Successful and disABLED Podcast

Nina Szewczak is a midlife transformation specialist, shares the 2 transformations she has went through in her life and how we can face our own transformations and come out stronger.Links from Podcast episode:·        https://themidliferevolution.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Lyle Benjamin, a man who was born 3 months premature and weighed in at 2 pounds 3 ounces.   Benjamin didn’t start reading until third grade and was not diagnosed with dyslexia until an adult. Benjamin to this day, lives with hypersensitivity to noise, touch, taste, and smell and cannot spell worth a dam but that did not stop him from winning a scrabble competition. Benjamin shares how those challenges impact his life and the coping mechanisms he uses to overcome the challenges to be a successful an Author, Educator, Speaker, and social responsibility entrepreneur.  Links from Podcast episode:·        Link – https://www.lylebenjamin.com/ ·        Book: One: the fight for survival of the human race - https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Fight-Survival-Human-Race-ebook/dp/B09Z388JGC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S3LBR7HSWQK6&keywords=One%3A+the+fight+for+survival+of+the+human+race&qid=1670610298&sprefix=one+the+fight+for+survival+of+the+human+race+%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1 Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Chris Otcasek, the host of Mr. Ohh!s Sideways View, shares how being a humorist is helping him overcome depression that is caused by his disabilities.Otcasek, who has a terminal illness, discusses why does not want to identify as being disabled.  Otcasek also shares what he did when he looked at himself and realized that he was unable to do anything in the traditional work force and how he deals with criticism as a humorist.Links from Podcast episode:·        Link https://mysidewaysview.com/·        Podcast – Mr. Ohh!s Sideways ViewGet your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Trev Baker, the author of “Life Rolls On: The Journey from an AB to a BA” and “Still Rolling: A Life of Possibility not Disability” discusses life after his spinal cord injury.Baker, survived a C-4 neck injury at the turn of the 21st century.  His injury, that left him a Tetraplegic aka a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, has not stopped him from enjoying a success filled life. Since the injury, baker lives and has sailed independently, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanistic counseling, written 2 books, coached sports, delivers motivational talks and has regained some physical movement. Baker and Chris discuss how he has achieved all of that and more through goal setting, why he wrote his books, and more. Links from Podcast episode:·        Website - https://www.liferollson.co.uk/·        Life Rolls On: The Journey from an AB to a BA - https://www.amazon.com/Life-Rolls-journey-AB-BA-ebook/dp/B008LT8SDI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8PY0YLAHWSMO&keywords=Life+Rolls+On%3A+The+journey+from+an+AB+to+a+BA&qid=1670008443&sprefix=life+rolls+on+the+journey+from+an+ab+to+a+ba%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1·        Still Rolling: A Life of Possibility not Disability - https://www.amazon.com/Still-Rolling-Possibility-Disabilty-Rolls-ebook/dp/B07QD6SYST/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KJWMUU634OOJ&keywords=Still+Rolling+%3A+A+life+of+Possibility+not+Disabilty&qid=1670008579&sprefix=still+rolling+a+life+of+possibility+not+disabilty%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Josh Church, is a man who is successfully living with mental health issues including OCD, Depression, Anxiety and ADHD.Josh shares how his mental health struggles attempt to hold him back form crating success and how he overcomes those challenges by avoiding distractions with routines and staying focused throughout the day.Church also discusses the stigma that comes with mental health issues and the importance of a good support system.Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Cesar Perez, a up and coming actor, was on the way to his girlfriend’s house when a drunk driver hit him head on and changed his life.Perez’s face was shattered, his muscles and strength were gone and survived a traumatic brain injury from the injury.Perez describes that time as basically being a newborn baby and had to relearn almost everything he know.Perez talks about how he delt with the loss of control of his emotions from the TBI, how he rebounded from his girlfriend leaving him after the accident, and what it was like to face the man who hit him in court.Links from Podcast episode:·        Book – Chase the light: the gruesome art of becoming unbreakable - https://www.amazon.com/Chase-Light-Gruesome-Becoming-Unbreakable/dp/1544528868/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=chase+the+light+cesar+perez&qid=1669666961&sprefix=chase+the+light%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1·        Web site – Contentoprod.comGet your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Dr. Vicki Matthews, the author of the Five Elements of Relationships, discusses her book and how we can all get along during the holidays and throughout the year.During our conversion we discuss some common scenarios persons with a disability and their allies encounter during the holiday season and how to respond and prevent them from occurring.Links from Podcast episode:·        Dr. Vicki’s website - https://www.drvickimatthews.com/·        Free Booklet – getalongnow.comGet your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Jodi Wellman, Keynote speaker, workshop leader and the founder of 4000 Mondays, discusses how on average we all have about 4000 Mondays in our lives.Wellman touches upon closure, forgiveness, how we can move past regrets and experience a life well lived so when we live our last Monday we have very few, if any, regrets.Chris shares a story of how a regret taught him a valuable life lesson hat helped him avoid a regret later in his life.About today’s Guest:Jodi Wellman has a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she is an Assistant Instructor.  Wellman is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the ICF and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) from CTI who recently did a TEDx talk on "How Death Can Bring You Back to Life" (with 650K+ views so far!)Links mentioned during this episode:·        https://fourthousandmondays.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Tom Smoot has returned to school, finished an engineering degree, made meaningful contributions in a medical research lab, started a nonprofit and a new LLC since he has been diagnosed with an invisible disability of PTSD and depression.Tom will be sharing the intricate steps in starting a non-profit and how his Non-Profit is helping veterans.Links from Podcast episode:·        Lift & Shift Foundation - https://www.weliftandshift.org/·        The Good Men Project - https://goodmenproject.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Tony Jacobsen author of “Disable Your Disability: Live the healthy life You Deserve”, host of the #Unbfeakable Podcast, and founder of the Tony Jacobsen Foundation and does it all with osteogenesis imperfecta (aka brittle bone disease)Tony and Chris discuss the struggles they battled while hiding their disABILITIES including the reason why they did hide their disABILITIES and how they felt when they stopped hiding and being authentic with themselves and the world.Tony discusses how he has felt rejections were discrimination against his disABILITY, but how he views rejection today – hint: Tony is likely to view a rejection not as discrimination.Tony and Chris discuss the downfall of blaming discrimination, ableism and/or ableist society when we experience rejection.Tony shares how he handles rejection and what it has taught him.Links from Podcast episode:•Tony’s website - https://www.tonyjacobsen.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Michael Max Darrow, a former police officer and a veteran, used his stubbornness to write 5 books despite living with PTSD and Back Injury, hearing loss, and ringing in ears.Michael shares how he uses his stubbornness to succeed in life and shares tips on when to be stubborn and when not to.Links from Podcast episode:·        Michael’s website – https://michaelmaxdarrow.com/ ·        Michael’s author page on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Max-Darrow/e/B08KPN6W8W/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk·        Michael’s author page on Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Michael%20Max%20Darrow%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Natalie Hibberd, the author of “Inside Out” and “Family Ties” discusses creating success as a self-published author with cerebral palsyWe also discuss how she has ignored those who said she could not do anything in her life because of her CP along with how her life experiences inspired her to write her two books.Natalie also shares how CP challenges her as a writer and psuehd through those challenges to succeed.Links from Podcast episode:·        Inside Out (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Out/dp/B08ZJZD647/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MMT9DFMTJS93&keywords=natalie+hibberd&qid=1666992397&sprefix=natalie+hibberd%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1·        Family Ties (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Family-Ties-Natalie-Hibberd-ebook/dp/B0BKQTH23B/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1MMT9DFMTJS93&keywords=natalie+hibberd&qid=1666992447&sprefix=natalie+hibberd%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-3·        Nataliehibberdauthor.co.ukGet your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Terry Tucker, a cancer warrior, and amputee, shares how sprots helped prepare him for his cancer battle and helped him develop the right mindset to fight the cancer battle for ten years and counting.Terry shares how he finds the strength to keep pushing on, knowing that there will be a day that cancer will win.Links from Podcast episode:·        Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon And Extraordinary Life available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Excellence-Principles-Uncommon-Extraordinary/dp/1951129520/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=terry+tucker&qid=1666818287&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=terry+tuck%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1·        https://www.sustainableexcellencemembership.com/·        https://www.motivationalcheck.