Podcasts about Optima

Optima Health PLC chief executive Jonathan Thomas talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's recent trading performance and strategic progress since its AIM listing in 2024. Optima Health reported revenues of around £105 million for the year to 31 March, with second-half growth of approximately 7% compared to the first half. Thomas highlighted that adjusted EBITDA was in line with market expectations, and net debt was maintained at £2.2 million. "We believe [this] positions us really well to continue with our strategy," he said. Since listing, the company has completed three strategic acquisitions and secured a major seven-year contract in partnership with Serco to support the UK armed forces — a move described by Thomas as a "real milestone win". Additionally, Optima launched its proprietary DART platform into the NHS, enhancing its digital health presence. The acquisition of Care first was also discussed, adding £3.7 million in revenues and expanding Optima's mental health and wellbeing capabilities. Thomas confirmed the acquisition is expected to be EBITDA accretive within the first year. Looking ahead, the company will focus on integrating acquisitions, delivering new contracts, and pursuing further value-accretive opportunities. Full-year results are expected in July. Visit Proactive's YouTube channel for more updates. Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and enable notifications for future content. #OptimaHealth #JonathanThomas #UKHealth #AIMListing #HealthcareStocks #EmployeeWellbeing #NHSContracts #UKDefence #Serco #DigitalHealth #Carefirst #OccupationalHealth #MergersAndAcquisitions #InvestingInHealth #TradingUpdate

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time? In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy! Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.----- -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12noonCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Car Talk, email us at info@inwheeltime.comTags: In Wheel Time, automotive car talk show, car talk, Live car talk show, In Wheel Time Car Talk

Optima Health PLC chief executive Jonathan Thomas talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's acquisition of Ireland-based Cognate Health. This deal marks Optima Health's first foray outside the UK and is aligned with its strategy to supplement organic growth through mergers and acquisitions. Thomas said the move adds around €7 million in revenue and approximately £1 million in EBITDA to the group. Cognate Health is described as a strong platform with 30 clinic facilities across Ireland and around 60 experienced personnel, along with a network of clinicians. According to Thomas, “It's a really great platform… in addition to obviously the financial aspects… really great opportunities to collaborate, revenue synergies and grow the businesses collectively.” He explained that expanding into a new regulated market provides access to multinational clients seeking services across both the UK and Ireland. The acquisition allows Optima Health to tailor services across jurisdictions while opening up new cross-sell opportunities. Thomas added that the company expects to announce more acquisitions during the year, with several discussions currently underway. Visit Proactive's YouTube channel for more in-depth business updates and interviews. Don't forget to give the video a like, subscribe to the channel, and enable notifications so you never miss a story. #OptimaHealth #CognateHealth #HealthcareAcquisition #MergersAndAcquisitions #JonathanThomas #OccupationalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing #IrelandHealthcare #BusinessExpansion #ProactiveInvestors

On this episode of Double Tap, Steven and Shaun break down the latest rumors surrounding Meta's upcoming Hypernova smart glasses. With prices rumored to start at over $1,000, they debate the practicality of AR displays in smart glasses and how accessible (or not) they might be for blind users. The discussion digs into Meta's broader wearable strategy, comparing it to past attempts like Google Glass and current AI-driven tools such as Be My Eyes and Aira.Listener emails pour in, ranging from app organization tips to feedback on Braille displays and screen reader tech. Rebecca raises concerns over the constant delays in assistive tech product launches like the Optima and Orbit Player, while Steven defends the need for accessible glucose monitoring—especially when the NHS doesn't always recognize accessibility as a necessity.Steven also dives deep into document accessibility tools, sharing his experiences using Scribe and DocuScan Plus from Numa Solutions for converting inaccessible PDFs into readable and audio-friendly formats. The episode highlights the growing utility of these tools and why OCR still matters even in the age of AI.Get in touch with Double Tap by emailing us feedback@doubletaponair.com or by call 1-877-803-4567 and leave us a voicemail. You can also now contact us via Whatsapp on 1-613-481-0144 or visit doubletaponair.com/whatsapp to connect. We are also across social media including X, Mastodon and Facebook. Double Tap is available daily on AMI-audio across Canada, on podcast worldwide and now on YouTube.Relevant LinksMeta Ray-Ban Glasses – Official site for Meta's smart glasses lineupScribe by Numa Solutions – Convert inaccessible files to audio or textDocuScan Plus – OCR scanning and document conversion toolBe My Eyes – Free visual assistance through live volunteersAira – Visual interpreting services for blind usersSensee – Creators of the accessible Braille calendarOrbit Research – Braille displays and assistive devicesMantis Q40 by Humanware – Braille display with QWERTY keyboardRemote Incident Manager – Remote desktop tool for blind users Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap WebsiteJoin the conversation and add your voice to the show either by calling in, sending an email or leaving us a voicemail!Email: feedback@doubletaponair.comPhone: 1-877-803-4567

Holman catches up with two longtime friends, off-roader and journalist Sue Mead and Optima's Cam Douglass, to discuss all things batteries. Listen in on a wide-ranging discussion that includes the start of Optima Batteries, to the latest 12-volt battery tech, new products, events, EVs, and what comes next in our industry. The Truck Show Podcast is proudly presented by Nissan in association with AMSOIL, Kershaw Knives, and OVR Mag.

Büntetőügy lesz Matolcsyék vagyonvesztésből 24.hu     2025-03-20 05:45:10     Belföld Részvény MNB Matolcsy György Állami Számvevőszék Az Állami Számvevőszék szerint az MNB vagyonát kezelő cég kockáztatta a rábízott vagyont, amikor több százmilliárd forintot fektetett be két külföldi ingatlancégbe. Az egyik esetben ráadásul az Optima csoport 60 milliárd forint indokolatlan felárat fizetett a részvényekért. Pszichológusok beszélnek az antarktiszi kutatókkal, akiket egy társuk bántalmazott Telex     2025-03-20 05:30:02     Külföld Afrika Antarktisz A dél-afrikai kormány úgy látja, nincs szükség a kutatók evakuálásra, a távolból is el lehet simítani a viszonyokat. Megint beesik 500 milliárd forint, mit tegyünk vele? Forbes     2025-03-20 05:21:05     Gazdaság Kamat Állampapír PMÁP Harmadszor is ömlik be az állampapírpénz, potom bő 500 milliárd forint biztosan a helyét keresi, de annak is érdemes elgondolkodnia a váltáson, akinek csak kamatot vált a menőből bénára váltó PMÁP-ja. Új dilemmák is felmerültek az elmúlt hónapban. Ács világa. Tényleg csak Donald Trump védő karja óvhatja meg Európát az orosz hordáktól? Privátbankár     2025-03-20 06:03:01     Külföld USA Donald Trump NATO Mennyire gyenge valójában Amerika nélkül a NATO vagy éppen Európa? Vannak rossz, de jó híreink is. Az mindenesetre biztos, hogy nem ész nélküli fegyverkezésre van szüksége most a kontinensnek. Élet-halál helyzetbe került a Samsung vg.hu     2025-03-20 06:01:22     Külföld Samsung A Samsung jelentős üzleti megállapodásokkal és fejlesztésekkel igyekszik visszaszerezni pozícióját. Tünetek, amelyek savtúltengésre figyelmeztetnek Magyar Hírlap     2025-03-19 23:12:00     Életmód Reflux A gyomorsav normál körülmények között teljesen ártalmatlan a szervezetre és egészségünkre nézve. Örököltem egy autót, bírságokat is fizetnem kell? Vezess     2025-03-20 06:06:27     Autó-motor Ügyintézés Egy autó öröklése sok adminisztrációs munkával és ügyintézéssel jár. Bizonyos esetekben a felmerülő tartozások is okozhatnak komoly fejfájást. A Momentum válasza Magyar Péternek: Sajnáljuk, hogy inkább behúzza fülét-farkát Index     2025-03-20 05:37:00     Belföld Magyar Péter Az ellenzéki párt szerint morális kérdésekben nem a politikai hasznot kell nézni, hanem fel kell vállalni a helyes utat. Vatikán: Ferenc pápa állapota tovább javult HírTV     2025-03-19 22:30:00     Külföld Ferenc pápa Vatikán Ferenc pápa klinikai állapota további javulást mutat, már nincsen szüksége nem invazív gépi lélegeztetésre - közölte a Szentszék. Ronaldo keresztbe tehet Magyarországnak, nagy dicséretet kapott a portugál klasszis Magyar Nemzet     2025-03-20 05:50:00     Foci Portugália Dánia Nemzetek Ligája Cristiano Ronaldo Számunkra nagyon fontos a Dánia–Portugália párharc a Nemzetek Ligája negyeddöntőjében. Yamal szerint egyértelmű, ki a BL favoritja Rangadó     2025-03-20 03:59:08     Foci Bajnokok Ligája FC Barcelona A Barca Európa-bajnok szélsője szerint ha úgy hiszed, tied a legjobb csapat, akkor van a legnagyobb esélyed. Nagy esők közelegnek Kiderül     2025-03-20 05:20:10     Időjárás Csapadék Még rövid ideig folytatódik a napos, száraz időjárás, majd szombattól felhősebbre, csapadékosabbra fordul időjárásunk. Összességében több helyen kell kiadós mennyiségű esőre számítani. A további adásainkat keresd a podcast.hirstart.hu oldalunkon.

Büntetőügy lesz Matolcsyék vagyonvesztésből 24.hu     2025-03-20 05:45:10     Belföld Részvény MNB Matolcsy György Állami Számvevőszék Az Állami Számvevőszék szerint az MNB vagyonát kezelő cég kockáztatta a rábízott vagyont, amikor több százmilliárd forintot fektetett be két külföldi ingatlancégbe. Az egyik esetben ráadásul az Optima csoport 60 milliárd forint indokolatlan felárat fizetett a részvényekért. Pszichológusok beszélnek az antarktiszi kutatókkal, akiket egy társuk bántalmazott Telex     2025-03-20 05:30:02     Külföld Afrika Antarktisz A dél-afrikai kormány úgy látja, nincs szükség a kutatók evakuálásra, a távolból is el lehet simítani a viszonyokat. Megint beesik 500 milliárd forint, mit tegyünk vele? Forbes     2025-03-20 05:21:05     Gazdaság Kamat Állampapír PMÁP Harmadszor is ömlik be az állampapírpénz, potom bő 500 milliárd forint biztosan a helyét keresi, de annak is érdemes elgondolkodnia a váltáson, akinek csak kamatot vált a menőből bénára váltó PMÁP-ja. Új dilemmák is felmerültek az elmúlt hónapban. Ács világa. Tényleg csak Donald Trump védő karja óvhatja meg Európát az orosz hordáktól? Privátbankár     2025-03-20 06:03:01     Külföld USA Donald Trump NATO Mennyire gyenge valójában Amerika nélkül a NATO vagy éppen Európa? Vannak rossz, de jó híreink is. Az mindenesetre biztos, hogy nem ész nélküli fegyverkezésre van szüksége most a kontinensnek. Élet-halál helyzetbe került a Samsung vg.hu     2025-03-20 06:01:22     Külföld Samsung A Samsung jelentős üzleti megállapodásokkal és fejlesztésekkel igyekszik visszaszerezni pozícióját. Tünetek, amelyek savtúltengésre figyelmeztetnek Magyar Hírlap     2025-03-19 23:12:00     Életmód Reflux A gyomorsav normál körülmények között teljesen ártalmatlan a szervezetre és egészségünkre nézve. Örököltem egy autót, bírságokat is fizetnem kell? Vezess     2025-03-20 06:06:27     Autó-motor Ügyintézés Egy autó öröklése sok adminisztrációs munkával és ügyintézéssel jár. Bizonyos esetekben a felmerülő tartozások is okozhatnak komoly fejfájást. A Momentum válasza Magyar Péternek: Sajnáljuk, hogy inkább behúzza fülét-farkát Index     2025-03-20 05:37:00     Belföld Magyar Péter Az ellenzéki párt szerint morális kérdésekben nem a politikai hasznot kell nézni, hanem fel kell vállalni a helyes utat. Vatikán: Ferenc pápa állapota tovább javult HírTV     2025-03-19 22:30:00     Külföld Ferenc pápa Vatikán Ferenc pápa klinikai állapota további javulást mutat, már nincsen szüksége nem invazív gépi lélegeztetésre - közölte a Szentszék. Ronaldo keresztbe tehet Magyarországnak, nagy dicséretet kapott a portugál klasszis Magyar Nemzet     2025-03-20 05:50:00     Foci Portugália Dánia Nemzetek Ligája Cristiano Ronaldo Számunkra nagyon fontos a Dánia–Portugália párharc a Nemzetek Ligája negyeddöntőjében. Yamal szerint egyértelmű, ki a BL favoritja Rangadó     2025-03-20 03:59:08     Foci Bajnokok Ligája FC Barcelona A Barca Európa-bajnok szélsője szerint ha úgy hiszed, tied a legjobb csapat, akkor van a legnagyobb esélyed. Nagy esők közelegnek Kiderül     2025-03-20 05:20:10     Időjárás Csapadék Még rövid ideig folytatódik a napos, száraz időjárás, majd szombattól felhősebbre, csapadékosabbra fordul időjárásunk. Összességében több helyen kell kiadós mennyiségű esőre számítani. A további adásainkat keresd a podcast.hirstart.hu oldalunkon.

