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Michael Holtz Host, Further Together: The ORAU Podcast

Michael Holtz, APR, MPRCA, is a senior communications and marketing specialist for ORAU, a government contractor based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In his role he serves as the host of Further Together: The ORAU Podcast. He is also a content creator for orau.org and ORAU Story, the company's annual report. He also manages media relations activities for the organization. Outside of work, Michael is a Cancer activist, leaning into his experience as a 12-year survivor of Stage 3B rectal cancer. Michael is a volunteer for Man Up to Cancer, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Fight Colorectal Cancer and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Michael lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his lovely wife, Sarah, and their rescue dog, a golden bassett named Marley.

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From Artist To Investigating The Terrain Of One Of Saturn'S Moons: Joey Pasterski, Ph.d., Nasa Postdoctoral Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276
From artist to investigating the terrain of one of Saturn's moons: Joey Pasterski, Ph.D., NASA Postdoctoral Fellow

Joey Pasterski, Ph.D., is not your traditional scientist. He took piano and voice and avoided science at all costs until he went back to school in his later twenties. Today Pasterski is a NASA Postdoc…

Joey Pasterski, Ph.D…

Joey Pasterski, Ph.D., is not your traditional scientist. He took piano and voice and avoided science at all costs until he went back to school in his later twenties. Today Pasterski is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow researching laser desorption mass spectrometry for the Dragonfly mission, which will land a rotorcraft on various locations on Titan, Saturn's moon. During this conversation, Pasterski talks to host Michael Holtz about why studying Titan is important, how the moon is like a bizarro earth, and how the trajectory of his life changed when he discovered a love for science. Check i…

Listen · 23:56
Using Augmented Reality To Improve Breast Cancer Biopsies: A Conversation With Alycen Wiacek, Ph.d. &Raquo; 749931 809276
Using augmented reality to improve breast cancer biopsies: A conversation with Alycen Wiacek, Ph.D.

More than a million breast biopsies are performed annually in the United States, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The need to ensure diagnostic accuracy is great. Alycen Wi…

More than a million …

More than a million breast biopsies are performed annually in the United States, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The need to ensure diagnostic accuracy is great. Alycen Wiacek, Ph.D., motivated by the impact breast cancer has had on her family and a desire to make a difference, is conducting research to help make biopsies more accurate through engineering and augmented reality. In this episode of Further Together, host Matthew Underwood talks to Wiacek about her research. Wiacek is an assistant professor at Oakland University. In her lab, the Medical Acoustics for …

Listen · 20:18
The State Of Research At Orau, And A Look Ahead To Our 2025 Annual Meeting &Raquo; 749931 809276
The state of research at ORAU, and a look ahead to our 2025 annual meeting

Ken Tobin, chief research officer, and Cathy Fore, senior director of university partnerships, sit down with hosts Michael Holtz and Abbey Becker to discuss the state of research at ORAU. As an instit…

Ken Tobin, chief res…

Ken Tobin, chief research officer, and Cathy Fore, senior director of university partnerships, sit down with hosts Michael Holtz and Abbey Becker to discuss the state of research at ORAU. As an institution, ORAU has its hands in more research than ever before, involving our own subject matter experts, as well as that of our government agency partners and our university consortium members. This episode includes discussion of recent research successes and the matchmaking that Fore does to increase the value proposition for consortium members. We discuss ORAU's current research priorities and the…

Listen · 49:15
A Polar Vortex, Antarctica And A Balloon-Borne Telescope: A Conversation With Ali Alqaraghuli, Nasa Npp Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276
A polar vortex, Antarctica and a balloon-borne telescope: A conversation with Ali Alqaraghuli, NASA NPP Fellow

Ali Alqaraghuli, Ph.D., was just about to start his NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship when he was interviewed by Further Together host Michael Holtz. Alqaraghuli's research focuses on the ASTHROS balloon-b…

