Out of Patients EP412: Meet My Grief: Notes from an Orphaned Teen
Lexi Silver is fifteen. She has buried both of her parents. She has sat through funerals most adults will never face. She writes about grief with the precision of a scalpel and the blunt force of a sledgehammer. And she does it without apology.
I wanted her on Out of Patients because I’m tired of adults hijacking conversations about what kids endure. Lexi doesn’t need a spokesperson. She is the spokesperson. She’s been dismissed, underestimated, and told she’s “so strong” more times than she can count. That phrase makes her cringe. It makes me cringe too.
We talked about losing her mom on Christmas morning. We talked about her dad dying nine months later. We talked about pills, hospitals, trolls on Instagram, and the garbage things people say when they don’t know what else to say. We also laughed. A lot. She quoted her own poems. She roasted me for being old. She said “whilst” like she was channeling Shakespeare and somehow pulled it off.
This episode is raw and unflinching. It will change how you talk to grieving kids. It might change how you see your own grief too.
Matthew Zachary
Producer
Dubbed "The People's Voice in Healthcare" by People Magazine, Matthew Zachary turned a brain cancer diagnosis at 21 into a global movement for patient empowerment. He beat the odds and became a powerhouse advocate for patient rights, giving a voice to millions overlooked by traditional healthcare.
As the founder of Stupid Cancer, he launched the young adult cancer movement, pioneering a new era of patient advocacy. In 2007, he created The Stupid Cancer Show—the first-ever healthcare talk radio show before podcasts were even a thing—building a global community for cancer survivors.
His groundbreaking podcast Out of Patients and the award-winning documentary The Cancer Mavericks cemented him as the "Podfather of Healthcare" and one of the most trusted, irreverent voices in the industry.
Now, as Principal of Matthew Zachary Worldwide, he leads a media, consulting, and think tank agency disrupting healthcare marketing with bold, empathy-driven storytelling. His work spans digital health, life sciences, entertainment, and nonprofit advocacy—challenging the system, amplifying patient voices, and driving real change.
With millions of downloads, hundreds of keynotes, and a sharp GenX edge that blends wit with wisdom, Matthew empowers patients to reclaim their stories while helping organizations embrace authentic, lived-experience storytelling.
Matthew is also... still standing.
Out of Patients EP411: The Cancer Fun House: Michele Andrews
