<![CDATA[Gift of the Graft]]>This podcast is an honest look at organ donation and transplantation told by the people who’ve actually lived it.

Through unfiltered conversations with recipients, donors, families, clinicians, and those working behind the scenes, we explore what it really means to be given a second chance at life. The good, the uncomfortable, the stuff that doesn’t always make the pamphlets or the hospital discharge notes.

We talk about fear, gratitude, identity, survival, resilience and the realities of life before and after transplant. It’s not about inspiration porn or tidy endings. It’s about truth, perspective, and the human stories that sit at the heart of organ donation.

If you’re curious about transplantation, connected to it, or just interested in stories where life gets real, this is for you.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 10 May 2026 20:41:59 GMTMon, 16 Feb 2026 03:17:26 GMT60Conal Beban<p>This podcast is an honest look at organ donation and transplantation told by the people who’ve actually lived it.</p><p></p><p>Through unfiltered conversations with recipients, donors, families, clinicians, and those working behind the scenes, we explore what it really means to be given a second chance at life. The good, the uncomfortable, the stuff that doesn’t always make the pamphlets or the hospital discharge notes.</p><p></p><p>We talk about fear, gratitude, identity, survival, resilience and the realities of life before and after transplant. It’s not about inspiration porn or tidy endings. It’s about truth, perspective, and the human stories that sit at the heart of organ donation.</p><p></p><p>If you’re curious about transplantation, connected to it, or just interested in stories where life gets real, this is for you.</p>episodicConal Bebanconalbeban@hotmail.comno<![CDATA[Jess Avenell | Learning to Breathe Again | Double Lung Transplant]]>Jess’s story is one of those ones that really stays with you.

Diagnosed with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), she went from living a full, active life to a place where even a single breath could feel like a hard-fought win.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • what it actually feels like to lose your breath, slowly, over time
  • the emotional side of being sick
  • trying to hold onto normal life while everything is shifting underneath you
  • the surreal lead-up to transplant including the call, the chaos, and getting herself to hospital
  • and what life looks like on the other side of a double lung transplant

Jess is open, honest, and incredibly grounded. There’s a lot in here that will resonate, whether you’ve been through transplant yourself or not.

🔗 Connect with Jess

Jess now supports others going through transplant through her work:

🌐 Website: www.thetransplantcoach.co.nz
📸 Instagram: @the_transplantcoach

]]>89aa2345-1981-40aa-a311-0355ad01de41Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:24:00 GMT<p>Jess’s story is one of those ones that really stays with you.</p><p></p><p>Diagnosed with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), she went from living a full, active life to a place where even a single breath could feel like a hard-fought win.</p><p></p><p>In this episode, we talk about:</p><ul><li>what it actually feels like to lose your breath, slowly, over time</li><li>the emotional side of being sick </li><li>trying to hold onto normal life while everything is shifting underneath you</li><li>the surreal lead-up to transplant including the call, the chaos, and getting herself to hospital</li><li>and what life looks like on the other side of a <b>double lung transplant</b><p></p></li></ul><p>Jess is open, honest, and incredibly grounded. There’s a lot in here that will resonate, whether you’ve been through transplant yourself or not.</p><hr /><h2>🔗 Connect with Jess</h2><p>Jess now supports others going through transplant through her work:</p><p>🌐 Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.thetransplantcoach.co.nz" target="_blank">www.thetransplantcoach.co.nz</a><br />📸 Instagram: @the_transplantcoach</p>no01:28:0014Jess Avenell | Learning to Breathe Again | Double Lung Transplantfull<![CDATA[Shane "Legend" Leger | "Death Can Have Me When It’s Earned Me" | Heart Transplant Journey]]>Shane Leger’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and what it means to grow through life’s toughest moments.

Diagnosed with a serious heart condition at birth, Shane faced challenges early that would shape the way he sees the world today.

But what stands out isn’t just what he went through—it’s how he’s processed it. There’s a calmness and clarity in Shane’s outlook, captured in a line that sums him up perfectly: “death can have me when it’s earned me.”

In this conversation, Shane reflects not only on his heart transplant journey, but how his mindset has evolved over time. From the fearlessness of youth to the deeper awareness that comes with having more to lose, his story is honest, grounded, and quietly powerful.

This episode isn’t just about survival—it’s about perspective, growth, and learning what really matters.

