Micah Fialka- Feldman and Katherine Sanderson are interviewed together in this episode. Katherine is a critical member of Micah's support staff. This is the first of three episodes. Micah updates listeners on his life since his episodes in season 2 of Born Fabulous Podcast. Micah and Katherine talk about getting through the pandemic, Micah having Covid, share an update on Tori from season 2, Micah's job, Micah's new house, roommates and more.
Micah is best known as one of the stars of the acclaimed film, "Intelligent Lives". He is a teaching assistant at Syracuse University, a sought after keynote speaker, and respected disability rights advocate. Micah has an intellectual disability. Katherine has experience in the disability and medical fields, and strongly believes in "working with" young adults instead of "for" them. Katherine does not have a disability.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Greta Harrison (00:00):
Hello, my name is Greta Harrison. Welcome to
Born Fabulous Podcast seasonthree, Episode 14. The theme of
this season is young adults withintellectual disabilities living
full lives of independence andinterdependence. You will hear
interviews with parents, supportstaff, and of course the young
(00:21):
adults with intellectualdisabilities. Please note that
these interviews were done oneto two years ago. achieving
independence is a complexjourney for many individuals and
families. There were many stopsand starts with various entities
when putting together seasonthree. Regardless, this content
is very relevant, and we hopeyou will find it helpful. This
(00:44):
is the first of three episodesthat feature Micah Fialkov
Feldman and Katherine Sanderson.
Katherine is one of Micahsupport staff, a critical member
of his team. Mica is well knownas one of the stars of the claim
film intelligent lives. He is ateaching assistant at Syracuse
University, and a sought afterkeynote speaker mica has an
(01:05):
intellectual disability. Nowplease enjoy the short clip of
the ring. The lyrics are byMelissa regio, a young lady who
had Down syndrome and was thefocus of episodes one through
four and season one. The musicand voice are by Rachel fuller.
Rachel Fuller (01:58):
Looking at the sky
Greta Harrison (02:10):
I am so happy to be speaking with Micah Fialka -
Feldman, again, I consider Micaha friend, I respect him so much.
And Micah is joining us todaywith his friend and staff.
Catherine, would you pleaseintroduce yourself? Sure. I'm
(02:32):
Micah, I'm 38 years old. I livein Syracuse, New York. And I
teach and work at the Universityand I go around and speak at
many conferences and, and, and Iand I have a house and I have a
great circle. That's a greatintroduction, because that's all
(02:56):
true. Okay, Katherine. I'mKatherine. And as Mike has said,
and one of his staff. And
Katherine Sanderson (03:06):
I can't remember what else I'm supposed
to say right now. I've workedwith mica for about a year and
have worked with other folkswith developmental disabilities
or intellectual disabilities forcumulative 20 years of my of my
life.
Greta Harrison (03:18):
Okay. And I think you also have a medical
background a little bit, right.
Katherine Sanderson (03:22):
That's right. Yeah. I was a practicing
midwife for 12 years out in thePacific Northwest. And now I
actually am in nursing school topursue a psychiatric mental
health degree. But yeah. Mikeappreciates the the health
background that
Greta Harrison (03:39):
I have. All right. Well, I'm honored to
speak to both of you today. Andlet's start with the last time
we spoke on Warren fabulousmica, which was at the beginning
of the pandemic. It wasliterally March 2020. I was
filming Rico, I was finishingrecording season two. And we
(04:06):
were so unsure about everythingI remember it you and Tori, were
talking to me. And we made thedecision that you and Tori would
talk to me from differentplaces, because you know,
everybody didn't know what wasgoing on. And so Tori was in her
apartment and you were in yourapartment and we just didn't
know so if you can catch us upon how you kind of got through
(04:30):
this unusual period andeverybody's lives until now,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (04:34):
after after we did that broadcast with
Ty I. I had a circle meetingwith my circle and my parents
were in. My parents are in myparents were in like on a trip
and I think they were in. Theywere they were in like they were
in like New Zealand. My sisterhelped me set up a meeting and
(04:58):
it was really good of how shesaid up And then they, they,
they like flew home and thenthey had to quarantine back then
yeah, the county and then I hadto wait like two weeks to see
them. And then they like drovefor like, a long time to pick me
(05:18):
up. And then they drove all theway back to Michigan. Because
they were like, very scared tolike, stop anywhere. But then I
spent like, from like Apriluntil, to like, the middle of
June at home it. It wasinteresting, bringing back
childhood and learning how tonot have my phone when we had
(05:42):
like, meals together andlearning how to be back home and
I couldn't see anyone it washigher than it was just had had
like being home.
Greta Harrison (05:54):
You know, you brought up so many good things
in that that little summarythere. Because first thing you
mentioned was your circle ofsupport. And it shows how
important that you I always tellpeople that you out of all the
wonderful self advocates I knowhave the strongest circle of
support. You've been doing itfor most of your life. And we'll
go into that more later. But itwas important for you at this
(06:17):
time here was an unusual time.
You all decided you made a plan.
Your parents came and got youyou went back home. And because
I consider us to be friends andwe were in touch so to speak,
have been in touch all theseyears. I can I can add that your
independence was showing throughbecause you were home. You like
(06:39):
being with your family, but thenyou were kind of itching to get
back on your own again, right.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (06:43):
I did. I I I wasn't planning on being
there. Like all all all thattime. I wasn't.
Greta Harrison (06:53):
You didn't know nobody knew. Right? No. So you
were ready to get back on yourown when you got on your own?
Yeah, I did. Yeah. And and nooffense to your family because
you have an amazing family, awonderful family, your sister,
your parents. They're amazing.
So yeah, I remember that yourmom was speaking in New Zealand,
I believe or she was Yeah,speaking engagement there. And
(07:17):
so yeah, I mean, was veryunusual for all of you. Okay,
and you are just for everybody'sknowledge, you are vast and
fully boosted against COVID.
Correct.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (07:30):
Oh, yeah.
And I and I, over the Decemberholiday break, I would just go
to Hawaii to meet my sister'sfiance. And I was asked to pack
and go. And then the eveningbefore I was going to take the
chain the day after day. Itested and I got a very mild
thing that COVID But But I hadcovered and in like in like
(07:50):
December.
Katherine Sanderson (07:54):
Yeah. It was one of those cases where he
never would have known that hehad COVID testing out of safety
for the upcoming travel. Andthat was a big
Greta Harrison (08:05):
bummer. There were no there were there were no
signs at all. You thought whenyou took the test, it was gonna
be negative. Right? Yeah. Sothat so because you were fully
vaccine boosted and all thosethings you had you had a mild
case. But it was a greatexample. I was watching. You
know, as one of your friends. Itwas a great example, again of
you taking care of yourselffollowing everybody's advice,
(08:30):
doctor's orders, quarantining,doing everything that you needed
to do and your parents didn'trush home or to your place. You
got through it with your amazingstaff. Right. Yeah. And, and you
were really glad when you testednegative again, weren't you?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (08:49):
I was.
Greta Harrison (08:51):
But that did kind of mess up your holiday
break? It did. Yeah. Yeah. Butyou guys will make up for it. I
know you will. Well, yeah. Andbefore we move on, I neglected
to ask for an update on Tori,because for those people who
know you from season two withTori, there is an amazing update
(09:14):
with Tori isn't there? Yeah,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:16):
she got married this past fall and it
was very fun and exciting.
Greta Harrison (09:22):
We are very happy for her, aren't we? Yes.
Is Tori still in school?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:28):
Ah, yeah.
She has a big test coming thismonth. But yeah, she's in
school. Still.
Greta Harrison (09:33):
She still Tory's working on her PhD.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:35):
Yeah.
Okay.
Greta Harrison (09:37):
Do we know when she estimates to be done?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:40):
I don't like she doesn't. She just has
to do a test and then she'll becertified as a psychologist, I
think. Yeah.
Greta Harrison (09:50):
Okay. It's a tinker board. Do you think?
Yeah.
Okay, so she's close to beingdone. Yeah. Okay. And that's
Well, that's great. That's theupdate on Tory Tory
congratulations we, we send youand what is her husband's name?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (10:08):
Ah, Colin.
Greta Harrison (10:10):
Colin. That's right. We send you and Colin,
our congratulations. We're very,very happy for you. Because I
remember in season two when youtalked about being at each
other's weddings, and then ithappened, right? Did she get
married on a beach? He did.
Okay, great. That's, that'swonderful. Okay, so you've
gotten through, you've kind ofgone full circle with COVID
(10:34):
You've gone through the timewhen everybody was scared and
wasn't sure and was extremely,extremely cautious to being
vaccinated and getting back outinto the world more and then
getting a very mild case inDecember. I think it's important
to state you wouldn't have evenknown if you hadn't tested so,
yeah. Okay, that's, that's agreat update. So thank you for
(10:57):
that. Katherine. Do you have anyinput on Oh, you saw Oh, I'm
Katherine Sanderson (11:04):
sorry. Go ahead.
Greta Harrison (11:05):
No, go do you have any input as to you know,
from a staff person's point ofview during when he had COVID
Katherine Sanderson (11:12):
Oh, from when you had COVID Not not so
much just kind of getting whenthe first test was done when I
was here with with Micah, and hesaid, Oh, it's negative and I
said well, it's not quitenegative it's not positive but
it's not quite negative. Maybeyou should test again later so
(11:33):
then you did another test withash right? Yeah, person. And he
sent me a picture and saidnegative and I said, No, not
quite, maybe do one more test.