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Bill shares his experience of surviving a stroke and what limitations he lives with five years afterwards.Bill and Chris share their experiences of recording from their respective strokes and give advice to others who want to survive and thrive after experiencing a stroke.Bill and Chris also talk about the importance of a positive attitude and a positive mindset.Links from this podcast episode:·        https://strokecast.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Fran Garton, fitness coach and contributing author to Body Bliss: The Journey to Body Acceptance discusses how she lives pain free without using medicine as a person with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis.Fran and Chris discuss the risk of taking tramadol with seizures, and the risks of stopping medicine cold turkey without consulting your physician.Fran breaks down how the body acknowledges pain and how she uses that information for “mind over matter” when it comes to pain.Fran also explains how a changes in diet has helped her to live pain free Links from Podcast episode:·        Link to Fran’s website - https://frangartoncoaching.com/·        Body Bliss: The Journey to Body Acceptance on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Body-Bliss-Journey-Acceptance/dp/1990352308/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S4S633SKRVEX&keywords=to+Body+Bliss%3A+The+Journey+to+Body+Acceptance&qid=1666038812&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjEwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=to+body+bliss+the+journey+to+body+acceptance%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Kellie Ann is unique, and her life story attests to that fact. As a teen mom, adoptive mom, and foster care mom, she has had a lot of great experiences. But there is even more. Just one year after she gave birth to her daughter, she became a great-grandmother.Kellie is a co-author with Dave Farrow, a two-time Guinness World Records holder for greatest memory, and she is the creator of an online parenting curriculum. Her new book, an upcoming memoir, "Wounded Heart, Graceful Warrior" is her story of overcoming domestic violence.Kellie has a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a Family Intervention Specialist. Her experiences range from teaching, reunification of families, working with at-risk youths, families in crisis, and as a parent coach. She has worked in preschools, correctional facilities, and social work agencies.Kellie shares her stroke story including how the stroke occurred and how she has made adjustments in her life to succeed as a stroke survivor.Kellie also discusses her firsthand experience of being in a relationship where she endured domestic violence when she was younger.Links from Podcast episode:·        Kellie’s website - everydaywisdom4families.comGet your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Randi-Lee Bowslugh, a successful self-published author of “Embracing Me”, Randi’s true story of coming to terms with her depression, and nine other books, is also a cancer warrior, and battled autism and mental health issues daily.Bowslaugh shares how she battles past distractions and depression to write and produce her YouTube series, Write or Die.Bowslaugh also explains why she choose the self-published route over traditional publishing when it came time to bring her books to press and what she has earned during her journey.Bowslaugh also shares coping strategies to overcome mental health issues that she has used and that others can useLinks from Podcast episode:·        Link to Randi’s website - https://www.rbwriting.ca/·        Randi Lee Bowslaugh Amazon page - https://www.amazon.com/Randi-Lee-Bowslaugh/e/B08QJTS9T9?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1665523024&sr=8-1Get your FREE copy of DisABILITY Empowers Success at defineyourself.us/free and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY is empowering you to succeed!Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Aunia Kahn is the CEO of Rise Visible. With 24 years in the field, she is a highly sought-after digital marketer, strategist, public speaker and digital influencer. Rise Visible has been named Top-Ranking Woman-Owned Digital Agency by Clutch, Best SEO Agency in Eugene 2022 by Expertise, and is a certified disabled and woman-owned business. She is also an internationally recognized and awarded visual artist, photographer, author who has shown in over 300 exhibitions in over 10 countries; at places such as San Diego Art Institute, iMOCA, and the St. Louis Art Museum. She founded Create for Healing and the Oregon Disabled Business Owners Association. Aunia speaks about her disABILITY, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and both how her disABILITY challenges her and how she overcomes those challenges to succeed in life as a disABLED owned business owner.Aunia shares her throughs on requesting accommodations for your disABILITY and how to react to rejection to those requests.Aunia discusses how being “backed into a corner” and the events after September 11th, 2001, changed her path to becoming self-employed and becoming a solopreneur.Links from Podcast episode:Aunia’s website - https://auniakahn.com/Rise Above website - https://risevisible.com/Rise Above and Be Visible Podcast - https://risevisible.com/podcast/ Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Caitlin Billings, author of the memoir In Our Blood, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a thriving practice in the San Francisco bay area.After her seventh involuntary psychiatric hold in hospital, Caitlin questioned if she could ever work professionally again.At that turning point in her life, Caitlin decided to work for herself and started working from home and seeing her clients virtually during the pandemic.Cailin shares how she balances her need for self-care for her Bipolar and PTSD and taking care of her clients and ensuring their needs always comes first in her practice.Caitlin also shares how her own experiences with trauma helps her in her practice with her clients.Caitlin’s memoir, In Our Blood earned the 2021 Literary Titan Book Awards Gold Winner, 2021 Firebird Book Awards First Place Winner in LGBTQ Nonfiction, 2021 Firebird Book Awards Second Place Winner in Parenting and Family, 2021 Firebird Book Awards Second Place Winner in Psychiatry/Psychology and 2021 Indies Today Awards FinalistIn our Blood, a memoir is her own story of “coming of age as a young woman” and her battles with Bipolar and PTSD along with her oldest child’s journey of mental illness.You can purchase Caitlin’s book, In Our Blood, from Amazon by clicking here or by visiting https://www.amazon.com/Our-Blood-Memoir-Caitlin-Billings-ebook/dp/B09CCSTRH2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JEOWCZ30QWKL&keywords=in+our+blood&qid=1664377621&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjQ5IiwicXNhIjoiMS41MyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=in+our+blood%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1  You can connect with Cailin by visiting her website at caitlinbillings.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!

Ruth Rathblott, former CEO of a non-profit, TedX speaker and author of Singlehandedly. Learning to Unhide and Embrace Connection was born with a limb difference that impacted her left hand.Ruth’s definition of success is something that allows you to feel like yourself and allows you to accomplish what you want to do.Ruth shares how for twenty-five years that she did not live her definition of success, because she would find unique ways to hide her limb difference from others.Ruth discusses why she would hide her disability from others and what caused her to decide to unhide her limb difference and provides tips for anyone who wants to start unhiding their disability.Ruth and Chris also discuss ableism.  In particular, how people with a disability are judged as to what they can and cannot do, not only by the able-bodied community, but how the disabled community does to others in our community and how we can make changes.Ruth and Chris talk about the benefits of being authentic with yourself and your disability and how it can help you find the right person for a long-term relationship.Ruth also shares how employers can demonstrate that their workplace is DEI (inclusive for the disabled) and attract disabled employees and what persons with disabilities look for to find these companies.Links from Podcast episode:·        Lucky Fin Project - https://luckyfinproject.org/·        Ruth’s TedX talk, When I Stopped Hiding, I Found Freedom: at https://youtu.be/9W3FtgvjC-4·        Purchase Ruth; s book, Singlehandedly. Learning to Unhide and Embrace Connection, from Amazon by clicking here or going to https://www.amazon.com/Singlehandedly-Learning-Unhide-Embrace-Connection/dp/B0B6LF72NL/ref=sr_1_2?crid=OLWAZ0AGPI4P&keywords=Singlehandedly.+Learning+to+Unhide+and+Embrace+Connection&qid=1664464486&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjEyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=singlehandedly.+learning+to+unhide+and+embrace+connection%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-2·        Ruth’s website -  https://ruthrathblott.com/Get your free eBook, DisABILITY Empowers Success, and discover more than 20 ways your disABILITY empowers you to succeed by visiting defineyourself.us/free – do it now, your future self will thank you!