The QuadCast

I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Taliaferro for this week's QuadCast. Adam was injured in 2000 making a tackle for Penn State against Ohio State at the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio. Paralyzed from the neck down initially, he not only got back on his feet within a year of his injury but he finished school, and then went on to Rutgers Law School. Today Adam is also a member of the New Jersey...

Bill Purdy and I grew up less than 5 miles from each other having so much in common (love of sports, the Jersey Shore, and music, great families, etc.), but it took the SCI's we both had to bring us together. We've been great friends for over 25 years now and I'm thankful for that. This week's show highlight's his story, from athlete to musician to spinal cord injury survivor and thriver! Among th...

On this week's QuadCast, I catch up with my old friend, Joe Fabbio. We met at Kessler in 1992 and bonded pretty quickly. There was so much we had in common after all (age, love of sports, spinal cord injuries, etc.). Joe was the best, except he had a terribly negative attitude and outlook about being disabled and having to live his life as such. Joe was a real Debbie Downer back in the day, but ti...

Maegan Blau's Interior design career started with her personal journey to renovate and adapt her first home. In 2009 she incurred a spinal cord injury and has since been a wheelchair user. Being a quadriplegic comes with challenges, but her physical state has hardly held her back. This experience has inspired her to bring her unique perspective into the world of design. In 2018 she started Blue Co...

Ali Stroker is a groundbreaking performer! The spinal cord injury she suffered in an automobile accident at just two years of age has not held her back for one hot second. Ali made history in 2015 as the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway, in Deaf West's revival of Spring Awakening. Then in 2019 this trailblazer notched a few more firsts, to be nominated for AND win a Tony Award (...

A horrific bicycling accident should have killed Ron Gold in 2011, but instead, he survived more than two dozen life-threatening surgeries after a sleeping driver plowed into him on a quiet country road. The tragedy left Ron paralyzed with a permanently crushed spine and instantly cut short his successful 25-year career on Wall Street. Following his accident, Ron figured out a way to address Ameri...

So what does it take to get folks who have suffered spinal cord injuries licensed and on the road again? How about adaptations for a car or van, what and where can those be done? I'm so glad you asked. Welcome to the "back on the road again" episode of The QuadCast. My guests are Rich Nead, Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and Peter Ruprecht, pres...

Dr. Trevor Dyson-Hudson is currently the director of the Centers for Spinal Cord Injury Research and Outcomes & Assessment Research at Kessler Foundation in West Orange, NJ. In his 3rd-year of medical school (1992) he sustained a SCI - C6 tetraplegia, complete, while playing rugby football. Following a year of rehabilitation, he went back and finished medical school. Dr. Trevor, whose story of...

A friend in need is a friend indeed! August 19 marked the 28th anniversary of my accident, and to "commemorate" the occasion I invited two of my besties, Robert Gallitelli and Jamie Padgett, to join me for a trip down memory lane. They, among many others, have been with me since day 1, and I love them for everything they've done for and with me! So, on this week's QuadCast, we reminisce about the...

The Happiness Perspective, Transforming Physical Trauma Into Hope, Happiness and Connection, is a book written by my friend Farris Fakhoury. It chronicles his experiences as a physical therapist working in a rehabilitation hospital, treating individuals who have had life changing physical traumas. Over time he noticed that his patients, who had the right perspective, were able to heal physically a...

The QuadCast has reached double figures! Episode #10 features my friend, Eric LeGrand. You will find out which sport he thought would be his college calling, what was going through his mind as he laid motionless on the field at MetLife Stadium following his injury, and just how "A Walk To Believe" came to fruition. Plus we talk about how wonderful our moms are, and of course some Rutgers football....

It is a "Back To Work" edition of The QuadCast! My guest is Adria De Simone, Vocational Resource Facilitator at Kessler Institute For Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey. Adria guides us through how she helps spinal cord injury survivors overcome barriers and return to work. She talks about different services that are helpful for people with SCI, and overall is an amazing advocate for the co...

As you know, I like to give my episodes a title. With all due respect to Hollywood and ABC television in particular, I am going to borrow this week's from one of their medical dramas. My guest is Dr. Steven Kirshblum, the "Good Doctor"!

Ever wonder what the process of breeding, raising, and training assistance dogs for people living with disabilities is like? This week you'll find out how Canine Companions For Independence does all of that and more, from the organization's Client Services Program Manager, Jessica Reiss. Then Mike Saverino, former President of New Jersey's Volunteer Chapter for Canine Companions, and two time grad...

Alan T Brown is a spinal cord injury survivor and thriver! Since his accident in 1988, he has been a driving force and an amazing advocate for the disabled community. Alan has completed three New York City marathons, has a World Series ring, and has been known to skydive among other things. However, his philanthropy is his calling card. The Alan T Brown Foundation has raised much-needed awareness...

The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. On this week's QuadCast, CAF Senior Director, Doug Olson, and 6x Ironman finisher, Glenn Hartrick are my guests. Doug explains what CAF is, and how they help the physically challenged participate in sports, and Glenn tells us what co...

Maryann Hobbie is a writer, educator, artist, and SCI survivor and thriver! Her life's main goal is to integrate her life experiences, talent and education in service to those whose lives have been altered by catastrophic, physically disabling experiences, terminal illness and loss. As if that isn't enough, she's also my guest on this week's QuadCast. Thank you Maryann!

For this week's episode I turn the tables on myself, answering two of the most important questions I ask all of my guests: 1. What was my life like before my accident (who was I, and what were my life goals)? 2. How did my SCI happen, and what were the circumstances before and after? I'm thrilled to have my first PT, Hillary Fryczynski, and OT, Dawn Texas, as my guests on this 40 minute trip down...

On the maiden voyage of The QuadCast, my guest is Scott Chesney. Despite being in a wheelchair since the age of 15, he has not let any grass grow under his tires! Scott is a two-time world traveler, motivational speaker, and most recently the subject of the documentary film, Ride The Wave. While The QuadCast is normally a 30 minute session of OT/PT for the soul, Scott had so much to share with me/...

Mikey Nichols is a remarkable young man. He loves when people tell him he can't do something, because it drives him even harder. From the moment he was injured, doing what he loved (playing hockey), he has been doing great things in his recovery, and for the SCI community. Mikey is an inspiration to me, and I'm sure he will be to you as well following this QuadCast Podcast.