Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast

Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast

Welcome to "Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast" Hosted by Alycia Anderson, a disability advocate, nationally sought after DEI speaker, trainer, and motivational TEDx speaker. Every episode is a story of empowerment, resilience and breaking barriers from Alycia and her guests. 🌟Featured Episodes: Meet Alycia Anderson | Disability Advocate: Dive deep into Alycia's inspiring journey and her mission to advocate for inclusivity and accessibility. Disability Pride Month | Embracing Identity: A celebration of diversity and the power of owning one's identity with pride. DEI+Disability | Redefining Disability with Etsy’s Beth Wiesendanger: Explore the intersection of Disability, Equity, and Inclusion with insights from Etsy's DEI leader. Rollettes Founder | Chelsie Hill: Dancing Without Limits: Chelsie Hill shares her story of defying expectations and founding the Rollettes dance team. Twin Sisters, Forever Advocates 💖💖: Alycia and her twin sister, Regina, discuss their lifelong advocacy and the deep bond they share. A Symphony of Resilience | Amy Wang-Hiller: Join us for an uplifting conversation with Amy Wang-Hiller about finding strength through music and resilience. Disabling Ableism | Hello TEDx: Alycia takes us behind the scenes of her powerful TEDx talk on challenging societal perceptions of disability. The Strength of Sisterhood 💪 | Meet Corinna, the younger sister 💖: Discover the unbreakable bond between Alycia and her sister Corinna, highlighting the strength found in sisterhood. The Beauty of Friendship | Alycia and Kerri: A heartfelt episode on the transformative power of friendship and support. Barrier-Free Design | Maegan Blau: Architect Maegan Blau discusses the importance of inclusive and accessible design in creating a world without barriers. Topics included on Alycia's disability podcast: Disabling Ableism: What is ableism? A look into the deep-rooted biases in society. DEI+Disability: What is disability awareness training? Disability Pride Month: Why Disability Pride Month is important and how to celebrate. Workplace Inclusion: Inclusion in the workplace and how to build and inclusive atmosphere for everyone. Workplace accessibility: How to improve accessibility in the workplace The Power of Inclusion: A focus on the value of becoming a more inclusive employer and the benefits it holds. Disability Intersectionality: How a person's various marginalized identities work together to impact a person. Airlines and Disability Discrimination: Traveling with a disability and the airlines responsibility to accomodate passengers with disabilities. Join us "Pushing Forward with Alycia" is more than a podcast; it's a movement towards a more inclusive world. Join us as we celebrate the voices of those who are not just surviving but thriving, by pushing forward, together. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn | Book Alycia for Speaking | Book Alycia to Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Buy Alycia’s DEI Micro Learning Video Series Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations on Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast. Open hearts, clear paths. Let's go.