And then the next test wasclearly positive. So other than
just kind of trying to thenarrange for Mike to be supported
during that time since technicyou know, we wanted to still not
(11:54):
spread further and I didn't endup testing positive nor did ash
end up testing positive fromthere. But we were supporting
you on FaceTime and cooking. Ithink ash cooked the meals at
their place. And they didbrought them to you that way
usually mica does cooking withwith staff at home, but, um, but
(12:15):
it was okay. And then you it wasa short short lived wasn't a we
weren't in the days of you know,10 days a full quarantine and,
and thankfully, you are able tostill do your do your stuff, go
for your walks and things. And Ialso wanted to say that mica is
I believe the only person in hisclassrooms on campus that
continues to wear masks duringYes. That's
Greta Harrison (12:40):
good to know.
I'm glad you mentioned that. AndI'm gonna guess that when you
get on an airplane or publictransportation or crowded
situations, you'll wear a mask,correct? Yeah. Okay, that's
good. I'm in that same camp. SoI know not everybody is, but
just just want to show thatthat's great. And by him, I'm
sure when he got when he testedpositive. Everybody was masking,
(13:04):
I'm sure. And okay.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (13:08):
Yeah.
Greta Harrison (13:09):
Okay.
Katherine Sanderson (13:10):
When we were Yeah.
Greta Harrison (13:12):
Now, let's talk about your job. Mica. I know
that you mentioned in yourintroduction, that you are at
the university. But you're atSyracuse University as a
teaching assistant, could youtalk a little bit about that?
Yeah,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (13:26):
I'm, I'm a, I'm a teaching assistant. And
I, what, I teach two classes,and I, and I like to talk to
students. I, I agree, papersand, and, and I, I like have
(13:46):
been teaching since 2012.
Greta Harrison (13:49):
Okay. And you have you have a contract. I
Micah Fialka-Feldman (13:52):
mean, I do yeah, my, my contract expires at
the end of this year, but I'mhoping that when I send them an
email, it will get it will getwe knew next fall. But that's,
that's in their hands, buthopefully,
Greta Harrison (14:10):
oh, I'm sure you'll be I think you're an
integral part of, of SyracuseUniversity and inclusive view,
which is their inclusion programthere. So and I also want to
point out in case people don'tknow you from season two or know
you from anything before thatyou were in intelligent lives,
Dan Habib's amazing movie, whichis when I first met you, and I
(14:34):
met you in Washington, DC whenit was being shown at the
Associated Press function. Yeah.
And you know, you don't rememberme because you were whirling
around. But I remember you and Iwanted to shake your hand and
get a picture and you were toobusy. Mike was just far too
busy. So I hope that Next time Iget to see you in person, it'll
(15:00):
be a different thing. But thatwas a great night, there were
hundreds and hundreds of peoplethere. And being at the Press
Club, it was very, very cool.
And that was in 2018, when Ifirst met you, and that movie
has been out since that time. Soif people haven't seen it, it's
(15:20):
available in various streamingsources, and I highly recommend
it. It's an important film. Andit shows a lot of your journey.
It's yeah, that at Syracuse andshows when you graduated, and
you got your job. So yeah, itshows your journey. So your job
is going well is what you'resaying. And your speaking
engagements, you're back todoing them? Um,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (15:43):
yeah, I am. I have a speaking engagement
in Colorado and June, but Idon't have too many lined up.
But I do have one in June. Yeah.
Greta Harrison (15:52):
So it's slowly but surely going to start
picking up. One thing I want tomention that again, I know just
from being your friend is onething you do, Mike, as you you
pitch certain ideas. You're verycreative and forward thinking
and you think of out of the boxideas for conferences to focus
(16:12):
on, don't you? You like to dothat, don't you?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (16:15):
Sometimes I do. Like, like 100 Get Titus
speaking. But sometimes I havehad my parents know Jimmy and
say, do it. But they? And I sayyes, I'll try it this time and
to learn
Katherine Sanderson (16:32):
you are right going to be in the process
of sort of revamping your, yourPowerPoint. Yeah. In your in
your speech? Shoot. I've gottena little tired of the of the
same sort of words. But yeah,revamping it and giving giving
it some more life would be makeit more exciting again. Yeah.
