Successful and disABLED Podcast: Recent Episodes
#DefineYourself
The Successful and disABLED Podcast connects you with successful people from the disabled community.Every episode your host, Chris Mitchell, has a conversation with a different member of the disABLED community who has created success in their professional, finacial, academic and/or personal lives. During the conversation, Chris and his guests discuss ways, from their own personal experiences, how you can overcome challenges, obstacles, adversities, limitations, setbacks common for people in the disABLED community.Each week Chris and his guest share how the right attitude, mindset, influencers, actions and more can enable you to create a successful life that you will love living.
Nina Szewczak is a midlife transformation specialist, shares the 2 transformations she has went through in her life and how we can face our own transformations and come out stronger.
Links from Podcast episode:
· https://themidliferevolution.com/
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Lyle Benjamin, a man who was born 3 months premature and weighed in at 2 pounds 3 ounces.
Benjamin didn’t start reading until third grade and was not diagnosed with dyslexia until an adult.
Benjamin to this day, lives with hypersensitivity to noise, touch, taste, and smell and cannot spell worth a dam but that did not stop him from winning a scrabble competition.
Benjamin shares how those challenges impact his life and the coping mechanisms he uses to overcome the challenges to be a successful an Author, Educator, Speaker, and social responsibility entrepreneur.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Link – https://www.lylebenjamin.com/
· Book: One: the fight for survival of the human race - https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Fight-Survival-Human-Race-ebook/dp/B09Z388JGC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S3LBR7HSWQK6&keywords=One%3A+the+fight+for+survival+of+the+human+race&qid=1670610298&sprefix=one+the+fight+for+survival+of+the+human+race+%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Chris Otcasek, the host of Mr. Ohh!s Sideways View, shares how being a humorist is helping him overcome depression that is caused by his disabilities.
Otcasek, who has a terminal illness, discusses why does not want to identify as being disabled. Otcasek also shares what he did when he looked at himself and realized that he was unable to do anything in the traditional work force and how he deals with criticism as a humorist.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Link https://mysidewaysview.com/
· Podcast – Mr. Ohh!s Sideways View
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Trev Baker, the author of “Life Rolls On: The Journey from an AB to a BA” and “Still Rolling: A Life of Possibility not Disability” discusses life after his spinal cord injury.
Baker, survived a C-4 neck injury at the turn of the 21st century.
His injury, that left him a Tetraplegic aka a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, has not stopped him from enjoying a success filled life.
Since the injury, baker lives and has sailed independently, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanistic counseling, written 2 books, coached sports, delivers motivational talks and has regained some physical movement.
Baker and Chris discuss how he has achieved all of that and more through goal setting, why he wrote his books, and more.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Website - https://www.liferollson.co.uk/
· Life Rolls On: The Journey from an AB to a BA - https://www.amazon.com/Life-Rolls-journey-AB-BA-ebook/dp/B008LT8SDI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8PY0YLAHWSMO&keywords=Life+Rolls+On%3A+The+journey+from+an+AB+to+a+BA&qid=1670008443&sprefix=life+rolls+on+the+journey+from+an+ab+to+a+ba%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1
· Still Rolling: A Life of Possibility not Disability - https://www.amazon.com/Still-Rolling-Possibility-Disabilty-Rolls-ebook/dp/B07QD6SYST/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KJWMUU634OOJ&keywords=Still+Rolling+%3A+A+life+of+Possibility+not+Disabilty&qid=1670008579&sprefix=still+rolling+a+life+of+possibility+not+disabilty%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Josh Church, is a man who is successfully living with mental health issues including OCD, Depression, Anxiety and ADHD.
Josh shares how his mental health struggles attempt to hold him back form crating success and how he overcomes those challenges by avoiding distractions with routines and staying focused throughout the day.
Church also discusses the stigma that comes with mental health issues and the importance of a good support system.
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Cesar Perez, a up and coming actor, was on the way to his girlfriend’s house when a drunk driver hit him head on and changed his life.
Perez’s face was shattered, his muscles and strength were gone and survived a traumatic brain injury from the injury.
Perez describes that time as basically being a newborn baby and had to relearn almost everything he know.
