What does it take to build influence when the stakes are deeply personal—and the audience is scattered across the globe? In this episode, Anthony Shop sits down with Mike Graglia, Founder and CEO of Cure SYNGAP1, to explore how one father turned a devastating diagnosis into a global movement accelerating research, building community, and driving toward a cure.
Mike shares how he leveraged authenticity, relentless communication, and a willingness to experiment to create a powerful platform that connects families, researchers, and industry leaders. From launching a low-production video podcast to becoming a trusted voice for a rare disease community, Mike demonstrates how leaders can “punch above their weight” by showing up consistently, building trust, and turning their personal story into collective action. This conversation is a masterclass in influence for anyone looking to mobilize stakeholders, build credibility, and lead with purpose.
Takeaways:
- Use your authentic voice—even if it’s not polished: Mike’s “low to no production value” podcast works because it’s real. Leaders don’t need perfection—they need trust.
- Communicate relentlessly (and repeat yourself): Influence isn’t about saying something once. It’s about reinforcing key messages in different ways until they stick.
- Turn one-to-one conversations into one-to-many platforms: Instead of repeating himself to hundreds of families, Mike scaled his impact through a video podcast—saving time while expanding reach.
- Build trust before asking for action: Whether it’s participating in research or supporting a cause, people act when they feel connected and informed.
- Be willing to experiment—and iterate quickly: Mike didn’t overthink launching his podcast. He tested, learned, and refined—embracing progress over perfection.
- Become a magnet by consistently showing up: By flooding the space with valuable, relevant content, Mike ensured families and stakeholders could find him when they needed help most.
- Leverage community to punch above your weight: With a small team, Mike mobilized volunteers, families, and partners—proving influence is about activation, not headcount.
Quote of the Show:
- “When you’re a small army trying to influence a huge and disparate population, I always tell people: start a podcast. It’s such a potent tool for amplifying your voice right now. And even though there’s so much noise out there, we all have our own niches—and rare disease is about as niche as it gets.”
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graglia/
- Podcast: https://curesyngap1.org/podcasts/syngap10/
- Website: https://curesyngap1.org/