In this episode of Gods and Genes, I learn from Dan Shockley, retired US Navy veteran and advocate for attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) awareness. Dan shares his journey from a surprising diagnosis of AFAP, a rare genetic condition, to becoming an educator and advocate for early detection and awareness. He discusses his military background, the importance of a positive attitude, and his collaboration with medical professionals globally. Dan's story is one of resilience and purpose, as he continues to inspire others through his advocacy and personal experiences.

Dan Dry Dock Shockley is a retired Navy, Operation Desert Storm, Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veteran. He’s a 13 year hereditary colon cancer syndrome WARRIOR. Dan was diagnosed with attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (AFAP), after his first and only colonoscopy at age of 51. He fit outside of the mold for most healthcare providers being asymptomatic and having no family history of colon cancer. Dan underwent successful total-proctocolectomy with a permanent ileostomy and pancreas-sparing duodenectomy resection surgeries and now shares empowering information about navigating life for others who have also had ostomies. He’s spoken to medical students, graduate students, and other training healthcare professionals to be a live-case presentation for what living with AFAP can look like. Dan shares his story with us today and lives by a simple, acronym-based motto: Always Forge Ahead with a Purpose!

If you’d like to connect with Dan, check out his Instagram @DanDryDock or LinkedIn at Dan Dry Dock Shockley.

Dan shared a meaningful piece with Gods and Genes listeners, this was featured as the tile image of our episode.  He also included a short piece to describe this painting. Here’s his work:

AWE-INSPIRING FEELING, ATTITUDE OF PEACE (Survivor)

The bright orange sun symbolizes my radiant smile and awe-inspiring feeling.

The blue, cloudless sky resembles my clear mind and attitude of peace,

The grey horizon is in honor of my 22 year journey in the Navy onboard 7 ships,

The two sea birds reflect freedom of flight looking ahead in life,

The palm trees are the Shockley and Wilson families,

The coconut on the tree to the left represents my AFAP diagnosis

The root of the tree on the right side of the island symbolizes my gene mutation APC. 

The sand resembles that of an island.  Many diagnosed with a medical condition feel isolated like an island.  My representation is to reflect the opposite.  Even though diagnosed with a rare condition I have the ability to overcome adversity and be a source of inspiration and encouragement for others.  In other words, having the ability of taking a what could be considered a negative experience and turning it into a positive opportunity.

The left side of the island has an anchor which was washed up on the shore and half embedded in the sand.  This reflects several things.  First, at times in life we may feel as if we are washed up on the shores of life.  Second, it has been said not to build on sand rather build on solid ground in order to have a strong foothold.  Third, the anchor looks like the letter “J” on its side symbolizing my journey and forging ahead with my life having APC.

The deep blue ocean surrounding the island resembles several things.  One, the world is covered approximately 75% water. Second the human body consists of approximately 75% water. Third, the island is surrounded by water.  Fourth, we are surrounded by what I like to refer as the “living water.”

That's my story and I am sticking with it!

- Dan “Dry Dock” Shockley

Be sure to subscribe to Gods and Genes on your podcast app, here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes exploring belief, meaning, and medicine.

AFAP, FAP, APC, ostomy, genetic condition, advocacy, early detection

Would you like to be a guest on Gods and Genes? Email your pitch to Amber at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

We are releasing episodes on a monthly schedule with plans to increase our releases more frequently. We thank you for your patience and hope you continue to support us as we work hard to release content on a regular basis.

Do you have challenging questions about faith and health? Join our email subscribers list to submit an anonymous question for our guests. 

Gods and Genes is hosted and produced by Amber Sher, MS, CGC. Gods and Genes is a proud member of the Gene Pool Media Network. While you wait, why not check out one of the other incredible podcasts in the Gene Pool Media network? With over a dozen different podcasts to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding a podcast in your niche. Logo graphic design on Gods and Genes is produced by Safiah Peeran.

See what else we are up to on Instagram. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Hosts Becky Miller, Stacy Griffin and Alysia Thomas share their inspirational story on how they started their restorative podcast, Autoimmune Adventures, for all autoimmune warriors.

