Summits Podcast

What does it look like when a passion for cycling collides with a mission greater than yourself? In this episode, we sit down with Court Maple of Team Heroes to find out. Court takes us through the cycling journey that brought him to Team Heroes – a team built on more than just miles and medals. Now 25 years since its formation, Team Heroes continues to carry the Heroes Foundation mission forward, proving that the drive to fight cancer never slows down. But Team Heroes is more than a cycling team – it's a family. Court opens up about the tight-knit community they've built, one that shows up for each other through life's biggest celebrations and its most difficult moments alike. Court also shares about something we all need to hear: the importance of making your health a priority and the powerful role that prevention plays in the fight against cancer. Whether you're a cyclist, a Team Heroes and Heroes Foundation supporter, or someone looking for inspiration to take charge of your health, this episode is for you. 🔗 Learn more about Team Heroes: https://youtu.be/C6HJD9DLNrY

What does it look like to not just survive cancer — but truly thrive through it? In this inspiring episode, cohosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah sit down with Elissa Kalver, a force of nature who is living with stage 4 breast cancer and channeling that experience into something extraordinary. Elissa is the founder of We Got This, a nonprofit organization reimagining what support looks like for the cancer community. Through thoughtfully curated gift registries, trusted product and resource recommendations, and a growing library of essential tools, We Got This is helping patients and their loved ones feel seen, equipped, and empowered at every stage of the journey. But Elissa didn't stop there. She's also the author of the We Got This book, the host of the We Got This podcast, and the creator of her personal podcast Live Like It Matters — a testament to her belief that every single day is worth showing up for. In this conversation, Elissa shares the story behind the mission, what she's learned about resilience and purpose in the face of a stage 4 diagnosis, and how she's building a community that refuses to be defined by fear. This is an episode about courage, impact, and living with intention. You don't want to miss it. Learn more about We Got This at wegotthis.org.

In this heartfelt episode of The Summits Podcast, cohosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah sit down with twin sisters Liz Childers and Norma Unser to share an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about their family's journey with cancer. Liz and Norma open up about how cancer has profoundly impacted their lives, with their mom, Liz, and Norma all facing breast cancer diagnoses. They discuss the emotional and physical challenges of their battles, the critical role of routine screenings in early detection, and the strength they’ve found in each other. The conversation also highlights the groundbreaking work of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition and the hope it brings for the future of cancer outcomes and prevention. Liz and Norma’s story is a powerful reminder of resilience, the importance of advocacy, and the strides being made in the fight against cancer. Learn more about the Cancer Vaccine Coalition: https://cancervaccinecoalition.org/ Shop Lizzie Lu’s Crew hats! https://lizzielucrew.com/

Missed the 26th Annual An Evening With Heroes? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! In episode 102 of The Summits Podcast, cohosts Vince Todd Jr. and Daniel Abdallah sit down with the event’s keynote speaker, James Golding. James is a two-time cancer survivor turned ultra-distance cyclist with an incredible story of resilience, determination, and triumph. From battling life-threatening illness to conquering some of the world’s toughest cycling challenges, James shares how he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles—one step (or mile) at a time. Get ready to be inspired by his journey of grit, gratitude, and the power of never giving up.

In episode 101 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Kaitlin Pennington and Sarah Blount of Cancer Rehab Group. Tune in as the cancer rehab specialists share their passion for whole-person care for those newly diagnosed with cancer, in active treatment, in remission, or managing long-term effects.

In episode 100 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Heroes Foundation Co-Founder Cindy Todd. Tune in as Cindy, Vince, and Daniel share hot takes on the evolution of the Heroes Foundation, reaching 100 episodes of The Summits Podcast, and what they hope to see for the future of cancer in Indiana. Thank you BuffaLouie’s for the delicious snack shared in this episode!

In episode 99 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Andrew Peters, Team Heroes cyclist and Division Manager at Republic National Distributing Company. Tune in as Andrew shares about surviving brain cancer, leaning on faith and good health habits to get through hard times, and how he’s giving back to others facing a similar battle.

