Expectations were high for this year’s festival, and the star-studded event did not disappoint.
Another year, another amazing visit to South by Southwest (SXSW) in the books. This year, Katie hosted numerous panels, and was even a keynote speaker for the event, along with actress Brooke Shields and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Just in case you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of this Austin-based gathering, here’s the lowdown: It’s basically an annual mega-spectacle that’s the site of countless overlapping events over the course of one single weekend each March, spanning film, music performances, education, tech showcases, and pop-culture discussions. Given how wide-ranging these conversations and presentations are, it’s not surprising that SXSW can attract more than 300,000 attendees and big-name celebs for a jam-packed roster each year. Katie Couric Media — and, of course, our north star Katie — were on the scene for some events held by our very own partners. Here were some of our favorite moments:
Learning how AI will revolutionize colon cancer awareness, with Medtronic
First up, Katie hosted a SHE Media panel on colon health, called “High-Tech Health: Innovating to Turn the Tide Against Colorectal Cancer with AI.” Katie was joined by several thought leaders in the field: Ken Washington, Chief Technology Officer of Medtronic, a medical device company; Brooks Bell, a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer when she was just 38 years old, and now advocates for screening and awareness; Raj Keswani, MD, a clinician utilizing AI and colonoscopy screenings; and Austin Chiang, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Medtronic Endoscopy Operating Business.
If you’re a devoted Wake-Up Call subscriber, or are just a fan of Katie’s, then you likely already know that her first husband, Jay Monahan, tragically died of colorectal cancer in 1998, when he was only 42 years old. (Katie’s first grandchild was recently born, and named Jay in honor of Monahan.) As such, the topic of colon health is deeply important to Katie, which is why she was so eager to learn more about where our society is at, in our understanding of awareness and screening.
The conversation was, at various points, heartbreaking and inspiring, with the experts on hand laying out common fallacies about the issue. “[Colorectal cancer] is not just a men’s disease,” said Dr. Chiang. “It affects both men and women equally… And so that’s why I personally feel very strongly about making sure that we’re doing a good job as clinicians trying to dispel these myths and misconceptions around colon cancer.” (You can watch this full, and very necessary, conversation in the video above.)
Exploring the fascinating science behind rare disease research with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Up next was another panel hosted by Katie: “How Patients Are Driving Transformative Science in Rare Disease.” She was joined by an additional powerhouse cast of innovators and thought leaders in the field: Tania Simoncelli, Vice President of Science in Society at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI); Jennifer Canvasser, Founder and Executive Director of the Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Society; Nasha Fitter, Co-Founder of the FOXG1 Research Foundation; and Monkol Lek, Assistant Professor of Genetics at Yale School of Medicine.
Together, the panelists discussed the statistics around rare diseases — which are as shocking as they are underreported in the U.S. “There are more than 7,000 known rare diseases,” Katie pointed out. “30 percent of children with a rare disease will not live to see their fifth birthday. 400 million people globally have a rare disease — and 95 percent of rare diseases have no approved treatment or cure. (You can watch the full conversation above.)
Staying nourished between panels with the CocoaVia smoothie station
Last but not least, we were thrilled to see a long line at the CocoaVia smoothie station to kick off the weekend. From oatmeal-cookie smoothies to mixed-berry smoothies, the beverage opportunities were endless (and completely delicious). Those treats were the perfect pick-me-up for those looking to keep their energy going (while also supporting their heart and brain health) between back-to-back panels on this wonderful, frantic weekend.
CocoaVia supplements deliver cocoa flavanols, which could be hugely valuable for any busy conference-goer. In fact, in a recent interview, Mark Hyman, MD — bestselling author of Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life — explained how cocoa flavanols work in the body: “When cocoa flavanols kickstart the production of nitric oxide, that molecule relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation,” Dr. Hyman explained. “This not only supports your heart but also gives your brain cells a boost of oxygen and nutrients, which is foundational for keeping your cognitive function sharp. Plus, studies even suggest that cocoa flavanols can help fight age-related memory decline.” (And when you’re taking in a slew of incredible experiences over the course of a weekend, you certainly want to retain as many memories as you can.)
Of course, those are only some of the highlights of the action-packed weekend. Two things are for sure: There’s never a dull moment at SXSW — and we can’t wait for what’s in store next year.