Episodes

May 8, 2025 39 mins
Celebrating WAWABILITY: A Journey of Transformation with Warren Wawa Snipe In this episode of '⁠⁠Pushing Forward with Alycia⁠⁠,' Alycia Anderson welcomes the award-winning hip hop artist and accessibility pioneer⁠ ⁠Warren “Wawa” Snipe⁠⁠. Wawa, who was born profoundly deaf, shares his inspirational journey in the entertainment industry and his profound impact on advocacy for the deaf and disability communities. The episode dives dee...
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Trailblazer Marisa Hamamoto: Breaking Barriers in Disability Inclusion Through Dance and Film In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' guest Marisa Hamamoto shares her incredible journey as a trailblazing keynote speaker, dancer, founder of 'Infinite Flow Dance,' and entrepreneur. A spinal stroke survivor and late-diagnosed autistic, Marisa discusses her intersectional identity as a fourth-generation Japanese American and...
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Bridging Cultures and Challenges: Christopher Tjajadi's Path In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia welcomes Christopher Tjajadi, a remarkable individual diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Christopher shares his life story, from his early years in Indonesia to moving to the U.S., highlighting the stark differences in accessibility and inclusion. They discuss pivotal moments of feeling seen, the cri...
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Vicki Loffelmann’s Disclaimer: The perspectives shared in this video/audio recording reflect my personal experiences and are offered in the spirit of open dialogue and reflection. They are not intended to serve as a political statement, nor to critique, generalize, or pass judgment on any individual, group, or institution. I acknowledge that experiences vary widely, and I share mine with respect for advocacy. Advocacy and Accessib...
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Empowering Women on Wheels: A Conversation with Lily Fox In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson welcomes Lily Fox, Executive Director of Women's World on Wheels (Women's WOW). They discuss the mission of Women's WOW, a nonprofit providing resources and support for women with disabilities. Highlights include Lily's personal connection to the disability community through her mother, the organization's...
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The Journey of Resilience: Bella Adlah's Triumph In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson welcomes 20-year-old wheelchair user and college student Bella Adlah. Bella recounts her incredible journey of transformation following an HPV vaccination injury that left her unable to see, talk, eat, or move. Through months of neuro-rehab, Bella regained a significant amount of her abilities and rediscovered he...
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Celebrating Women's History Month: Menstrual Equity and Inclusion with Holly Johnston and Carly Pistawka In this special episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, celebrating Women's History Month, Alycia Anderson discusses the importance of menstrual equity and inclusion with guests Holly Johnston and Carly Pistawka. Holly is the founder of 'Periods for All,' a nonprofit organization dedicated to making menstrual products accessibl...
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Redefining Balance: Christina Smallwood Shares Her Story of Motherhood, Business & The Empowerment of Authenticity In this special episode of ‘Pushing Forward with Alycia,’ Alycia celebrates March as Women’s History Month and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month by interviewing Christina Smallwood, a trailblazing entrepreneur and mother. Christina shares her journey from a rebellious pastor’s kid to a successful business leader balancing...
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Best Buddies: Champions of Disability Inclusion with Anthony Kennedy Shriver In this episode of ‘Pushing Forward with Alycia,’ Alycia welcomes Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International, to honor Best Buddies Month and Spread the Word Day. They discuss the harmful use of the ‘R word,’ the growth and impact of Best Buddies since its establishment in 1989, and Anthony’s personal inspirations...
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Rising Star in Adaptive Fashion: Nevaeh Hearn's Journey In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia welcomes Nevaeh Hearn, a senior at Drexel University studying Fashion and Merchandising. Nevaeh shares her transformative journey from a promising gymnast to an advocate for adaptive fashion after a life-altering injury. They discuss her struggle with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), her diagnosis with Ehler-...
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A Journey of Resilience that Leads to Advocacy In this heartfelt episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson and her husband Marty share their personal ordeal with sepsis, a life-threatening condition that nearly cost Alycia her life. They dive into Alycia's congenital disability, sacral agenesis, her battles with chronic infections, and how a near-fatal experience with sepsis in 2019 became a pivotal moment in ...
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Resilience and Empowerment In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia converses with Leah Kaplan, an adaptive athlete and fervent advocate for disability inclusion. Leah shares her remarkable journey from an orphanage in China to becoming an empowered individual. She discusses her congenital disability, her advocacy driven by her mother, and her passion for adaptive sports. The discussion touches on Leah’s perspe...
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Breaking Boundaries: Leadership and Inclusion with Chantelle Johnson In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson dives into the world of leadership, workplace culture, and inclusion with Chantelle Johnson, a trailblazer in the field. Chantelle, formerly a corporate HR leader and now an entrepreneur, discusses her journey and how she's shaping inclusive workplaces through her company, Talent 4d Culture. T...
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2024 Was Epic—Here’s How We’re Raising the Bar in 2025! Milestones, Lessons, and New Beginnings In this special New Year's episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' hosts Alycia and Marty reflect on the year 2024, celebrate their monumental achievements, and set their sights on a promising 2025. They discuss significant events, including their work in disability inclusion, speaking engagements, and educational outreach. The episod...
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Resilience and Representation: A Conversation with Danny J. Gomez In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson welcomes actor and disability advocate Danny J. Gomez. Known for his roles in 'NCIS Hawaii' and 'New Amsterdam,' Danny discusses his journey from a non-disabled life to becoming a leading voice in disability representation following a life-altering injury. They explore topics like resilience, the...
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Resilience and Gold: The Journey of Paralympic Archer Jason Tabansky In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' Alycia welcomes Paralympic gold medalist in archery, Jason Tabansky. Jason shares his incredible journey from military service to becoming a professional Paralympic athlete. He discusses how a severe spinal cord injury transformed his life and led him to discover the world of adaptive sports. Jason and Alycia delv...
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Healing Through Functional Nutrition: Leslie Jackson Wellness  In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia welcomes Leslie Jackson, a functional nutritionist and founder of Leslie Jackson Wellness. Former corporate colleagues, Alycia and Leslie discuss Leslie's transformative journey from the technology industry to nutrition. Leslie shares her personal health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and physical...
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A Long Awaited Journey for Disability in Cinema: Inclusion, Innovation and Unveiling 'Daruma' In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson welcomes actors Tobias Forrest and John W. Lawson to discuss their latest film, 'Daruma.' This film is making cinematic history by featuring two lead actors with disabilities in a narrative that isn’t centered on disability. Tobias and John share their seven-year journ...
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Embracing Disabled Joy: Advocacy, Innovation, and Community with Ali Cameron from Seated Perspectives In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia', host Alycia engages in an inspiring conversation with disability advocate, content creator, brand builder and entrepreneur Ali Cameron, founder of Seated Perspectives. They explore Ali Cameron's journey from a life-altering spinal cord injury at age 14 to becoming a leading voice i...
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Welcome Lizzy O. In Episode 69 of Pushing Forward with Alycia | Disability Podcast, Alycia welcomes social media influencer Lizzy O. to discuss her life, advocacy, and how she balances being a mother with her powerful presence online. Lizzy opens up about the car accident that left her disabled, the role faith plays in her journey, and how it has grounded her through personal challenges. Key Moments: ✨ Faith and Strength – Lizzy sh...
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