Podcasts about American Sign Language

Could that endless chorus of “Mama, mama, mama” actually be an important milestone in your toddler's language development?In this episode, we explore why toddlers repeatedly say a parent or caregiver's name before nearly every sentence as they practice the connection between attention, communication, and relationships. Rather than a behavior meant to frustrate you, this repetition is a developmental learning phase that helps children build confidence and strengthen the neural pathways involved in expressive language. We also discuss how responding with connection-based phrases like “Yes, love” instead of the automatic “What?” can support your child's communication while reducing frustration for both of you. Tune in to learn how small changes in the words and tone you use can nurture connection and help your toddler's language truly explode. Take my two-minute survey! Win a Free Class!Tell me your struggles and the resources you're using to help you move through them so that I can do a better job of creating tools for you. As a thank you, everybody who fills it out will get entered in to win a free class of mine. It is an American Sign Language class called Sign to Speak, the communication bridge designed for you, the caregivers of babies and toddlers. Take the survey now!September 1, 2026Episode 344Why Your Toddler Says "Mama" 400 Times a Day (And What to Say Back)About Your Host:Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child's identity, confidence, and future success.As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the new book⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to book Cara for your next speaking event? Find all the details⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams ASL Picture Books and the Power of Accessible Communication Dr. Gregory Williams hosts Breaking the Silence with guest Kathleen Marcath for a heartfelt conversation about American Sign Language, deaf and hard-of-hearing children, inclusive picture books, My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me, ASL classifiers, deaf representation, brain benefits, classroom learning, family communication, and the hope that sign language can become more visible, normal, and accessible for everyone. This week's guest is Kathleen Marcath. She is an award-winning author and Amazon best-seller who is celebrated for her engaging children's book. "My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me" This book teaches children 32 signs in American Sign Language. Guest Spotlight: Kathleen Marcath This episode of Breaking the Silence, hosted by Dr. Gregory Williams and dated August 9, 2026, features guest Kathleen Marcath is the author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me and related ASL learning resources. Dr. Gregory Williams Opens With Gratitude, Housekeeping, and Hope Dr. Gregory Williams opens from Houston, Texas, welcoming listeners, noting the approaching back-to-school season, and sharing updates about his own writing projects. He mentions the upcoming seventh anniversary of Breaking the Silence, gives call-in and text information, praises the BBS Radio team, and introduces the evening's guest as a subject he has never quite had on the show before. His personal connection is immediate: he recalls having deaf family members, watching relatives communicate through sign language, and wishing he had learned more himself. Kathleen Marcath's Path Into American Sign Language Kathleen explains that her interest in sign language began at a retreat where a group learned to sign the song “Our God Is an Awesome God.” That experience stayed with her, eventually leading her to study sign language at Madonna University. While taking a class that required her to choose and sign a picture book, she looked for children's books that naturally included signing children but could not find what she wanted. Years later, after working in schools and spending time with her grandson, she entered a writing contest and realized her story could become the kind of ASL picture book she had once searched for. Why Representation and Natural ASL Learning Matter The conversation highlights the importance of representing deaf and hard-of-hearing children in books and classrooms. Kathleen says American Sign Language is a full language, even though it is not spoken, and describes how children become excited when they learn it. She shares a classroom story about a child she calls Jonathan, who began to smile and participate more after using sign language activities to tell simple stories. Dr. Williams connects this to his own awe at watching deaf relatives communicate, emphasizing how powerful and overlooked this form of communication can be. My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me and the 32 Signs Kathleen describes My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere With Me as a fun, natural way to introduce ASL. Each page includes at least one sign, and the book teaches 32 signs. To support readers, the back of the book includes QR codes linking to videos with deaf storytellers signing the story and teaching the signs with variations. Dr. Williams praises the book's layout, illustrations, and accessibility, noting that even someone unfamiliar with ASL can begin to understand what is being shown. Kathleen explains that babies can learn sign language from birth and emphasizes that it is not “baby sign language,” but sign language that babies learn. Deaf Illustration, Purple Monster Trucks, and ASL Classifiers Kathleen explains that it was important to her to work with a deaf illustrator, and she found Isaac Ling in Singapore, who created the storyboard and drawings, while Perdi Mira handled the coloring. Dr. Williams praises the book's bright color and asks about the purple monster truck, which Kathleen says emerged after the original red did not feel right. The discussion also explores ASL classifiers, especially the vehicle classifier used for the monster truck. Kathleen explains that after a signer identifies an object, a classifier can represent it throughout the story, making it a powerful storytelling tool. Activity Books, Schools, Seniors, and Untapped ASL Potential Kathleen discusses the companion coloring and activity book, which includes 77 pages of coloring, math, writing, clocks, handshapes, and activities meant to work for younger children as well as first-, second-, and third-grade students. Dr. Williams asks why ASL is not taught more widely in schools, and Kathleen points to deaf history, oralism, signing debates, teacher preparation, and the need for even small daily exposure when deaf children are present. She describes ASL as an untapped resource with unlimited potential, useful not only for children but also for seniors, couples, underwater communication, space, baseball signs, and everyday across-the-room communication. Website Resources, Freebies, and the Call for Broader Awareness Kathleen directs listeners to ASLPictureBooks.com, where people can find her books, blog, favorite-book resources, free charts, coloring pages, and information about classifiers, signer space, and sign selection. Dr. Williams repeatedly frames the book as a valuable gift for children, grandchildren, families, and anyone who wants a gentle introduction to ASL. Kathleen also mentions other authors and books connected with deaf representation, including stories about deaf and deaf-blind children and families learning to communicate. Together, they present ASL as not only practical, but normal, fun, brain-engaging, and deeply human. Closing Encouragement: Hope, Resilience, and Never Giving Up After saying goodbye to Kathleen, Dr. Williams closes with a message for children and families heading into the school year. He reminds listeners that no matter what they are facing, there is always a better day and always hope. Using the image of the sun setting behind him over the Texas Medical Center, he says that no matter how dark things get outside or inside, the sun will rise again tomorrow. He encourages children and adults to hold on, stay resilient, discover the resilience already inside them, and return next week for Chief Matt's appearance.

Sunday Edition. Special  Bonus Episode. A Second Act Through Storytelling, American Sign Language, and Inclusion. What happens when a love for a grandchild, a passion for education, and a belief in inclusion come together? In this special Sunday Edition bonus episode, Anthony Corona welcomes award winning author and ASL advocate Kathleen Marcath for an inspiring conversation about purpose, creativity, and what she describes as her remarkable second act. Inspired by her grandson's love of monster trucks and her lifelong commitment to the Deaf and hard of hearing community, Kathleen created the bestselling children's book My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me. More than just a story, the book introduces children and families to American Sign Language in a fun, engaging, and accessible way. Along with a companion workbook and delightful educational videos, Kathleen is helping families, classrooms, and communities discover that learning ASL can become a natural part of story time and everyday life. During this conversation we explore the many benefits of learning American Sign Language beyond communication alone. Kathleen explains how learning ASL stimulates multiple language centers in the brain, supports literacy and cognitive development, and can positively impact educational achievement. We also discuss the research connecting second language learning and music to stronger academic outcomes and lifelong learning. Together we examine the importance of inclusion, representation, and creating opportunities for Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing children to learn, play, and grow together. We discuss how introducing ASL at an early age builds empathy, strengthens family connections, and helps children better understand that people experience the world in many different ways. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, educator, librarian, therapist, or simply someone who believes every child deserves to feel seen and included, this conversation is filled with inspiration, practical ideas, and hope for the future. Join us for a heartfelt discussion about books, family, education, inclusion, and the extraordinary difference one person can make by following a simple idea born from love. My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me. With special guest Kathleen Marcath. Only on Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona. pisode Notes Notes go here Support Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/acb-sunday-edition Find out more at https://acb-sunday-edition.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/acb-sunday-edition/7c505074-7ecb-49e6-9215-7708f1c1ea67 This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this episode, we sit down with Cheech Kinsway, Bar Manager at Palm Valley Cocktails who is proving that a great bar doesn't just serve cocktails, it serves its community. From hosting life-saving CPR seminars and American Sign Language nights to rallying the industry for the Campari Day of Service, Cheech is redefining hospitality in Columbus. Visit Cheech at Palm Valley Cocktails located at 6770 Riverside Drive, Dublin, OH, open every day at 4:00 pm

Children begin communicating from the moment they are born. Long before they have spoken words, they are using facial expressions, movements, gestures, sounds and behaviour to tell us what they need, what they understand and how they are experiencing the world around them.In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla speaks with early language expert, educator and linguist Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed., about how educators can build stronger connections with children through language and communication.Cara explains the difference between receptive and expressive language, how children interpret our facial expressions, body language and tone, and why the messages we communicate nonverbally matter just as much as the words we choose. Together, Carla and Cara explore serve-and-return interactions, auditory processing, the impact of technology on early communication and why sarcasm and rhetorical questions can be confusing for young children.They also discuss how corrective language can unintentionally shape a child's developing identity. Words intended to address a single moment can become messages children carry about who they are. Cara shares how educators can describe what is happening, recognize the need being communicated, hold necessary boundaries and invite children into the solution without relying on labels.At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that communication is about much more than speaking and listening. It is how we build trust, strengthen relationships and create connected learning communities where children feel seen, understood and respected.Cara Tyrrell is the creator of the Collaborative Discipline Method and Talking Triangle Framework, host of the podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of Talk to Them Early and Often.CARA TYRRELLCara Tyrrell, M.Ed., is an early language expert teaching educators and families to transform how they communicate with children in the earliest years of life. With degrees in American Sign Language, Linguistics, and a Masters in education, she has spent over two decades studying how infants and toddlers acquire receptive and expressive language. Cara's Collaborative Discipline Method and Talking Triangle Framework equip parents and educators with language-based tools that build strong brains and connected learning communities. She is the host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of Talk to Them Early and Often. LINKSInstagram:: , @caratalkstoddler LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-tyrrell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caratalkstoddlerCara Tyrell Book: Talk to Them Early and Often: A Caregiver's Guide to Intentional Language Development for Infants and ToddlersDr. Shimi Kang Book: The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital WorldWebsite: https://www.caratyrrell.com/speaker   Podcast: https://www.caratyrrell.com/podcast SUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week!CONNECT WITH CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece

What happens when language access moves from a compliance checkbox to a strategic priority? In part one of this two-part Elevate Care series, host Christin Stanford talks with Suzanne (Sue) Smith, System Director of Patient Experience at Main Line Health, about the evolving role of language services across a five-hospital system outside Philadelphia. Sue walks through how her team reframed language access from a cost center function into an essential clinical tool, one that belongs alongside staff, medicine, and equipment as a core part of care delivery. She shares how Main Line Health doubled its device deployment, the operational and financial ripple effects that followed, and why quality, safety, and patient experience function as a three-legged stool that only stands when every leg holds. The conversation also covers the human side of the equation: reduced staff burnout, stronger trust with patients who use American Sign Language, and fewer patients leaving without being seen. Sue makes the case that language access is not a cost center. It is a bridge for building relationships, supporting staff, and driving the kind of connected care that keeps patients coming back. Key Takeaways Language access works best when it is treated as an essential care tool, not a call-center service or a line-item expense. Doubling device availability at Main Line Health improved communication volume and clarity, while easing pressure on nursing and support staff. Quality, safety, and patient experience depend on each other. When one falls, the whole structure falls. Reliable interpretation reduces reliance on untrained family members or staff, protecting both accuracy and patient trust. Language access touches every part of the patient journey, from registration and wayfinding to discharge paperwork, not only clinical encounters. Strong language services can reduce patients leaving without being seen and support broader operational metrics tied to patient experience. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Language Access as a Strategic Priority 01:50 – Sue's Role Leading Patient Experience at Main Line Health 03:00 – From Compliance Checkbox to Shared Commitment 05:24 – Language Services as an Essential Care Tool 08:33 – Balancing Cost Conversations with Care Excellence 12:08 – How the Right Tools Reduce Staff Burnout 15:11 – Trust, Validation, and the Risk of Informal Interpreters 17:20 – Doubling Devices: A Main Line Health Deployment Story 21:07 – Connecting Language Access to Operational Metrics 24:58 – Language Access Beyond the Clinical Encounter 27:02 – A Final Word for Leaders Still on the Fence Meet Suzanne Smith Suzanne "Sue" Smith serves as System Director of Patient Experience at Main Line Health, where she oversees connected care across five hospitals and more than 150 physician practices outside Philadelphia. With over 25 years in healthcare, Sue leads a team spanning patient navigators, EDI ambassadors, spiritual care, and volunteers, all focused on making sure every patient feels seen and understood. Her work centers on building bridges between data and humanity, using language access as one of the clearest expressions of patient-centered care. Sponsors: We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources!Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare. Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com to learn more.About The Show: Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here. Find Us On:WebsiteYouTubeSpotifyAppleInstagramLinkedInXFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this uplifting episode, Jed welcomes back Kathy McMillan, ASL interpreter, children's librarian, and creator of the new picture book series "Sign the Seasons." Kathy shares how the four-book series—starting with Sign the Seasons: Fall—invites kids and families to learn American Sign Language through everyday seasonal concepts like trees, squirrels, and weather. She explains how Familius Publishing partnered with her in a uniquely thoughtful way, involving her in every stage of illustration and bringing in both an ASL/Deaf culture advisor and an early childhood education advisor (a Coda) to ensure the books are accurate, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate. Kathy talks about her journey from children's librarian to nationally certified interpreter, and how signing with her own hearing son from birth transformed their communication. She busts the myth that signing stops kids from talking, emphasizing that communication begets communication and that signing supports early literacy, emotional regulation, and strong parent–child connection. Along the way, she offers fascinating insights into Deaf culture, ASL "accents," and even emerging sign languages like Nicaraguan Sign Language. In the second half of the episode, Jed is joined by author Ashley Mosley and conservation biologist Michael Windelspecht  to celebrate their picture book "This Birdie Told Me." Inspired by a real scarlet macaw ambassador at the Belize Zoo, the story gently introduces young readers to endangered species, rainforest habitats, and the importance of knowing who you are. Ashley and Michael share how their books, classroom toolkits, and conservation partnerships in Belize help kids everywhere fall in love with wildlife—and feel empowered to protect it.

Holly absolutely loves this final story of the day -- The Salt Lake Tribune reports that one of the most popular children's shows on Netflix -- Cocomelon -- will soon be available in American Sign Language. And it's all thanks to two Utahns. Holly shares why she's excited for this story and then shares her fun facts of the day; Greg finishes with his closing arguments.

Drop us a line or two . . .LONG SUMMARYQueenie kicks things off fresh from a weekend packed with family events — her niece's bridal shower, a pool party at her sister-in-law's place, and what would have been her late mother-in-law Kay's third anniversary. The shower was a hit partly because the bride lives in Texas and had the good sense to put "just ship it" on the invitation, meaning zero gift-unwrapping theater, zero bow hats, zero frantic "she's in the bathroom, don't open it yet" energy. The scratch-off card game was a crowd-pleaser — you send in a photo of the groom, they print him into a celebrity card deck, guests scratch to find him, winner gets a gift bag. Clean, fun, no one had to pretend to cry over a KitchenAid.On the way to the pool party, Queenie stopped at a neighborhood lemonade stand (Disney World fund, very ambitious), handed over a ten, got some chitchat — and then, as she's leaving in her bathing suit, a little girl looks up and says, *I like your dress.* Queenie nearly corrected her and then wisely decided: no need. Just drive away in your very mini dress.The conversation pivots to long marriages when TT brings up a moment at pickleball — a sweet young woman, married two years, asked TT and her husband what their secret was after learning they'd been together 43 years (Queenie initially insisted it was 45 or 46; the math got worked out eventually). The husband's answer: "You have to learn when not to say things." Queenie's suggested alternatives: laziness, procrastination, inertia, conflict aversion, exhaustion, and not wanting to go broke. TT reveals the piece of advice she *wanted* to write on a bridal shower card once but didn't have the nerve to sign her name to. It is, shall we say, anatomically specific and probably the most useful thing anyone has ever almost written on one of those cards.This leads to a small detour about the lost art of handwriting — Queenie had to get a second advice card at the shower because her first attempt looked like it was written by, in her words, "a deranged old woman." Neither of them writes anymore. Cursive, once a graded subject, now just runs off the page on its own while the brain races ahead.The segment **Wait, What? No Way, José** lands on smell training and brain aging, sourced from a Harvard neurobiologist (legitimacy confirmed: it's not just hoo-ha). Turns out your nose is directly wired into cognitive, emotional, and memory centers of the brain, smell loss is linked to 139 health conditions, and simply sniffing five strong scents for 20 seconds twice a day — lavender, lemon, coffee, clove, eucalyptus — with active focus can improve verbal fluency and even increase hippocampus volume. The ladies immediately start workshopping their personal scent lineups. TT goes for baking bread, tomato plants, and basil. Queenie wants salt air (requires seaweed, complicated to bottle), eucalyptus, lavender, the smell of a baby's head, and the smell of spring — which she acknowledges is more of a smell memory than a smell. TT connects the dots: smells are evocative, strengthening the connection probably strengthens memory, and also TT has chronic sinus issues so this whole exercise might be harder for her. Queenie floats eucalyptus as a possible unclogger. Nobody huffs gasoline, despite TT's complicated feelings about it.Hot on the heels of nose science comes a cannabis news drop: a large new study published in BMJ Mental Health found no link between cannabis use and cognitive decline or dementia risk in older adults. Unlike the patchwork of conflicting prior studies, this one has statistical weight — large observational sample plus genetic causation testing. The researchers themselves say it's reassuring, not a green light for heavy use. Queenie's editorial: "Put that in your pipe and smoke it, everybody." TT suspects the dementia scare was always a "dog whistle" designed to keep older adults — now the biggest cannabis-purchasing demographic — away from the dispensary.**TT's Choice** pulls number 50: *What if you woke up fluent in one new language? Which one, and what's the first thing you say?* TT chooses American Sign Language. Queenie blinks. Slowly. Several times. She comes around — ASL is cool, meaningful, a genuine bridge — but not before pointing out that you can't exactly holler across a room in it and that the deaf community is, statistically speaking, a smaller conversation pool than Mandarin speakers. TT's first thing she'd sign: *Hey, I can communicate with you.* Queenie's pick is Hindi or Mandarin, motivated by sheer population density and years of working with people from India and China. Her first phrase would be "How may I best support you?" They both know exactly one useful sign — the universal one — and demonstrate it enthusiastically. World peace is declared, then immediately rescinded.**The Fuck It List** this week belongs to Queenie, who has been drowning in communication chaos. Working with relocation assignees, she's been available in every possible channel simultaneously — WhatsApp, texting, email, calls — with no structure, no response windows, 14 draft messages floating in the ether. She's saying fuck it to the myth of 24/7 availability and replacing it with something she finds less loaded than "setting boundaries": setting expectations. Spelling out clearly what method to use when, what response time is realistic, what constitutes an emergency. TT's contribution: "Clarity is kindness." They both acknowledge the particular guilt that comes with this for women of their generation — trained to give, to accommodate, to say yes and mean it and then quietly resent it. Queenie also notes the extra complication: some of her assignees are new to a city with no social network, making her feel like the only lifeline. Still. Expectations. In writing. Part of the intake process. Done.The back half is pure domestic dispatch: TT is doing smoothies for lunch, lost some weight, allowed herself ice cream on the Wisconsin River (a ferry went past; they did not take it), and permits herself two pieces of hard candy a day. Queenie is preparing for a colonoscopy on Wednesday — which she is reframing as "Cleansday" and, after the year she had, genuinely does not fear. She was apparently scolded last time for insufficient prep results, a situation she finds baffling since she followed instructions and couldn't exactly verify from her end. More Miralax this time. She's fine with it. Meanwhile, Queenie's daughter Megan had her first mammogram and got called back — technical imaging issue, folding, unclear view, very common for a first scan, not worrying anyone. Queenie's granddaughter just started high school. Time, as always, is marching on without asking permission.They close, as they do, pleasantly confused and absolutely fine with it.SHORT SUMMARYQueenie survived a bridal shower, a pool party, and being complimented on her "dress" (it was a bathing suit) — all in one weekend. CDQ covers smell training as a legit brain health tool, a reassuring new cannabis-and-cognitive-decline study, a TT's Choice debate about sign language vs. Mandarin, and Queenie's Fucked List entry on finally setting expectations — not boundaries, *expectations* — around her availability. Aging brains, long marriages, colonoscopy prep, and ASL for "fuck you": a perfectly normal episode. TOP 5 PULL QUOTES**TT:** "There's no problem that a blowjob can't fix. I didn't have the guts to write it — I didn't know these people."**Queenie:** "I have long-term care insurance, and I'm not afraid to exhaust all my benefits. And when they're gone, guess what? So am I."**TT:** "To what do you attribute your successful marriage? And I said, I don't know. And honey said, You have to learn when not to say things."**Queenie:** "I'm saying fuck it to the pretense that I'm available twenty-four seven. My assignees will be better served if I just spell it out — setting expectations, not boundaries. Clarity is kindness."**Queenie:** "I'm looking forward to my colonoscopy prep because I'll drop a few pounds. I'm viewing it as a cleanse. A reset. I can start fresh. That's what I should've been calling it all along — Cleansday."# EPISODE VIBEIt's the kind of episode that feels like eavesdropping on two people who've known each other long enou Welcome to the Closet Disco Queen Pot-Cast, a #1 ranked Women in Cannabis (Feedspot, Million Pods; 2025) comedy podcast with music and pop culture references that keeps you laughing and engaged. Join our hosts, Queenie & TT as they share humorous anecdotes about daily life, offering women's perspectives on lifestyle and wellness. We dive into funny cannabis conversations and stories, creating an entertaining space where nothing is off-limits. Each episode features entertaining discussions on pop culture trends, as we discuss music, culture, and cannabis in a light-hearted and inclusive manner. Tune in for a delightful blend of humor, insight, and relatable stories that celebrate life's quirks and pleasures. Our Closet Disco Queen Pot-Cast deals with legal adult cannabis use and is intended for entertainment purposes only for those 21 and olderVisit our Closet Disco Queen Pot-Cast merch store!Find us on Facebook and Green Coast RadioSound from Zapsplat.com,  https://quicksounds.com, 101soundboards.com #ToneTransfer