]]>b2f7eee4-db8e-43e6-bc78-43527f9a2941Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:59:42 GMT<p>Shane Leger’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and what it means to grow through life’s toughest moments.</p><p></p><p>Diagnosed with a serious heart condition at birth, Shane faced challenges early that would shape the way he sees the world today. </p><p></p><p>But what stands out isn’t just what he went through—it’s how he’s processed it. There’s a calmness and clarity in Shane’s outlook, captured in a line that sums him up perfectly: <i>“death can have me when it’s earned me.”</i></p><p></p><p>In this conversation, Shane reflects not only on his heart transplant journey, but how his mindset has evolved over time. From the fearlessness of youth to the deeper awareness that comes with having more to lose, his story is honest, grounded, and quietly powerful.</p><p></p><p>This episode isn’t just about survival—it’s about perspective, growth, and learning what really matters.</p>no01:12:39Shane "Legend" Leger | "Death Can Have Me When It’s Earned Me" | Heart Transplant Journeyfull<![CDATA[Antony Vlatkovich - Liver Transplant Recipient (and Ham Sandwich lover)]]>In this episode, I sit down with Antony Vlatkovich, liver transplant recipient, cancer survivor, and all-round legend.

We talk about his childhood growing up with the knowledge that he would one day need a transplant, the weight of that reality, and how it shaped who he became.

Antony shares the moment he received “the call,” the life-saving operation that followed, and his recovery.

This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and what it means to be given a second chance at life — and how you choose to live it.

]]>707d8dc1-1be3-4a69-84ad-168a90da1fd6Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:16:16 GMT<p>In this episode, I sit down with Antony Vlatkovich, liver transplant recipient, cancer survivor, and all-round legend.</p><p></p><p>We talk about his childhood growing up with the knowledge that he would one day need a transplant, the weight of that reality, and how it shaped who he became. </p><p></p><p>Antony shares the moment he received “the call,” the life-saving operation that followed, and his recovery.</p><p></p><p>This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and what it means to be given a second chance at life — and how you choose to live it.</p>no00:57:4812Antony Vlatkovich - Liver Transplant Recipient (and Ham Sandwich lover)full<![CDATA[Andy Bryant - Living organ donor]]>The first episode of the Gift of the Graft podcast features a conversation between kidney transplant recipient Conal Beban and his kidney donor, Andy Bryant. The podcast aims to provide information and support for individuals considering live organ donation. The conversation covers the emotional and physical journey of becoming a kidney donor, including the motivation, decision-making process, medical tests, psychological evaluation, family support, financial security, hospital admission, and the operation day experience. The conversation covers the experience of kidney donation and the impact it has had on both the donor and the recipient. It delves into the recovery process, the emotional impact, and the rewards of donation, highlighting the unselfish act and the resilience of both individuals.

Takeaways

  • Live organ donation process
  • Emotional and physical journey
  • Support and preparation for donation Unselfish Act
  • Recovery and Resilience

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast
  • 05:25 Preparation for Donation: Medical Tests and Psychological Evaluation
  • 11:24 Family Support and Financial Security for Donors
  • 23:23 Pre-Operation Experience: Hospital Admission and Preparation
  • 33:35 Operation Day: Donor's Experience and Recovery
  • 38:41 The Operation and Recovery Process
  • 49:13 The Impact and Rewards of Donation
]]>9ee553e6-5236-4db5-b3f9-c17db2c89869Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:20:09 GMT<p>The first episode of the Gift of the Graft podcast features a conversation between kidney transplant recipient Conal Beban and his kidney donor, Andy Bryant. The podcast aims to provide information and support for individuals considering live organ donation. The conversation covers the emotional and physical journey of becoming a kidney donor, including the motivation, decision-making process, medical tests, psychological evaluation, family support, financial security, hospital admission, and the operation day experience. The conversation covers the experience of kidney donation and the impact it has had on both the donor and the recipient. It delves into the recovery process, the emotional impact, and the rewards of donation, highlighting the unselfish act and the resilience of both individuals.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Live organ donation process</li><li>Emotional and physical journey</li><li>Support and preparation for donation Unselfish Act</li><li>Recovery and Resilience</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast</li><li>05:25 Preparation for Donation: Medical Tests and Psychological Evaluation</li><li>11:24 Family Support and Financial Security for Donors</li><li>23:23 Pre-Operation Experience: Hospital Admission and Preparation</li><li>33:35 Operation Day: Donor's Experience and Recovery</li><li>38:41 The Operation and Recovery Process</li><li>49:13 The Impact and Rewards of Donation</li></ul>no01:12:3911Andy Bryant - Living organ donorfull