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Artwork for Once Upon A Gene

Once Upon A Gene

Effie Parks
Rare Diseases
Parenting
Community Support
Genetic Testing
Genetic Counseling
Bloodstream Media
Caregiving
Self-Care
Patient Advocacy
Grief
Advocacy
Mental Health
Rare Genetic Syndromes
Epilepsy
Gene Therapy
Family Support
Autism
Rare Disease Advocacy
Rare Disease
Rare Disease Day

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... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes360Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingKids & FamilyPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Once Upon A Gene

Latest Episodes

Effie welcomes Matt Abernethy, a father and biotech executive whose story feels almost too perfectly timed to be real. Matt’s youngest son, Ian (now 13), was diagnosed with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) at age two. While navigating the... more

Hannah Lowe is back on the show. In this episode, Effie and Hannah discuss do not resuscitate orders for children with rare diseases. Hannah shares her experience with her son Austin and how the conversation around DNRs came up for their family. They... more

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 Syndrome (a rare telomere disorder caused by a CTC1 gen... more

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 down with Steven Ringel — patient, sibling of a p... more

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Recent Guests

Bryan Docobo
Dad advocating for rare disease awareness and founder of Luminary Tribe
Coats Plus Foundation / Luminary Tribe
Episode: 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
Steven Ringel
Founder of Kazuna Foundation and Nome
Nome / Kazuna Foundation
Episode: 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
Christy Foster
Somatic therapist and sister of host, guest on this episode
Episode: 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
Brittni Lamb
Mother of a child with SPG3A, advocate and caregiver
Parent of Jameson, SPG3A patient
Episode: From Hopeless Grief to Heavenly Hope: Brittni Lamb on Surrender, Faith, and Raising a Son with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia SPG3A
Lana Marcucio
Mobile app developer and mother of Quinn, who has epilepsy and autism, creator of Q-Voice.
Q-Voice
Episode: Smarter Speech: How Q-Voice Is Changing AAC for Families and Therapists with Lana Marcucio
Geraldine Bliss
Co-founder of CureSHANK and Start Genetic, mother of a son with Phelan-McDermid syndrome
CureSHANK
Episode: Why Genetic Testing Matters: The Case for Genetic Testing and the Start Genetic Movement - with Geraldine Bliss
Maya Gosztyla
Co-founder, COO, and lead scientist at Brainstorm Therapeutics.
Brainstorm Therapeutics
Episode: Mini Brains in a Dish: Organoids and the Future of Personalized Rare Disease Medicine
Emma Nadler
Psychotherapist, author of The Unlikely Village of Eden
Author, psychotherapist
Episode: Healing in the Mess: Storytelling, Friendship & Finding Love - Author of The Unlikely Village of Eden, Emma Nadler
Dr. Wendy Chung
Physician, Physician Scientist at Simon's Searchlight
Simon's Foundation
Episode: 15 Years of Simons Searchlight: Dr. Wendy Chung on How Families Shape Rare Disease Research and Spark Aha Moments - with Wendy Chung

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 362 ratings
  • Q-Voice discussion was fantastic

    I loved the discussion with Lana Marcucio about Q-Voice. It’s inspiring to see what brilliant and dedicated parents can create! The AI features and the scripts have so much promise for anyone who has trouble speaking (including for anyone who has English as a second language). Thank you for exposing us to such interesting and creative individuals!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DZDuck
    United States9 months ago
  • SO encouraging and relatable!

    I absolutely LOVE this podcast. From the second I found it after my sons diagnosis I knew I had found a support system of real, wise, and encouraging support from Effie and community💗✨. I’ve even had the opportunity to meet Effie in real life and she is the real deal! Such a heart to encourage and bring caregivers together to make our journeys a little more joyful and help us feel not so alone. Forever grateful for Effie, this community and all the resources!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrittaLamb
    United Statesa year ago
  • Power of community

    Thank you for teaching us the power of community in rare disease! Your podcast is such a light in this world. You’ve inspired me to help establish a foundation for my family member 🩷

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    review 838
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best podcast

    This is the absolute best podcast for parents with kids with disabilities. Effie is such a positive and amazing mom, friend, and a leader. Her positive energy is very contagious.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kasia Law
    United Statesa year ago
  • A Great podcast!

    I love listening to the podcast! Effie’s understanding and connection with her guests allows them to share their stories in an authentic way! Her podcast is uplifting, informative, and inspiring! Anyone on their rare disease journey or in the space should listen to Once Upon A Gene!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jamesgriff3
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host for empathy and actionable insights.
A warm, supportive space for rare disease parents and caregivers.
High-quality blend of personal stories and practical guidance.
Consistently uplifting and informative with authentic guest selection.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 272 Caregiver Archetypes of Survival (Part 2) The Prostitute Archetype: Reclaiming Your Worth Without Losing Yourself, w/ Christy Foster
Q: How do caregivers balance giving to others with preserving their own identity and well-being?
By identifying what has been lost, revisiting simple self-care practices, and creating a small, reliable support system while accepting that it's not selfish to put their own needs first sometimes.
Why Genetic Testing Matters: The Case for Genetic Testing and the Start Genetic Movement - with Geraldine Bliss
Q: How does genetic testing change the landscape for patients and their families?
It provides valuable insights into their conditions, access to patient communities, and informs treatment strategies, leading to better healthcare outcomes.
Why Genetic Testing Matters: The Case for Genetic Testing and the Start Genetic Movement - with Geraldine Bliss
Q: What inspired the urgency to establish Start Genetic?
There is a need to find more patients with genetic conditions to ensure they can access available treatments and participate in clinical trials.
Mini Brains in a Dish: Organoids and the Future of Personalized Rare Disease Medicine
Q: How do organoids fit into the drug approval process?
They could potentially replace animal models and expedite the approval process for drugs by providing sufficient evidence of efficacy and safety.
Mini Brains in a Dish: Organoids and the Future of Personalized Rare Disease Medicine
Q: Can you explain what brain organoids are and the process of creating them?
Brain organoids are mini versions of the brain created from stem cells, allowing researchers to model diseases more closely in humans.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Once Upon A Gene

What is Once Upon A Gene about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A podcast focused on families navigating rare genetic conditions, featuring caregivers, patient advocates, researchers, clinicians, and tech founders who are advancing diagnostics, therapies, and support tools. Episodes blend personal journeys with practical strategies—from archetype-based caregiving frameworks and self-care to cutting-edge research like AI-powered therapies, organoid models, and genetic testing advocacy. The show is notable for bridging heart-centered storytelling with actionable insights for families, clinicians, researchers, and advocates, often highlighting community, resilience, and funded paths forward in the rare disease space.

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What are the audience demographics for Once Upon A Gene?

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How many subscribers and views does Once Upon A Gene have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Once Upon A Gene?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Once Upon A Gene:

1. The Rare Life
2. Up First from NPR
3. The Lazy Genius Podcast
4. The Daily
5. The Headlines

How many episodes of Once Upon A Gene are there?

Once Upon A Gene launched 7 years ago and published 360 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Once Upon A Gene?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Once Upon A Gene?

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What guests have appeared on Once Upon A Gene?

Recent guests on Once Upon A Gene include:

1. Bryan Docobo
2. Steven Ringel
3. Christy Foster
4. Brittni Lamb
5. Lana Marcucio
6. Geraldine Bliss
7. Maya Gosztyla
8. Emma Nadler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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