Dr. Stella Sarraf: The Chemist Cooking Up a Cure for ALS | Episode 26

Dr. Stella Sarraf: The Chemist Cooking Up a Cure for ALS | Episode 26

What if the key to reversing ALS isn't replacing dead neurons, but reawakening the connections between the ones that are still alive? In this groundbreaking episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Stella Sarraf, serial biotech entrepreneur, Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree for Innovation, and founder and CEO of both Spinogenix and Amydis. A PhD chemist turned drug developer, Dr. Sarraf is pioneering first-in-class neuroregenerative therapeutics that work at the synaptic level to restore brain function in ALS, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and Fragile X syndrome. Her investigational drug SPG302 has received FDA expanded access authorization to treat 200 ALS patients, and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency. This conversation is both a masterclass in drug development and a deeply personal story of loss and purpose. Dr. Sarraf opens up about losing her father to Parkinson's and her mother to breast cancer, and how those experiences ignited her mission to transform neurology from a field of late diagnosis and limited options into one of early detection and real treatment. She describes the decade-long marathon from lab bench to clinical trial, the mouse that started running circles after treatment, and the impossible dream of turning ALS from a death sentence into a chronic, manageable disease. The impossible dream shines brightest in Dr. Sarraf's patient-first approach to expanded access. Rather than wait years for traditional clinical trial pathways, she fought for FDA authorization to offer SPG302 to ALS patients who wouldn't otherwise qualify, passing costs to patients rather than profits to shareholders. It's the same spirit that drove her to found Amydis: using the eye as a window to the brain to detect neurodegenerative disease proteins like TDP-43 before symptoms appear, potentially catching ALS at the earliest possible stage. Guest Bio: Dr. Stella Sarraf is a visionary biotech entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Spinogenix and Amydis. Named to Forbes 50 Over 50: Innovation (2025), she holds a PhD in organic chemistry from Columbia University and a BA in biochemistry and molecular biology from UC Berkeley. Dr. Sarraf began her career as a senior research chemist at Merck Research Laboratories, where she developed novel drug synthesis processes for clinical trials. She then spent over a decade in healthcare venture capital at Foresite Capital Management and Prospect Venture Partners, leading diligence on 400+ investment opportunities in therapeutics and diagnostics. In 2013, she founded Amydis to develop ocular tracers for early detection of neurodegenerative disease biomarkers including TDP-43 (present in 97% of ALS patients) and amyloid beta. In 2016, she founded Spinogenix to develop synaptic regenerative therapies. The company's lead drug SPG302 is in clinical trials for ALS, Alzheimer's, and schizophrenia, with FDA expanded access authorization to treat 200 ALS patients. Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young serves on the Spinogenix board. Dr. Sarraf was born in Iran and is driven by her personal experience losing both parents to neurodegenerative disease. Learn more about Dr. Stella Sarraf: Spinogenix [https://spinogenix.com/] Amydis [https://amydis.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellasarraf/] Forbes 50 Over 50: Innovation (2025) [https://spinogenix.com/blog/spinogenix-ceo-and-founder-named-to-forbes-50-over-50-innovation-list/] Xtalks Life Science Podcast Interview [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRbPzGtzeEg] LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS ✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe. Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro [https://wsbqms.short.gy/nLpfro] Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT [https://wsbqms.short.gy/oBFSUT] About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW [https://wsbqms.short.gy/ipArgW] Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr [https://wsbqms.short.gy/CO4vRr] Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh [https://wsbqms.short.gy/Q8eUTh] Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1 [https://wsbqms.short.gy/tDP4r1] Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe [https://wsbqms.short.gy/P0eBSe] Episode Navigation: 1. 00:00 - How a PhD in organic chemistry is basically cooking with chemicals 2. 05:04 - Living the impossible dream: FDA expanded access for 200 ALS patients 3. 08:13 - The marathon of drug development: From cell to animal to human 4. 10:21 - The mouse that ran circles: When the drug worked in an ALS animal model 5. 22:28 - Combination therapy: Why ALS won't be solved by a single silver bullet 6. 27:20 - Amydis and the eye: Detecting TDP-43 and diagnosing ALS early 7. 39:47 - AI meets ophthalmology: Analyzing retinal images to track disease 8. 44:06 - Steve Young, Dwight Clark, and the power of education and advocacy 9. 48:55 - Fighting the system: Why expanded access programs face hospital bottlenecks 10. 53:38 - Flora and Whooshing: Fighting for her parents and all of us

