Xceptional Leaders with Mai Ling Chan & James Berges: Recent Episodes
Xceptional Podcast Network
Learn from disability-focused leaders about high profile topics and how they are truly making a difference. Mai Ling and James give you front row access to intimate conversations that are shaping the way the world is supporting people with disabilities. They share their intimate experiences— so you can start, grow, and expand your impact.
Startup founder and father to four children with ADHD/ADD, Hagay Levy joins the show today to share his entrepreneurial journey thus far. As a man who also has ADHD himself, he knows much about the unique needs of folks in that community, of which our host, Mai Ling Chan, is also a member. Hagay speaks with Mai Ling about his quest to start Iluria, a new tool for measuring the efficacy of medication for people with ADHD/ADD. They talk about identifying the problem, building a solution to the problem, some of the challenges along the way, what's been accomplished thus far, and where Iluria is headed next.
Today, James sits down for a timely conversation with celebrated soccer coach Scott Martin. In addition to a decades-long career in, and advocacy for, the game of soccer, Scott has also worked as an advocate for the disability community. He shares with James the story of his experience with disability as an amputee, his love of soccer, and how he pushed through the challenges in life to pursue his dreams. You don't want to miss this conversation, especially if you're a soccer fan. You can read more about his story in his book, Play From Your Heart.
Today, Mai Ling sits down for an in-depth discussion about how to get outside investment for your disability-focused ventures with husband-and-wife entrepreneur team, Rich and Brittany Palmer. Leaning into their previous experiences with the startup world and the disability community, they founded Adaptation Ventures, a pioneering pre-seed fund and investor community dedicated to fueling tech innovation in disability, neurodivergence, and accessibility. Brittany and Rich share their individual stories, what brought their paths together, and how they have joined forces to help founders tap into venture capital and angel investment to fund their ventures. They clarify investment lingo, share tips and tricks, and more in this conversation.
Our hosts kick off this episode with some important tips and information for folks working in the disability community. This is followed by a fascinating discussion between Mai Ling and our guest, Joyce Ko, who joins the show to talk about her experiences as a disabled clinician. Joyce shares her very personal story of a traumatic brain injury as a child and the journey that led her to a career as a speech-language pathologist. She is transparent about the challenges she faced post-injury, both in her educational career and in daily life, but she refused to allow them to hinder her.
Today, James shares a great conversation with Dr. Kirk Adams, PhD, with us on the podcast. Kirk Adams is the founder of Innovative Impact LLC, through which he consults with corporate clients on diversity, inclusivity, and equity with a focus on the employment of people with disabilities. James talks with him about his own experience with blindness, the struggles he faced to enter the workforce, and how that led him to his work of advocacy for employment for people with disabilities.
Our guest for today's episode of the Xceptional Leaders podcast is one who undoubtedly exemplifies that label, Dr. Tamer Abou-Elsaad. He is a professor of Phoniatrics at Mansoura University in Mansoura, Egypt. He joins Mai Ling for a conversation to share the story of how he built a medical specialty from nothing in his country. He also talks about why Egyptian insurance covers 12 speech therapy sessions per month, his efforts to stop unlicensed practitioners from treating patients, and explains exactly what phoniatrics is. And he tells how hearing one lecture put him on a course to make a difference in his chosen field of study.
Samantha Elandary has worked exclusively with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's and related disorders since 1999, and for our first episode of 2026, she joins the show to talk with James about her work. She is the founder of the Parkinson Voice Project, and she shares how she built a non-profit from her kitchen table, explains the difference between speaking with intent versus automatic speech, and gives some tips for those who are starting their own disability-focused business.
For our final episode of 2025, Mai Ling and James revisit some of the highlights from the past year of excellent guests. They go over the top takeaways from all of the exceptional leaders who have appeared on the show to share their expertise and experience with our community. This great retrospective will remind you of all the great info we've heard and perhaps entice you to re-listen to some of your favorite shows from 2025.
Dr. Rachel Khasky-Levy is our guest for today's episode of Xceptional Leaders. She is the CEO and co-founder of The Babel Group, and she brings her passion for connecting technology and clinical practice to this conversation with Mai Ling. They discuss the necessity and value of wearing multiple hats in a startup, encourage the listener to go ahead and ask the "dumb" questions, and comment on the fact that sometimes leaders need to blaze a new trail. Don't miss this informative chat with Dr. Levy!
James sits in the interviewer chair this episode and talks with speaker and activist, Elizabeth Jenswold. Elizabeth is a global thought leader with executive-level business experience, and she talks about her career path from the Jane Goodall Institute to financial services to diversity activism. She also shares how to spot the tasks at which neurodiverse people excel, why employment laws often hurt the ones they’re meant to protect, how sometimes your best business solutions come from the most unexpected places, and how implementation of diversity employment practices might differ from large corporations to small businesses.
Special mention in memory of Jane Goodall. Episode recorded prior to her recent passing.
Our guest today, Leila Denna Staiger, is a speech-language pathologist and founder of SLPs Talk Tech. Under Leila’s leadership, this professional community is exploring emerging tech and AI tools and discovering how to put them to work for clinicians, researchers, and educators. She joins Mai Ling for a conversation to talk about how to build community around emerging technologies, some of the practical uses of AI in healthcare, and the ethics of using AI in private practice.
Our guest for today’s episode is the founder of the Be Perfect Foundation, Hal Hargrave. Mai Ling talks with Hal about the horrific car accident that left him with a spinal cord injury, which then led him to the genesis of the foundation. Hal also shares his thoughts on the importance of leaders knowing when they need to pivot, the value of staying positive despite setbacks, and how he also founded a second organization called The Perfect Step where he serves as president, all in an effort to be a support and encouragement to people who are living with paralysis like him. Don’t miss this powerful conversation!
Mai Ling and James share some fun updates in their lives and leadership journeys at the top of today’s episode. James follows that up with a great conversation with comedian and disability advocate, Pamela Rae Schuller. Pamela talks about living with Tourette syndrome, her path into the world of comedy, and why humor is so important when talking about disability. She also shares her thoughts on leveraging what makes you different and disclosing what you want when you want about your disability.
In today’s episode, Mai Ling speaks with CPA Michael Ringel about the unique challenges faced by families who have loved ones with disabilities, with regard to financial planning. In this information-packed and frank discussion about money management and planning for your financial future, Michael talks about how he reached the decision to focus on this particular segment of the market, how the approach of his team might differ from other financial advisors, and shifting one’s mindset about wealth. Don’t miss this important conversation!
Our guest in this episode is Emily Mischel, Co-Founder & CEO of FlexTogether, a telehealth practice that was “founded to radically expand access to respiratory care.” Emily chats with James about the impetus for the creation of the business, what problems it aims to address, and why they’re so important. She also shares thoughts on approaching the business side of the equation in addition to the healthcare aspect and the value of entrepreneurs pivoting when necessary.
In this solo episode, our host, Mai Ling Chan, draws on her years of experience in the arena of disability entrepreneurship and gives some tips and practical advice for fellow business owners. Mai Ling shares some in-depth perspectives as she spotlights the Exceptional Leaders Network that she founded. The ELN is a vibrant, growing community of folks who all have a passion for making a difference with their innovative and creative disability-focused businesses. After you listen to this episode, be sure to check out the ELN for yourself here: https://www.mailingchan.com/eln.
After a fun introduction in which Mai Ling and James bring us up to speed on what’s going on in their careers, James introduces Shay Senior, a social entrepreneur and this episode’s guest. Shay is the CEO and founder of Palta, an inclusive fashion clothing company, and he talks about the personal injury that led to him launch Palta. Shay also shares about working on the Israeli Paralympic team uniforms, the distinction between adaptive fashion and inclusive fashion, and the importance of staying focused on your core business as an entrepreneur.
We’re kicking off the new year with Speech-Language Pathologist, Vanessa Abraham, as our first guest. After Mai Ling and James catch us up with some updates after our short break, Mai Ling sits down with Vanessa to chat about her very personal experience of losing the ability to speak and her journey to regain it. Vanessa shares details about this traumatic experience in this vulnerable conversation and her desire to use that experience to help others who can benefit from what she learned from it. Her full story is chronicled in her book, Speechless, and she talks about the process of writing the book as well.
In this final episode of the year, our hosts Mai Ling and James, recap some highlights from the show in 2024. They list some of the top takeaways from our lineup of incredible guests over the past year. Our hosts also recount a few of their own achievements and milestones this year. Join us for this brief retrospective as we look forward to 2025.
In our final interview for 2024, Meier Galblum Haigh joins the show today to talk about changing the conversation and perceptions around disability. Meier is the founding Executive Director of the Disability Culture Lab, a nonprofit disability media and narrative lab building communications infrastructure by and for the disability community. Mai Ling speaks with Meier about defining ableism, what sets the Disability Culture Lab apart from other organizations, and combatting ableism in all forms, from institutional barriers to internalized discrimination.
