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:
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The moment Tiffany learned she carried Lynch Syndrome and how it changed everything
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Balancing genetic risk with parenting, openness, and protecting childhood
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How love guided Tiffany’s preventative health decisions
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The emotional parallels between grief, forgiveness, and self-discovery
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Why resilience isn’t about strength alone - it’s about meaning and connection
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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
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