TEATIME WITH MISS LIZ SERVES: Maria Gallucci July 9th | 7 PM EST Title: Raised in Silence: Building Bridges Through Communication, Compassion & Home Tagline: When people feel seen, heard, and valued, lives—and communities—are transformed. Description: Join Miss Liz for an inspiring conversation with Maria Gallucci, award-winning REALTOR®, bestselling author, and passionate advocate whose life has been dedicated to breaking barriers through communication, empathy, and service. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Maria learned American Sign Language before English and discovered at a young age that true communication goes far beyond words. At just twelve years old, she helped her Deaf parents purchase their first home, an experience that became the foundation for a lifelong mission of creating accessibility and inclusion. Today, Maria is one of the nation's top real estate professionals, founder of Uptown Realty Group, Gallucci Homes, ASL Realty, and ASL @ Compass, while continuing to advocate for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, LGBTQ+, and underserved communities. Her bestselling memoir, Raised in Silence, is a powerful story of identity, resilience, advocacy, and the importance of ensuring every person feels seen, heard, and respected. Opening: Welcome everyone to another inspiring edition of Teatime with Miss Liz, where stories create understanding and conversations change lives. Today we're honoured to welcome Maria Gallucci, an award-winning REALTOR®, bestselling author, community advocate, and founder whose life's work is built around one simple but powerful belief—that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. Maria's extraordinary journey from interpreting for her Deaf parents as a child to becoming one of America's top real estate professionals is a beautiful example of compassion in action. Maria, welcome to the Teatime table. Closing: Today's Teatime reminded us that communication is more than words—it's about connection, understanding, and creating spaces where everyone belongs. Maria Gallucci showed us how empathy, service, and authenticity can transform not only careers but entire communities. Thank you, Maria, for reminding us that every voice deserves to be heard and every person deserves to feel valued. Maria Gallucci is an award-winning REALTOR®, bestselling author of Raised in Silence, and founder of Uptown Realty Group, Gallucci Homes, ASL Realty, and ASL @ Compass. A lifelong advocate for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and LGBTQ+ communities, she combines over thirty years of real estate expertise with compassionate, inclusive leadership. About Maria:• Award-Winning REALTOR®• Bestselling Author of Raised in Silence• Founder of Uptown Realty Group• Founder of Gallucci Homes• Founder of ASL Realty• Founder of ASL @ Compass• Community Advocate• National Speaker Favourite Colour: Pink One Word That Describes Her: Authentic Maria's T-E-E: Teaching Empathy Empowerment Three Phrases That Share Her Story:• Growing up between two worlds• Turning silence into understanding• Helping people feel seen, heard, and valued#TeatimeWithMissLiz#MariaGallucci#RaisedInSilence#InclusiveLeadership#MakingADifferenceOneCupAtATime

Send us Fan MailTwo giant icons enter the ring, and the internet instantly turns into a tribal debate: giant lizard or big monkey. We're Project Geekology, and we go deep on Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) with the exact mix this movie deserves: hype for the Titan fights, genuine appreciation for the best MonsterVerse worldbuilding, and zero fear of calling out the plot when it gets wobbly.We talk about why this film lands better for us than Godzilla: King of the Monsters, how the franchise keeps rotating its human cast like a baton pass, and why that choice creates a real continuity problem for Millie Bobby Brown's character. Then we get into the good stuff: Kong's unreal CGI and facial performance, the boat and Antarctica sequences that look shockingly tactile, and the debate over Gia, American Sign Language, and how believable it is that Kong understands as much as he does.From there, we follow the breadcrumbs into Apex, “bad vibrations,” and Godzilla's rampage logic, then zoom out to the biggest MonsterVerse keyword of them all: Hollow Earth. We break down what the movie explains, what it skips, and why that hidden realm becomes the storytelling engine for everything that comes next. And yes, we give Mechagodzilla his flowers, because a mechanical Titan powered by Ghidorah's leftovers is exactly the kind of sci-fi nonsense we can't resist.If you're watching along with the MonsterVerse, hit subscribe, share the episode with your Team Godzilla or Team Kong friends, and leave us a five-star review so we can keep going. Who are you rooting for after the rewatch?Twitter handles:Project Geekology: https://twitter.com/pgeekologyAnthony's Twitter: https://twitter.com/odysseyswowDakota's Twitter: https://twitter.com/geekritique_dakInstagram:https://instagram.com/projectgeekology?igshid=1v0sits7ipq9yYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@projectgeekologyGeekritique (Dakota):https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwciIqOoHwIx_uXtYTSEbASupport the show

This week, Jason is joined by Bravo personality and The Valley star Janet Caperna for a conversation about career reinvention, reality television, social media monetization, entrepreneurship, financial planning, and the unexpected path that led her from Ohio to becoming one of Bravo's fastest-rising stars. Before becoming a reality television personality, Janet built a completely different career. Growing up in Ohio, she earned degrees in English and American Sign Language interpretation before managing a large team of interpreters. Following a divorce in her late twenties, Janet made the difficult decision to leave Ohio for Los Angeles, seeking a fresh start and a new chapter in life. Janet shares how a friendship with Scheana Shay unexpectedly opened doors in Hollywood and eventually led her into the world of executive support for high-net-worth individuals. She reflects on working for a billionaire family before landing what she describes as a dream role helping build Avaline, the wine company founded by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power. Janet offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how celebrity-founded businesses actually operate, explaining why Avaline succeeded by having deeply involved founders who treated the company like a true startup rather than simply lending their names to a brand. Jason and Janet dive into the realities of executive assistant careers, discussing compensation, benefits, equity opportunities, and why top assistants today can earn well into six figures. Janet also shares lessons learned from working alongside successful entrepreneurs, including how identifying gaps in the market can become the foundation for a successful business. The conversation then shifts to Bravo and the creation of The Valley. Janet explains how the show originated from real-life friendships, why she initially hesitated to join reality television, and how perfect timing—including leaving Avaline, becoming pregnant, and receiving the Bravo opportunity—ultimately changed the trajectory of her career. She discusses the realities of reality TV compensation, what viewers don't see behind the scenes, and why authenticity is critical for long-term success on television. Janet also opens up about navigating public criticism, internet hate, and social media scrutiny. She shares how difficult early seasons helped her develop resilience and why she now avoids placing too much value on either praise or criticism from strangers online. Instead, she focuses on feedback from close friends and family while continuing to build her platform in an authentic way. Beyond reality television, Janet discusses podcasting, content creation, and social media monetization. She reveals how her podcast grew organically, why some of the most successful content comes from unplanned conversations, and how she evaluates brand partnerships to ensure they align with her personal values. From landing her first paid sponsorships to building a growing audience, Janet shares practical insights for anyone looking to create content and monetize an online platform. Throughout the episode, Janet reflects on friendship, gratitude, financial discipline, and the importance of staying grounded while navigating success. Whether discussing reality television, entrepreneurship, personal finance, or career pivots, she emphasizes the value of taking calculated risks while maintaining a long-term perspective. Janet reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can't afford to miss! Subscribe to the Trading Secrets podcast! Host: Jason Tartick Audio: John Gurney Video: Marc Colcer Guest: Janet Caperna Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

American Sign Language is used by the deaf, hearing-impaired, and those who teach, live, and work with them, which totals up to around two million people in North America. But an award-winning and best-selling children's book author, Kathleen Marcath, believes many more kids should learn ASL. “It provides many educational and social advantages,” she says.“What truly sets this book apart is its thoughtful inclusion of American Sign Language (ASL),” says the author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me, and a companion book, My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring and Activity Book. Each page introduces children  new to ASL signs and helpful tips, seamlessly blending play with education. From the moment I opened the book, the integration of sign language stood out as both unique and valuable. It's rare to see a children's activity book that so beautifully encourages communication and inclusivity while remaining entertaining.The learning opportunities feel endless. I could easily envision this being used not only at home but also within classroom settings. The educational value is immense, as children develop language, fine motor, and cognitive skills while discovering a new way to communicate through ASL. Her book is a vibrant new adventure in learning and play. Additionally, she has a 77-page color & activity book that provides fun and helps young readers discover the limitless potential of American Sign Language (ASL). Packed with variety, the coloring and activity book offers everything from sentence-writing practice and time-telling exercises to vocabulary building and art activities along with monster trucks, puzzles, mazes, early math, and writing prompts, this book gives children a hands-on way to explore language and build confidence through play. Whether your child is just beginning to sign or already loves ASL, they'll find pages filled with laughter, challenge, and discovery.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

In this episode of the Neuro Reset Podcast, Dr. Teames sits down with Tiffany, an American Sign Language interpreter and mother of three, who shares her powerful journey through chronic illness, burnout, and healing. After years of debilitating symptoms including tachycardia, brain fog, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and severe fatigue, Tiffanie found herself unable to function as a mother, wife, or professional. She recounts visiting 48 practitioners in just three years, including specialists, functional medicine doctors, and even traveling internationally for treatment, while accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt without lasting answers. Listen to her healing journey and how it all started.  Request a consult: 480-674-9199 https://desertbrainandspine.com  

A local educator talks about so-called “teen takeovers” in the Milwaukee area. A documentary explores the art of interpreting live music with American Sign Language. An art center in the Driftless region draws visitors from around the world. 

On this week's episode... AI generated Val Kilmer stars in new movie, Disney transforms iconic songs for National Deaf History Month, Project Hail Mary's James Ortiz is eligible for an Academy Award, New England filming projects, Beef season 2, The Pitt season finale, and more! The Hub on Hollywood, hosted by Jamie and James, delves into the thriving film industry in New England. The podcast explores the production of various projects, including commercials, television shows, and full-length feature films. The podcast offers insight into New England’s growing film industry, as well as entertainment news and reviews. Subscribers can access the podcast on the iHeartRadio app and follow the hosts on Instagram and TikTok for updates.tSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're celebrating National Poetry Month by revisiting some of our favorite conversations with poets. When Raymond Antrobus was 6 years old, he learned he was deaf. His memoir The Quiet Ear describes living in a world of in-betweenness, straddling intersections of race, class, hearing and deafness. In today's episode, Antrobus joins NPR's Mary Louise Kelly for a discussion that touches on his connection with the creative deaf community in London, his dad's DJ sets, and differences between British and American Sign Language.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedaySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

In this episode, I'm joined by wellness advocate, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, and author Deena Morris to discuss her book Lessons From the Future: STORM the Empowered Empath. Drawing from her experience in special education, communication, and emotional insight, Deena explores what it means to be an empath in today's world — and how to transform overwhelm into empowerment. This conversation dives into emotional awareness, boundaries, intuition, and how to navigate the world with both compassion and strength.