Dr. Linda Backman: Past Lives & the Three Types of Souls | Episode 25

What if the challenges you face in this lifetime were chosen by your soul before you were born, and understanding why could change everything? In this profound episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Linda Backman, licensed psychologist, world-renowned regression therapist, and author of four groundbreaking books on soul evolution and past life healing. Featured on Gaia TV and Coast to Coast AM, Dr. Backman has spent over 47 years in private practice and 30 years guiding thousands of between-life soul regressions. She co-founded The Newton Institute with pioneering hypnotherapist Dr. Michael Newton and has trained therapists worldwide in the art of soul regression. This conversation is both an awakening and a homecoming. Dr. Backman opens up about her own transformation and how the sudden passing of a colleague in 1993 opened a doorway to the other side, triggering visions of past lives they had shared and launching her into decades of soul work. With her husband Earl's unexpected validation that he too had remembered past lives as a child, Linda found the support she needed to pursue what she calls her dharma. The impossible dream shines brightest in Dr. Backman's revelation that there are three types of souls incarnating on Earth: Earth-based souls, interplanetary souls who bring advanced wisdom from other star systems, and angelic souls who serve as emissaries of unconditional love. Through her regression work, clients have described spacecraft, non-human physical forms, life reviews with councils of guides, and the pre-birth agreements that shape our greatest challenges and relationships. Guest Bio: Dr. Linda Backman is a licensed psychologist and internationally recognized expert in between-life soul regression therapy. With 47 years of private practice experience and over 30 years guiding thousands of past-life and between-life regressions, she is one of the foremost authorities on soul evolution and reincarnation. Dr. Backman studied and co-taught with Dr. Michael Newton, author of Journey of Souls, and was a co-founding member of The Society for Spiritual Regression (now The Newton Institute). She holds degrees from the University of Oregon, University of North Carolina, and Northern Arizona University. In 1997, she and her husband Dr. Earl Backman founded The RavenHeart Center in Boulder, Colorado—a mystery school dedicated to soul-level healing and training. Dr. Backman is the author of four books: Soul Design, Souls on Earth, The Evolving Soul, and Bringing Your Soul to Light. Featured on Gaia TV and Coast to Coast AM, she conducts regression sessions remotely via Zoom with clients worldwide. Learn more about Dr. Linda Backman: RavenHeart Center [https://hyixin.short.gy/aPaCoQ ] YouTube - RavenHeart Center [https://hyixin.short.gy/7DfIj5 ] Facebook - Ravenheart Center [https://hyixin.short.gy/vGbEBn] Instagram (@ravenheartcenter) [https://hyixin.short.gy/AXw7SB ] Gaia TV - Dr. Linda Backman Interviews [https://hyixin.short.gy/LSu58H] LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS ✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe. Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro [https://wsbqms.short.gy/nLpfro] Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT [https://wsbqms.short.gy/oBFSUT] About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW [https://wsbqms.short.gy/ipArgW] Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr [https://wsbqms.short.gy/CO4vRr] Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh [https://wsbqms.short.gy/Q8eUTh] Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1 [https://wsbqms.short.gy/tDP4r1] Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe [https://wsbqms.short.gy/P0eBSe] Episode Navigation: 1. 00:00 - Welcome and introducing soul therapy 2. 03:54 - Two flavors of spiritual seekers: Which one are you? 3. 06:27 - Linda's awakening: When her colleague spoke from the other side 4. 12:46 - Earl's revelation: Remembering past lives as a child 5. 26:29 - What is a soul? Higher Self, energy, and the pie analogy 6. 37:23 - Soul pods, spirit guides, and the higher realm 7. 52:38 - Life reviews and the Council: What happens when we cross over 8. 57:47 - When bad things happen: Free will, karma, and the Holocaust 9. 01:02:19 - The three types of souls: Earth-based, interplanetary, and angelic 10. 01:10:22 - Linda's impossible dream: A planet of inclusivity

