PWS United

PWS United

Welcome to PWS United, a podcast for the Prader-Willi Syndrome community, brought to you by PWSA | USA. This podcast gives the latest news in research, advocacy, and family support by bringing together staff, volunteers, PWS treatment specialists, biotech and pharmaceutical representatives, caregivers, family members, and individuals with PWS. Our goal is to connect education, awareness, and resources with those living with PWS and their supporters. Join us in our mission to enhance the quality of life and empower those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome.

Episodes

June 9, 2026 29 mins
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We’re excited to share our latest Sibling Advocacy episode on PWS United. In this ongoing series, we talk with siblings about how they show up for their loved ones with PWS, whether at the kitchen table, at school, among friends, in government spaces, or anywhere their sibling may need support. 

This episode is hosted by Elaine Towle, PWSA | USA's Advocacy Specialist and mom to James, living with PWS. She spoke with Hannah and Alex...

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PWS advocates had an incredible experience in Washington, D.C., this past May 4-6. From policy deep dives and meetings with congressional representatives, to cocktail meetups and seeing old friends, it was a busy, but nourishing, few days. The communications team at PWSA | USA spoke with several attendees at the fly-in to hear their thoughts on what they want their representatives to take home from these meetings, moments that stoo...

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The latest in PWSA | USA events and PWS news in research, family support, and advocacy. 

24 Hour Crisis Line: 941-312-0400

 

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The Importance of PWS Awareness Day - PWSA | USA Blog

Resource Spotlight 

Share Your Spotlight on PWS

PWS Awareness Month 

Hummus & Watermelon United We Brunch Event - May 31, 2026 | Omaha, NE

PWS Awareness Month Hub

Events | Fundraisers 

View All Upcoming PWS Community Events

Soleno Therape...

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For this episode we brought in Lynn Garrick, PWSA | USA's Medical and Research Coordinator, mom to John (living with PWS, and the woman behind Ask Nurse Lynn to talk about behavior and psychiatric issues. We learn some important behavioral tips, the importance of consistency, the signs of when it might be time to intervene with medication, how disordered sleep affects behavior, and more. 

Our Ask Nurse Lynn library is growing by th...

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Another PWS Awareness Month (May 1-31) has arrived and we're excited to continue spreading awareness, information, and support for our loved ones with PWS! In this episode, PWSA | USA's Communications, Advocacy, and Development teams share ways to get involved during PWS Awareness Month - from everyday awareness actions to fundraisers, advocacy efforts and the D.C. Fly-In.

Throughout May, be sure to join our social media platforms...

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Today’s episode features two more members of our new equity committee, Wordna Meskheniten and Dhivya Venkataraman, along with PWSA CEO Stacy Ward, PWSA Board Member and PWS mom, Dini Rao, and Marketing and Communications Coordinator and PWS mom Anne Fricke. Wordna and Dhivya bring thoughtful insight, experience, and an impressive array of education and work experience to this conversation on how people’s identifiers, on top of a di...

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One year ago, on March 26, 2025, the PWS community reached a landmark milestone with the FDA approval of VYKAT XR - the first-ever treatment for hyperphagia in PWS. But what happens after approval? How do families actually access the therapy? In this episode of PWS United, PWSA | USA CEO Stacy Ward and Director of Development Melanie Zalman sit down with members of the PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy team to answer exactly that.

PANTHERx is...

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The latest in PWSA | USA events and PWS news in research, family support, and advocacy. 

24 Hour Crisis Line: 941-312-0400

Pulse Header

2027 PWSA | USA United in Hope National Convention - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Spotlight on PWS

Share Your Story - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Resource Spotlight

Understanding Prader Willi Syndrome & Autism

Events | Fundraisers

PWS Roadshow: Events | PWSA-OR-WA.ORG

PWS...

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Our guest today, Julie Casey, mom to Ryan (22, living with PWS), shares her knowledge and experience from homeschooling. The intention of this episode is to shed light on the topic and personal experience of homeschooling with PWS. We offer information so that families in our community, of all configurations (and Julie gets into that), can make informed choices about how their children with PWS are educated. We discuss how to decid...

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The latest in PWSA | USA events and PWS news in research, family support, and advocacy. 

24 Hour Crisis Line: 941-312-0400

Pulse Header

Spotlight on PWS

PWSA | USA Rare Aware Art Share: Theme #1 Gallery

PWS Rare Aware Art Share - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Share Your Story - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Resource Spotlight

Swallowing in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Events | Fundraisers

Solidarity & Spice - Campa...

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In this episode, we introduce PWSA | USA’s newly formed Equity Committee and some of the members. We discuss the importance of an equity committee, who’s been missing from the conversations, data, research, and services, and how involving families from marginalized communities is essential to our organization and our humanity. We talk about health equity, the different dimensions of diversity, how and why to have these difficult co...

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We’re excited to share our latest Sibling Advocacy episode on PWS United. In this ongoing series, we talk with siblings about how they show up for their loved ones with PWS, whether at the kitchen table, at school, among friends, in government spaces, or anywhere their sibling may need support. 

This episode is hosted by Dorothea Lantz, PWSA | USA's Director of Community Engagement and mom to Hunter, living with PWS. She spoke with...

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Mark as Played

The latest in PWSA | USA events and PWS news in research, family support, and advocacy. 

24 Hour Crisis Line: 941-312-0400

 

Pulse Header

National Caregivers Day: The Real Job Description - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Spotlight on PWS

"Uncle Dan" Helping to Feed the Community - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Share Your Story - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Resource Spotlight

PWS - Rare Disease Day - P...

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In this New Year kickoff episode of PWS United, we're sharing an inside look at what’s in store for PWSA | USA in 2026. After reflecting on the organization’s momentum coming out of its 50th Anniversary year, our podcast co-host Carrie interviews several staff members to ask one simple question: What are you most excited about working on this year?

Listeners will hear highlights about upcoming programs, expanding resources, social ...

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The latest in PWSA | USA events and PWS news in research, family support, and advocacy. 

24 Hour Crisis Line: 941-312-0400

 

Pulse Header

Residential Providers Conference - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Spotlight on PWS

Share Your Story - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Resource Spotlight

PWS Rare Disease Day-15 Ways to Raise Awareness

Share Your Rare Story - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA

Events | Fundra...

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Mark as Played

We’re excited to share our latest Sibling Advocacy episode on PWS United. In this ongoing series, we talk with siblings about how they show up for their loved ones with PWS, whether at the kitchen table, at school, among friends, in government spaces, or anywhere their sibling may need support. 

This episode is hosted by Elaine Towle, PWSA | USA's Advocacy Specialist and mom to James, living with PWS. Elaine spoke with sibling and ...

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Watch
Mark as Played

This episode focuses on mental wellness, with guest Denise Rickenbach MA LMFT LADC.

Denise is an Adlerian-trained Licensed Marriage and Family therapist as well as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Denise’s interests include addiction, codependency, family systems, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, grief, life transitions, and strained relationships. She was a speaker at the 2025 United in Hope confere...

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