James is flying solo in this episode while Mai Ling is traveling and he brings us a fascinating conversation with our guest, Professor Mark Cook, a Melbourne-based Consultant Neurologist who specializes in the treatment of epilepsy. James talks with Mark about what prompted his desire to work in epilepsy research specifically, the impact that epilepsy has on a person’s life, the effects of MRI technology in epilepsy treatment, and the value of getting involved with people outside your specialty. This interview is jam-packed with interesting information and valuable takeaways for your own endeavors.
Mai Ling and James kick off the episode talking about some recent family and cultural moments that Mai Ling experienced. Then Mai Ling introduces our guest for this episode, SLP, vocologist, and Kapila Voice and Speech Services CEO, Ruchi Kapila to talk about gender-affirming voice services. In this conversation, Ruchi defines gender-affirming voice care, shares thoughts on when it is ok to consider oneself a leader, and explains what the Trans Voice Initiative is and the work it undertakes.
Today, we are happy to share a fascinating conversation with speech recognition scientist, speech and language pathologist, and CEO of Say It Labs, Erich Reiter. James chats with Erich about the founding of Say It Labs, a company that develops speech recognition-based video games designed for people with speech disorders. They also talk about how AI integration into these video games is such a huge benefit for both SLPs and those using the games, as well as some of the science behind the causes of stuttering and why it’s important to understand. Join us for this deep dive, info-packed discussion.
Our Ability’s President and CEO, John Robinson, joins Mai Ling on today’s episode to discuss some important issues for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). John talks about his advocacy for people with disabilities in the workforce, how Our Ability is attacking the problem of matching job seekers with employers, how ableist language has affected job listings, and why the trend toward remote work is a good sign.
Mai Ling kicks off this episode with an exciting report on her recent trip before introducing today’s guest for Deaf Awareness Month. Melissa Elmira Yingst is a deaf community advocate, media personality, and host of The Melmira Show. Through her interpreter and friend, Mara Bowdidge, she talks with Mai Ling about her work in the deaf community, growing up in a deaf family, building a social media following, and the value of working with an experienced interpreter.
In today’s edition of the show, James sits down with Jacqueline and Alexa Child, the sister co-founder team of Dateability, the only dating app for the chronically ill and disabled communities. Jacqueline and Alexa share their personal experiences that led them to embark on the mission of launching the Dateability app, why it is so important to cater to these communities of users, how they were able to create a product without having technical backgrounds, and some of their user's success stories.
Elizabeth Orme joins the show today to talk with James about her work to support special educators and help them prevent burnout. Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Focused, a company whose aim is to simplify workflow management and administrative tasks for special educators. She talks about some of the frustrations special ed teachers face and how to address them, shares some thoughts on viewing disability through an entrepreneurial lens, as well as how technology can be used to address burnout.
James speaks with this week’s guest, Diego Mariscal, about his disability advocacy and entrepreneurship. Diego is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Disabled Officer of 2Gether-International (2GI), the leading nonprofit startup accelerator run by and for disabled entrepreneurs. He shares what 2GI is and what they do, some resources for disabled entrepreneurs, and his thoughts on the benefits that people with disabilities have with regard to entrepreneurship.
Mai Ling has an insightful conversation with Peter Fischer, the Accessibility Compliance Guru at Arizona State University in today’s episode. As the owner of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) consulting firm for almost 20 years, Peter was the perfect choice to help the Xceptional Leaders team to commemorate the anniversary of this important legislation. Peter shares a brief history and overview of what the ADA is, talks about the challenges of retrofitting a university campus for accessibility, and how his own experience with rheumatoid arthritis shaped his work.
Our guest for today is Nicole Cuervo, the founder & CEO of Springrose, a startup designing adaptive intimate apparel that improves quality of life for women with limited mobility. She speaks with Mai Ling about her journey as an entrepreneur by sharing exactly what adaptive intimate apparel is, why it is needed, and the personal experience in her family that led her to develop her products. Nicole also talks about her approach to the expansion of her product line, how to find your ideal customer, and the importance of considering research and development when setting pricing.
In today’s episode, James sits down with the CEO of Arc Angel Communications, David D'Arcangelo, to talk about his work to bring more people with disabilities into the workforce. As a legally blind person, David knows firsthand the challenges that many people with disabilities face when seeking employment. He talks about his passion for improving the human condition, disability as part of your identity, how to get more people with disabilities into the workforce, and focusing on the ability part of disability. Don’t miss this engaging, insightful conversation!
In recognition of Aphasia Awareness Month, we knew June would be the perfect time to focus on aphasia. So today Mai Ling chats with Dr. Anthony Kong, an expert on aphasia with an emphasis on aphasia among speakers of Chinese languages. Anthony begins by sharing a bit about what aphasia is and then goes deeper into how the specific elements of Asian languages can cause aphasia to be even more pronounced in speakers of those languages. He also talks about why he felt he needed to focus specifically on aphasia in Chinese speakers as well as some tips on how you can effectively blaze a trail in an underserved area yourself.
Today we are joined by Speech Language Pathologist Ebony Green. Ebony is the CEO and founder of SLP Business Suite and she talks with Mai Ling about how she got started as an SLP, starting a private practice, fighting imposter syndrome, and pivoting mid-career. She also shares her passion for networking and connecting people which led her to launch the Made for More SLP Business Conference.
Dr. Michelle Boisvert joins this episode of the show for an informative conversation with Mai Ling. Using her expertise as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Michelle co-founded easyReportPRO.com to address some of the challenges that SLPs face which she knew could be simplified with the use of technology. She talks about what easyReportPRO is, how it works by incorporating AI, and the impetus to start the platform. Mai Ling also asks her about how she built her team, the future of AI in healthcare, and thoughts on other uses of AI in the SLP arena.
Oanh "Kim" Vuong is our guest for today’s episode. As a person with cerebral palsy and an AAC user who is an active advocate, she offers a unique and valuable perspective on disability leadership. Mai Ling chats with Kim about the independent confidence she developed at a young age, her advocacy work in southern California, and some of the initiatives she’s currently undertaking. From curriculum development to beach accessibility issues, Kim is an example of a leader who tackles the task despite the challenges.
In this episode, our hosts tackle the timely topic of using Artificial Intelligence tools in your disability-focused business. Mai Ling and James give you a crash course on AI, covering this subject from various angles including ethical considerations, practical uses of tools like ChatGPT, integrating AI into your entrepreneurship efforts, tips for writing prompts, and more!
We have two great guests in this episode! James sits down for a conversation with Jhillika Kumar and Conner Reinhardt, the CEO, and COO respectively, of Mentra. As a neurodiversity employment network, one of the goals of Mentra is to connect neurodivergent jobseekers with jobs, but it goes beyond that. Jhillika and Conner talk in depth about all the problems that Mentra aims to solve, why a neurodiverse workforce is an advantage, and how universal design fits into this discussion. They also share a bit about their own experiences with neurodiversity.
In this episode, Mai Ling is joined by guest Anna Voelker, founder and Executive Director of SciAccess, Inc. SciAccess is an international nonprofit that promotes disability inclusion in STEM education, outreach, and research and Anna speaks with Mai Ling about the beginnings of the non-profit, what universal design is, and having an early interest in space that led to later endeavors. They also chat about what accessibility really means and the AstroAccess initiative, a program focused on furthering disability inclusion in space exploration.
Our guest today is speaker and award-winning author Carol Van Den Hende. She talks with Mai Ling about her novels which are helping both people with disabilities and their loved ones. These fictional stories draw from Carol’s Chinese American heritage and in addition to telling heart-warming, genuine narratives, they also explore themes such as accessibility, inclusive design, and how cultural background affects relationships. She also shares some of her experiences around book publishing as well.
Certified ADHD Coach, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Kim To, joins Mai Ling Chan on this episode to share her thoughts and experiences with ADHD. Kim talks about the journey to her diagnosis and why she moved into coaching others with this same challenge. She also talks about the unique situation of being an Asian woman with an ADHD diagnosis, which Mai Ling has also experienced. This insightful conversation offers an oft-overlooked perspective on ADHD from two women who are living it every day.
Today’s guest on the podcast is fellow podcaster, Maya Chupkov. Maya is the Executive Director, Producer and Host of Proud Stutter, an award winning and multi-nominated podcast and advocacy nonprofit organization that is de-stigmatizing stuttering and embracing speech diversity. She speaks with James about her story of growing up with a stutter, what prompted her to launch the podcast, and how her PR experience has benefitted what she’s doing now. This conversation is full of tips that you can apply to your own disability-focused business today.
Our guest for the very first episode of 2024 is award-winning professional actor, voice actor, and broadcaster Zach Damon. We’re thrilled to kick off the new year talking to Zach about his advocacy work in the disability space using his skills and experience in media production. Zach has developed a TV show that he also hosts, along with numerous other projects in the broadcast media arena. He also does advocacy work at the city government level as well as with the Boy Scouts. This great conversation is the perfect way to start 2024 and inspire you in your efforts.
Don’t miss the final episode of the Xceptional Leaders podcast for 2023! Our hosts, Mai Ling and James, share some valuable information as they look back over this past year. They talk about the strides that were made in the area of disability in 2023, highlights from some of this year’s guests, and success stories from around the world. They also share some areas that still need improvement as well as a look at what’s coming down the road too. Join us for this special wrap-up of 2023!