DEIAB and Educational Interpreting with Christina StevensChristine interviews Christina Stevens, a nationally certified sign language interpreter working mainly in Connecticut public schools for nine years, with degrees in American Sign Language and Theater and leadership roles in state and national interpreter organizations. She shares how she discovered interpreting in college through theater performances, later attending Columbia College Chicago, and ultimately becoming an educational interpreter despite initially thinking she would not. Stevens discusses boundaries and the central role interpreters play for students, noting that about 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents and about 50% of those parents learn sign language, affecting home communication. Stevens advocates expanding DEI to “DEIAB” (Accessibility and Belonging), emphasizing early budgeting, bringing Deaf people to planning tables, and recognizing different interpreting approaches. She encourages learning ASL from Deaf or native users through community involvement.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:01 How Christina Found ASL01:56 Training and Career Path02:57 Why School Interpreting Is Hard03:58 Classroom Visit and Book Talk04:49 Day to Day Interpreter Role06:42 DEIAB Accessibility and Belonging09:00 Deaf Awareness and Learning ASL10:35 Final Thoughts and Thanks

Los Angeles, California's J MAU & THE KISS OFF emerge from what they lovingly call their “beloved hellhole” with their debut single “Poison,” out March 25. Founded in 2025 by Justin “J Mau” Maurer, longtime punk lifer and founder of Clorox Girls, Suspect Parts, L.A. Drugz, and Maniac, the project finds Maurer turning toward something darker and dustier without losing the bite that's always defined him. “Poison” is a cinematic honky tonk murder ballad filtered through decades of West Coast punk history. It's the first glimpse of a songwriter who's always followed the feeling, even when it led somewhere uncomfortable. Maurer's story isn't mythology. It's messy and real. A CODA raised between Los Angeles and Bainbridge Island by a single Deaf mother, American Sign Language was his first language. Punk became his second. After surviving a turbulent childhood and helping put his abusive father in jail as a teenager, Maurer found autonomy in the underground. By fifteen he was booking shows and touring. By twenty he was releasing records and circling the globe with Clorox Girls. Along the way he built a parallel career as one of the country's most respected ASL interpreters, working alongside prominent political figures like Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Joe Biden, stage interpreting for punk legends like Alice Bag and The Avengers, interpreting Deaf actor Troy Kotsur's historic 2022 Academy Award acceptance speech, and appearing with Kotsur on Curb Your Enthusiasm. His life has always moved between worlds. After stints living in Madrid, London, and Baja California, and in the wake of a divorce that leveled him, Maurer found himself flat on his back in an East Hollywood apartment, cowboy boots still on, old country records spinning. Hank Williams. Buck Owens. Merle Haggard. Gram Parsons. Kris Kristofferson. Townes Van Zandt. He finally understood it. “Real country music is poetry,” Maurer says. “It's about failure, heartbreak, and the tragic human condition. Music to laugh and cry and live and die by.” That rock-bottom clarity led him to write “Poison.” Recorded at Savannah Studios in Boyle Heights with Ignacio “Iggy” Gonzalez and backed by Patrick “Butterworth” Vasquez and Kevin “Quake” Milner, the track moves like a slow-burning reckoning. Acoustic strum, restrained rhythm, and a haunted vocal that feels equal parts confession and warning. From his window in Pico Union, Maurer could hear children playing at the elementary school across the street. Listening to old country compilations full of doomed protagonists, he imagined himself as a man on the run whose days were numbered, watching that schoolyard and knowing he might never see it again. That's where the line came from: “When will you see the children play / You never will again.” The refrain doesn't comfort you. It circles back like a hard truth you can't shake: “It's got a way / That poison's got a way / It's got a say / It's got the final say.” The single arrives with an 8mm-shot video co-directed by Maurer's former MANIAC bandmate Zache Davis and Marta Ribate Gracia-Davis. Grainy, sun-bleached, and edited with a careful hand, it plays like a spaghetti western fever dream, a corrido where the protagonist must confront how he'll be remembered before the end comes calling. The artwork, designed by longtime collaborator Matthew “Snake” Davis, leans into vintage flash tattoo skulls and silent-film menace. J MAU & THE KISS OFF OnlineINSTAGRAM| SPOTIFY| BANDCAMP| FACEBOOK| YOUTUBE Checkout my YouTube Channel with long form interviews from the Subversives | the History of Lowest of the Low. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9d1VSeOHYuxFWKuRdmn9j8UTW6AHwS_fAlso my Weekly Tour Vlog is up an live on the YouTubeshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9d1VSeOHYuwphwhc4zd0VgY66f1OUQZp Pledge monthly with Patreon https://www.patreon.com/apologueShop Apologue products at http://apologue.ca/shopCheck out new Four Square Here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/foursquare/brighton-beach-ephttps://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/foursquare/seven-oh-sevenhttps://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/foursquare/industry-at-home–21st-anniversary-remix-remasteredhttps://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/foursquare/when-weeks-were-weekends

Stay connected with us at americangroundradio.com, on Facebook, and Instagram. You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for April 6, 2026. We're kicking off this Monday with some remarkable Easter weekend news — U.S. Catholic dioceses are reporting record numbers of adult converts, and we dig into why the Church is seeing a surge that's not just happening here at home, but across Europe and Australia too. From Oklahoma City to Newark to Mobile, the numbers are stunning, and we talk about what's really driving people — especially young people — back to faith. Then our American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson join us to weigh in on a growing trend we honestly couldn't believe was a thing: couples who get legally married in secret and then stage a whole second wedding for family and friends — without telling anyone. We dig into whether it's harmless fun or just flat-out deceptive, and things get interesting fast. In our Digging Deep segment, we break down a six-month CBS News investigation into why Californians are paying so much more at the pump than the rest of the country. Spoiler alert: it's not the oil companies. A full 55% of the cost of every gallon of gas in California comes down to state government policy — and we walk through exactly what that means. For our Bright Spot, we share new data from the American Enterprise Institute that completely flips the "hollowing out of the middle class" narrative on its head. The middle class isn't shrinking because people are getting poorer — it's because more American families are moving up into the upper middle class. We break down what that actually looks like since 1979, and why it's a story worth celebrating. And we close out with a Moment of Whoa that'll restore your faith in people — specifically, a group of first graders in New Hampshire who, entirely on their own, decided to learn American Sign Language so they could talk to their deaf classmate Ben. And then the whole class followed. We love this one. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! "Now That The Crew Is Rescued — What Actually Happened Over Iran." M.A. Rothman X Post. U.S. LNG exports up again in March on global panic buying Artemis II mission breaks records Monday as astronauts observe far side of the moon California gas prices are the highest in the U.S., but there's no proof of price gouging. Here's why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Ayorkor AdjeiBook: God Made (with American Sign Language)Topic: a discussion of ministry to the deaf and the importance of bringing their families togetherInterview Location: 2026 Christian Product Expo in Destin, FLWebsite: ayorkoradjei.com

The story follows Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), a college student who returns to her family's remote, cliffside mansion in Hawaii after the death of her mother. She is joined by her younger sister Erin and their deaf father Adam (Troy Kotsur), a successful novelist. The family lives with Ben, a highly intelligent pet chimpanzee that was the subject of their late mother's linguistics research. Ben can communicate using American Sign Language and a custom tablet soundboard.   Chad       bag of butter       Eric-Medium            Jordan-Small  

