My blurred opinion

build your self up to your own individual

This episode is with Kevin McShan, born with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, which affects his muscle dexterity, how he walks, his speech, and more. It may take you a minute to fall understand Kevin, but when you do, you realize he's a brilliant guy, who has a big heart. He's a big advocate for people with disabilities, and one of things that he's done and sharing stories on his podcast, and helping through his network to create employment for those of us with disabilities. He is a person that just says no, and doesn't allow others opinions to affect how he lives his life, for instance when doctors told him what he will probably be capable of in the future, the limitations will become stricter, and he knew that he could find another way around it, or if not he would fight through it. He really goes in depth about his passion to get those with disabilities employed, and how 80% of the things we need, things that we don't even need to be made, they're just little accommodations to tweak how we do our job. 
 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8O46hFoibuN-doUrAfOvn
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.mcshan1
https://www.kevinmcshan.com/

Lots of fluid

For some of the guests that are on the show, what you're hearing is the first conversation we ever had, in this case Sara and I had a few friendly conversations, we got to know each other, and I got to hear some of her stories, and I knew she would be a good guest for the show. Her story starts a few years ago when she quit a job at the post office that she had for 26 years, after feeling very worn down, and she Felt like she couldn't keep up with their demand for six days a week.  She then moved down to another job where she had gotten fired which was right around when she was diagnosed with Ménière's disease. She paints a perfect picture of what ménière's disease is, it doesn't sound pleasant, and you have to really feel for her when she's really going through it. She talked about as a child having severe ear infections and how they affected her at those times. Ménière's disease causes a lot of fluid in your ear, and she was seeing the effects of this disease before she even knew what it was. She discusses her mental health because I'm not being able to work, and everyone in her house every day leaves to go to work, and it makes her feel a little insignificant. Mental health is kind of like a ninja, it just sneaks up on you, and you just do not know where it's coming from, you don't know what angle it's going to take, it just hit you when it wants to, in Sarah's case it went after her after she was most vulnerable, and feeling very sad about not being able to work, well that doesn't make her any less of a person, mental health does not care. I really love Sara's honesty, because she talked about some of her worst days when her son, who we learn is also disabled, finds her in some really odd predicaments.  She really goes in detail on explaining her sons disability, but also how people underestimated him based on his luck, and when they did find out about his disability, also underestimated his intelligence.  She also took a certain test to find out if she was on the spectrum or not for autism. 

Thank you

Happy 100th to all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, without the guests, and the listeners, this show would have been a 10-episode-and-done project of mine. This episode tells how we got here, and all I have learned. And then my favorite part, some of the previous guests have a little message for the show, and an update on what they have been up to since. 
My Instagram is @tjssafespaceforall

wrestling with disability

Matt was a guy I met on Facebook, and as soon as we started talking, I loved his energy and his positivity. He suffers from a learning disability, but when you talk to him you honestly can't tell. He is a good spirit, and he has a loving attitude, it completely makes you forget all about whatever it is that is visible that shows his disability. He is a real hidden gem in this world, and his disability is one of the least important things about him.  He talks about how his diagnosis of dyslexia was a good thing for him, because he finally found out what was wrong with him because it was something that was always in the back of his mind.  He talked about being in school and being kind of a bully, having this anger deep inside of him, and at the time he didn't really know where it came from, but he would take it out on others. And it showed his first real understanding of mental health, and how his staying to himself, and not sharing what he was in pain about, He was a detriment to his health. And I love when he shares about how people pray on the week, and how that translates to his anger, because he never wanted to be weak, and he never wanted his disability to define him. We eventually get into him being an entrepreneur and a wrestling promoter. I personally love this part of the episode because I'm an old-school wrestling fan, no I do not watch wrestling anymore, I love to talk about the sport because it brings me back to my childhood of comfort.
And I believe wrestling was a real outlet for him to be himself, not only as a promoter but also a wrestler as well. https://m.facebook.com/SuperClashUK/
 

therapy time

This episode is with Mindy Rogers, I'm very happy that we met each other at the time that we did because she was feeling very low about herself, and her disability.  One of the reasons why I try not to listen to someone's story all the way through before I interview them is because I like to have real emotion, I like it to have a genuine flow, and I don't want to know everything going in. As she described her story I really started feeling her pain, not just her physical, but her emotional, and mental pain as well. She's had a multitude of diagnoses, and back surgeries which causes her to spend most of her time in the house. Just about everything that she has been diagnosed with is hereditary, it started from her fibromyalgia to different forms of arthritis, to depression, and more. And because of all of that she has been diagnosed with, she has had so many surgeries to try to correct or help alleviate the pain that she is in her current state. Always like to give the audience visualization on what people who are going through a horrific struggle, how they think, and how those stats affect their daily living, for instance, Mindy had thoughts of people judging her because of her appearance, and that she would be ridiculed for being lazy and fat, even though she has a legitimate reason for why she is the way she is. One of the things that I really wanted to stress with Mindy was the fact that she is a very strong person, and that she doesn't have all the capabilities, and mobility that she would like, there are still ways for her to find happiness, enjoy in life. Mindy even taught me a lesson on being more grateful for what I do have, because there's always someone who is struggling more than you, but now she is struggling in some ways, she is such a strong and powerful person, and I'm glad I got to tell her story because people should know who she is. Another person that should be mentioned is her husband, he's very devoted and loving, and he's always there for her anytime she needs something.  The one thing I didn't see coming in this episode was the therapy part of the whole thing, we just talked, I gave all the advice I could, and we developed a bond over an hour and a half of time. 

