Podcasts about accessible

Three years after his first LinkedUp appearance, what has actually changed about AI in education? Dr. Wednaud Ronelus, Chief Metaverse Scientist at Alchemist Club Studios and AI Ambassador for the AFT/UFT, rejoins Jerri and Jamie to explore the “cognitive offload crisis,” why keeping students away from AI can do more harm than good, and how educators can redesign curriculum so AI becomes a scaffold instead of a shortcut.Drawing on examples from elementary electromagnetism lessons to a district-wide AI ambassador program in the Bronx, Dr. Ronelus gets practical about responsible AI use. He also examines equity, New York City's specialized high school admissions crisis, and what it will take for teachers to step confidently into an AI-driven world.---ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Wednaud J. Ronelus is the founder and CEO of Alchemist Club Studios and an AI Ambassador for the AFT/UFT. As a STEM learning scientist, he explores how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and holographic experiences, can help educators create more immersive and meaningful learning environments.---SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/CDJ865. CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until September 8, 2027.On Track for Remission in Multiple Myeloma: Modern Off-the-Shelf Choices for Effective and Accessible Care in Relapsed/Refractory Disease In support of improving patient care, PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/CDJ865. CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until September 8, 2027.On Track for Remission in Multiple Myeloma: Modern Off-the-Shelf Choices for Effective and Accessible Care in Relapsed/Refractory Disease In support of improving patient care, PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

I've been having a think about the sort of content I want to create at the moment and 'positive' and 'up lifting' was what was requested when I asked my followers on instagram. The news from the design industry and the world in general has been very negative recently. While I was researching what I could talk about I came across this really interesting effect called 'The Curb Cut Effect'. It's all about how solving a problem for a smaller group of people who have a specific accessibility need actually helps everyone. In this episode I chat through the effect and how it got it's name and also give other examples, and ideas of how you could use this improve your own brand and it's accessibility. Key Takeaways 1. Designing for the edges lifts the middle. Every time someone has built for a group that was being left out, the whole world has quietly benefited. Your business is no different; the change you make for one person rarely stops with them. 2. Small, imperfect steps still count. You won't get accessibility right first time, and you don't have to. Alt text, better colour contrast, left-aligned copy; these are afternoon jobs, not year-long projects. Start where you are. 3. If it's hard work to read, it's hard work to buy. A brain that has to strain will give up, and it won't even know why. Make it easy to read, easy to follow, easy to purchase - and you stop losing people you never knew you'd lost. 4. Do it because it's right, and let it pay you back anyway. Accessibility is the rare decision where doing the decent thing and doing the smart thing point in exactly the same direction. You don't have to choose. Episode Highlights 00:00: Where this episode came from: an Instagram story asking what people wanted, and the repeated request for something positive in a design industry that's feeling bleak 01:13: The kerb cut effect explained: 1970s activists with sledgehammers and cement, building ramps at night so wheelchair users could cross the road independently 02:47: Closed captions, voice assistants and automatic doors: how a fix designed for one group quietly ends up serving everybody 04:21: Why accessibility gets shelved by small business owners, and the commercial and legal case for stopping putting it off 05:34: The centred text problem: why the brain can't find the next line, gives up without realising it, and what that means for your emails and website 08:13: The question to take away: what have you been holding off fixing because you assumed it would only help a handful of people? I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!  

One of our returning members named Nolan Parrish recorded for us a bonus episode of the accessible virtual machine. You will also be able to find this on the Nolan‘s technology Moore podcast series.You'll get full demonstration, and set up on his computer.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/CDJ865. CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until September 8, 2027.On Track for Remission in Multiple Myeloma: Modern Off-the-Shelf Choices for Effective and Accessible Care in Relapsed/Refractory Disease In support of improving patient care, PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion', giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was there and caught up with Hannah Whitcombe, RNIB Corporate Partnerships Manager, to find out why it is so important for the RNIB and CPI to bring everyone from across the publishing and access sector together to ensure that there is equal access to books for everyone .To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion', giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was there and caught up with Beth O'Brien, visually impaired best-selling Author of ‘Wolf Siren' who delivered the key note speech at the conference. To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion', giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was there and caught up with Emma Steel from Every Cherry a publisher of special educational needs books who took part in the panel discussion about equal access begins with accessible formats. To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion' giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was there and caught up with Simon Mellins Digital Publishing Consultant who works on accessible publishing and took part in the removing barriers through accessible design panel discussion. To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion', giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was there and caught up with Lorna Dolan from CPI publishing the main organisation behind the conference.To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion', giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was there and caught up with Elizabeth Killingly Accessibility Manager at Bloomsbury publishing who took part in the Inclusion Creates Commercial Opportunity panel discussion. To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/CDJ865. CME/MOC/NCPD/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until September 8, 2027.On Track for Remission in Multiple Myeloma: Modern Off-the-Shelf Choices for Effective and Accessible Care in Relapsed/Refractory Disease In support of improving patient care, PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

À quelques jours de la fin de la période d'inscription au concours du contrôleur des douanes et droits indirects, branche des opérations commerciales, Sophie Bernert, directrice interrégionale des douanes de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Centre-Val de Loire, était de passage dans nos studios. Ce concours national a la particularité d'assurer une affectation dans la région pour ceux voulant y participer. Accessible dès le niveau bac, les inscriptions sont ouvertes jusqu'au 21 septembre. Pour se préparer au mieux, des annales des épreuves sont disponibles en ligne. Sophie Bernert évoque également les spécificités des services de douanes des régions Bourgogne-Franche-Comté et Centre-Val de Loire.

Aindre Reece-Sheerin is a Professional Access Consultant with 30 years experience and campaigns for Rights for People with Disabilities across Guernsey and today we'll discuss his Campaign for Accessible Taxis on the island.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNb1cWd3bX4If you would like to reach out feel free to send an email to: atelierfuralle@gmail.com. You can also leave a review of the podcast and follow this show on:Instagram:https://instagram.com/atelierfuralle?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551850785306⁠⁠Feel free to join the "JD Dragon Disability Rights Podcast" Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/12Eit9sBPuR/?mibextid=wwXIfrSnapchat:https://t.snapchat.com/FVWn1jmTDiscord ServerJD Dragon

I wanted someone who isn't just pointing out that movement is good for our mental health, but who's actually doing something to help us bridge that gap. So today we have the pleasure of hearing from Rio Wilson, licensed counselor and founder of the Brain-Body Therapy app. She joins me to unpack the connection between our brains and our bodies. I share about a wild time when moving my body helped me get over a major heartbreak, and Rio walks us through which types of movement works best for different mental health conditions, where to start, and more. RIO WILSON: Brain-Body Therapy App in the App Store Brain-Body Therapy App in Google Play Rio's Website: https://brain-bodytherapy.com/ Instagram: @brainbodytherapy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brainbodytherapyapp PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO): PREORDER MY BOOK, Don't Save the Good Stuff, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Coming April 2027. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my special book email list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind-the-scenes and opportunities to help get the word out! Sign up for my newsletter! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.shannonleyko.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shannonleyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shannon_leyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TAKE THE QUIZ!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "What's Your Decluttering Type?" & receive a customized playlist with 10 episodes of Paring Down for your exact needs. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PARING DOWN RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE for free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AquaTru.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code PARING Have someone take your clutter! Book your free in-person estimate today at ⁠1800gotjunk.com⁠ or call 1-800-468-5865 20% off your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at ⁠⁠⁠drinkag1.com/paring⁠⁠⁠ Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.wayfair.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ethical, luxury women's clothing at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/paring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Zenni Optical offers beautiful eye glasses starting at just $30- (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zenni.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Make custom gifts with Zazzle - save 25% on your first order (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Zazzle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) $300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://airdoctorpro.com/ -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code PARING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Tim Klitch, a former D1 tennis player, "Chief Fun Officer" and co-founder of Austin Pickle Ranch. Pete and Tim talk about everything from how pickleball skyrocketed from a niche sport to a 40-million-player phenomenon, the blend of social energy and accessibility that fuels its growth, and what it really takes to make money in this space. You'll hear how Austin Pickle Ranch's beginnings from a rooftop to a 50,000-square-foot facility, the data-driven logic behind scaling courts and optimizing member experience, and why the intersection of in-person community and national brand recognition is changing the game for local clubs. Plus, Tim provides some fantastic takeaways from his professional tennis background, lessons learned in sports investments, and what pickleball can teach us all about fun, fitness, and business. Whether you're exploring deal flow in the HALO sector or just want to understand why pickleball is attracting new investors, operators, and fans, this conversation has something for every executive with an eye for scaling and innovation. Key themes discussed Pickleball's explosive growth and demographic reach Business models and unit economics for profitable clubs Open play versus membership-based facility models Comparison of tennis and pickleball facility efficiencies The impact of branding and social media reach Professionalization and celebrity investment in pickleball Social, communal, and wellness benefits of pickleball A Few Key Takeaways 1. Pickleball's Exponential Growth and COVID Impact: Pickleball exploded from about 4 million to 40 million players in the US, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sport was already poised for growth, but the pandemic "set it on fire," establishing pickleball as a leading social and active lifestyle activity 02:05. 2. Keys to a Profitable Pickleball Facility: To operate a sustainable, manned, for-profit pickleball club, you need scale: 12–16 courts is considered the minimum viable size to generate income and achieve operational efficiency. Larger clubs benefit from economies of scale, with costs consolidated at the front desk and across amenities 05:04. 3. Revenue Efficiency: Pickleball vs Tennis: Pickleball courts are significantly more revenue-efficient than tennis courts. The same square footage that fits a singles tennis match can host 24 pickleball players, explaining why 10% of tennis courts have been converted to pickleball annually in the US over the past three years 09:20. 4. Pickleball as an Accessible, Social Experience: Pickleball's unique value lies in its communal, open play. Austin Pickle Ranch intentionally overfills open play sessions to create built-in breaks and maximize social mixing. Members typically spend 2.5 hours per visit, reinforcing the "ultimate social engagement sport" concept 22:39. 5. Brand Awareness and the Power of Social Media: Despite being a single-location club, Austin Pickle Ranch has developed national and international brand recognition, largely due to social media and internet presence. This organic "brand bleed" has attracted visitors globally and set the stage for possible expansion 13:45. Resources: Tim Klitch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-klitch-2aa0024  Austin Pickle Ranch: https://austinpickleranch.com  Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

The fashion industry sits at the intersection of some of today's most pressing social and environmental challenges, from textile waste and microplastic pollution to toxic chemical exposure and unsustainable consumption patterns. Yet for many people, sustainability can feel overwhelming, expensive, or simply out of reach. Lacey Cadieux-McLean, founder of Rhubaia, is working to change that. Drawing on her background in technology, creativity, and sustainable fashion, Lacey shares how a personal journey into understanding the hidden impacts of the clothes we wear led her to build a business focused on ethical materials, conscious consumption, and innovative technology designed to help people get more value from the clothing they already own. Together, we explore the complexities of the fashion system, the tension between profitability and sustainability, what it takes to build a purpose-driven business, and why meaningful change often begins not with perfection, but with a single step.About Our Guest: Lacey Cadieux-McLean is the founder of Rhubaia, a sustainable fashion and technology company dedicated to making conscious consumption more accessible and approachable. Raised on a ranch in rural Alberta, Canada, Lacey developed a deep connection to nature from an early age, a value that now shapes her work in sustainable entrepreneurship. Combining a career in information technology and project management with a lifelong passion for creativity and design, she launched Rhubaia to address the environmental and health impacts of conventional fashion through ethically sourced materials, innovative textiles, and AI-powered tools that help people maximise the use of their existing wardrobes. Through her work, Lacey advocates for practical, achievable sustainability and believes that small changes, adopted by many people, can create significant positive impact.

Skye Perryman—a Time 100 honoree and CEO of Democracy Forward—offers an urgent, inspiring blueprint for how ordinary people can fight for freedom in extraordinary times. She says the future of our country lies in all of our hands. From protecting voting rights and public schools to finding courage in the face of fear, Skye Perryman makes the case that defending democracy isn't the job of lawyers or politicians alone—it's a role for every one of us, seasoned and brand-new activists alike. Drawing on her frontline experience challenging threats to democracy in courtrooms across the nation, Perryman combines gripping personal stories with practical “how-to” guides that empower readers to take action in their own communities. Accessible, hopeful, and deeply practical, this inspiring book shows that the path forward begins not in the halls of power but at our kitchen tables, in our neighborhoods, and through the everyday choices we make to speak up, build community, and protect our future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken shares 10 interesting things about Amsterdam with Charley. Please check out the website of our sponsor Tropical Birding: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ​Support the Podcast While You Travel​Planning a trip? If you book your hotels, flights, or rentals through the following links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's an easy way to help us keep the show running!

What does it really mean to make travel accessible? In this episode of the Daily Passenger Responsible Travel Podcast, I speak with stand-up comedian and disability inclusion advocate Sweta Mantrii about the realities of travelling with a disability. We talk about accessible hotels, public transport, venues and washrooms, the challenges of finding reliable information and how one missing link can make an entire trip inaccessible. Sweta also shares how comedy helps her challenge stereotypes and why simply showing up in spaces can be an act of reclaiming them. We discuss what India needs to change and why accessibility decisions must include people with lived experience.Connect with Sweta⁠https://www.instagram.com/kopalthakur/⁠Share your thoughts and feedbacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theresponsibletravelpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anshul.akh99@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyPassenger/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/daily.passenger/⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when we stop asking AI to do things faster and start using it to design learning better? Jerri and Jamie talk with Phillip Alcock, co-founder of PBL Future Labs, about moving beyond one-off prompts and building intentional AI workflows for project-based learning.Together, we explore how AI can help educators strengthen ideas, create meaningful milestones and micro-targets, and design deeper learning without taking over the thinking. This conversation looks at how AI can strengthen instructional design while keeping human judgment, creativity, and authentic student thinking at the center.---ABOUT OUR GUESTPhillip Alcock is the Co-Founder & Director of Emerging Technology at PBL Future Labs. A learning designer and AI workflow builder, Phillip draws on 17 years of ESL and classroom teaching to help schools, universities, and edtech companies turn complex expertise into clearer, more useful learning experiences. He redesigns learning journeys through project-based, problem-based, and game-based methods, and builds AI-integrated workflows that hold up in practice.---SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

Why is it that bird names seem so… childishly misogynistic? Featuring: Professor Andrew Cockburn, bird watcher and word batcher, ANUJeannie Gray, Author, Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings.Ian Fraser, Author, Australia Bird Names:  Origins and Meanings.Stephen Downes, the brains behind @Parrotoftheday social media accountsStephen Moss, Author, Mrs Moreau's Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names.Nola Turner-Jensen, Culture Inclusion Specialist and Wiradjuri HistorianDr Ayesha Tulloch, Research Fellow, QUT.This episode was first broadcast in 2022.Featuring extra sounds from listeners:Large-tailed Nightjar from Briony Barnett.Cat Bird from Scott Fisher. And extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:Marc Anderson, XC287030. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/287030 ( Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0)Yong Ding Li, XC57231. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/57231 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5)Phil Gregory, XC690345. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/690345 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editing.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.

9/11/26, Co-Host Josh Silver The Price of Democracy. Your hosts, including Max Page, speak with Vanessa Williamson, author of “The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History. She addresses our complete misunderstanding of the Boston Tea Party and why the highest tax rate for the wealthiest has been reduced by almost 70%! Unpaved Trails for All. Meg Banderra, Founder of Unpaved Trails for All, and Brian Westrick, from the Trustees of Reservations, on creating accessible trails for all at the local golf courses being rewilded - Beaver Brook, Pine Grove and Hickory Ridge. We are talking about helping out 49% of the population—hear why. And Megs shares her story. The Taste of Northampton –this Saturday and Sunday! We speak with Karen Carswell, DNA (Downtown Northampton Ass'n) Board Member and Chair of the Taste, about the food, the merch, the bands, the fun. We commemorate 9/11 with Sam Holleran, author of “Scattered Steel: The Afterlife of the World Trade Center,” and explore memorials and memory. Political Gold with Josh Silver. We discuss this week's revelations about how NYC officials lied about the air quality after 9/11 and consider the political effect of Trumpapalooza in Texas and J.D. Vance's positioning himself as the MAGA heir apparent. ArtBeat: Donnabelle Casis & Pasqualina Azzarello from Easthampton City Arts on Art in the Meadow and other events—Eho(!!??) is a happening place.

Née dans le sud de l'Italie, la pizza a parcouru le monde jusqu'à devenir l'un des plats les plus consommés de la planète. Inscrit au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO depuis 2017, le savoir-faire du pizzaiolo napolitain repose sur des gestes longtemps transmis de manière orale, autour d'une recette simple et peu coûteuse. Accessible, généreuse, la pizza a su traverser les frontières tout en conservant un lien fort avec ses origines.  Au fil de ses voyages, elle n'a pourtant cessé de se réinventer. Des États-Unis à la Corée du Sud, de Madagascar au Danemark, chaque pays s'est approprié ce grand classique en jouant sur les ingrédients, les cuissons, les formes ou les traditions culinaires locales. Derrière cette grande diversité, les pizzaiolos partagent souvent les mêmes valeurs : l'amour du métier, le plaisir de transmettre un savoir-faire et l'envie de créer un moment de partage autour de la table.  Car dégustée à emporter, chez soi ou dans l'espace public, comme au restaurant, la pizza est aussi synonyme de convivialité et s'est ancrée dans les habitudes populaires. En France, chaque habitant en consomme en moyenne 10 kilos par an.  Comment expliquer un tel succès planétaire ? Quelles sont les différentes façons de préparer et de déguster la pizza à travers le monde ? La pizza peut-elle continuer à se réinventer sans perdre son identité ?  Avec :  • Anto Cocagne, « Le Chef Anto », cheffe à domicile, autrice de Mon Afrique – Produits phares, savoir-faire, recettes (Mango éditions, 2024) et fondatrice de Baraka by le Chef Anto, table et épicerie fine qui met en valeur le meilleur des saveurs africaines, située à Paris • Marthe Brejon, cheffe indépendante, pizzaiola • Regina Rose Manga, fondatrice de la pizzeria Les pizzas du feu de Dieu, à Libreville, au Gabon.    En fin d'émission, la chronique IA débat, de Thibault Matha. Alors que l'intelligence artificielle devient omniprésente dans notre quotidien et que son utilisation se démocratise, Thibault Matha interroge les outils, et analyse la pertinence de leurs réponses. Aujourd'hui, comment l'IA investit-elle les salles de classe ?     Programmation musicale :  ► Pino D'Angiò - Okay Okay  ► Na je - Falz, Oiza x Meyi, Firstklaz.  

Née dans le sud de l'Italie, la pizza a parcouru le monde jusqu'à devenir l'un des plats les plus consommés de la planète. Inscrit au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO depuis 2017, le savoir-faire du pizzaiolo napolitain repose sur des gestes longtemps transmis de manière orale, autour d'une recette simple et peu coûteuse. Accessible, généreuse, la pizza a su traverser les frontières tout en conservant un lien fort avec ses origines.  Au fil de ses voyages, elle n'a pourtant cessé de se réinventer. Des États-Unis à la Corée du Sud, de Madagascar au Danemark, chaque pays s'est approprié ce grand classique en jouant sur les ingrédients, les cuissons, les formes ou les traditions culinaires locales. Derrière cette grande diversité, les pizzaiolos partagent souvent les mêmes valeurs : l'amour du métier, le plaisir de transmettre un savoir-faire et l'envie de créer un moment de partage autour de la table.  Car dégustée à emporter, chez soi ou dans l'espace public, comme au restaurant, la pizza est aussi synonyme de convivialité et s'est ancrée dans les habitudes populaires. En France, chaque habitant en consomme en moyenne 10 kilos par an.  Comment expliquer un tel succès planétaire ? Quelles sont les différentes façons de préparer et de déguster la pizza à travers le monde ? La pizza peut-elle continuer à se réinventer sans perdre son identité ?  Avec :  • Anto Cocagne, « Le Chef Anto », cheffe à domicile, autrice de Mon Afrique – Produits phares, savoir-faire, recettes (Mango éditions, 2024) et fondatrice de Baraka by le Chef Anto, table et épicerie fine qui met en valeur le meilleur des saveurs africaines, située à Paris • Marthe Brejon, cheffe indépendante, pizzaiola • Regina Rose Manga, fondatrice de la pizzeria Les pizzas du feu de Dieu, à Libreville, au Gabon.    En fin d'émission, la chronique IA débat, de Thibault Matha. Alors que l'intelligence artificielle devient omniprésente dans notre quotidien et que son utilisation se démocratise, Thibault Matha interroge les outils, et analyse la pertinence de leurs réponses. Aujourd'hui, comment l'IA investit-elle les salles de classe ?     Programmation musicale :  ► Pino D'Angiò - Okay Okay  ► Na je - Falz, Oiza x Meyi, Firstklaz.  

In this special panel celebrating 60 years of Educational Theatre at NYU, moderator Adam D-F Stevens is joined by alumni and adjunct professors, Marissa Russo, Courtney J. Boddie, and Daryl Embry for a conversation about accessibility, belonging, student agency, institutional leadership, and the power of theater to meet the moment. From radically welcoming spaces and autism-friendly performances to Shakespeare in cafeterias and student-devised work, the panelists explore what happens when we expand our understanding of where theatre belongs, and who gets to make it. Together, they consider how educational theatre can continue to respond to crises, dismantle barriers, create joy, and build a more equitable future. People Mentioned Panelists & Moderator Adam D-F Stevens — Moderator, drama therapist, and doctoral student in NYU Educational Theatre. Marissa Russo — Theatre artist and practitioner specializing in accessibility. Courtney J. Boddie — Vice President of Education & School Engagement at New 42 and host of the Teaching Artistry Podcast. Daryl Embry — Theater artist, designer, educator, and Program Manager at the Arthur Miller Foundation References & Further Reading Organizations & Programs NYU Educational Theatre — The program celebrating its 60th anniversary and the home of the panel discussion. New 42 — The organization behind The New Victory Theater and arts education initiatives discussed by Courtney J. Boddie. The New Victory Theater — New York City's theater dedicated to kids and their families. The Arthur Miller Foundation — Arts education organization where Daryl Embry serves as Program Manager. Theatre Development Fund (TDF) — Referenced in connection with autism-friendly performances and theater accessibility. Resources Mentioned Teach with GIVE — A free resource developed by New Victory Theater, ArtsConnection and Community-Word Project, offering visual vocabulary and tools for educators working to create more inclusive and liberatory learning environments. Speak Up, Act Out — A New Victory arts education program centered on young people's voices and the social issues they want to address. Autism-Friendly Performances TDF Autism-Friendly Performances — Performances designed to create a more welcoming theater experience for autistic and neurodivergent audience members and their families. The panel's guiding principle: "Access is the norm, not the event." Shakespeare to Go NYU Shakespeare to Go — An outreach initiative that brings shortened Shakespeare productions directly into schools and nontraditional performance spaces. Programs & Practices Discussed Devising Theatre The panel explores how traditional models of devised theater can be adapted when working with students who communicate in nontraditional ways. Marissa Russo discusses the importance of taking time, using visual supports, and honoring student choices—even when those choices don't conform to adults' expectations. Accessible & Inclusive Theatre Topics include: Autism-friendly performances Visual vocabulary Communication devices Removing barriers to participation Making access part of everyday practice rather than a special event Expanding ideas about who can be a theater maker and who belongs in the audience Immersive Theatre The panel discusses the changing relationship between audience and performer and the growing interest in theatrical experiences that blur traditional boundaries between the two.

Traveling with a neurodivergent child can feel overwhelming for many families… especially when sensory needs, routines, mobility challenges, or accessibility concerns are involved. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with Teresa Roddy, an accessible travel specialist and occupational therapy assistant, to talk about how families can make travel feel more realistic, supportive, and enjoyable. Teresa shares how she helps families plan around real-life needs including sensory sensitivities, adaptive equipment, mobility accommodations, dietary restrictions, and communication supports. She also shares practical strategies families can use to reduce stress while traveling, including pacing vacations differently, preparing ahead of time, and building around a child's comfort needs rather than forcing packed schedules. This conversation is a reassuring reminder that meaningful family experiences are possible… and that families do not have to figure everything out alone. Topics Covered Sensory-friendly travel planning for autistic children Accessible travel accommodations and adaptive equipment Vacation strategies for families with disabilities How to reduce travel stress for neurodivergent children Comfort items and regulation support while traveling Why slowing down can improve family vacations Practical ways to prepare children before trips Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Accessible travel and sensory accommodations 06:50 How Teresa plans trips around family needs 10:15 Common barriers families face with travel 13:05 Tips for avoiding overstimulation while traveling 15:20 Final encouragement for families Memorable Quote "Sometimes slowing down… taking breaks… and building around your child's comfort needs can completely change the experience for the whole family." About the Guest Teresa Roddy is an accessible travel specialist and certified occupational therapy assistant with over 25 years of experience working with pediatric populations. Through Accessible Travel with Teresa, she helps families plan vacations that consider sensory needs, mobility accommodations, adaptive equipment, dietary restrictions, and accessibility support. Instagram: Accessible Travel with Teresa Instagram Facebook: Accessible Travel with Teresa Facebook Resources Mentioned Autism on the Seas About the Host Hosted by Brian Keene, occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming pediatric therapy company providing home-based occupational, speech, and physical therapy services throughout Arizona. Subscribe & Connect If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation. Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: Autism Family Resource Podcast Explore more resources for families at:  Pure Hearts Therapy

How long can you hold your bladder? If you're out and about in Edmonton, you might find out the hard way if you're caught without a public washroom nearby. Publicly accessible toilets are a big part of urban planning, but they can be challenging to implement. Reporter Liam Harrap took stock of Edmonton's public washrooms and looked into the city's plan to ensure everyone has a place to go when nature calls.