Greta Harrison (16:50):
Yeah. And you have more life experience to add
to it. That's, that's true. ButI like I remember, recently, you
were posting on social mediaabout an idea you were maybe
that's the Colorado conference,I'm not sure. But an idea that
you were proposing. And Ithought that's really great that
that's coming from the self appadvocate instead of, you know,
educators or other people. Sothat was great. But that is one
(17:15):
thing that you do and you liketo travel mica, you are now
living in a house before youwere living in an apartment when
I spoke to you back in 2020. Nowyou're living in a house. Tell
us a little bit about this moveand, and what you like about it?
If you could? Um,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (17:33):
yeah, I mean, Karen, it's been one year
of living in the house and I, Ihave great neighbors and I'm
like, the first floor and I can,I can still like walk to campus
and I can still go the coffeeshop when I wonder, like, why
(17:54):
and go to the coffee shop. I trynot that much. But, um, and and
i i Just like having the houseI'm learning how to how to like,
how to have a house and how tobe how to be more responsible of
the house. And I like I like guydid have a roommate. And her and
(18:21):
I, he moved in last June andthen we had a great summer
together and then this, and thenand then great fall and then I
and then this desperate roommatewe had a challenge and then it
was just getting harder toHarder, harder to balance
(18:47):
balanced living with her.
Greta Harrison (18:53):
Okay, well, you What was that Katherine? Go
ahead.
Katherine Sanderson (18:57):
She was a busy student and was was doing a
lot with her schoolwork and itjust ended up not being quite
quite the right fit. Okay,
Greta Harrison (19:06):
well, you know, it's, I'm glad you brought it
up, Mike, because everybody,whether they have a disability
or not, when they move out ontheir own, and they have they
have roommates. That is a youknow, that's a concern for
everybody gotta have the rightmatch. And you do go through
roommates. I know my my olderdaughter's 35 She's on her own
(19:28):
now. But you know, when shefirst got out of college, she
had some roommates and of coursewhen she was in college, she had
roommates. And you know, that'sjust life right? So you're
you've got experience withroommates. You've had several
over the years, haven't you? Alot of times they have been
students. So and we're gonnawe're gonna go into that later
(19:51):
in this interview about whatyou're looking for in a roommate
but so with the house you it'sbased, it's a house but it's
duplex, you have a family belowyou?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (20:04):
They're like, Nah, family, but they are
like, they are like going tograd students. Right? Yeah.
Okay,
Greta Harrison (20:10):
so you have grad students below you. And then you
have your place above. Yeah,but, but But you, but you all
own the whole thing. It's notlike you're leasing from anybody
anymore. You
Micah Fialka-Feldman (20:24):
know?
Yeah. My, my like parents don'tyeah.
Greta Harrison (20:28):
So your parents on the on the house? And it's
you've got this the gradstudents, which maybe it feels
like family let's let's word itthat way below you right? And so
you have consistency with that.
And then you're in the processof looking for a new roommate,
right? Yeah. Okay. And from yourviewpoint, Catherine, what's
(20:50):
that, like, looking for aroommate? As the staff, you're
helping support him? And?
Katherine Sanderson (20:57):
Yeah, well, I think we learned a lot from
this past roommate situation.
Part of what was happening whenI first came to work with Micah
was that his roommate at thattime, Dan was a graduating
medical student and was going tobe moving away to start his
residency. And Dan had been yourroommate at two different
points. But it was a reallygreat roommate. And so there was
(21:18):
you were worried about what thatwas going to mean. And your
parents were worried about that,too. So I was here for some of
the I should say I was here forall of it. But I was I
participated a little bit in thelook for the last roommate. And
I think we learned more aboutwhat would make an ideal
(21:39):
roommate for Micah based onthat. scenario. So yeah, now I
think we get a chance to bereally creative in our thinking,
and really intentional aboutkind of putting out there, what
you what you would really likeand what what your circle and
staff think would be the bestfit for you. And you're starting
(22:02):
to consider options that you'venot considered previously. So I
think it's pretty cool. I thinkit's a great opportunity. And
yeah, I know roommate situationsare definitely hit or miss for
everybody. And it's, it's, youknow, when you find the right,
the right one, then it can lastfor as long as it makes sense.
(22:25):
So that's what we're hoping tohoping to find when the next
person right, yeah.
Greta Harrison (22:32):
Okay, but with your great staff and your great
circle, you're okay, right,Micah, you're doing just fine.
