Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast

Alycia Anderson

Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today. What You’ll Hear From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it. Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!) In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting. Who It’s For Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection. Listen & Support Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.

  1. Stop Being Afraid of Accessibility

    2H AGO

    Stop Being Afraid of Accessibility

    On Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2026, Alycia and Marty host Shawn Jordison (“The Accessibility Guy”) to discuss why digital accessibility is not just compliance but innovation and human impact. Shawn shares his path from an 18-year-old student worker creating braille and alternate media at a community college to leading accessibility roles across California’s 116 community colleges, then launching his YouTube channel and accessibility business. He describes living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and recounts a pivotal experience helping a student with a learning disability use text-to-speech to succeed in college. They address common organizational barriers—time, money, overwhelm, and inaccessible tools—and recommend starting with accessible authoring tools, using built-in features like headings and alt text, testing with NVDA, and inventorying content before tackling legacy work. Shawn also explores AI’s growing role in access and ends with “be an accessibility champion” and “accessibility equals usability,” alongside plugs for Own It Mastery Collective and The Accessibility Check. The Takeaways That Make Inclusion Usable 🌍 Global Accessibility Awareness Day and why it matters 💻 Digital accessibility as a daily part of modern life 🧠 Accessibility is innovation, not just compliance 🧑‍🦽 Disability inclusion in technology, work, education, and everyday access 📄 Making websites, PDFs, documents, and digital tools usable for everyone 🎧 Assistive technology, screen readers, captions, alt text, and voice tools 🚪 Removing barriers before people are excluded 💡 Accessibility equals usability 🤝 Human impact over checkbox compliance 🏢 Why organizations need to invest time, money, and leadership into accessibility 🛠️ Starting small instead of getting overwhelmed by inaccessible legacy content 📋 Building an accessibility inventory and creating a realistic path forward 🤖 AI as a powerful emerging tool for access and independence ⚖️ Balancing accessibility, cybersecurity, privacy, and policy 📚 Education, employment, and the life changing power of accessible learning tools ❤️ Personal disability stories and the connection between lived experience and advocacy 🏆 Becoming an accessibility champion in your workplace and community 🌱 Progress over perfection in accessibility work 🔥 Making accessibility practical, approachable, and less intimidating Pull Quotes Worth Turning the Volume Up For  “Do not compare yourself to anyone else, because comparison’s the thief of joy.” “Organizations really need to shift the mindset of, ‘This costs too much or it takes too much time,’ and instead bake it in the process.”   “ I tend to ride the wave versus trying to protect myself from it.”  Episode Roadmap: Your Accessible Guide Through the Conversation  00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 GAAD And Accessibility 03:17 Meet Shawn Jordison 03:37 Becoming Accessibility Guy 07:04 Disability And CMT 10:27 Accessibility Impact Story 13:42 Business Case For Access 15:16 Mindset And Accountability 20:26 Top Digital Access Tips 21:47 Pick Authoring Tools 22:13 Headings And Structure 23:16 Alt Text That Matters 24:22 POUR And WCAG Basics 25:53 Start With New Content 27:15 Time Money And Fear 28:20 Build An Inventory 29:33 Free Tools To Begin 31:23 AI For Accessibility 38:46 Privacy And Policy Tradeoffs 42:01 Accessibility Champion Mindset 44:42 Accessibility Check Wrap Up  Free Tools to Make Access Less Scary  ⁠⁠⁠NVDA Screen Reader⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows. Shawn recommended it as a way to start understanding how people who are blind or low vision may experience digital content. WAVE Web ⁠Accessibility Evaluation Tool WAVE helps evaluate web pages for accessibility issues directly in your browser. It is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and can be useful for testing public pages, password protected pages, intranet content, and dynamic pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠axe DevTools Browser Extension axe DevTools is a browser based accessibility testing extension that helps developers, testers, and designers find accessibility issues early in the web development process. W3C Web Accessibility Principles⁠ The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative explains the foundational accessibility principles behind WCAG, including perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, also known as POUR. Colorado HB21 1110 Accessibility Law⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shawn referenced Colorado’s accessibility framework as a helpful example for organizations. Colorado HB21 1110 strengthens protections related to disability access and government information technology. Connect with Shawn “The Accessibility Guy” Jordison Shawn on LinkedIn | The Accessibility Guy YouTube Channel | The Accessibility Guy Website | Schedule 15 min. With Shawn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  2. What If Your Most Impactful Work Happened From Bed?

    MAY 14

    What If Your Most Impactful Work Happened From Bed?

    Alycia Anderson welcomes Elizabeth Ansell, founder of #NotJustFatigue, a nonprofit advancing awareness, research, and policy for ME/CFS, and discusses how Elizabeth has driven advocacy and federal policy work while bedbound. Elizabeth shares becoming ill at 26 while working in New York City, years of misdiagnoses, and being dismissed as psychosomatic. She explains teaching herself medicine before being diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, defined by post-exertional malaise and many possible symptoms. She describes launching her organization after learning the disease’s history and stigma. They cover misconceptions tied to the “chronic fatigue” name, the need for education and funding, policy wins including ME/CFS language in the Long COVID Recovery Initiative, and an NIH reporting requirement tied to a 2024 research roadmap. She then explains ways to get involved for May 12 ME/CFS Day using “millions missing,” sharing stories, and donating. From Challenge to Change 🛏️ What If Your Biggest Impact Happens From Bed? 🌧️ A Journey of Challenges and Advocacy 🔄 We Can’t Change the Past, But We Can Change the Future 🧠 Tackling Misconceptions and Living Within Limits 📊 It’s Not Rare, 90% Aren’t Diagnosed 📣 Pushing for Change with ME/CFS Advocacy 🤝 Joining the Movement 🚀 Pushing Forward Quotes from Elizabeth “ It's very sad that we can't change the past with this disease. But right now in the present, we can work for a better future.” ~ Elizabeth Ansell “I think just keep going, stay determined. For things to change, now is the time that I think it’s happening.” ~ Elizabeth Ansell Run of Show 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Elizabeth Ansell 02:19 Getting Sick and Misdiagnosed 04:02 What ME/CFS Means 05:12 Life in Bedbound Severity 07:37 Why Fatigue Misleads 09:13 Crashes and Energy Limits 10:42 Stigma and Invisible Illness 12:16 Advocacy From Her Bed 15:23 Millions Missing Community 18:33 Grief and New Purpose 21:09 May 12th Get Involved 23:11 Advice for New Patients 24:34 Support Not Just Fatigue 25:43 Pushing Forward Moment 26:47 Final Thanks and Outro Connect with Elizabeth Ansell Elizabeth’s Website | Elizabeth’s TikTok Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  3. Do It Scared

    MAY 7

    Do It Scared

    Alycia Anderson welcomes Mindy Henderson, who is a speaker, author, VP of Disability Outreach and Empowerment at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and editor-in-chief of Quest Media, to discuss disability advocacy, especially accessible air travel. Mindy explains why adding wheelchair spots on airplanes is complex due to regulation, safety testing, and staff training. They reflect on their shared experiences spending 20 years in tech while trying to “hide” disability. Mindy also describes how job loss pushed her into writing The Truth About Things That Suck and building a speaking platform centered on honest storytelling. Insights You Can Use 📣 Advocacy Efforts and Challenges ✨ When You Lean Into Who You Are, the Magic Happens 🔄 Like It or Leave It: The Authenticity Pivot 💭 Reflecting on Personal Journeys 🪞 Be the You That Is the You ✍️ The Journey to Writing 🌧️ Adversity Is Universal, And Sometimes Things Just Suck 🚀 Empowerment and Future Directions 😬 Do It Scared: Say Yes, Then Figure It Out Quotes from Mindy “Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways we create progress in our world.” ~ Mindy Henderson “I think that there’s a lot the world needs right now. It just needs good people out there who are afraid, but they're not letting it stop them.” ~ Mindy Henderson  ”Adversity is a universal truth. It's something that we all experience in one way or another. Sometimes things just suck, and that’s okay.” ~ Mindy Henderson Play-by-Play Guide 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Mindy Henderson 02:19 Advocacy Priorities Today 04:21 Why Air Travel Is Hard 07:07 New DOT Training Rules 13:52 From Tech to Advocacy 18:07 Finding Your Authentic Voice 23:52 Truth About Things That Suck 26:35 Where to Get the Book 29:08 Do It Scared Finale Connect with Mindy Henderson Mindy’s Website | Mindy’s LinkedIn | Mindy’s Instagram | Mindy’s Facebook Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min
  4. Ali Stroker - Tony Award Winner | From Burberry Dreams to Broadway History

