Alycia Anderson welcomes James Ian an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, and Georgetown Law graduate living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They reflect on meeting at Runway of Dreams during New York Fashion Week, navigating industry barriers, and using music and law to advocate for accessibility. James shares stories of performing, collaborating on songs like “Unconditional Love,” and finding purpose through creativity, resilience, and community.
In Episode 130: A Soulful Voice Bringing Change, Alycia Anderson sits down with singer-songwriter and advocate James Ian to explore how creativity, law, and representation intersect with disability identity. James shares his journey from performances and collaborations to navigating entertainment and legal worlds while living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Together they discuss the power of storytelling, inclusive artistry, and using one’s platform to create community, connection, and systemic change.
Alycia Anderson welcomes comedian Adam Keys, whose sharp wit, lived experience as a wheelchair user, and fearless humor flip assumptions on disability and everyday life. They talk about how comedy became a tool for connection, confidence, and challenging narratives. Adam shares his journey into stand-up, the power of laughter in advocacy, and why comedy can be a catalyst for change.
In Episode 129: Rolling in Laughter | Comedian Adam Keys, Alycia Anderson and Adam Keys dive into the world of disability, humor, and lived experience. Adam, a wheelchair user and stand-up comic, shares how comedy became his platform to challenge stereotypes, build connection, and find joy amid barriers. Their conversation blends heartfelt insight with sharp wit, exploring how laughter can disarm stigma and empower both performers and audiences alike.
Alycia Anderson interviews Rachel Shaw, award-winning HR strategist and ADA compliance expert. They discuss how HR can evolve beyond policies to center humanity, ADA understanding, and inclusive practices that empower employees and employers alike. Rachel shares insights on better communication, curiosity-led accommodation decisions, and why representation and empathy in HR drives lasting equity and belonging at work.
In Episode 128: Humanizing HR — Changing Workforce Dynamics & Creating Equitable Workplaces, Alycia Anderson talks with HR strategist Rachel Shaw about fostering truly inclusive work cultures. Rachel emphasizes shifting HR from transactional compliance to human-centered practices rooted in curiosity, empathy, and ADA awareness. They explore accessible hiring, better accommodation conversations, representation in decision-making, and how inclusive policies paired with authentic connection help create equitable workplaces where all employees feel valued and supported.
Alycia Anderson welcomes disability advocate Olivia Murphy for a community-to-community conversation on identity, agency, and empowerment. Olivia shares her lived experience with cerebral palsy and late-diagnosed autism, discussing internalized ableism, self-acceptance, and the power of authentic representation. They explore how embracing identity and community connection fuels purpose, resilience, and inclusive change.
Read the transcript of Episode 127: We Get It | Talking Disability, Identity, and Power, Alycia Anderson and guest Olivia Murphy dive into disability identity, community, and self-acceptance. Olivia, who lives with cerebral palsy and is late-diagnosed autistic, reflects on internalized ableism, finding belonging, and building her podcast Living My Best Disabled Life. They discuss intersectionality, authentic representation, belonging, and how community and narrative shape confidence and purpose for disabled people.
Alycia and Marty Anderson talk with Michael Liner, a nationally recognized Social Security disability attorney and advocate known for his TikTok legal guidance. Michael shares his personal journey from early educational struggles to law, demystifies SSDI/SSI processes, debunks myths, and underscores dignity in advocacy. Their conversation combines practical legal insight with authentic stories that empower disabled listeners.
In Episode 126: From TikTok to the Courtroom | Michael Liner on Disability Rights, Michael Liner—founder of Liner Legal and known online as the “Backwards Hat Barrister”—joins Alycia and Marty Anderson to unpack disability law, Social Security disability benefits, and myth-busting around the system. Michael blends legal expertise with personal experience, explaining how advocacy, approachable legal guidance, and online outreach help people navigate SSDI/SSI systems with dignity and confidence.