Right? And that's, that's reallygood. Thank you for listening to
Episode 14 of Born FabulousPodcast third season. I hope you
enjoyed it and want to hear moreshort video clips from most
episodes are available on ourYouTube channel and unborn
(22:55):
fabulous podcast.com. In Episode15, you will hear Micah and
Catherine discuss Katherine'srole as support staff, the
concept of paid neighbors. Whatmakes great staff what makes an
ideal roommate what Micah'sparents did when he was younger
to encourage his independenceand more, please follow and like
(23:16):
us on Facebook, Instagram andTwitter. If you enjoyed this
episode, I'd be honored if youwould leave a review wherever
you heard this podcast. Nowplease enjoy this clip of love
as a potion. The lyrics are byMelissa regio, who was the focus
of season one episodes onethrough four. The music and
voice are by Rachel fuller
Hello, my name is Greta Harrison. Welcome to
Born Fabulous Podcast seasonthree, Episode 14. The theme of
this season is young adults withintellectual disabilities living
full lives of independence andinterdependence. You will hear
interviews with parents, supportstaff, and of course the young
(00:21):
adults with intellectualdisabilities. Please note that
these interviews were done oneto two years ago. achieving
independence is a complexjourney for many individuals and
families. There were many stopsand starts with various entities
when putting together seasonthree. Regardless, this content
is very relevant, and we hopeyou will find it helpful. This
(00:44):
is the first of three episodesthat feature Micah Fialkov
Feldman and Katherine Sanderson.
Katherine is one of Micahsupport staff, a critical member
of his team. Mica is well knownas one of the stars of the claim
film intelligent lives. He is ateaching assistant at Syracuse
University, and a sought afterkeynote speaker mica has an
(01:05):
intellectual disability. Nowplease enjoy the short clip of
the ring. The lyrics are byMelissa regio, a young lady who
had Down syndrome and was thefocus of episodes one through
four and season one. The musicand voice are by Rachel fuller.
Rachel Fuller (01:58):
Looking at the sky
Greta Harrison (02:10):
I am so happy to be speaking with Micah Fialka -
Feldman, again, I consider Micaha friend, I respect him so much.
And Micah is joining us todaywith his friend and staff.
Catherine, would you pleaseintroduce yourself? Sure. I'm
(02:32):
Micah, I'm 38 years old. I livein Syracuse, New York. And I
teach and work at the Universityand I go around and speak at
many conferences and, and, and Iand I have a house and I have a
great circle. That's a greatintroduction, because that's all
(02:56):
true. Okay, Katherine. I'mKatherine. And as Mike has said,
and one of his staff. And
Katherine Sanderson (03:06):
I can't remember what else I'm supposed
to say right now. I've workedwith mica for about a year and
have worked with other folkswith developmental disabilities
or intellectual disabilities forcumulative 20 years of my of my
life.
Greta Harrison (03:18):
Okay. And I think you also have a medical
background a little bit, right.
Katherine Sanderson (03:22):
That's right. Yeah. I was a practicing
midwife for 12 years out in thePacific Northwest. And now I
actually am in nursing school topursue a psychiatric mental
health degree. But yeah. Mikeappreciates the the health
background that
Greta Harrison (03:39):
I have. All right. Well, I'm honored to
speak to both of you today. Andlet's start with the last time
we spoke on Warren fabulousmica, which was at the beginning
of the pandemic. It wasliterally March 2020. I was
filming Rico, I was finishingrecording season two. And we
(04:06):
were so unsure about everythingI remember it you and Tori, were
talking to me. And we made thedecision that you and Tori would
talk to me from differentplaces, because you know,
everybody didn't know what wasgoing on. And so Tori was in her
apartment and you were in yourapartment and we just didn't
know so if you can catch us upon how you kind of got through
(04:30):
this unusual period andeverybody's lives until now,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (04:34):
after after we did that broadcast with
Ty I. I had a circle meetingwith my circle and my parents
were in. My parents are in myparents were in like on a trip
and I think they were in. Theywere they were in like they were
in like New Zealand. My sisterhelped me set up a meeting and
(04:58):
it was really good of how shesaid up And then they, they,
they like flew home and thenthey had to quarantine back then
yeah, the county and then I hadto wait like two weeks to see
them. And then they like drovefor like, a long time to pick me
(05:18):
up. And then they drove all theway back to Michigan. Because
they were like, very scared tolike, stop anywhere. But then I
spent like, from like Apriluntil, to like, the middle of
June at home it. It wasinteresting, bringing back
childhood and learning how tonot have my phone when we had
(05:42):
like, meals together andlearning how to be back home and
I couldn't see anyone it washigher than it was just had had
like being home.
Greta Harrison (05:54):
You know, you brought up so many good things
in that that little summarythere. Because first thing you
mentioned was your circle ofsupport. And it shows how
important that you I always tellpeople that you out of all the
wonderful self advocates I knowhave the strongest circle of
support. You've been doing itfor most of your life. And we'll
go into that more later. But itwas important for you at this
(06:17):
time here was an unusual time.
You all decided you made a plan.
