Once Upon A Gene cover art

Once Upon A Gene

Once Upon A Gene

By: Effie Parks
Listen for free

About this listen

 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.© 2019 - 2022 Effie Parks Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Caregiver Archetypes for Survival (Part 1) The Child Archetype : Soothe Your Inner Child Without Letting It Drive the Bus, w/ Christy Foster

    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
    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. Christy will introduce the Child Archetype—the part of us that longs to belong, dream big, and feel safe… but can also slam the door shut, shout “It’s not fair!”, and feel completely powerless when life gets loud. It’s a simple, practical language to help caregivers notice their stress patterns in real time and choose kinder next steps. Christy guides listeners through how to spot when your inner Child is activated, how to soothe that part of yourself with compassion, and, most importantly, how to keep it from taking the wheel. You’ll walk away with: A clear understanding of the Child Archetype and why it shows up so strongly for parents and caregivers Tools to recognize your own “I have no choice” stress loops Small, doable resourcing choices you can make today instead of spiraling Permission to get curious, drop perfection, and treat yourself with the same gentleness you offer your loved ones Whether you’re in the thick of caregiving, navigating big emotions, or simply craving more self-awareness, this episode gives you a compassionate new way to understand yourself when stress hits. Mentioned in this episode: Once Upon a Gene Episode 29: Oxygen Masks & Motherhood with Christy Foster Once Upon a Gene Episode 239: How Stress Shows Up in the Body as Real Pain with Christy Foster This is the first of four episodes exploring different caregiver archetypes. Stay tuned for Parts 2–4
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • From Hopeless Grief to Heavenly Hope: Brittni Lamb on Surrender, Faith, and Raising a Son with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia SPG3A

    From Hopeless Grief to Heavenly Hope: Brittni Lamb on Surrender, Faith, and Raising a Son with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia SPG3A
    Apr 2 2026
    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, who has the ultra-rare Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia SPG3A. Brittni shares the raw season after Jameson’s diagnosis when grief, loneliness, and hopelessness felt all-consuming. She talks about crying herself to sleep, walking through the days in a fog, and the heavy mom guilt she carried. Then she opens up about the slow, beautiful healing that came through daily surrender, faith, weight training, community with other special needs moms, and choosing to notice the “glimmers” of joy with her family. We talk about what surrender really looked like in her body and her home, how she’s learning to care for herself so she can show up for her kids, the unique bond she shares with Jameson, and why her hope is now anchored in heaven — where she dreams of one day seeing Jameson walking, running, and jumping with a brand-new body. This episode is full of gentle wisdom, real talk about grief, and encouragement that joy and hope really can return after the darkest days. Topics Covered: The darkest days after diagnosis and what hopelessness felt like The moment surrender changed everything How weight training became part of her mental + physical healing Finding and clinging to glimmers of joy Raising siblings alongside a child with disabilities Faith, grief, and anchoring hope in heaven Connect with Brittni: Instagram: @brittnikarina @preppedaz If this episode touched you, please share it with another rare disease or special needs parent who needs to hear that they’re not alone — and that hope can come back. 💛 Thanks for listening!
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Smarter Speech: How Q-Voice Is Changing AAC for Families and Therapists with Lana Marcucio

    Smarter Speech: How Q-Voice Is Changing AAC for Families and Therapists with Lana Marcucio
    Oct 24 2025
    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 traditional speech apps, Lana and her husband decided to build something better—something intuitive, visual, and human. In this episode, we talk about: The real-life limitations of traditional AAC systems How Q-Voice uses GIFs, emojis, and real-world icons to keep learners engaged Built-in data tracking that actually helps shape speech goals The AI feature that speeds up sentence formation and keeps communication flowing Why parent involvement and design simplicity are key to AAC success Whether you’re a parent, SLP, or educator, this episode is full of hope and practical inspiration for making communication easier—and more fun—for everyone. Learn more or try Q-Voice: qvoice.app Follow Lana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigerishmom/ Follow Q-Voice on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qvoice.app/
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
No reviews yet