Our guest today is neurodivergent Ukrainian entrepreneur and mental health enthusiast, Julia Ovcharenko. She talks with Mai Ling about the stigma around ADHD and adjusting to ADHD and neurodiversity diagnoses as an adult, which is a very personal topic for Mai Ling, as she shares in the introduction segment before the interview. As the CEO and Founder of Numo ADHD, a new app for adults with ADHD, Julia is dedicated to creating a thriving community and vital resources for those with ADHD. The app has productivity aids, support groups, and many other features to assist users and help them “Unlock Your ADHD Wildness”.
James and Mai Ling kick off the episode with some updates and top takeaways from the conversation with today’s guest. AAC user and disability advocate Brooke Brown speaks with Mai Ling about her experience as Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2022 and the Arizona State Coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair America, her journey to achieving the title and position, and the role AAC played in the process. Brooke also shares her thoughts on the word “inspire” in the context of people with disabilities and more in this International AAC Awareness Month episode.
Mai Ling chats with Nikki Powis about some fantastic resources for disability entrepreneurs in today’s episode. Nikki is the Director of the National Disability Institute and she shares how she started at NDI and some of the top challenges for entrepreneurs based on her over three decades of experience in this space. She also gives some tips for investor pitches and speaks about how the social impact of business ventures is an integral element of successful businesses.
Today Mai Ling has a chat with the founder of AccessAbility Officer, Tanner Gers. AccessAbility Officer’s aim is to make work and the web better through the services they offer, including digital accessibility training and certification, as well as staffing and recruiting. Tanner shares with us his journey to founding this organization, starting with how life changed when he became blind, what true ADA-compliant digital/online accessibility means for companies, and how the certification program works and the benefits it provides. Join us for this deep dive into the important topic of online accessibility.
Dr. Mona Minkara chats with James in today’s episode about how to use other senses beyond eyesight to observe scientifically. Mona is a blind assistant professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University and a travel vlogger who lives by the maxim that vision is more than sight. In this fascinating conversation with James, she talks about her interest in science at an early age, how she uses other senses in her scientific work, and how curiosity is an integral part of her personality. She also shares her passion for traveling the world and thoughts on overcoming the doubts that so many of us face.
In today’s packed interview, James chats with Merlee Jayme, Chairmom® and Founder of the Misfits Camp. Merlee shares some of her backstory, including some experiences in her early, formative years which had a profound impact on her life and her approach to marketing and creativity. She also talks about her passion for creating careers for the neurodivergent which led to the formation of the Misfits Camp and why she’s not averse to the term “misfit”.
Mai Ling sits down with founder and CEO of YellowBird, Michael Zalle, to talk about being a successful leader as a person with a disability. As a veteran tech entrepreneur, Michael pulls from his extensive experience in the business world to share about when it might be advantageous to disclose a disability to potential investors. He also talks about embracing your own story and using it to your advantage and he also shares some thoughts on the role of authenticity in business. This is a value-packed episode!
In our opening segment, Mai Ling and James talk about the importance of networking in your local area, in addition to building a national or international network. This valuable discussion is followed by Mai Ling’s interview with founder and CEO of Adapt the Game, Victor Ocando Finol. Victor talks about his experience as a sports fan with limited mobility due to cerebral palsy and the challenges of attending live sporting events. He created the Adapt the Game mobile app to help sports fans who were in a similar situation to himself by addressing accessibility issues with the sports venues and tailoring the experience to the individual user’s needs, from ticketing to game time.
Today we’re featuring an informative conversation between James and fellow speech-language pathologist, Alan Vu. As an SLP and an AAC specialist, Alan was able to leverage his professional background and his personal experience as a person who stutters to help create a new app that combines AI with AAC, called Flexspeak. James and Alan talk about what Flexspeak does and what Alan and his team are working on, as well as why many other AAC systems are being abandoned users.
Mai Ling starts off this solo-hosted episode with an update about our new episode collections that make it easy to do a deep dive into a specific topic. Then she brings founder and CEO of Space Dream Productions, Koura Linda, onto the show to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in film production and how her company is working in that arena. Koura talks about being a facilitator of communication and how her job is “to assist other artists, activists, and educators with connecting with audiences and communicating with them.” And she also dives into some important things to consider when scaling your business, regardless of the industry.
The topic of today’s episode is personal for Mai Ling. Before our guest joins the show to talk about ADHD, Mai Ling shares her own personal experience with her diagnosis. James then sits down with startup founder and expert ADHD/neurodiversity advocate/speaker, Chris Wang to talk all about ADHD and its effects on adults. Chris is the co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, a comprehensive behavioral tech platform for adults with ADHD. In addition to explaining the Shimmer app, Chris also shares some different approaches to managing ADHD, advice for newly diagnosed adults, and some of the biggest challenges that they face.
Our guest today is Elisa Shipon-Blum, or Dr. E, as her patients call her. She is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety and Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center). Dr E is an expert on Selective Mutism (SM) and has helped to treat thousands of patients over the past three decades. She speaks with Mai Ling about how she started her work in the area of SM, the genesis of the Selective Mutism Association and the SMart Center, as well as various treatment methods. She also answers the question, Is alternative communication an option for individuals with Selective Mutism?
In the introduction to this episode’s interview, Mai Ling shares an exciting announcement about an upcoming project that she’ll be working on. Then we jump into a conversation between Mai Ling and Dr. Li-Rong “Lilly” Cheng, who is the Director of the Chinese Cultural Center at San Diego State University. Dr. Cheng was the founder of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of ASHA and she talks about her early days as a diversity advocate and the unique perspectives of Asian culture on discussing diversity, inclusion, and sensitive matters. They also discuss the progress that has been made on these issues and what still needs to be accomplished.
To kick off the episode, Mai Ling and James discuss some updates and Mai Ling shares some thoughts and tips on her move into public speaking. Then James sits down with our guest, Elizabeth Chafcouloff, who is a speech-language pathologist specializing in the management of swallowing disorders (dysphagia) in adults. She talks about her background, career beginnings, and how she came to found Speech Therapy Cambodia, an organization which pioneered dysphagia therapy in Cambodia. Elizabeth also shares some of the challenges in setting up the organization, including cultural differences, creating training materials, and then implementing those training programs.
Comedian and screenwriter Greg Roque joins the show today for an insightful conversation with James. As a teen, Greg had a spinal injury which paralyzed him and he brings his unique perspective on life as a disabled person to his comedy. He shares with us a little about his approach to comedy, where the line is for comedy about disability, and the accessibility challenges he’s faced as a comic in a wheelchair.
Before we introduce our guest in this episode, Mai Ling shares a major update about a new venture that she is embarking on that has a connection to our guest. And that guest is technology explorer, evaluator, and reviewer, Yonah Welker, who has a mission to reshape how nations, cities and ecosystems embrace human-centered algorithms, environments, policy and emerging technology – specifically addressing human capability, wellbeing, experiences and beyond. Yonah and Mai Ling chat about the role of technology in the disability space with an emphasis on artificial intelligence.
Our guest today is UK-based, Disability Inclusion Specialist Michael Grimmett. Michael talks with James about an inaccessibility incident at his local pizza restaurant that he was able to use to shine light on accessibility issues. As a wheelchair user and disability advocate, Michael’s personal experiences have given him a platform to talk about the terminology and language around disability and those who have disabilities and he shares those perspectives in this conversation. In addition, he shares his thoughts on the difference between accessibility and inclusion.
Our hosts, Mai Ling and James, share some important updates on what is going on in their respective careers before we dive into a discussion with our guest. Sawsan Zakaria chats with Mai Ling about her participation in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge on multiple occasions. As an actress and model with a neuromuscular disease called spinal muscular atrophy, Sawsan talks about her experiences as an actress with a disability in LA, recounting some of the highs and lows. She also shares her thoughts on how the collective preconceptions about disability are slowly shifting in the industry.
Today, we welcome to the show Vanessa Castañeda Gill, the Co-Founder and CEO of Social Cipher, a game-based, social-emotional learning platform for neurodiverse youth. Social Cipher launched their first game called Ava, and Vanessa shares the story of its development and the impact it’s made on the target audience. She also talks about growing up with ADHD and Autism, how that has affected who she is today, and exactly why she chose a video game as the vehicle to make a difference in the lives of neurodiverse young people.
Just a few years ago, our guest Sandie Roberts, suddenly found herself at the intersection of being a middle-aged woman and a full-time wheelchair user. Unable to find adequate fashion options to suit both her new situation and her personal tastes, Sandie decided to do something about it. Sandie sits down with Mai Ling to talk about these unique experiences that led her to launch Roll With Style, a new venture that aims to assist wheelchair users with stylish and fashionable clothing options. They also discuss Sandie’s biggest growing pains during the process and how important clothing is for one’s perception of self worth, especially those in midlife.
Speech-language pathologist and educator, Sandy Dorsey, is our guest this week on the show. As a global advocate for children with special needs, Sandy talks with James about how disability is viewed in developing countries and what she’s doing to overcome stigmas about disability and educate the public. She’s also the founder of the non-profit organization, Smiles for Speech, which provides access to developmentally appropriate resources to support children with disabilities. So she also shares how the organization got started, the impetus for it, and some of the services she and her team provide.
