On March 16, 2026, I joined The World of Creativity podcast to discuss living kidney donation, transplant advocacy, and how creativity plays a role in purpose-driven work. While creativity is often associated with the arts, this conversation explored a broader idea: creativity as the willingness to approach problems differently—and to act when others hesitate.
For me, that journey began decades ago when my father developed kidney failure and spent nine years on dialysis. Watching the physical and emotional toll of kidney disease shaped my perspective and ultimately led me, years later, to become a non-directed living kidney donor in 2017. That decision was not only a medical act—it was a creative response to a very real and urgent problem: the gap between the number of patients who need a kidney transplant and the number of available donors.
During the podcast, we discussed how living kidney donation remains widely misunderstood. More than 90,000 Americans are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, yet many people are unaware that healthy individuals can donate a kidney and return to full, active lives. Living donor kidneys typically last 15 to 20 years—often twice as long as kidneys from deceased donors—making living donation the most effective treatment for kidney failure.
We also explored how storytelling and creative thinking can help expand awareness. My book, Ascending America, and the record-setting climb of the highest point in all 50 states—completed with four other living kidney donors in 41 days—were both designed to challenge assumptions and make the message visible: kidney donors are not limited. They are capable of extraordinary physical and personal achievement.
Creativity, in this context, is not about artistic expression alone. It is about finding new ways to communicate, to advocate, and to inspire action. Whether through podcasts, speaking engagements, or writing, my goal is to help more people understand what living kidney donation is—and what it makes possible.If you are interested in living kidney donation, organ donation awareness, transplant advocacy, or how creativity can drive meaningful change, I encourage you to listen to this episode of The World of Creativity podcast.
In Ascending America, I share the full journey—climbing the highest peak in all 50 states alongside four fellow living kidney donors, pushing through brutal conditions, and challenging the limits people assume come with donation. More than an adventure story, it’s a powerful look at the science, resilience, and life-changing impact of living kidney donation.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s truly possible after saving a life—or how one decision can create a ripple effect that impacts dozens more—this book is for you.
👉 Get your copy of Ascending America today and rethink what’s possible.
