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.
Recent Content
![Aligning Missions To Increase Cancer Screening Rates: A Conversation With Bryan Goettel Of Exact Sciences 1 Aligning Missions To Increase Cancer Screening Rates: A Conversation With Bryan Goettel Of Exact Sciences &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
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…
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![Leave No One Behind: A Conversation With Jody Hoyos, Ceo Of Prevent Cancer Foundation 2 Leave No One Behind: A Conversation With Jody Hoyos, Ceo Of Prevent Cancer Foundation &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
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…
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![Men Need To Take Charge Of Their Health: A Conversation With Mike Leventhal Of The Tennessee Men'S Health Network 3 Men Need To Take Charge Of Their Health: A Conversation With Mike Leventhal Of The Tennessee Men'S Health Network &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
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…
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![Find The Thing That Gets You Out Of Bed In The Morning: A Conversation With David Burtt, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow 4 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](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
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 …
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![Of Rugrats, Plant Water Usage And Climate Change: A Conversation With Zoe Pierrat, Ph.d., Nasa Postdoctoral Fellow 5 Of Rugrats, Plant Water Usage And Climate Change: A Conversation With Zoe Pierrat, Ph.d., Nasa Postdoctoral Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
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…
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![Leadership Is About The People, Not The Leader: A Conversation With Ken Tarcza, Orau Chief Of Staff 6 Leadership Is About The People, Not The Leader: A Conversation With Ken Tarcza, Orau Chief Of Staff &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
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…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Every Kid Wants To Be An Astronaut: A Conversation With Abhishek Desai, Nasa Postdoctoral Program Fellow 7 Every Kid Wants To Be An Astronaut: A Conversation With Abhishek Desai, Nasa Postdoctoral Program Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
Like just about any kid, Abhishek Desai grew up in India with dreams of becoming an astronaut. While that dream didn't come true, Desai is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow studying space from Earth.…
Like just about any …
Like just about any kid, Abhishek Desai grew up in India with dreams of becoming an astronaut. While that dream didn't come true, Desai is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow studying space from Earth. His project at NASA focuses multimessenger and multiwavelength astronomy to explain processes happening inside an Active Galactic Nuclei. In this conversation with Further Together's Michael Holtz, Desai talks about coming to the United States for his education, the importance of collaboration and mentorship, the value of the NASA NPP program, and more. To learn more about the NASA Postdoctoral P…
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![Being In The Right Place At The Right Time: A Conversation With Shipra Sinha, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow 8 Being In The Right Place At The Right Time: A Conversation With Shipra Sinha, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
Shipra Sinha, Ph.D., is a a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow living in India and conducting research with the Goddard Space Flight Center. Shipra's research focuses on auroras, which occur at both the…
Shipra Sinha, Ph.D.,…
Shipra Sinha, Ph.D., is a a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow living in India and conducting research with the Goddard Space Flight Center. Shipra's research focuses on auroras, which occur at both the North and South Poles. Studying auroras is fascinating, as most people in the West know about the Aurora Borealis. Shipra says the biggest challenge with studying South Pole auroras is Antarctica. Getting there is a challenge, so she often has to make estimates about southern aurora behavior based on what is known about their northern counterparts. Throughout this conversation, Shipra talks to ho…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Moving Across The World To Follow His Passion: A Conversation With James Rogers, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow 9 Moving Across The World To Follow His Passion: A Conversation With James Rogers, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
James Rogers, Ph.D., is an astrobiologist in the NASA Postdoctoral Program. He studies exoplanets (extra-solar bodies like planets, asteroids, etc.). Rogers says scientists have detected thousands of …
James Rogers, Ph.D.,…