As we kick off the first episode of the new year, Mai Ling and James share their thoughts on new year’s resolutions. Then Mai Ling sits down with Chanda Hinton, Executive Director of the Chanda Center for Health and Chanda Plan Foundation, to talk about her journey of founding and running the health care center. They also discuss proactive and preventive health care options, the stigma around not-for-profit organizations, how the Chanda Center for Health differs from traditional health care offerings, and a lot more.
For our Xceptional Leaders 2022 finale episode, Mai Ling and James share some thoughts and observations on the new National Disability Institute report, Small Business Ownership by People with Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities. They also share some highlights from past podcast guests that pertain to some of the points addressed in the NDI report. We think you’ll enjoy this part retrospective, part state-of-the-industry discussion as we cap off the year and look forward to 2023.
Our guest for this episode is Dr. Carlene MacMillan, an expert in mental health and VP of Clinical Innovation at Osmind. Carlene’s area of focus is exploring innovative mental health treatments for anxiety and depression, among other conditions. She talks with James about some of these treatments such as psychedelic assisted therapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy. Over the course of the conversation, Carlene helps us to define some of these newer therapies and addresses some of the misconceptions around them.
Our guest for this episode is Dr. Carlene MacMillan, an expert in mental health and VP of Clinical Innovation at Osmind. Carlene’s area of focus is exploring innovative mental health treatments for anxiety and depression, among other conditions. She talks with James about some of these treatments such as psychedelic assisted therapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy. Over the course of the conversation, Carlene helps us to define some of these newer therapies and addresses some of the misconceptions around them.
Today, James and Mai Ling share some updates on their journeys and then Mai Ling brings us an insightful conversation with speaker, writer, and social media influencer, August Rocha. August talks about the value of participating in and even building your own online communities in today’s culture. Intersectionality, advice for starting a TikTok account to build a brand, and life with Behçet’s disease are just a few of the other topics covered in this upbeat interview.
We’re excited to bring this week’s guest to you today. Rachel Madel joins James for an insightful discussion from her wealth of experience. Rachel is a speech-language pathologist, AAC specialist, podcast host, and international presenter who shares about the value of networking and building relationships, her mantra “inspire don’t require”, some of her approaches to speech therapy, thoughts on Gestalt Language Processing, and her experiences as an entrepreneur in this engaging conversation. Tune in and get your notepad ready!
We’re excited to bring this week’s guest to you today. Rachel Madel joins James for an insightful discussion from her wealth of experience. Rachel is a speech-language pathologist, AAC specialist, podcast host, and international presenter who shares about the value of networking and building relationships, her mantra “inspire don’t require”, some of her approaches to speech therapy, thoughts on Gestalt Language Processing, and her experiences as an entrepreneur in this engaging conversation. Tune in and get your notepad ready!
Our guest this week is futurist and thought leader, Giselle Mota, who focuses on enabling inclusion as it relates to product design, the future of work, and all things emerging tech including web3 and metaverse. She joins Mai Ling to talk about her work as the creator of NFTY Collective, which aims to ensure that people of diverse representation are included, represented, and able to access web3 and metaverse by creating avatars that represent people with both seen and unseen disabilities for use in games, websites, and other applications. Giselle shares her vision behind NFTY Collective, her perspectives on building a team around a vision, and more.
Our guest this week is futurist and thought leader, Giselle Mota, who focuses on enabling inclusion as it relates to product design, the future of work, and all things emerging tech including web3 and metaverse. She joins Mai Ling to talk about her work as the creator of NFTY Collective, which aims to ensure that people of diverse representation are included, represented, and able to access web3 and metaverse by creating avatars that represent people with both seen and unseen disabilities for use in games, websites, and other applications. Giselle shares her vision behind NFTY Collective, her perspectives on building a team around a vision, and more.
Clothing designer Chamiah Dewey joins the show today to talk with Mai Ling about her work. She created Chamiah Dewey Fashion, the UK’s first clothing brand for people with Dwarfism/short stature. Chamiah tells about the beginnings of her fashion design career, the impetus for launching her company, and her system for breaking up business-related tasks throughout a week. This conversation not only dives into the creation of a business but also some great time management tips that anyone can implement.
Bryan Dinner is our guest for this episode of Xceptional Leaders. He is the CEO and founder of Clarifi, the desktop app that assists teens with ADHD and attention challenges with completing online homework. Bryan talks with James about his personal experience with ADHD, what led him to found the company, and his process for developing a minimum viable product (MVP). This discussion is a great case study on building a business around a digital product and doing it the right way.
We’re so happy to bring you this insightful and informative episode today about breakthrough voice technology. James chats with co-founder and VP of Strategy at Voiceitt, Sara Smolley. Voiceitt is a speech recognition app for people with speech disabilities, but to fully understand the capabilities and potential, Sara talks about various use cases and how users benefit. She also shares tips for entrepreneurship in the disability space and even a bit about personal experience with a family member with a speech disability.
Mai Ling and James kick off this episode sharing what they are up to lately. Mai Ling talks about her new approach to Tiktok and James reports on his recent work change. After these updates, Mai Ling shares a conversation she had with speaker and personal development coach, Carson Tueller. Carson talks with Mai Ling about the meaning of ableism, his personal journey of coming to grips with a life-changing spinal cord injury, the intersection of sexuality and disability, and his perspectives on what it truly means to be human.
Today Mai Ling chats with Mike Adams, the CEO of Purple, a disability organization working to bring disabled people and businesses together. Mike talks about his work building a fully accessible online marketplace, why he and his team took the build-from-scratch approach, and what brought him to start a career in the disability sector to begin with. He also shares about the success of the Purple Tuesday initiative and how it’s become a global movement. But before this fantastic conversation, Mai Ling and James bring you up to date with what’s been going on in their lives. This is a packed episode with lots of great information that you don’t want to miss!
Our guest for this episode is Occupational Therapist and Gerontologist, Raheema Hemraj. Mai Ling speaks with her about her work as the co-creator of the Rehab Tech Summit and they dive into how the event started, who it is for, and some of the spin-off events. Rahemma also tackles the question of whether or not one needs to have clinical experience to move into the health tech/product development field. She shares some great insights from her years of experience as a company founder and passionate voice in the health tech space.
Our spotlighted guest for this episode is The Gerontechnologist, Keren Etkin! She is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and self-described age tech evangelist. Keren is the founder/director of AgeLabIL and she also runs the AgeTech Academy. She sat down with James to discuss some of the technological advances in the very specialized arena of tech for the aging, how this tech fits into the user’s daily life, and where she’d like to see things go in the future. From robotics to voice assistants, they cover it all!
Our guest today is disability advocate Jake Linn, who launched the Disability in Hollywood initiative to bring awareness to the inequities in Hollywood surrounding people in the entertainment industry with disabilities. Jake talks with Mai Ling about how he got started with the project, the issues he and his team are addressing, and some of his personal experiences. He is passionate about raising awareness and changing the culture of Hollywood to one that embraces people with disabilities.
Our guest today is the founder of FreshSLP and host of The Missing Link for SLPs podcast, Mattie Murrey-Tegels. Mattie chats with James about how to reinvent yourself and your career, the value and importance of self-care, and the difference between burnout and just being tired. In addition to this value-packed interview, Mai Ling and James share some updates from their own journeys. This episode is one you don’t want to miss!
We’re excited to share this great conversation with you! Our guest today is Chris Wenger, aka Speech Dude. He is an SLP, social media influencer, and the creator of the Dynamic Assess of Social Emotional Learning, a neurodiversity-affirming assessment to get a holistic view of a child. Chris talks with James about effectively using humor to educate, developing a winning mindset, and how your health plays a part in your individual success. Don’t miss this high-energy, motivating interview!
Mai Ling and James are bringing a great interview for you this week. Our guest is professional American Sign Language interpreter and coach, Lanette Pinkard, who grew up as a child of deaf adults (CODA). Lanette has been the lead interpreter of teams for high-profile events all over the world and is the founder of My Hands Your Heart, LLC, a team of master interpreters specializing in customized ASL services for all types of organizations. Lanette talks with James about her experiences as a CODA, how they inspired her to pursue ASL as a career, how she launched her coaching services, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about this inspiring journey!
In this packed episode, Mai Ling and James share some exciting updates and tidbits about what is happening in the disability space and then James has a great conversation with today’s guest. Gareth Walkom is subject matter expert on using virtual reality as a therapy for speech disability or difference and has spoken at events around the world on the topic. He is the founder of withVR, a company that develops custom VR environments specifically for speech therapy. He talks about what VR is, explains VR exposure therapy, and describes how users interact with these programs in this insightful interview.
Our guest today is Joe Devon, the co-founder of the Global Accessibility Awareness Day and a co-founder of Diamond, an inclusive digital agency specializing in assisting clients to develop and implement accessible products. Joe talks with Mai Ling and shares some highlights from Diamond’s annual State of Accessibility Report, tells how his father was the inspiration for his accessibility work, and why accessibility online is so vital.
