The Positive Gene Podcast

What We're Not Saying: Hereditary Cancer, Prevention and Public Health with Genetic Counselor, Jennifer Thompson

Episode Summary
In today’s conversation, we dig into the part of cancer conversations that rarely makes headlines -  hereditary cancer risk, prevention, and the systemic barriers that keep people from getting the care they need.
My guest, Jennifer Thompson, MS, CGC is a board-certified genetic counselor and founder of HealthyGene, a digital genetic counseling clinic designed to remove barriers to hereditary cancer risk assessment. She specializes in cancer genetics, patient advocacy, and improving early access to testing through education and telehealth.
Together, we unpack:
Why media coverage around public figures’ diagnoses often misses the prevention angle
Why genetic testing isn’t being offered early enough and the very real consequences
The Angelina Jolie Effect vs. modern missed opportunities
How legislative policies are threatening research, Medicaid access, and public health
How people and providers can start earlier, clearer conversations
What real self-advocacy looks like
How to navigate family conversations about genetic risk
The difference between clinical genetic testing and direct-to-consumer kits
Why understanding your family history still matters most
Resources Mentioned
HealthyGene Website: https://myhealthygene.com 
Know Your Risk Quiz (free assessment for BRCA & Lynch): available on the HealthyGene homepage: https://www.myhealthygene.com/know-your-risk-quiz
Jennifer's Blog: President Biden's Diagnosis: https://www.myhealthygene.com/post/biden-prostate-cancer-brca-risk
Find a Genetic Counselor: https://findageneticcounselor.com
Listen + Connect
Podcast blog + extended show notes: www.positivegenepodcast.com
Connect with Jennifer:
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/myhealthygene
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthygene/
Connect with Sara/Podcast: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivegenepodcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarakavanaughspeaks/
Website:  www.sarakavanaugh.com
If you’ve ever felt like the conversation about cancer stops with treatment instead of starting with prevention, this episode is your reminder:
Knowledge is power.
It’s never too early to ask questions, learn your family history, and take steps to protect yourself and the people you love.

Hereditary Cancer Risk Through an LGBTQ+ Lens with Genetic Counselor Maddie Williamson

Episode Summary
In this episode of The Positive Gene Podcast, Maddie Williamson, a genetic counselor and BRCA1 carrier, joins host Sara Kavanaugh to discuss what it means to navigate hereditary cancer risk as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Drawing from both personal experience and professional expertise, Maddie shares the challenges and insights that come with balancing genetic risk, identity, and access to care. The conversation explores how connection, understanding, and empathy can make a lasting difference in the hereditary cancer journey — for patients, families, and providers alike.
Key Topics Covered
Personal Story & Perspective — Maddie’s journey as a genetic counselor and BRCA1 carrier
Barriers to Inclusive Healthcare — Finding affirming providers and safe medical spaces
Insurance & Access — Navigating coverage gaps and coding complexities
Family, Identity & Genetic Testing — How estrangement and chosen family affect care
Representation & Research — SOGI data gaps and why inclusive study design matters
From Allyship to Action — What providers and advocates can do to better support LGBTQ+ patients
Resources
Maddie Williamson — Instagram: @MaddieLucy27
Support & Genetic Counseling
FORCE – LGBTQIA+ Peer Support GroupA safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating hereditary cancer risk.facingourrisk.org
The Breasties – LGBTQ+ SupportCommunity and resources for those impacted by hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. thebreasties.org
Sarah Roth — Genetic Counselor & Writer: @OtherSarah
National Society of Genetic Counselors – Find a GC ToolSearch for licensed genetic counselors, including those with LGBTQ+ affirming experience. nsgc.org/page/find-a-genetic-counselor
LGBTQ+-Affirming Care & Education
National LGBT Cancer Network — Affirming provider directories, support groups, and clinician toolkits. cancer-network.org
OutCare Health — U.S. directory of culturally competent providers for LGBTQ+ patients. outcarehealth.org
Callen-Lorde Health Center — LGBTQ+-focused healthcare and advocacy based in New York. callen-lorde.org
Research & Representation
GLMA – Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ EqualityContinuing education, best practices, and health policy insights. glma.org
LGBTData.com — Inclusive public health data and SOGI visibility. lgbtdata.com
NCCN Language Guidance — Sensitive, Respectful, and Inclusive Language for Oncology -  NCCN Guidance PDF
Advancing Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Identifying Patients with Cancer (NCCN Infographic) NCCN Health Equity PDF
Listen & Subscribe
The Positive Gene Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
Visit PositiveGenePodcast.com for more conversations that empower, educate, and inspire those navigating hereditary cancer risk.
Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views shared are based on personal and professional experiences and should not replace medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider, genetic counselor, or qualified medical professional regarding your individual situation.

