The QuadCast

Stacey Frigerio Mahdavian graduated from UMass Amherst in 1989. She planned to work as a camp counselor that summer and then travel a bit. Unfortunately, life had another idea. On a gravel road in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, the car in which she was riding, fishtailed and then flipped four times. In between the third and fourth flip, she was thrown 100 feet from the car and sustained a spinal cord injury at L1 and L2. At the time she was told she would never walk again, nor be able to have children. In this week's episode of the QuadCast, Stacey tells us about her remarkable journey, which has had many twists and turns. Over the years, she has worked as an assistant district attorney in the Brooklyn district attorney's office, worked at a private law firm, become an advocate for the SCI community with United Spinal Association and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and more. Most importantly/impressively, she will participate in November's New York City Marathon in a handcycle with a guide runner… who just so happens to be her 25-year-old daughter, Anastasia (the oldest of her 3 children)! Stacey is the personification of resilience, and you will hear that loud and clear in our conversation!

Ian Ruder, editor-in-chief of New Mobility, is a writer, editor, connector, who prides himself on bringing a well-rounded, people-first approach to all of his work. As the Editor of New Mobility, he works to ensure the voice of people with mobility-related disabilities are authentically represented in all of their content. A wheelchair user himself, he's a passionate advocate for the community who draws great plesasure from meeting and working with his fellow wheelchair users. Ian loves to eat and cook (in that order) and he embraces his nerdy side with a lifelong passion for Star Wars and a rediscovered adult love of Legos. The avid San Francisco Giants fan also happens to be my guest on this week's episode of the QP.

Imagine being on vacation in a foreign country, having an amazing time sightseeing, trying new foods, and immersing yourself in the culture. Then in a split second, everything changes and you are a C-6 quadriplegic. Well, that is exactly what happened to my guest this week, Laura Taylor, following an automobile accident in Spain. Her injury has certainly not stood in her way however, as she is thriving today. Laura creates weekly educational disability content to align with community culture on her YouTube channel, and array of social media platforms. She is also the Co-Founder of The 10% Community, a social platform built by and for the disability community! As you can imagine, we have much ground to cover. If you wish to find out even more about Laura, please access her YouTube channel, and social media platforms via the following links below. You can also reach out to her at the included email addresses. 10% Contacts: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thetenpercentapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetenpercentapp TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetenpercentapp?_t=ZP-8uhq8TEAZ2c&_r=1 Email: Laura@thetenpercent.io 10% Support Email Contact: support@thetenpercent.io Laura's Contacts: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@lauraktaylor17 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraktaylor17 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraktaylor17?_t=ZP-8uhqGcicOnH&_r=1

When Jenny Smith was 16 years old, she sustained a C6-7 spinal cord injury, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. After completing her master's degree in counseling psychology, she distributed wheelchairs for eight years in developing countries. For over 13 years, she supported cross-cultural workers as they served overseas By coming alongside people with spinal cord injuries and chronic physical conditions, Jenny hopes to support and encourage others in their emotional, physical, and spiritual health as they adapt to life with a disability. Jenny was my guest in season 1 of The QuadCast (S1 E21 - Jenny Smith Rolls On), and since then she's continued her tireless work on behalf of the SCI community. We have kept in touch over the years, and last week recorded this episode to highlight among many things, her series of online group meetings where people with disabilities can find/get support for the emotional impact of a disability. The Journey digs deep into such topics as: reflecting on your story, navigating the journey of grief, experiencing change and transition, coping with stress and trauma, and finding meaning and purpose in life again. There's a lot in show and I hope you'll find it beneficial. Thank you for joining me again Jenny, and keep up your great work!

Karen Olson is the founder and CEO emeritus of Family Promise, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and low-income families. Her organization has trained and mobilized over one million volunteers over the past thirty years to provide services to homeless families. Olson has received many awards for her remarkable social service contributions, including the 1992 Annual Points of Light Award from President George H. W. Bush. On this brand new installment of the QP, among many things, Karen talks about how Family Promise started, her new book, Meant For More - Following Your Heart And Finding Your Purpose, and the spinal cord injury she endured (the result of a freak accident). Karen is selfless, and compassionate, and determined, and inspirational, and if you haven't figured out by now,... My guest this week! ;-)

M.B. Paradise has always been a fan of stories, Santa, and the beach… so combining the three made perfect sense. A chance encounter on the beach with her children over 10 years ago with a man who looked like Santa Claus gave her the idea to one day write a book. As it were however, life got in the way and the idea was put on the back burner until, she discovered that Eric LeGrand was opening a coffee shop. M.B. had always been inspired by his positivity and fortitude following his spinal cord injury, and felt that if he could open his own business, then she had to "stop talking and start DOING", and that meant finishing her Beach Santa book. ​ As an independent author, M.B. knew it would be important to tie Beach Santa to something bigger than itself. Her humble hope is to share the story, promote children's literacy, advocate for disability inclusion in children's books, encourage writers of all ages, AND make a significant contribution to the SCI community. In fact, 25% of Beach Santa profits will be donated to Team LeGrand, which is dedicated to supporting the over six million people living with paralysis through quality-of-life initiatives and supporting research for spinal cord injuries. M.B. has climbed in the Rockies, barely survived two NYC marathons, currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three daughters, and is my guest on this week's episode!

Have I got big news for you on the first episode of 2025... The QuadCast has officially spawned another exciting and informative podcast! Yes, and on today's episode, I interview my co-contributors in this new venture, the "3 Men And A SCI" Pod. Below are very brief bios of both amazingly accomplished gentlemen. I look forward to working with them on this exciting venture, and hope you'll join us for the ride! Barry Munro is a quadriplegic who sustained a spinal cord injury in 1987, and has been an active advocate in SCI research for over 37 years. He is the chief Development Officer of the Canadian/American Spinal Research Organization, which was established in 1984 to fund targeted research to maximize functional recovery and cure paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. Barry also currently holds the position of Treasurer for the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium, a community led organization which has the mission to bring about unified achievements in research, care, cure, and policy by supporting collaborative efforts across the spinal cord injury community. At the age of 19, Alexander “Sasha” Rabchevsky was a strong safety on the Hampden-Sydney College, VA football team when a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. Sasha transformed that turn of events into a career searching for ways to repair spinal cord damage and improve the lives of those living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Since 2002, Sasha has been a faculty member of the Department of Physiology at the University of Kentucky and core member in the Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC). Not only will you find out more about Barry and Sasha, but what we hope to accomplish with our platform.

On July 8, 2004 at the age of 18, weeks away from beginning his freshman year at Georgetown University, Taylor Price was involved in a catastrophic accident while vacationing with his family on Long Island. After diving into the ocean and hitting an unforeseen sandbar, he was instantly rendered a C5-C6 quadriplegic. Even though many people said it would be impossible, he proudly graduated cum laude from Georgetown in the spring of 2010, after double majoring in finance and marketing, and being one of the most "active" people on campus! Think that's impressive? It's just the beginning of his remarkable and inspirational journey. Taylor is my guest on this week's episode. Trust me, this is one you will not want to miss!

Gabriel Rodreick, whose stage name is Freaque, is a multidisciplinary artist from Minneapolis, MN. He injured his C5 vertebrae in a diving accident at the age of 15 in 2008. He has been living with quadriplegia ever since. Gabriel's music, dance, poetry, and visual art has been his way of learning how to live in a new body post injury. His dark, dank, and dirty artistic voice tells stories of life blooming in the shadows. If his last name sounds familiar it's because his father, Matthew, Executive Director of Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, joined me for an episode earlier this year. Gabriel is talented and thoughtful and brave, and he happens to be my guest this week. To find out more about this true Renaissance man, and how to download his music, you can find him on all of the streaming sites and social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, @freaquedom, gabrielrodreick.com).

The True Grit Spinal Cord Injury (TG SCI) program is a post-acute, community-based, rehabilitation program that aims to provide hope, healing, and inspiration to adolescents and young adults aged 16-21 with SCI. As a collaborative effort between Rutgers University and RWJ Barnabas Health Children's Specialized Hospital (CSH), the long-term goal of the TG SCI program is to develop a comprehensive community reintegration pathway for young adults with SCI, supporting them throughout the transition to adulthood by single day events, community building, and a residential summer camp each year. On this week's episode of the QP, I had the opportunity to speak with Kassandra Boyd, and Keara McNair. Both are occupational therapists by trade, and have been with TG SCI from day one. I was blown away by how comprehensive their program is, and I think you will be too! Please stay tuned to the very end, for a special public service announcement regarding the John McAleavey Jr. Fund.

Have I got a show for you this week! Matthew Rodreick & Jason Stoffer, co-hosts of the CureCast Podcast, are my guests. You'll hear about how spinal cord injury found its way into their lives, the work they do for and with unite2fight paralysis, and how through advocacy, education, and support for research, they continue to push for a complete and total cure for paralysis. I really enjoyed getting to know them, and I think you will too!

WAGS of SCI was founded by Elena Pauly and Brooke Pagé in Vancouver BC Canada. Both Elena and Brooke's partners had sustained recent Spinal Cord Injuries and the women felt very alone in their new lives as girlfriends and caregivers of men with sudden, life changing injuries. After a chance meeting over Instagram, they soon realized they lived just blocks away from one another. Upon developing a friendship and relishing in their newfound sisterhood, the women decided that they never wanted another woman in their shoes to feel alone again. They began WAGS of SCI by starting an Instagram account in November 2017 and hosting events around their city - and the rest is history. Elena and Brooke were kind enough to join me for this week's episode of The QuadCast.

32 and counting! I upload today‘s edition of the podcast on August 19, 2024, exactly 32 years to the day that my life changed forever. To commemorate the somber milestone (injurversary) this year, I invited accomplished occupational therapist, and good friend, Denise Diessner, to join me in studio. I hand her the keys to the show, and she questions me for a change. I hope you'll enjoy the: “I'll get by with a little help from my friend interview/tribute to over 3 decades of perseverance", episode of the QP. Thank you for doing this Denise, you are a natural (rockstar)!

Louise Phipps Senft is a force of nature! She has excelled at the highest levels as an attorney, an author, a professor, fellow podcaster, and following her son Archer's 2015 spinal cord injury, an amazing advocate for individuals with SCI and their families. After having spent many months in ICUs and around her son's hospital bed, Louise realized that most hospitals in the US do not have Spinal Cord Injury expertise, most families do not have mediation skills which are essential for navigating complicated health care, and most doctors are not trauma informed. So, as she has done her whole life, Louise rose to the occasion! She founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Integrative Center for Trauma Healing, Advocacy, and Transformation, IC THAT, d/b/a Blink of an Eye™, in 2021 to fill the gap for more relational and trauma informed responses for SCI families in crisis bringing them cutting edge SCI medical expertise as well as hope, emotional and spiritual support, and navigation how to's. Blink of an Eye™ is training medical teams from the inside out through the families served. Blink of an Eye™ public charity exists for those who know how life can change in the blink of an eye. Their mission is to transform the spinal cord injury experience for families and medical teams into an Extraordinary Experience, despite the devastation, in the first days and months of injury. Louise and I had a wide-ranging and candid conversation last week. I believe this episode will make you think long and hard about your life, and that of your loved ones and friends, because as we all know, it can change in the blink of an eye!

This week's edition of The QuadCast tackles the very important topics of dating, relationships, sexuality and disability, or three things I know next to nothing about, and one that I have 33 years of experience with. :-) Luckily my guest, Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research in New York City. Dr. Sheypuk is widely regarded as a "sexpert" and leading commentator on the psychology of all these topics for people with disabilities. She established a successful and innovative private therapy practice in 2016 that was one of the first to implement “telehealth” as a treatment platform, which she engineered specifically to make it easier for people with disabilities to attend sessions. Today she was kind enough to join me here on the QP for one of them. So, with a footnote to Salt-N-Pepa's 1991 hit song: Let's Talk About Sex, dating, relationships and disability!

Good things do come to those who wait! When I launched The QuadCast 4 years ago, I had a list of dream guests. High profile folks who didn't know this little engine that could even existed, and yet I held out hope. At the top of that list was Marc Buoniconti, and today he's here! Persistence pays off my friends. Following Marc's SCI in 1985, his father Nick set out to conquer paralysis with the same ferocity as he did quarterbacks and ball carriers over his 15-year Hall Of Fame NFL career. It was then that he and world renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Barth Green, came together and founded The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Since then, research at The Miami Project has changed the landscape of knowledge and therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. In our wide ranging conversation, Marc shares stories about growing up around the Miami Dolphins, and such great players as Paul Warfield, Bob Griese, and Larry Csonka. He recants in great detail the weeks, days, and moments leading up to his injury, and he praises the amazing father he loved and admired. Today as the President of The Miami Project, Marc proudly continues the yeoman's work his father and Dr. Green began 38 years ago. This episode has it all, and I can't wait for you to hear it! Thank you Marc!

Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out... You are doing so right now without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, for some individuals with cervical spinal cord injuries, the ability to breath on their own is compromised, if not impossible. Enter Synapse Biomedical, and its NeuRx Diaphragmatic Pacing System, which is specifically designed to decrease the reliance on mechanical ventilators for such people. This week's episode of the QuadCast features Andrea Osborn, Clinical Specialist for Synapse Biomedical, who will tell us all about the device, and Karen Mills, who has been breathing easier with the aid of it for years now following her SCI in 2019.

The date was June 20, 1991, Ryan Baker and his family set out on a long drive from Temecula, California, to their new home/life in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They had bought into the Häagen-Dazs ice cream franchise which was based there. As if that wasn't cool enough, the night before Ryan had just graduated from high school. Unfortunately, his journey to the Centennial State was about to take a whole bunch of unsuspected twists and turns, and I'm not talking about on the highways. In just over two months, he will have been living with his spinal cord injury for 33 years. Over that time he has discovered a unique, and profound perspective on what recovery from SCI means to him: “For me it is not walking again. It is getting back to center with your self, spirit, and soul, contributing, working, finding relationships, engaging with other people, just really trying to participate in life again. We have to allow ourselves to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually get back to that sense of belonging and self-worth. That to me is recovery.” Among the many amazing things he has accomplished in over those 3 decades, Ryan is also the co-founder of Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (wheelchairlacrosse.com), director of sales & marketing for Vapor Wheels, and represents/sells Kinetic Balance's adaptive clothing line intended for wheelchair users, through his website, Twisted Spine. It was my pleasure to meet/speak with Ryan on the latest episode of the QuadCast.

As someone recording a podcast aimed at, and for the benefit of the spinal cord injured community, I wasn't sure if I was alone in this lane. Well, it turns out there are a number of us out there doing just the same, one of which is Jerimie Dixon. He was still in high school when he was in a catastrophic car accident that caused his SCI and subsequent paralysis. Jerimie and some great friends founded The Live to Walk Again Foundation in 2015, to among other things: fast track a cure for paralysis, and to find new ways to improve the quality of life for patients currently living with it. In an effort to do just that, The Live To Walk Again Foundation's podcast was born! Jerimie spotlights patients with SCI's, life hacks for paralysis victims, and researchers and doctors who are currently seeking a cure for it. Two podcast worlds collide on this week's episode of the QP, because Jerimie Dixon is my guest.

In January 2015, Jesi Stracham was the passenger on a motorcycle when it collided with a car. She woke up a week later in an intensive care unit without the use of her legs secondary to a spinal cord injury. Today she strives to help patients become people. She is the founder of Wheel With Me Foundation, the owner of Wheel With Me Consulting, and a fitness and growth coach. Through her struggles, and large social media footprint (Instagram, YouTube, etc.), she works for teaching individuals the power of our mindset. I'm thrilled because Jesi is my guest on this episode of the QuadCast.

Nick LiBassi had a great childhood growing up in Bergen County, New Jersey. He enjoyed playing many different sports and being outside with his family and friends. Remember, there were no cell phones to monopolize our time back in the day after all. Having watched and learned a great deal from his grandfather and uncle, who were carpenters, he knew early on that a life in construction and carpentry was in the cards. That is until life dealt him another hand. Nick is my guest this week, and his story is unlike any I've had the pleasure of highlighting. "From a great fall to the highest of heights", is an episode you will not want to miss!

Since 2014, Nikki Walsh has been helping others become the best version of themselves! In 2018, a car crash left her paralyzed, but in no way has it stopped her from pursuing her career goals. Nikki is a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and wheelchair user. She works with fellow wheelchair users, and non-disabled individuals, to get stronger, learn how to effectively work out in their wheelchairs, lose weight and be as independent as possible. Nikki took some time out of her extremely busy schedule to join me on the 1st episode of the QuadCast in 2024. Thank you my friend, and keep up your great work!

Touchdown Aaron! In my capacity as the Peer Mentoring Coordinator at Kessler Institute For Rehabilitation, I have had the opportunity to meet many people. Over my three years on the job however, Aaron Van Trease, and the tremendous strides he's made in recovery, has stood out above them all. His story is remarkable. It is one of football, family, friends, faith, and above all, FORTITUDE! Aaron was kind enough to carve some time out of his busy therapy schedule to join me on this week's episode of the QuadCast. Prepare to be inspired folks because the young man is amazing!

August 19, 2023 marks exactly 31 years for us on the SCI magical mystery tour. In honor of that, I thought I'd channel my inner Casey Kasem and spin some records that have, for one reason or another, stood out for me along the journey. So many songs to choose from over 3 decades, but I narrowed it down to 9. Because it has been anything but a stroll in the park, some of the songs/messages are a little heavy. The lyrics however speak volumes to, and in some cases, for me, I even chose one towards the end which pokes a little fun at me and my plight. So, grab a snack and turn your volume up, because S4 E9 - 31derful is on...

My fellow SCI survivor and thriver, Tracey Iraca, is back! Yes, she's here to tell us how she's making out these days. As you'll recall, on her last day as an in-patient at Kessler Institute, Tracey joined me to tell her story (S3 E8). It was late December 2022, she was eager to return home, but had some concerns as well. In a new format for me/us here at the QuadCast, the "New Tracey" chronicles the next step in her journey... returning to home, work, LIFE, albeit as a different person physically and mentally. We cover a lot of ground and nothing was off limits. Thank you Tracey, I'm so proud of you. Keep pushing my friend, your human spirit has a lot more in store for you!

Amanda Parezo is currently an assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator for the Occupational Therapy department at Thomas Jefferson University. Having graduated from TJU's OT program in 2010, she worked clinically for over 10 years, specifically with older adults and those with traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, on May 19, 2021, she was the victim of a random act of gun violence while sitting in a Philadelphia playground. In an instant Amanda was paralyzed from the waist down due to the bullet. Imagine the irony that the owner of a masters and a doctorate in OT, was now herself in need of occupational therapy services. Amanda's is a story you will want to hear for yourself. Lucky for you, she's my guest on this week's QuadCast.

Jen French is a very busy woman! She is an author/publisher, paralympian, public speaker, sailor, super advocate, founder of the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium, Neurotech Network, and more. As if that were not enough, she is also my guest on this week's edition of the QuadCast! Following her spinal cord injury in a 1998 snowboarding accident, Jen has been paying it forward for the SCI community in a myriad of meaningful ways. How so you ask? Well, you'll have to listen and find out.

It is with great pride that I post this week's episode of The QuadCast. My guest is Dan Rose, a veteran who was paralyzed from the waist down when an IED destroyed the truck he was riding in in Southern Afghanistan (2010) This would not have been possible were it not for the help of two very kind, good people, Martha MacCallum and Christopher Meek. Ms. MacCallum is host of "The Story With Martha MacCallum" on Fox News Channel, and Meek is co-founder and chairman of SoldierStrong, a charitable organization which provides revolutionary technology, innovative advancements and educational opportunities to veterans to better their lives and the lives of their families. Thank you Martha and Christopher for your assist/introduction, and thank you Dan for your time and your service!

Mark Fuglevand founded Abilitease a few years ago with the vision of developing product solutions for individuals with disabilities. He makes products that not only help people become more independent, but makes them appealing and not institutional. Mark is married, has two boys, and lives in Southern California. Did I mention he is also a C-5 incomplete quad? Well, if that wasn't enough, Mark is my guest on this week's QuadCast.

At 27, Kelsey Peterson dove into Lake Superior, off the shores of Wisconsin, and emerged paralyzed. Suddenly living a new life, the former dancer struggled to redefine who she is while adapting to life with a disability. Kelsey is a smart, very deep thinker and I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with her, about among other things, her autobiographical film Move Me. In the documentary, that took 5 years to film, she chronicles her journey in a very raw, frank and beautiful way. Needless to say, Move Me moved me so much that I had to have her on to tell me/us all about it.

I had the absolute pleasure speaking with Jerod and Hanna Nieder for this week's episode of the QuadCast, and I think after our hour-long conversation you will love them as much as I do! The Nieders story is really 3 in one. What began as the result of a tragedy (Jerod's SCI), has through the life they live helping others in the community (Jerod's work in spinal stimulation trials and Hanna's peer mentoring of patients and their families), become one of inspiration. Ultimately this is a love story because the Dynamic Duo, whose initial relationship was caregiver for patient, are today husband and wife! Treat yourself, this is one of my best/favorite shows!

Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D. is a powerful, internationally recognized expert, speaker, author, consultant, CEO and Founder of Rossetti Enterprises LLC, a Disability-Owned Business through Disability: IN. since January 1997. Known for her Universal Design and Green Building Expertise, she and her husband, Mark led the design team, were the general contractors/builders, and since May 2012 have lived in the Universal Design Living Laboratory, the national demonstration home and garden in Columbus, Ohio. www.udll.com Rosemarie took some time out of her busy schedule of recording, speaking, writing, etc., to join me for Episode 1 of Season 4 of The QuadCast.

Ali Ingersoll has packed a lot into her 38 years! As a child her family moved every 2 years, so she lived in many different places (Germany, France, Miami, Los Angeles, and more). The Bahamas however were their home base. Following high school she went to China where she stayed for a while before coming back to the states for college (Occidental and University of Miami). Unfortunately while back in The Bahamas, Ali injured her spine in a shallow water dive, leaving her a complete C-6 quad. For the next 6 years, she endured an odyssey of hospitals, rehab, and medical procedures. Once finally settled, Ali returned to day trading, and began writing and public speaking. Earlier this year, she entered the Miss Wheelchair America pageant and won. Since then she's been raising awareness about her platform, which is health insurance advocacy. If that wasn't enough, the self proclaimed "Quirky Quad" runs a website, and is active on social media working on behalf of the community. Ali took some time out of her uber busy schedule to join me for this week's episode of The QuadCast.

While the weather outside is frightful, today's episode of the podcast will be insightful, and it will certainly warm your heart. That is because my friend, Tracey Iraca, is my guest. She was injured in an accident that you will have to hear her describe for yourself to believe, and yet in her four-month stay as an inpatient at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, I never once heard her ask "why me"? Tracey was discharged last week, but before so, she took time out of her busy last evening at KIR to join me for this very special two-part edition of the QuadCast. I promise you will be amazed and above all inspired by Tracey's journey. Thank you for joining me my friend, I know you will thrive, and I look forward to our conversation in 6 months time.

Jason Keatseangsilp grew up playing tennis in the sweltering heat of Arizona. He enjoyed the game so much that he was looking to play it collegiately. Unfortunately, in his senior year of high school (2011) he suffered a spinal cord injury following a fall. The T11-12 complete paraplegic picked up the pieces however, along with his tennis racquet again. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, Jason joined the professional wheelchair tennis circuit! He is currently the #3 American men's player who just competed in the 2022 US Open. Jason was kind enough to carve some time out of his busy schedule to join me on the latest edition of The QuadCast.

Kevin Hoagland suffered a spinal cord injury in 1978, one year after graduating from St. Peter's High School. However, the C 4/5 quadriplegic has not it hold him back one bit. Kevin credits his family for instilling in him the compulsion to help others, and he's been doing just that in many different ways for years. As the Chairman of New Brunswick, NJ's Mayor's Committee for a Barrier Free town since 1988, he has been instrumental in making his hometown more accessible. Kevin was elected 6 times a Middlesex County Surrogate, and is the very proud founder and president of the Central Jersey Spinal Cord Association (1985 - present). If that wasn't enough, Kevin received the New Jersey Hall of Fame's Unsung Hero Award in 2018! If you haven't figured it out yet, Kevin Hoagland is my guest on this week's QuadCast! Thanks for all you do on behalf of the SCI community Kevin!

30 years is a long time. It is 10,957.27 days, 1,565.33 weeks, 360 months, 262,974.6 hours, 15,778,476 minutes, and 946,708,560 seconds. But who's counting? Me! That's because as of today, August 19, 2022, it's exactly how long I have been living with my spinal cord injury. And in honor of that, I decided to interview me, myself, and I. It is not as easy as it sounds, and I apologize if it rambles on. So, sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip (unfortunately down my basement steps). Please do stick around until the end for a special message to EVERYONE who has hung in there with me all these years!

Season 3 Episode 4 of the QuadCast features a new segment which I am calling: "In the Friend's Zone". My inaugural guest is Scott Matalevich, a gentleman I met through my peer counseling position at Kessler. We had the opportunity to chat this past 97° Saturday afternoon, and I hope you enjoy the conversation.

In 2004, at the age of 18, Josh Basile was paralyzed below the shoulders in a beach accident. Today, he is a C4-5 quadriplegic, power wheelchair user, medical malpractice lawyer, and disabilities rights advocate serving persons both in the courtroom and through policy initiatives. He is a community leader and changemaker who works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and to continuously break down existing barriers to access and inclusion. As if that weren't enough, in 2007 he created SPINALpedia, the world's largest paralysis video mentoring network with 23,000 videos searchable by physical functionality. Josh was kind enough to carve some time out of his busy schedule to join me for this episode of The QuadCast podcast.

On Black Friday, November 23, 2001 at 2:00 in the afternoon, Jeanine Valenti kissed her 3 young children goodbye and headed off to a colleague's mother's wake. Unbeknownst to her, a driver on the other side of the road had fallen asleep at the wheel, causing him to cross traffic and t-bone her car. Jeanine's irresponsibly engineered SUV flipped leaving her a C6-C7 quadriplegic. She spent 1 month in the ICU followed by 4 months at Kessler Institute For Rehabilitation, putting her mind and body back together. Now an employee at Kessler, Jeanine runs the Think First program, is a featured lecturer in its Lunch and Learn series, and is a valued mentor to many newly injured patients. As if that weren't enough, she has just written a book called: "Rise To The Occasion", which will be published shortly. Truth be told, Jeanine is my colleague and friend. She also happens to be my guest on this week's episode of The QuadCast.

Following a presentation at USC from Mark Cuban and Mark Burnett (Shark Tank), Trojans freshman Anthony Zhang, pitched his business, EnvoyNow. The delivery startup capitalizing on the neglected college market impressed the sharks enough to invest $100,000 for 10% of the business. Soon after, The Thiel Foundation offered him an additional $100,000 to drop out of school and focus on EnvoyNow full time. Life was great, or so it seemed. Unfortunately, Anthony suffered a spinal cord injury, the result of diving into a pool in Las Vegas. Suddenly, everything he had been working on was put on hold. The young man who made building businesses from the ground up his career, would now have to do just that for his new body and mind. Anthony is my guest on this episode of The QuadCast. I enjoyed getting to know him, and bring his remarkable story to you.

Reveca Torres is an artist, photographer, costume designer, illustrator, and C-5/7 spinal cord injury survivor and thriver since the age of 13 following a car accident in 1994. In 2009 she, Veronica Gott, Patricia Mikicic and Annie Gonzalez founded BACKBONES, a non profit organization whose mission is to help people with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) and their families connect with their communities. They do this by creating events and experiences that promote awareness and engage people of all abilities. Reveca was kind enough to carve some time out of her busy schedule to share her story with me on the latest episode of the QuadCast.

This week's podcast combines two things that have been front and center for me most of my life, sports and spinal cord injury. I was twenty-three years old in 1991, working my dream job in sports television. Week 12 of the NFL season that year was November 17, and the day started out just as any other. However, late in the 4th quarter of the Detroit Lions/Los Angeles Rams game, that would change. Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley injured his spinal cord doing something he told us he'd done a million times prior to that fateful play, blocking. I recall watching in shock as he lay on the field, wondering what it must be like to be paralyzed. Little did I know less than a year later I'd find out for myself. I have always admired Mike Utley from afar for his courage, strength, and class in facing such adversity on a national stage, So, I was thrilled when he agreed to join me for this week's episode of The QuadCast.

S2 E3 - Much To Discuss With Chad Hymas took a while to come together, but is now in the books. As they say, good things come to those who wait. After a few scheduling bumps in the road, I am proud to share with you my conversation with a man the Wall Street Journal calls: "One Of The 10 Most Inspirational People In The World." Chad is a devoted husband, father of four (and now new grandfather), a decorated speaker, life coach, best-selling author, president of his own communications company and world-class wheelchair athlete. As if that weren't enough, he is also one of the youngest ever to receive the Council of Peers Award For Excellence and to be inducted into the prestigious National Speaker Hall of Fame. As you can see, I have clearly outkicked my coverage here, and I can't thank Chad enough for shoehorning the QuadCast into his uber busy schedule.

Billy Price was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. As a kid, aside from loving the outdoors, and playing sports with his friends, he could be found tinkering around in his father's woodworking shop, "trying to put things together", he told me. Now isn't that foreshadowing... Unfortunately, just weeks into his freshman year at the University of Washington, Billy endured a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the chest down. After hitting rock bottom in the immediate aftermath, he dedicated himself to his therapy, finished college and began working. Some years later, he caught up with a childhood friend, Darin Donaldson, and the two began a conversation. Darin was trying to manufacture shoes, and Billy longed for a pair that he could not only get on independently, but that were attractive also. And that was the beginnings of what today is BILLY Footwear, Their main focus is on shoes that embody "universal design", meaning they both appeal to and work for everyone. I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Billy for this week's QuadCast. I hope you will enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

In the spring of 2016, David Francisco moved to Nashville Tennessee to attend the renowned Blackbird Academy. While riding his bicycle home one day he was hit by a distracted driver who ran a red light at a busy intersection. His back was snapped, his spinal cord severely damaged and his left forearm torn open. David's life was forever changed. Yet a year and half later, with the aid crutches, he WALKED out on national television to audition for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan on American Idol! David had with him and acoustic guitar and his fiancée Kristi. The audition, viewed over 56 million times to date, inspired me and folks from coast to coast. On this week's QuadCast, you will hear all about this and much more because David and Kristi Francisco are my guests. And if that wasn't enough, they play us out with David's single Lionheart!

Yannick Benjamin was born and raised in the heart of New York City. His parents immigrated from France and worked in the hospitality business. Over his formative years, he also developed an affinity for the restaurant/hospitality industry, and at age 13 decided to dedicate his life to it. Yannick worked in his early years at Le Cirque, Jean-Georges, Felidia and Atelier at the Ritz Carlton. In 2003 he was in a car accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Driven to continue working in the field he loved, now from a wheelchair however, he has blazed a trail for others to follow. In so much, Yannick is a co-founder and director of development for Wine on Wheels, an organization that helps recently disabled people. Earlier this year, Benjamin and partners opened the barrier free restaurant Contento (in East Harlem, New York), with the ethos and tagline “accessible for all". Among the things which make it just that are menus which help the visually impaired, and tables and sections of the bar which are designed specifically for wheelchair users. Yannick was kind enough to carve out some time from his busy schedule to join me on this week's QuadCast.

Robert Paylor suffered a life changing spinal cord injury just minutes into the 2017 collegiate rugby national championship game at Santa Clara University. In the immediate aftermath he was told that he would never walk again, or do much of anything else for that matter. Well, you can't keep a good man down. This past August, Robert walked across the stage at his graduation from the University of California at Berkeley! His profile on twitter and Instagram reads "Quadriplegic on a journey to walk again and inspire others". He is indeed an inspiration, who through determination and perspiration has achieved his aspiration of motivating anyone within the sound of his voice. Lucky for you today because Robert is my guest on this week's QuadCast.

On this week's edition of the QuadCast, I introduce a new segment in the podcast series, called "Analysis of Paralysis". In lieu of a guest, I read articles found on the web and/or social media that highlight promising, exciting, groundbreaking, and hopefully game changing news/results for those of us living with spinal cord injury. Coming off of Thanksgiving, a time where we're giving thanks for what and who we have in our lives, this podcast gives a hearty THANK YOU to the doctors, scientists, researchers, therapists, etc. who work tirelessly to better the lives of those of us living with SCI. Stay tuned all the way to the end for a special message from Natalie Merchant!

Jamil Williams is a SCI Research Assistant and Peer Mentor at Kessler Institute For Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey. He lives with an L2 level spinal cord injury, the result of a gunshot wound in 2002. Jamil consents with participants on multiple studies that the Kessler Foundation runs pertaining to their injuries, he is an amazing peer mentor, a valued presenter for the Lunch and Learn Educational Series for newly injured people, and most of all, a great guy! Jamil is my guest on this week's episode of The QuadCast.

John Floresca has worked in the Film/TV industry for 19 years, on shows such as Gossip Girl, Law and Order SVU, Project Runway, and Saturday Night Live. As a member of the Local 600 Cinematographers Union he has also worked on major movies like Spiderman 2 and Money Monster, as well as with stand up comedians like Tracy Morgan, Sebastián Maniscalco, and the late Norm McDonald to name a few. As if that wasn't impressive enough, since June 21, 2019, John has been doing his job from a wheelchair. The Focus Puller, or 1st Assistant Camera Operator suffered a spinal cord injury while surfing in Hawaii on a family vacation/gender reveal for he and his wife's first baby. John is another SCI survivor and thriver, and he's the subject of my "Lights, Camera, Action!" episode of The QuadCast.