The Starry-Eyed Podcast

Ep 34 - Kicking off Awareness Month with Sofia Napoli and Denise Callen

It's May, which means it's Awareness Month! 
Kicking the bleep out of the start of Awareness Month is Sofia Napoli. She joins Brendan and Producer Joel (filling in for Jen) to talk about the importance of advocating for yourself and to pump everyone up for this month's activities.
Then Jen and Brendan are joined by Denise Callen, Director of Walks for the WSA, to talk about what is different this year with the Fundraising Walks and the importance of Walk Chairs. The money we raise from Walk for WS's is vital to the operation of the WSA!
So grab a bowl of croutons and prepare for Williams Syndrome Awareness Month! 

Ep 33 - Turning Back the Years with Jen Sellars and Mike Hladish

In this episode, Jen and Brendan are joined by Jen and Mike...wait, that sounds confusing.Our hosts are joined by Jen Sellars (teacher and mom to a daughter with WS) and her friend Mike Hladish. They share their amazing story of growing up and reconnecting in a different part of the country that should warm your heart! We would like to acknowledge the wonderful organization Just People (https://www.justpeople.org/) where Mike lives. The 60 Minutes story referenced in the interview can be seen on the WSA Media and Entertainment page.
Producer Joel would like to thank Toto's Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams, and the rest of the band and crew for an amazing show and generous kindness toward Bennett (their number 1 fan!)

Ep 32 - Living, Loving, & Guardianship with Stella Beard and Clayton Carroll

In this episode, Jen and Brendan hear the fantastic and fascinating story of Stella Beard and Clayton Carroll. The mother and son duo discuss the tricky navigation of post-high school life and their journey from total guardianship to supported decision-making. 
Learn more about Clayton Carroll by searching "Clayton Carroll Speaks" on Facebook and search for Clayton Carroll on YouTube.
Reach out to us at podcast@williams-syndrome.org
 

Ep 31 - Leadership and Whispering Trails with Joshua Dean and Emma Thomas

Producer Joel joins Brendan as they interview Joshua Dean, an adventurous camper, hard worker, and fantastic leader fresh off his latest week in Georgia at Camp Blue Skies. Then, Jen and Brendan talk to Emma Thomas, Camp Director of Whispering Trails Therapy Camp and Teen Camp. Registration for the 2024 camp in July opens soon, and Emma tells us why the camp experience can be incredibly beneficial to our kiddos!
Check out Camp Whispering Trails information at www.williams-syndrome.org/camps, or email summercamp@williams-syndrome.org
Email the pod at podcast@williams-syndrome.org
 

Ep 30 - Joyeux Anniveraire! with Steph Caron and Cyndra Cole

It's our 1-year extravaganza! Thanks so much to all of you for tuning in and supporting our show.
To celebrate, we are joined by OG co-host Stephanie Caron to update us on how she's doing and reflect on what starting the podcast has meant to her.
Then Cyndra Cole, former WSA Board President and Episode 2 guest, turns the tables and asks us questions received from the audience!
Cheers to many more years to come!
Would you or your business like to sponsor The Starry-Eyed Podcast, please contact us at podcast@williams-syndrome.org

Ep 29 - Prepping for College with Pascale and Gerald Momplaisir

It's the last show of Year 1 of The Starry-Eyed Pod! Jen and Brendan are joined by Gerald and Pascale Momplaisir from Baltimore, MD. This Dad and Daughter Duo shares the excitement and opportunities of preparing for life after high school and getting ready for college. Pascale also gives us some insight into the particular challenges of being a young woman of color with a disability while Gerald (and his wife, Tara) navigate being parents trying to protect and do what's best for her and their other kids.
Got a question for the 1-Year Anniversary Show? Email us at podcast@williams-syndrome.org!

Ep 28 - Heart Health Month with Jess Stranz and Benjamin Jacob

Hey, look! We're so fresh and so clean! There is a new logo and new visuals, but it's the same awesome show!
First up is Jessica Stranz, an adult with WS from Michigan, sharing with Jen and Brendan her love of bowling, antiquing, and planes! Her journey with Williams syndrome is really wonderful!
Then, for Heart Health Awareness month, we're joined by Benjamin Jacob, who turned growing up with a brother with WS into a career caring for all kinds of hearts - including running the Williams syndrome clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. You can find more information about TCH at https://www.texaschildrens.org/departments/williams-syndrome-clinic.
Hope you enjoy the show. Like, subscribe, leave a comment - all the things!

Ep 27 - The Tale of Alex and Alexandra

Hark! Come gather ye round to hear the tale of Alex and Alexandra, who live lives touched by Williams syndrome!
The show is joined today by Alexandra Reneer, an adult with WS living in Utah. She shares with us how being a dancer has allowed her to stay physically healthy and gives her the confidence to teach dance to others with developmental disabilities!
Then we're joined by Alex Chiarappa. She is the mother to 5-year-old Collins and almost 2-year-old Jax, who has WS. She shares their journey through these first couple of years and how she uses Yoga to center herself and find mindfulness through stress. Her 2nd annual Stretch into Rest Fundraiser is coming up soon. More information HERE.

Ep 26 - Phreezing in Phoenix with Nick, Lindsey, and J Chap!

The WSA team is in Phoenix, AZ, doing more prep work for the upcoming WSA Convention, July 9-13, 2024, at the Downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel. Since the room block will be available for reservations starting Wednesday, January 10, we thought it would be a good time for more convention talk! Nick and Lindsey are back to talk about how preparations are coming. Then Jen is joined by Jen...Jen Chaplin, the WSA Convention Czar, who is handling all the logistics here in Phoenix! 
If you want to see the video version of them touring the hotel, please check out the video version of the podcast available at https://www.youtube.com/@Williams-syndromeOrg.
Questions about the convention? Email convention@williams-syndrome.org. 

Ep 25: Sharing Journeys with Anne Lemieux-Pocock, Tobi Akbas, and Hayley Cuccinello

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Starry-Eyed Effect!
It's a very special episode as we're joined by Anne Lemieux-Pocock, who, in addition to being Brendan's mom, is an accomplished writer. She's sharing her journey of being a mom to an individual with WS in beautiful chapters called "Being & Becoming: A Williams Syndrome ‘Mom-oir'” available at https://medium.com/@annelemieuxpocock.
Then we're joined by Tobi Akbas and Business Insider writer Hayley Cuccinello to talk about a fantastic article available now at https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-williams-syndrome-living-loving-strangers-2023-12.
 
Thank you all so much for joining us in our first year of the show. We can't wait to bring you more stories in 2024! Email us at podcast@williams-syndrome.org