Taking a Breath: A Stop the Clot Podcast

Peak Athleticism is not easy to come by. It takes years of consistent and often grueling determination, will, skill and a drive that few possess. Even in the most ideal physical circumstances where health and bodily consideration is paramount, blood clots have a habit of finding their way through. On this episode of Taking A Breath we are joined by Professional Road and Track Cyclist Michael Matthews to share his experience suffering a sudden and life threatening pulmonary embolism during an altitude training camp. What goes on in the mind of an athlete through something so debilitating and unexpected? What does the future hold for Michael as a blood clot survivor and world renowned cyclist? How do we change the expectation around who does and does not experience these harrowing events? Alongside NBCA President Leslie Lake and NBCA Patient Liaison Todd Robertson, this conversation explores not just survival, but what it means to chart a path that will save countless lives to follow. Listeners will hear practical insights on recognizing warning signs, advocating for yourself in medical settings, and finding community on the journey to shaping the future of blood clot awareness.Meet Our GuestsMichael Matthews Michael is an Australian Professional Road and Track Cyclist celebrated for his unprecedented and meteoric rise and early title of Under 23 Road Race World Champion altho age of 20. He won stages in all three grand tours (Tour de France: 4 individual stage victories 2016, 2017, 2022 ; Giro d'Italia: 3 individual stages 2014, 2015, 2023 ; Vuelta a España: 3 individual stages 2013, 2014) one of a handful of cyclists to achieve said accomplishment. Michael is also a Father and Husband and celebrated worldwide as a world class athlete. About NBCAThe National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. NBCA works on behalf of people who may be susceptible to blood clots, including, but not limited to, people with clotting disorders, atrial fibrillation, cancer, traumatic injury, and risks related to surgery, lengthy immobility, child birth and birth control. NBCA accomplishes its mission through programs that build public awareness, educate patients and healthcare professionals, and promote supportive public and private sector policy.Our Hosts Leslie LakeIn 2018, Leslie suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). Her quest to learn more about venous thromboembolism (VTE) lead her to the National Blood Clot Alliance Despite living in New York City, Leslie was shocked by the lack of information available to her after her PE. As Board President, Leslie is committed to raising public awareness so no person affected by blood clots is without the necessary information they need to prevent or successfully treat VTE, and that they also have the information they need to navigate the spectrum of lifestyle issues that can follow a blood clot diagnosis. Leslie holds a BS in Economics from Simmons College, where she is also a Trustee, member of the Finance and Investment Committees, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. She is also Board member of the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Society of North America (THSNA) and External Advisory Board member of CanVECTOR.Todd RobertsonTodd is the Patient Engagement Liaison for The National Blood Alliance. In 2011, Todd suffered the first of seven blood clots and in 2017 experienced a close call with his first pulmonary embolism. He is a carrier of the inherited clotting disorder, factor V Leiden, and is homozygous, making him aggressive in the abnormal clotting department. He is a motivational speaker for blood clot trauma recovery and is a local patient advocate for new patients. He is working on his first book, “Blood Clots: A Road Map to Recovery.” Todd runs several Facebook support groups and has developed a level of trust and friendship with thousands of patients over the years. He loves to road and mountain bike, white water canoe, and stays active all year round.Linkshttps://www.stoptheclot.org/year-end-donation-page-2025/?c_src=podcast YouTube: youtube.com/stoptheclotFacebook: facebook.com/stoptheclotInstagram: instagram.com/stoptheclotX: x.com/StopTheClotLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/national-blood-clot-allianceBlueSky: bsky.app/profile/stoptheclot.bsky.socialTikTok: tiktok.com/@stoptheclot#podcast #health #cycling

What does it mean to be a leader? Though the ability to empower those around you through personal action and creative celebration is a gift few people get to share, how do you maintain that light through some of the most difficult days of your life? On this episode of Taking a Breath, we are joined by creative powerhouse Jevon Dewand to discuss his experience as a blood clot survivor and what it means to lead in your community. With National Blood Alliance President Leslie Lake and National Blood Clot Alliance Patient Liaison Todd Robertson alongside listeners like you, we will continue working together to collectively Stop the Clot! A special thank you to the Bristol-Meyers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance and Novartis for helping us breathe life into today's episode. Taking a Breath: A Stop The Clot Podcast is an Everything Podcasts Production.For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visit https:// www.stoptheclot.org/#podcast

