Episode Overview: Diversity and Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Following my knee injury, I have had major surgeries that have put my leg out of service for weeks. The latest one will have me on crutches for six weeks. In this episode, we explore how this temporary disability has impacted my life and opened my eyes to the challenges of living with a disability.
As a black woman, the issue of diversity especially in triathlons has haunted me for a long time. I also struggle with the same issues in my work where my career as an orthopedic surgeon is dominated by white men. These last two years have been most especially so what with the death of George Floyd.
Though most places and events have handicap parking reservations, many do not put into close consideration the requirements for such places. The spots are sometimes far from the entrance and the handicapped person has to go over hurdles to access the building or event. At a marathon once, the wheelchairs had to be driven across the mud. And it’s not just the parking spots, other amenities such as handicap toilets and sanitary amenities, building and transport access ways, fire equipment and so on must also be considered.
Sometimes, where the parking spots are appropriately placed close to the building, other people without handicaps take advantage of such spots leaving the deserving people to suffer and so your consideration is asked. And for organizers and managers to have handicap-sensitive people in their teams.
Disabled people are not looking for handouts. They want to be as productive and independent as they can. Having these considerations for them will help them become highly productive members of the community, inspiring athletes, and so on.
Episode Highlights:
Note of thanks for the final episode
How diversity and inclusion became so important to me
People with disabilities and inclusion
My experience living with a temporary disability
Inspiring athletes with disabilities
How you can be more sensitive to people living with disabilities
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She believes that business coaching and fitness/health coaching are basically the same thing with the only difference being the product. She is an accomplished marathoner, ultramarathoner, triathlete, conquering many personal feats.
We discuss in-depth her journey into coaching, her journey as an athlete, her approach to nutrition and fitness, among many other things.
Episode Highlights:
What drives Kimberle Smith to achieve such crazy goals.
How she got involved in sports and fitness
Her start in coaching and all its challenges
Kimberle Smith as a marathoner and her 5-year streak
What kinds of food Kimberlie uses to fuel
Kimberle start as a triathlete
KImberle’s background in business coaching
Kimberle’s reflections and general advice
Guest Bio:
Kimberle Smith Austin is an accomplished strategist, consultant, and coach with over 25 years of experience across multiple disciplines from the BoardRoom to the Playground guiding professionals on their journey to build robust organizations and lifestyles.
Kimberle Smith Austin has successfully launched eight businesses since 1999 and is very passionate about creating systems and solutions to address the marketplace needs. With multi-platform experience, Kimberle transforms all of the “New Science” of business and health into programs that are simple, easy, and fun! With her unique background and formal training, she has distinguished herself as a one-of-a-kind “real world” expert who helps professionals take their business, life, and health to the NEXT LEVEL.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
Roy Wood Jr. is a man who made a mistake early in his life. He knows first hand that believing in people even after a mistake can be life changing. As a comedian and philanthropist, Roy Wood Jr. has learned not to dismiss anyone. He has used his platform to provide entertainment, to promote awareness in many areas, and to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Roy is not a runner but has a profound love of baseball. He also has overcome obstacles to make it to his finish line. He is a world -renowned comedian and producer of documentaries and TV shows. His story is one of inspiration and provides that everyone desires a second chance for greatness. Our conversation covers his unique journey.
Episode Highlights:
How Roy discovered his talent for comedy
Roy in college balancing his career in comedy and education
Early years as a standup comedian
Dealing with failing at a comedy show
Getting into radio
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Roy’s college mishap and how a probation officer and other comedians still believed in him.
Roy as a philanthropist
The future for Roy Wood Jr.
Guest Bio:
Roy Wood Jr. joined The Best News Team in 2015 as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy-nominated The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. In 2021, Comedy Central continued its long-standing relationship with the talented comedian and actor collaborating on two podcasts–Roy’s Job Fair and Beyond the Scenes–as well as his third hour-long stand-up special, Imperfect Messenger, which is now streaming on Paramount. As an Executive Producer, his credits include the PBS documentary The Neutral Ground, an HBO Max project 1% Happy and an untitled medical field comedy for NBC. Wood will executive produce, write, and star in an untitled single-camera comedy about the National Guard in the works at FOX. Wood will also star alongside Jon Hamm in the long-awaited Fletch remake, Confess.
Wood’s first Comedy Central one-hour stand-up special, Father Figure, debuted in 2017, the same year he was named the new host of Comedy Central’s storytelling series, This is Not Happening. His second Comedy Central one-hour stand-up special, Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You, which debuted in 2019, remains the network’s highest-rated original stand-up premiere. Wood has entertained millions across stage, television, and radio. Forbes declared he is “One of comedy’s best journalists,” Entertainment Weekly has described his thought-provoking comedy as “. . . charismatic crankiness. . .” and Variety Magazine named him “One of 10 Comics to Watch in 2016.” Before The Daily Show, Roy co-starred for three seasons on TBS’s Sullivan & Son, and he remains a regular guest on various ESPN shows and the MLB Network. Wood began his comedy career in 1998 at the age of 19 while attending Florida A&M University. In 2006, he debuted on network television on The Late Show with David Letterman. In 2008, he appeared on HBO’s historic Def Comedy Jam and was selected by America as one of the top three finalists on Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyer, Conan, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He also performed on numerous USO Tours for our Troops stationed everywhere from Guam to Iraq to the Philippines.
