Shows / The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
One of the only podcasts in the disability space co-hosted by someone with Williams syndrome. Brenden Lemieux — musician, Special Olympics athlete, and person with WS — is joined by Jennifer Keeton, a WS mom and tireless advocate. With over 100 episodes featuring adults with WS, medical experts, and families across the country, this is a place to find insight, community, and hope. Presented by the Williams Syndrome Association
Episodes
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 63 - Doin' the Research with Elizabeth Bress
It's sweltering hot outside and we got some sweltering hot takes on this weeks episode! Jen and Brendan visit with Elizabeth Bress who is a strong…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 62 - ...and TWINS! with Alex, Matt, and Kristin Boxall
The gang is back together after a month of traveling and shenanigans! Jen, Producer Joel, and Brendan share stories of their travels to Japan, the Caribbean…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 61 - How Did We Get Here? with Drs. Pober, Levinson, Jacob, Barnhardt, Lyren, and Krebs with Terry Monkaba
This special episode takes a look back at the journey of understanding Williams syndrome—and how the WSA has grown alongside it. Through past interviews, we…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 60 - Trusting Your Innersense with Joanne Starkman
Recently, creator of Innersense Organic Beauty and friend of the show Joanne Starkman, invited the gang to be on her new podcast, "Trust Your Innersense." It…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 59 - Weekend for Williams Live! with Varun Indugula
Last Saturday marked the end of Williams Syndrome Awareness Month and to cap it off, WSA Executive Director Sarah Schaefer and Producer Joel held a 14-hour…
The Starry-Eyed Podcast®Ep 58 - Avi is the King
We're well into Williams Syndrome Awareness Month and in this episode, Jen, Brendan, and Producer Joel welcome singer, bon vivant, and raconteur Avi Lesser! He…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 57 - The Joys of Community and Pickleball with Megan McNeil and Terry Monkaba
Happy Williams Syndrome Awareness Month! To kick things off we have a extra-large episode for you! Jen and Brendan are joined by Megan McNeil to share the love…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 56 - Maryland Terps and the House of Mouse with Erin & Sophie Rupolo and Alex Bentley
On this episode, Jen and Brendan are joined by Erin & Sophie Rupolo who, thanks to Team Impact, are jet setting all over the country with the Maryland…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 55 - A Three-fer with Brett Beger, Carl Hanson, & Ben Monkaba
Today we have not one, not two, but three guests at once - A THREE-FER! Jen and Brendan are joined by Brett Beger, Carl Hanson, and Ben Monkaba to discuss what…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 54 - Camp Blue Skies with Dick and Brent Sesler and a whoooole lotta campers!
Gird your ears for Producer Joel has lost his voice. Before it went completely away, he was able to spend the week at Camp Blue Skies in Georgia, with around…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 53 - 2 Years, 1 Kent
Two years! 53 episodes! 3 podlet mini-sodes! Two years is longer than Blackbeards reign of terror on the high seas! Two years is longer than the existence of…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 52 - Sarah and Cara, Leading the Charge with Style and Flair-a!
In this episode, Jennifer, Brendan, and Producer Joel kick things off with a celebration—Brendan’s appointment as WSA Secretary! He is the first person with WS…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 51 - Talking Without Words & Best Buddies for Life with Gabby Cornelio and Charles Calhoun
This week, the pod is packed with big hearts & big laughs. First up, Gabby Cornelio joins Brendan and Joel to talk about life with her son's feeding challenges…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 50 - Tech Talk and Banjo AC/DC with Milton Neuenschwander and Christopher McClung
It's tech time on the pod! Producer Joel got his son his own mobile phone and now he needs some help to make sure everyone stays safe and the technology can be…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 49 - HeARTs in the New Year with Marna Kalman
Let's make 2025 the year of Croutons and Hearts!! We kick it off with another longtime friend of Brendan's, Marna Kalman. She, Jen, and Brendan talk about…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 48 - Auld Shabang Syne with Sarah Giddings and Bret Fleming
The final pod of the year means we take a moment to look back on the year that was 2024 with the woman who kept the WSA chugging along for most of it: Sarah…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 47 - Manaakiao with Paola Martínez Vélez and Li'l Henry
The holidays are upon us and we are celebrating with a time traveler (no, not the Ghost of Christmas Future). Henry Stilwell (a.k.a. Li'l Henry) joins the pod…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 46 - The Giving Season with Bethany Walton and the Gang
Today the pod welcomes WSA Director of Operations Bethany Walton to talk about gift giving WSA-style! She discusses the new WSA Vendor Network, as well as…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 45 - Loréal Lips and Dual Diagnosis with Anja Kaneski and Drs Elizabeth Barnhardt and Rebecca Lyren
On this episode, Jen and Brendan welcome Anja Kaneski who lives on her own in a group home and holds down a job in Brainerd, MN! She shares how the sudden…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 44 - Dancing Through Life with Rebekah and Ellie Stewart
Today on the pod, we welcome from the great state of Iowa's Rebekah Stewart who had a up close view of her daughter Ellie's (13 WS) journey with the University…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 43 - Fight for Your Rights with Delaney O'Connell and Chad Wilson
Today's show exercises our civic duty as Jen and Brendan are joined by Delaney O'Connell, who is featured in the documentary Patrice, about a couple trying to…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 42 - Old Friends/New Challenges with Seth Link and Lisa Elm
Croutons and Hearts, my friends! This episode, Brendan introduces us to one of his longest and best friends: Seth Link. Seth tells us all about balancing the…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 41 - Staying Busy with Leo Ryan
After plotting a mob-like takeover of jobs at Disney, Jen and Brendan are joined by Leo Ryan! He took brief break from doing seemingly everything to chat about…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 40 - Back to It with Joelle Packard and Robin Pegg
It feels like an eon since we did a "regular" podcast, but here we are! Brendan is sandwiched between Producer Joel and Joelle Packard - who tells us all about…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 39 - 15 Minutes of Fame Live from Camp Whispering Trails!
