In this episode Of Pushing Forward with Alycia, we wind down Disability Pride Month by featuring inspirational Joze Piranian - a global speaker, trainer, and coach, and personal friend of Alycia's. Joze champions inclusion and resilience, overcoming personal obstacles to become an acclaimed public speaker. With his captivating story and valuable insights on invisible disablity, Joze is truly shaping the world, one stutter at a time. Joze Piranian - A Journey of Transformation A five-time TEDx speaker, a Forbes-featured stand-up comedian, and the 2017 Inspirational Speaker of the Year, Joze Piranian has made a profound impact across continents and cultures. He has spoken to global giants like Boeing, Google, Tesla, Meta, and TikTok, inspiring millions with his talks on inclusion and resilience. However, his journey hasn't been an easy one, as Joze has had to overcome the invisible disability of stuttering. Episode Highlights Confronting Adversity: Joze shares his personal journey of transformation and his hard-earned insights about conquering fears and healing through laughter. His approach to adversity is not about the elimination of obstacles but changing our relationship with them. Growing Up Different: Joze talks about growing up in the Middle East and the challenges he faced due to a lack of awareness about ways people can be different. The Power of Silence and Avoidance: For a large part of his life, silence and avoidance were Joze's "heroes," protecting him from potentially hurtful reactions. This profoundly impacted his life and choices. Rumi and Freedom: Joze discusses the impact of the famous Rumi quote, "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" and its relevance to his life. Changing The Relationship with Obstacles: He highlights the significance of understanding our internal obstacles and changing our relationship with them, using his own journey with stuttering as an example. Connect with Joze Piranian Joze is helping people who hold back turn fear into action so that they overcome their “inner stutter” and unlock their true potential in life. By empowering others to own their uniqueness and conquer their obstacles, Joze delivers transformational experiences allowing his keynote audience members and coaching clients to access the hidden powers of fear and become champions of inclusion. Visit Joze's website. Follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to keep up with his work and appearances. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn Full Transcript

In today’s transformative episode of "Pushing Forward with Alycia" Alycia welcomes Ryann Mason, a prominent Disability, Inclusion & Healthcare Nurse, advocate, and social media influencer. Ryann's compelling journey with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), her dedication to the healthcare field, and her passion for advocacy reveal her story of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering determination. Ryann shares an intimate portrayal of her life From her late ADHD diagnosis and early introduction to healthcare to her evolving career in the face of becoming more reliant on mobility aids. Listen as Ry shares her unique perspective on navigating disability in the healthcare industry and how her personal journey has fostered empathy and understanding, making her an effective advocate for patients newly introduced to the disability community. Her vibrant personality shines through in her narrative, offering encouragement, insight, and a touch of humor that resonates with her audience. Episode Highlights: Ryann's personal journey with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and how it impacts her life and career The challenge of coming to terms with the necessity of mobility aids during the peak of her career in healthcare How Ryann uses her unique experience and background to advocate for patients with new disabilities An uplifting anecdote of Ryann connecting with a new amputee and offering hope for his future dreams. Her active presence on various social media platforms as "Chronically Ry," where she discusses advocacy and shares her 'car ride conversations' Bio: Ryann “Ry” Mason, BS RN (she/they) Ry is a 31 year old disability advocate, multi-specialty registered nurse, proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, keynote speaker, model, adaptive athlete, sexuality educator, and self-proclaimed loudmouth southern belle. Ryann was born with a genetic collagen disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which caused them to begin utilizing a wheelchair for the majority of their mobility needs at the age of 26. Instead of allowing their disability to get them down, they decided to turn towards what they knew best, helping others. Ryann created an Instagram account called Chronically Ry, where they post photos, videos, and write ups showing her life and experiences living and working as a registered nurse with a chronic illness and degenerative disability. Over the past few years They have accomplished quite a bit including: wearing the crown for Ms. Wheelchair Virginia through both 2020 and 2021, having their story featured in numerous platforms including Woman’s Day, Scrubs , Frisson, Teen Vogue, and Forbes magazines, expanding their online presence to include Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn, as well as amassing a following of over 19,000 people on their original Instagram page. Along with her disability advocacy work, Ryann has continued practicing as a registered nurse in the hospital setting throughout her disability journey and hopes to increase disability visibility and employment in the field of healthcare.  Ry Could have let everything they’ve been through bring their life to a screeching halt, but instead they continue to share their story, educate, advocate, and inform others about the needs, rights, and experiences of the disability community. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn Transcript

Welcome Beth Wiesendanger Beth is a leading voice in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and the Senior Manager of Diversity, & Inclusion at Etsy. Join us as we explore Beth's personal journey as a double amputee and delve into the importance of creating inclusive spaces that uplift disabled voices. Discover the significance of disability inclusion in the broader context of intersectional identities and gain insights on fostering access and representation for all. Explore practical strategies for breaking down barriers and building a more inclusive society that values every individual. This episode: Learn from Beth Wiesendanger, an influential advocate for disability inclusion and empowerment. Understand the power of inclusivity in amplifying the voices of disabled individuals. Explore the intersectionality of disabilities with other identities. Discover actionable steps for fostering access, representation, and inclusion in society. Beth Wiesendanger's Guest Bio: Beth Wiesendanger is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, currently serving as the Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility at Etsy. As a double amputee and prosthetic user, Beth's personal journey has shaped her commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities are seen, heard, and advocated for. With a successful career in corporate America, Beth is breaking barriers and leading the way for disabled individuals in the diversity and inclusion space. Her work emphasizes the importance of representation and the creation of inclusive spaces. Connect with Beth on LinkedIn to learn more about her impactful work and engage in meaningful discussions on disability rights, intersectionality, and inclusion. Etsy: Explore the inclusive marketplace that celebrates and supports independent sellers, including many disabled entrepreneurs. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Learn about the landmark legislation that protects the rights of individuals with disabilities and promotes equal access. Intersectionality: Delve into the concept of intersectionality, which recognizes the interconnectedness of various social identities and the unique experiences they create. Disability Rights Advocacy: Discover the National Disability Rights Network, a valuable resource for advocacy, legal support, and information on disability rights across the United States. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn Transcript

In this episode We kick off Disability Pride Month by discussing the significance of celebrating the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Join Alycia and special guest, business partner and husband, Marty, as they explore the empowering aspects of disability, the challenges faced by the disabled community, and the importance of embracing our identities. Through their personal stories and experiences, Alycia and Marty challenge the notion that disability should be seen as a limitation and instead embrace it as an integral part of one's identity. Discover How disability pride can empower individuals, dismantle ableism, and pave the way for a more inclusive and accepting world. Discover the true power and potential of disabled individuals and learn how we can create inclusive spaces for everyone. How to Push Forward: Explore the origins of Disability Pride Month and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Uncover the misconceptions and ableism surrounding disability. Embrace your own identity and find pride in your uniqueness. Understand the importance of inclusive spaces and accessibility in society. Learn how to promote inclusivity and acceptance in society. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn Transcript

Welcome to Pushing Forward with Alycia! In today's episode, meet Alycia Anderson, a fierce disability advocate and TedX speaker who is on a mission to empower change by disabling ableism. Prepare to be inspired as Alycia shares her personal story of resilience and overcoming the countless obstacles she has faced due to ableism. From doctors recommending she be placed in long term care after birth to being denied opportunities for inclusion in school or the workplace, Alycia has experienced it all. Instead of allowing these challenges to define her, she has turned them into fuel for her advocacy work. In our first episode you'll gain insights into: What is ableism? Alycia's journey of self-discovery and finding her voice as a disability advocate in the DEI + diversity community Eye-opening examples of ableism's impact on disabled individuals' lives and opportunities How do we dismantle and combat ableism to foster a more inclusive and accepting society? Alycia's empowering message for disabled individuals who are navigating their own paths Join us As we delve into the depths of ableism and uncover the power of advocacy, education, and allyship. Alycia's incredible resilience and unwavering dedication will leave you motivated to join the fight against ableism and make a difference in the lives of disabled individuals. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn Transcript

What is ableism? Medicalnewstoday.com defines ableism as “...bias, prejudice, and discrimination against people with disabilities. It hinges on the idea that people with disabilities are less valuable than non-disabled people.”  Ableism has been present Alycia's entire life. Ableism came from the moment she was born, along with her twin sister. Doctors recommended she be placed in long term care, hospitals and not given the surgeries that she needed when she was born. Alycia describes ableism as "the thief in the night of inclusion." What is disabling ableism? Disabling ableism is creating a world where we are creating products and services and infrastructure and social settings and education and employment, all of it where we're creating a path of accessibility for everyone where we're not looking at the able bodied only as the only box, we need to check off to make everything work. In this episode you'll: Hear example after example of how ableism exists in our society today Understand how you can make a difference with combatting ableism Learn Alycia's path to TedX speaker and how that changed her trajectory Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn Transcript

Alycia Anderson wants you to know disability is not a bad word. She wants you to say it, embrace it, love it, and hire it! She's a passionate disability advocate and TEDx speaker. This episodic podcast is an empowering journey, challenging societal norms and advocating for inclusivity through a disability lens. Alycia shares her experiences as a CEO who has lived her entire life from a wheelchair. You’ll also meet incredible people who share their inspiring stories of resilience, determination, advocacy and courage. This podcast will open your mind and your heart...because that’s how Alycia Anderson rolls. "PUSHING FORWARD WITH ALYCIA" Episodes 1 and 2 drop June 29, 2023 with new episodes every Thursday. Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn