Effie Parks hosts the Once Upon a gene podcast. Her son was born with a rare disease and it left her feeling completely isolated. She created the podcast to find other parents who are raising a kid with a rare disease. It's full of resources and personal stories from families who are navigating this unique lifestyle.

As Effie put it the phrase "Award-winning podcast" "is wild to say and even think this would be a thing when I started the show two years ago, out of desperation.

Wego health and Health Union have a yearly ceremony, where they honor digital advocates in the health industry. Your show first has to be nominated, then endorsed or voted on by the public for about a month.

And then you're taken to a finalist round and ultimately chosen by a panel of judges 15,000 Total nominations. And there's 16 winners.

When I watched the announcement ceremony online, I burst into tears. I didn't expect to win, obviously. But I also didn't expect to feel that much gratitude that the work I was doing was being recognized and making such an impact.

That's not all.

• They flew us all of the winners in our categories to Boston
• Gave us a $3,000 ticket to the world's largest health conference
• Paid for three nights in a gorgeous hotel on the water
• They interviewed us with fancy cameras and lights
• Fed us lunch every day
• Held a formal ceremony at the conference with a huge stage and big screens.

In the middle of the room at this massive event. I got to meet a woman who became a close personal friend to me online. Because we're both raising kids of rare disease. I got to meet her in person. I met other beautiful advocates and was just so honored to be in their presence.

The team itself who put on the event were there every step of the way. And they were so genuine and passionate. It was like a love fest. And I felt so incredibly lucky and special. I also made a lot of great connections that perhaps I will share later on because of my podcast segment.

Thanks for being such a champion for podcasters Dave and for always coming at it with a realness and heart. So, again, my name is Effie Parks host of the Once Upon a gene podcast. If you're a caregiver or you know someone raising a medically complex kid, please find me at onceuponagene.com

Dave's Thoughts

I met Effie on an episode of the Podcasters Roundtable. I don't know how to say it, but I just knew she was going to create something special. She had an underserved audience, and the courage to be vulnerable. She's made caregivers all over the world feel less alone and that is HUGE.

Find her at www.onceuponagene.com

I'd love to hear it

Who knows, maybe in two years they will be flying you to Boston to receive an award

Let me help you.

Jim Harold has been podcasting since the early days of podcasting at www.jimharold.com and does podcasting full time around his Paranormal podcast.

He recently start a show called Pod Lords, and on it explained how he had a previous show called the Great TV Podcast where he got to talk to a TON of TV legends. Why? Because of his podcast.

Join the School of Podcasting today and start changing your world one download at at time see www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start

If you are an American YOU NEED to listen to Congressional Dish. Jen Briney started off reading every bill that went through congress. She has been doing great work on her show (and I know I voted differently last time due to her podcast). 

She recently announced she will be interviewed on Washington Journal on CSPAN on August 9th, 2019. 

Check out her show at www.congressionaldish.com

Watch her appearance at https://www.c-span.org/video/?463306-5/washington-journal-jennifer-briney-discusses-congressional-dish-podcast-news-day

Paul Colligan has been podcasting for many years. I once did a show with Paul, Hall of Fame Podcaster Rob Walch (now VP of Podcaster Relations at Libsyn.com ), Hall of Fame Podcaster Gary LeLeand (co-founder of Podcast Movement and king of all things Softball)

Today Paul talks about getting an invite to a party where he got to hang out with Rob Halford, Slash, Ace Frehley, and Alice Cooper. All of this because of his podcast.

Find Paul's podcast at www.thepodcastreport.com

Ready to start a podcast?

I'd love to work with you, go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/workwithme

Here is a compilation of many people I've interviewed over the years. We will be back soon with more episodes.

• I was able to get a dream trip to a Lambo field and watch my beloved Green Bay packers
• I improved my conversational skills
• I was asked to write a book
• People went to an event to meet me
• My face is on the cover of a comic book
• I raced in the Baja 1000
• I got free bottles of wine
• I got a job
• I now work in media communications for the Federal Government
• I get to chat with my brothers on a weekly basis
• I get passes to the college world series
• They sent a Maserati to pick me up
• I've got to meet people I have no business meeting
• I have a new purpose in life
• I have more customers

Join the School of Podcasting

• Step by step self-paced tutorials
• Private Facebook Group
• Priority Email Support and Live Chat
• Live Group Training Twice A Month

JOIN TODAY

I have mentoring programs with different programs for different budgets. See www.schoolofpodcasting.com/workwithme

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I was reading an article where West Word was interviewing Dana Gould (Who I find hilarious) and they asked him he still does his podcast (the Dana Gould Hour) while now running/writing the show Stan Against Evil.

Here is what Dana said, "I cite the podcast as the things that literally made everything else possible. It keeps my name out there and connects my audience. I think the reason that I’m still allowed to work in clubs is because my podcast has nurtured and cultivated my fan base to the point that people show up. Because if people don’t show up, you don’t get hired.

And I think the podcast is very much responsible for that. The podcast averages about 100,000 downloads a month, and, you know, I think a lot of those people watched Stan Against Evil because I talked about it on the podcast. I think that’s why Stan started out with such good numbers. It’s like the nuclear rod that powers everything else." -

Full article Dana Gould Hour on iTunes Dana Gould Hour on Stitcher Dana has been making me laugh since 1992 https://youtu.be/b7N08PX27CE  

Cheri Fields has at least 7 children, and produces the Creation Science for Kids Podcast http://creationscience4kids.com/

Today Cheri shares a story about both her and her 13 year old daughter both got press passes to go to THE attraction in her niche. There is more to to the story. Click play to listen.

Ready To Start Podcasting?

Check out the School of Podcasting

Cale Nelson produces and hosts the Ham Radio 360 podcast. He shared this story on Facebook. Last week, a listener contacted me via email. He is one of my Pateron Supporters. He said he noticed on my Pateron page the goal for buying a new Mixer. He went on to inquire about which mixer I was interested in. I sent him a note back telling him about the 12 ch Behringer mixer I had been saving for (which was the lowest cost mixer with Faders I could find on Amazon-I’m a FM Radio Throw-back and prefer faders).