Special Chronicles Podcast
Disabled Voices Matter! As an award-winning intellectual disability advocate and host of the Special Chronicles Podcast, Daniel Smrokowski tells special needs stories from an insider’s perspective. “PodmanDan” is himself a person with special needs. As your weekly guide to finding joy and acceptance, Special Chronicles offers entertaining and informational disability conversations.
Episodes
August 25, 2025 • 61 mins
In this powerful episode, podcast host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with author and disability advocate Crystal Williams, who shares her journey of growing up with Kabuki Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Crystal discusses her new memoir, Finding My True Happiness: Life, Love and Everything In Between, and opens up about childhood surgeries, navigating hearing loss, and learning to live boldly as her authentic self.
💡 You'll hear...
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August 18, 2025 • 39 mins
In this episode of The Special Chronicles Podcast, host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Michelle Mark, Director of Athlete Leadership and Family Initiatives, and Emily Sullivan, Assistant Director of Athlete Leadership and Family Initiatives at Special Olympics Illinois.
Together, they explore the exciting updates to Athlete Leadership University (ALU) — a new, structured approach to helping athletes grow as leaders. Topics includ...
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August 11, 2025 • 17 mins
🎙️In this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Recorded LIVE at Theater on the Lake in Chicago, Join host Daniel Smrokowski (with a cameo from his love, Georgia) as The Improvaneers bring their Midwest Tour to the stage. Hear from Director Liz, mom of Improvaneer named Emily, plus real audience reactions — all in this inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at inclusion, performance, and personal growth.
ShowNotes & Links:
Le...
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August 4, 2025 • 94 mins
In this powerful episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Rob Snow, comedian, speaker, and creator of The Improvaneers, the world’s first all-Down syndrome improv troupe, and with Nick Doyle, Assistant Director/National Sales Executive, from The Improvaneer Method.
Rob and Nick share how a casual conversation turned into a life-changing movement, the impact of the Improvaneer Method, and ho...
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To conclude Disability Pride Month, we’re rebroadcasting one of our most powerful conversations. Host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with his college friend Maria DiSabato in this encore episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, recorded on location at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Maria shares her lived experience with disability—exploring questions like:
• What does disability mean to you?
• What do you wish peers, professors...
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July 21, 2025 • 87 mins
In this special audio documentary episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, Host Daniel Smrokowski takes you behind the scenes of the 2025 Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games in Normal, IL! From the powerful Tribute to Champions Reception, to the walk with his SEASPAR team, inspiring Opening Ceremony speeches, and his personal reflections after an intense Bocce competition—this episode brings you along for the full journe...
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July 19, 2025
In this fun-filled episode, Georgia and Daniel kick off their summer travels with a wild start to their Louisville, Colorado adventure!
Tune in as they share:
🛫 How they caught the last two standby seats on UA791 from Chicago to Denver—just seconds before the gate closed!
🙌 Shoutouts to the amazing @united ORDCS Gate C3 Team and warm greetings from DEN SOSA colleagues Chris & Cody—plus a surprise reunion with Daniel’s former m...
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July 14, 2025 • 37 mins
In this powerful episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Rojas from ComEd to explore how the Powering Lives Community Center and other ComEd education programs are lighting the way for students, families, and future energy professionals. From interactive K-12 field trips to immersive college experiences and STEM scholarships, ComEd is building a brighter, more inclusive energy future. Jessica shares stor...
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July 7, 2025
In this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Matthew Brough, an Athlete Leader from Special Olympics Great Britain, based in York, England.
Matthew’s journey began on the tennis court and led him all the way to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, where he proudly won gold and bronze medals. Since then, he’s completed his Athlete Leadership training, become an advocate in his...
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June 30, 2025 • 54 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S8:Pt4: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Kelvin Limbrick from ComEd to talk about the innovative and eco-friendly goat grazing program that’s helping manage vegetation under power lines in northern Illinois. With nearly three dozen goats on the job this summer, ComEd is leading the way in sustainability by using goats to clear brush and keep the power grid resil...
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June 29, 2025 • 64 mins
We’re going LIVE for our 100th episode of the Georgia and Daniel Podcast! 🎉 Join us as we celebrate this milestone with a special recap of our incredible adventures during the first half of 2025 — from Daniel’s birthday bash in January to competing together at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games in June. 💥
We’re taking you behind the mic with:
* Our most memorable moments from the past 6 months
* The story of how we fir...
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June 23, 2025 • 34 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S8:Pt4: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Kelvin Limbrick, ComEd Vegetation Management Sr. Program Manager to discuss important environmental topics, including their vegetation management practices, the role of brush control, and their sustainability efforts in celebration of Earth Day.
Key Topics:
- Vegetation Management: Kelvin shares insights into why vege...
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June 16, 2025 • 80 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Jenny Fortner, a dedicated Special Olympics International Board Member to talk about how she volunteered with her son Joey Fortner, a Yale University student and his friends from Athletes in Action.
Together, they share their personal journeys and deep-rooted commitment to Special Olympics as they reflect on their r...
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June 15, 2025 • 40 mins
Special Father’s Day Episode
We’re celebrating Father’s Day with a special conversation between award-winning host Daniel Smrokowski and his dad, Adam. Hear about the journey of raising a son with special needs, early challenges, and how Special Chronicles is making a difference in the Special Olympics movement and beyond.
ShowNotes & Links:
🎧Click to Follow and Listen on SpecialChronicles or Wherever You Get Podcasts: https:/...
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On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Carly Pietrzak, Chief of Staff at Bridge Business Resource Group, and John Kloosterman, Vice President of Bridge BRG at United Airlines. Together, they reflect on their powerful experience at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025and the impact of United Airlines’ ongoing partnership with Special Olympics....
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June 2, 2025 • 83 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Shawn Ferguson, the Chief of Global Government Relations at Special Olympics , to explore the mission and impact of the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion . The Coalition is uniting global leaders, governments, and advocates to drive systemic change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilit...
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May 26, 2025 • 75 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with sits down with three remarkable leaders who are paving the way for a more inclusive world: Sky Riley, Senior Manager of Global Youth and Education at Special Olympics, Louis Kleemeyer and Tim Pietrowski from the Global Youth Leadership Council. Together, they provide insight into the 2025 Special Olympics Global Yout...
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May 19, 2025 • 31 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Kellie Matthew, a Special Olympics USA athlete, who competed in Alpine skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Kellie, who has been a part of Special Olympics since she was just 9 years old, shares her incredible journey from Coral Springs, Florida, to the international stage. We dive into her ...
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May 12, 2025 • 32 mins
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Nick Mills, a dedicated Special Olympics athlete from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who has been part of the Special Olympics family for 20 years. Nick has competed in a variety of sports, including Alpine skiing, basketball, athletics, bowling, soccer, and volleyball. He’s also actively involved in the Special Olympics ...
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May 11, 2025 • 32 mins
🎙️ Episode 250 – Special Mother’s Day Live Podcast with Daniel & His Mom
Recorded live from the Imperial Oak Brewery in Willow Springs, Illinois, this heartfelt 30-minute episode celebrates Mother’s Day with a very special guest—Daniel Smrokowski’s mom, Linda Smrokowski!
Join Daniel and his mom for a touching and inspiring conversation as they reflect on:
- Daniel’s miraculous birth story—born three-and-a-third months prematu...
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