Ali Alqaraghuli, Ph.…

Ali Alqaraghuli, Ph.D., was just about to start his NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship when he was interviewed by Further Together host Michael Holtz. Alqaraghuli's research focuses on the ASTHROS balloon-born telescope. The focus of ASTHROS is to place the telescope over the Antarctic to gather and better understand how stars form. Alqaraghuli is developing a portable test bed to help calibrate the antenna and the telescope. At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, scientists have all the facilities they need to test and track and adjust things if needed. "Once we ship everything to Anta…

Listen · 23:35
Under Pressure: An Epidemic Of Loneliness, A Parental/Caregiver Stress Crisis, Contributing Factors And How Orau Is Helping &Raquo; 749931 809276
Under Pressure: An epidemic of loneliness, a parental/caregiver stress crisis, contributing factors and how ORAU is helping

The U.S. Surgeon General says Americans are confronting an epidemic of loneliness. About half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Loneliness has p…

The U.S. Surgeon Gen…

The U.S. Surgeon General says Americans are confronting an epidemic of loneliness. About half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Loneliness has physical health consequences, and impacts work performance, academic achievement and our overall Mental Health. Additionally, the Surgeon General has warned that the Stress of caring for children has an impact on our mental health. Many members of Generation X may be caring for children or again parents or both, and the stress of Caregiving has impacts on mental health as well. In this episode of F…

Listen · 1:23:14
Destination Healthy Aging: An Orau Innovation Partnership Program Story &Raquo; 749931 809276
Destination Healthy Aging: An ORAU Innovation Partnership Program story

As Baby Boomers continue to age -- and let's be real Generation X isn't far behind -- healthy Aging and how to care for this population will be critical. Elaine Jurkowski, Ph.D., professor in the Depa…

As Baby Boomers cont…

As Baby Boomers continue to age -- and let's be real Generation X isn't far behind -- healthy aging and how to care for this population will be critical. Elaine Jurkowski, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Southern Illinois Carbondale, received an ORAU Innovation Partnership Programs grant to host a day-long event called Destination Healthy Aging. The continuing Education event for health care workers addressed caregiving, addressed the caregiver, addressed our workforce, talked about life after caregiving, talked about building communities that would be in…

Listen · 33:33
Exploring The Benefits Of Incorporating Plants Into Daily Life: An Orau Innovation Partnership Grant Story &Raquo; 749931 809276
Exploring the benefits of incorporating plants into daily life: An ORAU Innovation Partnership Grant story

Lakshya Sharma is student coordination manager for the Resource Center of Excellence Greater Atlanta, one of dozens of such centers around the world working to advance the United Nations' sustainable …

Lakshya Sharma is st…

Lakshya Sharma is student coordination manager for the Resource Center of Excellence Greater Atlanta, one of dozens of such centers around the world working to advance the United Nations' sustainable development goals. An ORAU Innovation Partnership Grant was awarded to RCE Greater Atlanta and Georgia Tech to help fund an Urban Horticulture and Permaculture Workshop, which brought together students from Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Georgia State, Morehouse College, Spelman College and other institutions across the Atlanta area. In this episode of Further Together, Sharma talks to h…

Listen · 25:13
There Is Always Something To Be Excited About In Science: Nasa Npp Fellow Sunil Pulletikurti, Ph.d. &Raquo; 749931 809276
There is always something to be excited about in science: NASA NPP Fellow Sunil Pulletikurti, Ph.D.

Sunil Pulletikurti, Ph.D., is NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow conducting research on the chemical origins of life. Essentially, he's investigating how small molecules become parts of larger molecule…

Sunil Pulletikurti, …

Sunil Pulletikurti, Ph.D., is NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow conducting research on the chemical origins of life. Essentially, he's investigating how small molecules become parts of larger molecules -- for example, how an amino acid becomes part of a protein and other cellular transformation. In this conversation with host Michael Holtz, Pulletikurti takes a deep dive into his research, the time he spent at NASA before his postdoctoral fellowship, what sparked his interest in science, the struggle of coming from an impoverished childhood in India to being part of a global research enterpris…

Listen · 17:58
The Fight Against Cancer Takes All Of Us: A Conversation With Rachel Matlock From The Tennessee Department Of Health &Raquo; 749931 809276
The fight against cancer takes all of us: A conversation with Rachel Matlock from the Tennessee Department of Health