The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference is back for its 40th year, and we are covering all the biggest innovations and conversations happening in the exhibition hall. From the latest advancements in mobility tech to AI-powered accessibility tools, we bring you in-depth discussions with some of the most exciting companies in the industry.In this episode, we speak with: • Luke Buckberrough from Glidance about their revolutionary mobility solution. • Bree Fraser from OneCourt on making live sports more accessible. • Sam Latif from Procter & Gamble on inclusive product design. • Quenton Christensen from NV Access on the future of screen readers. • Matt and Ryan from Vispero on JAWS' 30th anniversary and upcoming AI features. • Venkatesh Chari from Orbit Research on their latest Braille and tactile display technology.

Heather Goudreau of Global Guardian Optima SIU started her insurance journey as a desk investigator never thinking this area would encompass her career. But being an investigator satisfied her inquisitive nature. In this Focus on Claims episode she shares her opinions about the hands-on, in-person method and gives good advice for ongoing learning.

In this Concepts Edition episode Uriel and Devin discuss:- The pitfalls of pursuing global optima- The benefits of 90% planning 10% execution (and how we're not doing that now)- Process Spectrum- The challenges of getting AI to output good information - Optimization reducing flexibility Please join our patreon! https://patreon.com/IncrementalCI And follow us on Instagram and share your improvements and tag us. www.instagram.com/incrementalci In this podcast we discuss concepts from Lean Manufacturing, the Toyota Production System, and general business management to improve our businesses. Thanks for listening! Please drop us a note with any and all feedback! If you have parts you need machined, reach out to Devin@lichenprecision.com and follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/lichen_mfg If you need CNCed Buckles, check out www.austeremfg.com and follow at on Instagram www.instagram.com/austere_manufacturingTo reach out to the podcast directly please email fixsomethingtoday@gmail.com

Idag gästas podden av Kersin Dellrud Hellmans, fysioterapeut, och Henrik Salamon, grundare av Optima Rehab för ett samtal om MS och träning samt om rehabresorna som de erbjuder.

In this episode, we're joined by Reb Risty, VP of Marketing at Optima Office, a company specializing in outsourced accounting and HR solutions.  Reb shares how Optima helps businesses of all sizes bridge critical gaps in their back-office functions by offering fractional CFOs, bookkeeping, HR management, and compliance solutions. Discover how Optima's tailored approach supports clients across industries, enabling them to make sound financial decisions and focus on their core business. Reb also discusses marketing strategies, the importance of referrals, and the role of AI-driven tools in creating efficiencies.  Tune in for valuable insights on optimizing business operations and growth!

Today on the show, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discuss the innovative SevaVision glasses, which aim to utilize remaining vision in those with visual impairments, and we also find out more about the development of the Optima Braille Laptop.The guys also dive into the thorny topic of the costs and technology inside today's assistive technology. Is it right that companies ask blind people to pay thousands of dollars for tech that is years out of date on the day of purchase, and what is the solution?At Sight Village, Shaun caught up with Adi Kushner from Access Mind and he shares updates on the ongoing development of the Optima Braille Laptop, and he also chats with the team behind SevaVision glasses that offer augmented reality and vision enhancements via their wearable device.Get in touch with Double Tap by emailing us feedback@doubletaponair.com or by call 1-877-803-4567 and leave us a voicemail. You can also now contact us via Whatsapp on 1-613-481-0144 or visit doubletaponair.com/whatsapp to connect. We are also across social media including X, Mastodon and Facebook. Double Tap is available daily on AMI-audio across Canada, on podcast worldwide and now on YouTube.Chapter Markers:00:00 Intro08:54 Listener Feedback on Access Technology Pricing20:05 Updates on Optima Braille Laptop & More38:06 Introduction to SevaVision Glasses

Hosted by Fast Lane Jane Thurmond and Design Muse Theresa Contreras Sharing our favorite roadtrips from Theresa hitting a huge car show in Saudi Arabia, Jane's mountain adventures with Optima and Jason's trip to Oregon including misadventures with tires, police and the Best Western Plus in Redding. Marcel, known to have many road trip stories shared the time he hung out with Coolio at SEMA…all week. Checkout Auto Revolution @autorevolutiononline, @autorevolution on Instagram and at www.autorevolutiononline.com Nitto FastLane is the only way to access FREE exclusive merchandise, event invites, and much more. Signup at https://tinyurl.com/fastlane-nitto Follow @drivingline and @nittotire as well! Produced by Auto Revolution Auto Revolution produces automotive TV Shows, Podcasts, Promotional Videos, and more. Watch at www.autorevolution.tv and follow @autorevolution Baja Forged Timeless design. Race inspired. BAJA proven! We love looking good driving on and off road.  Baja Forged offers products to be capable when we need them. So we built Baja Forged. Follow Baja Forged at @bajaforged and www.bajaforged.com GTS Customs Corvette specialists, GTS Customs sets the highest standards for custom fab & body work, outrageous paint, complete builds and restomods. Follow GTS Customs at @gtscustoms and www.gtscustoms.com #podcast #carpodcast

Hosted by Fast Lane Jane Thurmond and Design Muse Theresa Contreras Sharing our favorite roadtrips from Theresa hitting a huge car show in Saudi Arabia, Jane's mountain adventures with Optima and Jason's trip to Oregon including misadventures with tires, police and the Best Western Plus in Redding. Marcel, known to have many road trip stories shared the time he hung out with Coolio at SEMA…all week. Checkout Auto Revolution @autorevolutiononline, @autorevolution on Instagram and at www.autorevolutiononline.com Nitto FastLane is the only way to access FREE exclusive merchandise, event invites, and much more. Signup at https://tinyurl.com/fastlane-nitto Follow @drivingline and @nittotire as well! Produced by Auto Revolution Auto Revolution produces automotive TV Shows, Podcasts, Promotional Videos, and more. Watch at www.autorevolution.tv and follow @autorevolution Baja Forged Timeless design. Race inspired. BAJA proven! We love looking good driving on and off road.  Baja Forged offers products to be capable when we need them. So we built Baja Forged. Follow Baja Forged at @bajaforged and www.bajaforged.com GTS Customs Corvette specialists, GTS Customs sets the highest standards for custom fab & body work, outrageous paint, complete builds and restomods. Follow GTS Customs at @gtscustoms and www.gtscustoms.com #podcast #carpodcast

David Pollard is the Co-founder, Principal, and Creative Director of LivCo, a design and building company offering residential remodeling and additions. Since its founding, LivCo has completed over 250 renovations and custom home projects and has won numerous awards, including 20 Chicago Remodeling Excellence awards. David is a licensed architect in Illinois and North Carolina, NCARB Certified, and a LEED Accredited Professional. He has worked for several leading design firms in Chicago, including Optima and Goettsch Partners, and was the director of design for a residential developer.  In this episode: No matter your industry, systems and processes are the basis for every operational decision. Even in our personal lives, we unconsciously implement processes for time management and decision-making. How can you develop structured systems and ensure they align with your business? In architectural design, processes are instrumental in everything from designing blueprints and executing construction plans to meeting deadlines and onboarding clients. After implementing strategic systems in his remodeling business, David Pollard observed increased team performance, client satisfaction, and revenue. Since growing his revenue by 5x, he recommends beginning with basic processes like automations and technology integrations before developing team structures with leaders who can hold team members accountable to process adherence.  Join Adi Klevit in the latest Systems Simplified episode as she welcomes David Pollard, the Co-founder, Principal, and Creative Director of LivCo, to talk about how he scaled his architectural design business using processes. David shares how to implement processes for visual project tracking, meeting agendas, and client onboarding, leading to reduced stress and saved time.

Check our Best Books for Retirement ________________________ Have you considered phased retirement? Most working people dream about that day when they'll ride off into the sunset and into retirement. But a full stop retirement isn't for everyone. It can make the transition to retirement quite challenging. Many people are choosing insread to glide into retirement. Phased retirement is trending as a way to gradually retire, on your own terms. It's essential a flexible work arrangement. Our guest today is Jennifer Barnes, a CEO, who shares her experiences with phased retirement in her company. Jennifer Barnes joins us from San Diego. ________________________ Bio Jennifer Barnes, CEO of Optima Office, graduated with a Finance and Marketing degree from the University of Arizona, earned an MBA from San Diego State University, and completed the Becker CPA coursework. She spent 15 years as a Controller for numerous companies and non-profits throughout San Diego before starting her first company in 2012, which was the 5th fastest-growing company in San Diego in 2016 and made the Inc 5000 in 2017 and 2018. Jennifer has won numerous awards as the CEO of the two companies she founded. Her favorite is the best place to work because having high retention and happy staff is what drives her. Both of her companies have made it into the Inc 5000 and SDBJ's fastest-growing companies list. Between 2021-2023, Jennifer was named Woman of the Year by SDBJ, received the top corporate citizen award, made it in SD's top 500 most influential leaders, and the top 50 Women of Influence in Accounting and Finance for two years in a row. She was also recognized as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of The Year 2024 Pacific Southwest program. Jennifer has sat on many boards in her career and currently sits on the board of The Better Business Bureau, NuFund Venture Group (formerly Tech Coast Angels), Junior Achievement, and a publicly traded company, Presidio Property Trust (SQFT). She volunteers her time at SDSU and the REC at Miramar College by participating in mentor programs and as a judge in various student competitions. She is currently a member of Rotary 33, Vistage International, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Young Executives Council, and Social Venture Partners. ______________________ For More on Jennifer Barnes Company Website Fortune Article: I'm a CEO and 12 of my employees are in ‘flextirement.' With boomers opting not to retire, the arrangement will become more common _______________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like  Is Your Company Ready for the Aging Workforce? – Paul Rupert Unretired – Mark S. Walton _______________________ Mentioned in This Episode Poem - The Summer Day by Mary Oliver _______________________ Wise Quotes  On Why Phased Retirement Works  "What's interesting, Joe, is that at Optima, we've always had a flexible work environment and we didn't really think about it as flex retirement because we've always allowed employees to work whatever hours made sense for them. But as we looked at our workforce, we realized that many of our employees are over 50, some over 60 and some are even 70 and over. And what we find with these employees is they have a wealth of knowledge. They are so experienced, they've worked in so many different industries, and they can really add a ton of value to our clients. And so if we can capture these people's attention and get them to work with us on hours that make sense for them, whether it's 16 hours a week or 30 hours a week or somewhere in between, it is incredibly efficient. It is such a huge value add to our clients. The employees themselves really get a chance to work for different companies and not fully retire but still be engaged and many of them say, keeps them young." On Leading a Team with Flexible Retirement "When we're on, we're on. And so when you're billing clients and you're working on an hourly basis to help peop...

En este epsiodio la doctor Chio Morante nos cuenta lo beneficioso que puede ser utilizar CBD en nuestro día a día, así como los mitos en relación a este increible producto. Instagram Chio: @dra.chiomorante Sorteo el domingo 25 de agosto, para participar solo deja que fue lo que más te gusto del episodio y tu correo.

