In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with Dr. David Fajgenbaum, physician-scientist and Castleman disease survivor, to share his extraordinary journey from critically ill patient to life-saving researcher. David opens up about nearly dying multiple times in his 20s, navigating a rare disease with no clear treatment, and the emotional toll of living with uncertainty. This conversation explores resilience, medical innovation, and how turning personal suffering into purpose can change and save lives.

Chapters:
00:00 David Fajgenbaum’s life-threatening medical crisis
02:18 From medical student to critically ill patient
05:34 What Castleman disease is — and why it’s so dangerous
09:12 Nearly dying multiple times in his 20s
13:45 The emotional toll of chronic, life-threatening illness
18:06 When doctors don’t have answers
26:10 Researching his own rare disease
30:44 Repurposing existing drugs to save lives
35:18 The breakthrough that changed everything
43:36 Finding meaning after medical trauma
48:05 Advice for people facing rare or misunderstood illnesses
51:12 Hope, resilience, and redefining survival

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“Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller” is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.

Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET.
📚 Read more at: https://www.YourTango.com

📩 Have a relationship issue or topic you'd like to discuss on the show? Email us: gettingopen@yourtango.com

#raredisease #chronicillness #medicalresearch 

David Fajgenbaum, Castleman disease, rare disease podcast, doctor becomes patient, medical survivor story, chronic illness journey, rare disease research, turning pain into purpose, life threatening illness recovery, health resilience podcast, medical breakthrough story, science and survival, Getting Open podcast, Dr. David Fajgenbaum, AI healthcare, AI medicine, medical AI

In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with Dr. David Fajgenbaum, physician-scientist and Castleman disease survivor, to share his extraordinary journey from critically ill patient to life-saving researcher. David opens up about nearly dying multiple times in his 20s, navigating a rare disease with no clear treatment, and the emotional toll of living with uncertainty. This conversation explores resilience, medical innovation, and how turning personal suffering into purpose can change and save lives.
Chapters: 00:00 David Fajgenbaum&rsquo;s life-threatening medical crisis 02:18 From medical student to critically ill patient 05:34 What Castleman disease is &mdash; and why it&rsquo;s so dangerous 09:12 Nearly dying multiple times in his 20s 13:45 The emotional toll of chronic, life-threatening illness 18:06 When doctors don&rsquo;t have answers 26:10 Researching his own rare disease 30:44 Repurposing existing drugs to save lives 35:18 The breakthrough that changed everything 43:36 Finding meaning after medical trauma 48:05 Advice for people facing rare or misunderstood illnesses 51:12 Hope, resilience, and redefining survival
FOLLOW YOURTANGO INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/yourtango&nbsp; TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@yourtango&nbsp; THREADS | https://www.threads.net/@yourtango&nbsp; TWITTER | https://www.twitter.com/YourTango&nbsp; FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/YourTango/
&ldquo;Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller&rdquo; is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.
Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET. 📚 Read more at: https://www.YourTango.com
📩 Have a relationship issue or topic you'd like to discuss on the show? Email us: gettingopen@yourtango.com
#raredisease #chronicillness #medicalresearch&nbsp;
David Fajgenbaum, Castleman disease, rare disease podcast, doctor becomes patient, medical survivor story, chronic illness journey, rare disease research, turning pain into purpose, life threatening illness recovery, health resilience podcast, medical breakthrough story, science and survival, Getting Open podcast, Dr. David Fajgenbaum, AI healthcare, AI medicine, medical AI

Getting Open with Andrea Miller is a new video podcast from YourTango and iHeartRadio. Its mission is to help us all transform in our lives through truly opening up emotionally in our relationships. Each highly entertaining episode offers an opportunity to increase self-awareness and make critical changes in how we relate to each other that allow us to truly connect and thrive as a result. 

In an era plagued by extreme divisiveness and political polarization, a mental health crisis, and a loneliness epidemic, Getting Open with Andrea Miller offers a refreshing, helpful tonic to its audience. 

Early guests feature luminaries like Marianne Williamson, Dr. Helen Fisher, Dr. Sue Johnson, Dr. Guy Winch, Dr. Stan Tatkin, and other incredible thought leaders. 

Andrea, joined by renowned guests and a set of lively co-hosts, dives into the deep waters of relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth. In their illuminating, energetic conversations, they fearlessly tackle hard truths, ask the tough questions, and explore ways to learn and grow, all in the name of opening up and transforming together!

