The Bronx Bleeds Blue: Vanessa Ghigliotty vs. Everyone
Get every episode summarized
Each time Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
Episode Description:
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Bronx-born pediatric nurse with stage 4 colon cancer survives, raises a kid, becomes a policy shark, and fights like hell for the ignored, meet Vanessa Ghigliotty. She’s not inspirational. She’s a bulldozer. We go way back—like pre-Stupid Cancer back—when there was no “young adult cancer movement,” just a handful of pissed-off survivors building something out of nothing. This episode is personal. Vanessa and I built the plane while flying it. She fought to be heard, showed up in chemo dragging her kid to IEP meetings, and never stopped screaming for the rest of us to get what we needed. We talk war stories, progress, side-eyeing advocacy fads, TikTok activism, gatekeeping, policy wins, and why being loud is still necessary. And yeah—she’s a damn good mom. Probably a better one than you. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll want to scream into a pillow. Come for the nostalgia. Stay for the righteous anger and iced coffee.
RELATED LINKS
Colorectal Cancer Alliance: Vanessa’s Story
ZenOnco Interview with Vanessa
FEEDBACK
Like this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected].
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary
Not Today, Life: Teresa Baglietto
Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary
Standard Deviation S2 EP1: Gatekeepers of the Ivory Tower
Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary
Neuro Spicy on the Front Line: Dr Pamela Buchanan
Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary
[BONUS] Eczema, Exit, Repeat: Dr. Barbara Paldus
Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary