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.

Out of Patients with Matthew Zachary is the longest-running, independent healthcare podcast.

Since 2007, Matthew’s been calling out the hypocrisy, hubris, and hostage-taking baked into American healthcare—with a mic in one hand and a middle finger in the other.

What started as a pirate radio rebellion is now the most trusted, notorious, and unfiltered show in the game. Patients love it. Industry listens. And anyone who’s ever been gaslit by the system knows exactly where to turn to nod their heads in shared rage.

Every episode delivers unsanitized stories, dark humor, policy takedowns, and angsty GenX truth bombs—told by the people living it, not spinning it.

It’s the show you love about the healthcare you hate.

"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."


	"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

~ Programs ~

"THE CANCER PATIENT WHO WOULDN’T SHUT UP: HOW ONE VOICE SPARKED A MOVEMENT” At 21, Matthew was told he might not live. Instead, he built a national cancer movement and became the most trusted voice in patient advocacy. This keynote is a gripping, no-holds-barred ride through survival, purpose, and how one pissed-off GenXer helped change the system—and why we’re not done yet.		"HEALTHCARE COMMS ARE BROKEN: WHY TRUST IS THE ONLY STRATEGY THAT WORKS" Let’s be honest—healthcare marketing is broken. Patients know it. Brands ignore it. Matthew unpacks the failure of impressions, fake empathy, and pharma-friendly fluff—and shows how brands can finally speak human, earn trust, and make messaging that
"DON’T START A HEALTHCARE PODCAST (UNLESS YOU MEAN IT): AUDIO THAT DOESN’T SUCK" Everyone wants a podcast. Most shouldn't have one. Matthew breaks down why 90% of healthcare podcasts fail—and how to make one that doesn’t. With 15+ years behind the mic, this is a playbook for audio that builds trust, tells real stories, and doesn’t sound like a compliance script.		“HOW NOT TO DIE QUIETLY: LIFE, POWER, AND ALWAYS SAYING THE THING OUT LOUD" You don’t need to be a survivor to understand what it means to be ignored by the system. Matthew’s story of surviving brain cancer at 21 is the launchpad for a deeper, universal message: resilience, rage, humor, and how to take your pain, speak up, and start something that matters.