Perez talks about how he delt with the loss of control of his emotions from the TBI, how he rebounded from his girlfriend leaving him after the accident, and what it was like to face the man who hit him in court.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Book – Chase the light: the gruesome art of becoming unbreakable - https://www.amazon.com/Chase-Light-Gruesome-Becoming-Unbreakable/dp/1544528868/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=chase+the+light+cesar+perez&qid=1669666961&sprefix=chase+the+light%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1
· Web site – Contentoprod.com
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Dr. Vicki Matthews, the author of the Five Elements of Relationships, discusses her book and how we can all get along during the holidays and throughout the year.
During our conversion we discuss some common scenarios persons with a disability and their allies encounter during the holiday season and how to respond and prevent them from occurring.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Dr. Vicki’s website - https://www.drvickimatthews.com/
· Free Booklet – getalongnow.com
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Jodi Wellman, Keynote speaker, workshop leader and the founder of 4000 Mondays, discusses how on average we all have about 4000 Mondays in our lives.
Wellman touches upon closure, forgiveness, how we can move past regrets and experience a life well lived so when we live our last Monday we have very few, if any, regrets.
Chris shares a story of how a regret taught him a valuable life lesson hat helped him avoid a regret later in his life.
About today’s Guest:
Jodi Wellman has a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she is an Assistant Instructor. Wellman is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the ICF and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) from CTI who recently did a TEDx talk on "How Death Can Bring You Back to Life" (with 650K+ views so far!)
Links mentioned during this episode:
· https://fourthousandmondays.com/
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Tom Smoot has returned to school, finished an engineering degree, made meaningful contributions in a medical research lab, started a nonprofit and a new LLC since he has been diagnosed with an invisible disability of PTSD and depression.
Tom will be sharing the intricate steps in starting a non-profit and how his Non-Profit is helping veterans.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Lift & Shift Foundation - https://www.weliftandshift.org/
· The Good Men Project - https://goodmenproject.com/
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Tony Jacobsen author of “Disable Your Disability: Live the healthy life You Deserve”, host of the #Unbfeakable Podcast, and founder of the Tony Jacobsen Foundation and does it all with osteogenesis imperfecta (aka brittle bone disease)
Tony and Chris discuss the struggles they battled while hiding their disABILITIES including the reason why they did hide their disABILITIES and how they felt when they stopped hiding and being authentic with themselves and the world.
Tony discusses how he has felt rejections were discrimination against his disABILITY, but how he views rejection today – hint: Tony is likely to view a rejection not as discrimination.
Tony and Chris discuss the downfall of blaming discrimination, ableism and/or ableist society when we experience rejection.
Tony shares how he handles rejection and what it has taught him.
Links from Podcast episode:
•Tony’s website - https://www.tonyjacobsen.com/
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Michael Max Darrow, a former police officer and a veteran, used his stubbornness to write 5 books despite living with PTSD and Back Injury, hearing loss, and ringing in ears.
Michael shares how he uses his stubbornness to succeed in life and shares tips on when to be stubborn and when not to.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Michael’s website – https://michaelmaxdarrow.com/
· Michael’s author page on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Max-Darrow/e/B08KPN6W8W/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk
· Michael’s author page on Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Michael%20Max%20Darrow%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall
Watch this podcast episode on YouTube by clicking here, going to dfystv url or using the player below.
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Natalie Hibberd, the author of “Inside Out” and “Family Ties” discusses creating success as a self-published author with cerebral palsy
We also discuss how she has ignored those who said she could not do anything in her life because of her CP along with how her life experiences inspired her to write her two books.
Natalie also shares how CP challenges her as a writer and psuehd through those challenges to succeed.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Inside Out (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Out/dp/B08ZJZD647/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MMT9DFMTJS93&keywords=natalie+hibberd&qid=1666992397&sprefix=natalie+hibberd%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1
· Family Ties (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Family-Ties-Natalie-Hibberd-ebook/dp/B0BKQTH23B/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1MMT9DFMTJS93&keywords=natalie+hibberd&qid=1666992447&sprefix=natalie+hibberd%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-3
· Nataliehibberdauthor.co.uk
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Terry Tucker, a cancer warrior, and amputee, shares how sprots helped prepare him for his cancer battle and helped him develop the right mindset to fight the cancer battle for ten years and counting.
