Born at 23 weeks with a 5 % survival chance, Miracle Pelayo defied the odds to blaze a new path in Hollywood.
Alycia Anderson
In this candid conversation with Alycia Anderson, she reveals how modeling adaptive fashion and voicing the first American Girl doll with cerebral palsy fuel her mission to “make CP beautiful.” Pelayo calls out casting barriers—only 4 % of on-screen talent has disabilities—and urges relentless visibility to spark change for future storytellers.
From a single USB mic on their kitchen table to a global platform, Alycia and Marty Anderson’s “Pushing Forward with Alycia” podcast rolls into triple digits with Episode 100. Launched June 29 2023, the weekly show now spans 45-plus hours, 80 diverse guests, and listeners in over 70 countries. This celebratory episode spotlights disability pride, community, and the unstoppable momentum that has transformed Thursday conversations into a movement for inclusion and empowered storytelling.
Relive the landmark 100th episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia through this complete, searchable transcript. Follow host Alycia Anderson and producer-husband Marty as they reflect on two years, 80 guests, 45 hours of stories, and the global disability-pride movement their Thursday conversations inspired. Ideal for readers, researchers, and accessibility advocates seeking quotable insights on inclusion, resilience, and the future of empowered storytelling.
Rolling back through Washington two weeks before the ADA’s 35th birthday, Marty and I felt history under our wheels. From the Stone of Hope to the Capitol Crawl steps and the South Lawn where President Bush signed the landmark bill, every monument echoed belief, belonging, and becoming. Meeting ADA author Tony Coelho and invoking Judy Heumann’s charge to dismantle barriers reminded us the movement lives on—and so does our responsibility.
Verna Magazine’s new feature traces “Pushing Forward with Alycia” from a living‑room pilot to a global, 100‑episode movement. The article celebrates 45 listening hours, 80 guests, and listeners in 1,350 cities across 70 countries, while spotlighting Alycia’s mission to turn empathy into action—ramps, captions, and equitable workplaces. Episode 100 arrives July 31, closing Disability Pride Month with a joyful call to keep rolling forward together.
In Episode 99 of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson speaks with strategist and psychotherapist Jonathan Kaufman about transforming disability pride into corporate advantage. Kaufman shares how living with cerebral palsy shaped his worldview, explains why he calls disability a “language of innovation,” and outlines ways companies can embed inclusion, mental-health awareness, and authentic storytelling into business strategy during Disability Pride Month and beyond. Listen to spark actionable, inclusive leadership insights.
In this full transcript of Episode 99 of Pushing Forward with Alycia, strategist and psychotherapist Jonathan Kaufman joins Alycia Anderson for a deep dive into transforming disability pride into a business advantage. Kaufman recounts moments with Judy Heumann, studies at Oxford and Chicago, advisory work with President Obama, and how his lens shapes leadership, mental-health awareness, and innovation. The conversation offers actionable strategies for embedding disability inclusion across corporate culture.
“Why would you be proud to be disabled?”I get asked that every July. Here’s my answer:Because I am:Proud of the strength.Proud of the creativity.Proud of thriving in a world not built with us in mind and advocating for more every day. I sit here proudly…In this moment, especially in this time right now.In this identity, … read more… Disability Pride Month isn’t just a celebration…It’s a revolution!
Excited to be back at Victoria’s Secret & Co. for round two, this time celebrating DISABILITY PRIDE with my latest keynote: OWN IT: Embrace. Elevate. Empower. In this speech, I reflect the essence of this month – visibility, identity, and the beauty of living authentically. Sharing my personal journey of self-acceptance, amplifying voices, and inspiring … read more… Alycia Anderson Returns to Victoria’s Secret for Disability Pride Month!
A HUGE thanks to the amazing team at ITC Holdings Corp. and Lauren Chandler for having me as your keynote speaker yesterday! The energy, the smiles, the engagement, it was all absolutely incredible. It’s always a gift to share my story, but it’s even more powerful when the room is full of open hearts and … read more… Disability Pride Month – Alycia Anderson’s Virtual Keynote at ITC Holdings