In the latest episode of Manager Minute, host Carol Pankow sits down with Michael Mackillop, Executive Director of the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind, to explore how one agency is rethinking how VR services are delivered—and the powerful results that follow. From dramatically shortening the time to services to introducing milestone planning that keeps customers moving forward, Washington DSB is demonstrating what can happen when agencies streamline processes and keep the focus on people. The conversation highlights real outcomes, including customers achieving meaningful careers with wages averaging over $39 per hour, and the cultural and programmatic shifts helping individuals rediscover confidence, expand their goals, and pursue careers they once thought were out of reach. This episode offers an honest, practical, and inspiring look at how VR leaders can rethink processes, strengthen partnerships, and build systems that help people move toward what's possible. Listen Here Full Transcript: {Music} Michael: A lot of customers. The feedback is it's great and a lot of counselors. The feedback is it's great. Carol: It makes brilliant sense because I think people spend so much time. You're letting perfect get in the way of the good. Michael: Learning as an adult is not easy. Learning to do new things, and the frustrations and the anger that can come from having to adapt to the environment that doesn't adapt to you. I think that now is the time, if any time is to show the power and the impact of vocational rehabilitation for the economy and for our communities. Intro voice: Manager minute, brought to you by the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center. Conversations powered by VR. One manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host, Carol Pankow. Carol: Well, welcome to the manager minute. Joining me in the studio today is Michael Mackillop, Washington Blind Executive Director. So how are things in Washington, Michael? Michael: Things are doing good. There's a little bit of Seattle Seahawks fever. Carol: Uh, yes, Seattle, Wahoo, Go Seahawks! Michael: And there's probably some growing excitement for hosting matches of the World Cup. So there's that whole sports thing. And today we're back to rain, which makes us feel it's just this nice gentle drip. It's not an atmospheric river where it's monsoon rain and all the snow from the mountains. It's just a nice, gentle rain. So things are decently good here in Seattle. Carol: Oh, good for you. Well, I have an affinity for the whole Seattle area. I have two brothers out there and lots of nieces and nephews and yeah, all the people I love to come. And I remember, gosh, Michael, I remember meeting you. I feel like it was like 13 years ago or something. Michael: At least, yeah. Carol: At least! (Michael laughs) Carol: You were friends with Jon Benson, my deputy, when I was at SSB. And so we got hooked together. And then I remember I would always tell Jon I'd be like, Call Michael, what are they doing at Washington Blind? Because, you know, you want to see what's going on? And in fact, I remember you guys calling us because we went on an Order of Selection, which is not common for a blind agency. And I remember when Lou Olma was still there, she had called. She's like, oh, you know, asking some questions about that. So I felt like we had some shared experiences together. Michael: Yeah. And we connected, I think, through CSAVR and NCSAB conferences and I mean plug out to them. It's just such an incredible place to really meet people from around the country and become long term supports. Carol: Right. It takes a village to do this job. So the more people you can meet, good shout out for like connecting with other people and just trying to build those relationships, because then you have them way over a decade later, you know, going on two decades later. Michael: And you don't have to go it alone. Right? I mean, to try to go through something like Order of selection, say, alone that... Carol: Yeah. Michael: But when you know, you got people or community of practices that are helping you through it. So it's  my plug to be connected to the national scene because you can't do it alone. Carol: 100%. I'm putting an exclamation point behind that one. Well, I happen to be perusing because I had my knee replaced last month. So as I'm laying and putting my leg up and icing and all the things, I was reading lots of the social media because I kind of was behind a little bit. So I'm in LinkedIn and, you know, accepting requests and connecting with other people. And I read, you're awesome, Michaels posting on LinkedIn, and you posted something and I just went, oh my gosh, it made me then go into your website. And then I'm like, all over your website and I'm watching your YouTube videos. It was super fun. So for our listeners, what caught me was Michael was reporting on this annual report they had done, and he was talking about the North Region team supporting 51 customers to attain their career goals, three of whom were able to retain their established small businesses. And then all the cool kinds of work people were in with STEM careers and education and finance and administrative and human services. And then it really hooked me with the average wage of 39.30 per hour. And then he does this nice Congratulations out to his folks. I'm like, what is happening there? Because that's what we want in VR. You want those family sustaining wages and all the good stuff. So long story short, listeners, I had to get Michael on and go, what is the secret sauce happening in Washington? What are they doing there? Because I thought this was super cool. So, Michael, before we launch into kind of what you're doing, I just want to get a little caught up on how did you start in VR? How'd you get there and how did you come into a blindness agency. Michael: Sometimes accidentally? Uh, perhaps a little bit reluctantly. I've been with this agency for 25 years, and I started as an AT specialist. I had experience in adult education in computers. And then I got a job, actually, at the lighthouse for the blind, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind as an instructor. Where the supervisor, because I had studied American Sign Language, is a long story about why I did that and got connected in with Seattle's deaf community in the 90s and the Deaf Blind community as well. We have a very robust and vibrant deaf blind community in the Puget Sound area, and there were a number of individuals who were Deaf, Blind that were working at the Seattle Lighthouse that really needed computer skills. And so I didn't know anything about adaptive technologies, but I knew about Sign Language, I knew about computers, and I knew about adult education. And so that supervisor gave me six months. And to figure out the screen readers and screen magnifiers and braille displays and to start training. And so it was lovely to be able to, you know, directly communicate with students that, you know, hadn't touched a computer in their lives. That got me, you know, into the Blindness and Vocational Rehabilitation is a big part of, you know, people at the Lighthouse wanting to promote or work elsewhere. Uh, work out into the integrated community. And so there was experience with DSB. I was reluctant to be a state employee. I promise you that once I gave that up and got hired on a DSB, just the passion for the customer, the mission, the initiative, it kind of dispelled my notions of what a state agency is and who works at a state agency. So obviously I've loved it so much. I've been there for 25 years plus, so. Carol: That is crazy. I had no idea. You're I think you're my first guest, that's come on. That's come from this AT background. Good for you. Very cool. I love it because it's always fun to see people's paths in. We all take a different way, but you come in, and then you stick with it because you love it. Like you just love it. Michael: Exactly. Carol: Well, in your December's report. Oh my gosh, what really stood out I was I love the customer voices. You know, you had somebody on there, I think. I don't know if it's Francis working into her 70s, people that were earning promotions and discovering entirely new career paths. And when you look at all those stories, I just wonder from your perspective, what does success actually mean to you as a VR director? Michael: Yeah, I mean, I really love that the breadth and the depth of those career choices that people find through our services, their personal journey of discovery, finding the strengths that didn't know they had and that that's what excites me. And that's what I hear again and again and again. People not believing in themselves until they get some of those adaptive skills. It's so often the key to expanding their own self-assessment, their self-expectations. Losing your vision is traumatic, there's no question. And acquiring a disability as an adult. And that can really impact your belief in yourself and what you believe you can do. And for me, all those career achievements, they represent that journey of that person who I've heard the story so many times that they sat on a sofa thinking there is no future for them. There is no way to get into work. Their self-value had diminished so much because of the change in vision, and then something sparking that bravery of calling the agency. Whether they hear about the agency the first time or they've heard about it, and they get that courage up to call us, and it's a lot. I mean, to honor that connection, to say, I need to change. I need to get off the sofa. I need to do the work to be who I want to be. It takes a lot. And so honoring that those successes that we hear about the just a ray of education or healthcare or last year we had two physicians. We had two people that were physicians. And there's no career that's not possible for that individual, whatever that individual's aptitude and abilities are. It just takes the adaptations and the adaptive technologies and those the belief in themselves to do it. It's a lot of hard work. I mean, once people make the brave call and get into the work, it's hard. And so keeping people motivated through all the challenges and learning as an adult is not easy. Learning to do new things, and the frustrations and the anger that can come from having to adapt to the environment that doesn't adapt to you and those daily frustrations. Hopefully the agency is helping that individual through and to keep and progress. So those stories all just tell me about the work that that individual has done to get where they're at and knowing what a lot of challenge and determination and grit it took to get there. Carol: 100%! Preach Michael! That was good. That was really good. I know I always have that, I just have that place in my heart from my time at SSB, because I felt like the work we did was so profoundly, not that all the work isn't, but it was so profoundly life changing for these folks because so many of them, you know, came to us later in life. They were losing vision, either something medically was wrong, whatever was going on. But, you know, they had these careers and then they go from this place of utter devastation to absolute, like, you have completely changed someone's life. You just man, you could feel it in you like it was such an incredible deal living through that with our folks and what an impact that VR had. Otherwise they would still be sitting on that sofa, you know. Michael: Yeah. And then the work that they did, they were they're changing their lives and they're taking that direction and they're keeping up with it. We're supporting that... Carol: Yeah. Michael: But they're moving forward. Carol: It's on them. Michael: Yeah. Carol:  But we give them that glimmer like we're able to help point them in the right way. Like, here's some stuff and we can help you do the thing. Well, I know these outcomes your folks are having didn't happen by accident. And of course, people had come from different backgrounds and different careers. Or maybe they were in a business and didn't think they were going to get to keep it, but I feel like there's something going on in your agency as well. Knowing you guys and knowing you at the helm, what do you think are some things maybe you are doing differently, whether it's culturally or programmatically, that are really contributing to this level of your customer success? Michael: Yeah, there's been a lot of restructuring and change in our agency, and I would say that we are looking at that customer experience more closely and trying to really support the customer experience and not necessarily have the system support how we manage the work, but how the customer is making success. There's been a lot of discussion in the national VR community around time to services and the timelines that the federal regulations allow. When you look at that, when you look, when you think about it in your own life, would I be willing to wait 60 days before I know if I'm eligible, would I be willing to wait 90 days after that to start services? I mean, those timelines don't meet our modern needs, and maybe in the past it made sense to go slow. It doesn't. These days, people are brave enough to make that call after three years on the sofa. We need to get them into services so they start believing in themselves and are working. Excited about that path and just don't get frustrated by the process. So really our first thing is time to services. We created internal systems where we've got intake specialists, centralized intake specialists that are really shrinking the time to determine eligibility and to gather the information to convey to our counselors, our local counselors. So there's preparation there. And that's really shrunk the time. I think it was like 28 days on average and now it's 14 days. We'd like it to be a little bit shorter. Uh, even still, we know that observation for 85% of our counselor observation, we can determine that there's a disabling condition and then through that counseling conversation, can understand what those functional limitations are and what services might be useful in determining that eligibility. So our timeline lag used to be waiting for eye reports from eye doctors who it was never a priority when we knew that there was a visual disability. Carol: You can see they clearly don't have eye sockets or something is like clearly, clearly gone, we don't need an eye doctor report to tell you that. Michael: But letting counselors know and the intake specialists know that observation is valued, take it, justify it, document it, but let's move people through. Let's not keep people waiting for no reason. We've also restructured the way that we do our planning and the assessments towards the planning. We created something called Milestone Planning and that is really shrinking down the goals we're working on towards that long term goal of career path that we've got and we keep that in our heads. But what are the things that the customer is able to commit to doing now in the next three months, four months, up to six months? Let's focus on those. Let's shrink that down and let's have our assessment focus on, you know, be included folded into that and our services folded into that. It used to be our old system was we would do all these complete comprehensive assessments, and it would take months to get people in the eight specialists, and they'd write six page reports of all the things that would be useful. And the O&M specialists and rehab specialists would, you know, do the home assessments. And that's months of assessment. And people are like, what am I doing? This doesn't make sense. They're not getting the services. We're creating this five year plan with very detailed services for the entire time of the plan. And then the customer gets one service, they learn to do something and their whole universe expands suddenly. I thought it could only be a customer service, but oh my gosh, I can do this. Let's rethink it. We were doing a lot of work upfront for something that changes almost, almost instantly once we get people services. Well, let's get people services now. Let's have them experience, you know, learning how to use a computer, learning that they can manage their home or learning that focus small. And then the conversations about that long term goal can change. And when we created that really formal long term plan and did all the work, our customers were nervous about saying that they wanted to change. And so they either got stuck and continued that or they just disappeared. The other piece that customers have told us is they didn't know where they were going. They didn't have clarity on what they were doing, what, you know, it's just too vague, that five year plan. So getting more frequent and meaningful engagement between the counselor and the customer has been a goal of ours, and that has required us to shift some of the work and shift some of the administrative work. We took a lot of that upfront work and provided that to the intake specialists. So there's more time for the counselor. And then also talking about how we shrink what we've known as counseling and guidance, where we don't have to schedule an hour, hour and a half for these long term counseling and guidance sessions. But let's understand what our goal is, what we're trying to achieve, and check in at least once a month is our goal now. And to do counseling and guidance. And it may be a ten minute conversation about, you know, what are the obstacles, what's challenging you? What are your frustrations? What supports can we get? How's it going? That's all counseling and guidance that keeps people moving forward. And people often fell out because they didn't know to ask for support. Counselor contact once every 90 days. I mean, there's no relationship built there. Carol: No. They forget who you are. Like they, you know, they totally forget. Like, who are you again? And what are you with? Oh, yeah. That. Michael: And then the, the check in is how are things going? And the person says good, I guess. And the counselor writes, oh everything's great, but is it, right? So getting that more frequent and meaningful connection and conversation, knowing what the next steps are, keeping those goals small so we achieve them within three months from there and we build another goal from there has really been successful for I mean, it's new, mind you, it's new. A lot of customers. The feedback is it's great and a lot of counselors. The feedback is it's great, but it's really hard to change that mindset of the old way of doing everything all at once. Carol: I loved, I was so intrigued because when I, you know, of course, I went down the rabbit hole of your website. So I come in through the link you had on LinkedIn. I'm looking at the report and then I see, oh, what are these Milestone Plans, you know, and then I'm like, what is this? And then I watched the YouTube video and then I'm like, oh, well, this is going really well. It makes brilliant sense because I think people spend so much time, you're letting perfect get in the way of the good, because you're gonna have this beautiful plan and we're going to have it for five years and all these things. And then, quite frankly, I think you get probably a little annoyed because customers go along the way and then they're like, well, I don't really want to do that anymore. I want to pivot. I need to do this because as they're getting their skills of blindness, the world opens up and often they're like, yeah, I don't want to be the customer service person. I want to move now. Well, now you're annoyed. Oh, we're gonna amend the plan, you know, so when you make that kind of the process, things irritating to you that you're going to have to amend and do the things it'll make you crabby instead of just baking this in that we're not going to get so hung up. And we are creating the plan. We've got a goal, but we know these goals change and we're going to do an amendment and the persons involved and they're super engaged. Like it just seems so much more interactive. I'm like, Holy cow, that was you know, how many years has this taken for somebody to think of this, Michael? Michael: Goal and change is slow. But with this change, we are not leaving this. We're not just saying this is the change and then we're on to the next one. Carol: Yeah. Michael:  We are really sitting with this and you said bake it in. That is our mantra for this year is we're baking it in. We've made these changes last year. Now we've got to be sure that we're actually doing them. In the essence, it's not in name only. You know your Milestone Plan, you've got five years worth of services. Let's look at that and let's make sure that it's working. I had a really good conversation with a counselor yesterday who is super excited. And certainly what's helpful is, is getting some examples of how to shrink this down, how to shrink the thinking and how to shrink the, you know, down to something that's manageable and doable for that customer. So they know where they're going, they know what they're doing, and they know what the next step is after that. So yeah. Carol: It kind of leads me to my next thinking, because, you know, again, going back to your report and reading it, and I was so intrigued by people that also came in with kind of one goal. But as they get, you know, you get your skills of blindness, your world opens up and they left with something so much bigger. A big promotion, a new career or something that they had been dreaming about actually happened. How do you guys go about, because I know you're talking about, like, active engagement. You're doing this regularly, you're keeping in touch, but how do you really also create that space for them? So it isn't oh, we did our plan and here's your goal. And we're sticking to that like so that they can pursue the path that's right for them. Even though you might have set out on one way rather than that whole predefined outcome, that it's okay to pivot you're okay. Michael: Yeah. I mean, that is the key that people try things out and then it can change. And that's a value. It's not a negative that when someone tried this and then it they're like oh that's not for me. Well that's exactly what we want. We want that exploration. We want it in short bursts, so we're not investing in something and you realize five years later, oh, it's not for me. We want to know now. Let's figure that out now and let's find out if that's not it. What are some other things? We've had a lot of turnover. I think VR agencies have had a lot of turnover. And you know, since the pandemic, a lot of retirements, huge wave of retirements. And so the past year we've been stable in terms of not adding a whole lot of new people. And our focus is really building those skills and building that awareness and building those high expectations of our customers and not letting our own biases kind of drive where we want to guide the customer, but to be open to that customer and help instill the belief that self-belief for the customer and believe for the customer, because sometimes they come in and they do not believe in themselves. We've got to hold that, right? Carol: Right. Michael: We've got to hold that and then bring that customer up to it. And that's been a lot of our discussion and training for new staff. We also have real strong connections with our consumer organizations that help with that as well, and bring that connection to the blindness community. Even if our, you know, staff are not from that community, to make sure that we're understanding the community and expectations and what's happening. Being connected to the community we serve is critical. And through that, even if people have come from the general agency or come from outside blindness, really building that belief that Blind people can do whatever they're capable of. Right. Whatever that person can do, they can do it. Carol: I love it, I love it. Well, it kind of leads to my whole thoughts about you with collaboration because your report also highlighted, you guys talked about your partnerships, whether it's with employers or the tribal VR WorkSource and others. How do those relationships that you all have been cultivating translate into real opportunities for your customers? And how are you sustaining that, like really nurturing those relationships? Michael: You bet. It takes work and past history. I've been 25 years with a blind agency. We used to keep our heads low, keep under the radar, do everything in isolation. We had this weird notion that we could do it all. We're the only ones who know about blindness and rehab, and we'll do it all, whatever. And that's not true, because reality is. Blindness intersects all communities, and we need to find the ways to support people in where they're at, in their cultural expectations. And individualized services also means that any industry is a goal, is a potential career goal, and we need to keep ourselves on the cutting edge and understanding how to support people in any type of industry, understanding what opportunities exist so we can't do it all by ourselves. And there's the other notion that budgets are really tight. And even though other outside resources are shrinking, we need to do more to get our customers into those generalized programs that are out there for everyone and benefit everyone, and to have other parts of the workforce system be footing the bill, basically, so we can keep our dollars for the things that are unique to us, right? And tribal partners. You know, we've got an amazing relationship in Washington state region. We have ten tribal VR, AIvRS, American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation agencies here and then 29 recognized federal tribes. And we do have government to government relations and train our staff who interact with the tribal VR about government to government expectations and cultural expectations, but also understanding and helping our staff understand the value and the services that tribal VR can provide our customers with tribal affiliation that we're not able to. Those cultural healing practices are so critical for individuals. Tribal affiliations may also be pathways to careers that are on tribal lands or tribal businesses that we would not have access to if we didn't actively partner with our tribal VR partners. There's also, tribal VR does not get a whole lot of money. And so understanding too, that we're here to support tribal VR in all those visual disability sorts of things. We've got the expertise we can partner and provide those needs. So it's maximizing each of our budgets for that customer to have the maximum success. I think as well, the WorkSource, the American Job Center, the WIOA partners, I mean, all that as a blindness agency. We were left out of that for so long. And 2016, where we're part of that through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. I for three, four years and still even today, I'm like, I'm from GSB, a title four WIOA partner with rehabilitation. Every time I introduce myself, I had to do that because they're like, who are you? What do you do? Why are you. Why are you. Carol: Why are you here? Yeah. Michael: So we have, particularly through our business relations team, and we just expanded that in the past two years, really have created some strong connections with our Workforce partners and with the American Job Centers and those opportunities that exist we don't have to pay for, there's a six week job readiness workshop that is put on. And the challenge has always been for our customers going to the WorkSource centers and the American Job Centers, we call them WorkSource here in Washington state. And just having no access, having no accommodations that people are clueless about, people with visual disabilities and how to make that accessible. So we've done a lot of work. Our business relations staff did a lot of work with this particular workshop and made it fully accessible, totally integrated. It's not just blind, only, it's all individuals that are eligible for those services. Our customers have been so thrilled with that experience, and even to the point where in front of the consumer organization conventions, they're taking the mic and just crowing about the experience in these job readiness workshops to the Workforce. So we're expanding that. But there are also other opportunities. There are pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities, work experience, work based experience opportunities through the American Job Centers that we just never had access to, that we're starting to have access to. And it's getting our customers closer to their career goal through the partnership. Carol: I love it because you're really living into WIOA. You know, it's taken a long time across the country. It gets passed in 2014, but you're like, okay, what does that mean? And how is this really going to work and how are we really going to partner together? It's taken a long time for everybody across the country, but you start to see these pearls that are coming out of it, like you're talking about with the WorkSource and that training class, and now it's fully integrated like that is amazing because we still have places where it isn't happening. You know, people will tell you if a person who's blind or visually impaired shows up for a class, they're like, no, you got to go to Blind services. They do stuff over there. They can't come here. But the whole intent of Congress was to leverage all the partners together, because we each have our buckets of money, but we're better together if we can leverage those funds. Michael: Agreed. Carol:  100%. And you are living right into all of that. You need to do a presentation, my friend, at CSAVR or NCSAB, with all the cool stuff you guys are doing, I just think it's really awesome. Michael: It's taken a long time and it's been a lot of work. It's been a lot of effort, but I'm feeling like we're making progress now. Carol: That is so good to hear. So if you could offer a lesson, maybe a lesson you learned or something to other VR agencies, especially people that may be feeling overwhelmed or stuck. And I'll tell you, you have a lot of colleagues out there right now. Stuff's been tough. Based on the experiences you have, what would you want them to take away or what's something you'd just like to share? Michael: The easy one, a lot of things are coming to mind, but an easy one is to be brave. Examine. Really step back. Examine what is and isn't working. Don't. Don't hold on to how we've always been done it. And don't accept that or really shift your mindset to identify what you're really saying internally, as we've always done it that way it doesn't have to be. And so really understand what are your processes are working really well and let's find ways to expand those. But let's also look at the customer experience. And let's be honest about where our processes don't meet that customer need and meeting them where they're at. That's one of our values empathy, meeting people where they're at. Are we doing that? And let's be honest and let's be brave and make the changes. Sometimes you have to fight them. I mean, the whole counselor observation, RSA had some initial concerns, even though it's written into the law, had some initial concerns about what that means for determining eligibility, but it's written into the law, and counselors document that observation. And but sometimes you have to fight a little bit, push back a little bit where it makes sense. Change also is not easy. I mean, there's just been so much change externally, internally, and it's exhausting. But you also need to determine where you want to go and take the time to really mature that and facilitate that change. And we're talking about baking it in. Don't just be kind of shoop shoop, shoop shoop. Figure out what is the big change, what is the change you want to make. And it's going to involve lots of little changes. And people are going to feel like it's still this massive, you know, change after change after change as you tweak things. But let's really focus on that, get it through and then see it through. Do a pilot, get data, get input, analyze it, revise it, implement it more broadly, get data, analyze it, revise it, tweak it, get input from customers, get input from, you know, people. And then as a director, you've got to champion the change and you've got to talk about it. And Carol, I don't know about you or I hate repeating myself. It is a personal thing. I hate repeating myself. But that is the job, right? That is the job to say things and say them again and say them again and find different ways to say them. I mean, you caught some of my videos and that was my goal last year, was my emails that are very detailed and very interesting to me, are not super interesting for all my staff, but they really connect to video sometimes, or they connect to, you know, audios, or they connect to the in person fireside chats where they can come with any question. And we, you know, the executive leadership will discuss what's on their minds. There are different forms and formats for getting our story out and communicating, and we need to really do all those. And it doesn't have to be, I mean, you saw some of my videos in the newsletters and the reports. They're pretty amateur right there. Carol: It was all good. I liked it, though. I liked it because it was authentic. Michael: Yeah. You know, it's taking that TikTok mentality where it doesn't have to be, it's here and it's gone. But it gets the message out and it's supporting the change that you want to make. And it's not me as director talking it, but it's finding other people that are experiencing it and their experience and people connect in different ways. So that whole communication part of telling the story, I'm no social influencer. You found my story on social media, and I know it's important, and I'm doing the work now because it is critically important. we're also, those reports, those monthly reports, were highlighting different programs, and we're sending them out to stakeholders. We're sending out to the congressional representation representatives and their staffers, and we're getting notes back saying thank you for that. And I'm like, it felt very amateur, but I'm glad you appreciated the story and information. Carol: Well, I learned in communications class long ago, seven times seven ways, like for communications, because people all learn differently. Like you said, audio, video, you know, doing more like almost like the TikTok reel. We've got to get way better, snappier, shorter. I mean, we can thank Jeff Bezos for that with Amazon. Like people don't want to read a long thing. They want it quick. We want to get stuff. Now give me the little snapshot about this thing. And really our social media leads to all of that. Because look at you drew me in. I've known you, but you drew me in with your little short clip on LinkedIn. You had the really catchy part. I'm like reading that and I see $39.30 an hour people are making on average. I'm like, I gotta go see what's going on in this report. And I click your link and next thing you know, I'm in your website, I'm looking at your stuff, I'm in your videos and doing all the things. That's how people like think, now they got to get drawn in. What's your quick soundbite, your little piece that gets you hooked in. And we all have to get way better at explaining what is happening in the VR program because we just, I don't think have been very good about telling our message and our story. Michael: Agreed. And I think that now is the time, if any time is to show the power and the impact of Vocational rehabilitation for the economy and for our communities. So, yeah. Carol: Oh thank you, fine, sir. Well, I love talking with you today. I wish you every success in your agency, and I look forward to hearing more fun things and reading more things on LinkedIn. So thanks for joining me. Michael: I enjoyed it. Thanks so much, Carol. Take care.   {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time. One minute at a time. Brought to you by the VRTAC. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening.

