This podcast is an honest look at organ donation and transplantation told by the people who’ve actually lived it.
Through unfiltered conversations with recipients, donors, families, clinicians, and those working behind the scenes, we explore what it really means to be given a second chance at life. The good, the uncomfortable, the stuff that doesn’t always make the pamphlets or the hospital discharge notes.
We talk about fear, gratitude, identity, survival, resilience and the realities of life before and after transplant. It’s not about inspiration porn or tidy endings. It’s about truth, perspective, and the human stories that sit at the heart of organ donation.
If you’re curious about transplantation, connected to it, or just interested in stories where life gets real, this is for you.
In this episode of Gift of the Graft, I sit down with Casey to hear the story behind her transplant journey — but, as always, the medical story is only part of it.
Casey talks openly about the challenges she's faced, the realities of life after transplant, and the things that have mattered most along the way. We talk about family, gratitude, perspective and what it means to keep moving forward when life doesn't always go according to plan.
What struck me most about Casey is her quiet fortitude. There's no self-pity and no attempt to make her story bigger than it needs to be. Just an incredibly grounded perspective from someone who has been through and continues to go through some tough stuff.
It's an honest, thoughtful and at times emotional conversation about transplantation — but ultimately, it's a conversation about life, the people we love, and what we choose to do with the hand we're dealt.
I hope you enjoy meeting Casey as much as I did.
28 Jul 2026
Sue Garland | The Front line for Organ Donation| Donor Co-Ordinator Organ Donation New Zealand
What actually happens behind the scenes when a family decides to give the ultimate gift?
In this episode of The Gift of the Graft, Conal sits down with Sue Garland, Donor Coordinator Team Leader at Organ Donation New Zealand (ODNZ). Sue takes us inside the vital, delicate, and often misunderstood world of deceased organ and tissue donation in New Zealand.
From her early days as an ICU nurse caring for both donors and recipients, to leading the team of specialist donor coordinators who fly across the country at a moment's notice, Sue shares a fascinating look at the logistics, compassion, and clinical precision required to save lives.
In this episode, we cover:
The ODNZ Workflow: What happens from the moment a potential donor is identified in ICU to getting organs to transplant teams.
Myth-Busting: Why ticking "Yes" on your driver's license isn't a national register, and why you're never "too old" or "too unhealthy" to be considered.
The Power of Tissue Donation: How a single donor can help dozens of people through heart valves, skin, and eye tissue.
Trans-Tasman Collaboration: How New Zealand and Australia work together for urgent, life-saving organ matches.
Having "The Conversation": Why talking to your family about your wishes is the single most important step you can take.
Whether you're a recipient, a donor family member, or simply curious about how the system works, this is an honest, humbling, and deeply hopeful conversation.
24 May 2026
Helen Bickers | 35 Years of Living with a Gift | Kidney Transplant
What does it take to keep a kidney transplant thriving for nearly 35 years? For Helen Bickers, it took unmatched resilience, the power of patient self-advocacy, and surviving the darkest corners of chronic illness.
In this episode of The Gift of the Graft, Conal sits down with Helen to trace her incredible, decades-long journey through the changing landscape of New Zealand's medical system. Diagnosed with dual renal reflux as a child, Helen's life took a massive turn at just 17 when she plunged into complete renal failure.
From the grueling reality of five years on home hemodialysis to navigating the crushing emotional roller coaster of four failed transplant opportunities—including cancelled surgeries and organ rejections—Helen shares her story with a beautiful, raw, and pragmatic honesty.
In this episode, we dive into:
The Power of Your Own Voice: How a 17-year-old Helen caught a major medical error, and why being your own "eyes, ears, and voice" is essential for survival.
The "Full-Time Job" of Dialysis: The unseen mental and physical toll of managing home dialysis while trying to maintain a normal life.
Hitting Rock Bottom & Finding an Anchor: A vulnerable look at medical burnout, overcoming severe psychological hurdles, and the importance of having someone to hold you to the ground.