Terry shares how he finds the strength to keep pushing on, knowing that there will be a day that cancer will win.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon And Extraordinary Life available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Excellence-Principles-Uncommon-Extraordinary/dp/1951129520/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=terry+tucker&qid=1666818287&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=terry+tuck%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1
· https://www.sustainableexcellencemembership.com/
· https://www.motivationalcheck.com/
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Bill shares his experience of surviving a stroke and what limitations he lives with five years afterwards.
Bill and Chris share their experiences of recording from their respective strokes and give advice to others who want to survive and thrive after experiencing a stroke.
Bill and Chris also talk about the importance of a positive attitude and a positive mindset.
Links from this podcast episode:
· https://strokecast.com/
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Fran Garton, fitness coach and contributing author to Body Bliss: The Journey to Body Acceptance discusses how she lives pain free without using medicine as a person with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis.
Fran and Chris discuss the risk of taking tramadol with seizures, and the risks of stopping medicine cold turkey without consulting your physician.
Fran breaks down how the body acknowledges pain and how she uses that information for “mind over matter” when it comes to pain.
Fran also explains how a changes in diet has helped her to live pain free
Links from Podcast episode:
· Link to Fran’s website - https://frangartoncoaching.com/
· Body Bliss: The Journey to Body Acceptance on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Body-Bliss-Journey-Acceptance/dp/1990352308/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S4S633SKRVEX&keywords=to+Body+Bliss%3A+The+Journey+to+Body+Acceptance&qid=1666038812&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjEwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=to+body+bliss+the+journey+to+body+acceptance%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Kellie Ann is unique, and her life story attests to that fact. As a teen mom, adoptive mom, and foster care mom, she has had a lot of great experiences. But there is even more. Just one year after she gave birth to her daughter, she became a great-grandmother.
Kellie is a co-author with Dave Farrow, a two-time Guinness World Records holder for greatest memory, and she is the creator of an online parenting curriculum. Her new book, an upcoming memoir, "Wounded Heart, Graceful Warrior" is her story of overcoming domestic violence.
Kellie has a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a Family Intervention Specialist. Her experiences range from teaching, reunification of families, working with at-risk youths, families in crisis, and as a parent coach. She has worked in preschools, correctional facilities, and social work agencies.
Kellie shares her stroke story including how the stroke occurred and how she has made adjustments in her life to succeed as a stroke survivor.
Kellie also discusses her firsthand experience of being in a relationship where she endured domestic violence when she was younger.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Kellie’s website - everydaywisdom4families.com
Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!
Randi-Lee Bowslugh, a successful self-published author of “Embracing Me”, Randi’s true story of coming to terms with her depression, and nine other books, is also a cancer warrior, and battled autism and mental health issues daily.
Bowslaugh shares how she battles past distractions and depression to write and produce her YouTube series, Write or Die.
Bowslaugh also explains why she choose the self-published route over traditional publishing when it came time to bring her books to press and what she has earned during her journey.
Bowslaugh also shares coping strategies to overcome mental health issues that she has used and that others can use
Links from Podcast episode:
· Link to Randi’s website - https://www.rbwriting.ca/
· Randi Lee Bowslaugh Amazon page - https://www.amazon.com/Randi-Lee-Bowslaugh/e/B08QJTS9T9?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1665523024&sr=8-1
Get your FREE copy of DisABILITY Empowers Success at defineyourself.us/free and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY is empowering you to succeed!
Aunia Kahn is the CEO of Rise Visible. With 24 years in the field, she is a highly sought-after digital marketer, strategist, public speaker and digital influencer. Rise Visible has been named Top-Ranking Woman-Owned Digital Agency by Clutch, Best SEO Agency in Eugene 2022 by Expertise, and is a certified disabled and woman-owned business. She is also an internationally recognized and awarded visual artist, photographer, author who has shown in over 300 exhibitions in over 10 countries; at places such as San Diego Art Institute, iMOCA, and the St. Louis Art Museum. She founded Create for Healing and the Oregon Disabled Business Owners Association.
Aunia speaks about her disABILITY, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and both how her disABILITY challenges her and how she overcomes those challenges to succeed in life as a disABLED owned business owner.
Aunia shares her throughs on requesting accommodations for your disABILITY and how to react to rejection to those requests.
Aunia discusses how being “backed into a corner” and the events after September 11th, 2001, changed her path to becoming self-employed and becoming a solopreneur.
