The Hidden Workforce

This week, we welcome 2026 Gubernatorial Candidate and current Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond!

Gentner joins us to share about his journey to running for Governor of the State of Oklahoma. With questions inspired by the Developmental Disability Council of Oklahoma’s candidate questionnaire, we explore specifically how Gentner will address helping and serving constituents of Oklahoma who live with disabilities.

Yo...

This week, we have a resourceful show for the workforce and schools on Episode 218 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome Natasha McDaniel and Hailey Sharp from the University of Oklahoma’s Pre-Employment Transition Services through the National Center for Disability Education and Training!

OU Pre-ETS collaborates with schools and community employers/partners with both their school-year and summer programs including: In-School Serv...

At the end of last year, we shared a series of Oklahoma legislators who have been doing some amazing work advocating for people who live with disabilities at our Oklahoma State Capitol.

This week, we’ll hear from an Oklahoma House Representative as we have a great open dialogue about inclusion for people who live with disabilities and build bridges with our legislators, so all sides of the aisle get to share their perspectives w...

This week, we have a show that is sure to feel like home especially if you’re deaf/blind on Episode 216 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome Jeri Cooper from Jeri’s House!

Jeri is the founder and Executive Director of Jeri’s House. Jeri’s House is an Oklahoma-based faith-based nonprofit organization that serves as a residential training facility for Deaf/Blind adults. They offer personalized, hands-on training to help individuals...

We have a special show that shows how hard parents will fight and how far they will go for their kids on Episode 215 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome Jimmy and Julie Beard!

Jimmy and Julie share with us the incredible story of their son Mason. When doctors said that Mason would never walk, talk, crawl, drive, graduate or work, Jimmy and Julie didn’t accept that diagnoses and dug deep to find answers and the right programs for...

We’re talking about some super STARS on Episode 214 of The Hidden Workforce!

Tune in THIS weekend to hear all about Stars on Stage! BAPS’s Stars on Stage is an inclusive musical theater group that includes kids with and without disabilities who put on a full musical.

This year, we’ll hear from father to a Stars on Stage Artist, Mickey Uphold! Mickey shares with us how Stars on Stage has impacted and changed the life of his so...

We have a full circle show that is full of inclusion in the workforce on Episode 213 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome McDonalds Store Owner, Nicole Tansey!

Nicole shares with us her full circle story of working her way up through the McDonalds workforce from an entry level position in high school, moving up and working there through college and graduate school, to making a career out of it and now owning a McDonalds store in ...

We have a motivating show that is sure to inspire you to action on Episode 212 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome motivational speaker, certified life coach, entrepreneur, ironman athlete, and prominent Oklahoma and National self-advocate, Bryce Wooten!

Bryce shares with us his story of becoming a certified life coach, how he has grown in his advocacy journey, how he became an ironman athlete, his experiences with being a membe...

We have a myth-busting show for you on Episode 211 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome Tammy Braddock!

Tammy shares with us 6 myths people often believe about people with disabilities and her personal experience with disability.

An exciting fact behind this episode is one of our show’s listeners and fans brought us the suggestion to feature Tammy on our show. They are a colleague of Tammy’s, and when Tammy shared this diversi...

We have a HAPPY and inclusive feature for you with our first show of 2026 on Episode 210 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome Jan Pride, Executive Director of Happy Hands Education Center!

Happy Hands Education Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is a Christian, non-profit, accredited school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, serving infants as young as six weeks through kindergarten. They also have an elementary school ...

We’re excited to bring you The Hidden Workforce’s “A Year in Review 2025” for Episode 209!

We’re counting down our top 6 most listened to, best shows of 2025!

Our number 1 most listened to episode of 2025 was: Pathways Adult Learning Center!

Followed by:

No. 2 Speller Jake Wright on his segment about Spelling to Communicate and how it changed his life.

No. 3 Elizabeth Vosseller, founder of Spelling to Communicate.

🎄We have a special Holiday Edition on Episode 208 of The Hidden Workforce, “A Hidden Workforce Christmas!” 🎄

In this episode, co-host Maggie interviews members of The Hidden Workforce Community as they share their experiences and memories from Christmases throughout their lives and why this season means so much to them. Self-Advocate, Tyler Bond, also gives us insights on how we can make our celebrations more inclusive for our...

We are continuing our series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities!

This week, we welcome current 2026 Gubernatorial Candidate and soon to be former District 85 Oklahoma House Representative, Cyndi Munson!

Cyndi joins us to share her journey of running for Governor of the State of Oklahoma....

We are continuing our series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities!

This week, we welcome (newly former Representative) Forrest Bennett!

Forrest Bennett represented Oklahoma State House District 92 for 9 years. He was intentional about bridging relationships and working across the aisle to ...

We are continuing our series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities.

This week, we welcome Representative Ellyn Hefner!

Representative Hefner represents Oklahoma State House District 87. Her name may sound very familiar and that is because she was featured in the last year for passing severa...

We are continuing our series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities!

This week, we welcome Representative Jacob Rosecrants!

Representative Rosecrants represents Oklahoma State House District 46. He is intentional about fostering relationships and working across the aisle to achieve passing l...

We are continuing our series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities.

This week, we welcome Senator Julia Kirt!

Senator Kirt represents Oklahoma State Senate District 30. She is a fierce advocate for people who live with disabilities, inclusive/special education, mental health, finding soluti...

This week, we are kicking off a series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities.

First up, we welcome Representative Melissa Provenzano!

Rep. Provenzano represents Oklahoma State House District 79. She is a fierce advocate for education, women’s preventative health, healthcare, mental health, ...

We have an inclusive, historic, story-telling filled show for you this week on Episode 201 of The Hidden Workforce!

Welcome Dennis Delemar, Founder and Director of the Greenwood Film Festival!

Dennis shares with us the journey of starting the Greenwood Film Festival, the power of inclusive and representative storytelling, and how they are opening doors for new filmmakers to direct and produce films- including filmmakers with ...