Brave in the Attempt

On this episode, we interview Neal Mosser, who was an intern for Special Olympics Nebraska (SONE) this past summer. Neal shares what his experience was like working with SONE, from having his second week on the job be Summer Games to helping put on summer camps for athletes. But Neal’s involvement with people with disabilities began even before his internship with SONE. During his senior year at M...

Alex Berry — UNL Unified Executive Team Alex Berry, a member of the UNL Unified executive team, shares his story about how he got involved with Unified Sports. Alex first discovered Unified Sports while volunteering at a Unified track meet in high school. That experience inspired him to become more involved with Unified when he got to college. When Alex arrived at University of Nebraska Lincoln, o...

In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Rubek, an intern with Special Olympics, to hear about his journey and the experiences that have made his time with the organization so meaningful. Anthony shares what it was like getting started as an intern, from working at youth camps to jumping into his very first week during Special Olympics Nebraska’s biggest event, Summer Games. He talks about the ex...

Episode Description On this episode, we interview Northern California athlete Tommy Holleman. Tommy had the opportunity this summer to be part of the very first all-Special Olympics athlete journalism team at the Special Olympics USA Games!  Tommy tells us about his journey to Special Olympics. Because of a diagnosis that wasn’t discovered until later in life, Tommy didn’t know he was eligible to...

In this episode, we interview David Harkey. David shares what it was like growing up and how difficult it was because other kids were often mean to him. His life changed when he joined Special Olympics at the age of 10. David talks about how Special Olympics taught him the importance of sportsmanship, self-confidence, and building lifelong friendships. He has seen Special Olympics grow from his ch...

In this episode, we sit down with Jane Elam , East Regional Director for Special Olympics, to discuss her inspiring journey as the Team Nebraska Track Coach and her unforgettable experience at the Special Olympics Games alongside her athletes. Jane shares what it takes to prepare for competition, highlighting the months of dedication, determination, and teamwork as athletes train from January thro...

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Harrinauth , an athlete leader from Northern California, whose inspiring journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and finding your voice. Amanda didn't join Special Olympics until she was 28 years old, but her path to that moment was shaped by overcoming incredible challenges. Born with hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and having undergon...

Haley Waggoner and Lisa Noble discuss the importance of athlete leadership and their roles in leading Athlete Leadership Councils. Lisa Noble is a prominent Special Olympics Global Athlete Leader, serving as the incoming Chair of the United States Athlete Leadership Council and as a member of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Athlete Advisory Council. Haley Waggoner serves as President of the Ne...

Drexel Joseph is building more than a sports network — he’s creating a movement for inclusion, opportunity, and representation across the Caribbean. Inspired by the impact of ESPN, Drexel is developing a sports networking company Special Olympics Sports network.   Dedicated to Special Olympics athletes, giving them a platform to shine both on and off the field. In this episode, we explore Drexel’s...

Brett Griffiths and Erin Magee two Special Olympic athlete's from Canada were honored to be selected as part of the Athlete Congress connected to the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Chile. Their selection is a reflection of the dedication, leadership, and passion they have shown through their involvement in Special Olympics and athlete leadership programs. As members of Athlete Congress,...

In this episode of "Brave in the Attempt," we explore the inspiring origins of Special Olympics Nebraska's Capitol Hill Day. To tell this story, we've combined two insightful interviews. The first features Carolyn Chamberlin, CEO of Special Olympics Nebraska, and Athlete Leader Haley Waggoner, who played a pivotal role in initiating our very own Hill Day to advocate for funding...

On this episode of Brave in the Attempt , we interviewed Michaela Schenklberg. Michaela shares her experience in early childhood development and the work she does running several Young Athletes summer camps. These camps are designed for children ages 2–7 with intellectual disabilities, helping them learn to interact with others while developing important fine motor skills. Michaela explains that t...

On this episode of Brave in the Attempt , we interview Special Olympics athletes Adam and JR Kornberg. JR and Adam share not only the bond of teammates, but also that of uncle and nephew. Together, they’ve experienced incredible opportunities competing in Special Olympics sports side by side. This summer, their journey comes full circle as they take the flag football field together at the Special...

Brave in the Attempt Podcast is sharing two powerful interviews with athletes heading to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games . Meet Isaiah Pope and Addie Davis , who have been chosen to represent Special Olympics Nebraska at the USA Games in Minnesota this summer . 🏅 Isaiah will compete in Track , and Addie will compete in Bocce . In these episodes, Isaiah and Addie share their incredible stories...

On this episode of Brave in the Attempt , Wyatt interviews athlete Garrett Stipke, who shares his journey into tennis and his incredible qualification for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. After only two years of playing tennis, Garrett achieved his main goal: earning a spot at the USA Games. He talks about how that dream motivated him from the very beginning, and how—with help fro...

In this episode of "Brave in the Attempt," we have the pleasure of speaking with athlete leader Aaron Drury. Aaron recently completed our athlete leadership class, where he honed his skills in writing and delivering impactful speeches. With 25 years of experience as a Special Olympics athlete, Aaron has long been a beacon of leadership on the playing fields, competing in track, basketbal...

We’re joined by Dr. Max Kurz from Boys Town, who dives into the research he’s conducted on people with disabilities, focusing specifically on cerebral palsy. His studies aim to help individuals with cerebral palsy find effective ways to improve their body movements. Max discusses the practical nature of his work at Boys Town, highlighting how the simplest things in life can significantly impact da...

Wyatt is joined by Special Olympics swimming coach Mike Messerole, who has dedicated over 30 years to empowering Special Olympics athletes to compete in the pool. Throughout his journey, Mike has been actively involved in various committees aimed at expanding the reach of Special Olympics. He reflects on how profoundly the athletes have influenced him as a coach. Together, Wyatt and Mike discuss t...

We are thrilled to be joined by Grace Payne, the Sargent Shriver Global Messenger representing the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Region. Grace opens up about her journey living with autism and the various challenges she has faced along the way. When she became involved with the Special Olympics, it truly transformed her life, paving the way for incredible opportunities in basketball and powerlifti...

Lou Lauria Chief of Sports and Competition for Special Olympics international joins Brave in the Attempt podcast. Lou grew up in the Bronx’s of New York City. Lou has been in charge of organizing huge sporting events from Olympic Games and Paralympic games. Lou takes us behind the scenes of what all goes into planning a Special Olympics international competition. Lou explains what a host town is f...

Listen to this amazing episode as Wyatt interviews special Olympics  staff members Madeline Safrit and Rachel McQuiston.   Madeline Podcast Editorial Manger and Special Olympics Internal Communications Manager.  Madeline was introduced to the Special Olympics movement. In 2016, she accepted an internship with Special Olympics North Carolina. For the past five years, she served as their director of...

In this inspiring episode, Special Olympic athletes Rachel Milligan and Tiffany Goodman open up about their personal health journeys. Discover how embracing a healthy lifestyle has been a cornerstone of their success both on the playing field and in daily life. Their stories showcase the profound impact that wellness has had not just on their athletic performance, but also on their overall well-be...

  Susan has been a Special Olympics athlete since 2011 and participates in alpine skiing, swimming, floor hockey, and track and field with Special Olympics British Columbia . She has had many leadership opportunities including being the chair of the Canadian Athlete Leadership Council and sitting on the Canadian Board of Directors. Susan is hard working, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. She alway...

Get to know Special Olympics Nebraska athlete leader Cindy Hemberger! In this two part interview we learn about Cindy's  exciting opportunity to go to  Washington DC for Capital Hill day.  Cindy Hemberger is taking the spotlight as she meets with Members of Congress to underscore the vital mission of the Special Olympics. Cindy passionately articulated the profound impact of the Special Olymp...

Wyatt Interviews Shawn Byrne Management of Digital and Social Media content. Shawn has been involved with special Olympics sense the 1992 law enforcement  torch run.  Where he  saw his dad carried the flame of hope in during the Special Olympics opening ceremony's in Oklahoma. After college Shawn followed in his fathers footsteps and became a cop.  Now as a part of the police force Shawn was...