Human Potential At Work

Ruh Global Impact COO Richard Streitz joins the program to discuss the successful efforts to delay CA bill AB1395, a bill regarding the collection of information from smart speaker devices. There was concern that the bill would potentially have a negative impact on people with disabilities and that further study was needed before potentially passing the bill. 

Debra is joined by her producer Doug Foresta as they discuss virtual relationships, and the pros and cons of connecting with others online. Listen in as Doug and Debra share their thoughts on whether virtual relationships are "real". 

Steve McEvoy has lived with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and learning disabilities since birth, and currently works as a consultant helping persons with and without disabilities. In this episode, Steve shares his conviction that economic empowerment, proactive support, a solid professional network and education, are the four tools people with disabilities need to secure benefits-eligible employment. 

Speaker, Educator, and Disability Inclusion Advocate, Edmund Asiedu, joins the program, to discuss disability inclusion in higher education. Edmund is the Assistant Director of Career Services for Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. 

In this episode, Debra and Doug Foresta, producer of Human Potential at Work, discuss trends in mental health, and challenges that arise both in and out of the workplace. They also share their thoughts about what employers can do to encourage mental wellness and some of the biggest challenges and opportunities that technology poses to our emotional well-being. 

Sarah P. Hancock, psychiatric recovery consultant and certified rehabilitation counselor, joins the program to discuss her own mental health journey, and the work she does today helping others to move beyond stigmatizing labels and achieve recovery. 

Deb Russell, founder of Deb Russell, Inc, joins the program to discuss a model that bridges the gap between disability and business, and how to create a win for everyone involved. Discover how to create productive partnerships between business and the disability communities.

Garry Turner joins the program to discuss his journey of being bullied when he was younger, and how that helped him develop more empathy for himself and others. He reveals the power of vulnerability and explores what it means to be truly human. 

Tanya Sheckley joins the program to share her powerful story of how her daughter Eliza inspired her to found UP Academy, a progressive elementary lab school in San Mateo, California. The school will have a mix of students with and without disabilities, and encourages students' sense of wonder and curiousity by focusing on their academic, emotional and physical growth through a differentiated learning and project-based curriculum. 

Jason Swenk joins the program to discuss the connection between ADHD and creativity, and the mindset shift that we need to make when it comes to how schools respond to students with ADHD. He also talks about the power of social media and his journey of growing his own multi-million dollar agency, and the work his does today helping digital agency owners grow their business. 

Peter Torres Fremlin joins the program to discuss the work that he does internationally on disability rights, as well his interest in languages, equality, and culture. Peter also reveals why having a disability makes him great at his job. 

E157: Preventing Young People From Getting Involved in Cyber Crime

Sarah Todd Hammer joins the program to discuss her journey, which includes becoming  paralyzed from the neck-down due to a rare neuroimmune disorder called Transverse Myelitis that damages the spinal cord. Since that time, Sarah has recovered the ability to walk and partial use of her arms and hands, and has gone on to write 3 books and is a dancer and choreographer. 

Susan Scott-Parker, CEO and Founder of Business Disability International, joins the program to discuss the pioneering work that she has done, including the creation of a benchmark that measures corporate performance on disability as it affects an entire business. Discover the "Valuable 500", the global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda.

This episode features an interview with Brandon Farbstein. Diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism at the age of 2, Brandon stands at 3’9” – making his life’s journey full of adversity, strength, and impact. after feeling invisible and without a purpose for the first 15 years of his life.  He discovered his calling on the tedx stage, and suddenly realized his life’s meaning: to change the lens through which people see their world.