Did Optima Tax Relief quote you a ridiculous fee for their services? It may be time to get a second opinion, listen now to learn more! Do you have tax debt? Call us at 866-8000-TAX or fill out the form at https://choicetaxrelief.com/Mentioned Video Link:-Choice Tax Relief: https://choicetaxrelief.com/

Today, we're diving into the transformative power of canine companions in educational settings with a special focus on Grant Shannon's groundbreaking program, Dogs Connect. This innovative initiative is designed to foster deeper connections between students and their school environments by integrating wellbeing dogs to enhance emotional literacy and engagement. Grant Shannon's vision for Dogs Connect is rooted in the mission to create emotionally safe and supportive learning environments where students can thrive. By connecting students with specially trained wellbeing dogs, the program not only aims to improve academic engagement but also to nurture emotional resilience and social skills. The goal is to build a school community where every student feels valued, understood, and emotionally connected. This aligns perfectly with the Polyvagal Institute's focus on creating environments that support emotional regulation and social connection. The partnership between Dogs Connect and the Polyvagal Institute amplifies the program's impact by integrating cutting-edge research on the nervous system and social engagement, ensuring that the Dogs Connect program is grounded in the latest science of emotional wellbeing. For educators, therapists, and anyone interested in the intersection of education and emotional wellbeing, Grant Shannon's course at the Polyvagal Institute is an invaluable resource. Dive deeper into the world of Dogs Connect and discover how you can bring this revolutionary approach to your school or community. Don't forget to use our exclusive discount code "Optima" for 15% off when you sign up for the Dogs Connect course at PolyvagalInstitute.com. https://www.facebook.com/dogsconnectaustralia http://dogsconnect.net.au/

In this conversation, The Millennial General interviews Sai Mugga, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and recording artist. They discuss Sai Mugga's journey as an artist and entrepreneur, his strong relationship with music, the influence of his upbringing on his music, his belief in hip-hop, the vibe and frequency people receive from his music, and his legacy. They also touch on Sai Mugga's connection to Philadelphia and the challenges of being an independent artist. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the Out the Mud podcast and the Optima podcast.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/outthemudpodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

De Nederlandse Dr. Jip Dekker is werkzaam bij Monash University en is research fellow bij OPTIMA en werkt aan het open-source software programma MiniZinc. Voor dit project is hij samen met zijn collega's genomineerd voor de Australian Research Data Commons Eureka Prize voor Excellence in Research Software. Deze prijs is bedoeld voor de ontwikkeling, onderhoud of uitbreiding van software die belangrijk nieuw wetenschappelijk onderzoek mogelijk heeft gemaakt. Wij belden met Jip om meer te weten te komen over zijn werk.

Atte Jongstra is schrijver, essayist en columnist. Van zijn hand verschenen onder andere ‘De avonturen van Henry II Fix', ‘Cholerastad' en ‘De aardappelcentrale'. Hij was redacteur van literair tijdschrift ‘Optima' en is recensent voor NRC Handelsblad. Zijn nieuwste boek, "Friezen in Rome", is een satirische roman over een onderzoek in Rome naar Friese strijders, dat ontspoort door professionele en persoonlijke chaos. Femke van der Laan gaat met Atte Jongsta in gesprek.

Jarrett from Bowen Built and Mike from Roush Motorsports join us to talk about the recent Optima Ultimate Street Car event that took place at Road America. They also discuss what goes into making a Mustang a great contender for autocross and road course situations and more.

We are joined by five members of OPTIMA, a research programme which tests whether a new mobile phone app called STEPS can help families of children awaiting clinical assessment for conditions such as ADHD or autism. STEPS (which is still being trialled) does not replace clinical support, but gives parents access to additional help while they are on the waitlist. Any families in this situation will want to find out more about this eight module app, hear insights from parents who have lived experience of the assessment process and get some top tips for managing challenges.

Jay Horta AKA Car Bodega joins us to discuss our recent weekend at Road America for the Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge. Jay shares how he's become more involved in servicing his own cars especially after receiving an astronomical quote for what turned out to be a simple job. Since, he has been excited to continue pursuing the track life.

En este episodio platicamos con la directora de Asuntos Públicos LATAM en Clarios sobre esta empresa que es líder mundial en tecnologías avanzadas de baterías de bajo voltaje para la movilidad. Su enfoque se centra en la innovación y sostenibilidad, diseñando baterías que utilizan menos energía y recursos mientras cumplen con las demandas crecientes de los consumidores y clientes. La compañía es conocida por su exitoso sistema de economía circular, que incluye el diseño, fabricación,transporte, reciclaje y recuperación de materiales de baterías de vehículos. Te invito a escuchar sobre este tema tan importante y vital para el funcionamiento de un auto, conoce la diferencia entre las baterias de bajo voltaje y las de alto voltaje. No te puedes perder esta información. 

Construction is not looking  for innovation. It's solutions like this they're chasing with millions.  Join us for an exciting episode with Todd Wynne, Co-Founder of Project Atlas and the Chief Innovation Officer at Rogers O'Brien Construction – as he reveals the secrets behind success in construction innovation. Get a clear picture and see why some construction innovations work while most do not. This is a pivotal episode for innovators, venture capitalists, and construction business owners.  Join Wynne as he takes us through his entrepreneurial journey with Project Atlas, a mapping technology acquired by Bluebeam in 2018 after years of passion, perseverance and pitfalls. Discover what companies like Autodesk and Procore are looking for when considering acquisitions – and why innovation needs a framework to be successful in construction.  Key takeaways: The "Better Way" philosophy: How to instil a mindset of continuous improvement within your organisation The Optima framework: A strategic approach to innovating and implementing new technologies Management strategies: Tactics for overcoming resistance and driving successful adoption Insights into the construction tech landscape: Expert guidance on navigating the evolving market and identifying the right solutions for your business. Lessons from a successful acquisition: Hear firsthand how Wynne's entrepreneurial journey with Project Atlas led to a major industry acquisition. And much more.  —---------------------------- Stay ahead. Get all the news and insider exclusives delivered straight to your inbox.  Sign up for our newsletter The Bytes Line at: https://bricks-bytes.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —--------------------------- This episode is brought to you by Shft—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction's digital future. Visit: https://maketheshft.digital  —---------------------------------- BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed.  —------------------------------------- Timestamps: (00:00:00-00:02:15) Intro (00:02:15-00:06:41) About Project Atlas (00:06:41-00:08:03) How Todd Found His Co-Founder (00:08:03-00:23:18) Defining Innovation And Steps To Implement It (00:23:18-00:34:40) Todd's OPTIMA Framework (00:34:40-00:44:05) Questions To Be Asked Before Making A Big Decision (00:44:05-00:51:18) How To Tackle Cost While Implementing Technology In Construction (00:51:18-00:54:40) Head Count vs Revenue (00:54:40-01:05:27) Story Behind Project Atlas (01:05:27-01:11:34) Keep Building vs Selling (01:11:34-01:12:39) Outro

Have you worked with Optima Tax Relief before? Do you have tax debt? Call us at 866-8000-TAX or fill out the form at https://choicetaxrelief.com/Mentioned Video Link:-Is Optima Tax Relief a Scam? Optima Tax Relief Review by a CPA:    • Is Optima Tax Relief a Scam? Optima T... 

JessEm Rulers, Optima Mortise Chisels, Harvey RG-2 Roller Guide

Les tengo este regalo, de una master class de Digestión  en vivo ahora en episodio de podcast !! ¡Estoy segura que la van a amar y va a ser de mucho beneficio para todos!En Ayurveda, la digestión saludable se considera absolutamente esencial para una salud OPTIMA. Una buena digestión se encuentran entre los pilares de la buena salud. Y en este episodio vamos a explorar  la mecánica de la digestión desde una perspectiva ayurvédica, y por qué es importante. No solo te hablo de alimentos, hablamos de yoga, meditación ejercicio, relaciones y como todo impacta nuestra digestión !! Vas a aprender a ubicar cáalos son los síntomas de una mala digestión y como con tips Ayurvedicos muy simples puedes mejorarla y regresar la salud a tu vida !! Les dejo mucho amor, y aqui el link de mi próxima limpieza de primavera online !! Únete a este viaje de sanar tu digestión con Ayurveda, de mi mano durante 18 días. https://www.luzorea.com/spring-cleanseInstagram: @luzoreawww.luzorea.comcon Amor siempre, Luz  

 Tom Steiglman hosts today's show. Tom S. announces the passing of Tom Anderson and shares the press release from Optima Public Relations, Tom's advertising agency. Rick Whitbeck from Power the Future and East Anchorage Mark call in to share their thoughts and memories of Tom Anderson. Mayor Dave Bronson calls in to give us an update on his re-elections efforts and gets us up to speed with what's happening at the Muni. Becca Kooce the CEO of Optima Public Relations calls in to talk about Tom Anderson and the future of Optima. South Anchorage Joe & Woodcarver Mike call in to share their thoughts about Tom Anderson. 

Today's show is jam-packed with tech talk and a special focus on the Optima Braille laptop's delay. Steven discusses his experience with Groups.io, a platform where he found a community discussing the Victor Reader Stream. He shares the challenges of trying to get Audible support on the new Victor Reader Stream 3 and reminisces about the ease of transferring books on the older model. As always, the show features listener feedback, starting with Alan's curiosity about the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the AI transcription feature. Frank shares his frustrations with Lady A's playback issues and the difficulty of setting email sounds on the iPhone 14. But the highlight of today's episode is a candid interview with Adi Kushner from Access Mind. Adi opens up about the real-world conflict in Israel that has caused delays in the Optima Braille laptop's production. Despite the challenges, Adi remains committed to the project and shares exciting news about upcoming software beta testing and collaborations with screen reader developers. Keep your feedback coming and share your thoughts with the guys by emailing feedback@doubletaponair.com or calling 1-877-803-4567 and leaving us a voicemail.

We're excited to announce that Kim Brophey, CDBC, CPDT-KA, an esteemed applied ethologist and owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center in Asheville, NC, will be a special guest on the 'The Infinite Approach' podcast. With over 20 years of experience in Family Dog Mediation® and accolades such as the APDT Outstanding Trainer of the Year and Best Dog Trainer of WNC for six consecutive years, Kim brings a wealth of knowledge in canine behavior, ethology, and welfare. She's renowned for her groundbreaking Dog L.E.G.S.® model and as the author of "MEET YOUR DOG - The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog's Behavior". As a celebrated lecturer and a pivotal figure advocating for a paradigm shift in our relationships with dogs, her podcast appearance is a must-listen for dog lovers. In celebration, we're offering a 50% discount on our courses with the code "OPTIMA", giving you a fantastic opportunity to learn from a leading voice in the dog behavior and training industry. https://kimbropheylegscourses.thinkific.com

Jackie Kilraine is an experienced Doctor with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry. Skilled in Epigenetics, Neurofeedback, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, Myofascial Release Therapy, Fibromyalgia and Wellness Coaching emphasizing empowering others to regain their natural state by uncovering the layers of their good health . Strong healthcare services professional graduated from Life Chiropractic College. Author of Codes of Longevity CEO of Expressing Optima and Amazing Brain Fitness Talks about #joy, #longevity, #epigenetics, #imagination, and #neuroscience Talks about hashtag joy, hashtag longevity, hashtag epigenetics, hashtag imagination, and hashtag neuroscience Amazing Brain Fitness Life Chiropractic College Warner Robins, Georgia, United States  Connect with Jackie! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-kilraine-dc-bcn-6280a563/   https://www.facebook.com/jackie.barroso.9   https://www.facebook.com/ExpressingOptima   https://www.instagram.com/jackiekilraine/   Please subscribe James Youtube channel here! https://tinylink.net/XSGqL Featured song for this episode is "Ride On", check it out on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/track/5VQzjlHv7qZzyZIOSGkhjU?si=eb0d5a683f2e43d8   For a custom-branded song you can reach James at james@thejamesoconnoragency.com   If you wish to have an appointment with James about coaching, use this link. www.calendly.com/dharmic Apple podcast review link Please leave us a 5 Star review, its easy to do, and really helps us out to grow the show! https://digitalhealthtoday.com/support/how-to-review-itunes/ Thank you for doing this my friends!

The episode features an interview with Adam Mangana and Dan Sturdevant of Optima Online Academy, the world's first all-VR school. Optima aims to merge classical education focused on the liberal arts and humanities with cutting-edge virtual reality technology. The school teaches a classical curriculum based on great books and stories to prepare students to be their most human in an age of AI. The founders argue that VR is not bleeding-edge tech but rather the inevitable evolution of technology, just as books were initially criticized yet ultimately transformed learning.A key challenge Optima faces is building school culture and overcoming loneliness in a virtual environment. They use techniques like virtual scavenger hunts based on classics like The Scarlet Pimpernel, designing natural social spaces, and activities drawn from canonical stories to foster student connection. Specific learning activities highlighted include Latin classes to prepare for computer science, the concept of VR as a "memory palace," and equity of access to high-quality education.Overall, Optima seeks to leverage the immersive properties of VR to ground students in classical education and culture. As the internet transforms into three dimensions, the school aims to maintain the best of humanities-based learning while expanding access through virtual technology. Dan and Adam argue this fusion will optimize preparation for the future of learning and human-AI collaboration.---Guest Bios:Dan SturdevantUpon graduation from Wheaton College (IL), Dr. Sturdevant moved to Charlotte, NC to teach at Providence Day School. Within a few years he married Christa (also Dr. Sturdevant) and they moved to Raleigh, where he continued teaching and earned a Duke masters focused on skills for student success. He later earned a UNC doctorate in Educational Leadership, completing a dissertation evaluating NC charter schools' efficiency.Dr. Sturdevant believes in experiential education, student success and healthy school cultures. He has over a decade of classroom experience leading schools at all levels. He firmly believes in Optima Academy Online's mission to shape the next generation with its classically aligned, virtual reality education.Outside of school, the Drs. Sturdevant have two wonderful daughters and enjoy spending time together outside, hiking, biking, and exploring new places.Adam ManganaAdam Mangana is a respected figure in education, known for integrating virtual reality into the classroom. As Founder of Optima Ed, he has created VR curriculum solutions catering to modern learners.Previously, Adam served as Head of School at Benedict Day, where he established the first-ever VR Lab in the Pine Belt. He has also worked as Director of the Extended Reality Lab at Jackson Prep. Adam is passionate about curating the best VR educational experiences and empowering student content creation.Adam has spoken at various conferences including NAIS and SAIS, and co-hosts the “Ready Teacher One” podcast on VR's role in the future of learning. With degrees from Brown and Vanderbilt in Independent School Leadership, and as a Teach for America alum and Albert Bennett award recipient, Adam has a foundation in both education and technology.His expertise in VR education has helped numerous schools deliver exceptional learning experiences.Guest links:Optima online academy: https://www.optimaacademy.online/Host links:Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at Tami and Allyson's CILC.orgSeth's  Banyan Global Learning prepares students for real life with live virtual learning experiences in Character Education: banyangloballearning.com

TMCP #559: SEMA Show 2023 Special #2: Ron Francis Wiring, Scott Bowers Goes Racing! - Cam Douglas, OPTIMA Series - Chris Douglas, CEO of Edelbrock Group:Racing and When to Move on to the Next Level -Wayne Perdue, JEGS, 35 Years of Speed Parts - Rick Love, Vintage Air, New Fox Body Mustang Systems! The post TMCP #559: SEMA Show 2023 Special #2: Ron Francis Wiring, Scott Bowers Goes Racing! – Cam Douglas, OPTIMA Series – Chris Douglas, CEO of Edelbrock Group:Racing and When to Move on to the Next Level -Wayne Perdue, JEGS, 35 Years of Speed Parts – Rick Love, Vintage Air, New Fox Body Mustang Systems! first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

The Rev. Dr. Mike Davis of Chino, California works at The Optimal Performance Group, and the Centre for Christian Training and Development. He studied First Century Christianity at CSBR Division of Graduate Studies. Mike is teaching pastor at The Oasis Fellowship in Chino, California. He is a popular presence online and has presented a notable series called “Who's the Boss? Women and Men in Biblical and Cultural Contexts.” A previous Guest on The Eden Podcast and he honored us with his Tru Talk as part of the Launch event of the Tru316 Foundation in March of 2023! Here's that link: https://youtu.be/FFmIJyN4miA?si=jm4PEHnssKaUcTnM This new episode is Part One of the lively discussion with Mike, co-host Christy Gudim and host Bruce C. E. Fleming.Mike Davis is the author of The Power of Emotional Success ... Now!Mike's links:Mike Davis links:Email: mldtraining@msn.comWebsite: www.emotionalsuccesscoach.comFacebook (personal page): www.facebook.com/mikedavis.thecoachFacebook (Ministry page): https://www.facebook.com/cctdonline/Facebook (Marriage group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoyfullyMarried/Like to go deeper studying the Tru316 Message? ENROLL NOW to be part of the next Tru School two-week cohort, The Eden Workshop on Genesis 2-3. Here's that link: www.Tru316.com/workshopGo deeper? ENROLL NOW to be part of the next Tru School two-week cohort, The Eden Workshop on Genesis 2-3. Click here: www.Tru316.com/workshopThe Tru316 Foundation(www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too.You can join in support of the work of the Tru316 Foundation! Become a Tru Partner: www.Tru316.com/partnerFor $25 a month or more (or even as little as  $3.16/month) our Tru Partners are spreading the Word. Click here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Today on the show, Steven and Shaun discuss the evolution of Braille devices following our recent conversation with Adi Kushner from Access Mind. Dan writes in with questions about the long-term viability of a device such as the Optima laptop and queries about long-term support from companies like Orbit and Vispero. Also, there's news of a new online Braille learning tool called Braille Brain from American Printing House for the Blind. Listener Lena shares her thoughts. And there's more of your feedback, in particular around the different and varying dictaphone devices we have available to us as people who are blind. Graham from Toronto shares his thoughts on the Wilson Recorder, while Greg in Pennsylvania suggests that the much-discussed Olympus DM-770 and DM-720 are two similar, but different devices. Check out more about the Braille Brain course here: https://www.aph.org/product/braille-brain/ Check out more about the Wilson Recorder here: https://getawilson.com Get in touch with the Double Tappers and join the conversation: Email: feedback@doubletaponair.com Call: 1-877-803-4567 (Canada and USA) / 0204 571 3354 (UK) X (formerly Twitter): @BlindGuyTech / @ShaunShed Mastodon: @DoubleTap

It's once again is the quarterly Pro-Touring Update, Presented by Ron Francis Wiring, and starring Mr. Larry Callahan! Technically this is the 3rd quarter update, but with the schedules of events (and the possibility of something special in the first weekend of Oct) we needed to push it back a couple of weeks. I'm happy to say that the gamble was worth it! The focus of this update - as always - is to stay on the inside scoop of what is going on with Larry and The Pro-Touring community as well as getting the inside scoop on upcoming Pro-Touring (autocross) events for the end of 2023! The post TMCP #555: THE Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan – SEMA 2023 Preview – Pro-Touring Dinner – Ron Francis Goes To The OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

The education system is broken. Once designed to standardize humans to become a workforce pipeline that met the demands of industrialization, it just doesn't work anymore the way it is. Thankfully, Adam Mangana, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder of OptimaEd has developed a solution currently being implemented in Florida, and he joins me in this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY to talk about it in detail. He shares how he became a pioneer in creating Education Experiences using 3D immersive spaces, solving challenges presented by using 20th Century teaching methods in a 21st Century world. The biggest challenge is making sure our kids are Future Ready because the future is now. Adam is an educator with almost two decades of experience in education technology and creating teaching standards aligned with virtual reality curriculum, culminating with the launch of Optima Academy Online. It's a tuition-free online school serving students grades K-9 in the Sunshine State with over 4,000 highly interactive modules that provide learning experiences in 3D environments where students can learn (meaning inside it, virtually) with either the real-time guidance of a real teacher as an avatar or in a self-paced format. Optima has also secured funding to provide the hardware to all students – FOR FREE, delivering equitable access to advanced technology to historically disenfranchised communities. “In addition to self-paced and teacher-led coursework, students are able to learn by experiencing the moment in history from the perspective of the person who lived it by stepping into their avatar,” says Adam. He adds, “It brings into the fold the opportunity to cultivate empathy throughout the learning experience.” After realizing there was not much research regarding the impact and efficacy of virtual reality in education, Adam decided to get a master's at Vanderbilt University to conduct his own research to better inform this innovative approach to education. It paid off. Today over 400 students of all backgrounds have free access to Optima Academy Online. “By decoupling funding for education from zip codes we democratize and individualize learning. This also provides parents an option that delivers safety, socialization, and flexibility,” Adam points out. OptimaEd is also working with Stanford Children's Hospital to support students who are bedridden and unable to attend school. Adam's immediate goals are to consistently double the number of Floridian students every year and to expand to other states where parents are facing similar challenges brought on by COVID. “During the pandemic, people placed tremendous value on the gift of time. Spending time with family and loved ones and figuring out ways they could be with their children more was prioritized,” Adam observes. “I get it. My children are now learning virtually. It makes a difference when you can be there and make them a peanut butter sandwich during your breaks. But I'm always telling our team that we need to nail it before we scale it, so we are making sure to do this right,” he adds.

Laurie Coburn is a longtime Educator, AD, and Administrator who is also one of the BEST Coaches I ever worked with! She now uses VIRTUAL REALITY to teach kids and she shares this on The Educational AD Podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/educational-ad-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/educational-ad-podcast/support