Your parents came and got youyou went back home. And because
I consider us to be friends andwe were in touch so to speak,
have been in touch all theseyears. I can I can add that your
independence was showing throughbecause you were home. You like
(06:39):
being with your family, but thenyou were kind of itching to get
back on your own again, right.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (06:43):
I did. I I I wasn't planning on being
there. Like all all all thattime. I wasn't.
Greta Harrison (06:53):
You didn't know nobody knew. Right? No. So you
were ready to get back on yourown when you got on your own?
Yeah, I did. Yeah. And and nooffense to your family because
you have an amazing family, awonderful family, your sister,
your parents. They're amazing.
So yeah, I remember that yourmom was speaking in New Zealand,
I believe or she was Yeah,speaking engagement there. And
(07:17):
so yeah, I mean, was veryunusual for all of you. Okay,
and you are just for everybody'sknowledge, you are vast and
fully boosted against COVID.
Correct.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (07:30):
Oh, yeah.
And I and I, over the Decemberholiday break, I would just go
to Hawaii to meet my sister'sfiance. And I was asked to pack
and go. And then the eveningbefore I was going to take the
chain the day after day. Itested and I got a very mild
thing that COVID But But I hadcovered and in like in like
(07:50):
December.
Katherine Sanderson (07:54):
Yeah. It was one of those cases where he
never would have known that hehad COVID testing out of safety
for the upcoming travel. Andthat was a big
Greta Harrison (08:05):
bummer. There were no there were there were no
signs at all. You thought whenyou took the test, it was gonna
be negative. Right? Yeah. Sothat so because you were fully
vaccine boosted and all thosethings you had you had a mild
case. But it was a greatexample. I was watching. You
know, as one of your friends. Itwas a great example, again of
you taking care of yourselffollowing everybody's advice,
(08:30):
doctor's orders, quarantining,doing everything that you needed
to do and your parents didn'trush home or to your place. You
got through it with your amazingstaff. Right. Yeah. And, and you
were really glad when you testednegative again, weren't you?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (08:49):
I was.
Greta Harrison (08:51):
But that did kind of mess up your holiday
break? It did. Yeah. Yeah. Butyou guys will make up for it. I
know you will. Well, yeah. Andbefore we move on, I neglected
to ask for an update on Tori,because for those people who
know you from season two withTori, there is an amazing update
(09:14):
with Tori isn't there? Yeah,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:16):
she got married this past fall and it
was very fun and exciting.
Greta Harrison (09:22):
We are very happy for her, aren't we? Yes.
Is Tori still in school?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:28):
Ah, yeah.
She has a big test coming thismonth. But yeah, she's in
school. Still.
Greta Harrison (09:33):
She still Tory's working on her PhD.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:35):
Yeah.
Okay.
Greta Harrison (09:37):
Do we know when she estimates to be done?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (09:40):
I don't like she doesn't. She just has
to do a test and then she'll becertified as a psychologist, I
think. Yeah.
Greta Harrison (09:50):
Okay. It's a tinker board. Do you think?
Yeah.
Okay, so she's close to beingdone. Yeah. Okay. And that's
Well, that's great. That's theupdate on Tory Tory
congratulations we, we send youand what is her husband's name?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (10:08):
Ah, Colin.
Greta Harrison (10:10):
Colin. That's right. We send you and Colin,
our congratulations. We're very,very happy for you. Because I
remember in season two when youtalked about being at each
other's weddings, and then ithappened, right? Did she get
married on a beach? He did.
Okay, great. That's, that'swonderful. Okay, so you've
gotten through, you've kind ofgone full circle with COVID
(10:34):
You've gone through the timewhen everybody was scared and
wasn't sure and was extremely,extremely cautious to being
vaccinated and getting back outinto the world more and then
getting a very mild case inDecember. I think it's important
to state you wouldn't have evenknown if you hadn't tested so,
yeah. Okay, that's, that's agreat update. So thank you for
(10:57):
that. Katherine. Do you have anyinput on Oh, you saw Oh, I'm
Katherine Sanderson (11:04):
sorry. Go ahead.
Greta Harrison (11:05):
No, go do you have any input as to you know,
from a staff person's point ofview during when he had COVID
Katherine Sanderson (11:12):
Oh, from when you had COVID Not not so
much just kind of getting whenthe first test was done when I
was here with with Micah, and hesaid, Oh, it's negative and I
said well, it's not quitenegative it's not positive but
it's not quite negative. Maybeyou should test again later so
(11:33):
then you did another test withash right? Yeah, person. And he
sent me a picture and saidnegative and I said, No, not
quite, maybe do one more test.