As part of our continuing series of conversations with leaders in the cancer space, hosts Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood sit down with Rachel Matlock, manager of the comprehensive cancer control …

As part of our conti…

As part of our continuing series of conversations with leaders in the cancer space, hosts Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood sit down with Rachel Matlock, manager of the comprehensive cancer control program at the Tennessee Department of Health. She also manages the Tennessee Cancer Coalition, which brings together stakeholders from across the state to reduce the cancer burden in the state. Her focus is primarily on cancer prevention and early detection. In this conversation, we discuss how Rachel got to her role, the Tennessee Department of Health's role in the fight against cancer, how she …

Listen · 32:46
Orau-Funded Researchers Give Voice To Small Family Farmers And How They Respond To Extreme Weather Events &Raquo; 749931 809276
ORAU-funded researchers give voice to small family farmers and how they respond to extreme weather events

September is National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe. In this episode …

September is Nationa…

September is National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe. In this episode of Further Together: The ORAU Podcast, hosts Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood talk to two researchers about how small family farmers manage extreme weather events and how that, in turn, effects their health. Amanda McHale, Dr.PH, research associate on ORAU's public health and healthcare team, and Jennifer Russomanno, Dr.PH, associate department head at the University of Tennessee Department of …

Listen · 35:02
Creating A Fair And Just Healthcare System: A Conversation With Charles R. Rogers, Ph.d. &Raquo; 749931 809276
Creating a fair and just healthcare system: A conversation with Charles R. Rogers, Ph.D.

Charles R. Rogers, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation, an organization dedicated to eliminating colorectal cancer disparities among black men and other marginaliz…

Charles R. Rogers, P…

Charles R. Rogers, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation, an organization dedicated to eliminating colorectal cancer disparities among black men and other marginalized groups. In this conversation, host Michael Holtz and special guest host Brenda Blunt, ORAU senior director of health policy, talk to Rogers about the critical need to eliminate disparities, the importance of education about colorectal cancer prevention and early detection, and the hard work of creating a fair and just healthcare system. Rogers talks about his research portfolio, why health equi…

Listen · 47:42
Meet The Interns: 2024 Edition &Raquo; 749931 809276
Meet the Interns: 2024 Edition

For the second year, the ORAU Research and University Partnerships Office has funded an internship program that places students in meaningful roles across the organization for the summer. In this epis…

For the second year,…

For the second year, the ORAU Research and University Partnerships Office has funded an internship program that places students in meaningful roles across the organization for the summer. In this episode of Further Together: The ORAU Podcast, hosts Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood talk to five of the six interns in this year's program about their experiences at ORAU, what they will take away from the experience and what comes next. Lindsay Motz from the Research and University Partnerships Office introduces us to Samantha Gross, Noah Price, Faryal Rafay, Brian Bros and Julio Chavez. Amanda …

Listen · 31:55
Aligning Missions To Increase Cancer Screening Rates: A Conversation With Bryan Goettel Of Exact Sciences &Raquo; 749931 809276
Aligning missions to increase cancer screening rates: A conversation with Bryan Goettel of Exact Sciences

Bryan Goettel is the director of advocacy and alliance relations for Exact Sciences, a Madison, Wisconsin, based biotechnology company. Exact Sciences is perhaps best known for its signature product, …

Bryan Goettel is the…

Bryan Goettel is the director of advocacy and alliance relations for Exact Sciences, a Madison, Wisconsin, based biotechnology company. Exact Sciences is perhaps best known for its signature product, Cologuard, an at-home colorectal cancer early detection test for adults of average risk age 45 and older. Further Together host Michael Holtz has a history with the company, including sharing his cancer journey at the first-ever national sales meeting for Cologuard in July 2014 and attending the Cologuard Classic golf tournament as a cancer advocate this past spring. Exact Sciences is on the foref…

Listen · 38:02
Leave No One Behind: A Conversation With Jody Hoyos, Ceo Of Prevent Cancer Foundation &Raquo; 749931 809276
Leave no one behind: A conversation with Jody Hoyos, CEO of Prevent Cancer Foundation

