interviews with pediatric cancer survivors, families, medical professionals, and advocates, Game Over: c*ncer sheds light on the realities of childhood cancer. Each episode explores the efforts and advocacy...
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Through poignant interviews with pediatric cancer survivors, families, medical professionals, and advocates, Game Over: c*ncer sheds light on the realities of childhood cancer. Each episode explores the efforts and advocacy taking place to find more solutions and make changes for this fatal disease. Hope exhibited by these young warriors and their loved ones is also crucial to our message. From discussing the latest research advancements to sharing personal stories of triumph and loss, the show aims to spark meaningful conversations, foster community support, and drive action toward a world free of childhood cancer. Join us in amplifying these voices, raising awareness, and standing in solidarity with these tiny champs and their families.
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Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
30 SEP 2026 · What happens after childhood cancer changes everything?
In this special episode of Game Over : c*ncer, hosts Val Solomon and Dana Nichols of Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation revisit some of the most powerful childhood cancer survivor and family stories shared throughout the podcast.
This retrospective brings together unforgettable conversations about pediatric cancer diagnosis, childhood cancer treatment, survivorship, grief, mental health, scan anxiety, life after chemotherapy, finding a new normal, losing a child, and turning pain into purpose.
For many childhood cancer survivors, finishing treatment is only the beginning of another journey. Survivors may face long-term side effects, questions about identity, survivor guilt, fear of recurrence, and the challenge of figuring out what “normal” looks like after cancer. Families also carry the emotional impact long after treatment ends, from the anxiety surrounding follow-up scans and bloodwork to the lasting trauma of watching a child fight for their life. As one family explains in this episode, you don’t necessarily fully exhale when treatment ends. You’ll also hear from parents and loved ones who turned devastating loss into advocacy, research funding, community support, and a commitment to keeping their children’s names and legacies alive. Across 50 episodes, Game Over: c*ncer has created space for pediatric cancer researchers, survivors, families, donors, and advocates to tell the stories behind the fight for better treatments and better outcomes.
This milestone episode celebrates those voices while reminding us why the work continues.
Learn more about Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation and how you can help advance childhood cancer research at http://cannonballkidscancer.org/.
Subscribe to Game Over: c*ncer for more conversations about pediatric cancer research, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, childhood cancer advocacy, innovative cancer treatments, and the people working to create meaningful change.
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Learn more about Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Join us for the LINK conference: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/link
15 SEP 2026 · A mother’s intuition helped save her son’s life.
When four-year-old Enzo developed persistent congestion, his mom, Krista Keller, knew something was wrong. But after visiting five doctors over two months, Enzo was repeatedly diagnosed with allergies and sinus infections.
Krista even asked whether cancer could be causing his symptoms and was reassured that it wasn’t.
Then, after Enzo became increasingly sick and lethargic, Krista and her husband took him to a children’s hospital. One scan revealed a large mass blocking his airway. Enzo was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive pediatric blood cancer.
As part of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, we’re sharing the voices and experiences of parents and families who know childhood cancer firsthand. In this episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon speak with Krista about the realities of delayed pediatric cancer diagnosis, trusting parental intuition, advocating for your child in the medical system, and the emotional trauma childhood cancer can leave behind long after treatment ends.
Krista also shares how Enzo’s diagnosis led her to create the Enzo and Me Pediatric Cancer Foundation from his hospital bedside. Today, the organization helps fund pediatric cancer research focused on some of the most underfunded and difficult-to-treat childhood cancers, including brain tumors, sarcomas, AML, neuroblastoma, and other cancers where better treatment options are desperately needed.
This conversation explores:
• Early signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer
• Delayed childhood cancer diagnosis
• Why parents must advocate when symptoms persist
• Burkitt lymphoma in children
• The emotional impact of childhood cancer
• Pediatric cancer survivorship
• Funding for childhood cancer research
• Underfunded pediatric cancers
• The experience of siblings and families during cancer treatment
• How families can turn fear and grief into advocacy
• The mission behind Enzo and Me Pediatric Cancer Foundation
• Why innovative pediatric cancer treatments matter
Krista’s story is a reminder that parents know their children, persistent symptoms deserve answers, and research is essential to creating safer treatments and better outcomes for children with cancer.
