Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast

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 e...

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 adap...

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...

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...

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 ag...

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 Momen...

Welcome lifelong friend, Katie Davis In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, Alycia Anderson is joined by her best friend of 20 years, Katie Davis. Together, they discuss their lifelong friendship, disability advocacy, and Alycia’s incredible experience walking the Runway of Dreams representing Target. From Target’s adaptive fashion line to Alycia's motivational speaking at Netflix and PBS...

Welcome, Chris Ruden! In episode 67 of Pushing Forward with Alycia / A Disability Podcast, Alycia Anderson sits down with Chris Ruden, an elite powerlifter/weightlifter, motivational speaker, and disability advocate. Born with a congenital limb difference and living with Type 1 diabetes, Chris shares his journey of overcoming adversity to become a seven-time world-record-holding powerlifter and a...

Welcome, Kam Redlawsk In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, Alycia welcomes Kam Redlawsk, an artist and disability advocate who brings her lived experiences with Rare Progressive Muscular Dystrophy GNE Myopathy into the spotlight through her signature “monster” character.  Kam has faced significant challenges. Despite this, she’s turned to her art as a way to not o...

Welcome Jess Gregory In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, Alycia Anderson chats with Jess Gregory, a disabled poet, writer, and patient advocate who uses her experiences with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and medical gaslighting to fuel her poetry and advocacy work. Jess, author of Burns Unit: Poetry to Heal the Wounds of Medical Gaslighting, shares her journey fr...

Cassidy Huff's Influencer Status In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, Alycia Anderson sits down with the extraordinary Cassidy Huff, a disability rights activist, author, and content creator. Diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, and Goldenhar syndrome, Cassidy has undergone over 40 surgeries and emerged as a powerful advocate for the disabled community. Cassidy’s...

Episode Summary: In this special episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, host Alycia Anderson, joined by her husband Marty Anderson, takes listeners on an exciting journey as they explore the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Alycia and Marty share their experiences on watching live at this monumental event, highlighting their passion for adaptive sports and the critical importan...

Welcome Dana Mathewson, wheelchair tennis Paralympic Athlete In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson sits down with Dana Mathewson, a two-time Paralympic athlete who is currently preparing for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Dana shares her incredible journey from being diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis at age 10 to becoming the top-ranked American woman in wheelchair ten...

Welcome Julie Sowash In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, host Alycia Anderson sits down with Julie Sowash, a dedicated disability advocate, award-winning business leader, and co-host of the Changing Minds and Changing Lives podcast. Julie shares her personal journey with neurodiversity and mental health, and how these experiences have shaped her mission to create...

Welcome Jayne Mattingly In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, host Alycia Anderson sits down with Jayne Mattingly, a dynamic disability advocate and author. Jayne opens up about her life-altering journey through multiple brain surgeries and her diagnosis with Ehlers Danlos syndrome. She shares how these experiences propelled her into the world of disability advocac...

Episode Overview In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson speaks with Lisa Cox, a globally published writer and a leading advocate for disability inclusion. Lisa shares her powerful journey from experiencing a life-changing brain hemorrhage to becoming a prominent voice in the media and advertising industry. Her insights on representation, body image, and the importance...

Welcome Andraéa LaVant In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson sits down with Andraéa LaVant, a renowned disability inclusion expert and CEO of LaVant Consulting. Andraéa shares her journey from being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy to becoming a leading voice in disability advocacy. Discover her work in the acclaimed documentary Crip Camp and her efforts to cre...

Welcome Angelea Yoder In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson sits down with Angelea Yoder, a trailblazing Nashville-based photographer. Angelea shares her deeply personal journey with VACTERL and her commitment to using photography to highlight diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry. Discover more about her impactful project, "Let Them Stare", and how it aims...

An Emerging Solution for Challenges Faced by Disabled Travelers - Becoming rentABLE In this episode of “Pushing Forward with Alycia,” Alycia Anderson explores some of the significant challenges faced by disabled travelers in finding accessible lodging accommodations while traveling. She introduces an emerging solution via conversation with Lorraine Woodward, founder of Becoming RentABLE, and Adam...

Welcome Dhaval Patel We recently spoke with Dhaval Patel, founder and CEO of Lotus, on the "Pushing Forward with Alycia" podcast. Dhaval is committed to creating technology that prioritizes accessibility, as exemplified by his company's innovative smart home device. The Genesis of Lotus Dhaval’s journey began with a personal challenge. Born with twisted knees, he has often relied on crutches. One...

Episode Description: In this celebratory episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast', Alycia Anderson welcomes her husband, Marty on the show to commemorate the one-year anniversary of PFWA. They reflect on their journey, detailing the hard work and significant achievements, while highlighting the stories and impact made by their guests. They discuss the podcast's mission to a...

Kaylee Bays: SYTYCD's first ever wheelchair dancer In this inspiring episode of "Pushing Forward with Alycia," Alycia Anderson welcomes Kaylee Bays, the first wheelchair dancer to ever grace the stage of "So You Think You Can Dance". Alycia shares her admiration for Kaylee, by sharing a vulnerable story of how Kaylee reminded her of the ballerinas her father used to paint. Kaylee, with her unique...

Welcome Kimberly Daya In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast,' host Alycia Anderson discusses the challenges and misconceptions surrounding invisible / non-apparent disabilities with guest Kimberly Daya. Kimberly shares her personal journey with Lyme disease, misdiagnosis, and the impact of chronic illness on her life. Stigmas and non-apparent disabilities Highlight...

Episode Description Join us for a special birthday episode of "Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast," where Alycia Anderson celebrates with her twin sister, Regina, and their sister Corinna, who hosts the conversation. Titled "Twinning is Winning," this episode explores the deep and unique bond between twins. Alycia and Regina reflect on their favorite birthday moments, the funny inc...

Welcome, Steph Aiello! In this inspiring episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast, Alycia Anderson sits down with Steph Aiello, a disability advocate and a trailblazing quadriplegic makeup artist, content creator with brands like Ulta, Maybelline, and Fenty. Steph's journey from a life-altering car accident on the eve of her cosmetology school dreams to becoming a celebrated b...