Dr. Rosy Boa of the Science of Slink podcast shares 10 key considerations for building a home pole space based on a decade of home training, emphasizing that a home setup will differ from a studio. She covers choosing reputable pole brands and safe installation (permanent vs. tension-mounted), proper placement under structural supports, using boards to distribute weight in plaster construction, checking tension with temperature swings, and shaking the pole before use. She discusses flooring choices for different styles, avoiding gaps that can catch toenails, and keeping cleaning tools nearby. Other topics include optional open wall space, storing alcohol/grip and towels, safety gear like mats and self-spotting bands, additional props (chairs, blocks, weights), airflow/humidity/temperature control, lighting options, music setup considerate of neighbors, and filming considerations like corner placement and fisheye lenses.Chapters:00:00 Home Pole Setup Intro01:05 Studio Versus Home Reality01:55 Pole05:43 Flooring07:39 Wall Space08:28 Storing essentials09:20 Safety equipment10:30 Props11:55 HVAC14:00 Lighting15:46 Music16:34 Filming17:48 Recap And Final Thoughts Iris Sparrow lighting tips: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcRKQnJhoX4/Want to work with me? Check out my virtual Science of Slink membership at ScienceOfSlink.com ⁠

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!The featured species in this episode is the White-throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax formosus).Sound Citations:Isain Contreras Rodríguez, XC530762. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/530762.Guillermo Funes, XC198353. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/198353.Oscar Campbell, XC278635. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/278635.Support the show

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

Earshot Podcasts app Info Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earshot-podcasts/id6770760602 Earshot is here: a podcast player built VoiceOver-first and shaped by the blind community. Follow, queue, and listen your way. Free for up to 10 shows. Earshot is a podcast player built accessibility-first. Every screen, button, and gesture works fully with VoiceOver, so blind and low-vision listeners get the same fast, complete experience as everyone else.

The Uncommon OT Series is officially celebrating five years!What began as a space to highlight occupational therapy beyond traditional roles has grown into a community of practitioners, students, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are expanding what OT practice can look like.In this special anniversary episode, I'm stepping behind the microphone to reflect on the podcast journey, the past year of professional growth, and the experiences that continue to shape me as an occupational therapist, educator, student, and podcast host.I also reflect on several meaningful milestones, including:My full-time work at Safe LandingReceiving the OTAC Media AwardAttending the WFOT Congress in Bangkok and meeting several previous podcast guests in personConnecting with innovative OT practitioners at the AOTA Annual ConferenceSupporting SnapSlide at the conference and stepping into another uncommon OT roleBeing recognized alongside members of the AOTA Innovative Entrepreneur Ad Hoc CommitteeContinuing my post-professional OTD journey at the University of MontanaPreparing to deliver the Barbara A. Rider Colloquium keynote at Western Michigan UniversityContinuing to grow The Uncommon OT Series and the community surrounding itMost importantly, this episode is a thank-you to every guest who has shared their story and every listener who has supported, recommended, and grown alongside the podcast.Five years later, the mission remains the same: to broaden perspectives, create visibility for uncommon career paths, and remind occupational therapy practitioners that there are many ways to use our skills and make an impact.After listening, please take a moment to:Subscribe or follow the podcast on your preferred listening platform Leave a rating or reviewShare the episode with an OT practitioner, student, educator, or colleagueTag The Uncommon OT Series when you share it on social mediaSend me your favorite episode, guest, or takeaway from the past five yearsEvery listen, share, review, and message helps more people discover the many possibilities within occupational therapy.Here's to the past five years—and to all the uncommon opportunities still ahead.As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsotTHANK YOU for LISTENING, FOLLOWING, DOWNLOADING, RATING, REVIEWING & SHARING “The Uncommon OT Series” Podcast with all your OTP friends and colleagues!Full Episodes and Q & A only available at:https://www.wholistic-transitions.com/the-uncommon-ot-seriesSign Up NOW for the Transitions OT Email List to Receive the FREE Updated List of Uncommon OT Practice Settingshttps://www.wholistic-transitions.com/transitionsotTo Add Your Profile to The Uncommon OT Directory:https://www.wholistic-transitions.com/requestFor Non-Traditional OT Practice Mentorship w/ Patricia:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeC3vI5OnK3mLrCXACEex-5ReO8uUVPo1EUXIi8FKO-FCfoEg/viewform

Discover how Barvox, a groundbreaking speech translation app, is giving people with speech differences the power to be heard in real time. Learn how it restores dignity, connection, and independence. This episode is supported by Pneuma Solutions. Creators of accessible tools like Remote Incident Manager and Scribe. Find out more at https://pneumasolutions.com/ Barvox is revolutionising accessible communication by “translating” the unique speech patterns of people with verbal challenges into clear, natural-sounding speech. In this conversation, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece speak with CEO and founder Dror Levy, co-founder Gill Epstein, speech therapist Orly Ziv-Maxim, and volunteer Samantha Cohen about how the app works, why it matters, and the lives it's already changing. From autism and ALS to Down syndrome and brain injury, Barvox allows people to build a personal speech dictionary, so their words and personality are expressed naturally—without the rigid and robotic tone of traditional AAC devices. The team shares the inspiring story of Barvox's creation, the emotional reactions of early users, and its potential to transform therapy, education, and daily life for those often left unheard. Relevant Links Barvox Official Website: https://bar-vox.com ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when we stop gripping so tightly to control, perfection, old expectations, and the belief that leaders should have every answer? Jerri and Jamie sit down with educator, leader, and author Glenn Robbins to explore the central idea behind his new book, Unclench Your Fist. Drawing on stories from history and his own leadership journey, Glenn shares practical lessons about trust, intention, and knowing when to let go.The conversation invites leaders, educators, and anyone who supports others to consider a deceptively simple question: What are you holding onto that may be holding you back? Sometimes leadership doesn't call for a tighter grip. It asks us to open our hands, make room for others, and release some of the pressure we put on ourselves.---ABOUT OUR GUESTGlenn Robbins is the proud Superintendent of the Brigantine Public School District in Brigantine, New Jersey. He has served as a public school superintendent in New Jersey since 2016. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he was a middle school principal, a high school assistant principal, a high school social studies teacher, and a high school varsity coach. He is also the best selling author of “Calm In The Chaos: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Successful School Leadership”, “I Won't Back Down: How Educators Can Turn Rejection Into Redirection”, and “Unclench Your Fist: The Leader's Guide To Making The Hard Call (And Surviving It).---SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