In our continuing series of conversations with leaders in the oncology and cancer space, Further Together host Michael Holtz sits down with Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The Preven…

In our continuing se…

In our continuing series of conversations with leaders in the oncology and cancer space, Further Together host Michael Holtz sits down with Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The Prevent Cancer Foundation is the largest non-profit organization in the country solely dedicated to the prevention and early detection of cancer. As part of the conversation, Hoyos says companies like ORAU can help prevent cancer by educating and encouraging employees to get tested for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer and others and help them understand when they are eligible t…

Listen · 35:22
Men Need To Take Charge Of Their Health: A Conversation With Mike Leventhal Of The Tennessee Men'S Health Network &Raquo; 749931 809276
Men need to take charge of their health: A conversation with Mike Leventhal of the Tennessee Men's Health Network

As Men's Health Month (June) comes to a close, Further Together host Michael Holtz sits down with his friend and fellow health advocate Mike Leventhal, executive director of the Tennessee Men's Health…

As Men's Health Mont…

As Men's Health Month (June) comes to a close, Further Together host Michael Holtz sits down with his friend and fellow health advocate Mike Leventhal, executive director of the Tennessee Men's Health Network, for a conversation about men and their health. Men are great about many things, like take care of their families and their careers, but are not always great about taking care of themselves, which can be detrimental. The discussion includes the importance of seeing a doctor and a dentist for regular for checkups. and those all-important screening tests for colorectal and prostate cancers…

Listen · 25:51
Find The Thing That Gets You Out Of Bed In The Morning: A Conversation With David Burtt, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276
Find the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning: A conversation with David Burtt, Ph.D., NASA NPP Fellow

David Burtt, Ph.D., is in his second year as a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, studying martian geology using data from the Mars rover at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Burtt wound his way through…

David Burtt, Ph.D., …

David Burtt, Ph.D., is in his second year as a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, studying martian geology using data from the Mars rover at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Burtt wound his way through several scientific disciplines before focusing on extraterrestrial geology. He discusses the pivotal moment where he had the courage to talk to an advisor about research he was working on. It wasn't exciting to him, so he pivoted. Burtt talks about working on the Mars rover in preparation for the Artemis project, the value of mentorship, the importance of collaborating with hundreds of people on …

Listen · 20:20
Of Rugrats, Plant Water Usage And Climate Change: A Conversation With Zoe Pierrat, Ph.d., Nasa Postdoctoral Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276
Of rugrats, plant water usage and climate change: A conversation with Zoe Pierrat, Ph.D., NASA Postdoctoral Fellow

Understanding how plants use water resources and how they're responding to changes in climate and the resulting feedbacks on the climate system is important, and challenging. Zoe Pierrat, Ph.D., a NAS…

Understanding how pl…

Understanding how plants use water resources and how they're responding to changes in climate and the resulting feedbacks on the climate system is important, and challenging. Zoe Pierrat, Ph.D., a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says that while there are great models for some aspects of climate and climate change, plants adapt to the changes in their environment making understanding their impact more uncertain. Host Michael Holtz talks to Pierrat about all aspects of her NPP Fellowship, including how she got interested in science, how the NASA NPP has impacted her li…

Listen · 25:44
Leadership Is About The People, Not The Leader: A Conversation With Ken Tarcza, Orau Chief Of Staff &Raquo; 749931 809276
Leadership is about the people, not the leader: A conversation with Ken Tarcza, ORAU chief of staff

Ken Tarcza has served as a leader in several capacities, from the military to the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Department of Energy. One thing he knows to be true is this: leadership is not …

Ken Tarcza has serve…

Ken Tarcza has served as a leader in several capacities, from the military to the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Department of Energy. One thing he knows to be true is this: leadership is not about the leader. Leadership is about people: meeting them where they are and creation conditions where they can be successful. In this episode of the Further Together podcast, hosts Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood unpack Tarcza's role as chief of staff, his commitment to meeting every new employee during their onboarding process, his role in ORAU's strategic planning process, and the life les…

Listen · 47:56

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