Cynthia Bauer, US CEO and cofounder of Kupenda for the Children, joins Alycia Anderson to discuss transforming global disability stigma into dignity, advocacy, and inclusion. Cynthia shares how studying wildlife biology in Kenya changed her life, why societal perceptions often create the greatest barriers, and how community led workshops are helping thousands of families and local leaders ensure children with disabilities receive education, healthcare, opportunity, love, and belonging.
Read the complete transcript of Alycia Anderson’s conversation with Cynthia Bauer, US CEO and cofounder of Kupenda for the Children. Cynthia discusses growing up without her left hand, studying wildlife biology in Kenya, confronting harmful disability beliefs, and building a community led advocacy movement. The conversation explores faith healing, inclusive education, representation, philanthropy, societal barriers, local leadership, and the power of using lived experience to improve other people’s lives.
Global speaker, bestselling author, and disability advocate Spencer West joins Alycia Anderson to discuss autonomy, internalized ableism, interdependence, and breaking free from society’s expectations. Spencer shares the real lesson behind climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, why disabled people deserve control over how they navigate the world, and how his new book, Breaking Free, helps readers question inherited expectations and begin choosing a more authentic, joyful, and self directed life.
Read the full transcript of Alycia Anderson’s conversation with global speaker, author, and disability advocate Spencer West. They explore disability identity, bodily autonomy, internalized ableism, queer representation, and the importance of interdependence. Spencer also shares the deeper meaning behind his Mount Kilimanjaro climb and introduces his new book, Breaking Free: Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself, a practical guide to choosing your own path.
When Alycia Anderson and Karen Tamley discovered they shared sacral agenesis, a rare congenital disability, an immediate sisterhood began. In this candid conversation, they compare childhood experiences, inaccessible spaces, aging with disability, peer support, leadership, and Disability Pride. Karen also explains why current threats to community living and disability rights demand attention, education, storytelling, and action from disabled people and allies alike across the country right now and beyond.
Alycia Anderson and Access Living CEO Karen Tamley share an honest conversation about sacral agenesis, disability sisterhood, inaccessible childhood experiences, leadership, aging, and pride. Karen explains the power of peer support, her path through disability advocacy, and why protecting community living remains urgent. Read the full Episode 151 transcript for their personal stories, policy insights, advocacy guidance, and powerful reminder that disabled people belong in every space they enter.
Former IndyCar champion Sam Schmidt joins Alycia Anderson to share how a 180-mile-per-hour crash, quadriplegia, and a devastating prognosis reshaped his life and purpose. Sam discusses spinal cord injury rehabilitation, healthcare advocacy, adaptive technology, aging with disability, and the power of community. He also explores his memoir No Finish Line and the mission behind DRIVEN Neuro, proving that possibility, purpose, and ambition do not end after paralysis.
Read the full transcript of Alycia Anderson’s conversation with former IndyCar champion Sam Schmidt as he shares his journey from a 180-mile-per-hour crash and quadriplegia to rehabilitation, advocacy, adaptive technology, and renewed purpose. Sam discusses fighting for better care, building a championship-winning race team, founding DRIVEN Neuro, and learning to rely on community while proving that life after paralysis can still be ambitious, meaningful, and full of possibility.
Jessica Lopez joins Alycia Anderson for a powerful conversation on disability pride, digital accessibility, inclusive marketing, accessible education, chronic illness, and the courage to ask, “Why not me?” Born without hands and feet, Jessica shares how confidence, advocacy, adaptive horseback riding, online learning, and corporate accessibility shaped her journey into disability rights, marketing strategy, and building a more inclusive future for disabled people everywhere.
Read the full transcript of Alycia Anderson’s conversation with Jessica Lopez, a disability rights advocate, marketing strategist, digital accessibility consultant, and Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar. Jessica shares her lived experience being born without hands and feet, navigating hearing loss and chronic illness, fighting for accessible education, building confidence, and helping companies understand inclusive marketing, accessible websites, SEO, disability inclusion, and corporate accessibility as powerful business tools.
