Matthew Zachary: America's Cancer Advocate

About MZ

Dubbed "The People's Voice in Healthcare" by People Magazine, Matthew Zachary has transformed personal adversity into a global movement for change. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 1995 at the age of 21, Matthew beat the odds and emerged as a powerful advocate for patient rights and empowerment.

As the founder of Stupid Cancer, he ignited the young adult cancer movement giving a voice to millions of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers overlooked by traditional healthcare.

As the creator of The Stupid Cancer Show—the first healthcare talk radio show before podcasts were a thing—Matthew pioneered a new way to build a global cancer community in 2007.

His groundbreaking podcast Out of Patients and the award-winning documentary The Cancer Mavericks has cemented his reputation as the “Podfather of Healthcare” and one of the most trusted, irreverent, and influential voices in the industry.

As Principal of Matthew Zachary Worldwide, Matthew leads a trailblazing consulting group, media production company, and coveted industry think tank. His work spans entertainment, digital health, broadcast media, life sciences, and nonprofit advocacy, delivering bold, empathy-driven strategies that disrupt healthcare marketing, amplify patient stories, and drive systemic change.

With over two decades of experience, hundreds of keynotes under his belt, millions of podcast downloads, and an appropriately sardonic GenX edge that's equal parts wit and wisdom, Matthew's enduring legacy is to empower patients to reclaim control of their personal narratives while inspiring organizations to embrace authentic, lived-experience storytelling.

Get to know the most notorious, unapologetic, and influential podcast in healthcare, amplifying the patient voice like no other. With millions of listeners, a legacy of shaping the national narrative on cancer survivorship and patient advocvacy, Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary is more than a podcast—it's a movement.

Every episode delivers a masterclass in storytelling with unapologetic authenticity, sharp wit, deep insights, and unforgettable conversations with an appropriate tinge of sardonic GenX nostalgia.

Featuring healthcare leaders, patient advocates, celebrities, authors, influencers, nonprofit champions, industry titans, and game-changing innovators, Out of Patients delivers conversations that make you think deeper, feel more, and learn like nowhere else.

If you really want to know what's really happening in healthcare from the people's point of view, this is the show you can't afford to miss.

"The Most Trusted Patient Voice In Healthcare."

"The Podcast That Makes Healthcare Suck Less."

"Out of Patients is truly one of a kind in the most refreshing way and must be on the top of your queue at all times. Across nearly two decades, his unfiltered honesty, GenX humor, and authentic desire to make healthcare suck less for all Americans has inspired and motivated millions of listeners."

“Matthew’s ability to balance raw honesty with humor, heart, and humanity makes this a must-listen show for all podcsdst junkies. Matthew is willing to ask the tough questions and address uncomfortable truths, giving listeners an authentic sense of validation, solidarity, and empowerment."

Keynotes & Concerts

For over two decades, Fortune 500 companies and diverse clients around the world have embraced Matthew's uniquely mesmerizing talent blend of humor, theatricality, neurotic intellectualism, unfiltered authenticity, subject matter expertise, and transformative storytelling that captures the mentally taxing zeitgeist of American healthcare.

His diverse lived experiences enrich his appearances, consistently delivering lasting impact and ensuring that audiences of all sizes leave inspired, motivated, and empowered to live their best lives.

From "6 Months To Live" to internationally recognized advocate, culture-bending provocateur, nonprofit visionary, and award-winning podcaster and documentarian, Matthew stands as one of the most sought-after public speakers and performers.

"A PIONEER AND PROVOCATEUR."
"AN IMCOMPARABLE STORYTELLER."
"MZ IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO."
"A REAL AMERICAN ADVOCATE."
"HE REALLY RALLIED THE TROOPS."

~ Programs ~

"Resilience in the Face of Adversity: A Journey of Surviving Cancer" Matthew shares his remarkable journey of surviving pediatric brain cancer in this powerful and inspirational keynote speech, drawing from his personal experiences dating back to the mid 1990s. Matthew takes audiences on a profound and emotional exploration of the challenges and triumphs of battling this devastating disease, including real-world issues of the day, as he celebrates 28 years in remission.		"Navigating Nonprofits: Challenges, Rewards, and the Role of Nonprofit Leaders" Matthew explore the multifaceted journey of starting, running, sustaining, and leading a nonprofit organization. Nonprofits play a crucial role in addressing social and community needs, but the path to success is fraught with rewards and pitfalls. We'll delve into the challenges nonprofit leaders face, the importance of community building, and the inspirational impact they can have on their communities.
"Empathetic Consumerism in Healthcare: The Death of The Impression" Healthcare is fraught with increasing demand for more authentic engagement, with a delicate balance sitting between abysmally low patient trust and well-intended—but often empathy-deficient—marketing and communication initiatives. Matthew deconstructs these complex dynamics and their impact on the stakeholder relationships, with a sprinkle of strategy on a solution hiding in plain sight.		"The Art & Business of Podcasting: Does Anyone Care What You Have To Say?" Matthew presents a masterclass in podcasting, a medium that has rapidly evolved from a niche hobby to a mainstream communications platform. But is it worth it? His perspective takes audiences through a historical, cultural, anthropological, and societal journey through the art and theater of audio and the known and unknown pros and cons that come with defining goals and success in this content frontier.


	"Matthew should be on everyone's top ten celebrity healthcare speakers list. He is engaging, inspirational, personable, hysterical, and very, very real.." STONYBROOK CANCER CENTER		"Matthew brought an entire audience of executives to tears, cheers, and back again at our Specialty Summit with his unique story, expertise, and comedic GenX bent." MAGELLIN RX MANAGEMENT