Links from Podcast episode:
- Aunia’s website - https://auniakahn.com/
- Rise Above website - https://risevisible.com/
- Rise Above and Be Visible Podcast - https://risevisible.com/podcast/
Caitlin Billings, author of the memoir In Our Blood, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a thriving practice in the San Francisco bay area.
After her seventh involuntary psychiatric hold in hospital, Caitlin questioned if she could ever work professionally again.
At that turning point in her life, Caitlin decided to work for herself and started working from home and seeing her clients virtually during the pandemic.
Cailin shares how she balances her need for self-care for her Bipolar and PTSD and taking care of her clients and ensuring their needs always comes first in her practice.
Caitlin also shares how her own experiences with trauma helps her in her practice with her clients.
Caitlin’s memoir, In Our Blood earned the 2021 Literary Titan Book Awards Gold Winner, 2021 Firebird Book Awards First Place Winner in LGBTQ Nonfiction, 2021 Firebird Book Awards Second Place Winner in Parenting and Family, 2021 Firebird Book Awards Second Place Winner in Psychiatry/Psychology and 2021 Indies Today Awards Finalist
In our Blood, a memoir is her own story of “coming of age as a young woman” and her battles with Bipolar and PTSD along with her oldest child’s journey of mental illness.
You can purchase Caitlin’s book, In Our Blood, from Amazon by clicking here or by visiting https://www.amazon.com/Our-Blood-Memoir-Caitlin-Billings-ebook/dp/B09CCSTRH2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JEOWCZ30QWKL&keywords=in+our+blood&qid=1664377621&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjQ5IiwicXNhIjoiMS41MyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=in+our+blood%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1
You can connect with Cailin by visiting her website at caitlinbillings.com/
Ruth Rathblott, former CEO of a non-profit, TedX speaker and author of Singlehandedly. Learning to Unhide and Embrace Connection was born with a limb difference that impacted her left hand.
Ruth’s definition of success is something that allows you to feel like yourself and allows you to accomplish what you want to do.
Ruth shares how for twenty-five years that she did not live her definition of success, because she would find unique ways to hide her limb difference from others.
Ruth discusses why she would hide her disability from others and what caused her to decide to unhide her limb difference and provides tips for anyone who wants to start unhiding their disability.
Ruth and Chris also discuss ableism. In particular, how people with a disability are judged as to what they can and cannot do, not only by the able-bodied community, but how the disabled community does to others in our community and how we can make changes.
Ruth and Chris talk about the benefits of being authentic with yourself and your disability and how it can help you find the right person for a long-term relationship.
Ruth also shares how employers can demonstrate that their workplace is DEI (inclusive for the disabled) and attract disabled employees and what persons with disabilities look for to find these companies.
Links from Podcast episode:
· Lucky Fin Project - https://luckyfinproject.org/
· Ruth’s TedX talk, When I Stopped Hiding, I Found Freedom: at https://youtu.be/9W3FtgvjC-4
· Purchase Ruth; s book, Singlehandedly. Learning to Unhide and Embrace Connection, from Amazon by clicking here or going to https://www.amazon.com/Singlehandedly-Learning-Unhide-Embrace-Connection/dp/B0B6LF72NL/ref=sr_1_2?crid=OLWAZ0AGPI4P&keywords=Singlehandedly.+Learning+to+Unhide+and+Embrace+Connection&qid=1664464486&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjEyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=singlehandedly.+learning+to+unhide+and+embrace+connection%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-2
· Ruth’s website - https://ruthrathblott.com/
Larry Berger, a man who survived eight car accidents that should have killed him. Larry has been hospitalized several times due to depressive bipolar like symptoms from Scitzo effective disorder.
Larry discusses how writing helps him get through the challenges his disABILITIES by acting as a coping mechanism to help him work through difficult times.
Larry shares how a comment made by Rush Limbaugh inspired him to write a book that he was able to self-publish.
Larry’s book, “Instant Poetry (just add words)” is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Poetry-Just-Add-Words/dp/B0B6GQ4CPD/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1CK35LX8ZAOZG&keywords=larry+berger&qid=1663945132&sprefix=larry+berger%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-2
You can connect with Larry and purchase his books on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrenceberger/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.r.berger
Amber is a full-time high school history teacher and is the founder/owner of Myren Education, LLC, where she serves as an organizational coach and tutor.
Amber discusses, why she started her business Myren Education, LLC and how she helps students via tutoring and helping students and adults organize their lives.
Amber lives with Scoliosis, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and PTSD. Amber shares how these diagnoses impact her life and how she overcomes the challenges and continues her career as a teacher.
You can connect with Amber at myreneducation.com
Imbar Golt, a public speaker, writer, healer, spiritual coach, and mentor who has been blind since birth, chats with Chris about how we can “see” without having sight.
Imbar shares how she “sees” the world without sight including aspects of life that most people do not ever see.
Imbar sees her blindness, aka her different ability, as a gift that she cherishes and how it has given her access to certain aspects of the world that a sighted person never experience.
You can connect with Imbar by vesting her YouTube channel, Earth Friendly at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmQFp4W_J2fmFzsisv0NxFg on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/imbar.golt
Mandy Edwards is a super mom who lives with ADHD, Bipolar I and general anxiety, who does not let those differences stop her from raising her three children who have their own differences including ADHD, Bipolar and level 2 autism and homeschool them.
Mandy shares hoe she does homeschool them all through her challenges and her children’s challenges to create a successful life for all.
You can connect with Mandy by visiting her website at http://edwardsbeautifulchaos.com/
Michael Wojcik, Senior Director of Development for the American Red Cross and visually impaired discusses his work including how he established the ability network within the Red Cross, and how the ability network assists the disabled volunteers and employees of the Red Cross succeed within the organization.
Michael and Chris discuss and share their respective experiences growing up visually impaired and living with the disability as adults.
Michal also shares the many ways the Red Ross helps those impacted by disasters. Michael also shares how everybody can support the red cross by volunteering in person or virtually, as well as how you can make a donation to the organization.
You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wojcik-5395735/ or by email at Michael.wojcik@redcross.org
To connect with the Red Cross visit https://www.redcross.org/
Shane Thrapp is a Certified ADHD Life, Relationship, and Career Coach.
Shane has 15 years of servant-based leadership experience and, through his business, Creating Order From Chaos, has helped hundreds of people find their paths through the chaos of life to find their order and purpose.
Shane is a board member of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition Non-profit, runs one of the largest Men’s ADHD Support Groups with over 10k members on Facebook, and works to be a voice in advocacy for Adult ADHD Awareness.
Shane discusses how his disabilities: ADHD, Autism, PTSD and Fibromyalgia impacted his life and how he has overcome them to start his own business, Creating Order from Chaos.
Shame also shares with what he had to go through to get diagnosed with adult ADHD.
Shane shares how the Facebook group, ASHD men’s support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/mensadhdsupportgroup can help adults with ADHD
You can connect with Shane by visiting https://www.creatingorderfromchaos.com
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Win Charles, an incredible woman who lives with and overcomes the challenges from multiple disabilities. Charles has Cerebral Palsy, Asthma, PTSD, SCI, Scoliosis, and a Brain Injury.
Win discusses how each disability challenges her and how she rises to each challenge and overcome the disabilities to create the success she wants in her life.
You can connect with Win and her podcast, Ask Win by going to ask-win.weebly.com
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Dr, Samantha Pillay, a Urological Surgeon specializing in Surgery for Urinary Incontinence is also a Business Owner and Director and a health Advocate.
Samantha was born with bilateral congenital hip dysplasia, diagnosed at age two when she failed to walk. Samantha underwent several surgical procedures, started school in a wheelchair and gradually progressed from callipers and crutches to walking unaided. Samantha mobility was impaired, and she managed chronic pain which deteriorated over the decades. Finally, a hip replacement in the worst hip at age 48 gave Samantha a degree of mobility she had never experienced before.
Samantha and Chris discuss how Samantha uses distractions to overcome the pain from her challenges in life and focusing in achieving her goals in her professional and personal lives.
You can purchase any of Samantha’s books on Amazon by visiting https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ADr.+Samantha+Pillay&s=relevancerank&text=Dr.+Samantha+Pillay&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1’
You can connect with Samantha by visiting her web site at SamanthaPillay.com
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Although Anthony Frisina was born with Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus, he has accomplished a lot of success in his life and hasn’t stopped yet.
Frisina has two college degrees: one in Enterprise business and the other in office administration. Frisina has worked for the college the graduated from for the past 17 years and works at a local university. Frisina volunteers as the director of communications for the Ontario Disabilities Coalition.
Frisina is also the founder of his own brand, Above & Beyond. Through his brand he is an author, actor, speaker, consultant and hosted his own show in Canada.
Frisina is also a forward moving ambassador (in the Untied States it is called Accessible Icon Project).
Frisina is currently running for city council in Ward 8 in Hamilton, Ontario Canada, and he shares why he wanted to run for office.
Frisina talks about how he created all the success he has enjoyed in his life and continues to enjoy today. He also shares what he sees as changes that need to be made in society to allow other disabled people to create the own success, many of these changes revolve around overcoming ableism.
You can connect with Anthony at http://www.anthonyfrisina.ca
You can purchase Anthony’s book, Above and Beyond: Anthony Frisina at Amazon by clicking here or going to https://www.amazon.com/Above-Beyond-Anthony-Frisina-ebook/dp/B0938DPX3N/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=anthony+frisina&qid=1660669909&sprefix=anthony+fri%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-5
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Katherine, aka Katite, Lockwood, shares how she lives everyday life as a mother of 2 and an educator with cystic fibrosis.
Katie discusses her experience of being terminated from her job as a counselor at a school over a denied request for continued accommodations for her CF when the delta variant of COVID hit the United States.
Katie shares how she pivoted from that setback to write children books and her founding of her own publishing business, Acorn cottage press.
Katie also shares about her book, “Why Me Mama” including the story that is within the book and that she wrote it for disabled children, especially children in the Mobius syndrome community, where there are currently no books in this space, and a community that one of her daughters is a member of.
You can purchase Katie’s book, Why Me mama, from Amazon by clicking here
You can connect with Katie by visiting https://www.acorncottagepress.com/
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Charles Chadwick Jr. author of Chadwick’s College Checklist and Chadwick’s Cultivated Circumstances Experience is Sometimes Priceless not only speaks about how the 44 million Americans who are struggling with student loans can help overcome the debt, he talks about overcoming his disabilities to become successful.
Chadwick, who grew up with amblyopia, aka lazy eye, shares how it has impacted his entire life including the bullying he endured in school that he sued to motivate himself to succeed.
Chadwick, recently diagnosed with ADHD, and Chris who was diagnosed with ADHD more than two decades ago, share the ways they have worked around their ADHD to succeed in life including how people with ADHD seem to become laser focused into what interests them the most and how distracted they can become when they are not interested in doing a task.
You can purchase Charlee’s books, Chadwick’s College Checklist from Amazon by clicking here and Chadwick’s Cultivated Circumstances Experience is Sometimes Priceless on Amazon by clicking here
You can connect with Charles by visiting https://www.chadwicksexperiences.com/
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Kellina Powell, life coach and author of Everyday I am Just Deaf, discusses her life as a deaf person and how she overcomes her deafness to work in a shipping warehouse.
Powell, an accomplished lip reader, shares her struggles with mask mandates during the recent pandemic.
Powell also tell us about her book and what she does as a life coach for young adults.
You can purchase Kellina’s book, Everyday I am Just Deaf: Life in the Hearing World with Deaf Queen Boss, from Amazon by clicking here or going to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B29MR4CV/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
You can connect with Kellina by visiting her web site at https://www.kellinaempowerment.com/
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Sonja Wasden, author of An Impossible Life and a survivor of a suicide attempt, speaks about her book and how she is creating success in her life by overcoming Bipolar I, obsessive compulsive disorder and an anxiety disorder.
Wasden share some of the tricks and techniques she uses to control her Bipolar, OCD and anxiety in her everyday life.
You can purchase Sonja’s book, An Impossible Life, from Amazon by clicking here or visiting https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Life-Inspiring-Journey-Struggle/dp/B089XZGQDP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12CYDJT1J13IV&keywords=An+Impossible+Life&qid=1657989837&sprefix=an+impossible+life+%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1
You can connect with Sonja by visiting https://www.sonjawasden.com or https://animpossiblelife.com/
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Emily Price is employed full time an Associate Communications Specialist for a fortune 500 company, the hostess of the Blinded Podcast and has been diagnosed with Peters Anomaly, a visual impairment since birth.
Emily discusses how she was able to launch her career before she graduated from college and how she disclosed her disability to her employer and weights in on the debate we all face, when should we tell our employers about our disabilities.
Emily as discusses how she was able to get her employer to acquire the computer equipment she needed to successfully perform her job as her request fell under the reasonable accommodation section of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Emily also talks about how she overcome the feeling of self-consciousness she experience when she must ask for help from her colleagues to successfully navigate her life, including eating at a buffet.
Driving is something that Emily has done that would surprise those who know she is visually impaired. She shares her driving experience and how her boyfriend, now husband. Taught her how to drive a car.
Emily talks about her new podcast, the Blinded Podcast, including why she launched the podcast and how she hopes to use the podcast to educate others about the disabled community.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast episode contains views and opinions which are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other author, agency, organization, employer, or company.
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Kristina Desjardins is a teacher’s aide at a school that is exclusively for students with neurodiverse issues including autism.
Kristina shares how she lives with autism daily and how she uses her autism to help her work with autistic students at her school.
Kristina tells about an experience of being discriminated against during a job search and how she reacted to it.
Kristina talks about how she educates people about autism and how it not only helps others learn about the neurodiverse community, but helps her learn more about her autism.
In Desjardins’ book, Autism: Life in the Prism, Kristian shares her life as an autistic person to help others understand autism.
You can purchase Kristina’s book, Autism: Life in the Prism, from Amazon by clicking here or from Barnes and Noble by clicking here
You can connect with Kristina Desjardins by visiting https://chat1autism.weebly.com/
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Regan Linton is a Freelance Theatre Artist – Actor, Director, Writer, Educator, Advocate and lives a full life with a spinal cord injury.
Regan shares her experiences in the theater as a disabled woman and how she is successfully advocating for more inclusion for the disabled community in the performing arts.
You can connect with Regan Linton by visiting her web site at https://www.reganlinton.com/
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Jay Trivedi works at a local Wal-mart in his community. He is very active in the rare disease foundation and it’s community, in particular in the CCHS family network.
Jay was born with a rate disease known as CCHS – Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome also known as Ondines’s Curse. Today Jay lives with tracheostomy in his neck and requires mechanical ventilation when he sleeps at night.
Jay shares his personal insights to living with CCHS and how to vie independently with CCHS.
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Andrew Arboe is the director of community outreach for a financial company that is owned by autistics and a leader of driving with autism.
Andrew shares the challenges a person with autism may face as he or she learns to drive and as a driver.
Andrew also shares how he is overcoming some of the challenges he faces behind the wheel in traffic as a neurodiverse person.
Links mentioned in this episode:
· https://autismdriving.com/
· https://planningacrossthespectrum.com/
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Nico Meyering, earned a masters in public administration and has worked in charitable organizations across the country. He is now working in state government in New York and he lives with a rare disease known as Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome or CCHS.
Nico has given a Ted talk:
· https://youtu.be/Qb_aVb_o4WM
On this episode of the Successful and disABLED Podcast Nico discusses the various ways people who are diagnosed with CCHS overcome the challenges of this rare disease and live full and productive lives.
Nico talk about he has learned to pace his speaking so he can breathe despite his CCHS.
Nico talks about the importance of every person the disabled community being advocates for themselves and why that is important to help everyone in the community create success in their respite lives.
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Hey DefineYourselfer, welcome into the successful and disabled podcast: the trailer.
Every week, The Successful and disABLED Podcast connects you with successful people from the disabled community who has created success in their professional, financial, academic and/or personal lives.
Every episode my guests and myself will discuss ways you can overcome challenges, obstacles, adversities, limitations, and/or setbacks including ableism that are common for people, like you and me, in the disABLED community.
My guest and myself will share how the right attitude, mindset, influencers, actions and more can enable you to create a successful life that you will love living.
Guests on the successful and disabled podcast include entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, business owners, managers, and others who identify as both successful and disABLED.
When you listen to the Successful and disABLED Podcast, our guests will share how they created success in their lives, so you know these insights have been tried, tested and proven to work.
You can listen to every episode of the Successful and disABLED Podcast via your favorite podcast player platform, or watch them on defineyourselftv.com
To learn more about this podcast, visit successfulanddisabled.com. Do it now, your future self will thank you
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