In episode 98 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Jesse Monts, Controller at Duncan Supply Company and member of the Heroes Foundation Board of Directors. Tune in as Jesse shares his mother’s ovarian cancer journey and how it inspired him to give back to other families facing a cancer diagnosis through the Heroes Foundation.

In episode 97 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Courtney Roberts, President/CEO of Riley Children’s Foundation. Tune in as Courtney shares about caregiving through her father’s pancreatic cancer journey and the future of pediatric care at Riley Children’s Health. “We want to ensure at Riley Children’s Foundation that we are able, through philanthropic support, to ensure that every kid in the state of Indiana and beyond has access to the world-class care at Riley.”

In episode 96 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Dr. Robyn Spoon, CEO of Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy. Tune in as Robyn shares her son’s cancer story that ignited a passion for change and how Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy is moving the needle on precision medicine for those diagnosed with childhood cancer. Learn more about Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy at elevatechildhoodcancer.org. The Heroes Foundation Team JOEY Program proudly sponsored the 2nd Annual Indiana Pediatric Sarcoma Research & Advocacy Summit. Together, we will continue uniting Indiana against cancer.

In episode 95 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Jasmine Gonzalvo, Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Purdue University College of Pharmacy and breast cancer survivor. Tune in as Jasmine shares her breast cancer journey and the priorities she has now in survivorship. “Cancer gave me the slap in the face that I needed to be present for the right reasons.”

In episode 94 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by osteosarcoma survivor Will DesJean. Tune in as Will shares his cancer story, the setback he experienced this past year, and how he’s getting back to what he loves most – friends, fun, and most of all – swimming. For more of Will’s story, tune in to episode 32 with his parents, Chris and Stacy DesJean: https://youtu.be/400NoR1ogVM

In episode 93 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Dr. Nur Damayanti, cancer researcher at IU School of Medicine. Tune in as Dr. Damayanti shares the personal cancer diagnosis that changed the trajectory of her career and the Heroes Foundation funding that is supporting her project to study new treatment methods for children with rare brain cancers. Learn more about recent Heroes Foundation gifts: https://www.heroesfoundation.org/the-heroes-foundation-has-awarded-nine-exciting-indiana-cancer-projects-with-223500-in-funding/

In episode 92 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Joyce Irwin, President/CEO of the Community Health Network Foundation. Tune in as Joyce shares the genetic testing that led to her double mastectomy, her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, and how she’s giving back through her work at the Community Health Network Foundation.

In episode 91 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by long-time Heroes Foundation volunteer Lori Wheeler. Tune in as Lori shares the cancer stories that have shaped her family and how she is raising her children to make a difference in their communities.

In episode 90 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Brandon Leum, Founder of @buildingarefuge. Tune in as Brandon shares the organization’s mission to bring hope and encouragement to men through meetings, events, and the BAR Podcast. You can connect with Building a Refuge at buildingarefuge.org.

In episode 89 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Connor Whaley, a North Central High School graduate and Indiana University Bloomington student. Tune in as Connor shares his aplastic anemia story, how the experience shaped him, and how he’s giving back as Director of Riley Development with @IUDMFTK. Find out more aboue the IU Dance Marathon here https://www.iudm.org

In episode 88 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Joe Fazzini, a Carmel, Indiana based triathlon athlete and coach. Tune in as Joe shares his prostate cancer survivorship journey, how fitness inspires him, and his plan to give back to the Indiana cancer community. Follow Joe on Instagram at @diamond-lake-sports as he participates in the 2024 Subaru CASA Cycling Challenge with a goal to ride 300 miles in 24 hours to fundraise for the Heroes Foundation! Contribute to Joe’s fundraising efforts here: https://bit.ly/JoeFDonate

In episode 87 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Scott Kennedy, Director of Operations at Four Day Ray Brewing and Team Heroes athlete. Tune in for a peek inside the Indiana-based brewery and how the Team Heroes family supports each other, both on the bike and off. For more on Four Day Ray Brewing, visit fourdayray.com.

In episode 86 of the Summits Podcast, co-hosts Vince Todd, Jr. and Daniel Abdallah are joined by Katie Schumacher-Cawley, head volleyball coach at Penn State University. Amidst a championship volleyball season, Katie was put to the test as she also battled breast cancer. Tune in for the life lessons she’s learned through the experience.