Ashley Pope is an incredible woman by any standard. She grew up mostly in the Ventura area of Southern California. She went to school graduating like any high school senior. She tried college and found that it wasn't for her. She had been working at a department store while in high school and for a bit after that including when she decided college was not her forte.   She spent a few years working in sales for an ophthalmological company before opening her own spice and tea shop in Ventura at the age of 23. During this time her son was born. At the age of two, he was diagnosed as being autistic. Ashley learned how to be a fierce advocate for him and joined forces with Autism Society Ventura where she now serves as president.   Ashley sold her business and took a position with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce to have the time to devote to her son's needs.   Life wasn't done throwing curves at Ashley. In 2020 she was feeling some health issues of her own. She thought they were stress-related. After a STAT MRI's ended in a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis she now had not only to advocate for her son but for herself as well.   You will see from listening to Ashley that she is as unstoppable as it gets. She is by any standard the kind of person I am honored to know and I do hope we will hear more from her in the future.     About the Guest:   Ashley Pope is 33 years old and lives in beautiful Ventura, California with her husband Carlos and their 10-year-old son, Gavin. She is employed by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce as a Membership Development Manager. She feels fortunate to get to work with the business community, including small businesses and non-profit organizations. Ashley is an entrepreneur, having owed a spice and tea store Downtown Ventura for 6 years before selling it, all before the age of 30. During that time, she was acknowledged for being a young business owner, most notably in the Wells Fargo Works national competition and by the National Association of Women Business Owners when she was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015.   Ashley is also a passionate volunteer. She has worked countless hours as a volunteer for Autism Society Ventura County- a role that doubles as a hobby! She is currently the President of the organization and has served on the board for 6 years. The projects that bring her the most joy are centered around workforce development, advocacy, changing the local narrative around Autism one family at a time, and obtaining large grants to put on new meaningful projects and programs in Ventura County. Ashley is also a 7 year Rotarian with Rotary Club of Ventura East.   In 2015, when her son was 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Autism. This diagnosis rocked her world and sent her family on a quest for services and to understand what this meant for her son. Acceptance wasn't immediate, but it was fast. Ashley became a passionate advocate and began to help other families whenever she could. This quest for more led her to Autism Society Ventura County, where she was able to combine her energy with other advocates for greater impact. She credits the organization with empowering her with the knowledge and experience to be the best mom she can be. By the end of 2016, Ashley was known in her community as a disability advocate.   In 2020, Ashley came into another challenge. She had been experiencing some strange medical symptoms that she wrote off as stress induced. She was shocked when STAT MRI's ended in a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Ashley didn't know much about the condition, only that it was debilitating. She quickly learned that unlike Autism, there wasn't much fun or interesting about progressive multiple sclerosis. She is currently in the process of coming to acceptance of her own limitations and grappling with her sense of self as her ability to do a lot changes.   Through her experience with her son, Ashley has learned that the ability to communicate is a gift and is motivated to share her story, even when she feels vulnerable.   Ashley loves to read, spend time with her family, and loves her 2 cats Scarlett and Pebbles and her dog Donut.   Ways to connect with Ashley:   Instagram: VenturawithAshley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.pope.10/     About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hello once again. And yep, you are absolutely right. This is unstoppable mindset. We're inclusion, diversity in the unexpected meet. And it's always fun when we get to have a lot of all of that kind of stuff on here. I'm your host, Mike hingson. We're really glad you're here with us today. And today we have a guest Ashley Pope, then Ashley would be a person I would describe as an unstoppable mom advocate and she'll tell you all about why that's the case. But that's a good description to start with. Anyway, we've been working on getting this all set up for a while and we finally got it done. And here we are. And Ashley, thank you for coming on. And welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Ashley Pope ** 02:03 Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here with you today.   Michael Hingson ** 02:06 And I am not really if you want to get technical everyone totally pleased with Ashley because she lives in Ventura, California, and I wish I were there. But no Victorville is really okay. Ventura is a nice seaside town, and there's a lot of value in being there. And it's a wonderful place and not too far from where I live. So I could get a ride there within a couple of hours or so. So not complaining too much. Right, Ashley?   Ashley Pope ** 02:33 That's right, Ventura Great.   Michael Hingson ** 02:35 Well, let's start by maybe learning a little bit about kind of the earlier Ashley, you growing up and all that kind of stuff. And we'll, we'll take it from there.   Ashley Pope ** 02:44 Yeah. So I grew up right here in Ventura, California, which is about halfway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and super sunny, beautiful place to live. And it's a wonderful place to grow up. And I have a brother and a sister and you know, my parents, we all just grew up here and and I think I think the universe all the time for allowing you to grow up and such a gorgeous place with wonderful people. I really don't think there's anywhere better in the world. And then, shortly after high school, I just jumped right into actually working full time before high school even ended. And I just always have had a really strong work ethic and a really big passion for whatever work I was doing. I never expected that I would find myself in disability advocacy, that's for sure. This is where I landed and I'm grateful to be here as well.   Michael Hingson ** 03:43 So you didn't go to college?   Ashley Pope ** 03:45 No, I did for a little bit. I went to MIT for college. Okay, great. Yeah. And I dropped out. I have I have a short attention span so I knew pretty quickly that college was not my thing. It was really hard for me to sit down and sit still I've always learned better by using my hands and my mind and getting out there and I chose the work route which you know, pros and cons but no regrets at all.   Michael Hingson ** 04:14 Well, and that's really the issue isn't that you are you're happy with what you're doing? There are no regrets. You can always do shoulda, coulda, woulda, and what good does it get us anyway?   Ashley Pope ** 04:24 Absolutely. I actually bought a business at the age of 23. A retail store in beautiful downtown Ventura. And I consider that to be my college experience. I had it for six years. And there's there's no business experience like that experience, that's for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 04:43 And what happened to the business? I sold it. See there you go. So you beat the odds first of all, because they say that typically most startups don't last five years. Not only is it yours last but then you sold it. So you can't do better than that. Unless you wanted to stay in it and there are a lot of reason Since not to necessarily do that, as I'm sure we're gonna discover, but what were you doing? You said you were working even in high school?   Ashley Pope ** 05:08 Yeah, I worked at Macy's. So when I was in high school, my parents moved to Sacramento, my dad's job got transferred. And I kind of refused to start new in high school and opted instead to do homeschooling and ended up working full time at Macy's, while homeschooling for a year, and then I moved back to Ventura to graduate, and kept the job. And shortly after graduating high school, I went on to work at LensCrafters, which was a great management experience and really taught me a lot. I think my days at LensCrafters really helped to prepare me for advocacy in a lot of ways it you know, just working with people who have vision impairments, or have medical issues and need the glasses to see it was really enlightening for me honestly, that to think somebody could lose a pair of glasses or break a pair of glasses and then be unable to see the world and maybe not have the accommodations that they needed to pick glasses right away. Rather, it was financial or transportation restraints, just to have somebody kind of be left without resources for maybe a week before they could get in for an appointment. It was really it was enlightening. For sure. It's pretty cool to to witness that.   Michael Hingson ** 06:39 It's kind of an off the topic question. But I'm just curious, it sort of pops into my head. How do we get people to recognize that eyesight is not the only game in town, and even if you lose your glasses, it's not the end of the world.   Ashley Pope ** 06:52 I mean, I think it is the end of the world in first moments, right? In the first moments, in the first moments, you see, oh my gosh, I can't work, I can't drive. I can't be an effective parent. I can't help my kid with their homework. It's like you have to learn how to deal with what life gives you. But if you only have a week to figure it   Michael Hingson ** 07:15 out, oh, yeah, that's not a lot of time.   Ashley Pope ** 07:19 But you're absolutely right. I mean, that's one thing I did not learn from LensCrafters. But maybe I learned later down the road, is that these things are not life or death. Right? It's, it's not. It's not the end of the world. You're absolutely right. But it's the end of that person's world when they have a week worth of plans that they can no longer make. It feels like the end of their world. And perhaps that's an issue with America and with the world as it is more than it is the way that those individuals were thinking,   Michael Hingson ** 07:54 Yeah, we teach. We teach people so much that I say it's the only game in town and I and I understand why for most people, it really is because that's what they know. The other part about it, and we talked about it here every so often is that somehow we've got to get away from using the term vision impairment, because for visual impairment, because we're not impaired. And people who don't hear well would shoot you if you said they were hearing impaired because they recognize it impaired means you're really comparing it with something, rather than saying, hard of hearing. And likewise, with people who are blind or low vision, that's a much better way to put it than blind or visually impaired visually, we're not different and impaired as also an inappropriate thing. But we're still a long way from getting people to understand that language. And that doesn't help people thinking that it's the end of the world. But I appreciate it. And and the reality is it's an education process. And hopefully over time, it will be something where we'll have better revolution.   Ashley Pope ** 08:58 Thank you, Michael, it. It is an educational process. And there's so many, we've we're always changing and always evolving. And that's something I didn't know I do remember prometrics at one point telling me that we should never say blind, right? And it seems like we've gone backwards or gone forwards but like it's like what used to be acceptable for a while was no longer acceptable, such as like person first language. That's another thing with autism. Like you don't say autistic, you say a person with autism. And then now we're going back to know the person that is who they are. That's part of their culture that they want to claim and part of their identity. So now we got to stick. And we always want to be respectful of the language that one wants to use in the language that's culturally appropriate and no, that's super valid. And thank you so much for for sharing.   Michael Hingson ** 09:55 Well, in the case of blind for example, and I think there are reasons why optometrists should ophthalmologists think that I'll get to that in a second. But the real issue is that blind and low vision is and or are characteristics. And the issue isn't politically correct or not the issue is accurate and how it really classifies people. And that's why the whole idea of impaired is a problem. From my perspective, the optometrist, you talked about his blind impaired, why is that any different than being blind, you know, a, maybe a better way to put it is that guy's light dependent, and he'd be in a world of hurt if the power suddenly went out in his office, and he didn't have a window to allow sunlight in. But he didn't have a smartphone right close by to be able to turn it on for a flashlight. And most people in the world are like dependent. And that's all they know, that I don't expect everyone to necessarily get to the point up front where they're experts and won't panic. But they sure also ought not to assume that just because some people aren't like them, that we're not just as capable. And of course, that gets back to the whole issue of disability does not mean lack of ability, which is something you understand very well. Absolutely. So you sold your business. Cool. That was great. What was your business?   Ashley Pope ** 11:26 It was a spice and tea store, downtown Ventura, and it's very much still there and the new owners are not new anymore. It's been four years. They are absolutely amazing. The store is called spice topia. And it's right on the 500 block of Main Street, downtown Ventura, and I love the tan family. If you drop in, you should definitely spend a lot of money and and visit the family.   Michael Hingson ** 11:52 Well, only we'll go with you. We'll have to get to Venter and do that. I've been a great fan of some Well, vibrant British teas, but I like green tea and other other teas as well. I've never been the coffee drinker and I don't know why. But I've always been since I started drinking hot drinks more of a tea drinker. Of course, I can always be spoiled with hot chocolate, but that's another story.   Ashley Pope ** 12:15 Same same. I love chocolate bars. I'm not so much of a coffee drinker anymore, either.   Michael Hingson ** 12:21 Nothing wrong with hot chocolate.   Ashley Pope ** 12:24 Especially with whipped cream. Yep. Absolutely. Do it.   Michael Hingson ** 12:28 Make it with milk? Yep. We, my wife and I in the winter would get Starbucks cocoa from Costco. And we would make it with milk never water. And so always tastes great. Yeah, spoiled me. I might just have to have some anyway today just because. Well, that comes later. But meanwhile, so what did you do after you sold the business?   Ashley Pope ** 12:59 So this is another point when I had a business, I always had another job kind of outside of the business. Because as you said, small business is hard. And retail is hard. So that was always kind of a side project for me, that I had for a long time. When I went into business, my son was just about a year old. And within another two years he was diagnosed with autism. And so I tried to kind of let go of the job that I had and went to go work my retail store and then ended up with a different kind of job sticking with the optometry ophthalmology field. I would do outside sales for LASIK and cataract surgeons. And yeah, stick with the field stick with what I knew. And then the Chamber of Commerce here in Ventura was hirings. Oh, I've actually worked for the chamber for about seven years. So there was some overlap between selling my business and the time that I worked for the chamber. The time came in 2019, I really was just beginning to feel the squeeze of having a child with special needs, doing my volunteer work that I love to do, and of course, having a job and a business. So something had to go. And I really took a good hard look and thought, what do I want to do? Do I want to quit my job? Do I want to stay in the business? And I ended up deciding to go ahead and sell the business. And that was a really great decision for me. A very wise decision in terms of especially not knowing what was coming next, which I know we're gonna get to about what less than a year after selling I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And so that was really telling why I was having some of the issues that I was having, focusing, holding conversations with fatigue EEG, all of these symptoms that I had been having just in case I was overstressed overworked, which I was, but not really answered some of those questions, and I was really grateful that I made the decision that left me with health insurance versus the one that maybe wouldn't have. So.   Michael Hingson ** 15:16 So the job that you had at that time was the Optima logical one or the optical one or what? No, with the chamber with the chamber. Okay, great. Yeah. So you got health insurance. So you had two different sets of challenges, because clearly MS is not anywhere near the same kinds of issues as as autism. And now suddenly, you had to deal with both. Is there a husband in the picture?   Ashley Pope ** 15:39 There is? Yeah, my husband, my son's dad, he is a stay at home dad, actually, to this day, really supportive also than I assume? Yeah, he's really supportive, and definitely the primary caregiver for my son being that I was working. So that's it. It's been great just being able to lean on him.   Michael Hingson ** 16:03 And, and he does that, which is so cool. Because he cares enough to do that. And so he's able to deal with your son and, and you when necessary. Oh, absolutely. I see you a lot on a lot of different ways. But with the MS and all that, does your son go to school?   Ashley Pope ** 16:23 He does. So he goes to a special education program that's been a typical school, he does have a inclusion where he sometimes goes into the general education classrooms. And he goes to public school.   Michael Hingson ** 16:38 How's he doing?   Ashley Pope ** 16:39 He's doing great. My son is so awesome. He's really positive. He's really smart. He's really happy. He has a hard time with language, both understanding complex instructions or complex ideas even. And then also verbalizing, complex feelings, emotions, he talks a little bit but mostly about, like his needs and his wants. But I really learned that there's a lot of different ways to communicate. And he's, he's a happy kid. So we're really grateful for that. Does he read? He is super good with reading? He does. He doesn't read so much. Books. And the comprehension is still a challenge. But he definitely reads words and is really good with spelling. That's he has been fascinated with the alphabet, since he was like, nine months old. He's been super drawn to numbers and letters and colors and shapes. And that's actually, I think, a pretty common thing with autism.   Michael Hingson ** 17:50 Well, that's cool. Does, does he? Have you ever tried to explore the concept of listening to audiobooks? Or is his listening comprehension just not there yet.   Ashley Pope ** 18:02 He's never really shown interest. He's just barely starting to show interest in cartoons, which is funny, because, you know, so many parents are like, Oh, too much screen time for the kids, like, you know, you don't want him glued to the TV all day. And for us, we're like, thrilled that he wants to watch cartoons and you can kind of like, maintain a focus on it. I know so many people who learn English through watching cartoons, and maybe you know, grew up on learning Spanish only. And were in households that didn't speak English at all. And were able to pick up English through cartoons. So I'm a big believer that this can be a positive thing for him. And it gives me hope, also, that he's interested in the stories being told and in the characters. So I'm interested to see where that will land.   Michael Hingson ** 18:53 Well, so of course, the issue is you're getting something out of it. And clearly, you can see that so that's a really positive thing. Needless to say. Absolutely. Yeah. So he, he watched his cartoons to see what kind of games does he play?   Ashley Pope ** 19:10 Plays, you know, it's he, he likes to do things his own way. So you can usually find him like jumping on the trampoline, he likes to go for walks, he runs around on the beach, and terms of games. He's just not into it. And we try to pull him into like, you know, our space and get him to engage in these different ways. He loves doing LEGO sets, which is really fun. The booklets like, really, really well, he does better than I do. I'll be like trying to help him and put something on backwards and he's like, no, no, like, he'll like take it from me and fix it. So it kind of comes back to that whole, you know, shapes, numbers, colors, letters thing he's really drawn to what's concrete. Which is interesting because for me, that's so not who I am as a person. So it's been fun to learn alongside him and watch the way that he learns. Just because it's so interesting and different from the way that I learned.   Michael Hingson ** 20:18 Well, clearly, there is a lot of awareness there. And that's probably the most important thing. So you may not know just what's going on in that mind. But there's something that that is going on. And he's aware of his surroundings. And I wish more people were aware of their surroundings in so many ways.   Ashley Pope ** 20:38 Yeah, he'll pick out like, the tiniest little thing and hyper focus on like, one, you know, little tiny toy or one little thing in the carpet, or whatever it might be. In so many ways, it's like he'll he'll fully get immersed in one little part of his day. And it's a really beautiful thing to watch that at attention. And that focus is really rare.   Michael Hingson ** 21:11 You've talked about autism or autistic awareness, as opposed to acceptance. Tell us about that.   Ashley Pope ** 21:17 Yeah, so autism acceptance is a term that's been used for decades, or autism awareness, I'm sorry. So autism awareness is basically like, what is autism? What are the first signs that you should reach out for help if you see these, you know, first things not talking, not smiling, not engaging, no eye contact, they have like this big long list of things for parents. And to know those things is to be aware. So society pushed that for a really long time, autism awareness, autism awareness. And just in the last maybe five years, Autism Society of America, as well as Autism Society of Ventura County, and several other organizations have said, Okay, we've kind of met awareness, people know, what is autism, people know someone with autism. People have heard the word autism. So what does it mean? What's the next step? And autism acceptance is really not only being aware of what autism is, but being accepting of who the unique individuals are, who have autism, and also taking a good look at how does our world work? And how do we make sure that it works for these populations? So for instance, in like workforce training, and education and inclusion, pretty much from birth to end of life? How do we build a world that is more inclusive? And that has been the focus now on acceptance more than awareness?   Michael Hingson ** 23:02 Yeah, it makes sense. And we'll know when there's true acceptance when people recognize that just because someone may be happens to be autistic, that doesn't make them less of a person, it means they're going to do things in a significantly different way. But doesn't mean they're less.   Ashley Pope ** 23:23 Yes, absolutely. That's the goal. We are noticing the differences and honoring the differences, and accommodating the differences when necessary. But that we're recognizing that they are just as much human and have just as much right to find their happiness and passions in the world. We're not just creating cookie cutter programs for kids that are so not cookie cutter. And we're definitely not pushing adults into cookie cutter dogs, or cookie cutter programs. And we honor the diversity of everyone else. We hope that we can honor that diversity across the autism spectrum as well.   Michael Hingson ** 24:06 Do we really know what causes autism?   Ashley Pope ** 24:09 We don't. We don't know what the causes are they they, you know, some genetic factor for sure. environmental factor for sure. But they still haven't identified what exactly causes autism. And one thing that I love most. And what really drew me to Autism Society, is that we really don't talk or work on causes or cures at all. We only focus on providing programs and making the world a better place. As a mom. I remember getting that diagnosis and seeing so many organizations that are talking about you know, finding a cure or figuring out what the cause is so that we can eliminate it and just being like, well, that doesn't really help me. Now, it doesn't help my son now like we don't we're not trying to You know, change, that he has autism, it's part of who he is, in a sense, even very early on, I knew like, I don't want to take his wonder or his joy away from him, like, I'm not trying to make him not jump in spin. That's clearly what's making him happy. But I also just want to help him whatever that looks like. And so I was really attracted to an organization that uses their donations, to help those who are already living versus looking at 20 years ahead, to see what they can figure out about causes or cures. And there's a lot of controversy there as well around even finding a cure for autism, because more and more we're learning that it's, that is the genetic makeup, it's a different wiring of the brain, it's a different way of thinking, and it's not wrong, it's not something to be fixed, it's something to be accommodated. So there's a lot of that feeling out there as well that focusing on a cure or a cause is perhaps not the right focus for the time.   Michael Hingson ** 26:10 Well, or using the words we use a little while ago, or you use a little while ago accepted. There's nothing wrong with acceptance.   Ashley Pope ** 26:18 Yeah. It's trying to convince someone that you are accepting, when in the next breath, you are looking to fix what you feel is broken. So   Michael Hingson ** 26:30 that's the issue what you feel is broken. Yeah. Which is, which is all together a different issue. What do you want parents and other people to know about having a child with autism, you must have life lessons, that would probably be valuable for people to hear about.   Ashley Pope ** 26:50 Yeah, for first getting a diagnosis, what I would tell parents is, it's definitely not the end of the world, that there are a lot of positives that can come from, even from the diagnosis, this child is still the same child, and they still have just as much to offer the world and your family as they did, before they got that diagnosis, or the moment they were born, or the moment you dreamed them up. There is still just as much value there. And I would also say that, you know, cry if you need to cry, but then wake up the next day and get to work. Because there's a lot to do, there's a lot of services to find, there's a lot to learn. And the longer you take to process, whatever feelings you need to process, whatever your your grief process looks like, quicker you can get through it. And the faster you can get to work, the better off your child will be. And the more likely they are to be able to be independent to some capacity in this world. So that's a really important message. And then for the rest of the world, I would just say that individuals with autism do deserve the same access and the same experiences. It's shocking, what we sometimes hear, right? In terms of like, well, that program exists, like isn't that enough? Or these services in the community are available? We have one inclusive Park, is that not enough? Why do you need them all to be inclusive? It's like, No, it's not enough, we deserve the same access. And so I will continue to fight those fights, not necessarily for you to park just one idea or one example. But in every area everywhere should be accessible. And the idea that we put any type of limitations on a child or on a person due to a diagnosis or disability is just not okay. So that's it gets.   Michael Hingson ** 29:03 It gets back to what we talked about earlier, blindness being the end of the world or not, and it doesn't matter whether it's being blind or have been being autistic or whatever. It is something that we've got to get to the point of saying get over it. Where's the real problem? The real problem is us who think there's a problem rather than there necessarily really being a problem.   Ashley Pope ** 29:29 The way I put it is the problem is with the world. There's nothing wrong with my son. The problem is with what the world has available for or does not have available for the way that the world perceives, or the way the world thinks about my son. That's the problem. It's not him. And so I think that's a really important piece for people to recognize is that it's the world that falls short never, never ever child and Never the person with a disability.   Michael Hingson ** 30:04 Yeah, and the reality is that we can get over it. And we can move forward. So well, let's let's talk about Gavin a little bit more. So he's 10. What do you expect will be Gavin's future? At some point, will he go into the workforce and have a job? You know, given his level of autism was I'm not going to call it a disability, because it's no more a disability than being able to see as a disability, but, but he is autistic. What, what will that mean in terms of him being able to ever work or be on his own and so on?   