Episodes 358
Avg. Duration 28m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (279)
Since Oct 2019
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
51%
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feeds.megaphone.fm

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About This Podcast

As a new parent of a child with a rare genetic syndrome, I was lost. There was no guide. There was no rulebook. This was not what I had imagined. As I navigated my way through this new reality, I realized something that should have been simple, but was not. A truth that had always been there, but that I had lost sight of for a time - I am not alone. And neither are you. These are the stories of my family, and of families like ours. These are the stories of how we have persevered, cried, bonded, and grown. These are the stories of children who have been told that they cannot, and that have proved the world wrong.

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Recent Episodes

ONCE UPON A GENE – EPISODE 276: His Two Sons Were Diagnosed with Coats Plus Syndrome — One Father’s Story of Rare Disease Advocacy and Brotherhood with Bryan Docobo

Jun 11, 2026 41m

Bryan Docobo — attorney, father, rare disease advocate, and founder of the Coats Plus Foundation. Bryan opens up about the devastating journey of losing his four-year-old son Ethan to Coats Plus…

ONCE UPON A GENE – EPISODE 275: How AI is Making Personalized Therapies Faster, Cheaper, and Accessible for the World’s Rarest Diseases with Steven Ringel

May 28, 2026 44m

Get your free Nome report at www.nome.bio – Families can upload a genetic report and receive a free personalized therapy feasibility report in minutes. In this powerful conversation, Effie Parks sits…

ONCE UPON A GENE – EPISODE 274: Caregiver Archetypes of Survival (Part 4) | The Victim Archetype: From Cowardly Lion to Roaring Warrior – Reclaiming Your Inner Courage Without Losing Yourself with Christy Foster

May 21, 2026 1h 1m

In the final episode of their four-part archetype series, Effie Parks and archetype expert Christy Foster explore the Victim Archetype—represented by the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. They…

ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 273 Caregiver Archetypes of Survival (Part 3) The Saboteur Archetype: Reclaiming Your Inner Authority Without Losing Yourself, w/ Christy Foster

May 14, 2026 1h 2m

In part 3 of our 4-part series on Caregiver Archetypes, my sister and somatic therapist Christy Foster returns to unpack the Saboteur — the clever inner voice that second-guesses you, overthinks…

ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 272 Caregiver Archetypes of Survival (Part 2) The Prostitute Archetype: Reclaiming Your Worth Without Losing Yourself, w/ Christy Foster

Apr 23, 2026 45m

Welcome to Part 2 of our 4-part Caregiver Archetype series. In this episode, Effie is joined by somatic therapist Christy Foster to explore the Prostitute Archetype—also known as the Worth/Value…

Caregiver Archetypes for Survival (Part 1) The Child Archetype : Soothe Your Inner Child Without Letting It Drive the Bus, w/ Christy Foster

Apr 16, 2026 55m

In this opening episode of our special 4-part series on Caregiver Archetypes, host Effie Parks welcomes back her sister, Christy Foster, for a heartfelt and refreshingly different conversation.…

From Hopeless Grief to Heavenly Hope: Brittni Lamb on Surrender, Faith, and Raising a Son with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia SPG3A

Apr 02, 2026 30m

Episode Description: In this warm and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with my sweet friend Brittni Lamb — a sunshine-loving mama in Arizona raising two daughters and her adorable son Jameson,…

Smarter Speech: How Q-Voice Is Changing AAC for Families and Therapists with Lana Marcucio

Oct 24, 2025 42m

Lana is a mom, software developer, and fierce advocate who created Q-Voice, an AAC system built out of love, frustration, and deep understanding. When her daughter Quinn struggled to connect through…

Why Genetic Testing Matters: The Case for Genetic Testing and the Start Genetic Movement - with Geraldine Bliss

Oct 16, 2025 46m

In this episode of Once Upon a Gene, host Effie Parks welcomes Geraldine Bliss — rare mom, co-founder of CureSHANK, and the powerhouse behind Start Genetic, a new movement empowering families to take…

Mini Brains in a Dish: Organoids and the Future of Personalized Rare Disease Medicine