Love, Marriage, and the Healthy Unknown: The unique perspective of Helen's husband, who married her while she was on dialysis, and the anxiety of wondering "Who is Helen when she isn't sick?"
The Bright Orange Thermos: The unforgettable moment her third transplant finally arrived, and what it truly means to honor a donor's legacy every single day.
Helen’s journey is a powerful testament to the triumph of the human spirit and a must-listen for anyone navigating their own medical path or supporting someone who is.
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If Helen’s story touched you, please leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.
Have conversations with your loved ones about organ donation—alignment matters.
Note: This episode includes open discussions about mental health and medical burnout. If you or someone you know is struggling and needs to talk, free call or text 1737 anytime in New Zealand to speak with a trained counselor.
28 Apr 2026
Jess Avenell | Learning to Breathe Again | Double Lung Transplant
Jess’s story is one of those ones that really stays with you.
Diagnosed with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), she went from living a full, active life to a place where even a single breath could feel like a hard-fought win.
In this episode, we talk about:
what it actually feels like to lose your breath, slowly, over time
the emotional side of being sick
trying to hold onto normal life while everything is shifting underneath you
the surreal lead-up to transplant including the call, the chaos, and getting herself to hospital
and what life looks like on the other side of a double lung transplant
Jess is open, honest, and incredibly grounded. There’s a lot in here that will resonate, whether you’ve been through transplant yourself or not.
🔗 Connect with Jess
Jess now supports others going through transplant through her work:
🌐 Website: www.thetransplantcoach.co.nz (http://www.thetransplantcoach.co.nz)
📸 Instagram: @the_transplantcoach
7 Apr 2026
Shane "Legend" Leger | "Death Can Have Me When It’s Earned Me" | Heart Transplant Journey
Shane Leger’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and what it means to grow through life’s toughest moments.
Diagnosed with a serious heart condition at birth, Shane faced challenges early that would shape the way he sees the world today.
But what stands out isn’t just what he went through—it’s how he’s processed it. There’s a calmness and clarity in Shane’s outlook, captured in a line that sums him up perfectly: “death can have me when it’s earned me.”
In this conversation, Shane reflects not only on his heart transplant journey, but how his mindset has evolved over time. From the fearlessness of youth to the deeper awareness that comes with having more to lose, his story is honest, grounded, and quietly powerful.
This episode isn’t just about survival—it’s about perspective, growth, and learning what really matters.
18 Mar 2026
Antony Vlatkovich - Liver Transplant Recipient
In this episode, I sit down with Antony Vlatkovich, liver transplant recipient, cancer survivor, and all-round legend.
We talk about his childhood growing up with the knowledge that he would one day need a transplant, the weight of that reality, and how it shaped who he became.
Antony shares the moment he received “the call,” the life-saving operation that followed, and his recovery.
This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and what it means to be given a second chance at life — and how you choose to live it.
16 Feb 2026
Andy Bryant - Live Kidney Donor
The first episode of the Gift of the Graft podcast features a conversation between kidney transplant recipient Conal Beban and his kidney donor, Andy Bryant. The podcast aims to provide information and support for individuals considering live organ donation. The conversation covers the emotional and physical journey of becoming a kidney donor, including the motivation, decision-making process, medical tests, psychological evaluation, family support, financial security, hospital admission, and the operation day experience. The conversation covers the experience of kidney donation and the impact it has had on both the donor and the recipient. It delves into the recovery process, the emotional impact, and the rewards of donation, highlighting the unselfish act and the resilience of both individuals.
Takeaways
Live organ donation process
Emotional and physical journey
Support and preparation for donation Unselfish Act
Recovery and Resilience
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast
05:25 Preparation for Donation: Medical Tests and Psychological Evaluation
11:24 Family Support and Financial Security for Donors
23:23 Pre-Operation Experience: Hospital Admission and Preparation
33:35 Operation Day: Donor's Experience and Recovery
38:41 The Operation and Recovery Process
49:13 The Impact and Rewards of Donation
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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