Going for Gold with Lauren Brzozowski : A Conversation on Persistence and SurvivalThe road to an olympic medal is a road of diligence, consistency and sometimes heartbreak. How do youadjust from a moment of survival into a pillar of inspiration on the bob run and off. On this episode ofTaking a Breath, we are joined by Team USA Bobsled Olympic Hopeful Lauren Brzozowski to discuss herexperience as a blood clot survivor. With National Blood Alliance President Leslie Lake and NationalBlood Clot Alliance Patient Liaison Todd Robertson alongside listeners like you, we will continue workingtogether to collectively Stop the Clot!Taking a Breath: A Stop The Clot Podcast is an Everything Podcasts Productionhttps://www.everythingpodcasts.com/For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visithttps://www.stoptheclot.org/https://www.facebook.com/stoptheclothttps://www.instagram.com/stoptheclothttps://x.com/StopTheClothttps://www.youtube.com/stoptheclot

Traversing the Summit with Sage Canaday : A Conversation on Overcoming theUnexpectedLike most professional athletes, knowing your body and its idiosyncratic tendencies is key. The built resilience and scaling effort comes down to knowing precisely the inner and outer workings of your own body. What happens when you're faced with the unfamiliar? What happens when it's life threatening? On this episode of Taking a Breath, we are joined by Professional Distance Runner Sage Canaday to discuss his experience as a blood clot survivor. With National Blood Alliance President Leslie Lake and National Blood Clot Alliance Patient Liaison Todd Robertson alongside listeners like you, we will continue working together to collectively Stop the Clot! Taking a Breath: A Stop The Clot Podcast is an Everything Podcasts Production.For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visit https://www.stoptheclot.org/For more information on Mount Sinai of New York City, please visit https://www.mountsinai.org/

A Second Act with Dave Hall : A Conversation on Survival Clotting events are sudden. They can feel like something as mundane as a slight cough or a sore leg. When the symptoms begin, its only a matter of time before its too late. On this episode of Taking a Breath, we are joined by News Anchor Dave Hall to discuss his experience of having a clotting event life on air and his journey post clot as a blood clot survivor. With National Blood Alliance President Leslie Lake and National Blood Clot Alliance Patient Liaison Todd Robertson alongside listeners like you, we will continue working together to collectively Stop the Clot! Produced for The National Blood Clot Alliance: Taking a Breath: A Stop the Clot Podcast is a show committed to shining a light on the dangers of blood clots and breathing life into The National Blood Clot Alliance’s mission of pushing these preventable killers to the forefront of public discourse. We will hear the stories of notable blood clot survivors like Olympic medalists Katie Hoff Anderson & Tatyana McFadden, among others, as well as the expertise of medical professionals to provide connection, empathy and resources to listeners like you. At Stop the Clot we know the patient because we are the patient. Journey through this miraculous series with hosts and blood clot survivors Leslie Lake and Todd Robertson as they, with the help of listeners like you, change the way we think about blood clots. Join us as we collectively stop the clot. The Public Health Burden Associated with Blood Clots.Blood clots affect many people — people from all walks of life — and no one person is any less important than another. It’s difficult to look at the numbers below, and not think of the individuals — their families, their friends — and not ask oneself, “Could I be at risk for a blood clot?” The answer most certainly is, “Yes, anyone can be affected by blood clots.” Blood clots do not discriminate.Tragically, too many lives are affected by blood clots, and too many lives are lost because public awareness about life-threatening blood clots is so low. Study after study has shown that fewer than 1 in 4 people have any recognition of blood clots or their signs and symptoms.Consider this:On Average, 274 People Die Every Day from Blood Clots107 to 130 cases of potentially deadly blood clots occurred each year per 100,000 Caucasian individuals from 1985 through 2002. This translates into about 1 to 3 cases per 1,000 people.250,000 cases of potentially deadly blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, occurred each year between 1966 through 1990.900,000 cases per year are now suggested by recent scientific modeling and public health statistics.100,000 to 300,000 deaths from blood clots occur each year, which is greater than the total number of people who lose their lives each year to AIDS, breast cancer, and motor vehicle crashes combined.600,000 non-fatal cases of deadly blood clots occur each year, of which 40% are blood clots in the lungs and 60% are blood clots in the legs.547,596 hospitalizations due to blood clots occurred from 2007 – 2009.On average, one person dies every six minutes from a blood clot.Don’t be one of them. Blood Clots Can Be Prevented.Understand the risks. Know the signs & symptoms.Provoked Blood Clots (70% of all patients):Associated with known risk factorSurgery, hospital, cancer, medical illness, geneticRisk factors may be continuingIf risk factor transient, 2% per year recurrence after 3 months of anticoagulant therapyUnprovoked (30% of all patients):Absence of identifiable risk factorAlso called “idiopathic”7% to 11% per year recurrence for DVT or PE if anticoagulant therapy stopped after 3, 6,12 or 24 monthsLearn More:More information about blood clot risk factorsMore information about blood clot signs and symptomsMore information about blood clot preventionAbout the HostsLeslie Lake is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Invus Financial Advisors, LLC, an investment boutique based in New York City. Leslie co-founded the firm in 2006, with a specialty in long short equity strategies. Leslie has been managing assets within the hedge fund industry since 1995. Leslie holds a BS in Economics from Simmons College, where she is also a Trustee, member of the Finance and Investment Committees, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.In 2018, Leslie suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). Her quest to learn more about venous thromboembolism (VTE) lead her to the National Blood Clot Alliance. Despite living in New York City, Leslie was shocked by the lack of information available to her after her PE.Todd received his education in radio broadcasting at San Francisco State in the ’80s and was a radio host and producer for twenty years in Northern California. Todd has also served the public in the Outreach, Communication, and Marketing Bureau for the last twelve years.In 2011, Todd suffered the first of six blood clots and in 2017 experienced a close call with his first pulmonary embolism. He is a carrier of the inherited clotting disorder, factor V Leiden, and is homozygous, making him aggressive in the abnormal clotting department.Taking a Breath: A Stop The Clot Podcast is an Everything Podcasts Production. For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visit https://www.stoptheclot.org/ #podcast #education