Oct 02, 2025 38m

In this episode of Once Upon a Gene, Effie sits down with Dr. Maya Gosztyla from Brainstorm Therapeutics to explore one of the most exciting frontiers in rare disease research - organoids. These…

Healing in the Mess: Storytelling, Friendship & Finding Love - Author of The Unlikely Village of Eden, Emma Nadler

Sep 04, 2025 53m

This episode of Once Upon a Gene is a little like a cafeteria tray - pick what feeds you and leave what doesn't. Chatting with the zesty, vivacious, and wildly insightful Emma Nadler -…

15 Years of Simons Searchlight: Dr. Wendy Chung on How Families Shape Rare Disease Research and Spark Aha Moments - with Wendy Chung

Aug 28, 2025 23m

In this conversation, Wendy Chung discusses the evolution of understanding genetic conditions, particularly in relation to autism, and the role of Simons Searchlight in patient advocacy. She…

A Rare Collection - Rare Disease Storytelling with Kyle Bryant, Jennifer Siedman, Liz Morris and Ashley Fortney Point

Jun 12, 2025 24m Bonus

ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 100 A Rare Collection- Because of You with Kyle Bryant, Jennifer Siedman, Liz Morris, and Ashley Fortney Point There's power in storytelling- for the listener and the…

Finding Joy in the Journey: A Guide for Parents of Medically Complex Kids with Amber Pierson & Chelsea Kuhn

Jun 05, 2025 42m

Discount Code for 20% off: ONCEUPONAGENE Chelsea and Amber of Lemon Cake—two fellow rare moms on a mission—pop in to remind you that even when seizures, meltdowns, and endless therapies feel like…

From Beast Games Champ to Rare Disease Warrior: Jeff Allen’s 365-Mile Ruck for His Son’s Creatine Transporter Deficiency

May 15, 2025 33m

In this episode, Jeffrey Allen, a passionate advocate for rare disease awareness and a dedicated father to Lucas, who has creatine transporter deficiency. (CTD is also referred to as SLC6A8…

GeneDx Launches Cerebral Palsy Genetic Testing Pillar & Discover Snapshot: For Deeper Insights and to Help You Grow Your Patient Community – with Gay Grossman

May 01, 2025 32m

In this episode of Once Upon a Gene, I’m joined again by rare mom and powerhouse advocate Gay Grossman. Gay works at GeneDx—home to one of the largest clinical genomic databases—and she’s here to…

Empowered Kids - Painless Labs :O'Ryan Health’s At‑Home Blood‑Draw Revolution with Tim Coleman

Apr 18, 2025 34m

Turning Kids into Superheroes of Science with O’Ryan HealthThe world of pediatric autoimmune and rare diseases can feel isolating—especially when answers live behind hospital walls or research…

Navigating the Complexities of Grief: How One Mother’s Grief Birthed a Supportive Community with, Heather Straughter.

Mar 27, 2025 53m

In this heartfelt conversation, Heather Straughter shares herprofound journey through grief after the loss of her son, Jake. She discussesthe pivotal moments that shaped her path, the importance of…

Reimagining Pediatric Healthcare: How Imagine Pediatrics is Revolutionizing In-Home Medical Care for Medically Complex Kids and Lightening the Load for Families - Taylor Beery and Jody Copp

Mar 20, 2025 44m

Reimagining Pediatric Care with Imagine Pediatrics For families of medically complex kids, the healthcare system often feels broken—long hospital stays, insurance battles for basic needs, and…

How a Service Dog Helped a Child with CACNA1C-Related Disorder (Timothy Syndrome) Gain Independence – with Sue Bresnahan

Mar 06, 2025 32m

Service dogs are often associated with guiding the blind or assisting with mobility, but their impact goes far beyond traditional roles. In this episode, I’m joined by Sue Bresnahan, a pediatric…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Once Upon A Gene have?

Once Upon A Gene has published 358 episodes since October 2019, covering topics in Kids & Family, Parenting.

Is Once Upon A Gene still active?

Once Upon A Gene is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 28m.

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