Jen and Producer Joel are live at the WSA's Whispering Trails Camp for the Teen Camp's "15 Minutes of Fame" Talent Show! Join them as they channel their inner…
The Starry-Eyed Podcast®Ep 38 - I Got Next! Live at the 2024 WSA Convention
Recorded live in Phoenix at the 2024 WSA National Convention, Jen, Brendan, and Producer Joel welcome Emmy Coggshall and Chris Baxter to discuss their upcoming…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 37.75 - Post Convention Podlet
Brendan got sick. Jen got sick. Joel got sick. A good time was had by all! The 2024 WSA Convention in Phoenix was a rousing success. Unfortunately the live…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 37.5 - It's a Convention Podlet with the Gang!
The time has come! Preparations for the 2024 WSA National Convention in Phoenix are in the final stretch. The gang has just a few minutes to get together, do…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 37 - Weekend for Williams Live with Barb Nelson and Tayden Larsen
Recorded Live on June 1st, Jen and Brendan and joined by Producer Joel and WSA Vice President of Programming Sarah Giddings during their marathon Weekend for…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 36 - Defiantly Choosing Joy with Jess Holsapple and Tabitha Toney
During Williams Syndrome Awareness Month, it's important to recognize that, while our community has much to celebrate, there are also some very real challenges…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 35 - Awarenessing with Clare Neal and Micah Wilgus
We're well into Williams Syndrome Awareness Month, and Jen and Brendan are joined by Clare Neal, whose niece spearheaded a fundraising effort with her dance…
- 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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- 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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
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…
The Starry-Eyed Podcast®Ep 21: The Spooky Oooky Effect with Megan, Julie, Marty McFly, a Cloud, and Professor Dilo Ph’Saurus from the Planet Spielberg
Make sure the little ones are off to dreamland because this week, Jen and Brendan have terrifying tales of horrors, hayrides, and haunted houses! Joining the…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 20: Gratitude and Gettin’ Fancy with Callie Truelove, Camille and Anthony Filippazzo
Dust off your finest prêt-à-porter cause we're going to the society pages! Jen and Brendan catch up with Callie Truelove to share gratitude for red carpet…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 19: Live from Orlando with the Adventure Seekers
Producer Joel is live in Orlando with the Adventure Seekers (the group of adults (18+) with WS. This trip was a couple of years in the making, with around 150…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 18: Volunteering with the Gang
Producer Joel joins Jen and Brendan for an old-fashioned hang where they talk about all the events going on with the WSA and with all the amazing volunteers…
The Starry-Eyed Podcast®Ep 17: Back to School with Michelle Self
It's a very special "Back to School" episode! WSA Educational Consultant Michelle Self joins us to discuss all things IEP and class inclusion! She shares…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 16: Camp and Speech with Kayla Patak and Bianca Corozzo
We're back from camp, recovered from Covid, and gettin' ready for school! Today, Kayla Patak joins Brendan and Jen to talk about Whispering Trails Camp and how…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 15: LIVE FROM CAMP with the gang!
Live from Camp!! This episode was recorded on July 31st live from Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia, at the WSA's Whispering Trails Therapy and Teen Camp…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 14: Team USA and Team Teachers with Maddie Woo, Cassandra Davide, and Kim Scheier
Have you read the article on the young woman from Oregon with Williams syndrome who competed in Dressage in France at the Virtus Global Games? Oh you have?…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 13: 7q11.23 Day with Kieran Devin Johnson and Jocelyn Krebs
It's 7q11.23 Day! Jen and Brendan are joined by Kieran Devin Johnson, a young man from the Denver area who loves both paintball and @Southwest Airlines!…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 12: The Birch Family
As Jen was returning home from her trip to Rhythm Nation, Joel and Brendan caught up with Steph to talk about the exciting developments going on in her life…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 11: Tyler Levy and Dr. Barbara Pober
Whew! Jen and Brendan are back after a week off recovering from Awareness Month! This week, Tyler Levy from Louisville, KY, joined them to discuss the…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 10: Singing Pretty with Mariella Elm, Tommy Barbarella, and Kristen Van Handel
You know the song that you hear at the beginning of every episode? Our first guests, Mariella Elm and Tommy Barbarella, wrote that song. Mariella is 17 and has…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 9: Back in Time with Dr. Marty Levinson & Coco and Aaron Lombard
This episode is going back in time with Dr. Marty Levinson! He sits down with Jen (with Stella!) and Brendan to talk about Williams syndrome's early days and…
- The Starry-Eyed Podcast®
Ep 8: Gorgeous Donuts with Melanie Côté & Joanne and Morgan Jane Starkman
This week, episode 1 guest Brendan Lemieux is now episode 8 guest host! He and Jen talk to the President of the Canadian Association for Williams Syndrome…