A diagnosis can change your life, but it does not have to decide what comes next. My guest Paul Bugeja has built a life shaped by curiosity, career change, travel, creativity, and a determination to keep moving forward. Paul lives with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, or FSHD, a condition he calls his “dark angel.” We talk about how disability has influenced his choices without defining them, why staying active matters to him, and how personal agency has helped him face uncertainty without becoming trapped by fear. Paul also shares his path from acting and writing into journalism and digital media, where he now works as a quizmaster. We explore disability advocacy, media accessibility, the role of AI in journalism, and the danger of losing critical thinking. Paul's story reminds us that resilience is not about denying challenges. It is about understanding them while continuing to choose how we live. Highlights: 01:10 – How moving often helped Paul learn to adapt. 12:15 – How a gym visit led to his FSHD diagnosis. 20:39 – Why disability gave Paul a stronger drive to live fully. 22:53 – How knowledge of his condition gave him more agency. 38:35 – Why accessible media still has room to improve. 45:57 – How staying present helps Paul manage worry and fear. About the Guest: Working as a quizmaster for a major media organisation isn't somewhere I could have predicted I'd end up professionally, but, then again, life has taken so many twists and turns it doesn't surprise me this is where I currently find myself. Despite early aspirations to be an actor, I completed a double degree in Arts and Commerce at the University of Melbourne, with the final year spent on exchange at UC Berkeley, California. On my return to Australia, not to be denied, the ever-persistent actor in me got me admission to the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts Drama School: the decade or so following saw me immersed in the challenging but exciting life of the struggling actor. This period was also the launching pad into studies in writing, editing, journalism and screenwriting, which I did as I worked in book publishing and wrote half a dozen books, even as I edged into the rapidly evolving professional world of content, digital marketing and journalism. Throughout this entire time, I've lived alongside and managed my “dark angel”—a diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy—which has only served to galvanise me further to live a life less ordinary along the road less travelled … And that has made all the difference. Ways to connect with Paul**:** LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/peebee/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:04 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Hi, everyone. I'd like to thank you once again for coming to another episode of Unstoppable Mindset. And if you're new to the podcast, we hope you enjoy our episode today. We're glad you're here wherever you may happen to be. Today we are communicating a long way away. We're communicating with Melbourne, Australia, to Paul Bugeja, and Paul is fondly known as a quizmaster. We're going to have to find out more about that, but he's had a lot of interest in acting and media and such things as that, and has had clearly a pretty adventurous life. And again, I'm sure we're going to hear a lot about a lot of that today. So, Paul, welcome to Unstoppable Mindset. We're really glad you're here. Paul Bugeja  01:44 Thank you for having me, Michael. Michael Hingson  01:46 So why don't we start? I love to do this with the early Paul, kind of growing up and how things all got started. If you remember back that far, or at least as far back as you remember, or what you were told anyway. Paul Bugeja  01:59 You know, pretty standard like childhood story for me. Grew up in the green leafy sort of suburbs of Melbourne. You know, did all the things that kids do in their growing up years. My my mother actually divorced my father quite young for me, so that was a little bit of a a critical sort of point for a child to sort of, you know, have to grapple with, but um, it was pretty smooth, and you know, um, it didn't really disrupt my childhood, except it meant that I moved around a lot when I was quite young. So I probably moved about seven or eight times by the time I was maybe eight years old. Um, but I think, in a way, that that that sort of has worked for me because it meant that even as a young child, I had to learn to adapt and change and evolve very quickly. Particularly when it came to meeting people, and you know, as a child, obviously making friends-that's one of the trickiest parts as a kid sometimes. So I think that actually stood me in good stead in in that regard, yeah. Michael Hingson  03:04 Well, I I didn't have to move a whole lot growing up. We moved from Chicago to California when I was five and stayed in the same house since college. I have moved a bunch of times, but those things happen. I understand what you're saying. I'm I'm used to it, but am am of the opinion that I'd rather not move again. It is a lot of work to move, and now also it's just me. My wife passed away two almost two and a half years ago, so I don't want to pack and move again. But yeah, well, we're in a house that we built, and and so we built it really around her because she's in a wheelchair her whole life. So it's an accessible house, but it's a very comfortable house. So I I have no complaints, and and the dog and the cat seem to like it as well. So we're here. Paul Bugeja  04:01 It's a win for everyone, and I think look, that's that's a really interesting. I had this very similar conversation with a friend yesterday about there's a time to put down roots and there's a time to be a you know a rolling stone, and and for some people that's at different times in their life, you know. So I I can understand why you would have chosen to find your comfy spot to settle into and enjoy. Michael Hingson  04:23 Well, and I have a good mortgage rate and all that, so yeah, we're happy with with things the way they are. And as long as the dog and the cat are happy, I can't complain a bit. Paul Bugeja  04:33 Excellent, excellent. Michael Hingson  04:34 But but now you're and and you you're not moving as much around anymore. Paul Bugeja  04:40 Sort of the opposite, actually. I think, like, to to go back to what we were originally discussing. Like, I think having moved so much as a younger person has meant I've lived a life that's almost constantly moving. Like, there certainly have been periods where I've lived for reasonably long periods in the one place, but particularly over the past. We maybe 10 to 12 years or so. I've moved like literally maybe 10 to 12 times. Like it's becoming, Michael Hingson  05:09 it Paul Bugeja  05:10 almost becomes a bit addictive. Sort of the ability to to be transportable when your professional life allows you and your personal life allows you as well. Michael Hingson  05:18 Yeah, I can understand that. For me, I don't want to go through all the rigors of packing and finding a new home and all that, so we're good. But but it it's okay because I can go anywhere from here, and so that works out pretty well. So I'm I'm content, and that that's the way it it should be. So we'll see how it all goes. But I'm glad that you did well, so you grew up, had kind of a normal life, even though you moved around a lot. Yeah, did all the things that that that kids do growing up, and so on. And where did you go to college, or did you? Paul Bugeja  05:53 Yeah, so I my original, I've I was a bit of a perpetual student for probably you know the first several decades as an adult, my original degree was from the University of Melbourne, which is one of the sort of larger universities in both Melbourne and Australia, and I did a double degree in arts and commerce. But you know, I had long wanted to be an actor, and so originally, like when I finished high school, my my intention was to audition for drama school. But my mother very wisely convinced me to go to university first, and then check that out. And if I didn't like it, then maybe audition for drama school a bit later on. And it was, as mothers can be on most occasions, very sagely advice from her, because the thing that she wasn't aware of was that even though I I definitely enjoyed the academic aspect of my studies at MLB Uni, it has a very strong theater department as well, and very big names have actually been through there and gone on to bigger and better things, namely Kate Blanchett. She was one of my colleagues back in the day. So you know, it was a it was a proving ground for talent. And so I did a lot of theater during my my studies at the University of Melbourne while completing the academic side as well. So I never quite lost that sort of underlying desire to maybe go on and and study acting and maybe do some acting. I actually completed the final year of my degree at Cal at UC Berkeley, which was an amazing experience, and sort of also launched me into the next part of my life. So that that was at a time when you know, like I think in a lot of ways, more and more students were traveling between countries to study. It was becoming a real thing to study overseas, so it was such an amazing experience to finish at Cal. Michael Hingson  07:48 So, do you keep in touch with Kate at Paul Bugeja  07:52 all? Haven't seen Kate in probably maybe 20 years or so. We kept in contact during the beginning of her career, of course, and then you know that life has taken her to such places that it's almost impossible to keep Michael Hingson  08:07 touch, right? Paul Bugeja  08:08 That's right. But you know, I dare say, if I think she's probably maintained the sort of personality and character that she had when I knew her, which would mean that if I bumped into her on the street and I said hello and gave her a bit of a nudge about where we knew each other from. She'd be the first one to lean into that and and you know be quite happy to reminisce on old times as you know she's not an aloof sort of person. I think that's my feel about her, even given her amazing success. Michael Hingson  08:37 I've never had that impression of her either, so I I'm with you. Well, that's pretty cool. What What took you to Berkeley for your last year? Paul Bugeja  08:45 Yeah, so I actually started working during my studies on campus at the university, and I worked in the international student office. So I was dealing with a lot of incoming study abroad and exchange students, which meant I began to have a real desire to do the same thing myself, and initially I was looking at a couple of other universities like Georgetown. I think NYU was one of the options, and I actually met a guy from Cal who was like, "You should come to Berkeley and study. It's an amazing institution. You'll love California. It's so similar to Australia, and I'd I'd I'd actually been to California before my first overseas trip when I was 19, and so I had a taste of California already. So initially, I was looking at the whole sort of Cal system, the whole you know UC system. So I looked at UCLA, UC San UCSJ maybe and anyway yeah and and then I fell and I fell in Berkeley as the final one just because what a great city to live outside of you know San Francisco's such a beautiful city and and yeah so I ended up spending an entire year there which was just like you know life defining. Michael Hingson  09:57 What'd your mom think of that? Paul Bugeja  10:00 Yeah, typical of mum's. There was a lot of tears at the airport, but you know, and this was you know like at a time when social media was really not even happening, so it was all about the phone calls regularly. But she was happy. She's I'm very lucky in that, even though I'm an only child, mum's not a clingy a clingy mum, you know, she has always encouraged me to just go out and do everything that I possibly can, and and she would never, she would rarely, you know, get get in the way of me living out my life and my dreams. Michael Hingson  10:33 Do you still? Is she still here? Paul Bugeja  10:35 She is. Yep, she's um 78, so she's you know I'm still a youngish older person, and even though we don't, we sort of you know like see each other as much as maybe I'd like because we don't live in the same place. You know, we we talk every two days or so on the phone, and I stay in regular contact. And yeah, it's it's still a very very strong relationship. Michael Hingson  10:56 That's cool. That that's a good thing though. So you you went to Berkeley. You were here. You were out here in California for a year, and then what happened? Paul Bugeja  11:05 Well, I actually I bounced back to Australia, feeling very encouraged to to follow my acting pursuits because I I did a couple of shows at when I was at Cal. I did one drama class as well in the drama department, you know, made some lifetime friendships and and felt very connected to myself as an actor again. And so, even though originally my plans were to apply to become a diplomat through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the acting thing was a bit too strong. So I came back and and felt a little not torn, but certainly I had to I had to weigh up the competing desire to want to be an actor against the fact that I had a great degree that I could maybe go on and do something completely different with. So in fact, I spent a year thinking about that and ended up quite on a different track and enrolled in a master's of environmental studies, which you know was something that interested me definitely. And but decided that I would, in addition to drama school as well, which I did do, and I got into. So I did one year of that master's, and then I went on to study at the Victorian College of the Arts, which is one of the big three drama schools in Australia, and so I finally got to that took that circuitous route to drama school, despite my mum's earlier advice, and she was happy because you know I got there under my own auspices in terms of I'd made a decision as an adult to finally get there, rather than maybe as an excited teenager who you know could obviously do so many things, and so I had both the academic degree, and now I was into a program that I'd always wanted to sort of be involved with. Michael Hingson  12:49 Right. Well, and and that that's fine. That makes sense. Yes. So I'm not sure when to bring this up. So I'll bring it up now. Sure. Tell us about your dark angel. Paul Bugeja  13:01 Yeah, absolutely. So probably in my in my in my late 20s, I started working at a university in back at University of Melbourne. Actually, my old alma mater, and by then, you know, I was actually you know sort of I I was doing some acting, you know, some professional acting, not a lot of it, but enough to sort of be remain interested. So I needed a part time job on the side, you know, to to keep it going as most actors do. And when I started working at the university, I became very interested in fitness as well. I joined a gym and started going to the gym there and made some sort of friends with the local personal trainers. And one day I was doing some training and on one of the big, big sort of bouncy medicine balls that you can sit on for balance and training work, and one of the instructors came up to me and said, "Do you realize that your scapular wings? And I was firstly thinking, "Well, what the hell is my scapular? And then I sort of made sense that it was my shoulders, you know. And and I said, "What do you mean? He said, "Well, when you do upper body workouts, your scapula has quite a lot of movement in it, and it's quite visible. Now, I've always been a very thin person, like I've always sort of been. We've joked about being a tall, skinny dude, you know, and and so I I'd never thought anything about maybe the fact that my my shoulder blades were a bit more prominent. I figured that was because I was a slim person, you know. Of course, so he recommended I see a physiotherapist, and I did. I saw a sports physio in case I'd injured myself or there was some underlying issue. After a couple of sessions with a sports physio. I was referred to a neurologist because the sports physio had some inklings about it may be being a neurological condition potentially of some kind, but had no idea what it might be. And this is when I guess my dark angel first really. Began alerting me to its presence in the background of my life, and I'll explain why I call it my dark angel in a moment. Yeah, the neurologist and I did some tests, and I went in for a biopsy, a muscle biopsy, and I was diagnosed with one of the variants of muscular dystrophy, which is fascioscapiohumeral muscular dystrophy, so it affects the face, the humerus, and the scapula, but in general affects the muscles across the body. It's a degenerative neuromuscular disease. It's not that common; about one in 8000 have it. So you know, enough people have it that it's out there. Some people live with live with it their entire lives and don't know they have it for the reasons that I've just sort of elaborated on, which are it can it can be there but be so minor that you just think it's because you're a slim person or you don't have much you don't go to the gym so you don't work out so your muscles aren't growing or whatever. So yeah, and I was not that thrown by it at the time. It was it was in our family, so it wasn't that much of a surprise to me that maybe I had it. Given that another family member, even though they're quite distant on the family tree for me, also had it, and yeah, I began to just think about you know like what life would be like with this condition, and you know began to have regular sort of checks with the neurologist and you know other sort of allied health professionals around how to manage that. Luckily, it was very my and still is very mild in terms of how severe that it can be. But as I sort of began thinking more about my professional life. I I actually took on a an editing and writing degree and a screenwriting degree as I started to move away from acting because I figured I am a creative person. I love writing and I want to improve my craft. I was interested in journalism as well and I could do that as part of this degree. Paul Bugeja  16:58 So I started studying and that then led to me actually writing a couple of books, four or five books, working as an editor, and then at one point I began thinking, I think I need to write my own book about my journey with this condition, or you know, disability, whatever you want to call it. And I had watched the TV show Dexter, which you may or may not have watched. Yep, and Dexter talks about his dark passenger. You know, as and that's the the sort of I mean, it's a weird correlation. I know in some ways, but that's the serial killer in him. That's his dark passenger. But it really resonated as um this idea of there being this sort of passenger in your life. You know, for whatever reason, whatever it is, and I didn't obviously want to steal that sort of figurative term, but I began thinking about a dark angel instead because, for me, it's a double thing. I mean, I was whatever Catholic. I'm not a practicing Catholic anymore, but you know, the notions of angels around us is something you know we all sort of think about, I guess. But the notion of my scapular wing and those being wings as well was very sort of resonated with me, and so I began feeling that for me my entire life this dark angel had been somewhere in the background, very very far in the background to the point where I wasn't even really aware of that dark angel, and then of course when the diagnosis came along, the dark angel began to make its presence more known, and yeah, and and then over time, I'm very, I live with, you know, like anyone with any sort of disability or chronic medical condition, like you live with it 24/7, and some days it's more of a burden, other days you don't not even aware of it, but you have to learn to live with it, and and so I now feel like I have this sort of dance with the dark angel, I like to call it, who sometimes is more present in my life and sometimes much more in the background. Michael Hingson  18:53 So, what kinds of things does it sort of limit you, or what what do you have to do to to make sure you don't let it get too much of a control over you. Paul Bugeja  19:04 Sure. So for me, the biggest thing I ever did was start going to the gym. You know, I did that just out of pure practicality because there was a gym on campus. It was very easy to join it. It was very close to go to on my lunch break, and so I've now maintained a really rigorous gym schedule, even though my upper body strength is quite weak and limited. I've been able to, I think, the my GP and say allied healthcare professionals like physios and exercise physiologists and occupational therapists have all commented that my gym program is one of the things that may you know this it's a may but may have prevented the condition progressing more severely than it has. So staying fit has been really important. I think by nature, I like to call myself a pragmatic optimist or optimistic pragmatist. By nature, I'm a practical person. I sort of feel as though, unlike I mean, look, everyone manages the news of some sort of health situation differently. You know, some people it can lay low, and I understand why because it can be very confronting, and every condition has a different set of limitations, like you know, it can be quite severe for some people. Like my my cousin had a different form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which meant that he was in a wheelchair from the age of five and died at the age of 28. So you know, like like in my case, I feel blessed on some level that my condition is slowly deteriorating, but I do think that I'm lucky that I have enough of a practical and positive attitude about not letting it. I don't call, I never ignore it or or deny it, but I call about. I just resist it. The resistance is there. Like I I push back against it. So mentally, I try to stay positive physically. I try to stay healthy, but you know it does limit me. I have part of the condition. I have something called foot drop, which means that my feet catch a lot as I walk. So I trip a lot. So I I have damaged elbows and knees a lot because of that. So as a consequence, I have to be conscious when I walk. It's not just a. It's not like for most people, walking is an unconscious action. Of course, for me, it's a conscious action to ensure that I trip less. And of course, as I get older, tripping becomes a thing as you get older anyway, because you know your muscle tone changes and you know all kinds of things. So you know, it's about almost in a way you have to become. You do have to be aware of it all the time, and you have to manage it all the time. But that doesn't mean it has to become a burden. I think in many ways it's pushed me the other way, which is it's made me have a lust for life. It's made me want to do more. It's it's probably pushed me to be more nomadic while I can be, just in case there's a point where I can't be, and that sounds a little bit sad, and I mean probably in some ways, but I see that as a positive. Like a really small example I can give you is whenever I visit my mum, like I don't drive, so I use public transport like trains and busses and and the like. And if I catch a train to to go visit my mum, she always insists I'll come and pick you up at the at the train station, rather than you walk to my place, and I insist every time I'm going to walk because while I can walk, I want to walk. You know, so I don't. It's not. I reject. I don't reject her kindness, and I understand it. But it's me saying to the dark angel, "No, I will. Does she? Michael Hingson  22:36 Does she understand Paul Bugeja  22:38 it? I think so on some level, but she still Michael Hingson  22:41 wants to come and get you. Of course, Paul Bugeja  22:43 she does. Of course, there can be the tiniest trickle of rain, and she's like, "Oh, you can't walk in that rain. You know, I've got an umbrella, mum. No, no, no. You know, it's all that stuff. Um, it's it's delightful of her, and I'm glad, and I'll always expect the offer in those situations. But um, yeah, no, she um, you know, unfortunately, and I think a lot of parents will who pass on genetic conditions because this is a genetically passed on condition for me. She feels a sense of guilt about you know having passed on through her line, and so I think she we've talked about it a few times, and it's not a heavy weight on her shoulders, but she has a sense of it. Yeah. Michael Hingson  23:20 Well, I I appreciate that. What was it like when you first got the diagnosis? Though, did it did did it depress you? Did it kind of knock you on your ear in in any way, or did you really decide almost right from the beginning? Okay, this is here, but I can deal with Paul Bugeja  23:37 it. Yeah, it look, you know. So I'm writing a book about this, as I was saying at the moment, and in the in the chapter of the book that I'm writing, I think I wrote something along the lines of life just moved on. You know, like there was no discernible difference. Like I didn't feel physically any difference because there was no physical difference. But for me, I mean, you know, I I work in the media and I've worked in the knowledge industries of any kind for quite some time. Knowledge is power, you know. And and I would rather know about something and then be able to to to have some agency about how to act on it than to bury my head in the sand. Or, but by the same token, I can understand that knowledge can really throw some people. And you know, I have a friend, for example, who I was diagnosed with MS, and that can be an awful condition to be diagnosed with because it can progress very quickly. And for her, the knowledge wasn't great. You know, it's it's been a very big challenge for her. But you know, five years on, now that she has much more knowledge about it because she's had to live with it, she's going the opposite way. So you know, everyone is different, but for me, the knowledge actually catapulted me forward rather than weighed me down. Michael Hingson  24:46 Well, that was a choice that you had to make, or that you got to make, and you made it. And you're you're choosing to move forward with life, which is great. Paul Bugeja  24:55 Yeah, yeah. I feel lucky. As I said, I know. Everyone can can make that choice because of their own set of circumstances, and I do feel lucky about some of my circumstances. And you know, so I don't think everyone can necessarily be that practical or optimistic about things. But I encourage people to you know take a breath and and try and sit with whatever it is that they have to manage at any particular time, because you know people. A lot of people have a lot heavier challenges than I do, and they meet them as well. So it's possible to meet your challenges, I think, even if it limits you still. Michael Hingson  25:36 Well, so it's something that you live with, and so on. And I appreciate that. What what makes you get out of bed every day and and move forward, or is that what what you've been describing? Paul Bugeja  25:48 Look, I think I mean you know I'm I'm an I'm a lark, so I'm at about 430 in the morning, and I'm a Monday person, and I had this conversation with someone just this past Monday at the gym who you know dragged herself into the gym, and she was you know can't be bothered. I hate Mondays so much, you know, blah blah blah. And I get all that, you know. People love their weekends and a break. I love, I love the beginning of a day, and I and I have no problems getting up because I love the thought of there being so much in front of me, you know. And and even as as I grow older, and and you know, life obviously begins to go into a different phase. I still feel there's so much ahead, and and and it sounds a little bit Pollyanna of me, maybe, and a little bit overly optimistic, and a little bit Hollywood. But you know, I feel so hungry for life, and and even though that doesn't mean my life is perfect by any means, and that every day is perfect, and that there are some days that are are challenging. I face that all the time, as do we all in our different ways. But I I just feel so eager for the things that I mean. I have a great professional life, I have a great personal life, I have great friends, I have a good family. You know, my health is fine given the situation. Doesn't mean it's perfect, like I just said. But I don't have much to complain about, really. So, really, getting up is each day is is not a hard thing for me. It's it's it's a joy most days. Michael Hingson  27:15 So, are you married? Paul Bugeja  27:17 No, single. And this is, and I often frame conversations with this because sometimes my friends say to me, "Gosh, you have a great life, and I say, "Yeah, but I chose to be single, to not have children, and to not have pets-the three big things that change the course of your life sometimes in a good way, quite often. But also, I have more choices ahead of me because I am single and childless and petless, you know. Michael Hingson  27:42 Yep. Paul Bugeja  27:43 But you know, I don't. I'm not. I don't. I don't feel. I feel like I could have made other choices around this, of course. And I don't think there is a right or a wrong choice. It's just you have to find the right choice for you, especially when it comes to these big life choices. Michael Hingson  27:59 Well, you know, and when I got married, my wife and I had discussions about children, and she felt that she didn't want to have a child because she was in a wheelchair, and she felt in her specific situation, it would have been a lot harder on the body, and she would have been in bed a whole lot during a pregnancy, and she was afraid she would lose a lot of the the upper body strength and so on that she had. And my belief was that was her choice to make, and so we we both decided that we didn't want children. We would very happily entertain our nieces and nephews and throw them out of the house at the end of the day and send them home, which worked out really well. Paul Bugeja  28:49 I can I can understand that choice, and I I certainly I always thought I would be a father to be to be honest about that. When I was in my late teens and early 20s, it was forefront of my mind. Even though I had all these other adventures planned, and I had a couple of opportunities, actually, probably in my 30s, where I could have chosen to go down that road. And yeah, around the time I was diagnosed, I began thinking what that might mean. Like, and I began to not fear passing on my my FSHD to my potential children, but because often it passes through the female to the male, so it's less likely to pass through me. But if I had a female child, I might have passed it on genetically to her, who then passed it on to my grandchild. And not that that should stop anyone ever wanting children, but to your point and and the way you and your wife discuss the situation, I I made a conscious decision that probably given the life choices I was making around my career as well and other and personal life, it might not be the best choice. So yeah, I can understand where where. If Speaker 1  30:04 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson  30:36 So, in in your life, what is one of the well? What would be the greatest thing in your life, personal or professional, that you've experienced so far? Paul Bugeja  30:47 The greatest thing, yeah, it's a it's a great question. That's a Michael Hingson  30:52 toughie because there are probably several. Paul Bugeja  30:54 Yeah, no, there are, there are. I mean, you know, I think, and this will seem a little sort of not so great. I mean, as in not great. Sorry, but I think the the first job in journalism that I got, which was working for the Guardian, the Australian Mars said version of the Guardian, that was pretty amazing for me because I had I had thought, and it wasn't as a journalist. It was as a like a community sort of an audience sort of person, basically. So I wasn't writing and I wasn't generating content, but just to be finally in a media organization after probably 10 or 15 years of always thinking, God, I'd love to work in the media. I'm a real news hound. I love news. I love current affairs, and even though for some it was just getting a job, for me it was taking a step into something that I had thought about for a while, and finally, and you know, working for a really reputable and very well known masthead as well, that had a lot of credibility. So that was pretty exciting, and and that sort of set me on the path of, I think this is where I will stay now if I can. Even though, as you would know, the media is under a lot of pressure to sort of evolve with a lot of external threats to the way it works and and you know staying financially viable. So I've sort of put myself into a very hot pot, and I hope I'm not the frog that jumps out. But I don't think I will be. I think I've managed to forge a bit of a career now that will keep me going. So yeah, it's not a a life like sort of fireworks sort of moment, but it was a it was certainly the day that I got the phone call saying we'd we'd love you to come and join us was was you know very similar to that? I got the phone call from drama school saying you got into drama school. It was a real like everything felt lifted. You know the whole I felt like I was floating that day. Michael Hingson  32:52 Yeah, I'm with you. So what other kinds of jobs then did you progress to over time? Paul Bugeja  32:59 Yeah, so because because I was pursuing acting for for quite some time, probably for about 10 to 15 years, really. You know, I had to do what most actors do, which is work a lot of other jobs. You know, like you just have to. The work is never constant, even for the for the biggest actors in the world. You know, I mean, most of them obviously work constantly, but you know, like to be a working actor is is never let anyone say that being an actor is not a real job. It's a really hard job, you know. And so, I I worked for a long time in casual jobs. I worked in a lot of theaters in in like the sort of the ticketing sort of area of of theaters. So I worked at both the Sydney Opera House and the Victorian Art Center, two big theater. You would know the Sydney Opera House, obviously, but yeah, Victoria Arts Center is another big theater organization in Australia. And while I was doing that, I began doing some freelance editing as a book editor. This was where I really began getting interested in content and copy, and and I had the part-time job at the university while I was studying and sort of doing all these other casual things and acting, and a role came up working in digital sort of content with a large betting agency. So you know, sports betting, which is very big in Australia, and it was managing their blog, their sports blog. So lots of content about what's happening in all the different sports, but you know, sort of a marketing slash copy role. But it was my first foray into digital content, you know, and this was at a time when it was really starting to amp up, and that therefore, you know, made me really think much more about journalism and and wanting to pursue that. So that was sort of the springboard into working in digital marketing, working as a sub editor, and then sort of finally landing this role at the Guardian, which didn't last super long, unfortunately, because I was completing a master's in publishing and communications at the time, and discovered that I. I'd left I'd left Melbourne to move to Sydney to work in the role and had two subjects left and I'd been told by the university that I could complete them in Sydney, and then I was told by an administrator that that was not possible, so I had to leave my job at the Guardian to go back to Melbourne to finish the masters, which was fine to do, and I kept doing other casual kind of jobs and you know contract roles. Well, I did that, but it meant leaving the Guardian, which was a bit disappointing. But it meant I got my masters, which was really critical because again, that was more of a springboard onwards. In fact, I, as part of my masters, I went to China and did a an intensive class in Shanghai, and from that, got offered a role in China, in Shanghai, with a with a Chinese media company that that produced content for for the very big expat community in Shanghai, and I was about to leave to go to Shanghai to take up the role, and you'll you'll probably will have a wry smile, which was February 2020, and fortunately, not long after that, everything kind of went pear-shaped with COVID, and so had to. I mean, it's sort of lucky in a way because Shanghai had a pretty awful time during COVID, where it was a very strict lockdown. So I probably dodged a bit of a COVID bullet in that regard, even though Australia had its own share of lockdowns. But yeah, so that sort of threw a bit of a spanner in the works of what looked like the next part of my media career. But then, of course, you know, I'm a I'm a fatalist. I I run with fate. I I don't push back against the things that sort of maybe look like negatives or or take us off our path. Paul Bugeja  36:38 And I just feel like it's another another fork in the path that takes us on a on a route that will hopefully get us to where we were meant to be, and not taking that role meant, of course, about a year later, I saw the job with Stuff, which is the New Zealand media company that I currently work for, and that was the middle of 2021. It was based in Auckland. We were still in the middle of COVID, but I applied anyway because why not? And yeah, they offered me the role pending the borders opening, effectively. And luckily for me, there was a two-week window where New Zealand and Australia thought things were going to go okay, and the borders opened, and I jumped on the first flight out and got myself to Auckland, and then I started my current job, or actually a different version of my current job with stuff. Michael Hingson  37:27 And what is your your current job? Paul Bugeja  37:30 So I am currently I create digital content for stuff for stuff digital, as we're called now. I mostly create trivia quizzes, so fun daily quizzes that we have a very very dedicated audience for. People love a quiz. I also create a word puzzle called the Hard Word, which is an anagram kind of puzzle. I create that every day. I create a news quiz for them. I also help manage the community, the online community that interacts with with us as another part of my role, which is the role that I originally went to New Zealand for, but as a full time gig, and now it's just sort of part of my my role. So yeah, I am a quizmaster. I love it. I had previously worked in television quiz shows during my time in Australia when I was juggling other stuff, so I had a bit of a background in in quiz question writing and quiz research and verifying, and so I'm now really in such a wonderful job. But I always like to be very clear about this to people because it sounds like the best job in the world. Wow, sitting and making cool quizzes every day-it's a really involved job, and it it takes a lot of kind of like time to research and put together these quizzes because you know you're trying to please a very broad audience of from you know 15 year olds to 75 year olds. So you know, it's it's a it's a very involved job, even if it's a fun job, and so it does, you know, it it does still have a very critical kind of like professional aspect to it, even though it sounds like to some of my friends and and people who learn about it the best job in the world. Michael Hingson  39:17 Well, I'm sure it's a great job, but it is a clearly a challenging job. Have you ever encountered people who talk to you about making your your quizzes or trying to work with staff to make quizzes and some of the things they do more accessible? So, like people who are blind can solve the quizzes or work the quizzes and use screen readers and so on to do the same things that others do. Paul Bugeja  39:45 Excellent point. So yeah, I feel quite often when I'm making my quizzes that clearly they are for an audience that can access them very easily. You know, as opposed to an audience that might need assistance to access. Them and you know we do the the the basic stuff as we you know you must you know um like you know putting an alt tag so that um you know people who maybe are but are able to to use to access the quiz as a as a an audio rather than a video rather than a written um quiz but you know, I think you're right. And look, to be fair, I think you know the way that the media is going. The media is going very video oriented now, anyway. I think, which is a brilliant thing for people who do need have some access, because you know, with the video, of course, a video quiz, there'll be audio as well as visual, as well as the written word potentially. So there's a way that covers off all the bases, you know, or you know, many of the bases anyway. At the moment, you know, we are starting to bring in some minor changes, but I think going forward, it's pretty critical because you know the world is very aware that people do have some limitations in the way that they can access, especially digital content, and even though there are a lot of great forms of software that you can use to to make like your your life less limited by whatever you know sort of limitation you may have, it still isn't as good as it can be. And and I think certainly as someone with a disability, I'm an advocate for disability. You know, I'm on the board of a major disability organization in Australia. I'm on an engagement advisory committee for the same organization. I'm very pro and very much an advocate for ensuring that anyone with any form of disability can access and have as as great a life as possible, as untrammeled. I'm not untrammeled. That's the wrong word. As as as you know, as a life that has no barricades to them, basically. Michael Hingson  41:49 Well, the the reality is that crossword puzzles, for example, can be made accessible. Yep. And of course, I wouldn't expect the organization to suddenly produce Braille puzzles, but there are there are still ways Speaker 2  42:11 to do it Michael Hingson  42:11 to create audio, for example, kinds of things. And you mentioned the the value of video that only works if people truly put the appropriate descriptions in in audio form, the video, which a lot of people don't do, which is unfortunate, but it is possible to make to make them more accessible than they are. Paul Bugeja  42:36 Yeah, but it is a but it is a it is Michael Hingson  42:38 a challenge, and I hope that over time more more kinds of things will be accessible. I get the New York Times online, and a lot of what they do isn't nearly as accessible as it should be, and I can see how it it could be made more Accessible, but they haven't just been really willing to do it. And and ironically, a lot of the media has been one of the places where access has has truly not been addressed nearly like it it should be. And and the the result of that is that there are problems, and of course they say, well, things change so fast. They they do, except that it's all about coding and it's all about understanding programming and coding. And if you do it right, and if you know it, you can keep up either way. But you know, people don't necessarily do that. Paul Bugeja  43:38 Yeah, look, I agree, and I think you know. Look, without I'm not going to become a defender of the media, even though I'm part of it. But I think they definitely can do better as a as an entire sort of profession. I think that the tricky thing for the media at the moment is, I mean, you look at what happened this week. You know, 300 reporters, you know, sacked at the Washington Post. You know the media is under a lot of pressure to be financial, and that's not a great defense against not being accessible, mind you. But their mind is on survival at the moment, and that's an unfortunate thing because it means that they can't do the stuff that would actually benefit everyone, you know, their entire audience. So, not to defend it, but that's that's the only sort of rationale I can think of as to why they're not doing more. But that shouldn't stop them trying. That shouldn't stop them trying. Michael Hingson  44:32 Well, and I think that's really the issue: is that people do need to try, and people need to make an effort. And if they would, it would help a lot more than than it does today. Paul Bugeja  44:43 Agreed. Michael Hingson  44:44 So, if you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? Paul Bugeja  44:47 Not very much. Like I really love my life. You know, I I I even and this will sound quite odd. I even probably wouldn't change having a disability. You know, like it it who I am. It's it's in my. You know, it's it's so it's in my DNA. Like you can't get any deeper into someone than their DNA. You know, like of course I'd rather not have this, but it's it it it doesn't as we've discussed. It doesn't stop me. It doesn't limit me. It just modifies my life on the edges. It's Michael Hingson  45:16 just it's just part of you. Paul Bugeja  45:18 That's exactly right. And so I have to embrace that. You know, as you know, does anyone with any sort of situation that is slightly left of you know what people might call you know normal or ordinary, you know? And I, I always say I try to live my life less ordinary, you know, and and I think it's that attitude which really stands me in good stead because when you choose like I like as we discussed earlier, I'm in a position where I can make different choices to people who do have a partner, or do have kids, or do have a massive mortgage, or do have whatever you know job that keeps them in one place. But you know, you know the old saying about you make your own luck, right? And circumstance does change things definitely, and some circumstances are outside of our control. For example, getting having a genetic disability is outside of my control, but you know you do make your own luck as well. And I sort of feel that I am so about agency, and I'm so about you know like taking responsibility for your actions that I feel that everything about my life is because of the choices that I've made, and I want to own that. So you know why would I want to change any of that? In terms of, if I want to change it, then I will change it. So I think I have a great life. I'm healthy. I'm happy. I've got a you know like I was saying earlier, I have great friends, a good family, a great job. I'm able to you know like talk to people like this about things and and and like it's yeah life's pretty life's pretty good for me. Um, you know, there are things about the world I'd like to change, like as would we all, you know, like, um, but those things we can only sort of change on the edges, and I do that as much as I can as well. So, well, there are things that we don't Michael Hingson  46:54 have control over, and and if we worry about them, that's just going to cause us grief. It's not going to bother others. Paul Bugeja  47:01 No, no worries. Worry. I mean, I worry about something. Of course, I do. We all do. But you know, eventually, I manage to bat most of my worries away because I realize, as you said, it's usually something that is out of my control. It's funny when I talk to my actor friends, and speaking for myself, of course, you know, actors have to rehearse. You know, we rehearse favorite. You know, you rehearse for roles and whatever, and that sometimes for me has meant that I tend to rehearse things prior to you know the situation. So it means that my mind goes at 100 miles an hour about a lot of things, and that can lead to anxiety and worry. You know because you overthink, you worry about a situation that hasn't even occurred yet. You're thinking, not over. Well, that's exactly right. That's exactly right. So, you know, I think the the biggest lesson I've probably taken as well from my diagnosis and and the the thing I committed to this year a little bit as a part of my New Year's resolution or whatever you want to call it is to just be as present as I can. You know, like to live in this moment right now. That doesn't mean I don't have an eye to the future, and and I don't make plans, and I don't am not excited about the future. But I'm I'm trying to be as present as I can because if you're present, then all then all this worry disappears in a way because you just can only deal with with with what's right in front of you. Michael Hingson  48:18 Right. Do you have any regrets? Paul Bugeja  48:22 Um, not really. I mean, you know, like there've been a few moments in my life. So, for example, I can I can name a few things. Like when I was in my early 30s, I entered the the diversity visa program, which is the green card lottery in America. Yeah, and I I got it. I got a green card, you know, and so I was all ready to move to the states back in the late 90. Oh no, when was it? Yeah, the late 90s. Yeah, yeah, um, early noughties, and I got into the writing editing course in Australia. So I was really enjoying that. I was doing some acting and some paid acting work, and so I had to. I had a moment where I was like, "Well, do I really want to take up this green card off and become a resident of America? I have lived there before when I studied. I travel there regularly to see my friends, you know. And so I had this crunch time. It was a sliding doors moment. I I did visit a few times. I spent a bit of time in the states, and then I eventually dropped the green card. Now, occasionally, I look back on that and think, "Was that a silly thing to do with what would have opened up to me had I moved to the states? You know, like would my acting career have taken off? Would I have ended up working for the New York Times? Look, whatever it is. So there's a sense of regret about it, but it's such a faint shade of regret that it doesn't it doesn't hold me back. You know, I don't want to be held back by anything in my life. And I think, for me, regrets can hold you back too much. You know, oh yeah, Michael Hingson  49:49 yeah. Oh, absolutely. Well, and and it seems to me that that it's one of those things that could have gone either way, as you said, a sliding door moment. I think that's a really interesting way to put it. But but the fact of the matter is, you made a choice. You're happy with the choice, and you may or may not have been as happy with the choice if you had moved to America. But you wouldn't have experienced a lot of the things that you have experienced. So it's okay. Paul Bugeja  50:14 That's exactly right. That's exactly right. So even you know occasional relationships that went awry, or you know what else? Gosh, what if I stay pursue my career as an actor? There are always going to be what ifs with life, you know, and it's the what ifs that tend to cause us regret. I think, and Michael Hingson  50:29 well, and and cause us so much fear. Paul Bugeja  50:32 That's exactly right. And regret and fear should be the same word, effectively, because that's all that's playing. And if you can find a way to manage that as best you can, and and look. I always say I try to to look down at my feet on the ground to see where I am, and to look forward to see where I'm going, rather than look back where I've come from. And look, we can learn a lot from where we've come from. And in fact, the book that I'm writing is almost like a detective novel, where I track back through my life to see if I can see moments where I might have known that I had FSHD much earlier, so in that regard, I do look backwards. You know, I'm happy to to to have a critical eye on the past and to learn from it. You know, but I don't ever want it to drag me back to it. I'm always looking to be pulled forward. Michael Hingson  51:18 Well, that's the operative part, right? There's nothing wrong with looking back and and learning from what you've experienced, and and more people should should do more of that. It seems to me, but Paul Bugeja  51:29 oh yeah, let's. That's a much longer conversation, isn't it? It Michael Hingson  51:32 is. Who's been the most most influential person in your life, and why? Paul Bugeja  51:38 Yep. Michael Hingson  51:40 Besides Kate Blanchett, but that's another yeah, Paul Bugeja  51:42 of course, very influential, Kate. If you're listening, if she is, I hope she'll Michael Hingson  51:47 reach out. I'd love to have her on the podcast. But anyway, you Paul Bugeja  51:50 never know, my friend. You never know. Look, I mean, it's it's a hard question because, but it's a good question. I mean, there have been so many influences in my life, you know, and and I don't want to step on toes by not naming people in a way, but you know, for one one really influential person who has given me, you know, I have a friend who's a film journalist actually, and has written, you know, a lot mostly about the production side of the industry rather than film reviews, and I feel she only came into my life about maybe 10 or 12 years ago. So she's a relatively new friend, but a very dear friend. And I think I did an internship at a magazine that she worked for, and she was the the editor of at the time, and I think she had a really great influence on my life because she made me realize that I definitely wanted to pursue a career in the media. That I was done with journalism. That working in the media was exciting and interesting. You know, she made sure she pushed me in a lot of ways that I might not have been pushed otherwise, and she's remained a really dear and constant president in my life ever since. So yeah, I really feel like her coming into my life at that particular moment really was like critical in a lot of ways. But you know, she was one of many that have that have definitely given me great advice, or have been very supportive, or have just been there for me. So, yeah, big call out to her. She's she was being wonderful. Michael Hingson  53:29 Do you think that if you had never been diagnosed with or ever had FSHD, that your your job and your careers would have gone differently, or do you think that this was just a natural progression and FSHD is there, but it didn't really dictate what you did. Paul Bugeja  53:46 I think because of my approach to this situation, which is it's there, but it's not going to stop me. I think that look clearly, it's a physical condition, so it does limit me a little bit physically. So, like, I was never going to be like for for instance even with acting you know it did limit me a little bit with acting like there were certain things that like I can't do a headstand you know and I know that's a really a small thing but like in in drama classes there was I remember one class particularly always asked to do a headstand and I couldn't do it and this was pre diagnosis and I had I just thought it was because I was clumsy or uncoordinated or not muscular enough, so like certainly the diagnosis probably gets in the way of some some some kinds of careers that I might have pursued. But generally, you know, I'm a I'm a computer based person. I'm a knowledge and and and and content based person, and I was already going that way pre-diagnosis, so you know I don't think it really intervened in where I would have gone, whether it helped me or not, or whether you know it was part of the reason why I'm where I am. Look, I think it's it's part of the reason of everything that I do. You know, even if it's not all. That the defining reason, but it's it's a consideration definitely. Michael Hingson  55:04 Well, it is, and and it's helped build your resilience, and there's nothing wrong with that. Paul Bugeja  55:10 Yep, and that's right. And I'm in a career that requires resilience, and so it definitely, in that regard, yes, it's it's helped me build that further resilience. Michael Hingson  55:18 So there you go. Has AI helped you in terms of any of the things that you do on your job? Do you use it to to help in finding out information about quizzes or or that you put in quizzes or any of that? Has AI been a useful tool for you? Paul Bugeja  55:35 So again, this we could talk about this for 12 hours a time. Topics right, especially working in the media. I am. I love the fact that I'm an early adopter. Right, I love technology. I I embrace it. I'm you know I'm that guy who gets the new iPhone not every year but every other year. You know, I I'm really I embrace the new. You know, I was doing digital content well the beginning like not at the beginning of it all but you know I was I was I jump in quickly with AI I have reservations I certainly you know I tend to still use standard search but of course now with Google search AI is built into that Google search so I am using it in that regard as a media organization, we have a very strict policy about AI, as one must. You know, we have to be very careful because while it's definitely the next big revolution for everyone, whoever you are, from you know like a dog walker to a you know president, like it's going to affect everyone's lives, you know. I feel as though, so you know, for example, as a media organization, we're encouraged. We are looking at improving the way we work with AI, but there always needs to be a human oversight. Yeah, Michael Hingson  56:57 absolutely. Paul Bugeja  56:58 Yep, yep. And you would appreciate that, of course. So I don't use it in the way I think. I I think over time I will have to use it because I won't have any choice. But you know, we in the media, I think we're looking at. I don't think this is giving anything away, but we're looking at agentic AI more than generative AI because agentic AI is really useful. If I can ask an AI bot to put together the the not the quiz itself, but the the actual article the quiz will appear in that goes on the site. Well, that's just a practical like role you've given a system if you had one anyway, right? So I definitely think the media and me in in my role will will more and more embrace agentic AI as we're able to build it into our systems to help us with mundane practical tasks that you'd give the intern, that you'd give the the first year journal student out or whatever. Right? In terms of generative AI, I I've used it a bit just to see what it will throw back at me, and for example, I do a lot of quizzes as a quizmaster because I love to just do quizzes. I can tell a quiz that's been made with AI. It's very clear. I did a quiz the other day, and I kid you not. The first question was, "If I'm a Bolivian, what country might I come from? Now, I mean, for an editor or the actual person who put together that quiz, not to realize that a that's a pretty awful quiz question, but but it's such an obviously AI generated quiz question, you know. So yeah, I think we I think, and I'm also very aware that the amount of money that's being poured into AI at the moment is looking like a big bubble that will burst at some point, you know, because they can't keep plowing all this money in and expect big returns because it's not returning anything at the moment to them. Really, that doesn't mean it's not going to continue. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't embrace it. That doesn't mean that it's not going to maybe find a cure for cancer. Like I feel like there is a lot of positive that can come from it, so long as the humans stay in control. Michael Hingson  59:03 Well, I think that's the the real issue in the operative part of it. I have used AI in in writing articles, and the way I've used AI is I've I've asked it to give me give me your thoughts on or write an article about, and I'll do that like about six or seven times, and I will go through all of the things that that are created, and it gives me ideas. But I would never let it write the article, and I I would never do that because I want it to be me. And even if it could get to the point where it truly emulates me, it's not me, and I wouldn't want to do that. I so I'm I'm with what you're saying. Paul Bugeja  59:44 Yeah, yeah, and I think that's the trick. My, I think probably like with all you know, sort of new ages of technology, whether it was just the internet, and then it was sort of probably social media was the next big you know sort of critical juncture, and now it's AI. You know, it it means that the a younger. Generation that comes along that only knows this. So my my probably biggest concern would be, and I don't have children, but you know for my friends' children and the children that are going to grow up with AI, that they come to rely on it so heavily that they lose the ability to critically think, that they that they believe everything that AI says, and it will get better and it will get more accurate, but it's still throwing back. So I'll give you one quick example. When I was playing around with it back in 2022, I think, or whatever year the Queen died, Queen Elizabeth II died. I asked it, "Who's the current monarch of England? And I kept bringing Queen Elizabeth II back, and I kept arguing with it, and it kept saying no, and I started feeding it New York Times articles, Guardian articles, you know the Telegraph articles, and I kept saying these aren't reliable sources. Now this was you know back three or four years ago now, but that really concerned me, and I fear that that's the only fear for me is that people will lose their curiosity and their own ability to critically think and and and rely on it so heavily that they forget how to do really simple tasks that we should still be able to do. Michael Hingson  1:01:04 If you could change one thing about the world, whether it's big or small or whatever, what would Paul Bugeja  1:01:10 it be? I actually, so this will reveal me as a like a bit of a almost a communist. But I wish that people's obsession with money would change. I would love to change that. Like I love that people want to be comfortable and they want good lives and that we want our creature comforts and that we want to travel and have a great TV and all that somewhere to live. But I do feel li

What happens when two wheelchair users fall in love, get married, build careers, travel the world and navigate life together? Apparently, people have questions. After sharing more of their life as a disabled couple online and seeing an overwhelming response, Alycia Anderson brings her husband, Marty Anderson, back to Pushing Forward with Alycia for a lighter, candid and often hilarious Q&A about their nearly 15 years of marriage. Who is more stubborn? Who notices an accessibility problem first? Who takes longer to get ready? Who carries more disability-related gear? And when the world is not designed for two wheelchair users, how do they figure it out? As Alycia and Marty quickly discover, the answers lead to much bigger conversations about disabled relationships, wheelchair accessibility, accessible travel, independence, interdependence, ableism and belonging. Two Disabled People. One Very Normal Marriage. One of the biggest misconceptions Alycia and Marty encounter is the assumption that when disability exists in a relationship, one person must automatically become the caregiver. Their reality is much different. They help each other. Sometimes that means Marty holding Alycia's wheelchair during a transfer or Alycia grabbing onto Marty's chair for a tow. Sometimes it means reviewing an email, figuring out a business decision or helping each other navigate a difficult moment. And sometimes it simply means knowing somebody is standing beside you. As Alycia puts it, having Marty on her team makes her feel braver in the actions she takes in her life. Their partnership illustrates something much bigger: support in a relationship does not always move in one direction. When Accessibility Assumes Disabled People Are Alone Some of the funniest stories in the episode expose something decidedly less funny: much of the world is still designed around the assumption that a wheelchair user will be accompanied by a nondisabled caregiver. Movie theaters may provide one wheelchair space and one companion chair. Venues may offer accessible seating without considering that two wheelchair users might actually want to sit beside each other. Transportation systems may have accessibility policies but still create frustrating or alienating customer experiences. Hotels may technically meet accessibility standards while still making everyday tasks difficult. Alycia and Marty have spent years navigating those gaps together. Their solution is often the same: Figure it out. For Alycia, that mindset is deeply connected to disability itself. When the world is not designed for you, creativity and adaptation become part of everyday life. The Airport Shuttle Stress Is Real Accessible travel gets its own unofficial therapy session in this episode. Alycia and Marty talk about one of their biggest travel stressors: getting from the airport to the rental car facility. Wheelchair-accessible shuttle experiences can be unpredictable. Ramps may not work. Drivers may approach wheelchair passengers differently. Other travelers may board while wheelchair users are still waiting. Policies can sometimes override a simple conversation about what actually works best for the individual passenger. The frustration is not always about the equipment. It is about the experience. Marty describes accessibility as something that should create a feeling of being invited rather than treated like an exception. That distinction between technical access and true belonging sits at the center of much of Alycia's work. Accessible Parking Is More Complicated Than It Looks Alycia and Marty also tackle one of disability culture's perennial hot topics: accessible parking. They are quick to point out that disability does not have one appearance. Someone using an accessible parking space may have a completely legitimate non-apparent disability. But they also raise an important distinction around van-accessible spaces and access aisles. Those striped areas next to certain spaces are not extra parking. They provide the room someone may need to deploy a wheelchair ramp, transfer from a vehicle, use a walker or maneuver mobility equipment. It is another example of how accessibility education can make systems work better for everyone. What Do Nondisabled Couples Take for Granted? Their answer? Sometimes, spontaneity. Traveling without researching accessibility. Accepting an invitation to someone's house without wondering whether you can enter. Booking a rideshare without thinking about whether a wheelchair will fit or whether the driver will refuse the trip. Checking into a hotel without wondering whether the mirror can actually be seen from a wheelchair. These may seem like tiny details individually. Collectively, they shape whether people can participate fully and independently in everyday life. Disabled Relationship Myth Busting Perhaps the biggest misconception Alycia and Marty challenge is the belief that two disabled people somehow live a fundamentally different kind of relationship. Their marriage has accessibility logistics and mobility adaptations, yes. It also has careers. Finances. Intimacy. Arguments. Love. Partnership. Medical challenges. Travel. Laughter. And almost fifteen years of figuring life out together. Disability is part of their relationship. It is not the entirety of it. Marriage Is Still Marriage Near the end of the episode, Marty asks Alycia what nearly fifteen years together has taught her that has nothing to do with disability. Her answer becomes one of the episode's most beautiful moments. Marriage, she says, is one of the hardest things she has ever committed to, but also one of the very best. Creating a life with another person remains one of the accomplishments she treasures most. And after several heavy weeks for the Anderson household, their final Pushing Forward Moments are wonderfully simple. Marty's: Take life a little lighter. Have some fun. Everything does not have to be serious. Alycia's: All you need is love. Sometimes pushing forward means solving the accessibility problem. Sometimes it means advocating for change. And sometimes it means laughing with the person sitting beside you while you figure everything else out. IN THIS EPISODE Alycia and Marty discuss: What life is actually like for two married wheelchair users Who is more stubborn about asking for help Why asking for help can be difficult when independence has been ingrained in you Who notices accessibility barriers first Wheelchair travel and airport shuttle frustrations Accessibility versus genuine hospitality and belonging Why Alycia carries more disability-related supplies while traveling When they speak up about inaccessible environments How two disabled partners physically and emotionally support each other The assumption that every disabled person has a nondisabled caregiver Why theaters and entertainment venues often fail wheelchair-using couples Disability, marriage and intimacy Accessible parking and non-apparent disabilities Why van-accessible spaces serve a specific purpose Rideshare and transportation discrimination Why accessible hotel rooms should not have thick carpet How disability creates everyday problem-solving skills Automatic doors and universal access Spontaneity and the hidden planning involved in disability What nearly fifteen years of marriage has taught them Finding more fun, light and love in everyday life KEY THEMES

What does it really take to own a hotel, and how can more people gain access to hotel investing?In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, Davonne Reaves, founder and CEO of The Vonne Group and Vesterr, shares her journey from working on the front lines of hospitality to becoming a hotel owner, investor, entrepreneur, and advocate for greater access to hotel ownership.Davonne explains how her grandmother's hospitality influenced her career, what she learned at Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and how hotel consulting and asset management opened her eyes to the business of hotel ownership. She also shares why she created Vesterr to connect commercial real estate deal sponsors with investors.David, Steve, and Davonne also explore the growing role of AI in hotel investing—and why some parts of the acquisition process still require a human touch.Davonne shares candid advice for young entrepreneurs and women entering the industry: stay authentic, keep learning, find mentors, work hard, and never let someone else's “no” stop you.In this episode, you'll learn:What working in hotel operations taught her about ownershipHow to evaluate a hotel investment opportunityWhy the sponsor, location, brand, and operator matterWhere human expertise remains essential in hospitalityAdvice for aspiring hotel owners and young entrepreneursWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v4Ju_rdcVd8Links:Davonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davonnereavesVesterr: https://www.vesterr.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/323Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, Adam Torres interviews Sanjiv Lal, CEO & Co-Founder of Regen Therapy, about his journey from traditional medicine into the regenerative medicine space. Sanjiv discusses Regen Therapy's mission to make longevity and regenerative care more accessible while educating people about emerging approaches to healthspan and healthy aging. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scared of planned giving because it feels too technical, expensive, or “only for big institutions”? In this episode, you'll learn how even the smallest nonprofit can launch a simple, effective planned giving program in just one week—without a big budget, complex gift vehicles, or a team of experts. Key Takeaways: Small and mid-sized nonprofits can be highly successful with planned giving by focusing on simple, practical actions instead of waiting for perfect materials or large teams. Launching planned giving is less about a formal campaign and more about starting real conversations with your most loyal donors. Framing legacy giving around the long-term life and impact of the mission, rather than death, makes the conversation more natural and values-driven. Starting with gifts in wills keeps things simple for both organizations and donors, avoiding technical complexity while still generating meaningful future support. Consistent stewardship—personal thanks, insider treatment, and recognition—reinforces a donor's decision to include an organization in their will and deepens the relationship over time. “[Planned giving] is a conversation that's the opposite of death. It's a conversation about life: the life, longevity, and sustainability of your nonprofit in your community.” “MEAL is an acronym for Meals Expertly Allow Learning.” “The most powerful idea in planned giving is also the simplest: start.” - Tony Martignetti Tony Martignetti is the evangelist for Planned Giving. In September, he publishes his book, Planned Giving Accelerated, to help small- and mid-size nonprofits launch by making Planned Giving fundraising easy, accessible, and affordable. All the book info is at PlannedGivingAccelerated.com. He started as a front-line Planned Giving fundraiser in 1997 and kicked off his consulting in 2003. Tony is a lawyer, but he doesn't talk like one. Instead, he weaves in his stand-up comedy and improv past to bring Planned Giving within reach for small- and mid-size nonprofits. Reach out to Tony Martignetti at: Website: https://www.plannedgivingaccelerated.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymartignetti/ Let's Work Together to Amplify Your Leadership + Influence1. Group Coaching for Nonprofit LeadersWant to lead with more clarity, confidence, and influence? My group coaching program is designed for nonprofit leaders who are ready to communicate more powerfully, navigate challenges with ease, and move their organizations forward. 2. Team Coaching + TrainingI work hands-on with nonprofit teams to strengthen leadership, improve communication, and align around a shared vision. Whether you're growing fast or feeling stuck, we'll create more clarity, collaboration, and momentum—together. 3. Board Retreats + TrainingsYour board has big potential. I'll help you unlock it. My engaging, no-fluff retreats and trainings are built to energize your board, refocus on what matters, and generate real results.Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.comConnect with Maryanne about her coaching programs:https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect Book Maryanne to speak at your conference:https://www.courageouscommunication.com/nonprofit-keynote-speaker

Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Chris: For me, I always think of it in terms of a toolbox or a toolkit. And there's a mix of things that I would put into that toolbox that I think have supported me on my leadership journey.Communication Service for the Deaf is expanding opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing people by fighting bias as much as by improving access.When I welcomed Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf, back to this episode, I wanted to understand how CSD's work has evolved over its 50-year history. Chris described a mission rooted in “a persevering commitment to advancing the quality of life for people who are deaf and for the broader disability community.”For decades, CSD helped lead the push for communication access. That work mattered. Interpreting services, video relay and new technologies opened doors that had long been closed.But Chris explained that access alone did not change the economic reality for the community. Employment barriers remained stubbornly high.“We're really confronting challenges with misperception and bias,” Chris said. He noted that the barrier often appears at the very start of a job search, when a deaf applicant identifies themselves and an employer immediately imagines cost, complexity or extra work.“That blocker has really made it difficult for our community to make meaningful progress,” he said.CSD is responding in every direction. Chris called the work “a process of breaking down barriers by land, by air, by sea.” That means media engagement, policy work, corporate partnerships, employee resource groups, storytelling and matching motivated employers with talented deaf professionals ready to contribute.One part of the work especially excites Chris: entrepreneurship. CSD supports deaf founders building their own businesses. As Chris explained, when those entrepreneurs succeed, “they turn right back around, and they hire from their community.”That creates a powerful cycle. Deaf business owners build companies, employ others and become proof points that help dismantle bias for the next person.Chris also reminded me that accessibility is still a matter of safety. In a 911 emergency, a deaf person may have to wait several minutes for a video relay interpreter before even reaching a dispatcher. In a crisis, that delay can be life or death.Chris's response is characteristic of CSD's culture: “There's a better way.”That optimism is not naive. It comes from 50 years of pushing systems to become more humane, more accessible and more just. CSD's work shows that inclusion is not charity. It is infrastructure. It is innovation. It is economic opportunity.tl;dr:CSD's 50-year commitment expands communication access, employment, and economic opportunity for deaf communities.Bias often blocks talented deaf professionals before employers recognize their value.Entrepreneurship is a powerful path for deaf leaders to create jobs and opportunities.Accessible emergency communication remains a critical issue of safety and equity.Chris's superpower is authentic perseverance in advocating for systemic change and inclusion.How to Develop Authentic Perseverance As a SuperpowerChris's superpower is authentic perseverance. He said leadership requires a “toolbox,” beginning with “authenticity.” Early in his career, he struggled with preconceived ideas of how a leader should behave. Over time, he learned that “you're doing yourself and the people that you support a disservice by not representing yourself in a way that really reflects the person that you are.” He also emphasized persistence: “Nothing happens overnight,” and “change happens by showing up every day and being committed to making a difference.”Chris described an awakening that came from noticing where he felt most effective. One-on-one, he could use humor, tell stories, share experiences, use metaphors and speak honestly about big goals and fears. He realized he could bring that same intimacy to a larger audience. Instead of manufacturing a leadership persona, he chose to show more of himself. That authenticity helped him connect more deeply and lead more effectively, whether speaking with one person or many.Stop performing a leadership role and identify what is genuinely true about your strengths and vulnerabilities.Practice sharing the messy mix that makes you human, including humor, confidence, fears and limitations.Notice where you feel most natural and effective, then bring that presence into bigger settings.Keep showing up month after month, even when meaningful change takes longer than expected.Stay focused on the world you want to create and keep moving toward it with resilience.By following Chris's example and advice, you can make authentic perseverance a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileChris Soukup (he/him):CEO, Communication Service for the DeafAbout Communication Service for the Deaf: Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest Deaf-led social impact organization in the world. Since 1975, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for deaf and hard of hearing communities. Today, CSD continues its work to create opportunities for personal and economic growth, specifically addressing leadership and employment. In 2022, CSD was named to Fast Company's “Most Innovative Companies” list.Website: csd.orgX/Twitter Handle: @ThisIsCSDCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/ThisIsCSDLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thisiscsdInstagram: @thisiscsdBiographical Information: Chris Soukup is Chief Executive Officer of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), one of the world's leading deaf-led social impact organizations. For 50 years, CSD has pioneered accessible technologies and communication services for the deaf and hard of hearing communities, including the first nationwide video relay service (VRS) in the United States and one of today's leading direct to video calling (DVC) solutions. Chris is a longtime leading advocate for the deaf and disability communities. For more than a decade, he has led CSD's transformation and global initiatives, including implementing a virtualized infrastructure; developing a disruptive sign language interpreting platform; launching the first social venture fund for deaf entrepreneurs; introducing a constellation of programs to advance employment opportunities within deaf and disabled communities; and creating a new community foundation designed to strengthen other deaf-centric nonprofits. Chris continues to serve a leadership role in the advancement of key policy and legislation to expand accessibility, including the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA). He also has served on several prominent committees and advisory boards to increase opportunities and accessibility for the deaf and disability communities: the Federal Communications Commission's Consumer Advisory Committee; the Disability:IN Disability Equality Index Advisory Committee; NTID Foundation Board and the TDI Board of Associates.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/csoukupSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners and supercrowd.tv. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact Members(We're grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.)Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Join the SuperCrowd Impact League! You can be recognized for making impact investments via Reg CF. See how your activity compares to your peers. It's free. Win valuable prizes. Start now!SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on September 8th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. Mark your calendar. We'll send private emails to Impact Members with registration details. Upgrade to Impact Membership today!SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experience focused on disciplined capital formation, regulated investment crowdfunding, and purpose-driven growth. We're bringing together leading voices in impact investing, compliance, digital marketing, and circular economy innovation to deliver practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies. The event culminates in the PurposeBuilt100™ Showcase, recognizing 100 of the fastest-growing purpose-driven companies in the U.S. Register now to secure your seat and get all the details. August 25–27, streaming worldwide.Visit Our Complete Community Event CalendarIf you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 10,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here.We share educational information—not investment advice. Some links may generate compensation. See our full disclosure.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