In this episode, host Amber Sher, MS, CGC engages with the three sisters behind the Autoimmune Adventures podcast, exploring their personal journeys with autoimmune conditions. The conversation delves into the challenges of diagnosis, the role of faith in their healing processes, and their vision for a holistic autoimmune care center. The sisters share insights on breaking generational trauma and emphasize the importance of listening in healthcare. Their stories highlight the power of community, resilience, and the shared human experience, offering hope and support to fellow autoimmune warriors.

Guest Bio: 

Autoimmune Adventures is a podcast hosted by three sisters—Stacy Griffin, Becky Miller, and Alysia Thomas—who are navigating life with chronic illness and turning their experiences into support, science, and storytelling. Each episode blends lived experience with expert insight, covering everything from functional medicine and nutrition to mindset, self-advocacy, and daily resilience. With a warm, honest, and often humorous approach, the sisters create a space where listeners feel seen, supported, and empowered to live boldly with autoimmunity. Their mission is simple: to share real stories, practical tools, and hope for anyone walking a similar path.

Find out more from the Autoimmune Adventures at their website: autoimmuneadventures.com.

You can also find them on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@AutoimmuneAdventures , Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autoimmune-adventures/id1763425785, and many more platforms. 

Relevant Resources: 

Be sure to subscribe to Gods and Genes on your podcast app, here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes exploring belief, meaning, and medicine.

Would you like to be a guest on Gods and Genes? Email your pitch to Amber at [email protected] or [email protected]. And if you want to stay up to date about our latest projects and releases, subscribe to our email listing (https://forms.gle/JFs4n6u4fimSZkFw6). 

We are releasing episodes on a monthly schedule with plans to increase our releases more frequently. We thank you for your patience and hope you continue to support us as we work hard to release content on a regular basis. 

Gods and Genes is a proud affiliate of Gene Pool Media. While you wait, why not check out one of the other incredible podcasts in the Gene Pool Media network (https://www.genepoolmedia.com/) ? With over a dozen different podcasts to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding a podcast in your niche. Gods and Genes is hosted and produced by Amber Sher, MS, CGC . Our logo graphic designer is Safiah Peeran. 

See what else we are up to on Instagram. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected].  

SUMMARY:

In this episode of Gods and Genes, host Amber Sher, MS, CGC, delves into the intersection of healthcare and faith, exploring how spirituality can be integrated into medical settings. The episode addresses common misconceptions about chaplaincy, emphasizing the role of chaplains as spiritual care practitioners who provide holistic support beyond end-of-life ceremonies. Amber discusses the importance of understanding patients' spiritual needs and offers strategies for healthcare providers to engage in meaningful conversations about faith. The episode also highlights the significance of religious leaders in patient support systems.

If you enjoy what you’re hearing, follow us on Instagram @GodsandGenes. Subscribe, rate, and comment on this podcast as it truly helps other interested individuals find this restorative space (godsandgenes.podbean.com). If you would like to contribute to the podcast, please reach out via email to [email protected] or [email protected].

Gods and Genes is created, hosted, and produced by me, Amber Sher. Logo Graphic Design is produced by Safiah Peeran. Gods and Genes would not be possible without the incredible support of Gene Pool Media network. Eager for more science-related podcasts to add to your commuting playlist? Check out the shows on Gene Pool Media—there’s over a dozen different shows to choose: https://www.genepoolmedia.com/podcasts

CORRECTIONS:

RESOURCES:

Cure Sialidosis. www.curesialidosis.org. Click here to donate.

National Organization for Rare Disorders. (2016, May 27). Sialidosis. NORD | Rare Disease Database. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/sialidosis/.  

Richeimer, N., Wilson, K., Petrasek, A., & Weiner, J. (2023). Emunas Chachamim (faith in the sages): A prenatal genetic counseling needs assessment of Orthodox Jewish clergy in Los Angeles. Journal of Genetic Counseling, jgc4.1816. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1816.

Pew Research Center. (2023, December 7). Spirituality among Americans. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans/.

Anandarajah, G., & Hight, E. (2001). Spirituality and medical practice: Using the HOPE questions as a practical tool for spiritual assessment. American Family Physician, 63(1), 81–89.