Expecting the Unexpected with Michael Philbin : A Conversation on Resilience On this episode of Taking a Breath, we are joined by Dr. Michael Phiblin to discuss his experience as a blood clot survivor in the wake of cancer survival. With National Blood Alliance President Leslie Lake and National Blood Clot Alliance Patient Liaison Todd Robertson alongside listeners like you, we will continue working together to collectively Stop the Clot!Taking a Breath: A Stop The Clot Podcast is an Everything Podcasts Production. For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visit https://www.stoptheclot.org/For more information on Memorial Sloan Kettering please visit https://www.mskcc.org/

A Future Unknown with Todd Robertson : A Reprisal Conversation on Tedious Outcomes and DiagnosisEven when things feel stable and comfortable, tides still have the capacity to shift. How do you allow yourself to grieve, to be angry and to maintain hope in the face of the severe and unexpected? On this Season Two Premiere, we are once again joined by the host of this very podcast and National Blood Clot Alliance’s Patient Liaison, Todd Robertson to share his story as a continuous survivor and being resource to the thousands of blood clot survivors seeking community at the NBCA as well as a resource to himself. With National Blood Alliance President Leslie Lake by his side and with listeners like you, we continue working together to Stop the Clot!Taking a Breath: A Stop The Clot Podcast is an Everything Podcasts Production. For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visit https://www.stoptheclot.org/

In a world full of sporadic heartbreak and devastating happenstance, how to do we make the world a littleeasier on one another? Through community we, in turn, make life a little easier on ourselves. On thisSeason One Finale, we are joined by, as always,host of this very podcast and National Blood ClotAlliance’s Patient Liaison, Todd Robertson to share his story as a survivor and as a resource to thethousands of blood clot survivors seeking community at the NBCA. With National Blood AlliancePresident Leslie Lake by his side and with listeners like you, we continue working together to Stop theClot! Since this is just the beginning our journey, stay tuned for our Second Season of Taking a Breathecoming to you this fall.Taking a Breath: A Stop The ClotPodcast is an Everything Podcasts Production.For more information on the National Blood Clot Alliance, please visithttps://www.stoptheclot.org/A Place to Land with Todd Robertson: A Conversation on Community Care and Perseverance.