All About Change Jay Ruderman

Ronald E. Richter is the CEO and Executive Director of JCCA, an organization that provides child welfare and mental health services to the most vulnerable of New York’s children and families. Throughout his career, Ron has been a steadfast advocate for the children of New York, whether as a judge in the Family Court system or as Commissioner of New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services.

 

Ron joined host Jay Ruderman to discuss some of the misconceptions around the foster care system, how his own childhood informs his work, and what changes are needed to improve our systems for child welfare.
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Shane Burcaw grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Moravian College with an English degree. His bestselling memoir was shortlisted for the ALA Excellence in Nonfiction Award. He also writes as a freelancer for The Morning Call. His blog, Laughing At My Nightmare, talks about the humor of living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and has over half a million followers. Along with his wife, Hannah, the duo started their popular YouTube channel, Squirmy and Grubs, in 2018. 

Shane sat down with host Jay Ruderman to talk about his experience growing up as a person with a disability, his advocacy work through his YouTube channel and non-profit, and how he challenges people’s assumptions about what someone living with a disability can do.
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Brett Gelman is best and more recently known for his work on shows like Fleabag and Stranger things, but the actor has been around for years. Throughout his career he’s also been a vocal advocate against antisemitism and Jewish inclusion in Hollywood. Following the October 7 attacks, Brett stepped up his activism and has been a steadfast supporter of the Israeli victims of the massacre, making visits to hospitals in the days following, sharing their stories on social media, and recentering the conversation.

 

Brett joined host Jay Ruderman for a conversation about his Jewish upbringing, being a public figure who speaks out, his latest book, to his desire to see more Jewish inclusion in Hollywood.
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Ed Begley Jr. has been a known name in Hollywood since the 1960s, with recent credits in Young Sheldon, Better Call Saul, and the movie Amsterdam. He’s had a stellar career onscreen, but his commitment to living an environmentally friendly life is just as impressive. Ed’s love of biking, public transit, and electric cars comes up every award season, and his family home is LEED certified.

 

Ed sat down with host Jay Ruderman for a conversation spanning Ed’s career, overcoming his alcoholism, and what’s next in his environmental activism.
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Jane Velez-Mitchell is best-known for her work in broadcast television, but her career - and life - has been a master class in making a change and sticking to it. After confronting her alcoholism as an early career journalist, Jane began living more authentically than she ever had before. She came out as a lesbian, became a vegan, and founded a free streaming platform dedicated to education around the impact diet can have on health - both the body’s, and the planet’s. 

Jane joined host Jay Ruderman for a conversation that spanned the wide breadth of her career, and the personal choices she made along the way.
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Academy-Award winning actor Troy Kotsur has been featured in blockbuster films, Broadway shows, and hit TV shows throughout his career. He’s also been a tireless advocate for the Deaf community, both in front of and behind the cameras. 

Troy sat down with host Jay Ruderman to discuss the importance of authenticity in portrayal of Deaf and disabled characters, and the vital importance of learning ASL at a young age. Special thanks to interpreter Justin Maurer for his help with this episode.

Also be sure to check out Troy’s Documentary Film, To My Father, which depicts his journey to winning an Oscar and his father’s inspiring influence on him, despite a tragic accident.
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