This week on A Way with Words: Language is always evolving, and that's also true for American Sign Language. A century ago, the sign for "telephone" was one fist below your mouth and the other at your ear, as if you're holding an old-fashioned candlestick phone. Now you can sign "phone" with a one-handed gesture. Plus, colorful restaurant slang from the hit TV show "The Bear" inspires a quiz about the language of the kitchen. And looking for a new way to say "It's hot outside"? How about "It's glorgy [GLOR-ghee] out there!" Plus, pothery, laugh to see a pudding crawl, capitalizing the first-person pronoun, silver thaw, the devil's beating his wife, diaeresis, trema, brogans, barge it, Las conejas están pariendo, claggy, janky, mafting, and a brain teaser about restaurant slang. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org. Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443. Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oasiz Wiesblatt is a center for the Milwaukee Admirals, one of four hockey-playing brothers who stand out for more than just their skills on the ice. They are CODAs -- children of deaf adults. On this episode of Open Record, FOX6's Bryan Polcyn and Carl Deffenbaugh detail Wiesblatt's remarkable story. We also meet the founders of a Milwaukee business that is revolutionizing the way the Deaf and hard of hearing community experiences professional sports, by brining American Sign Language interpreting to the world of NHL play-by-play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hayley Campbell, Scott Bryan and Naga Munchetty review the week's biggest new TV and streaming releases. This week the trio review the debut episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) UK on Sky and Now TV. It follows the same format as its American counterpart with live sketch comedy, a musical performance and a celebrity guest host. SNL veteran Tina Fey was the first to host the series alongside indie band Wet Leg. Next a documentary series which has drummed up a lot of online discourse, ‘Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere' on Netflix. Louis dives into the world of extreme online male influencers and content creators who claim to be redefining modern masculinity.Finally, ‘DTF St. Louis' a dark comedy on Sky Atlantic starring Jason Bateman and David Harbour. The seven-part series follows a local TV weather man and his American Sign Language interpreter who are in a rut with their relationships so decide to join a dating app, before things take a grizzly turn.Remember you can email mustwatch@bbc.co.uk to have your say.