The electrifying C Bunny

When I first met Christine, or as she likes to be known C bunny, I immediately noticed her positive energy, and how she is super motivated, and she doesn't let much get to her. She's partially deaf in both ears, but it does not stop her. She's really into dancing to hip-hop music, she's a professional DJ and a wrestler. She talks about the misconceptions of people not thinking that she is partially deaf, based on her appearance, and how idiotic that is. She discusses her mental health, and at one point really feeling alone, but also talked about the journey and how she turned into the person she is today. What are the things that I never thought of during this whole pandemic, how people who are deaf could communicate with masks, and she explains the struggles that she has had over the last few years? She talks about how she is a very active person and how being an example for the disability community is really important to her, and that she just doesn't wanna be another statistic, she wants to show what we can do. her Instagram is @DJcbunny

The Steiners pain part 2 Mark’s view

This episode is with Mark who is our last guest husband. Darci and I were discussing her husband, how much of a caregiver, and a supportive figure in her life, and how he stood by her no matter what, and we discussed the idea of him being a great guest for the show, and I agreed. What I most admire about Mark is his honesty, how he says the unfiltered truth, even if it is the most palpable thing to digest. We talk about the very beginning when they first met, their connection, and how true love is actually possible.  As the story starts to evolve, we get into the psyche of a married man's mind who signed up for marriage but does not know all of what he would eventually be getting himself into. He tells us the tough times of wanting to give up, but also the realization of seeing his true love at her worst, and realizing he couldn't give up. This episode really touched me, because I care for both of them, but to hear it from two different angles, and to know they made it through together, and that they would stick it out together no matter what, gave me hope for love.

The Steiner’s pain part 1 Darci’s view

When I first got to know Darci I instantly knew she was a really good person, and that she had been through a lot, as time went by and this interview happen, I knew I was right, and that I hadn't even scratched the service on what she had been through. She suffers from a condition that we have covered in the past called chronic regional pain syndrome or CRPS, but unlike the other two that I've had on my show, she hasn't lost any limbs, but she is always in pain and agony. She talks about her first trigger when she fell down the steps by slipping on a piece of paper from a drawing on one of her children, and how her life was completely different and turned upside down at the time. She actually end up recovering most of the way, until a chair fell on her, and triggered it again, but this time worse. Now this description is the short version, she goes into much more detail, but one of the things I loved about her most, is how upfront she was about her contributions to her marriage because she was always an amazing mother, and an amazing wife, but tragedy kept her in bed, and she couldn't give the same effort as she once could. As you see this is part one, and part two I get to talk to her husband Mark, or he gives his side of it, and how he felt about her and what she could, and couldn't do. Darci and I have become good friends since the show, and every time I talk to her she is nothing but a kind woman, she gives good advice, and she always makes me feel good about what I'm doing. I think that's what makes her so special, she's dealing with so much and she's in so much pain, but she still has time to give love and good advice.
 
Instagram @Darcijstein.writer
Twitter and LinkedIn @darcisteiner
Website
http://Www.darcijsteiner.com
Her book
https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Beyond-Thorns-Discovering-Suffering-ebook/dp/B09DHVFCP3/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1IZFOOJ63STUZ&keywords=beauty+beyond+the+thorns&qid=1649642733&sprefix=beauty+beyond+the+thorns%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1
 

I can’t control my brain

For the longest time I was trying to find a person who represents the Tourette's community properly, and I came across this woman name Becca Braccialle, I didn't know the severity of her Tourette's, and I didn't know a whole lot about the condition, other than just some of the ticks, but she open my eyes and made me realize how much she has to go through. She explains how they're certain words that aren't even in her head, such as racist, or sexual verbiage, but she may say them randomly without any thought of it. There are also physical ticks such as hitting herself, and even times where she put herself at risk to do something, simply because her brain just doesn't sync properly sometimes. One of the things that really stood out to me was when I was watching some of her videos about how she carries herself, and how she shows such strength to speak her truth, even though the ticks. She taught me all the misconceptions on what people feel Tourette's is, and how people misunderstand most people with that condition. 
Please follow her on Instagram and Tourette's @tourettesbian

Facing yourself

This episode is a real emotional roller coaster, when I first discovered Lindsay, I had to have her on the show, and when she told me her entire story, I was flabbergasted at how much this woman has endured in her life. I will not tell you too much, because I want you to listen for yourself without any judgemental ears, but I will highlight some things that she has been through. She was molested at a young age, she's seen a lot of death, drugs, and she's felt a lot of pain. She has tried many drugs herself, and relapse many times, she has been in abusive relationships, and has been raped a few times. I don't know how this woman is still around, but I have a lot of love for her, and I'm so happy that she is currently clean, and her way men focus is to be the best mother possible. She is in a better place, and that's all that matters.
http://Facebook.com/lindsay.jewell.3576
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-jewell-287b8a232
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JLFJDNT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_9V2XYQQ74KGS3CDFABJB