And then the next test wasclearly positive. So other than
just kind of trying to thenarrange for Mike to be supported
during that time since technicyou know, we wanted to still not
(11:54):
spread further and I didn't endup testing positive nor did ash
end up testing positive fromthere. But we were supporting
you on FaceTime and cooking. Ithink ash cooked the meals at
their place. And they didbrought them to you that way
usually mica does cooking withwith staff at home, but, um, but
(12:15):
it was okay. And then you it wasa short short lived wasn't a we
weren't in the days of you know,10 days a full quarantine and,
and thankfully, you are able tostill do your do your stuff, go
for your walks and things. And Ialso wanted to say that mica is
I believe the only person in hisclassrooms on campus that
continues to wear masks duringYes. That's
Greta Harrison (12:40):
good to know.
I'm glad you mentioned that. AndI'm gonna guess that when you
get on an airplane or publictransportation or crowded
situations, you'll wear a mask,correct? Yeah. Okay, that's
good. I'm in that same camp. SoI know not everybody is, but
just just want to show thatthat's great. And by him, I'm
sure when he got when he testedpositive. Everybody was masking,
(13:04):
I'm sure. And okay.
Micah Fialka-Feldman (13:08):
Yeah.
Greta Harrison (13:09):
Okay.
Katherine Sanderson (13:10):
When we were Yeah.
Greta Harrison (13:12):
Now, let's talk about your job. Mica. I know
that you mentioned in yourintroduction, that you are at
the university. But you're atSyracuse University as a
teaching assistant, could youtalk a little bit about that?
Yeah,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (13:26):
I'm, I'm a, I'm a teaching assistant. And
I, what, I teach two classes,and I, and I like to talk to
students. I, I agree, papersand, and, and I, I like have
(13:46):
been teaching since 2012.
Greta Harrison (13:49):
Okay. And you have you have a contract. I
Micah Fialka-Feldman (13:52):
mean, I do yeah, my, my contract expires at
the end of this year, but I'mhoping that when I send them an
email, it will get it will getwe knew next fall. But that's,
that's in their hands, buthopefully,
Greta Harrison (14:10):
oh, I'm sure you'll be I think you're an
integral part of, of SyracuseUniversity and inclusive view,
which is their inclusion programthere. So and I also want to
point out in case people don'tknow you from season two or know
you from anything before thatyou were in intelligent lives,
Dan Habib's amazing movie, whichis when I first met you, and I
(14:34):
met you in Washington, DC whenit was being shown at the
Associated Press function. Yeah.
And you know, you don't rememberme because you were whirling
around. But I remember you and Iwanted to shake your hand and
get a picture and you were toobusy. Mike was just far too
busy. So I hope that Next time Iget to see you in person, it'll
(15:00):
be a different thing. But thatwas a great night, there were
hundreds and hundreds of peoplethere. And being at the Press
Club, it was very, very cool.
And that was in 2018, when Ifirst met you, and that movie
has been out since that time. Soif people haven't seen it, it's
(15:20):
available in various streamingsources, and I highly recommend
it. It's an important film. Andit shows a lot of your journey.
It's yeah, that at Syracuse andshows when you graduated, and
you got your job. So yeah, itshows your journey. So your job
is going well is what you'resaying. And your speaking
engagements, you're back todoing them? Um,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (15:43):
yeah, I am. I have a speaking engagement
in Colorado and June, but Idon't have too many lined up.
But I do have one in June. Yeah.
Greta Harrison (15:52):
So it's slowly but surely going to start
picking up. One thing I want tomention that again, I know just
from being your friend is onething you do, Mike, as you you
pitch certain ideas. You're verycreative and forward thinking
and you think of out of the boxideas for conferences to focus
(16:12):
on, don't you? You like to dothat, don't you?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (16:15):
Sometimes I do. Like, like 100 Get Titus
speaking. But sometimes I havehad my parents know Jimmy and
say, do it. But they? And I sayyes, I'll try it this time and
to learn
Katherine Sanderson (16:32):
you are right going to be in the process
of sort of revamping your, yourPowerPoint. Yeah. In your in
your speech? Shoot. I've gottena little tired of the of the
same sort of words. But yeah,revamping it and giving giving
it some more life would be makeit more exciting again. Yeah.
Greta Harrison (16:50):
Yeah. And you have more life experience to add
to it. That's, that's true. ButI like I remember, recently, you
were posting on social mediaabout an idea you were maybe
that's the Colorado conference,I'm not sure. But an idea that
you were proposing. And Ithought that's really great that
that's coming from the self appadvocate instead of, you know,
educators or other people. Sothat was great. But that is one
(17:15):
thing that you do and you liketo travel mica, you are now
living in a house before youwere living in an apartment when
I spoke to you back in 2020. Nowyou're living in a house. Tell
us a little bit about this moveand, and what you like about it?