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Learn more about the Enzo and Me Pediatric Cancer Foundation:EnzoAndMe.org
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
1 SEP 2026 · What happens when your child is told there is no standard treatment available?
In this powerful episode of the Game Over: c*ncer Podcast, Sarah Asma, Executive Director of the Big Nova Foundation, shares the deeply personal story that transformed her family's life forever after her two-year-old niece was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric leukemia.
Forced to travel across the country because no hospital nearby had experience treating her niece's specific cancer, Sarah witnessed firsthand the urgent need for more pediatric cancer research, better treatment options, and greater support for families navigating childhood cancer.
Today, through the Big Nova Foundation, her family invests in innovative nonprofit organizations, groundbreaking research, and community initiatives that strengthen lives across Central Florida and beyond.
Hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon explore the realities of pediatric cancer research funding, healthcare inequities, childhood cancer survivorship, long-term treatment side effects, and why philanthropy is about empowering organizations, not controlling them.
If you care about childhood cancer, nonprofit leadership, family philanthropy, medical research, healthcare innovation, or making a meaningful difference in your community, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.
In this episode:
- Sarah Asma's family cancer story
- Rare pediatric leukemia treatment
- Why pediatric cancer research matters
- Childhood cancer survivorship
- Long-term side effects of cancer treatment
- Healthcare inequities
- Family philanthropy
- Building stronger nonprofit organizations
- Investing in innovative research
- Creating lasting community impact
Help us create better treatment options for kids with cancer.
Learn more about Big Nova Foundation: https://big-nova.org/
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
18 AUG 2026 · When most people hear palliative care, they think it means the end.
But what if we've misunderstood it all along?
In this episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon sit down with Dr. Justin Baker, pediatric oncologist and Division Chief, Quality of Life and Pediatric Palliative Care at Stanford University School of Medicine, to discuss how quality of life considerations should begin at the moment a child is diagnosed, not only when treatment options run out.
Dr. Baker shares why pediatric palliative care is transforming childhood cancer treatment by helping children experience less suffering, better symptom management, stronger family support, and more meaningful moments throughout treatment.
You'll also hear one of the most powerful conversations we've had about grief, human connection, compassion, and what every one of us can do to better support families facing pediatric cancer.
If you've ever wondered what to say to a grieving parent, how to support someone whose child has cancer, or why quality of life deserves just as much attention as survival, this episode is for you.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:10 What "Quality of Life for All" really means
- 05:40 The biggest misconception about pediatric palliative care
- 10:35 How palliative care improves cancer treatment
- 17:20 Why families need support from diagnosis
- 24:15 The evolution of pediatric palliative care
- 33:10 Why connection is medicine
- 41:45 Supporting grieving families without fear
- 50:05 The future of pediatric cancer care
- 57:30 What gives Dr. Baker hope
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
4 AUG 2026 · Could one small action change someone's life?
Cancer survivor, bestselling author, and entrepreneur Emily McDowell joins Game Over: c*ncer to share how one simple greeting card idea grew into a movement that transformed the greeting card industry, and why empathy and imperfect action matter more than perfection.
After surviving cancer at just 24 years old, Emily discovered how uncomfortable our culture is with difficult conversations. Instead of accepting it, she created Empathy Cards, giving people better words for life's hardest moments. Today, her work has helped millions navigate grief, illness, loss, and human connection.
In this powerful conversation with co-hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon, Emily shares lessons on entrepreneurship, creativity, purpose, burnout, cancer survivorship, and why waiting until you have everything figured out is often what keeps meaningful work from happening.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, caregiver, cancer survivor, nonprofit leader, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, this episode will challenge how you think about success, service, and showing up for others.
In this episode:
- How Empathy Cards changed the greeting card industry
- The importance of authentic communication
- Why people struggle with grief conversations
- Entrepreneurship without perfection
- Creativity and purpose-driven business
- The Ripple Effect philosophy
- How one small action creates lasting impact
If this conversation inspired you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help us educate for change and advance pediatric cancer research.