The show endeavors to improve relationships of all kinds - with loved ones, colleagues, friends, and, crucially, with ourselves. Expect laughter, insights, and actionable takeaways in every episode.

Future shows will feature an array of artists, authors, researchers, leaders, and change-makers who share our ethos for opening up and understand the critical importance of rebuilding America's emotional core.

Getting Open with Andrea Miller is a new video podcast from YourTango and iHeartRadio. Its mission is to help us all transform in our lives through truly opening up emotionally in our relationships. Each highly entertaining episode offers an opportunity to increase self-awareness and make critical changes in how we relate to each other that allow us to truly connect and thrive as a result. 
In an era plagued by extreme divisiveness and political polarization, a mental health crisis, and a loneliness epidemic, Getting Open with Andrea Miller offers a refreshing, helpful tonic to its audience. 
Early guests feature luminaries like Marianne Williamson, Dr. Helen Fisher, Dr. Sue Johnson, Dr. Guy Winch, Dr. Stan Tatkin, and other incredible thought leaders. 
Andrea, joined by renowned guests and a set of lively co-hosts, dives into the deep waters of relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth. In their illuminating, energetic conversations, they fearlessly tackle hard truths, ask the tough questions, and explore ways to learn and grow, all in the name of opening up and transforming together!
The show endeavors to improve relationships of all kinds - with loved ones, colleagues, friends, and, crucially, with ourselves. Expect laughter, insights, and actionable takeaways in every episode.
Future shows will feature an array of artists, authors, researchers, leaders, and change-makers who share our ethos for opening up and understand the critical importance of rebuilding America's emotional core.

Teaching us how to be more OPEN and honest in our relationships, and how we communicate with one another

Getting Open with Andrea Miller

Getting Open with Andrea Miller is a new video podcast from YourTango and iHeartRadio. Its mission is to help us all transform in our lives through truly opening up emotionally in our relationships. Each highly entertaining episode offers an opportunity to increase self-awareness and make critical changes in how we relate to each other that allow us to truly connect and thrive as a result. 

In an era plagued by extreme divisiveness and political polarization, a mental health crisis, and a loneliness epidemic, Getting Open with Andrea Miller offers a refreshing, helpful tonic to its audience. 

Early guests feature luminaries like Marianne Williamson, Dr. Helen Fisher, Dr. Sue Johnson, Dr. Guy Winch, Dr. Stan Tatkin, and other incredible thought leaders. 

Andrea, joined by renowned guests and a set of lively co-hosts, dives into the deep waters of relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth. In their illuminating, energetic conversations, they fearlessly tackle hard truths, ask the tough questions, and explore ways to learn and grow, all in the name of opening up and transforming together!

The show endeavors to improve relationships of all kinds - with loved ones, colleagues, friends, and, crucially, with ourselves. Expect laughter, insights, and actionable takeaways in every episode.

Future shows will feature an array of artists, authors, researchers, leaders, and change-makers who share our ethos for opening up and understand the critical importance of rebuilding America's emotional core.

Getting Open with Andrea Miller is a new video podcast from YourTango and iHeartRadio. Its mission is to help us all transform in our lives through truly opening up emotionally in our relationships. Each highly entertaining episode offers an opportunity to increase self-awareness and make critical changes in how we relate to each other that allow us to truly connect and thrive as a result. 
In an era plagued by extreme divisiveness and political polarization, a mental health crisis, and a loneliness epidemic, Getting Open with Andrea Miller offers a refreshing, helpful tonic to its audience. 
Early guests feature luminaries like Marianne Williamson, Dr. Helen Fisher, Dr. Sue Johnson, Dr. Guy Winch, Dr. Stan Tatkin, and other incredible thought leaders. 
Andrea, joined by renowned guests and a set of lively co-hosts, dives into the deep waters of relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth. In their illuminating, energetic conversations, they fearlessly tackle hard truths, ask the tough questions, and explore ways to learn and grow, all in the name of opening up and transforming together!
The show endeavors to improve relationships of all kinds - with loved ones, colleagues, friends, and, crucially, with ourselves. Expect laughter, insights, and actionable takeaways in every episode.
Future shows will feature an array of artists, authors, researchers, leaders, and change-makers who share our ethos for opening up and understand the critical importance of rebuilding America's emotional core.