Throughout the global pandemic, Roy spent time raising money for the displaced staff of comedy clubs through tipyourwaitstaff.com and Laugh Aid. In his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, his philanthropic endeavors include supporting Workshops, Inc., which enriches lives by helping people with disabilities and other employment barriers achieve their vocational potential. The DUBS Baseball Academy is an investment in sports to change lives. STAIR of Birmingham, where tutoring empowers students to read better and dream bigger. Also, I See Me, Inc., where the mission is to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by increasing the literacy rates in children of color by engaging them in literature that reflects their culture and image.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
Tony Drees is a Purple Heart Desert Storm Veteran; as well as an adaptive athlete who uses skiing as a vehicle to serve the community.
He survived the deadliest scud missile attack of the Iraq war thirty year ago. Twenty-eight members of his unit lost their lives. Tony survived but his right leg was severely injured. He endured over seventy surgeries to save his right leg. He actually was able to function and live for a while with his injured leg, a feat that he doctors called a miracle
He was successful in a sales job. He got married and became a father. He unfortunately struggled with alcohol and opioid addiction, and then got sober. All the while, he was living with an open wound in his leg that just wouldn’t heal. In 2017 severe blood and bone infections left him with a choice: amputate his leg or die.
Just a couple days before the surgery, right around Tony’s 50th birthday, he was talking with his son Quincy about skiing, something he did in the past. After surgery his rehab was to be a year long. It only took four months. It was because skiing was on his mind.
The feelings of guilt for living always drove him to achieve high goals
So in 2018, he took up skiing on one leg and has achieved remarkable feats on the mountain. He uses his skiing to inspire, to serve to promote diversity.
Episode Highlights:
Serving his country and almost losing his leg.
Struggling with survivor’s guilt, depression and destructive behavior
Breaking from his career, moving to focus on being an athlete
How Tony Drees starting skiing again after his amputation
What’s next for Tony Drees in the coming season
Tony Drees sharing some powerful life lessons
Guest Bio:
Thirty years ago Tony’s story became public when he survived the deadliest scud of the Iraq War. Twenty-eight soldiers perished, fifty-four of sixty-eight of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s 14TH Quartermaster Army Reserve Unit were lost or wounded. He felt guilty for living.
This always drove him to achieve incredibly high goals in anything that mattered to him. A lifetime of that and it seems he’s amassed a tremendous amount of opportunities to succeed.
He lost his war-wounded leg after 74 Surgeries and a couple of bouts with cancer.
In 2018, he took up skiing on one leg. He turned out to be pretty good. He also transformed literally overnight from a 200lb pro baller looking-body to a 140 one-legged man.
Even with his leg gone, he still had a duty to serve. He is progressing rapidly in skiing. He is an adaptive champion and motivational speaker.
He is continually seeking to inspire across a diverse audience. After people see him people always internally (and often externally) compare themselves to the one-legged person- everyone. That’s equity. Many of these folks are then moved to do something. That’s his influence and he uses it inclusively for positive representation of many groups that may otherwise go underserved. That’s his service.
His next challenge is to do a backflip on one ski!
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
I’ve been running since 2010. I sustained my major first knee injury following three marathons in three months in 2012.. I wanted to be a marathon maniac.
My right knee never got better despite conservative treatment, which consisted of therapy, cortisone injection, hyaluronic acid or gel injections, so I ultimately had surgery in 2013.
Following that knee surgery, my right knee returned to its pre-injury status. I was able to return to running and since have run three marathons, and a plethora of other races.
In March 2020, I was ski racing and I was a little too aggressive and fell and injured my left knee. After months of conservative treatment which consisted of the same treatment I did on my right knee it never got better. I finally got an MRI. The MRI revealed a partial ACL tear, a lateral meniscus tear and a cartilage injury. In December 2020 I underwent surgery to repair my ACL, address my meniscus tear and cartilage injury.
My knee never was 100 percent but I did progress to running intervals. In 2021 during my college homecoming my knee really started bothering me again. I sought another opinion as I couldn’t run and I had races to do. . I was found to have a full thickness cartilage lesion following another MRI.. In order to return to running I would need to have another surgery. Tune in to learn the type of knee t surgery I underwent- microfracture.
Episode Highlights:
Various knee injuries
Treatments for knee injuries
When to see a specialists following an injury
Various surgeries for knee injuries
What exactly is microfracture surgery?
What restrictions are required following microfracture surgery?
Did you enjoy today’s episode?
Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email runningischeaperthantherapyolb@gmail.com.
To subscribe and review use one links of the links below
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