    APR 30

    Ali Stroker - Tony Award Winner | From Burberry Dreams to Broadway History

    Alycia Anderson welcomes Tony Award-winning actress and disability advocate Ali Stroker, reflecting on their first meeting at a mobility expo where they bonded over making wheelchairs more fashion forward. Ali shares her story of becoming disabled at age two after a car accident that caused a C7–T2 incomplete spinal cord injury, and explains how theater—discovered at age seven—helped her reclaim the “gaze” and build identity, confidence, and purpose. They discuss not waiting for permission, pushing through inaccessibility and others’ fear, and the impact of Ali’s Broadway milestones, including her debut in Spring Awakening and her Tony-winning role as Ado Annie in Oklahoma. Ali talks about writing middle-grade and children’s books for representation, prioritizing health and aging, and why motherhood and marriage are her greatest accomplishments. She closes with a favorite Marianne Williamson quote about embracing one’s power. Broadway Beats from Ali Stroker  🎭 Turning visibility into power through performance ♿ Navigating the gaze and reclaiming identity 🌟 Representation and why it changes everything 🚫 Why waiting for permission holds you back 💡 Creating your own path when none exists 🏆 Breaking barriers on Broadway and beyond 🔥 Confidence, competition, and inner drive 📚 Writing stories to give others what you needed ❤️ Motherhood, love, and redefining success 🧠 Mental health, resilience, and self-prioritization 💪 Evolving your relationship with your body and health 🌊 Building community and not doing life alone Quotes from Ali Stroker “Do not wait for permission. It's not coming the way that you think you need it. You don't need it. You just have to go do it.” - Ali Stroker “Finding theater helped me with that gaze, because I realized that I could actually command and ask for people to look at me on my terms.“ - Ali Stroker The Ali Stroker Playbill  00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Ali Stroker 01:15 Burberry Seat Memory 05:18 Growing Up Disabled 06:37 Theater Found Her Voice 11:12 No Permission Needed 13:16 Broadway Breakthrough 15:16 Oklahoma And The Tony 19:34 Competitive Drive 21:55 Becoming An Author 22:38 Writing for Representation 23:56 Coauthoring the Books 25:04 Ali and the Sea Stars 26:05 Just Write the Book 26:24 Fitness and Staying Active 28:31 Aging and Disability Health 33:29 Sacred Morning Self Care 34:39 Motherhood and Marriage 40:02 Favorite Marianne Quote 44:30 Final Thanks and Wrap  Connect with Ali Stroker Website: alistroker.com Books: The Chance to Fly | Ali and the Sea Stars | Cut Loose! Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min
  5. APR 23

    You’re Not Going to Read Again

    On Pushing Forward with Alycia, Alycia Anderson welcomes writer and teacher Molly Gaudry, founder of Lit Pub and author of We Take Me Apart and Fit Into Me: A Novel: A Memoir, to discuss storytelling, identity, and memory. Molly shares being born in Korea, adopted, and growing up in northeast Ohio, where early language acquisition and school support shaped her love of reading and writing. Molly recounts a 2011 concussion that led to months of double vision and sensory overload. She eventually addressed it through vision therapy and an exploratory study at the University of Utah that taught coping strategies rather than a cure. She reflects on how the injury reshaped her boundaries, pace, and happiness. From Challenge to Change 📖 A Journey Through Words 🌧️ Navigating Adversity 🎓 From Academic Probation to Graduate-Level Proof 🌱 Resilience and Growth 🧠 The Sensory Overload Explanation 📝 A Literary Exploration 💭 Reflecting on Vulnerability 🤝 A Community of Stories ⚡ From “Always Hustle” to “Is That Healthy?” 🧭 Finding Your Way Back After Life Changes Quotes from Molly “I think there’s a takeaway of  how hard it was to face the idea of letting go, and then what it was like to fight for it. ~ Molly Gaudry “It feels like there is no other choice but to hustle and to say yes to everything, so that you're doing more than the next person. But I wouldn't say that's healthy, mentally or physically.” ~ Molly Gaudry Playlist of Segments 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Molly Gaudry 02:22 Early Story Roots 05:08 Teachers and Support 06:38 Mentors and Grad School 09:18 Passing the Lit Pub Torch 09:59 Fit Into Me Overview 10:37 Concussion and Double Vision 13:19 Vision Therapy Breakthrough 14:47 Sensory Strategies and Study 17:46 Identity After Injury 20:47 Hustle Culture Rethink 22:13 Book Themes and Where to Buy 24:57 Fiction vs Nonfiction Healing 26:20 Closing Thanks and Wrap Connect with Molly Gaudry Molly’s Website | Molly’s Instagram Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  6. APR 16

    Step Out of Line or Stay Invisible

    Alycia Anderson welcomes Peri Finkelstein: Emmy-winning marketing consultant, keynote speaker, recent TEDx speaker, marathon participant, and founder/CEO of the Team Peri Foundation. Peri explains how assistive communication evolved from Proloquo4Text to 11 Labs AI voice technology, helping her be understood on podcasts and stages despite bias and past bullying. She shares growing up with nemaline rod myopathy, navigating surgeries, pain, fatigue, and a nontraditional childhood, and credits her mom as her primary support and collaborator. Peri describes how her May 2025 TEDx talk sparked a new commitment to vulnerable storytelling through Substack and a memoir. She also details the foundation’s scholarship and Peri Project, which provides caregiver kits in pediatric ICUs and plans hospital expansion through 2026. She closes with motivation to embrace differences, find what you love, and create your own path. The Entrepreneurial Throughline 🎤 From Communication Device to TEDx Stage 💪 Growing Up with Muscular Dystrophy 🌟 Disability Doesn’t Define What You’re Capable Of 🤝 The Strength of Support Systems 🚶‍♀️ Stepping Out of Line: A Movement for Change 🏆 Achieving Milestones and Making a Difference 💬 “My Story Was Bigger Than Just Me” 🧠 Navigating Invisible Challenges 🚫 Dismantling Ableism & Ending Caregiver Burnout ✨ A Message of Empowerment and Authenticity 🗝️ Your Differences Are Your Secret Weapon 📏 Stop Shrinking Yourself Quotes from Peri “ Your differences are your secret weapon.” ~ Peri Finkelstein “ You have to find something that you love enough to make all of the noise fade into the background.” ~ Peri Finkelstein Timecoded Table of Contents 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Peri Finkelstein 01:59 AI Voice Technology 07:39 Growing Up Disabled 12:10 Support Systems 15:53 Finding Her Voice 20:45 Step Out of Line 23:35 Million Dollar Impact 26:23 Marathon Mindset 30:06 Building a Nonprofit 33:12 Peri Project Mission 35:36 Behind the Scenes 38:47 Pushing Forward Message 41:23 Closing Thanks Connect with Peri Finkelstein Peri’s Website | Peri’s LinkedIn | Peri’s Instagram | Peri’s YouTube | Peri’s TikTok | Peri’s X | Peri’s Facebook | Peri’s Substack | Team Peri’s Instagram | Team Peri’s LinkedIn Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min
  7. APR 9

    Hollywood, We Need to Talk. ReelAbilities Is Doing It Better.