Steven Kotler: Flow, Healing & the Neuroscience of the Impossible | Episode 24

What if the same state of consciousness that allows extreme athletes to redefine human limits could also help you heal from a disease doctors said was incurable? In this powerful episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Steven Kotler—New York Times bestselling author, three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, and the world's leading expert on the neuroscience of flow and peak performance. As founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, Steven has spent decades decoding how humans accomplish the impossible, training everyone from Navy SEALs and Olympic athletes to Fortune 500 executives. His books—including The Art of Impossible, Stealing Fire, and The Rise of Superman—have shaped our understanding of human potential. This conversation is both a deep dive into the science of peak performance and a profoundly personal exploration of healing against the odds. Steven opens up about his battle with Lyme disease—years spent barely able to get out of bed, doctors who gave up on him, and the moment he nearly ended his own life. Then came surfing, flow states, and a recovery that modern medicine couldn't explain. What he learned changed everything. The impossible dream shines brightest in Steven's revelation that tragedy is teleportation—a doorway to becoming the most authentic version of yourself. From the spectrum of micro-flow to macro-flow, the neurochemical reset that heals autoimmune conditions, to why AI can't touch the creative lateral thinking that flow unlocks, this episode offers both hope and a roadmap for anyone facing their own impossible challenge. Guest Bio: Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and the founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective—the world's leading neuroscience-based peak performance research and training organization. He has authored fifteen books, including eleven bestsellers, with three Pulitzer Prize nominations. His work has been translated into over 80 languages and appeared in more than 100 publications including The New York Times Magazine, Wired, TIME, and the Harvard Business Review. Steven was recently named a Research Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he co-founded Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special needs dog sanctuary in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. His newest book with Peter Diamandis, We Are as Gods: A Survival Guide for the Age of Abundance, releases April 2026. Learn more about Steven Kotler: stevenkotler.com [https://hyixin.short.gy/vvrv3U] Flow Research Collective [https://hyixin.short.gy/OmSYnL] The Art of Impossible [https://hyixin.short.gy/zECId8] X/Twitter (@steven_kotler) [https://hyixin.short.gy/U0Rp8S] Instagram (@stevenkotler) [https://hyixin.short.gy/oTpcQ6] LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS ✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe. Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro [https://wsbqms.short.gy/nLpfro] Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT [https://wsbqms.short.gy/oBFSUT] About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW [https://wsbqms.short.gy/ipArgW] Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr [https://wsbqms.short.gy/CO4vRr] Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh [https://wsbqms.short.gy/Q8eUTh] Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1 [https://wsbqms.short.gy/tDP4r1] Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe [https://wsbqms.short.gy/P0eBSe]

Bill Gurley: Running Down a Dream | Episode 23

What if the key to career success isn't following the safe path—but chasing the thing that gives you energy instead of draining it? In this inspiring episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Bill Gurley—legendary venture capitalist, General Partner at Benchmark, early investor in Uber, Zillow, and OpenTable, and New York Times bestselling author of Runnin' Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love. From his days as a college basketball player at the University of Florida to leading the Amazon IPO as a Wall Street analyst to backing some of the most transformative companies in tech history, Bill shares the unconventional wisdom that took him a decade to distill into his first book. This conversation is both a masterclass in career navigation and a deeply personal reflection on what it means to find your calling. Bill opens up about the humbling experience of realizing basketball wasn't his future, how that failure fueled his drive to find a field where he could truly thrive, and why he believes the people studying their craft out of obsession—not obligation—will always win. The impossible dream shines brightest in Bill's six principles for career success: chase your curiosity, hone your craft, develop mentors, embrace your peers, move to the epicenter, and always give back. Through stories of Jerry Seinfeld, Danny Meyer, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Harvey, Bill reveals why giving yourself permission to dream—and having the methods to execute—changes everything. Guest Bio: Bill Gurley is a General Partner at Benchmark, one of Silicon Valley's most prestigious venture capital firms, where he has spent over two decades backing transformative companies. His investments include Uber, Zillow, OpenTable, GrubHub, Stitch Fix, and Nextdoor. Before venture capital, Bill was a top-ranked Wall Street research analyst at CS First Boston, where he led the Amazon IPO. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Florida—where he played on the men's basketball team—and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, which awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2025. Bill's blog Above the Crowd has shaped industry thinking on technology, marketplaces, and investing for over two decades. His first book, Runnin' Down a Dream, became a New York Times bestseller. Bill lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and three children. Learn more about Bill Gurley: Above the Crowd Blog [https://abovethecrowd.com/ ] Runnin' Down a Dream (Penguin Random House) [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769256/runnin-down-a-dream-by-bill-gurley/] Benchmark Capital [https://www.benchmark.com/ X/Twitter (@bgurley): https://x.com/bgurley] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgurley] LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS ✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe. Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro [https://wsbqms.short.gy/nLpfro] Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT [https://wsbqms.short.gy/oBFSUT] About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW [https://wsbqms.short.gy/ipArgW] Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr [https://wsbqms.short.gy/CO4vRr] Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh [https://wsbqms.short.gy/Q8eUTh] Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1 [https://wsbqms.short.gy/tDP4r1] Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe [https://wsbqms.short.gy/P0eBSe]

