RARECast: Building Strength by Sharing Stories

After Mike Porath and his wife received a diagnosis of a rare disease for their daughter, he said they felt lost. What helped them most, though, was talking to other parents facing the same thing they were. A career journalist, the experience eventually led Porath to create The Mighty, an online publication to help people facing disability, disease, mental illness, and chronic health conditions with the belief that real stories from real people can be empowering. We spoke to Porath about his own experience as a parent of a child with a rare disease, the evolution of The Mighty, and what he’s discovered about the benefits people get from sharing their own stories.

RARECast is a weekly series by Daniel S. Levine. Levine is an award-winning business journalist who has reported on the life sciences, economic development, and business policy issues throughout his 25-year career. He founded Levine Media Group in 2013, which produces The Bio Report and RARECast podcasts. Read his full bio here.