The Starry-Eyed Podcast

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

Ep 24: Ottenheimer to the Rescue! with Scott Ottenheimer

Look...did I have a whole other episode planned and then couldn't get it scheduled and was bailed out by awesome Board member Scott Ottenheimer? Maybe, but we were always going to have Scott as a guest! As his time on the WSA Board of Trustees comes to a close, Scott talks to Brendan and Jen about his time serving the WSA and how it has set the organization up for the future! As a community, we are so lucky to have amazing people like him advocating for not only what he is passionate about but what is going to be best for our entire WS community.
Thank you, Scott, for your leadership!
 

Ep 23: Caregiving the Caregivers with Sarah Giddings

In this episode, Jen, Brendan, and Producer Joel delve into the crisis in this country surrounding parents and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities - specifically Williams syndrome.
After watching the documentary "UNSEEN: How We're Failing Parent Caregivers & Why It Matters" (which you can watch at www.caregiverdoc.com), they share their reactions for the first time in the recording. 
Then, WSA Vice-President of Programs and Services, Sarah Giddings, joins to talk about how the WSA makes an intentional effort to provide education and resources to our community in an effort to alleviate the stress felt by parents and caregivers. She also shares her experiences as a parent to Matthew, her son with WS.
We hope that this episode helps spark conversations about how this country can do better for families and caregivers.
Also, please check out the 2023 WSA Holiday Gift Guide this giving season.

Ep 22: ’Zona Talk with Nick and Lindsey

Brendan joins from Austin, TX, where he just wrapped a weekend of working with the WSA Board of Trustees. What is that like? Well, he tells us. Then Jen and Brendan talk to Lindsey and Nick about planning the 2024 WSA Convention in Phoenix, AZ! Look out for Haboobs!!