Association of Professional Chaplains. (n.d.). Association of Professional Chaplains. https://www.apchaplains.org/.

Best, M., Butow, P., & Olver, I. (2015). Do patients want doctors to talk about spirituality? A systematic literature review. Patient Education and Counseling, 98(11), 1320–1328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.04.017.

Earl, B. S. W., Klee, A., Edens, E. L., Cooke, J. D., Heikkila, H., & Grau, L. E. (2022). Healthcare Providers’ Perceptions about the Role of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services in Substance Use Outpatient Treatment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9441. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159441.

London Health Sciences Centre. (2025, October 21). Truths and misconceptions: Spiritual care. https://www.lhsc.on.ca/news/truths-and-misconceptions-spiritual-care.

Puchalski, C. M., Vitillo, R., Hull, S. K., & Reller, N. (2014). Improving the Spiritual Dimension of Whole Person Care: Reaching National and International Consensus. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 17(6), 642–656. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2014.9427.

Sagaser, K. G., Shahrukh Hashmi, S., Carter, R. D., Lemons, J., Mendez‐Figueroa, H., Nassef, S., Peery, B., & Singletary, C. N. (2016). Spiritual Exploration in the Prenatal Genetic Counseling Session. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25(5), 923–935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9920-y.

Skinner, M., Mason, S., & Cockling, N. (2022). How Do Healthcare Chaplaincy Spiritual Care Interventions Support Adults’ Mental Health by Integrating Health and Social Care?: A Review of Primary Research Studies Published in English 2010–2019. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 10(1), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.20588

Thompson, A. B., Cragun, D., Sumerau, J. E., Cragun, R. T., De Gifis, V., & Trepanier, A. (2016). “Be Prepared if I Bring It Up:” Patients’ Perceptions of the Utility of Religious and Spiritual Discussion During Genetic Counseling. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25(5), 945–956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9922-9.

In this special pilot episode of 'Gods and Genes,' host Amber Sher, MS, CGC, is turning the tables and being interviewed by Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM, host of DNAToday. This conversation explores the intersection of healthcare, spirituality, and genetics. Interviewed by Kira Dineen, Amber shares her personal journey and the inspiration behind the podcast, discussing how her religious background influences her practice. The episode delves into the importance of understanding patients' beliefs in healthcare and the potential for science and spirituality to complement each other. 

Amber shares her personal background growing up in a religiously mixed home (Christian/atheist), her journey through deconstruction and back to a post-deconstruction Christian identity, and why that lived experience drew her to study religion and spirituality in genetic counseling for her graduate capstone at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI). With training in genetic counseling and a background shaped by a religiously mixed upbringing, Amber brings a unique perspective on how to navigate questions of faith in medical settings.

In this episode, we covered how some patients raise spiritual or religious concerns in a way that can invite us to build rapport. When this does happen, we go through strategies on how to be ready and not reactive. We cover that personal religious or spiritual identity isn't necessary to navigate these conversations. Instead, skills and training can be adapted for the scenario with examples of validation, reflection, collaboration. We go into how chaplains, rabbis, clergy, etc. can be allies who understand medical contexts and patient values. And we cover tricky situations like navigating when religious beliefs go against evidence-based options. 

Gods and Genes is a brand new podcast in the Gene Pool Media network. Gods and Genes is hosted and produced by Amber Sher, MS, CGC. Logo graphic designer is Safiah Peeran. Special thanks to Kira Dineen for all the contributions to this episode. Find us at godsandgenes.podbean.com and follow us on Instagram @GodsandGenes. Be sure to subscribe to Gods and Genes on your podcast app, here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes exploring belief, meaning, and medicine. If you'd like to share your ideas for the podcast, reach out via email to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

This introductory episode to the Gods and Genes podcast introduces us to the focus of a series that navigates the intersection of health and faith. Led by genetic counselor Amber Sher, Gods and Genes delves into how religious beliefs can influence medical decisions and the ethical challenges that arise. This series aims to foster deeper conversations between healthcare professionals and patients of diverse backgrounds If you love hearing powerful stories that connect deeply with integrative health, then join us as we explore the coexistence of science and spirituality.

Artwork: Safiah Peeran

Website: godsandgenes.podbean.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsandgenes/