We're The Inspiration™

Brian Brately and I have fun with auto corrects, but he starts the episode by talking about his recent trip to the Grand Canyon. Twitter https://bit.ly/39ncu2r Tiktok https://bit.ly/3G7SNcn Discord https://bit.ly/39nYjKn Youtube https://bit.ly/3Hb1tOl Facebook https://bit.ly/3zxWXrg

After a long absence I return to the podcast, in part to explain why I was gone: the recent passing of my mother. This is very off brand for the show but I felt the need to talk about it on Mother's Day. If you've gone through something similar or if you even just knew my mom, please give it a listen. Twitter https://bit.ly/39ncu2r Facebook: https://bit.ly/3zxWXrg Youtube: https://bit.ly/3Hb1tOl Discord: https://bit.ly/39nYjKn Tiktok: https://bit.ly/3G7SNcn

Sometimes I receive emails from people with truly inspiring stories, requesting to be on this podcast. The latest of whom is Dr. Jenn Pratt, who spent her childhood as a cancer patient, and had a wish granted by The Make A Wish Foundation. Hear how she's gone from that to becoming a doctor, and working with Make A Wish to help children who are going through what she experienced. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8Z3OBKRcQvq&_r=1

Cancer survivor and amputee Chris Young reflects on willingly losing his leg 5 years ago. (20) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast | Facebook Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ We're The Inspiration - YouTube Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8Z3OBKRcQvq&_r=1

Brian Brately tells me this week about moving into his new home, and why the weeks leading up to that weren't so good for him. (2) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast | Facebook (20) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ We're The Inspiration - YouTube Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8Z3OBKRcQvq&_r=1

Two things seem to come up when I talk with Alex Gonzalez, our mutual love of powerlifting, and superheroes. What was meant to be a conversation about how the superhero he created is coming to life, turns into a chat about our mutual love of Batman. Off brand for the podcast but still a lot of fun. Facebook: We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast | Facebook Twitter: (20) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: We're The Inspiration - YouTube Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8Z3OBKRcQvq&_r=1

While taking a holiday break from the podcast, I talked a lot on Tiktok about the ableism in the Christmas movie Elf, and how the character of Buddy may be autistic. I settle this with Nikki Guthrie, who appreciates the movie, but also has an autistic son. Facebook: (1) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast | Facebook Twitter: (30) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: (1) We're The Inspiration - YouTube Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8Z3OBKRcQvq&_r=1

What began as an episode about why something was said to Tennille Houston by another person with a disability, ended up being more about how she felt about what was said. (20) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter (4) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast | Facebook (123) Discord | #welcome | We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast We're The Inspiration - YouTube https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8XPODmrNLri&_r=1

This episode turned out to be half about disability, and half about the music business, as I spoke with Tony Mantor, a man who's done everything there is to do in that industry. He's also released a song that has become an anthem for raising awareness about autism. We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast | Facebook (20) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ We're The Inspiration - YouTube Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Here's a look at the 25 most popular Halloween costumes for 2022, and how practical they'd be for people with disabilities. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Months ago, Paul Reynolds told me that Disability Employment Awareness Month somehow related to his job. I finally found out how, which led to discussion about people who have disabilities, but don't have jobs. Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Spina Bifida Awareness Month continues with Tara Gelhaus, a friend I made at the national SB conferences (when they had them) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Last weekend, Julie Antos messaged me with a funny story about someone who clearly didn't know what spina bifida was. So I decided we'd talk about that in my first episode during Spina Bifida Awareness Month. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

If you're a wheelchair user who finds it difficult to exercise, this episode is for you. I spoke with Brianna Paauuwe, operations manager of the Wheel With Me Foundation. Their app shows people at different levels of disability how to exercise. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration Wheel With Me Foundation IG: https://www.instagram.com/wheelwithmefoundation/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D Wheel With Me Fitness IG: https://www.instagram.com/wheelwithmefit/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D https://www.wheelwithmefitness.com/

All I knew about Tennille Houston going into my conversation with her was that she's a wheelchair Zumba instructor. But we end up talking about a lot more than that throughout the episode. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: (19) We're The Inspiration: A Disability Podcast (@WeRInspiration) / Twitter Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: (47) We're The Inspiration - YouTube Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration?_t=8VuPy8xIxNG&_r=1

This week I put together some clips of people with disabilities, talking about how they feel about being called things like "inspirational" This was the initial basis of the podcast, and if you haven't listened yet, this might be the one to start with. Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

When Chris Young was on my podcast on Valentine's Day, he had a rather bleak outlook when it came to his chances at a relationship. Now that he's in one, I wanted to know if his outlook had changed. Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Last time Alex Gonzalez was on the show, I talked with him about a comic book superhero that he had created, who has the disability that he and I both have. This week I talk with him about how the creation has evolved, and we look at some existing comic book superheroes with disabilities. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Part 2 of my discussion with Greg Pote about t shirts with disability related puns on them. This time, the ones we found really funny. Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

It's time for another episode featuring Greg's List! In this two part episode, Greg Pote and I examine tee shirts with disability puns on them. First the bad, then the good. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

When Nikki Guthrie agreed to join me for another show, I realized as we were doing it how many people she has around her that have disabilities. We talk about that and a lot more. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Dave Barnhart has helped create The Adam R. Barnhart Inclusive Athlete Fund in honor of his late son Adam, who loved playing whatever adaptive sports he could. The fund is to help developmentally and intellectually disabled athletes in Washington County, Maryland. Having a special place in my heart for adaptive sports myself, I jumped at the chance to talk to Dave about this. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

My old basketball teammate Paul Reynolds joins me this week to talk about some old times, but also why Disability Pride Month might not be as important to us as some of the awareness months. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Last month I went to my friend Brian Brately's wedding. At the reception, his best man, who was also his brother, called him an inspiration. I knew I'd have to make that an episode. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

New friend Allen Johnson finally joins me on the show after a lengthy illness, to discuss his own podcast, how he broke his neck when he was 16, and why his service dog is being retired. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration DIscord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration

Tarek Mrad has cerebral palsy, and does his own podcast, while trying to get people to live their dreams. We did a quick episode because it came together very quickly. Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@we_r_inspiration Tarek's website: https://www.hestonwest.org/community-podcast.html?fbclid=IwAR1dYSf6npDFfZM5H5NS8r715e4zXXUslYI6L2HMmFLL9aiPsS8pGxdU_sI

I recently had a conversation with an old friend about how my podcast lacks the element of "dudebro"... This episode may balance that out, as Alex Gonzalez and I talk about our mutual love of working out (aka Para Powerlifting), and a disabled superhero he's creating. twitter: https://twitter.com/WeRInspiration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRInspiration Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Matteo Esposito is a playwright with autism, who's written more than one play featuring autistic characters. I talked to him about his career, which is really just beginning because he's still in school. Facebook: https://bit.ly/3zxWXrg Twitter: https://bit.ly/39ncu2r Discord: https://bit.ly/39nYjKn Youtube: https://bit.ly/3Hb1tOl

Another major reconnection for me as my old basketball teammate Pat Atwell is on this week's episode! We talk (quite out of order) about being teammates, his college basketball experiences, and what he's been doing since graduating. Facebook: https://bit.ly/3zxWXrg Twitter: https://bit.ly/39ncu2r DIscord: https://bit.ly/39nYjKn Youtube: https://bit.ly/3Hb1tOl

Mattel has modeled a series of Barbie dolls after real female Paralympic athletes. But will kids want them? Video version here: https://bit.ly/3aoFOWj

Nikki Guthrie has talked to me a couple of times about her autistic son, but what I did not know until recently is that her mother in law is deaf. We talk about that and more on this week's episode! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Thoughts on the new Hot Wheels toy, modeled after Paralympian and wheelchair motocross athlete, Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham See the toy: https://amzn.to/3wmhDPH Video version: https://youtu.be/uBNEeCCv_-o

I found a list of the "best" jobs for people in wheelchairs, according to the owner of confinedtosuccess.com. My friend Greg Pote and I decide how accurate the list is. Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

It's hard to know how to describe this episode. It went off the rails pretty early, because of the unusual way my friend Chris Young chooses to express himself. We end up talking about that, and how it relates to his disability, for the duration of the episode. Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Meezan Ford returns to the podcast, to talk in part about her recently departed cat, Qandi, who had gone blind in the last years of her life. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

I had to talk to my longtime friend Ali Rogers Karpa again when I heard she was helping to put together a 5k on April 24, to raise awareness (and money) for amputees. Sign up or donate here: https://www.classy.org/event/amputee-awareness-5k/e393973 Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Rather than do an episode recapping the Winter Paralympics which few of my friends watched anyway, I decided to talk to Brian Brately about the most exciting part: sled hockey, which he plays. Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Everyone has their own opinion on the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident, and I decided to throw my two cents in after reading that some people think what Rock said about Smith's wife was ableist. Was it? Tell me in the comments. Video version here: https://youtu.be/QQbt8PnkN-U

Sometimes episodes transcend disability, even if they feature disabled people. Right before Bryan Johnson's real birthday, I talked with him about his "sober birthday" Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ Discord https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ

I meant to address this a couple of weeks ago, but I'm glad I waited, because there are not one, but two competitors using wheelchairs in America's Got Talent: EXTREME! If you saw them both, which one impressed you more? Do you think either will have a chance to win 500k?

Turns out that March 1st commemorates two things to the disabled community, with very different meanings behind them. Video version available here: https://youtu.be/7iL4sqPpEzc

My longtime friend Ali Rogers Karpa was married before losing a foot to cancer, but she had some things to say about last week's Valentine's Day episode. What follows is a friendly debate revolving around dating with a disability. Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Ever since I met Chris Young, he's wanted to talk about love and relationships in the disabled community. So that's what (we think) he did on this Valentine's Day episode of the podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

There's some very good news leading up to this year's Winter Paralympics. Listen to find out what it is. Video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lIMPbNjypI

As the Winter Olympics are now underway, the high performance manager for USA Para Powerlifting, Mary Hodge returns to the show to discuss her experiences in Tokyo at last year's Paralympics. Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Greg Pote joins me again for a look at ableism on television within our lifetimes. Some of which we didn't even have to watch to know it's there. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Podcast returning soon with part 3 of our look at ableism, this time on television. In the meantime, here are my thoughts on being asked constantly whether I need help, just because I use a wheelchair.

Greg Pote returns as we present a list of movies that showcase ableism. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

In the first of a three part episode of the show, Greg Pote returns, and we examine what ableism is, what it means to us, and how it can be applied to movies and tv shows. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

Who better to have on the "Christmas" episode of the podcast than my good friend, Steve Ray.. Do we talk about Christmas? Not really, it's mostly about his experiences as a disabled actor. But give it a listen anyway. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Discord: https://discord.gg/Sag7UCyfxJ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ

I catch up with my friend Robert Brown this week, who I used to play and coach basketball with. We talk a lot about how important it is to educate yourself about disabilities... and everything else. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/We.R.In.Pod Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/We_R_In_Pod Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/MJf8eYhE3F Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrzpCEit4LJ9ljYCQFTZhRQ