If you could? Um,
Micah Fialka-Feldman (17:33):
yeah, I mean, Karen, it's been one year
of living in the house and I, Ihave great neighbors and I'm
like, the first floor and I can,I can still like walk to campus
and I can still go the coffeeshop when I wonder, like, why
(17:54):
and go to the coffee shop. I trynot that much. But, um, and and
i i Just like having the houseI'm learning how to how to like,
how to have a house and how tobe how to be more responsible of
the house. And I like I like guydid have a roommate. And her and
(18:21):
I, he moved in last June andthen we had a great summer
together and then this, and thenand then great fall and then I
and then this desperate roommatewe had a challenge and then it
was just getting harder toHarder, harder to balance
(18:47):
balanced living with her.
Greta Harrison (18:53):
Okay, well, you What was that Katherine? Go
ahead.
Katherine Sanderson (18:57):
She was a busy student and was was doing a
lot with her schoolwork and itjust ended up not being quite
quite the right fit. Okay,
Greta Harrison (19:06):
well, you know, it's, I'm glad you brought it
up, Mike, because everybody,whether they have a disability
or not, when they move out ontheir own, and they have they
have roommates. That is a youknow, that's a concern for
everybody gotta have the rightmatch. And you do go through
roommates. I know my my olderdaughter's 35 She's on her own
(19:28):
now. But you know, when shefirst got out of college, she
had some roommates and of coursewhen she was in college, she had
roommates. And you know, that'sjust life right? So you're
you've got experience withroommates. You've had several
over the years, haven't you? Alot of times they have been
students. So and we're gonnawe're gonna go into that later
(19:51):
in this interview about whatyou're looking for in a roommate
but so with the house you it'sbased, it's a house but it's
duplex, you have a family belowyou?
Micah Fialka-Feldman (20:04):
They're like, Nah, family, but they are
like, they are like going tograd students. Right? Yeah.
Okay,
Greta Harrison (20:10):
so you have grad students below you. And then you
have your place above. Yeah,but, but But you, but you all
own the whole thing. It's notlike you're leasing from anybody
anymore. You
Micah Fialka-Feldman (20:24):
know?
Yeah. My, my like parents don'tyeah.
Greta Harrison (20:28):
So your parents on the on the house? And it's
you've got this the gradstudents, which maybe it feels
like family let's let's word itthat way below you right? And so
you have consistency with that.
And then you're in the processof looking for a new roommate,
right? Yeah. Okay. And from yourviewpoint, Catherine, what's
(20:50):
that, like, looking for aroommate? As the staff, you're
helping support him? And?
Katherine Sanderson (20:57):
Yeah, well, I think we learned a lot from
this past roommate situation.
Part of what was happening whenI first came to work with Micah
was that his roommate at thattime, Dan was a graduating
medical student and was going tobe moving away to start his
residency. And Dan had been yourroommate at two different
points. But it was a reallygreat roommate. And so there was
(21:18):
you were worried about what thatwas going to mean. And your
parents were worried about that,too. So I was here for some of
the I should say I was here forall of it. But I was I
participated a little bit in thelook for the last roommate. And
I think we learned more aboutwhat would make an ideal
(21:39):
roommate for Micah based onthat. scenario. So yeah, now I
think we get a chance to bereally creative in our thinking,
and really intentional aboutkind of putting out there, what
you what you would really likeand what what your circle and
staff think would be the bestfit for you. And you're starting
(22:02):
to consider options that you'venot considered previously. So I
think it's pretty cool. I thinkit's a great opportunity. And
yeah, I know roommate situationsare definitely hit or miss for
everybody. And it's, it's, youknow, when you find the right,
the right one, then it can lastfor as long as it makes sense.
(22:25):
So that's what we're hoping tohoping to find when the next
person right, yeah.
Greta Harrison (22:32):
Okay, but with your great staff and your great
circle, you're okay, right,Micah, you're doing just fine.
Right? And that's, that's reallygood. Thank you for listening to
Episode 14 of Born FabulousPodcast third season. I hope you
enjoyed it and want to hear moreshort video clips from most
episodes are available on ourYouTube channel and unborn
(22:55):
fabulous podcast.com. In Episode15, you will hear Micah and
Catherine discuss Katherine'srole as support staff, the
concept of paid neighbors. Whatmakes great staff what makes an
ideal roommate what Micah'sparents did when he was younger
to encourage his independenceand more, please follow and like
(23:16):
us on Facebook, Instagram andTwitter. If you enjoyed this
episode, I'd be honored if youwould leave a review wherever
you heard this podcast. Nowplease enjoy this clip of love
as a potion. The lyrics are byMelissa regio, who was the focus
of season one episodes onethrough four. The music and
voice are by Rachel fuller
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