Ashley Pope ** 30:47 Here, as the world would say, and this is another term, not, we don't really use, but he does have a lot of needs. And so sometimes in the autism community, we'll hear, Well, is he low functioning, or is he high functioning, or somewhere in the middle, and that is another category of words that we want to kind of let go of using because just because somebody is high functioning doesn't mean that they don't really struggle with things related to their autism. And just because somebody is low functioning, doesn't mean they don't have anything to offer the world. And that the way that we perceive low functioning and high functioning are not, they mean, really very little to like, the actual experience that that person is having. So we've tried to get away from using that language. And my son does have a lot of needs, and he will hopefully be able to work if that's what he is driven to do. He is really interested in things that I think would be good qualities to have as an employee. He's super happy. He's really good at like keeping things organized and clean, you'd make a great merchandiser, for instance, however, he is easily distracted, and he's not really so into direction at this point in his life. He's also 10. So you never know. So to answer that question, I don't really know, I guess it could be anywhere between having a day program or volunteer opportunities up to being like, a legal engineer, I don't know, could be anywhere. So we're not so sure. Um, fortunately, he has a lot of family support. And we've gotten a lot of the supports and systems in place for him, so that he will be okay financially, and with people around him that care for him, he will never be fully independent, which is hard to say or think about. But that's just the reality of it. And a lot of you know, a lot of people in this world won't. So how are we as society, protecting the interests and the rights and the safety of those amongst us who will never be fully independent, or independent, even partially independent, they'll always need someone   Michael Hingson ** 33:27 kind of almost really submit that most all of us really need someone, and that none of us are totally independent. Probably some people would disagree. But the reality is that we all are interdependent on each other in so many ways, and I don't see a problem with that.   Ashley Pope ** 33:45 Yeah. I hear you. I think, obviously, there's levels and you're right. Everybody's independent, in some sense, but But yeah, it's dependents will be a little bit more   Michael Hingson ** 34:01 payments will be a little bit more than, than a lot of people and so on. You know, but he may end up being a great card shark in Las Vegas. We'll see.   Ashley Pope ** 34:10 That's right. You never know, either. Maybe   Michael Hingson ** 34:12 they'll be supporting you. Yeah,   Ashley Pope ** 34:14 it's very true.   Michael Hingson ** 34:16 Does he have any siblings?   Ashley Pope ** 34:19 He does not. So. But no siblings. He's,   Michael Hingson ** 34:23 he's, he's a lot to concentrate on. Right? Yeah. He and her husband for you?   Ashley Pope ** 34:28 Yes. That's enough for me. Yeah, that's   Michael Hingson ** 34:32 a lot of work all the way around. Or your husband has you and he and Gavin to concentrate on and that's a lot for him too. So that is my wife. My wife and I chose not to have kids. We chose to spoil nieces and nephews. So at the end of the day, we could ship them off to home.   Ashley Pope ** 34:49 Nice,   Michael Hingson ** 34:50 worked out well. Yes, it did. Well, we valued each other we valued our togetherness. She was in a wheelchair. And so as I always told people she read, I pushed worked out really well. And so we work together, we relied on each other. And that's, that's as good as it could possibly be as well. So I appreciate though the the fact that we all do happen to be interdependent in one way or another. Absolutely, which is pretty cool.   Ashley Pope ** 35:23 It is really cool.   Michael Hingson ** 35:25 Well, so for you. What, when? When are you when you discover a parent who has encountered autism? And we've talked some about that, but do you have any other advice or any other kinds of words of wisdom that you want to pass on for parents to think about,   Ashley Pope ** 35:48 um, I sometimes come across parents who won't want to tell their child that they have autism. And I think that that's cruel. For lack of a better word, we'll hear that these kids are having a hard time socially, emotionally, maybe with learning. And parents will just be like, oh, you know, I don't, I don't want to give them the label. I don't want them to, you know, feel like they're living with this or under this. Yeah. And we oftentimes hear from adults with autism, that it answers so many questions to have the diagnosis. And so I think that being able to give them the gift of knowing as early as possible, and have them grow up around the word and around being proud of having a different mind, and aware that their mind is different. And there, they may have some struggles, like they may learn a little bit different, or they might have some social issues or difficulties or differences. But that the family loves them and that they are proud of who they are. And that autism is something to be proud of. Because in a lot of ways, it's also a superpower. And look at all the things that you're great at. That is a better approach, and just not addressing it at all, can be really hurtful   Michael Hingson ** 37:21 to that whole thing of living with autism or whatever, it's the same thing about what we were talking about with blindness or any other kind of so called disability. The reality is we've got to get beyond these words that really are only hurtful and not accurate anyway.   Ashley Pope ** 37:39 Yeah, it's, it's a gift to be able to grow up knowing and to find your pride and sense of self, within the life that you have, you're not going to have another one, it's not going to change, you know that you're not going to one day wake up and not have autism. So just live with it. And you loving that about your child empowers them to love themselves, regardless of any difficulties that they may have.   Michael Hingson ** 38:09 And they're going to know that you love them. And if you don't, they're going to know that. It's it's something that so often we don't understand. Children and and other people in general, really observe instinctively as much as anything else. And they know when you're blowing smoke or when you're genuine, whoever you are, and whatever you do. And I, and it's, you know, I learned it a long time ago, I have been very much involved in sales. And I learned a long time ago in sales. They know when you're faking it, they know when you're telling the truth. And you can try to pull the wool over people's eyes. But the reality is, it doesn't work. People really can sense it. I was interviewing someone actually on a recent episode, who was talking about self confidence, and we talked about confidence and arrogance. And one of the points that he made was with arrogance, it's usually because there's an insecurity and you can bluster and, and do all sorts of things. But the reality is, if you're truly confident in yourself and what you're doing and so on, that shines through and people can tell the difference.   Ashley Pope ** 39:27 Very true.   Michael Hingson ** 39:29 And so love is extremely important. And I'm I'm really glad to hear that you can can really support that in the you guys are doing that and Gavin's gonna certainly appreciate it and give it back in return and that's is important as anything else.   Ashley Pope ** 39:46 Yes, he is so happy and and I think lucky. Just how much support he has. And we don't put him in situations where We don't feel like he is fully accepted and embraced and loved. Ever. So if there was a teacher that I felt was not fit, then we would find a new one. It's like those types of situations, because we can't. I want him to be happy and to live that fullest life. And in order to do that he needs to be around people who believe that he can and that he's worth that,   Michael Hingson ** 40:25 who believe in Him. Uh huh. Well, so I want to talk more about you in terms of your diagnosis and so on. But first, what do you do for the chamber,   Ashley Pope ** 40:39 I do membership development. So I meet with different businesses and organizations and people around the community and bring them into the chamber. I also do a lot of the events work, so help to organize events. It's really awesome to be able to connect with the business community on a really deep level. It's a really supportive community here in Ventura. We have a ton of nonprofits who do really great work, and the business community really comes out and supports them. So I'm really in a position to uncover unmet need, and also to find organizations and people who can help to meet that need. And it's one of the things I'm most grateful for when it comes to my job. Oh,   Michael Hingson ** 41:25 percentage wise, how many businesses are in the chamber? And when not only in winter? But typically speaking? How does that work? Do most businesses join their local chambers?   Ashley Pope ** 41:38 So our chamber has 700 businesses as members, we represent over 25,000 employees. So it's a really big network. Every chamber is different. They're all operated independently, they all have different initiatives, different boards of directors. So Chamber of Commerce in one city could be doing completely different things than a chamber of commerce. And another one. So yeah, I mean, Fincher is is fantastic. And chambers in general, do networking, business advocacy, it just kind of depends city to city. I love today, a lot of small businesses join. It's hard to give like a percentage or, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 42:22 yeah, I was just curious. I didn't know whether that was even an answerable question. Because unless you have some real way to track every single business, it's it's kind of hard to tell.   Ashley Pope ** 42:33 Yeah. And there's a lot of businesses that do. Like, if you looked at a business license list, you would see a lot of businesses that pull like a one day permit or do business in the city, but aren't actually like based in the city, and so no different than hard to measure for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 42:51 In our post COVID world or sort of post COVID world do you find there are a lot more home based businesses and there used to be   Ashley Pope ** 43:02 a lot of businesses have gone virtual. Although that is slowly but surely, people are getting back into the offices. So back to the physical location, we saw it with big tech first, a lot of big businesses called their people back. And now there's data coming out around productivity, not in the favor of the work from home people. So I think we'll continue to see that those commercial spaces will fill back up. But that will always be able to do some things hybrid and have zoom meetings. And definitely people are working from home when they're sick now, which is a nice change because people used to go to work sick. And now that's kind of unimaginable, you wouldn't go to work sick, that's the worst thing to do ever. So definitely some positive change there. They will be really interesting to see what happens in the next 510 years. If the work from home thing sticks at all.   Michael Hingson ** 44:04 I hope it sort of sticks I think what what you just said is true that there there's this whole work life balance but even in addition to that there's virtual verse is in person life balance and the fact is that there's there's value in letting people do some of their work at home. It's great to get away from the office and the inherent pressures that that provides and do some of your work at home. My job is pretty much all at home except for a few times and when I go speak places of course, and I love to go speak in person because I get to interact with audiences even in ways that I can't virtually but between that and then working with accessibly I actually get to go to accessory in Israel this year, which will be fun. And I go to a couple of conventions a year but the I'm used to working at home, and a lot of my sales life, I did remote offices. So sometimes I was at home and sometimes I was in the office. So I kind of got trained to be able to do it and be disciplined to work at home, which is not something that a lot of people are totally used to yet, but I hope that they get there and that they recognize that there's value in having a little bit of both.   Ashley Pope ** 45:24 I hope so too. I really hope that for our community and for America, especially we're known as workaholics and and not to take enough time, at home or enough time to self. On one hand, the ability to work from home, I think causes people to continue to work when they're done working at the office. But we just have to find the balance there. And we have to be able to maintain some of the positive that came out of COVID as negative as it was there was a silver lining there. Yeah. We kind of toggle back and forth on being able to maintain that as a society or not. And I know for sure in Ventura, but I think that's been kind of a worldwide struggle of do we want our employees to be able to work from home a day, a week or five days a week? Or do we want everybody back in the office? And when do we want things to go back to the way that they were. And every business has different needs. And every manager manager is different, but it's definitely still a demand. This next generation Gen Z, I believe we're calling them they are not going to go work in any setting for 40 hours a week. So there's that generation that's going to change things, and a lot of ways, but definitely the workforce, they're not willing to work. Eight to fives like we were. So that's   Michael Hingson ** 46:57 well, and the reality is that normal will, you know, people can talk about getting back to the way we were but normal will never be the same again. And there have been there are, there's always change. There are times in our history where there have been quantum sudden changes. I mean, September 11 was one which of course I'm very familiar with, but the pandemic is another one and there have been others that are dramatic changes, normal will never be the same again. And there's nothing wrong with not trying to get back to the way everything was before. Because if we do that, then we're going to play in forget what we learned. And so we don't want to do that.   Ashley Pope ** 47:42 No, we don't want to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 47:46 So you had your own diagnosis, you talked about Multiple Sclerosis, and so on. How did you're learning to be an advocate for Gavin, and all that you learned about Gavin and his experiences and adventures? How did all that help you? Because now suddenly, it hits even closer to home for you?   Ashley Pope ** 48:09 Yeah, it was definitely a mind switch. I learned so much through advocating for my son. So being able to immediately know, okay, like I can get through this. I've been through other hard things. And I just need to know what's out there. And I need to find the resources and absorb all of the information that I can and find people who can help. And I'll be okay. So that was kind of my initial thought I immediately reached out to the Multiple Sclerosis Society thinking okay, well, if Autism Society has gotten me this far, breastfeed, MS society that can help as well. And we did there was a lot of help there. There's not a lot of answers with a mess, there's more questions than there are answers. And that has been one of the most difficult things for me. I do find peace through information and through knowing what is going to happen knowing what's gonna come next. And that really went out the window with Ms. I would say with my son, there's this constant belief that things are going to improve and they have improved and they'll continue to improve will continue to learn and older and learn new skills and we can be there for him and with him. And a mess is different, rather than things are going to get better. It's kind of knowing that things are going to get I don't want to say well worse but it is a progressive, debilitating conditions. So   Michael Hingson ** 49:56 unless, unless of course somebody finds a way to birsa Cure,   Ashley Pope ** 50:00 yes, a cure. And that is part of the mission of the MS Society is to find a cure and restore what's been lost, which is awesome. So yes, fingers crossed, but I do have to prepare for more needs down the line. And already in the last few years, I've lost some strength in my hand, and in my right hand and my left foot. So it's just becoming, finding a different level of acceptance. So in a lot of ways, I did it, I don't think I really went through the same. I call it a grief process, I feel like there should be a better word because you don't you grieve when somebody dies. And as we've already talked about, nobody's dying. So but it is that same kind of process, right? Where like, okay, things have just changed, I'm kind of going to grieve things as they are, or denial, or denial, right. And he goes through like the same process of like denial, and, you know, the bargaining and anger or whatever, whatever. So, of course, I went through a little bit of that with my son early on. But I felt like with that mess, it was just like, so much easier to just get straight to acceptance. And I talked to a therapist, and I was like, I know, this sounds crazy, but I think I just like, the whole process. And I think it's because fairly recently in the last decade, I already went through something that's it's not similar, but it's still similar in a way like, they're, they're not connected, but I feel like I was just immediately able to be like, okay, Ms. Like, what is it? How do we deal with it and what comes next, and I just kind of skipped, like, all of these stages of grief or whatever we want to call it these stages that people usually go through when they get news like this. And that I think, was interesting. And I do think it was directly related to the work that I've already done around accepting things as they come being okay with not having all the information. The fact that I'll always be an advocate for my son, but that job is never going to be able to retire from that job. Not that I would ever want to, but it made it easier in a way to find the information and just to move through to where I can have an impact. And I was ready to share pretty early on. I didn't make it super public. But because I was on immunosuppressants during COVID I wasn't shy about telling people like hey, you know, if you're if you feel sick at all, or if you haven't been vaccinated, these are my limitations in that I just started on immunosuppressants. So I did feel really vulnerable in those early days, especially before I knew what immunosuppressants meant for me and during a pandemic.   Michael Hingson ** 53:01 Did you get vaccinated and all that stuff?   Ashley Pope ** 53:03 I did. But with the, the drug that I'm on, it actually greatly reduces the effectiveness of the COVID vaccination, it kills the B cells like that you're the COVID vaccine attaches to to get to its destination. I'm not a scientist, so forgive me if I said that wrong. But basically, I didn't have the cells to carry the vaccine. So I did get it. And then off the boosters, and I, you know, I did all the things, but it was very clear, like, that may have been just basically a shot of water for you, and may or may not have actually worked for you. So I was nervous about dying, because I feel like it's fair to be. But I think, yeah, it just it really did change the way that I think about it, these processes that we go through because I didn't handle it so different at time. And it also the vulnerability, I think is the biggest thing for me that I had to deal with. That was different from my son. Because as a mama bear, you know, you defend your kid at all costs, you get out there and you make things happen for your kid. But when it came to advocating for myself, I found that I would kind of lose the words when it would come time to talk to the doctor, I found myself kind of been like, oh, you know, it's not these things are not that bad or kind of stretching. Like if they'd asked me a question like, how can you do this? I would so want to say like, yeah, I can do that I can do this and that and this hasn't changed that much and just kind of predict things in a positive light. So I kind of had to start thinking like I have to advocate for myself as if I'm advocating for somebody else because it's really hard for me to say that I need help.   Michael Hingson ** 55:00 The same process does fit. We, I was in New York on March 5, of 2020, to do a speech and flew back early on March 6, because of COVID. And also, my wife had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2017. So she was on medications to suppress part of her immune system to help deflect or deal with the RA. So we immediately went into lockdown, and just stayed home. And, and then when the vaccinations when the vaccines came out, we started taking them. And in fact, I, we both were all up to date. And then I learned that being over 65 I could get another vaccination recently. In fact, I could have gone in late February, but I didn't know it then. But anyway, I just went in today for another vaccination, because I'm going to be doing some traveling and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that I can be as protected as possible. And I recognize that the vaccine doesn't keep you from getting COVID. But it certainly mitigates it a lot. So my intention is not to get it. I also don't mind wearing masks. I've been on airplanes for long periods of time with a mask doesn't bother me. And it doesn't seem to bother my guide, dog Alamo. He doesn't look at me differently, because I happen to wear a mask, so I'm not going to worry. Yeah. But you know, the fact of the matter is that it's something that is part of our world. And there's nothing wrong with it.   Ashley Pope ** 56:43 Yeah, I may be on the same drug as your wife. Actually. They're both autoimmune conditions. So she took her brinsea Oh, no, I'm mine for Tuckson. So but probably still do the same things. amatory processes similar. Yes, different different parts of the body, tissues, whatever.   Michael Hingson ** 57:03 Same concept, in a lot of ways. Well, so obviously, you have a disease that's very progressive, and I do hope that we find cures for that and other things, or, or at least things to improve it for you as time goes on. But how for you? How has your own diagnosis really affected? How you deal with being an advocate, and how you encourage others to advocate for themselves? You've I think you've hit on some of that. But if you want to summarize, you know, you're, you're now having to be a double advocate, if you will, how is your own diagnosis help with that?   Ashley Pope ** 57:46 Yeah, I think the vulnerability has been good for me, in a sense, I don't think I've ever truly felt vulnerable in my life. Until I got my diagnosis, even through my son's diagnosis, I always have been like that I can handle it, I can handle it, I'll do it. I'll make it happen type of person. And feeling firsthand, like things need to change so that I can live a fulfilling life is a much different place to come from then, even when you're advocating for your own kid. There's a sense of, it's probably, I would think how someone feels when they have a child with special needs. And there they are ending. Like nearing the end of their own life. They probably feel like oh my gosh, who's gonna protect my, my kid, if I can't, and I know that a lot of parents feel that as they age. But this was my first experience with like, oh, I have something that can impact my ability to do what I want to do in my life. And it just made me more I think sensitive, and I have a lot more empathy for people and their unique situations now, because it's a situation that I never could have imagined myself in until I found myself in it.   Michael Hingson ** 59:21 Yeah. What do you want people to know about? Somebody who has a progressive, debilitating diagnosis? How do you? What do you want people to think about that? And what would you like them to do?   Ashley Pope ** 59:37 I see. A lot of people don't know how to respond. Social relationships can become a little bit strained. Because things change in your ability. Like in my case, my ability to say yes to everything. I really had to stop saying yes, which I should have stopped doing a long time ago. But I'm definitely like I've said a couple of times there. In this conversation, I'm a doer. And I had to start saying like, No, I can't, I can't take that on, I really need to prioritize that I'm going to prioritize. And there have been some people in my life who didn't like that so much, or felt that like, I was changing, which I have changed. Obviously, these situations have changed who I am a little bit as we should, I would just say, just be a friend. And don't be afraid to ask how somebody is doing. Don't stop checking in and just, you know, do what you would want somebody to do for you in that situation, which is not to disengage. And then general public. I would say that one in four adults in their lifetime will have a disability. So when you vote, and when you advocate for things to be a particular way, keep in mind that that could be you or someone that you love, that has some kind of condition or extra need. And so we should always take care of each other and consider that things should be accessible to all once again, kind of circling back to that, you know, we can we can do so much better with our resources in this country. And it's rarely the wrong decision when it allows more people access, whatever, whatever it is that we're looking at, that's just a very general statement. But if you're looking at opening the world to more humans who live on it, then that's probably the way to go. Because it's just the right thing to do.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:53 And I think the most important thing you said is be a friend, there's nothing wrong with different. There shouldn't be, even if the different is something that maybe you've been taught is a bad thing. Is it really? And yeah, Multiple Sclerosis is progressive right now. But we've seen so many modern kinds of progresses in so many ways. Who knows, and autism the same thing, or blindness or even being a politician? I'm sure there's a cure for that. But I haven't found that one yet, either. So that's another story. But the bottom line is that, in reality, we're all different. And you're right. 25% have what's considered a typical disability, although I've made the case before that everyone has a disability who lives on this planet. And for most people, it's like dependents. But you know, the bottom line is that we all have different challenges. And we all by the way, have gifts that we get to use, if allowed the opportunity. And that's the most important thing. And I'm really excited about hearing and having had the opportunity to hear all the things that that you do and get to do. So what are you going to write a book about all this?   Ashley Pope ** 1:03:09 You know, that was something that I was actually in the process of writing a book when I was diagnosed with autism. And I set it aside, and I just was like, so everything changed. In that moment, I have written quite a bit around diagnosis and accepting of diagnosis and how to be a friend in diagnosis. Rather, it's been a friend to, you know, parent who has a newly diagnosed child, or what that looks like mostly around autism, because that's my experience. And then I had this experience, and I really just had to set it aside and kind of find my, my opinion, and my, my thoughts. But who knows, maybe down the line right now, I'm just trying to juggle everything I juggle. But we'll see, you know, you never know, they may,   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:05 you may find that sitting down and writing about some of it will be a help to you. And you now clearly have a whole new dimension that you can add to it, I would think it'd be very powerful, which isn't to say just drop everything and do it. But you might certainly sit down and continue to write thoughts because those then that will help you. I know for me, people have asked if I've ever gone to therapy after September 11. And my response is I hadn't but I started getting requests for television and radio and newspaper interviews and so on and chose to accept those if it would help people move on from September 11. And I got to teach people about blindness and guide dogs and all that. And I've realized over the years that literally going through hundreds of those and talking about September 11 Being asked the dumbest and the most intelligent questions, was invaluable at learning to deal with it, and to talk about it, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. And so it is, you know, I do know that writing is a valuable thing. You know, we wrote thunder dog, which I actually started in 2002. And it took over eight years to complete. But right from the beginning, I started writing a lot of my thoughts, and that was helpful. So even just writing things down, although you may not ready to be ready to put them in a book might be helpful.   Ashley Pope ** 1:05:33 Yes, absolutely. Or, you know, there's also like voice recording and just getting your thoughts out, I think is really important. So I am a big proponent of therapy and talking and learning, right learning and sharing, I find a lot of peace and volunteering and giving back and talking to other parents and giving people resources. And just learning obviously, even today, it's been a learning experience. I've learned something new about you know, your, your experience, and it's, it's all empowering.   Michael Hingson ** 1:06:15 It is and, and you, like all of us can choose how we deal with our gifts and what we know and what we do and what we use. And so I'm sure it's all gonna work out well for you. And I'm really glad that we had the chance to do this. If people want to talk with you, is there any way they can reach out to you or interact with you?   1:06:36 Sure, I would say let's enact first by email. And the email I will give is my Autism Society email. It's Ashley a s h l e y at autism ventura.org. That's a s h l e y autism a u t i s m Ventura, v e n t u r a.org.   1:06:58 And Ventura really means in parentheses hingsons jealous. But that's another story. That's great.   Ashley Pope ** 1:07:05 If anybody is it, is it it's a fantastic place and also a good place to live. It's a good place to live for people with autism because there's great services California in general, has more than a lot of other states. And a mess wise now I'm like, sorry, sorry, family, I can't go visit you. Unless it's less than 87 or 87 degrees, it's probably pushing it like 85 degrees. But I've always been so spoiled here in Ventura, because it's like, we pretty much live between 65 and 73. Like, doesn't change much from there. That's where this town's is all year long. So really good for somebody with an autoimmune condition for sure.   1:07:49 There you go. Well, I want to thank you for being here. And I want to thank you for listening. So if any of you would like to chat with us about this, please feel free to email me. You can reach me at Michaelhi, m i c h a e l h i at accessibe  A C C E S S I B E.com. Or go to our podcast page www dot Michael Hingson m i c h a e l h i n g s o n.com/podcast. But wherever you're listening, please give us