James Rogers, Ph.D., is an astrobiologist in the NASA Postdoctoral Program. He studies exoplanets (extra-solar bodies like planets, asteroids, etc.). Rogers says scientists have detected thousands of exoplanets orbiting stars throughout the galaxy. Studying exoplanets and planet formation can help us piece together how our solar system fits into the galaxy and the universe. In this conversation, Rogers talks to host Michael Holtz about his fellowship, making the transition from England to the United States, the role of mentorship and collaboration in his work, and what comes next during his fe…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![The Right Mentors Can Change Your Life: A Conversation With Kelly Luis, Nasa Postdoctoral Program Fellow 10 The Right Mentors Can Change Your Life: A Conversation With Kelly Luis, Nasa Postdoctoral Program Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
Kelly Luis, Ph.D., is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Water and Ecosystems Group. A native of Hawaii, Luis studies what the color of water can tell us about the hea…
Kelly Luis, Ph.D., i…
Kelly Luis, Ph.D., is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Water and Ecosystems Group. A native of Hawaii, Luis studies what the color of water can tell us about the health of aquatic ecosystems. During her conversation with host Michael Holtz, Luis talks about the trajectory of her career, how she is contributing to science at NASA, obstacles she's overcome to get to where she is, and so much more. To learn more about the NASA Postdoctoral Program, visit https://npp.orau.org/index.html
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![Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: New Test For Prevention And Early Detection 11 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: New Test For Prevention And Early Detection &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2024 comes to a close, Further Together host Michael Holtz, a 12-year survivor of stage IIIB colorectal cancer, talks to Eric Mayer and Jessica Etheridge, CEO and …
As Colorectal Cancer…
As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2024 comes to a close, Further Together host Michael Holtz, a 12-year survivor of stage IIIB colorectal cancer, talks to Eric Mayer and Jessica Etheridge, CEO and director of marketing and branding, respectively, for Knoxville-based New Day Diagnostics. This March, New Day launched ColoHealth, a screening blood test for people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer. They talk about the importance of prevention and early detection, the rise in colorectal cancer rates among people under age 50, and the changing scientific landscape for early detectio…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Women In Stem History At Orau: Evelyn Watson, Ann Sipe And Helen Vodopick 12 Women In Stem History At Orau: Evelyn Watson, Ann Sipe And Helen Vodopick &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
While the idea of recognizing women in STEM has been a more recent phenomenon, ORAU has long included women in its scientific enterprise. In this episode, Amber Davis and Matthew Underwood introduce h…
While the idea of re…
While the idea of recognizing women in STEM has been a more recent phenomenon, ORAU has long included women in its scientific enterprise. In this episode, Amber Davis and Matthew Underwood introduce host Michael Holtz to three women among the many who have made history at ORAU. Meet Evelyn Watson, Ann Sipe and Helen Vodopick, three women who made significant contributions to work at the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies (the original name of ORAU). Their backstories are fascinating, and they were innovators in their own right. Watson was an English major who became a self-taught nuclear …
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Inside The Nasa Science Mission Directorate: A Conversation With Dr. Nicky Fox 13 Inside The Nasa Science Mission Directorate: A Conversation With Dr. Nicky Fox &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
Dr. Nicola "Nicky" Fox, is the associate administrator for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, which essentially means she is the head of science for NASA. Her directorate is responsible for more th…
Dr. Nicola "Nicky" F…
Dr. Nicola "Nicky" Fox, is the associate administrator for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, which essentially means she is the head of science for NASA. Her directorate is responsible for more than 150 missions that are currently in space or in development. Further Together hosts Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood talk to Fox about the importance of her role, the trajectory of her career, how she became interested in science and how the desire to work for NASA brought her from England to the United States. She also tells a great story about how her father propped 8-month-old Nicky in fro…
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![The Power Of Connection And Sharing Our Cancer Stories: A Conversation With Anjee Davis And Ryan Vieth 14 The Power Of Connection And Sharing Our Cancer Stories: A Conversation With Anjee Davis And Ryan Vieth &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the #1 cancer killer of men under age 50 and #2 of women under age 50. In this episode of Further Together, Michael Holtz welcomes his …
March is Colorectal …