AI is everywhere right now. Businesses are being told they need to adopt it, developers are being asked to build with it, and almost every software product seems to be adding some kind of AI feature or AI Workflow Automation. But just because you can put AI into a process doesn't mean you should. That was one of my biggest takeaways from our conversation with John Godlove and Piyush Agarwal, co-founders of Fusion Hive. Both have spent more than a decade working with automation, data, machine learning, and enterprise technology. What I liked about this conversation was that we weren't talking about AI as some magical solution. We kept coming back to something much more practical: understanding the problem, understanding the workflow, and then deciding where AI actually makes sense. About John Godlove and Piyush Agarwal John Godlove is co-founder of Fusion Hive and has more than a decade of experience helping organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies build and deploy automation. His background includes work in the Salesforce ecosystem, AI, data, and technology implementation. Piyush Agarwal is co-founder of Fusion Hive and has more than a decade of experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning. His experience includes financial fraud detection, document intelligence pipelines, generative AI multi-agent architectures, and production machine-learning engineering. Together, John and Piyush founded Fusion Hive to bring enterprise AI and automation experience to small and mid-market businesses. Their approach focuses on practical workflows, measurable outcomes, governance, and production-ready AI systems. The Best AI Project Might Be the Boring One When most people think about an AI project, they tend to think about the flashy stuff. They want a chatbot, an agent, or something they can demo and say, "Look what our AI can do." John brought up a different type of project: the boring back-office workflows that nobody really wants to do. Think about someone receiving an email with a PDF attached, opening the document, finding a few pieces of information, entering that information into another system, and then doing the same thing again. Maybe they do it 20 times a day. Maybe they do it hundreds of times a week. John described these as "swivel chair" workflows. Employees are constantly moving between systems, re-entering information and turning unstructured data into structured data. These aren't exciting processes, but they can consume an incredible amount of time. That's exactly why they can be great automation candidates. If you can save five or ten minutes on something that happens hundreds of times, the value starts adding up pretty quickly. Not Everything Needs AI This was probably one of my favorite parts of the conversation because it goes back to something I've seen throughout my career in software development, integration, and testing. Sometimes you don't need AI. Sometimes you just need a script. Piyush made a great point about being deterministic where you can. If you're extracting something from a document and a regular expression, parser, Python script, or existing library can reliably do the job, why send it through an LLM? We've had these tools for years. They work, they're predictable, and they're usually cheap to run. The interesting part is figuring out where that deterministic approach stops working. Maybe you're dealing with text that needs interpretation. Maybe the documents aren't consistent. Maybe you're trying to understand intent or classify information that doesn't fit neatly into a set of rules. That's where AI may start making sense. The answer doesn't have to be traditional software or AI. A good system might use both. Build the Workflow First Piyush described their approach at Fusion Hive as workflow first, and I think that's an important distinction. Don't start by asking, "Where can we use AI?" Start by asking, "What are we actually trying to accomplish?" Walk through what people are doing today. Where does the information come from? Where does it go? Who touches it? What decisions are being made? Where are people wasting time? Where are mistakes happening? Once you understand that, you can start deciding which pieces should be automated. Some steps might be traditional software. Some might use AI. Some might disappear completely. And some may still need a human. That's a much different approach than dropping AI on top of an existing process and hoping it makes everything better. Human in the Loop Is Only Part of the Solution We've talked a lot this season about keeping humans involved with AI, but this conversation made me think about it a little differently. It isn't always just AI versus human. You may actually have three or four options for every step in the process: deterministic software, traditional automation, AI, or a person. The key is deciding which one makes sense for that particular task. A predictable data transformation probably belongs in code. A text-heavy classification problem might be a good fit for AI. A rare exception involving money, compliance, or an important business decision might still need a person. John also brought up something that is easy to overlook when you're designing these systems: the happy path isn't the whole workflow. What happens when something doesn't fit? Does another automation handle it? Does another AI agent look at it? Does it go to another department? Does a person need to review it? Those exceptions are part of the system too, and if you don't think about them before you automate the workflow, you're probably going to discover them the hard way later. Don't Automate a Process Just Because It Exists Another point John made really stood out to me. When you introduce AI or automation, you shouldn't automatically recreate every step of the existing process. He used the example of a law firm where documents might pass through several levels of review before eventually reaching a partner. If you build an AI-assisted process, evaluate it properly, and reach a point where you trust the output, maybe all of those intermediate approvals aren't necessary anymore. That's an important difference. You're not just asking: How do we automate this process? You're asking: What should this process look like now? I've seen this in software projects for years. Companies sometimes spend a lot of money automating a bad or outdated process. They end up doing the wrong thing faster. Before you automate something, make sure the process itself still makes sense. It Still Comes Back to Data At one point in the conversation, I joked that I kept bringing everything back to data. But after years of working with integrations, testing frameworks, healthcare systems, file parsing, and automation, it's hard not to. AI still needs data. If your information is scattered across emails, PDFs, spreadsheets, databases, and systems that don't communicate with each other, throwing AI at the problem doesn't magically clean that up. Piyush described the possibility of eventually creating an intelligence layer over that data—a kind of company brain where people can interact with business information through natural language. That's powerful, but the information still has to be accessible and usable underneath it. Sometimes the first step toward implementing AI isn't implementing AI at all. It might be cleaning up the data, connecting systems, building an integration, or finally automating a process that should have been automated years ago. And that's okay. You're solving the business problem, not trying to win an award for using the most AI. Six Signals That You May Have a Good AI Workflow Piyush gave us a practical framework for identifying a good first workflow. Instead of randomly picking an AI project, Fusion Hive looks for six signals. Volume: Does this happen often enough that saving a few minutes each time will actually matter? Repeatability: Does the process follow roughly the same pattern each time? Measurable cost or delay: Can you point to hours, dollars, turnaround time, or another metric that could improve? Accessible data: Are the inputs already available somewhere, such as a database, email, PDF, or form? Manageable exceptions: Are the unusual cases a small enough percentage that they can reasonably be routed to another process or a person? A clear owner: Is there someone who understands the outcome well enough to say whether the new process is actually working? I like this framework because none of those questions start with AI. They start with the business. How Will You Know It Worked? This is another area where businesses can get themselves into trouble. "We implemented AI" isn't a success metric. What changed? Did the process go from 60 hours a week to 40? Did turnaround time improve? Did the error rate drop? Did employees stop entering the same information into three different systems? Are people able to spend more time on work that actually requires their knowledge? If you don't know what you're trying to improve before you start, it's going to be difficult to prove that the AI actually helped. That also means you need a baseline. Understand what the process costs you today before you change it. Otherwise, six months from now, you may have a cool AI system and no idea whether it saved the business anything. Start With the Problem There is a lot of pressure right now to adopt AI quickly. I understand it. The technology is changing incredibly fast, competitors are talking about it, customers are asking about it, and nobody wants to feel like they're falling behind. But moving quickly doesn't mean you should skip the fundamentals. Understand the problem. Map the workflow. Find the data. Identify the exceptions. Figure out what can be deterministic. Decide where AI actually provides value. Determine where humans still need to be involved. Then decide how you're going to measure success. Then build it. That might not sound as exciting as "put AI everywhere," but it's much more likely to produce something that actually works. And sometimes the best AI project isn't the flashy one everyone wants to demo. It's the boring process everyone wishes they didn't have to do anymore. Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Alder Allensworth as guest to the show to share the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Community.   About Alder Allensworth, Co-Founder of Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's:   Alder Allensworth, MM, RN, is a registered nurse and retired hospice counselor who supported families caring for loved ones with dementia at the end of life. Her professional background spans working with both children and older adults, including those living with Alzheimer's disease.   The inspiration for this project grew from Alder's personal experience witnessing her mother, who had Alzheimer's, connect meaningfully with her grandchildren—Alder's nieces and nephews. This powerful family experience, combined with her clinical work, deepened her commitment to helping families navigate dementia with compassion, creativity, and connection.   Alder is also an accomplished writer, having published several articles in professional journals and books. As a speaker and presenter in the field of disabilities, she has shared her insights on local, national, and international stages. Her advocacy and dedication to promoting quality of life for people with disabilities have been featured on CNN, as well as in international media and local news outlets.   About Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's:   The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Program (MMAP) is a family-centered multimedia educational program created to help children, parents, caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals better understand and navigate Alzheimer's disease together.   Designed especially for families in the "sandwich generation," MMAP provides practical guidance, age-appropriate education, and meaningful activities that help children stay connected with a loved one living with Alzheimer's—from diagnosis through the severe stage of the disease.   At the heart of MMAP is the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Awareness Program (MMAAP), a 5-video educational series that explains the different stages of Alzheimer's while also providing guidance for adults who are simultaneously raising children and caring for an aging loved one.   The program includes:   • A 5-video educational series covering the stages of Alzheimer's • Guidance for parents and caregivers helping children understand the disease • Simple, meaningful activities children can do with their loved one • A quick-reference guide and video transcripts • Accessible audio and visual resources for different learning needs • An online community component offering additional connection and support   One of the most important goals of MMAAP is helping children understand Alzheimer's in ways that are appropriate for their age—while showing them that even as the disease progresses, there are still opportunities to connect, interact, and create meaningful moments with the person they love.   The program is complemented by the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Picture Book, a gentle, child-friendly introduction to Alzheimer's that follows a young girl as she learns to understand and remain connected with her grandmother throughout the progression of the disease.   The book also includes a QR code providing access to a free Story Song download. The lyrics of the song are the text of the book, creating an engaging and memorable learning experience for young children, early readers, and families.   MMAP can also serve as a valuable educational resource for Adult Day Centers and Memory Care Communities. The ready-to-use program gives organizations a structured way to educate and support families, proactively answer common questions, and provide families with resources they can return to throughout their caregiving journey—allowing staff to devote more time to care, engagement, and meaningful connection.   Ultimately, the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Program goes beyond explaining the disease.   It helps families understand what is happening, gives children a meaningful role in the caregiving journey, and provides families with tools to preserve relationships, create positive memories, and remain connected throughout Alzheimer's and other dementias.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charles Cofield. Thanks! The transcript from this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass features an inspiring and high-energy interview with CPA and financial educator Carter Cofield, co-founder of Melanin Money. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways:

Martyn Ashton is a four-time British BikeTrial Champion and World Expert BikeTrial Champion, and has been a regular on-camera presenter for the Global Mountain Bike Network, GMBN. His Road Bike Party videos have racked up tens of millions of views and just last year he established RideAble Now, a non-profit group dedicated to adaptive mountain biking.What drew you into motorcycle trials as a kid? How is mountain bike trials different from BMX or motorcycle trials?Where did the idea for Road Bike Party come from?Prior to your injury, what did you know about adaptive biking?Tell us a bit about your new Gen2 Bowhead RX.Adaptive bikes are very expensive, so how is RideAble Now is working to make it easier for folks to afford them?What's the experience like for first-time adaptive riders?What are some of the barriers to creating adaptive mountain bike trails?There's a misconception that adaptive trails will be boring. How do you counter that perception?What's your goal for RideAble Now video and podcast content?How does riding an adaptive bike on technical trail features compare to the challenge and feeling of trials riding?What upcoming trips or projects are you looking forward to?Visit rideablenow.com to learn more and keep up with the latest from Martyn on YouTube and Instagram @martynashton. And visit rideablenow.com/join to become a supporter. This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Feedback Sports. If you love your bike, you know that regular maintenance is the key to a smoother, faster, and safer ride. But a good wrenching session starts with the right setup. Enter the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic and Sprint repair stands. Trusted by World Tour mechanics and home hobbyists alike, these lightweight, anodized aluminum stands are ultra-stable, highly portable, and fold down in seconds. Whether you're chasing down a tricky drivetrain click in your garage or dialing in your shifting at the trailhead, Feedback Sports gives you shop-quality precision wherever you are. Pair their award-winning stands with their professional-grade tool kits—like the Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit—and you have everything you need to keep your rig running flawlessly. Stop wrestling with your bike upside down on the grass. Elevate your maintenance game and give your bike the care it deserves. Head over to ⁠⁠⁠feedbacksports.com⁠⁠⁠ today to check out their full lineup of repair stands and precision tools.An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charles Cofield. Thanks! The transcript from this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass features an inspiring and high-energy interview with CPA and financial educator Carter Cofield, co-founder of Melanin Money. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways: