The Wheelchair Roundtable -Crushing Stigmas One Episode At A Time

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn at just 17 years old? For Brian Swift, a football accident the day after Christmas changed everything—but it didn't get the final say.In this powerful, no-holds-barred episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, Rico and Jody sit down with Brian “The Quadfather” Swift for a conversation about resilience, identity, faith, and what it really means to overcome adversity.We tackle a tough question: When did the words “disabled” and “handicapped” become negative, and who gets to decide what defines us? From Brian's life-changing spinal cord injury to the challenges he faced pursuing a law degree, transitioning into the corporate world, and finding success in sales, his story reminds us that sometimes the road we didn't plan becomes the road that leads us to our purpose.Brian also opens up about his journey as an author, the inspiration behind his writing, and the coping skills and mindset that have helped him navigate life's toughest challenges. We dive into a powerful question that makes you stop and think: Does hope restore faith, or does faith restore hope?And the conversation doesn't stop with inspiration. Brian shares the mission behind SOAR (Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation), the nonprofit he founded to help people with disabilities access adaptive equipment and experience the freedom, connection, and joy of outdoor recreation. He also offers support and encouragement to listeners who may be facing obstacles of their own.This is more than a conversation about disability. It's about challenging labels, finding purpose, building resilience, and learning to move forward when life doesn't go according to plan.🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing stigmas one episode at a time.Contact Us: [email protected] Brian P. Swift, JD https://www.brianpswift.com Amazon Author Page https://smile.amazon.com/Brian-P-Swift/e/B00G008SS0/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1Website: https://www.soarnonprofit.comSOAR Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6691078564260622/SOAR Breaking Barriers Podcast https://youtu.be/KA_tZ-89UkA?si=-7LVDEAm5eCQ7KlA LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-p-s-7b2a8010/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-p-swift-jd-t-7b2a8010/IG: The Quadfather https://www.instagram.com/thee__quadfather/ FB: Brian P. Swift, JD https://www.facebook.com/brian.p.swift.jd

What happens when life changes in a split second—and then challenges you all over again decades later?On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Victoria to discuss a remarkable journey of resilience, faith, and discovering new lessons through life’s toughest challenges.At just 19 years old, Victoria suffered a C3-C4 spinal cord injury in a car accident on October 17, 1987. Despite a devastating prognosis, she spent the next 38 years proving that other people’s expectations don’t have to determine your future. Years later, she faced another life-changing challenge: a hemorrhagic stroke at the base of her brainstem. Her stroke recovery taught her lessons that her spinal cord injury recovery never could.But this conversation goes far beyond injury and rehabilitation.We tackle a thought-provoking question: When did the words “handicap” and “disability” become negative? Who gets to decide how we describe ourselves, and how much do the words we use shape the way society sees people?Victoria also shares how faith has helped her navigate difficult seasons, discusses the positive impacts she has experienced with LifeWave X39, and opens up about her work as an author and speaker.Jody brings his own perspective on the pressure to stay positive, especially on social media. He shares why maintaining a constant image of positivity became overwhelming—and why he ultimately stepped away from a large social media following to protect his own well-being.This is an honest conversation about faith, identity, recovery, mental health, and the reality that nobody can be positive every single day.Victoria’s story reminds us that our circumstances may change our lives, but they don’t get to define who we become.🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing stigmas, one episode at a time.Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/VAllen5TikTok: @Lady_vick5IG: we_all_have_a_different_walkhttp://lifewave.com/victoriaallen Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

What happens when a childhood filled with challenges, rejection, and feeling different becomes the fuel to change the way the world sees disability? Meet Carlos Murillo.On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Carlos to talk about growing up with spina bifida, navigating life as a wheelchair user, and the emotional toll of feeling left out, struggling to make friends, and being treated differently as a kid. Those experiences left a lasting mark on Carlos, shaping how he sees the world and fueling his determination to educate others about disability.Instead of letting those experiences define his future, Carlos decided to become part of the change. He's stepping up as an advocate, sharing his story, and building his platform through Rolling with Carlos Productions. With this being his fifth podcast appearance in a short period, Carlos is making it clear that he's got something to say—and he's not slowing down anytime soon.And when we say Carlos has no limits, we mean it! From adaptive basketball, archery, tennis, and skateboarding to zip lining and scuba diving, Carlos is out there proving that adventure doesn't stop at the wheelchair. He shares his experiences in adaptive sports, his drive to try new things, and his mission to challenge the assumptions people make about individuals with disabilities.But just when you think he's done it all, Jody Bennett throws down a new challenge: wheelchair boxing! That invitation sparks something in Carlos, opening the door to another opportunity to push boundaries and prove himself.This is a conversation about overcoming rejection, turning pain into purpose, finding your voice, and refusing to let other people's perceptions dictate your life.Carlos isn't waiting for the world to change—he's getting out there and helping change it himself.The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing stigmas one episode at a time.contact WcRT: [email protected]: Carlos MurilloIG: carlos_murillo1994beacon.ai/carlos_murillo1994

In this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Kyzia Wunderlich, Executive Director of The Heart of Texas, for a conversation about disability, accessibility, advocacy, and the journey that brought her to where she is today.Kyzia shares the story behind her path to becoming Executive Director of The Heart of Texas and the mission that drives her work: helping wheelchair users discover fun, accessible events and adventures they can enjoy with family and friends—while also helping businesses understand what real accessibility looks like.We talk about her work with Heart of Texas TV, Monkey Business with the Wunderlichs, and the Houston Accessibility Guide, along with her experiences exploring accessibility throughout Houston.Kyzia also takes us behind the scenes of what it means to become Mrs. Heart of Texas—including the requirement that contestants have a disability platform and use their voice to create awareness and positive change.But the conversation goes deeper.WcRT and Kyzia tackle a question that affects all of us:Why are people uncomfortable around people with disabilities?Is it fear? Lack of exposure? Not knowing what to say? Or simply the way society has traditionally portrayed disability?This episode challenges listeners to look beyond the wheelchair, move past the awkwardness, and start seeing the person first.Because accessibility isn't just about ramps, doors, or parking spaces.It's about creating a world where everyone feels welcome, included, and free to participate.🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing Stigmas, One Episode at a Time.Contact us at: [email protected] Kyzia Social Media IG: wunderlichmonkiesFacebook: Kyzia Wunderlich www.theheartoftexas.comwww.msheartoftexaspageant.commsheartoftexaspageant@gmail.com

What happens when you stop trying to make disability look inspirational—and start calling out the BS?The Wheelchair Round Table, sits down with professional keynote speaker, author of The Squeaky Wheelchair, and disability advocate Thomas Moon for a conversation about self-advocacy, independence, and refusing to quietly accept barriers that shouldn’t exist in the first place.Living with cerebral palsy, Thomas brings a refreshingly unapologetic perspective to disability. He talks about his philosophy of “Pain in the Butt Syndrome,” why sometimes you have to make some noise to get heard, and the importance of challenging systems built around compliance rather than people.We dig into institutional barriers, accessibility, self-advocacy, and the problem with what Thomas calls “inspiration porn.” This isn't a conversation about feeling sorry for yourself—or pretending every challenge is a beautiful journey.It’s about speaking up, pushing back, demanding better, and knowing when being a pain in the butt is exactly what the situation requires.Because sometimes the squeaky wheel isn't broken.It just wants to be heard.🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Real People. Real Stories. Crushing Stigmas. One Episode at a Time.Facebook: TJ MoonIG: tj.wheelchairYoutube: @tjwheelchairwww.disabilityspeaker.org