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the #1 cancer killer of men under age 50 and #2 of women under age 50. In this episode of Further Together, Michael Holtz welcomes his best friend, Ryan Vieth, as guest co-host. Ryan is in active treatment for stage IV colorectal cancer; Michael is a 12-year survivor of stage III colorectal cancer. They met when they were named 2023 Ambassadors for Fight Colorectal Cancer, a leading advocacy organization dedicated to the fight against colorectal cancer. Together, Michael and Ryan have a conversation with Anjee Davis, CEO of Fight…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Improving Quality Of Life For Cancer Survivors Throughout Their Lives: A Conversation With Shelley Fuld Nasso 15 Improving Quality Of Life For Cancer Survivors Throughout Their Lives: A Conversation With Shelley Fuld Nasso &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
More than 18 million people in the United States are cancer survivors, and survivors are living longer than ever before. At the same time, the health impacts and side effects of cancer treatment can s…
More than 18 million…
More than 18 million people in the United States are cancer survivors, and survivors are living longer than ever before. At the same time, the health impacts and side effects of cancer treatment can show up many years after treatment has ended. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship advocates for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer. In this episode of the Further Together podcast, Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood talk to Shelley Fuld Nasso, CEO of NCCS. Full disclosure: Holtz is a member of the NCCS Cancer Policy Advocacy Team, which works with lawmakers on policy i…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Looking Ahead To The 2024 Orau Annual Meeting: A Conversation With Ken Tobin And Cathy Fore 16 Looking Ahead To The 2024 Orau Annual Meeting: A Conversation With Ken Tobin And Cathy Fore &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
In this episode of Further Together: The ORAU Podcast, Ken Tobin, chief research and university partnerships officer, and Cathy Fore, senior director of university partnerships, look ahead to the 2024…
In this episode of F…
In this episode of Further Together: The ORAU Podcast, Ken Tobin, chief research and university partnerships officer, and Cathy Fore, senior director of university partnerships, look ahead to the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Council of Sponsoring Institutions. In conversation with Michael Holtz and Matthew Underwood, Tobin and Fore talk about the meeting's theme -- Redefining the Next Generation STEM Enterprise -- as well as the slate of keynote speakers and panelists. The annual meeting is a great opportunity to bring together ORAU subject matter experts, university consortium members and feder…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
!['I Can Do More Than I Thought I Could Do': A Conversation With Amanda Lopez, Nasa Postdoctoral Program Fellow 17 'I Can Do More Than I Thought I Could Do': A Conversation With Amanda Lopez, Nasa Postdoctoral Program Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
Amanda Lopez is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow in the Water and Systems Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her research background is in coastal geoscience world and she is currently studying…
Amanda Lopez is a NA…
Amanda Lopez is a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow in the Water and Systems Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her research background is in coastal geoscience world and she is currently studying the impact of wildfires on the land-sea interface. In this episode of Further Together, Lopez tells host Michael Holtz that she has wanted to be a scientist for as far back as she can remember. Her childhood included a love of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" series. Lopez says no one in her family was surprised she wanted to pursue the sciences. She also discusses how she gravi…
![Avatar Of Michael Holtz](/wp-content/uploads/images/member-photos/2216.jpeg)
![Studying The History Of The Universe: A Conversation With Taylor Hutchison, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow 18 Studying The History Of The Universe: A Conversation With Taylor Hutchison, Ph.d., Nasa Npp Fellow &Raquo; 749931 809276](https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/749931-809276-1024x1024.jpg)
Taylor Hutchison, a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow working on the James Webb Space Telescope, says her research focus is on distant galaxies --some of the first galaxies ever found in the early universe -- …
Taylor Hutchison, a …
Taylor Hutchison, a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow working on the James Webb Space Telescope, says her research focus is on distant galaxies --some of the first galaxies ever found in the early universe -- which give us a view toward understanding the history of the universe. In this episode of Further Together, host Michael Holtz asks Hutchison about her research emphasis, how she got to be a NASA NPP Fellow, what led her to a career in the sciences and so much more. To learn more about the NASA NPP Program, visit https://npp.orau.org/index.html
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