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 246 0:32 Ride share discrimination 2:26 Apple event coming up, and iOS 17 gets closer 9:50 Significant accessibility regression with the latest Kindle for iOS 29:46 Another Focus 40 Blue failure story 33:11 You can get Alexa talking to ChatGPT 41:44 apps I miss and canes I like 52:16 Comments on Optima 54:58 How is MushroomFM run? 59:34 Elijah Massey reviews the Lemfo Lem16 smart watch 1:05:32 Old technology memories and looking for an accessible doorbell 1:25:24 Another example of poor Google accessibility support 1:29:17 Good news for Sky Sport Now customers in New Zealand 1:34:29 Accessible appliances 1:34:50 Recommending Luna RSS as a Windows-based podcast app 1:36:49 Be my AI and more old technology that is new again 1:37:54 The ableist Beatles 1:45:06 Loving the HeardThat app, and thoughts on old phone feedback lines 1:48:08 Closing and contact info 1:57:33.183

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 243 0:30 We got a ticket to ride 2:12 The Be My AI test is expanding 5:05 HIMS releases version 2.0 of the SensePlayer firmware 6:39 Critical Braille bugs remain as iOS 17 release looms 8:25 Home Dialysis changed my life 17:46 Hearing in noisy places 27:25 Typing and Braille reading speeds according to ChatGPT 46:58 Portable VoiceOver for Mac preferences explained 52:10 Does anyone know anything about guide horses? 56:43 Orbit and Access Mind discuss Optima, OrbitSpeak and more 1:05:48 Remembering old iOS apps that no longer exist 1:45:52 Closing and contact info 1:56:08