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes about signs, captions and other adaptations. In this episode from April 2020, the University of Virginia's Disabilities Studies Symposium produces a version of a 1950s opera called “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” with both singers and ASL performers. Plus: Theremin Cat goes viral for putting its head and paws in just the right places to make the instrument squeak and squawk.Singing and Signing: ‘Deaf Opera' Comes to Grounds (University of Virginia)Cat Plays With A Theremin And Is Completely And Utterly Befuddled (Digg)Cool Weird Awesome sounds great because of its backers on Patreon

Software engineer Adam Munder is on a mission to break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In a live demo, he introduces OmniBridge — an AI platform that translates American Sign Language into English text in real time — and demonstrates how this tech could ensure every conversation can be fully understood, regardless of the participants' hearing abilities. Munder is joined onstage by ASL interpreter Christan Hansen and TED's Hasiba Haq.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send a textClara Baldwin is the assistant special education director for the Anchorage School District and she oversees the Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She was born in northern California and moved to Anchorage 14 years ago. She has been a lifelong advocate for the rights of the deaf and hard of hearing community and has found her place leading that struggle here in Alaska. Clara is the 2026 Fur Rendezvous Queen -- the first deaf Fur Rondy Queen in state history.Leah McElwee is the Executive Interpreter for the Idaho Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ICDHH) and is the American Sign Language interpreter for Andrew during this interview. Brenna Kelly is the President of the Alaska Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the American Sign Language interpreter for Clara Baldwin during this interview. It is Brenna's voice that you hear in the recording. 

fWotD Episode 3205: Black American Sign Language Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Thursday, 12 February 2026, is Black American Sign Language.Black American Sign Language (BASL) or Black Sign Variation (BSV) is a dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) used most commonly by deaf Black Americans in the United States. The divergence from ASL was influenced largely by the segregation of schools in the American South. Like other schools at the time, schools for the deaf were segregated based upon race, creating two language communities among deaf signers: Black deaf signers at Black schools and White deaf signers at White schools. As of the mid 2010s, BASL is still used by signers in the South despite public schools having been legally desegregated since 1954.Linguistically, BASL differs from other varieties of ASL in its phonology, syntax, and vocabulary. BASL tends to have a larger signing space, meaning that some signs are produced further away from the body than in other dialects. Signers of BASL also tend to prefer two-handed variants of signs, while signers of ASL tend to prefer one-handed variants. Some signs are different in BASL as well, with some borrowings from African American English.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:08 UTC on Thursday, 12 February 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Black American Sign Language on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.

Bio- Jennifer Beilis teaches ASL on the college level. She has her MA in Deafness Rehabilitation from NYU, BA, Psychology, Rowan University, and her AA, Brookdale Community College in Social Sciences. She is an author of 2 books; Hear I Am and Making Positive Changes. Jennifer also has an audiobook, Making Positive Changes.Here are links etc. I published Hear I Am & Making Positive Changes to show people that my thesis, at NYU, graduate program was and still is "People with disabilities can go to work, school and live in their homes with the proper accommodations. "Books are in eBook, soft and hard copies online as well. Audiobook Making Positive Changes. They can email me Jenny08520@aol.com or contact me on FB or LinkedIn for private sales for the audiobook/books. The books are about the following: education, self-help, goal setting, journalization, mental health and disability advocacy. I also published Making Positive Changes audiobook in addition so people with all disabilities such as the Blind low vision or others can listen, or some can listen and read along as well! Jennifer performs author talks on Motivational & Disability Awareness to schools, libraries and businesses. She talks about her struggles with hearing loss, Depression & Anxiety and other issues. Then, she talks about how to overcome things and set goals. Through her books, you will see her experiences and journalize to formulate your own goals! She teaches basic American Sign Language in NJ. Jennifer is seeking employment either remotely or in person near her home in NJ. She can teach basic ASL, Education or Student Success on the college level. Jennifer has her practice Jenny's Tutoring and can help you in basic ASL, ESL, Psychology, disabilities, Career Services, basic skills and essays etc. My books are on TroveMarket.com it is a website for people with disabilities who make products to sell.Hear I Am book cover is white background, blue letters, blue butterfly and title Hear I Am in blue. $18.00 Hear I Amhttps://www.trovemarket.com/heariam-85Making Positive Changes$18.00Making Positive ChangesIt is also on Amazon, B&N, Ingram, Ingram Spark etc. If they are in the US it is $25 delivered soft copy or $18 in person for soft copy. Hard copy is $38 delivered in the US for Hear I Am. Audiobook is on Spotify and others or through me $18. Making Positive Changes | Audiobook on Spotifybook cover has mountains, blue, red and yellow rainbow, birds, butterflies and blue water on the front and the title Making Positive Changes.

Today we celebrate the completion of a project seven years in the making. The third volume of the ASL Linguistics for Practitioners series, Beyond the Hands: Non-Manual Grammar, Discourse Structure, and Sentence Types in American Sign Language, co-authored with Janna Sweenie, is now available. This episode explores what the book is, why it matters, and what it reveals about language, embodiment, and the nature of human communication. Let me begin with a claim that may seem strange if your experience with language has been limited to speaking and listening: The face is grammar. Not expression. Not emotion. Not accompaniment. Grammar. In American Sign Language, the eyebrows mark the difference between a statement and a question. The mouth produces morphemes that modify meaning. The head nods and shakes with grammatical force. The eyes point to referents and track agreement across discourse. The body shifts to mark perspective and emphasis.

California Early Childhood Special Education Network (CalECSE) co-executive directors Scott Turner and Melanie Hertig are joined by California Department of Education Early Childhood Support Education Administrator Christi Krause to discuss CalECSE's Parent Videos: A Family's Journey from Early Start to School series, designed to help families prepare for the transition from Early Start services to preschool special education. Each video in the series introduces the viewer to a family who use different native languages to tell their story, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, and American Sign Language.

By some estimates, the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” is performed over 10 million times a year around the world. Imagine not being able to hear this sweet song!Losing the ability to hear, or being born deaf, is unimaginable for many of us who have never experienced hearing loss, but there are some surprising upsides to being differently-abled in this way.Deaf people develop keener senses of observation, touch, taste, and smell to compensate for their loss of hearing. What the hearing world may view as a loss can lead to Sensory Superpowers for members of the deaf community.ASL, or American Sign Language, is an incredibly rich language, and it's the 6th most common language in the United StatesStatistics show deaf people are safer drivers due to their ability to focus on the visual aspects of driving, and actually live longer than hearing people.Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”Sometimes when we lose out on something, God's grace sweeps in to fill up that space with other beautiful blessings in amazing ways.Let's pray.Heavenly Father, sometimes we see differences as stumbling blocks, but your grace tells us otherwise. Help us to be noticers of where your grace shines a light in the lives of those around us, and to embrace the differences we encounter. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Here is something I did not expect to discover while writing a textbook about American Sign Language. The shoulder knows things the hand cannot say. That sentence sounds like metaphor. It is not. It is linguistics, documented and measurable, and it has been sitting in plain sight for as long as deaf people have been signing to each other. The position of the arm, the engagement of the shoulder, the extension or contraction of the elbow: these carry meaning. Not incidental meaning. Not decorative meaning. Semantic meaning that changes what a sign communicates even when the handshape stays exactly the same. Consider what this implies about how consciousness expresses itself through the body. We tend to think of language as something that happens in the head. Words form in the mind and then exit through the mouth, or through the fingers if we are typing, but the origin point is cognitive, neural, somewhere behind the eyes where the self is supposed to live. The body is just the delivery system. The meaning is elsewhere.

