On this episode of LIVE From Special Olympics 2026 USA Games: A Special Chronicles Podcast Series, host and Health Messenger Daniel Smrokowski is podcasting location at the University of Minnesota for the official Healthy Athletes Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Tune in as Daniel co‑emcees this event alongside fellow Health Messenger Kayte Barton, as they welcome leaders from the University of Minnesota, United Healthcare, and Special Olympics International — including Dr. Brian Sick, Vice Provost for Academic Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota abd Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics; Spencer Merchant, Senior Product Director at United Healthcare; and Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Special Olympics Chief Health Officer — to celebrate the world’s largest health program for people with intellectual disabilities.
Kayte shares her powerful journey as a mental health advocate and her role in shaping Strong Minds, while Daniel reflects on how Healthy Athletes has supported him personally — from Opening Eyes providing sports goggles and glasses to Healthy Hearing fitting him with hearing aids just last week.
Together, Daniel and Kayte lead Unified tours through Healthy Athletes, showing how inclusive health isn’t just a service — it’s a promise. A promise of dignity, access, and quality care for every athlete.
This is what inclusion looks like. This is Healthy Athletes.
Episode ShowNotes & Links: https://specialchronicles.com/podcast850/
Learn more about Special Olympics Healthy Athletes: https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/inclusive-health/healthy-athletes
Follow the full 10‑part Road to 2026USAGames Series at https://SpecialChronicles.com/2026USAGames for all episodes and subscribe to the full series and remember: Choose To Include.
👨💻Learn more about Special Olympics 2026 USA Games at: https://2026USAGames.org
🎧 Follow the Special Chronicles Podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://SpecialChronicles.com/Pod
⭐ Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite app: https://specialchronicles.com/ApplePodcasts
📺 Watch full episodes (video) on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD01BA706651153C3&si=E7AmCB-2hvFHQbO1
❤️ Support the mission of Special Chronicles by donating at https://specialchronicles.com/Give or joining the PLUS membership at https://specialchronicles.com/Plus
👕 Shop our ‘Disabled Voices Matter’ Merch
📱 Follow us on socials: @SpecialChronicles (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) https://specialchronicles.com/Socials
📰 Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates from Special Chronicles https://specialchronicles.com/Newsletter
Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.
About Our Team:
Daniel Smrokowski is an award-winning podcaster, columnist, and disability advocate, best known as the founder and host of Special Chronicles, a groundbreaking podcast platform featuring over 800 episodes produced across 17 years. Through storytelling and journalism, Daniel amplifies the voices of people with disabilities while promoting inclusion, awareness, and social change. In recognition of his impact, he is a recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice for his efforts through media to give people with disabilities a voice.
Darian Packard is a Content Producer at Special Chronicles and Global Advisor for Special Olympics CHEER, a worldwide inclusive cheerleading movement. She is the mother of four children, including a daughter with Williams syndrome, and is passionate about advancing inclusion and disability awareness.
Linda Smrokowski serves as a Copy Editor at Special Chronicles, bringing her background as a retired foreign language teacher and former Trader Joe’s Crew Member to her editorial work. She is the mother of founder Daniel Smrokowski, as well as a proud mother of two daughters, mother-in-law to two sons-in-law, and a grandmother to two granddaughters and one grandson. Linda is also an active musician, playing flute in the choir at St. Cletus Parish.
Adam Smrokowski is the Business Manager at Special Chronicles. He is the father of Founder Daniel Smrokowski, as well as two daughters, and is a proud father-in-law and grandfather to two granddaughters and one grandson. Adam supports the organization’s mission through leadership, service, and family-centered advocacy.
The post Live From 2026USAGames Ep.5: Healthy Athletes | Ep.850 first appeared on Special Chronicles.