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Connect with Emily McDowell: http://emilyonlife.com/
Are you in Central Florida? Get your ticket to the Ripple Effect Luncheon: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ckcf/event/2026rippleeffectluncheon/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
21 JUL 2026 · The LINK Conference is officially happening.
In this special episode of Game Over: c*ncer, Dana Nichols and Val Solomon announce the launch of the LINK Conference (Legacy • Impact • Networking • Knowledge), an innovative nonprofit conference built specifically for the pediatric cancer community.
Created for pediatric cancer nonprofits, childhood cancer advocates, survivors, parents, legacy families, board members, executive directors, and nonprofit founders, LINK is designed to provide practical education, fundraising strategies, nonprofit leadership training, networking opportunities, and sustainable growth resources.
During this conversation, Dana and Val explain:
- Why pediatric cancer families often feel called to start nonprofits
- How nonprofit collaboration can accelerate pediatric cancer research
- Common mistakes new nonprofit organizations make
- Fundraising best practices for pediatric cancer charities
- Leadership lessons for nonprofit founders
- Building sustainable organizations beyond passion alone
- The importance of community, mentorship, and shared knowledge
- What attendees can expect at the inaugural LINK Conference in Orlando
If you're passionate about childhood cancer, nonprofit leadership, pediatric cancer research, fundraising, or creating meaningful impact after a cancer diagnosis, this episode offers valuable insight into building stronger organizations that can create lasting change.
The inaugural LINK Conference takes place May 26–28, 2027 in Orlando, Florida.
For the latest information about the LINK Conference, including when and how to register: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/link/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website:
https://www.hihellolabs.com/
7 JUL 2026 · What does the future of pediatric cancer treatment actually look like?
In this episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon sit down with Dr. Gregory Friedman pediatric oncologist, CKc-funded researcher, and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board at Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation (CKc), to talk about one of the most exciting areas in childhood cancer research: oncolytic viral therapy.
Dr. Friedman explains how modified cold sore viruses can be used to safely target and kill pediatric brain tumor cells while also triggering the child’s immune system to attack the tumor. He shares the science behind this innovative immunotherapy approach, what his clinical trials have shown so far, and why the future of pediatric brain tumor treatment may depend on combination therapies that work with the immune system rather than against it.
If you’re interested in pediatric cancer research, immunotherapy, brain tumor treatment, clinical trials, childhood cancer advocacy, or how nonprofit funding helps move science forward, this episode is packed with insight.
In this episode, we cover:
- What oncolytic viral therapy is and how it works in pediatric brain tumors
- Why traditional immunotherapy has struggled in childhood brain cancers
- How modified viruses may help the immune system recognize and attack cancer
- Early clinical trial outcomes in children with high-grade glioma
- Why pediatric cancers need pediatric-specific treatments
- How research moves from the lab to clinical trials
- The role of the Scientific Advisory Board at CKc
- Why funding pediatric cancer clinical trials is so important
- What the future of immunotherapy for childhood cancer may look like over the next decade
Dr. Friedman also shares why he believes we may be approaching a new era in pediatric cancer treatment, one driven by smarter, more targeted, and more durable immune-based therapies.If you believe every child deserves better treatment options and a better chance at survival, this conversation matters.
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
23 JUN 2026 · Quiet Tenacity: A Family's Journey Through Pediatric Cancer
What happens 10 years after a child hears the words, "You have cancer"?
In this powerful episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon welcome Nick and Rachel Mangan, parents of pediatric brain cancer survivor Lantz Mangan, to share their family's incredible journey through diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and hope.
At just six years old, Lantz was diagnosed with a rare pediatric brain tumor. Facing impossible decisions about chemotherapy, radiation, clinical treatment options, and long-term side effects, his parents became fierce advocates for innovative cancer care and pediatric cancer research.
Now, 10 years cancer-free, Lantz is thriving as a teenager, proving why research matters and why organizations like Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation continue fighting for better treatments for children diagnosed with cancer.