Jimmy DiResta: The Workshop Prophet Who Turned Garbage Into Gold | Episode 22

When Jimmy DiResta was a kid sneaking into his father's OCD-perfect basement workshop, using hockey sticks to flip power switches and carefully erasing sawdust footprints, he had no idea he was training for a revolution. The Long Island maker who once cheated his way through high school physics would go on to pioneer an entire genre of YouTube content, influence millions of creators worldwide, and prove that sometimes the most impossible dreams are the ones you never dare to imagine. This conversation cuts deep into the heart of authentic creation — from Jimmy's early days making toys and traveling to China 100 times over two decades, to the serendipitous moment a Hollywood executive asked "Are you afraid to be on camera?" that launched his television career. But it's his journey from network TV rejection to YouTube mastery that reveals the real magic: how staying true to your process, letting tools do the talking, and remaining open to unexpected opportunities can turn a basement hobby into a global phenomenon. For anyone who's ever felt misunderstood in school, dismissed by traditional systems, or wondered if their weird passion could ever become something more — Jimmy's story is proof that your quirks aren't bugs, they're features. And sometimes the most profound success comes from simply being yourself, louder and more authentically than everyone else dares to be. Guest Bio Jimmy DiResta is a maker, inventor, and YouTube pioneer whose tool-focused, music-free video style has influenced countless creators worldwide. A former toy designer who spent decades traveling to China and developing products for major companies, Jimmy transitioned from network television shows like "Hammered" on HGTV and "Dirty Money" on Discovery to building a massive online following. He taught at the School of Visual Arts for 25 years, mentoring students in hands-on creation and problem-solving, and continues to inspire makers through his YouTube channel and ongoing projects like the Graveyard. Learn more about Jimmy DiResta: Official Website: jimmydiresta.com [jimmydiresta.com] Instagram: @jimmydiresta [https://www.instagram.com/jimmydiresta/?hl=en] YouTube: Jimmy DiResta [https://www.youtube.com/user/jimmydiresta] Podcast: Making It with Jimmy DiResta [https://www.youtube.com/@makingit-podcast] LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS ✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe. Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro [https://wsbqms.short.gy/nLpfro] Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT [https://wsbqms.short.gy/oBFSUT] About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW [https://wsbqms.short.gy/ipArgW] Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr [https://wsbqms.short.gy/CO4vRr] Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh [https://wsbqms.short.gy/Q8eUTh] Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1 [https://wsbqms.short.gy/tDP4r1] Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe [https://wsbqms.short.gy/P0eBSe] EPISODE NAVIGATION: [00:30] - The grandfather's workshop: How a construction legacy shaped an unlikely creative path [01:47] - Growing up in the basement shop: When your father's OCD becomes your first lesson in precision [04:07] - The hockey stick rebellion: How three brothers outsmarted their father's power cutoff switch [06:00] - From fabricator to maker: The moment a magazine changed everything [08:24] - Architecture school dreams meet mathematical reality: Why some artists aren't meant for equations [13:10] - Complete fraud for ten years: The impostor syndrome that haunted a global superstar [15:28] - The 65 and out strategy: When a future maker gamed the educational system [20:08] - You go to school on the first one: The philosophy that transforms failure into education [24:22] - Fork in the road moments: How following curiosity creates impossible opportunities [30:35] - The call that changed everything: Aaron sitting in the chair where his ALS symptoms started [36:19] - From cop to comedian to sitcom star: The Hollywood dream that almost worked [38:48] - Reality reorganizes around your clarity: When the impossible becomes inevitable [42:14] - The pitch meeting that changed two lives: How being yourself becomes your superpower [46:28] - Thrown out with the bathwater: When network politics destroy good shows [48:05] - Let the tools do the talking: The birth of a YouTube revolution [50:42] - Keeping it loose: How staying open creates space for magic to happen