In this episode, Molly and Jo are back with another incident breakdown, covering the CSB's final report on the 2020 fatal explosion at the Optima Belle Facility in Belle, WV. On December 8, 2020, workers were drying CDB-56 in a press-rated rotary double cone dryer, when the material began to decompose and generate significant amounts of toxic gases, leading to an overpressure of the dryer and subsequent rupture, fire, and toxic chlorine release. In this episode, Molly and Jo cover the materials involved in the incident, what exactly happened and why, contributing factors identified by the CSB, the CSB's recommendations, and what companies can learn from this incident to improve the safety of their own operations. Find the CSB's final report for this incident ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode 65 - Chemical Reactivity Testing with Guest Michelle Murphy here. Find the Chemical Reactivity Hazards website we mentioned here. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amplifyyourprocesssafety/message

Jennifer Barnes is the CEO of Optima Office, a company that provides outsourced accounting, fractional CFO and COO services, and human resources support to around 300 companies across the United States. Optima's philosophy is centered around happy staff, happy clients, and attracts extraordinary employees by offering flexible work hours. Jennifer has won numerous awards and accolades, including San Diego Union Tribune Top Workplaces, the Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women, and the SDBJ 2021 Businesswomen of the Year Award. — Jennifer Barnes Links: Website: https://www.optimaoffice.com/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimaoffice — PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://www.womleadmag.com/podcast/ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3YJHMoy  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GkmpVInAQR7Fgco0pUa1B  RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/409442/rss  YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYDpQX16k5Uh7G7PFjMjZ8KimqoOpFF-t — CONNECT: - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WomELLE - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womelle - Twitter: https://twitter.com/womelle - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womelle - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realwomelle/ — OUTLINE: 1:12 - Jennifer's journey in getting started in the industry. 4:03 - The challenges of partnerships for Jennifer. 9:03 - Jennifer's experience in taking over a company with no money. 13:46 - The demographics of Jennifer's team. 16:55 - Jennifer's strategies for employee retention and turnover. 21:27 - HR assessment and its importance in Jennifer's business. 26:07 - How Jennifer incentivizes people without giving away equity. 28:35 - Jennifer's approach to onboarding new employees. 33:34 - How Jennifer stays motivated as a business leader. 38:47 - Jennifer's work environment and her strategies for maintaining it.

Adam and Matt chat about their experience at SEMA, commending the Ring brothers' latest debuts and a BRE-themed pickup truck. Next, Matt goes over what's new with Holley and Optima.