Living Proof with Author Tiffany Graham Charkosky: Love, Loss, and Lynch Syndrome

In this moving episode of The Positive Gene Podcast, host Sara Kavanaugh sits down with author Tiffany Graham Charkosky, whose forthcoming memoir Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy shares her deeply personal journey through Lynch Syndrome, family loss, and the power of love and resilience.
Tiffany reflects on how discovering her genetic risk reshaped her understanding of health, motherhood, and legacy and how she’s teaching her sons to live with gratitude and joy in the face of uncertainty. Together, Sara and Tiffany explore what it means to build a life rooted in hope, connection, and purpose, even when our DNA tells a different story.
In this episode, Tiffany and Sara discuss:
The moment Tiffany learned she carried Lynch Syndrome and how it changed everything
Balancing genetic risk with parenting, openness, and protecting childhood
How love guided Tiffany’s preventative health decisions
The emotional parallels between grief, forgiveness, and self-discovery
Why resilience isn’t about strength alone - it’s about meaning and connection
What it means to leave behind a legacy of love
Whether you’re navigating your own hereditary cancer risk or simply searching for inspiration to live more fully, this conversation reminds us that our genes may shape us, but they don’t define us.
Guest Bio:Tiffany Graham Charkosky is a writer whose essays and short stories explore love, family, and human connection. Her memoir, Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy, weaves together her family’s experience with Lynch Syndrome, her own journey through genetic testing and prevention, and her reflections on resilience, motherhood, and hope. Tiffany lives in Northeast Ohio with her family and has worked in the arts for over twenty years.
Connect with Tiffany:🌐 Website: tiffanygrahamcharkosky.com📚 Order Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy (launches October 21) — Amazon link placeholder📸 Instagram: @tiffanygrahamcharkosky
Connect with Sara:🎧 Listen to past episodes: The Positive Gene Podcast🌐 Website: positivegenepodcast.com📸 Instagram: @positivegenepodcast

Living Through Loss, Finding Strength: Peter Cornell on Music, Family, and Male Breast Cancer

Earlier this year, musician Peter Cornell — brother of the late Chris Cornell — received a diagnosis no man expects: breast cancer. Testing revealed he carries a CHEK2 mutation, which increases the risk for breast, prostate, and other cancers.
In this raw and powerful conversation, Peter shares how his wife first discovered the tumor, his treatment experience at Vanderbilt, and the profound impact of genetic testing on his family. We talk about stigma, resilience, mental health, and the hope that comes with awareness.
This episode was recorded in time for Hereditary Cancer Week (Sept. 28–Oct. 4, 2025) and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making Peter’s story especially timely. It’s a reminder that hereditary cancer risk does not discriminate by gender — and silence is the most dangerous symptom of all.
Resources & Links:
Peter Cornell’s Music: Spotify | Apple Music
Peter's Family Business - GlutenFree Goose: Website | Instagram
FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered): Website | Advocacy & Action Center | Male Breast Cancer Resources
Learn more about the CHEK2 mutation: FORCE: CHEK2 Information
💡 If Peter’s story resonated with you, share this episode with someone who might need to hear it, and follow the podcast on Instagram @PositiveGenePodcast for more conversations about living empowered with hereditary cancer risk.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I share from my own experiences as a hereditary cancer previvor and advocate. Please consult your own healthcare providers for personal medical guidance.

Graceful Grit: Mindfulness Tools for Scanxiety, Uncertainty, and Everyday Courage with Lisa Jacobs, Founder of Practice to the Point

Episode Overview
Season changes can stir up a lot - especially if you’re living with hereditary cancer risk. In this conversation, Lisa Jacobs shares her framework of “graceful grit” - meeting hard moments with both courage and softness. We talk scanxiety, decision fatigue, and how simple, repeatable practices (breath, micro-goals, ritual, curiosity) help you feel present and grounded before screenings and big health decisions.
What You’ll Learn
Graceful Grit, Defined: Why pairing compassion with action reduces brittleness and burnout.
Scanxiety Tools: Breath patterns, grounding cues, and mantras you can use in waiting rooms and before results.
Rituals That Help: Music/playlists, “bring-a-friend” (choosing the right companion), and bite-size scheduling.
From Awareness to Alignment: Using body cues (jaw/shoulders/breath) to notice judgment and shift into curiosity.
Seasonal Reframes: Using fall as a prompt for letting go, intention setting, and creating space for what’s next.
Sticky Takeaways (save these)
“Presence isn’t passive — it’s powerful.”
“Name it to tame it: This is scanxiety. It’s a real, natural response.”
“Reduce the size of the moment: this is one wave, not the whole ocean.”
“Ask: What am I in control of right now? Breath, posture, environment, support.”
“If you don’t feel the feelings, they’ll find you — balance grace with grit.”
Try-It-Now Practices
5 breaths: Slow inhales/exhales; by breath #5 your nervous system starts to follow.
4-4-6 breath: Inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 6 (let out more than you take in).
Grounding: Feet on the floor, soften jaw/shoulders, notice 3 things you can see/hear/feel.
Micro-goal: One tiny completion (send the message, pack your bag, make the playlist).
Curiosity over judgment: Replace “What if…?” spirals with “I wonder…?”
Ritual: A consistent playlist for imaging appointments; a small kindness before/after.
Resources Mentioned
Practice to the Point: www.practicetothepoint.com
Connect with Lisa:
LinkedIn (Lisa Jacobs)
IG: @practicetothepoint
Follow the podcast on IG: @positivegenepodcast
Full transcript & extras: www.positivegenepodcast.com
Sara’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarakavanaughspeaks/
Review/Share: If this helped you breathe a little easier, share it with a friend who’s facing scans soon.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions about your health.

Telling Our Stories Online: Researching ‘Previvorship’ in the Social Media Era

SummaryIn this episode of The Positive Gene Podcast, host Sara Kavanaugh takes the mic on the road in London with Dr. Stefania Vicari and Dr. Hannah Ditchfield of the University of Sheffield. Together, they explore how research into social media is reshaping what we know about hereditary cancer, advocacy, and the very word previvor.
Why does this matter? Because our digital footprints tell powerful stories — and understanding them helps us:
See how platforms influence stigma, visibility, and advocacy
Identify misinformation versus authentic support
Recognize the importance of representation and inclusivity in health narratives
Give both researchers and clinicians new insight into patient experience
This conversation highlights how essential research is in bridging the gap between lived experience, digital culture, and health care.
 
Resources & Links Mentioned
University of Sheffield Cancer Research – Previvorship in the Platform Society: https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/previvorship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/previvorship_research/
Sage Journal: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051251340862
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered – https://www.facingourrisk.org
Lynch Syndrome UK – https://lynch-syndrome-uk.org
Alive and Kick’n – https://aliveandkickn.org
FORCE XRAY – https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY
🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow on Instagram @positivegenepodcast
 
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions about your health.

Running Through Risk: Kristina Coccoluto on BRCA, Purpose and Marathon Milestones

Episode Summary:In this Season 3 premiere of The Positive Gene Podcast, host Sara Kavanaugh sits down with Kristina Coccoluto — a BRCA1 previvor, Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher, and passionate advocate — to explore what it means to face genetic risk and still run forward with purpose.
Kristina shares her deeply personal journey: growing up surrounded by cancer, the emotional weight of testing and preventative surgery, and how she transformed her path into one of resilience, visibility, and action.
As the first woman in the world to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors after undergoing both a double mastectomy and hysterectomy, Kristina’s story is both extraordinary and relatable. Together, they discuss identity, healing through movement, patient advocacy, and the importance of sharing our stories — even before we feel “done” with them.
Whether you're navigating your own genetic risk or supporting someone who is, this episode is a powerful reminder that we are more than our mutations — and our purpose often begins right where the fear lives.
Mentioned in the episode:
Kristina Coccoluto on Instagram
Kristina's blog - GENErational War
FORCE – Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
Abbott World Marathon Majors
Podcast Blog for additional photos and links
 

Prevention Through Connection: How Dr. Brian Shirts and ConnectMyVariant Help Families Reduce Hereditary Cancer Risk

In this insightful episode of The Positive Gene Podcast, host Sara Kavanaugh sits down with Dr. Brian Shirts, Associate Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at Vanderbilt University and founder of ConnectMyVariant.org. Together, they explore the powerful potential of family-based genetic outreach as a pathway to preventing hereditary cancer.
Dr. Shirts shares the pivotal research discoveries and patient stories that led to the creation of ConnectMyVariant—a nonprofit connecting individuals with shared genetic variants to facilitate life-saving family communication. From building networks of third cousins to training family outreach navigators, this episode highlights a revolutionary model of prevention through connection.
Sara also shares her own experience joining the platform, offering listeners a firsthand look at the simple but impactful steps they can take to protect themselves and their families.
This conversation is a must-listen for hereditary cancer previvors, survivors, healthcare providers, and advocates alike—offering a new lens on what prevention really means and how each of us can be a link in a life-saving chain.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Connect My Variant: https://connectmyvariant.org
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered – https://www.facingourrisk.org
My Faulty Gene – https://www.myfaultygene.org
ICARE Registry - https://inheritedcancer.net/
BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy - https://cfhg.byu.edu/
AliveAndKickn (for Lynch Syndrome) – https://www.aliveandkickn.org
Positive Gene Podcast Blog – https://positivegenepodcast.com
Listen & Subscribe:
Find The Positive Gene Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Full episode + blog post here → www.sarakavanaugh.com/podcast
Want to support this incredible work?  You can donate to help expand family outreach and cancer prevention efforts here:** every.org/connectmyvariant
Note on Timing:This episode was recorded in January 2025, shortly after I began the sign-up process with ConnectMyVariant in December 2024. The process of connecting with others who share my variant took only a few weeks—quick, easy, and incredibly meaningful. While this episode is being published in April 2025, please don’t let the delay suggest the process takes that long. I’m just a one-woman podcast team—and good things are always worth the wait!