    Alycia Anderson welcomes Lawrence Carter-Long, Director of Engagement at ReelAbilities International, onto Pushing Forward with Alycia to discuss how disability narratives in media shape public understanding, possibility, and policy. Lawrence shares his background growing up with cerebral palsy, being a 1970s “poster child,” and how that early exposure taught him the power of media and communication. He explains ReelAbilities as a disability-forward film festival and year-round platform where “film is the front door” to community, conversation, and cultural change, emphasizing accessibility through open captions and audio description. They discuss moving beyond “tragic or heroic” tropes by elevating authentic stories and changing who writes, produces, directs, and greenlights projects, citing work like Best Summer Ever and Out of My Mind. Lawrence also describes the festival dates, sample programs, affiliate festivals, and his mantra: “go through the doors that open.” Rewriting the Narrative: Core Themes from Episode 136  🎬 Storytelling shapes perception and possibility  ⚠️ Disability in media is still widely misrepresented  🌍 Culture drives change more powerfully than policy alone  🎥 ReelAbilities is influencing the film industry and expanding authentic representation  🧠 Lived experience (cerebral palsy) informs expertise and advocacy  🔄 Shifting from “tragic or heroic” to real, nuanced human stories  👀 Visibility creates belief—you can’t be what you don’t see  🤝 Community, conversation, and belonging fuel lasting impact  🎭 Who tells the story matters as much as the story itself  🚪 Leaning into identity can unlock purpose, passion, and unexpected opportunity Quotes from Lawrence “Stories shape public understanding. What we see becomes what we believe is possible.” ~ Lawrence Carter-Long “Disability in media has been framed as either tragic or heroic, but most people live in the messy middle.” ~ Lawrence Carter-Long “It’s not just who you see on screen, it’s who’s writing, directing, and deciding which stories get told.” ~ Lawrence Carter-Long Lights, Camera, Inclusion: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Lawrence Carter-Long 02:06 Poster Child Origins 04:34 ReelAbilities Mission 08:20 Beyond Tragic or Heroic 11:57 Best Summer Ever Story 13:42 Audience Impact and Access 17:17 Who Gets to Tell Stories 20:37 Stories Shape Policy 25:42 How Policymakers See Disability 30:41 Festival Highlights and Tickets 35:40 Go Through Open Doors Connect with Lawrence Carter-LongReelAbilities International | Lawrence on LinkedIn | ReelAbilities Instagram | ReelAbilities YouTube Channel | ReelAbilities on TikTok | ReelAbilities X | ReelAbilities on Facebook Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
  8. APR 2

    It’s Not the Ramp. It’s the Culture.

    Alycia Anderson introduces an episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia focused on “glass children,” siblings of disabled kids who often advocate naturally while sometimes feeling invisible, and interviews Meghan Connolly Haupt, founder of Inclusive Saratoga. Meghan shares how her 13-year-old daughter’s question sparked Meghan to use her 30-year social impact marketing background to help businesses and communities improve disability inclusion. They discuss how “separate but equal” still limits shared experiences, how loneliness and separation affect disabled people daily, and why barriers are often cultural as much as physical. Meghan explains an empathy-plus-creativity approach, offers low-cost accessibility fixes, and outlines the business case and closes with “relentless forward progress.” The Heart of this Episode 💖 A Heartfelt Journey ➕ The Simple Equation for Disability Inclusion 💼 Business Case for Inclusivity ✨ The Power of Small Actions 🚫 Perfection Is Killing Progress 🔮 Accessibility Will Be So Normal It’ll Shock People 🎭 Hidden Guilt of Being the One Who Gets to Go 🧠 Glass Children: A Hidden Strength 🚧 The Real Barrier Isn’t the Ramp, It’s Culture 🚀 Relentless Forward Progress Quotes from Meghan “ It's about just being together and giving everybody the same experience.” ~ Meghan Connolly Haupt “The biggest indicators of success in life are creativity and empathy.” ~ Meghan Connolly Haupt Navigating the Conversation 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:31 Meet Meghan and Glass Children 02:12 Why Can't We Ski Together 04:47 Separation and Loneliness 07:07 Barriers and Inclusion Equation 09:34 Business Case for Accessibility 14:17 Small Fixes Big Impact 16:01 Seatbelt Story Culture Shift 20:54 Inclusion Friendship and Glass Kids 29:33 Culture Over Curb Cuts 32:15 Connect with Inclusive Saratoga 34:05 Relentless Forward Progress 34:50 Closing Thanks and Sign Off Connect with Meghan Connolly Haupt Meghan’s LinkedIn | Meghan’s Instagram | Meghan’s YouTube | Meghan’s Facebook | ⁠Meghan’s Website⁠ Follow Up with Alycia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alycia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Alycia for a Speaking Event⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today. What You’ll Hear From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it. Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!) In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting. Who It’s For Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection. Listen & Support Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.

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