In this episode of The Patient From Hell, host Samira Daswani speaks with Neal K. Shah — TEDx speaker, former hedge fund manager, and now social entrepreneur reshaping the caregiving economy.

After building a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund in his 20s, Neal’s life changed dramatically when cancer struck his wife. As her primary caregiver, he experienced firsthand the crushing financial toxicity, social isolation, and emotional toll caregivers face.

Today, Neal runs social enterprises tackling the caregiving crisis, has authored Insured to Death, and is exposing how AI is being weaponized by insurance companies to deny life-saving care.

This conversation covers:

The untold burden on family caregivers

Why health insurance often fails in catastrophic illness

How financial toxicity devastates households

The rise of AI-driven claim denials

Neal’s mission to “arm the resistance” with AI tools for patients

If you’ve ever wondered why healthcare feels broken — or how we can fix it — this episode will leave you informed and inspired.

🧑‍💼 Guest Bio

Neal K. Shah is a TEDx speaker, investor-turned-social entrepreneur, and caregiver advocate. Formerly a hedge fund partner by his late 20s, Neal left finance after his wife’s cancer battle to focus on fixing the broken caregiving system. He is the founder of multiple social enterprises, a national leader in the caregiving movement, and author of Insured to Death: How Health Insurance Screws Over Americans and How We Take It Back.

⏱️ Chapter Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction & Neal’s background

02:00 – From hedge funds to caregiving

05:00 – The hidden burden on family caregivers

08:00 – Why caregiving is isolating and overlooked

10:20 – ICU, coma, and decision-making as caregiver

14:00 – How caregiving changes your personality

16:20 – The financial toxicity of illness

19:00 – Writing Insured to Death

23:30 – Weaponization of AI by insurers

28:40 – Medical bankruptcy and broken insurance

31:15 – Singapore vs. U.S. healthcare models

34:30 – Positive uses of AI for patient advocacy

37:30 – Rapid fire: rights, myths, and advice

44:00 – Closing thoughts

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Grief is not one-size-fits-all. In this episode of The Patient From Hell, grief coach Holly Gainsboro breaks down anticipatory grief after a cancer diagnosis (incl. glioblastoma/GBM), the harm of “be strong,” and simple daily practices that actually help patients, caregivers, and clinicians. We cover how to talk to kids after diagnosis, caregiver exhaustion, why grief isn’t linear, and what to ask when seeking a therapist with real grief training.

About Our Guest:

Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support & Education, is a Grief Coach/Support Specialist & Grief Educator. Holly’s late husband, Steven, died in December 2010, from glioblastoma. Holly began her work in the grief field more than a decade ago, earning her first certification as a Grief Recovery Specialist. She continued her studies and received her certification as a Grief Educator with world renowned grief expert, David Kessler, as well as being certified as a Grief Support Specialist from the University of Wisconsin. Holly believes that learning never stops and recently completed another training and certification as a Grief & Loss Provider with Claire Bidwell Smith. Holly recognizes that grievers don’t need to be fixed, they need to be heard, seen, and supported. Holly’s passion/purpose is to be present for those who have experienced losses by guiding them through the feelings of grief and leading them to a place of peace and hope while honoring their relationships/experiences. Holly says," I normalize grief and invite growth and learning throughout the journey using a heart centered, and holistic approach.”

Holly works 1:1 with women who have lost a loved one to a brain tumor or are caring for a loved one diagnosed with a brain tumor, facilitates grief support groups, and leads grief education workshops for various organizations. She is the co-host of the podcast Creating Space for Grief & Hope. What you’ll learn:What anticipatory grief is (and why it’s not just anticipating death)How to support a spouse/partner & children after a GBM diagnosisThe difference between platitudes and evidence-informed supportPractical tools: movement, journaling, nature, hydration, restWhy feeling your feelings = real strength

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Tags:

grief, anticipatory grief, glioblastoma, GBM, brain tumor, cancer caregiving, caregiver support, oncology, oncology support, patient advocacy, grief coach, grief educator, grief myths, grief practices, palliative care, bereavement, grief tools, cancer diagnosis, mental health in medicine, The Patient From Hell, Manta Cares

Samira is joined by legal expert, patient advocate, and author Rebecca — a powerhouse voice in the cancer and healthcare world. Rebecca shares her unique journey from big law to breast cancer advocacy, and offers practical, game-changing advice for patients navigating diagnosis, treatment, insurance, and employment.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand your rights, this conversation is a masterclass in layered patient advocacy.

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future episodes of Patient from Hell.

About Our Guest:

Rebecca Bloom is a Yale College and New York University School of Law educated patient and workplace advocate. A former workplace and benefits attorney, Rebecca’s longest and proudest affiliation is with Bay Area Cancer Connections, where she has served as a patient advocate and healthcare, insurance and workplace advisor for women fighting breast and ovarian cancer for 25 years. Rebecca was a contributing writer and editor for Breast Cancer in the Workplace, published by the Northern California Cancer Center in the early 2000s. The book has recently been updated, expanded and reissued by the Cancer Prevention Institute of California and is now titled Working with Cancer.Rebecca serves as a listener, learner, supporter and advocate for the clients of Bay Area Cancer Connections, primarily one at a time but also in groups that she’s led and conferences where she’s presented.

When she worked as a lawyer, her clients were companies, and she brings that perspective to her interactions with BACC clients and other people on whose behalf she advocates. Her knowledge of the complex rules that employers, insurers and medical providers follow, as well as the dynamics and incentives that exist between stakeholders helps her give the women she supports a constructive and comprehensive foundation so that they can integrate all available information with comfort and confidence and focus on recovery and wellness. Rebecca is also a professional storytelling coach, helping her clients get their stories told and shared.⏱️

CHAPTERS / TIMECODES

00:00 – Cancer Bills, Greed & the Broken System

01:00 – Meet Rebecca: Legal Ninja-Turned-Advocate

03:50 – What Changed in 26 Years of Oncology Work

06:45 – Why the Maze Is More Complex Today

09:50 – The Rise of the Medical Industrial Complex

11:40 – How Tech Complicates Cancer Care

13:00 – The Story Behind Her New Book

16:00 – Advocacy Success Story: Karen’s Journey

20:00 – How to Talk to Insurers & Employers (Magic Words)

23:30 – Legal Advice: Your Benefits Are Yours — Take Them

26:00 – Drafting Your Support Team (Like a Startup CEO)

28:40 – The Hidden Risk of Insurance Plan Changes

31:15 – Rapid Fire: Insurance, FMLA, Disability, COBRA Explained

38:55 – Other Hidden Workplace Benefits Most Patients Miss

40:35 – If You Could Fix One Thing About Healthcare...

41:30 – What Being a "Patient from Hell" Really Means

42:00 – Closing Thoughts and One Thing to Remember

Takeaways:

Rebecca Bloom's diverse background includes law, advocacy, and storytelling.

Stories of hope can empower patients and provide valuable insights.

Understanding your rights as a patient is essential for effective advocacy.

Insurance complexities can create barriers to care that patients must navigate.

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.