In this episode, you'll learn:
-How Lantz's rare brain tumor was diagnosed
-Why his parents declined radiation treatment
-The experimental targeted therapy that changed everything
-The emotional reality of pediatric cancer survivorship
-How research creates new treatment options for children
-The importance of second opinions and parent advocacy
-How Gabriel Therapy Group and Keep On Walking are giving back to families today
-Why hope and gratitude remain at the center of their journey
If you're a pediatric cancer family, survivor, advocate, researcher, healthcare professional, or simply someone who believes every child deserves a future, this episode is for you.
Learn more about Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation and support pediatric cancer research: http://cannonballkidscancer.org/
Learn more about Gabrial Therapy Group or Keep on Walking: http://www.gabrieltherapygroup.com/
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
9 JUN 2026 · In this episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana Nichols and Val Solomon welcome Dr. Susan Weiner, founder of Children's Cancer Cause, pediatric cancer advocate, and national leader in childhood cancer policy.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Weiner has worked alongside families, researchers, legislators, and advocacy organizations to improve childhood cancer treatment, survivorship care, pediatric drug development, and federal cancer research funding.
This conversation explores the legislative victories that have transformed pediatric oncology, including the STAR Act, the RACE for Children Act, and efforts to improve survivorship resources for childhood cancer survivors. Dr. Weiner also shares how parents, survivors, and advocates can influence public policy and help secure funding for life-saving childhood cancer research.
If you're interested in pediatric cancer research, childhood cancer advocacy, cancer survivorship, healthcare policy, rare disease research, clinical trials, federal research funding, or how families can create change, this episode is essential viewing.
For more information on Children's Cancer Cause, visit https://www.childrenscancercause.org/. There you will find many resources to help you get started including an advocacy toolkit.
To view proposed pediatric cancer legislation, visit the Pediatric Cancer Action Network at https://www.pcanaction.org/.
At Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation, we believe every child deserves access to better treatment options and a brighter future.
Through research funding, education, and advocacy, we're working to accelerate progress in pediatric cancer.
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
26 MAY 2026 · Why is pediatric brain cancer research so underfunded, and what does it actually take to build breakthroughs for children fighting cancer?
In this episode of Game Over: c*ncer, Val Solomon and Dana Nichols sit down with Dr. John Prensner, pediatric neuro-oncologist, researcher, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School. As the recipient of the 2025 Young Investigator Grant from Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation, Dr. Prensner is leading groundbreaking research focused on relapsed medulloblastoma, DIPG, ATRT, and the molecular drivers behind pediatric brain tumors.
Dr. Prensner shares the deeply personal story that inspired him to pursue pediatric cancer research after encountering a young mother dying of brain cancer during his early hospital experiences. The conversation explores the emotional realities of pediatric oncology, the importance of mentorship in science, and how collaboration between labs, institutions, and researchers across the world is accelerating innovation for children with cancer.
This episode also dives into the growing concerns surrounding pediatric cancer funding, NIH research grants, instability in federal funding, and the long-term effects these challenges have on the future pipeline of childhood cancer researchers and scientific breakthroughs.
If you care about advancing pediatric cancer research, supporting innovative treatments, and learning how researchers are working to change outcomes for children battling cancer, this episode is for you.
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Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/
Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/
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Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/
Through poignant interviews with pediatric cancer survivors, families, medical professionals, and advocates, Game Over: c*ncer sheds light on the realities of childhood cancer. Each episode explores the efforts and advocacy...
show more
Through poignant interviews with pediatric cancer survivors, families, medical professionals, and advocates, Game Over: c*ncer sheds light on the realities of childhood cancer. Each episode explores the efforts and advocacy taking place to find more solutions and make changes for this fatal disease. Hope exhibited by these young warriors and their loved ones is also crucial to our message. From discussing the latest research advancements to sharing personal stories of triumph and loss, the show aims to spark meaningful conversations, foster community support, and drive action toward a world free of childhood cancer. Join us in amplifying these voices, raising awareness, and standing in solidarity with these tiny champs and their families.
show less
Information
| Author | Hi Hello Labs Network |
| Organization | Hi Hello Labs |
| Categories | Non-Profit |
| Website | - |
| carolina@hihellolabs.com |
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