In this episode, James talks about something he hasn't addressed before: what happens when the communication tools everyone recommends simply don't work for your child.When James's nonverbal son, Lucas, couldn't physically use American Sign Language due to dexterity challenges, it felt like yet another failure in a long list of “solutions” that sounded good on paper but didn't work in real life. Instead of forcing Lucas to fit a system that wasn't built for him, James made a different choice. They changed the system.This episode explores how gesture-based communication evolved in their home, why being understood matters more than doing things “the right way,” and how connection, safety, and dignity often come before progress charts and programs.If you've ever worried you were doing it wrong, this conversation is for you.It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print.Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

Researchers at Stanford University conducted a decades-long experiment wherein Koko, a female gorilla, was taught American Sign Language.  The findings and the ethics of this experiment were then (and remain today) controversial.  Director Barbet Schroeder captures intimate footage of Koko, scholars, and her caretakers, leaving the viewer to be charmed by Koko and come to their own conclusions about whether a gorilla can and should be taught how to converse at a high level with humans. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server here! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our merch store.  T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you'd like to watch ahead for next week's film, we will be discussing and reviewing Barbet Schroeder's Koko: A Talking Gorilla (1978). 

Send us a textIn this episode of the Brandon T. Adams Audio Experience, I sat down with Kristy Whilden, author of Alice's Colorful New World, founder of Hands Up Silent Theater, and a powerful advocate for the Deaf community. What began as a devastating diagnosis that stripped away her identity as a music teacher became the catalyst for a mission that's impacting families, children, and schools around the world.Kristy opens up about the moment she learned she was losing her hearing, the depression that followed, and how she rebuilt her life with a new sense of purpose. Today, she's on a mission to create equal, inclusive theater experiences for both Deaf and hearing audiences while sharing the true origin story of American Sign Language through her new children's book, Alice's Colorful New World!In this episode we talk about:How Kristy went from music teacher to losing her hearingThe emotional journey of identity, loss, and rediscoveryThe creation of Hands Up Silent Theater and its missionWhy typical interpreted theater isn't truly “equal access”The real, incredible history behind the birth of American Sign LanguageKristy's goal to sell one million books to support the American School for the Deaf

College can feel overwhelming for students with ADHD, but support exists. In this episode, I talk with Hannah Choi—executive function coach and communications specialist at Beyond Booksmart. Hannah shares her personal ADHD story and practical tools to help college students build independence, manage their time, and advocate for what they need. From study strategies that actually work to understanding accommodations, we unpack how to set students up for a smoother transition into college.Whether you're a student, parent, or educator, you'll walk away with actionable strategies. We also explore gap years, what colleges are required to provide under ADA, and how executive function coaching builds confidence beyond academics.Meet Hannah Choi Hannah Choi, MA, is an executive function coach and Communications and Engagement Specialist at Beyond Booksmart. She helps college students and adults strengthen time management, task initiation, and self-advocacy skills. Hannah hosts the Focus Forward podcast, leads webinars, and facilitates motivation and accountability programs. She holds degrees in Psychology and American Sign Language from the University of Rochester and a Master's in Education from UC Santa Barbara. Hannah lives in Connecticut with her family. Episode Highlights [0:00] What studying really looks like with ADHD [2:26] Hannah's ADHD discovery and coaching path [11:09] Study strategies that build self-regulation [13:37] How to start practicing self-advocacy [15:52] Accommodations: from 504 to college [21:06] Top executive function skills before college [23:38] Managing all that “free time” [26:33] Building independence (without overparenting) [29:55] The case for gap years and transition programs [35:41] How EF skills impact life after graduation [38:50] Getting unstuck: motivation + task initiation [46:35] Final takeaway: it's never too late to change Connect with Hannah Choi:Instagram: @beyondbooksmartcoaching Website: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/ Focus Forward Podcast: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.

Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, his administration stopped having American Sign Language interpreters translate at White House press briefings for the deaf and hard of hearing communities. A federal judge has ruled that this violated federal law, and ordered the White House to reinstate sign language interpreters so the deaf and hard of hearing communities would have access to the information being put out by the federal government during White House press briefings.Glenn discusses this new federal court ruling designed to prevent the White House from keeping the deaf community in the dark about what the federal government is up to. Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, his administration stopped having American Sign Language interpreters translate at White House press briefings for the deaf and hard of hearing communities. A federal judge has ruled that this violated federal law, and ordered the White House to reinstate sign language interpreters so the deaf and hard of hearing communities would have access to the information being put out by the federal government during White House press briefings.Glenn discusses this new federal court ruling designed to prevent the White House from keeping the deaf community in the dark about what the federal government is up to. Follow Glenn on Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hot on the heels of Episode 40 (American Sign Language with Aidan Elliott-McCrea), I can release a special episode of ALILI, showcasing the audio edition of my new book! 'Why Q Needs U: A history of our letters and how we use them' was published on October 2nd, before which I undertook both its writing and its narrating as an audiobook. For this special, I've been given the first chapter of that audiobook (Chapter A) to share with you. It kicks off the story of the alphabet in Egypt, then takes you as far as the islands of Greece. The full audiobook is widely available on popular platforms like Spotify and ⁠Audible⁠. If you give it a listen, do let me know! Official link to the book here: ⁠https://geni.us/WhyQNeedsU⁠ More info and reviews here: ⁠https://dannybate.com/book/⁠ Support the language-loving mission by joining the ALILI Patreon here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ALanguageILoveIs⁠⁠⁠ Host: Dr. Danny BateMusic: Acoustic Guitar by William KingArtwork: William Marler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ALILI podcast has reached forty episodes! As a fitting start to this fourth decade of language love, we have a first for the show: its first sign language. It was a privilege for me to talk to Aidan Elliott-McCrea, an expert linguist and online etymologist (through ⁠Word Family Friday⁠), about not just American Sign Language but sign languages in general. Our conversation begins with addressing misconceptions about sign languages (there isn't just one!), and moves on to the features of ASL that Aidan particularly likes.Support the language-loving mission by joining the ALILI Patreon here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ALanguageILoveIs⁠⁠Transcript (automatically generated) available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m5gw2ewkXN3uUEnYI-yszmLqiugG7v2w5fDEHXK_9-s/edit?usp=sharingAidan's etymological website: ⁠https://www.aidanem.com/pages/word-families-overview.html⁠Aidan's own Patreon: https://patreon.com/aidanemAidan's recommendations for reading:Linguistics of American Sign Language: An Introduction by Clayton ValliSign Language and Linguistic Universals by Wendy Sandler and Diane Lillo-MartinEveryone Here Spoke Sign Language by Nora Ellen GroceHost: Dr. Danny BateGuest: Aidan Elliott-McCreaAudio Mixing and Mastering: Jeremiah McPaddenMusic: Acoustic Guitar by William KingArtwork: William Marler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lionel dives deep into the post-debate landscape, dissecting what makes a moment "YouTube worthy", and marveling at the vital role of facial expression and tone in American Sign Language. We revisit legendary viral moments, like the BBC's "Wrong Guy" interview. The show also explores serious forensic questions surrounding high-profile cases, such as the Charlie Kirk autopsy and the evidence in the Epstein case, and delves into the surprising world of horrifying smells in surgery and at the medical examiner's office. Plus, Lionel rambles with callers on everything from Chicago bar pizza and the best parts of flying a Blackhawk helicopter to ridiculous tax laws and obscure legal charges. It's Ventilation Friday—tune in to share your genius. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel eviscerates the concept of the American political "debate," rejecting the recent candidate event involving Sliwa, Cuomo, and Mamdani "Kabuki theater" and a "complete and total waste of absolute time". He exposes the media for "blatantly obvious" bias and reveals the true motivations driving political races: ego, power, fame, and money. Dive deep into political chaos, dissecting controversial proposals like "free buses" and defunding the police, and exploring what Curtis Sliwa must do next to win, including wearing his signature red beret for a "YouTube viral moment". But the show truly thrives on unpredictability—from analysis of viral moments and American Sign Language to serious forensic questions (Epstein, Charlie Kirk autopsy) and horrifying smells at the medical examiner's office. It's "Ventilation Friday," where calls range from Chicago bar pizza and flying a Blackhawk helicopter to a chilling, tense exchange with a caller detailing a decade-long murder ideation for perceived "justice". Tune in to share your genius and never wonder "what the heck is going on here" again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the first day of fall , or as some people weirdly call it, "autumn". We get into the dread of seasonal depression as the days get shorter and share a truly chaotic story after Dan decided to seal the entire driveway by himself. Shoutout Bucky.We finalize our road trip to Akron, Ohio, to hopefully podcast on the Goodyear blimp! We're a little concerned about the passenger rules apparently. We also had to get a few things off our chests, from the bizarre rise of AI-generated podcasts to an update on that podcaster who fakes their numbers and somehow landed a Spotify deal. To prove we're still a sports podcast, we talk about the return of the Women's Professional Baseball League and read off a list of the wildest names in college football, including "General Booty" and "Dude Person". We wrap it all up with a great story about NFL player DK Metcalf, who learned American Sign Language to connect with the deaf community and trash-talk his opponents on the field.

When poet Raymond Antrobus was 6 years old, he learned he was deaf. His new memoir The Quiet Ear describes living in a world of in-betweenness, straddling intersections of race, class, hearing and deafness. In today's episode, Antrobus joins NPR's Mary Louise Kelly for a discussion that touches on his connection with the creative deaf community in London, his dad's DJ sets, and differences between British and American Sign Language.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In a poignant performance of Pilgrim: The Musical, Leisa stood before a special section for the Deaf and using American Sign Language expressively interpreted the performance. The musical, based on John Bunyan’s book The Pilgrim’s Progress about one man’s faith journey, was deeply moving, but so was Leisa’s delivery. When asked about her interpreting, Leisa said, “The reason I do Pilgrim and the reason I interpret is because the gospel should be accessible to everyone. And the Deaf are a group that is [largely] ignored.” She went on to say, “It’s heartbreaking because less than 2 percent of the Deaf worldwide have heard about Jesus.” Leisa uses her gift so the Deaf can know Jesus. Like Leisa, we’re called to use our gifts and abilities to be witnesses of God’s love and draw others to Jesus—to impact the world with the good news. The apostle Peter wrote, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). These gifts include loving and praying for others (vv. 7-8). Whether you’re an encourager, a helper serving behind the scenes, a teacher, a speaker, a prayer warrior, or have another gift or ability, God can use you to serve others. Just ask. He’ll show you a way.