We kick off this episode with Mai Ling and James both sharing about events they recently participated in and the takeaways from them. Then James has a great conversation with speech-language pathologist and author, Jeannette Roberes. She has extensive experience working with dyslexic learners and consults with tech companies on dyslexia inclusivity. Jeannette shares about her work running the disability inclusion think tank, Bearly Articulating, and why she's made it her mission to educate the tech community about the unique value neurodiverse people can bring to the table.
Mai Ling sits down with Katrina Martin, PhD, the founder of Bridges Learning System, to chat about her work in curriculum development. Katrina has focused on designing curriculum for disabled youth that supports and empowers neurodivergent individuals. Katrina shares why it’s so important for both students and educators to have educational tools designed with this in mind.
In our first episode of 2022, we kick off Season 4 of the show with a new co-host! James Berges joins the Xceptional Leaders podcast for the first time, so Mai Ling takes this opportunity to introduce him to you. James is a speech-language pathologist and copywriter who uses his diverse skillset to support and enable SLPs and other clinicians as they work toward their individual goals. Through his SLP Transitions project, he also assists SLPs who are looking to expand their horizons by providing information, tools, and case studies to facilitate their journey. We’re thrilled to have him on the team!
In this final episode for 2021, Martyn and Mai Ling bring you up to speed with all that’s going on in their respective worlds and share about what’s in store for the show in the future. Martyn then shares his conversation with strategic marketing expert and podcaster, Anna Price. Anna talks about what it’s like living with ADHD, the experience of being diagnosed as an adult, and how she’s used it as a tool to build a career in marketing. She also talks about the unique skills that neurodiverse people possess and the value they can bring to a company.
Mai Ling kicks off this edition of the show with a few updates for the Xceptional Leaders community and then she introduces this episode’s guest, Chris Klein. As the vice president of Impact Voices and a writer and speaker about AAC communication, Chris is equipping the next generation of AAC users with insights on AAC communication and other things that relate to overcoming the barriers of a disability. As an AAC user himself, he is passionate about making sure that the voices of the users are being heard and that they are involved in the conversations around this technology.
Attending live events can be stressful and challenging for people with disabilities so that’s why we’re so excited about what today’s guest is doing! Today Mai Ling chats with Austin Whitney, an accessibility consultant for event producers, about how event planners can make their events accessible to everyone. Through his various organizations, Austin is working to make more events accessible, educate folks with special needs about how to attend and enjoy live entertainment, and a whole lot more. As a wheelchair user himself, Austin is using his lived experiences to make a huge difference in the world of festivals, concerts, and other live events.
Mai Ling and Martyn kick off this episode with a chat about disability and health related awareness days and how to everage them. Mai Ling also shares an update on the next book in the Xceptional Leaders series. Then Martyn shares an interview with Isaac Harvey. He is the president of Wheels and Wheelchairs, an organization which pairs up wheelchair users with roller skaters to experience fun outdoor adventures together. Isaac talks about his story as a wheelchair user, how he first got involved with Wheels and Wheelchairs, and some of the other projects he’s working on.
Today Mai Ling and Martyn take a few minutes to celebrate 100 episodes of the show before introducing our guest. Martyn brings us a great conversation with YouTuber and Instagrammer, Gem Hubbard. Gem talks about her journey of being disabled as a child, the dark times after becoming disabled, and how she was able to persevere. She also recounts how she went from working a retail job to launching into the world of social media and becoming an online content creator and disability influencer through her Instagram and YouTube outlets.
Our guest today is Steven Woodgate. Steven chats with Martyn about his personal experiences with dyslexia and how he turned those challenges into his superpowers. He also shares about using his unique perspective on problem solving in the business world, using technology advancements to your advantage, and overcoming obstacles as a neurodiverse person.
Charlie Randell and Georgina Twelftree are a couple in an interabled relationship and in this conversation with Martyn they open up about the challenges they face with accessibility and overcoming misconceptions and stereotypes. Charlie has cerebral palsy and depends on mobility aids to get around and they have decided to share their experiences and candid, real-life situations to help educate and inform others who are in similar situations. Through their blog, YouTube videos, and social media content, Charlie and Gina are sharing valuable information with the world.
Martyn and Mai Ling are back with another great episode and they share some important updates at the top of the broadcast. Then Mai Ling has an insightful conversation with speaker, blogger, and business consultant Sheri Byrne-Haber. As a subject matter expert in the fields of disability and accessibility, Sheri is a prominent and sought-after voice in the disability community. Using her knowledge and personal experience, Sheri consults with Fortune 200 companies and government agencies and she shares some of her wisdom and information for those working in the disability space.
In this episode, Mai Ling talks with CEO of the XR Association (XRA), Elizabeth Hyman, about the benefits of using immersive technology in ways to empower persons with disabilities. XRA is the trade association representing the technology manufacturers that power the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality industries. Elizabeth helps to define the terminology and explain the work XRA is doing to integrate these powerful technologies in innovative ways by creating industry best practices and working directly with developers. This conversation is full of information on this exciting emerging technology.
Our guest this episode is the founder of The Disability Union in the United Kingdom, George Baker. George founded the first union by and for disabled people and carers because he believes that “the only way to further disability rights and increase inclusion is for all disabled people to work together and support each other.” He shares with Martyn the impetus for the union, how it operates, and the benefit it brings to members.
After a few episode hiatus, Martyn is back to share what he’s been up to the past few weeks. Mai Ling also shares some updates before welcoming this week’s guest, Ruchi Kapila. Ruchi is a Bay Area-based speech-language pathologist, vocologist, presenter, and soprano with experience in acute care and acute rehabilitation hospital settings. They provide gender affirmative voice services privately and is licensed in California and Texas. Ruchi is also co-creator/co-host of the podcast The Hyndsyte Project, an interview series with BIPOC Trans and Gender Nonconforming activists.
Our Xceptional Leader guest today is the founder of The Informed SLP, Meredith Harold. Mai Ling Chan chats with the fellow SLP about her path to creating the business, juggling motherhood and her career, and where things are today. Meredith also serves on multiple boards and committees in the SLP field and is a co-host of the Evidence & Argument podcast which explores the science of speech–language pathology. You don’t want to miss this conversation on the inner workings of a successful business.
Martyn and Mai Ling bring our regular updates today and then in our interview segment we welcome special guests Sarah Berkovich, Henry Evans, and Henry’s wife Jane. Sarah is a filmmaker who made a VR film about Henry and his life as a quadriplegic and how he uses augmented reality technology to enrich his life every day. Mai Ling talks with them about the making of the film, how Henry integrates tech into his life, and what effect it all has on his wife and family. Listen to the end for some bonus audio!
Our featured guest for today’s episode is blogger and podcaster Rob Gorski, The Autism Dad. Rob has built an online community for families with autistic kids starting with his blog over a decade ago. He chats with Mai Ling about the origins of his online efforts, specific struggles he’s faced with his own kids, and some of the challenges that come along with sharing such personal information in a public forum.
Mai Ling and Martyn bring us up to date with all that is going in with their respective efforts in the disability space, including the release of the new book, Becoming an Exceptional AAC Leader. Then Mai Ling chats with guests Jackson and Ken Robol about how Jackson is building his skills as a broadcaster in spite of his autism. In the middle of the pandemic, Jackson, a high school student, launched a live-streamed interview show and has had celebrity guests from a variety of arenas. Don’t miss this inspiring personal story!
Writer, poet, and podcaster Lateef McLeod joins the show for this episode to talk about communicating with the written word as a person with a disability. As an AAC user, Lateef has a unique life experience and perspective to share with our community. In addition to his own writing projects, he is also a contributor to the upcoming Xceptional Leaders book and he discusses what that process was like with Mai Ling Chan as well.
Our hosts, Mai Ling and Martyn, decide to give the guests a break and just share some valuable information with you from their personal entrepreneurial experiences. So in this episode they talk all about exit strategies. You’ll learn about some of the various types of exits, tips on how to navigate the process of selling your business, and why it’s important to set yourself up for a successful exit from the outset.
We are happy to be joined on the show today by Kyndra LoCoco. She is the Accessibility Partner Programs Manager at Google and she chats with Martyn about her work in the disability community. Kyndra shares her background, her journey to becoming a googler, and her personal connection to the disability community. They also touch on topics such as how Google addresses accessibility in their products, verbiage changes in the community and much more.
Deborah Jaffe is our guest today and she joins the program to talk about the two disability focused Facebook groups of which she is the creator and admin. She talks with Mai Ling about how the groups got started and the steps required to manage them and keep engagement alive. Deborah also shares how she filters through news stories, helpful info, tips, etc. to find what is applicable to the members of the groups. This information is valuable to anyone looking to build a community in the disability space.
We’re joined today by entrepreneur, Josh Wintersgill. He is the founder of Able Move and creator of the easyTravelseat, an amazing product which makes it easier for wheelchair users to move from their chair to airline seats. Josh shares with Martyn about some of the highs and lows since launching his business, he talks about pivoting and diversification in product offerings, and how the pandemic has pushed his team to innovate.
In our first episode of 2021, we start off with a fantastic conversation with entrepreneur Harout Markarian. Harout is an author as well as the founder and CEO of Markarian Robotics. Mai Ling chats with him about his vision for creating efficient and affordable products for the mobility challenged using robotics. Harout’s goal is to make life accessible for all through this new company and he’s sharing this message via his book and podcast too.
In this final episode of 2020, Mai Ling and Martyn take a few minutes to share some thoughts on the past year. They also also share a few thoughts on networking and then chat a bit about holiday plans. We hope you enjoy this fun, short, wrap-up episode of the show.
Today’s featured interview is an insightful conversation with Alan Brightman. Alan is a former executive of both Apple and Yahoo where he was a pioneer in the field of assistive technology. He talks with Mai Ling about the early days of developing accessible technology, the hurdles and challenges they had to overcome, and laying the foundation for the tools available today. This is a fascinating interview packed with information and insights.
Today we’re sharing an important discussion about hidden disabilities with our guest Victoria Jenkins. She is a designer, garment technologist, and the creative director and founder of Unhidden Clothing. Martyn talks with her about the challenges of living with a disability that is not visually obvious as well as her work designing and altering clothing to make them suitable and comfortable for people with disabilities.
Today’s guest is prolific storyteller Mathew Klickstein. Mathew is a writer, speaker, and filmmaker; just to name a few. He talks with Mai Ling about his work with the Kids of Widney High, a group of young adults with developmental disabilities who formed a touring rock band. These experiences inspired Mathew to write the YA book titled, The Kids of Widney Junior High Take Over the World!, which imagines what the real-life kids might have experienced in Junior High.
Today Mai Ling sits down for a chat with Lydia Dawley, CEO of AAC consultation agency Click. Speak. Connect. Lydia has Mixed Cerebral Palsy, is a wheelchair user, and an AAC user so she brings her unique experiences and perspectives to the table. Listen in as she shares her journey and her passion for helping others with AAC devices reach their fullest potential in communication.
In this episode, Mai Ling and Martyn share a few updates with you and then Martyn sits down with occupational therapy student and disability blogger, Georgia Vine, for a conversation. Georgia shares some experiences with living with cerebral palsy, why she chose to enter the field of occupational therapy, and about her blog, NotSoTerriblePalsy.com.
Becoming an Exceptional Leader book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578736845/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_86QEFbT27QNKK
Communication consultant, Rebecca Okamoto, the self-described “20 word person”, is our guest today. Rebecca works with clients to confidently and clearly market their businesses in as few as 20 words. She worked with both Martyn and Mai Ling to upgrade their LinkedIn profiles and she walks through her process in this interview and explains how vital it is that your profile educates your audience. This is a great conversation that is full of valuable information for every professional regardless of industry.
Today Mai Ling and Martyn share some updates on what has been keeping them busy lately and then they follow that with a wonderful interview with Swathi Chettipally. Mai Ling talks with Swathi about her experiences as a mother of an adult daughter with autism. Swathi shares some very heartfelt stories of the struggles and triumphs their family has faced. She also gives encouragement to other parents of children with challenges. This inspirational conversation is one that you don’t want to miss.
In the featured guest chair on the show this week is disability equality advocate, Shani Dhanda. Shani is the founder of the Diversability Card, a LinkedIn Changemaker, and a #WorkWithMe Ambassador at Virgin Media. Shani chats with Martyn about the spending power in the disability community that some businesses fail to appreciate. She also talks about the value of inclusion and diversity in the workplace and having a level playing field for all job applicants. Don’t miss this energizing and inspiring conversation with this exceptional leader.
This is an exciting episode of the show today! Mai Ling and Martyn announce that the new book, Becoming An Exceptional Leader, is now available on Kindle! Additionally, Mai Ling shares a great conversation with educational specialist Kate Ahern. Kate talks about her personal experience with designing and sharing academically-focused group augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) online classes. You don’t want to miss this information-packed interview.
Ed Warner is our featured Xceptional Leader today. Ed is the CEO and cofounder of Motionspot, a UK-based company offering products for people with disabilities that are designed with both form and function in mind. Martyn talks with Ed about how Motionspot began and how the company got to where it is since the founding in 2012. Ed’s passion for designing equipment that has all the necessary features to make them usable but are also stylish and aesthetically pleasing comes through in this in-depth conversation.
Today’s featured guest is Zakiya Mabery, Founder and CEO of B. Global Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Planning. Mai Ling chats with Zakiya about the issues that are precisely what her organization specializes in; diversity and inclusion. She also talks about how vital networking has been to her career and the challenges she faces living with multiple disabilities herself. Listen in for this story of perseverance from this inspiring businesswoman and author.
In this jam-packed episode of the show, Mai Ling and Martyn share a conversation between Martyn and co-founder and CEO of the Kaleidoscope Group (Kg), Hardeep Rai. Through the various organizations that make up Kg, Hardeep and his teams offer a variety of services, tools, and resources for entrepreneurs with disabilities or someone who has a startup in the disability sector. Listen in as Hardeep shares some highlights from his story and how Kg can potentially support your business venture.
In today’s episode, Martyn and Mai Ling talk about the things going on in the world right now and how they relate to the disability community. Also, Martyn interviews internet entrepreneur Mark Esho, to learn about his successful businesses and how they started. Mark also shares some insight into his newest project, an app for rating businesses on accessibility found at accessrating.com. And lastly, Mark gives us three tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.
We’re joined on the show today by speech-language pathologist and founder of Smarty Ears Apps, Barbara Fernandes to talk about the recent resurgence in use of tablet apps in therapy sessions. Barbara shares how these apps are valuable tools that can have great results. She also talks about how important parental involvement can be when working with children. This is a very informative conversation that you don’t want to miss.
Mai Ling and Marty share what’s been happening in their respective worlds and how things have been different during the current pandemic. Then Martyn takes the mic to have a conversation with visual artist, speaker, and bestselling author Henry Fraser. Henry shares the story of the accident which disabled him and how he overcame the odds and learned to make something beautiful from the tragedy. He talks about how his speaking led to a book deal, some of the writing challenges he’s faced, and his newly released book, The Power In You.
Our guest on this edition of the show is Christina Abernethy. Christina is an author and advocate for people with disabilities. She talks with Mai Ling about her experiences as a mother of a child with autism, her work heading the Pennsylvania chapter of Changing Spaces, and as the creator of the Love Hope & Autism website. Christina also shares about her passion for encouraging public venues to offer accommodating restrooms with changing tables for all ages, not just toddlers.
Our guest on this edition of the show is author Kendra Gottsleben. Kendra has a rare disorder known as MPS VI and is a wheelchair user, yet she has not allowed this to prevent her from doing incredible things. She is not only an author but also a speaker and disability advocate. Listen in as she shares her story of becoming a published author and gives her tips to help you achieve your goals.
Mai Ling checks back in with Karin York to get an update on her progress with opening a coffee shop designed to employ people with special needs. Karin was our guest back in April of 2019 to share about the first steps in this journey. Now she brings us up to date on some of the challenges she’s dealt with since then and how things are going now that the shop is open for business.
Actor, writer, and director David Proud joins the show today to chat with Martyn about disabled actors in the media. As a wheelchair user, David brings his unique perspectives to this topic. He talks about the importance of media to culture in general, why he feels more disabled actors should be cast in prominent projects, and shares some of his personal experiences in the acting industry in the UK.
We are celebrating the month of love in this episode with our guest Jennie Williams, CEO of Enhance the UK. Martyn chats with Jennie on the topics of dating and intimacy for people with disabilities and the unique challenges that they face in the pursuit of romantic relationships. Jennie has tackled these subjects in her leadership role at Enhance the UK and she shares her thoughts, experiences, and observations on the issues in this very frank and open discussion.
Today, Mai Ling and Martyn chat briefly about Martyn’s World Changers Academy launch and their current book project. Then Mai Ling shares a conversation with author and stroke survivor, Chou Hallegra. Chou is the founder of Grace & Hope Consulting, LLC and she talks about her life as a single mother of children with multiple challenges, the story of her stroke recovery, and how she came to write numerous books in just a few years. She also shares 3 tips for the listener who wants to write a book. Don’t miss this inspiring story of overcoming challenges.
Martyn takes the helm in this episode and shares a conversation with internationally competitive wheelchair racer, Rob Smith. In addition to his racing, Rob is also the creator of Active Hands gripping aids, a line of products designed to assist people with disabilities or injuries that affect their ability to grip. Martyn asks Rob about his personal story that led to the creation of Active Hands, Rob walks us through his process of product development and how he moved from a personal solution to a global business.
The Xceptional Podcast Network hosts came together to record a fun holiday show for you! Matt Hott, co-founder and co-host of the Speech Science podcast leads this fun group through a little show info, 2020 goals, and lots of laughs.
We return once again with Mai Ling and the Xceptional Podcast Network team to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association national convention. In this episode, Mai shares some great conversations that she recorded with ASHA19 attendees who write blogs in the SLP space. Featured today are Hallie Sherman, Kristin Cummings, and Whitney Smith.
Mai Ling and the Xceptional Podcast Network team have once again taken their recording gear to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association national convention. In this episode, Mai shares some great conversations with ASHA19 attendees who are producing podcasts in the SLP space. Featured today are Michelle Dawson, Erin Forward, Ayelet Marinovich, Kelly Kleinhans, Ruchi Gadodia, Maria Kotsonis, and Deborah Brooks.
Our guest today is wheelchair model Samanta Bullock. Martyn interviews this amazing inclusivity advocate turned fashion designer about her efforts to make adaptive clothing that meets the needs of those who need accommodations but also fits well for those who are able-bodied. Samanta talks about why she started on this journey, shares some of her biggest challenges, and expresses why she feels it important to have both able-bodied and disabled people model the same ensemble in the marketing of her fashion line called SB.
Mentioned in This Show
Samanta Bullock
https://samantabullock.com/
Styling With Adaptive Clothing with Mindy Scheier
http://xceptionalleaders.libsyn.com/styling-with-adaptive-clothing-with-mindy-scheier
Episode 16: Samanta Bullock - That Happy Buzzing Feeling
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/martyn-sibley/the-martyn-sibley-show/e/54465859
American Speech-Language Hearing Association 2019 National Convention
https://convention.asha.org/
Actor and comedian Danny Woodburn is our guest today on the show. In addition to his acting work, Woodburn is a disability rights activist and serves on the Performers with Disabilities Committee for SAG-AFTRA. He talks with Mai Ling about the importance of inclusion for actors with disabilities, holding the film entertainment industry accountable for making auditions and jobs accessible to everyone, and his one-on-one chat with Bryan Cranston regarding these issues. Don’t miss this insightful and informative conversation with a Hollywood insider.
Our new co-host, Martyn takes the lead and interviews his friend and co-founder of Accomable, Srin Madipalli. Accomable was an accessible accommodation website that Martyn and Srin later on sold to Airbnb. Through late-night coding, angel investors, and many trans Atlantic flights; Srin pulled off the impossible. Learn how he managed such a progressive achievement in this insightful and inspiring conversation.
This episode is the first with our new format and new co-host. Martyn Sibley joins Xceptional leaders as our regular co-host so today we spend a few minutes getting to know him. He shares a bit about his background with Disability Horizons and Accomable and then he and Mai Ling tease the new format for the show.
This week, our host, Mai Ling Chan, is in the hot seat. The roles are reversed as fellow Xceptional Podcast Network host, Matt Hott of Speech Science takes the mic to interview Mai Ling. She talks with Matt about what prompted her to start this podcast, gives insight into what keeps her going, and shares some news about the future of the show. In addition to all this valuable info, Matt digs into just what makes Mai who she is as a person.
Xceptional Leader Sara Simpson is our guest on this edition. As a person with physical challenges, Sara has nevertheless led a fulfilling life and achieved many goals that are remarkable. She shares about how she has excelled in corporate America with a disability, gives her personal story of hardship and how she turned it into a speaking career, and talks about her special heart for reaching out to children.
Catherine Hughes, aka The Caffeinated Advocate, is our guest today. She has been advocating on behalf of those with special needs for many years and she brings a wealth of knowledge on the advocacy space to this conversation. Catherine talks about the nitty-gritty of advocacy work, strategies for reaching out to politicians for advocating, and some of the things that drive her in her work.
We are joined by Karen Siff Exkorn, bestselling author of The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing--from a Mother Whose Child Recovered. Karen shares with us why she wrote the book and how she approached the book-writing process. She also gives some tips and encouragement for someone who wants to write a book, and even talks a bit about the controversial topic of autism recovery.
We are joined on the show today by the multi-talented, young Cassidy Huff. She is a singer/songwriter, musician, and a voiceover artist for Dreamworks and Amazon. Cassidy has a rare disease which has resulted in her undergoing dozens of surgeries, yet this encouraging teenager is constantly giving back to others in the same condition. You don’t want to miss her sharing her inspiring journey on this episode.
Speech-language pathologist, Amanda Charney, is our guest today. Amanda founded Small Steps in Speech, an organization that provides grants to families with children with speech and language disorders who are either not covered or not fully covered by their health insurance. She tells the story of what led to the creation of the nonprofit, shares tips on how to select board members for a nonprofit, and explains the importance of building relationships and partnering with others in your field.
IEP Coach and international speaker, Catherine Whitcher, is our guest today. Catherine is an expert at helping educators and parents create IEPs that fit their specific needs and she teaches others her methods through online and in-person training. She shares with us about building an online brand, challenges with setting pricing for online resources, and reminds us that not everyone in your niche is a potential client. Don’t miss this informative conversation.
Kenny Salvini is our guest today to share about his journey since a skiing accident made him a quadriplegic as a young adult. After a meeting with other individuals with similar disabilities opened his eyes to the importance of community, Salvini took it upon himself to make the same thing happen for others. He founded the Here and Now Project to meet that need for those in the Pacific Northwest and he shares the story with us today on the show.
Entrepreneur, computing technology expert, and universal design advocate, Todd Stabelfeldt, is our guest today. Todd is a C4 quadriplegic who is passionate about discovering new ways for disabled individuals to gain more independence. He shares the story of the accident which caused his spinal cord injury and talks about gaining as much independence as possible through the assistance of technology. Todd is a business owner and in recent years was a keynote presenter at Apple’s WWDC.
Steven Spohn is our guest today and he began his journey in the world of accessible gaming as a gamer with disabilities himself. He’s now an author and the Chief Operations Officer and Community Outreach Director for the AbleGamers Foundation. Steven shares his thoughts on when “gated communities” for gaming are appropriate, advocates for insurance companies to cover gaming as social therapy, and much more in this engaging conversation.
Steve Isaacs joins us today to talk about using gaming in the classroom. He clarifies the difference between gamification and game-based learning, shares his insights as a game design and development teacher, and speaks about his involvement with Minefaire, the #1 Minecraft event in the United States.
Dr. Kathryn Ringland joins Mai Ling to share with us how she used the Autcraft Minecraft server as a research environment to learn first-hand how it was benefitting autistic kids. In addition to sharing what she learned from the research project, Kathryn tells how she is using the data she collected and how others can use it as a resource for similar efforts. She also talks about the recent founding of her own non-profit and gives us 3 tips that we can take action on in our own projects.
Stuart Duncan runs the Minecraft server, Autcraft, and he is with us on the show to share his experiences with us. Autcraft is a Minecraft environment created especially for kids of all ages with autism to play the game in a safe setting. Stuart tells us the origin of the idea for the server, a bit about his background, and the volunteer team he’s put together on the server. He also explains how running Autcraft led to him giving a TEDx Talk and he also talks about his approach to preparing for it.
Blogger and gamer Erin Hawley is our guest today. Erin has muscular dystrophy which can inhibit her gaming so she shares with us her strategy for choosing new game titles, the story of how she began working with Microsoft on an adaptive controller for the Xbox, and the origins of her blog, The Geeky Gimp. She also talks about how she overcame her reservations about hosting an audio podcast.
Abigail David and Erin Nealy are the co-founders and co-executive directors of Bridgeway Academy in Columbus Ohio and they are our guests on today’s episode. Bridgeway is a non-profit educational institution created to serve children with autism and developmental disabilities. Abigail and Erin talk about the secrets to building a successful partnership, delegating and successful division of duties, and the importance of listening to constructive criticism.
Our guest today is television and film actress, Peggy Lane. Peggy is the creator and director of the web TV show, Donna On The Go, which highlights the struggles of a person with disabilities in a comedic way. She talks with Mai Ling about the inspirations for the various issues addressed in the show and where the idea originated from. Peggy also shares three tips for someone who wants to start a similar type of project.
Ifunanya Nweke is our guest today. She is the founder of Jazz Hands for Autism, an organization that works with musicians who are on the autism spectrum to help them hone their skills and find work doing what they love. Ifunanya talks about the origins of the idea for the nonprofit and really shares her heart for the students they’re working with. She also talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with people who share the same vision and the value of constructive feedback from your team and clients.
Our guest this week is outdoor accessibility advocate, Ian Mackay. He founded the nonprofit organization Ian’s Ride which helps bring awareness to the issue of outdoor accessibility and advocates for support services on behalf of those with mobility impairments who still want to experience nature. Ian shares the story of his spinal injury, what he’s done since, and how he lives independently day to day with the assistance of smart home technology.
Our guest this episode is Angela Mahoney, a Special Education teacher, author, and creator of the I Can Work educational curriculum and training program for children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Angela talks with Mai Ling about the importance of starting to build life skills early on and how to equip young people with special needs to choose a career path that is suited to their unique abilities.
Blogger, speaker, author, and world traveler, Martyn Sibley joins Mai Ling on the show today to discuss what it’s like to travel with a disability that requires a wheelchair. Sibley also talks about launching his blog, creating an online space called Disability Horizons for people with disabilities to share their stories, and how he started a company that he exited with a sale to Airbnb.
Children’s book author and motivational speaker, Simon Calcavecchia, is our guest on the show this episode. He tells about the challenges he’s faced as a quadriplegic and how he has turned his attention and energy toward encouraging and inspiring others through his speaking and books. This is a heartfelt and encouraging conversation that you don’t want to miss.
George Braddock joins Mai Ling on this episode to talk about his work designing homes for persons with disabilities in mind. George is the president of Creative Housing Solutions, LLC, an engineering company that uses person-centered planning principles to design and build homes that fit the specific needs of the people who live in them. His passion for the work and the people it benefits shines through in this informative conversation.
Our guest today is blogger and disability advocate, Heather Watkins, a woman of color who wants to remind the world that disabilities also affect minority groups. She is a co-founder of the Divas with Disabilities project and she joins us to share her personal story and give some tips for how you can raise awareness for an issue in your disability niche.
Our guest today is Mindy Scheier, a fashion designer and mother of a child with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. She is a TED speaker and the President and Founder of Runway of Dreams, a nonprofit organization which works with top clothing brands to develop clothing designs that are made specifically for people with disabilities that make dressing themselves a difficult task. Scheier talks about her journey and also shares her Top 3 tips for launching an organization.
Filmmaker and entrepreneur, Andrew Pilkington is our guest for this episode. Andrew was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as an infant and lives every day with the challenges that come with such a condition. He shares how he learned to use what strong motor skills he has to compensate for the ones that are lacking and other methods he uses to overcome obstacles that stand between him and his dreams.
Today’s guest, Karin York, shares about her journey as the mother of a son with Down syndrome and her work with special needs children in the Arizona school system. She also expounds on what led her to start a coffee shop designed for persons with special needs as both employees and customers. Karin invites you to participate in a menu taste test at the site of the soon-to-open coffee shop on April 13, 2019.
Actor and SLP student Andrew Manardo is our guest today. He talks with Mai Ling about the challenges he had growing up with TAR syndrome, his experiences in LA as an actor with a disability, and the story behind his drive to become an actor in the first place. Andrew also gives some insight into his relatively recent decision to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist. (Please Note: We had some audio issues in the beginning, but it clears up after just a few minutes so please stick with us.)
Our guest today is Ariel Sansom. She is the Director of Development and Programs for DSNetwork Arizona, an organization which offers resources, support, and advocacy to families touched by Down syndrome. Ariel shares her journey to stepping into a full-time role at the foundation years after it was launched by her parents. She also talks about her experiences of growing up as a sibling of an individual with Down syndrome and she explains what DSNetwork is and how they can be of service to those with Down syndrome and their families.
Today’s guest is Yudi Bennett, the Secretary of The Uniquely Abled Project, an organization which works to provide vocational opportunities for uniquely abled individuals. She is also the co-founder of Exceptional Minds, a Visual Effects and Animation Studio as well as vocational academy that trains individuals on the autism spectrum to hone their artistic and design skills and achieve the career of their dreams. Bennett talks with Mai Ling about the missions of these organizations and the impetuses for their creation.
Our host, Mai Ling, is joined by two guests on this episode. Kelly Ott and Dr. Lara Wakefield are the creators of the SMARTER Steps program and the company of the same name, both of which are designed to assist caregivers and professionals in creating more effective Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). They share the story of their beginnings, how they complement each other in their work together, and some tips on how you can be successful in your business partnership.
Celine Osukwu joins Mai Ling to share about the work she is doing in her native country of Nigeria as a leader for disability rights and women’s rights. She is the founder of Divine Foundation for Disabled Persons, an organization which offers, among other things, employment training for persons with disabilities. Celine also opens up about some of the struggles she’s personally faced as a woman with a disability and how she has overcome them.
In this final installment of our Hollywood series, our guest is actor and comedian, Nic Novicki. Nic chats with Mai Ling about the importance of not overlooking hard work, how comedy and drama are connected, and empowering people with disabilities who are working in the entertainment industry. He shares his passion behind the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, an annual competition focusing on promoting films using people with disabilities, both in front of and behind the camera.
Continuing our series of interviews with Hollywood actors, today’s guest is Paul Ford. Paul shares about his experiences with auditioning and landing on-screen roles in the entertainment industry, his early days as a guitarist in a band, and also why he feels it is so important for more persons with disabilities to be cast in TV and film. He also talks about his recent project, “Time to Start Booking PWD” which is working to assist actors with disabilities in their efforts.
As we continue our series of episodes spotlighting Hollywood actors, our guest this week is Eileen Grubba, who has had roles on the stage and the screen. She talks with Mai Ling about her extreme life experiences, the challenges that they posed for her, and how she didn’t let them deter her. Grubba explains why she’s in favor of getting rid of the labels society places on people and shares her story of overcoming cancer and a severe spinal cord injury. You don’t want to miss this inspiring conversation.
In this first episode of our Hollywood series, we are joined by actor Tobias Forrest. He shares some of his experiences being an actor in Hollywood with a disability, he talks about others who have helped to pave the way for him and future actors with disabilities, and he also gives us his 3 top tips for someone who might wish to follow the path that he has gone down in the film industry.
Our guest today is Pam Gaber, Founder and CEO of Gabriel’s Angels, a non-profit organization which pairs up loving pets with at-risk children to help better their lives. Pam shares about transitioning from a corporate job to starting a non-profit from the ground up, the importance of making sure your mission is greater than you, recognizing your skillsets and your limitations, developing systems and workflows, and much more.
Fe Murray is our featured guest on this week’s episode. Fe is the President of the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArSHA) and she shares valuable leadership insights including how to empower other team members to use their talents, the importance of volunteerism, 3 things to consider before taking a volunteer leadership position and more.
Our guest on the show today is Denise Resnik, founder and CEO of First Place Apartments, a housing solution for adults with autism. Denise is also a co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). She shares her experiences as the mother of a son with autism, her inspiration for First Place and SARRC, and encourages us to dream big.
Our host, Mai Ling Chan starts off this year of the show with interviews with two successful entrepreneurs who have some great information to share. We start with a chat with speaker, best-selling author, and leadership coach Chris Widener who shares valuable business principles and encouragement to help you launch or grow your business. Following that, Mai Ling is joined by entrepreneur Nathan Hirsch, co-founder and CEO of Freeeup, to share some tips and specific examples of how you can outsource tasks in your business to freelancers allowing you to make the best use of your time.
For this special holiday episode, Mai Ling Chan sits down for a fun, lighthearted roundtable conversation with the other hosts of the Xceptional Podcast Network. She is joined by Matt Hott of Speech Science as well as Chris Bugaj and Rachel Madel of Talking with Tech. The four discuss the challenges and benefits of creating a podcast in the special needs market. They also talk about how they first got into an SLP career, staying focused while interviewing guests, their favorite holiday films, and more.
Once again we bring you some great interviews from the 2018 ASHA conference in Boston. In this episode, we feature interviews with other podcasters in the SLP space. Mai Ling Chan talks with the SLP Happy Hour hosts, Erik X. Raj, Chris Bugaj, Lucas Steuber, Ayelet Marinovich, Venita Litvack, and Jenna Castro-Casbon.
Do you have a great idea but don't know the next steps to take to have the most impact on the world? Phyl Macomber shares her journey of moving beyond the borders to impact the world with her ideas and how you can too. She talks about mastermind groups, using your skills in diverse applications, the essentiality of being profitable as an SLP in order to continue helping people, the value of knowing when you need to learn more to improve your effectiveness, and much more. We also spotlight Jenn, our 2nd place winner live interview at ASHA 18.
Our host, Mai Ling Chan, attended the ASHA18 conference in Boston and had the opportunity to interview several SLP Bloggers on the show floor. These short conversations are full of insights from these talented professionals who are working hard to impact this field. Also included in this episode is a featured interview with Summer Loehr, live from the XceptionalED booth.
Marisha McGrorty is the founder of SLP Now®, an SLP resource website built on the membership model. Marisha talks about running a startup, drawing motivation from others in a co-working space, and why she chose a subscription model for her products. She also shares some of her mentors and how she zeroes in on the specific needs of her community and then solves their problems with her product offerings.
Speech language pathologist and podcast producer, Matt Hott, is one of the hosts of Speech Science. He joins the program to talk about what led him to launch the show and he also discusses not discounting the small beginnings, personal branding, and being genuine with your audience.
Legally blind photographer, Bruce Hall, is our guest today and he shares the story of creating the book, Immersed: Our Experience With Autism, which he created with his wife, Valerie. Bruce talks about raising twin boys with autism, the value of capturing memories, the importance of a mentor, and the challenges of running a Kickstarter campaign.
Founder and Executive Director of Born Dancing, Melissa van Wijk, joins Mai Ling Chan to discuss the ins and outs of launching and running a non-profit organization. Melissa shares how she mapped out the steps to launch her vision, some of the legalities of running a non-profit, and why a can-do mentality is important.
Speech Therapist Kathy Hoffman shares her decision to run for public office and how that has affected her life. She talks about obtaining campaign funding, work/life balance, how running for office changes one’s life, and some of the sacrifices she’s had to make.
Brett Heising, CEO of brettapproved.com, joins Mai Ling to chat about starting his company. Brettapproved is a website which reviews businesses based on accessibility and Brett talks about launching the startup, emotional and business challenges he’s faced, obtaining startup investment, and the importance of having a passion for your idea.