Life’s a Road Trip
Being disabled or having a chronic illness can feel like you’re moving forward in reverse. I’m your host, Scott Martin. Join me and my new friends from this underrepresented community as we talk about disrupting the status quo and creating change within the world and within ourselves. Hey, life’s a road trip. Hop in. Let’s turn on some tunes and go!
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
The ”Gap Kid” and Mr. a11y
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
This is an encore episode while I focus on my teaching.
This week's guest is Cam Beaudoin.
After I read Cam's post and image of what I call the "Gap Kid", I immediately went into research mode, and within a few minutes, I messaged him to request an interview.
But that post only scratched the surface of Cam's work. Like many entrepreneurs, it was an unintended adventure while at corporate giant IBM that led him to his company, Accelerated Accessibility (check it out HERE) where his mission is to make technology more accessible for all users.
The following quote from Cam should give you a good idea of what he's all about: “Together, we can drive the Disability Inclusion Revolution”
Oh... In case you're wondering what a11y means: Count the number of letters between the A and Y in the word 'accessibility. Cam wears his sense of purpose on his head.
The Gap Kid
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
TOPSoccer: ’The Beautiful Game’ becomes inclusive
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
This is an encore episode while I focus on my teaching.
This week's guest is Shannon Hartinger
Being a soccer rat myself, Shannon and I agreed from the outset to avoid 'talking soccer'. This was very difficult for us as the boys Wisconsin State League team that I coach begins training this week and Shannon's high school girls team at Loyola Academy has been playing matches.
For this episode, we talked about the TOPSoccer program that is sponsored by US Youth Soccer. TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. The program provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive.
If you know of someone who's interested or would benefit -- or for clubs that would like to bring TOPSoccer into their program -- visit their website HERE. As a soccer person, I'm proud to know that the game I love is available to more people.
Check out the brief video HERE to learn more!
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
Not Your Typical Shiny Suit
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
This is an encore episode while I focus on my teaching.
This week's guest is Denis Boudreau.
From the beard to the tat, Denis is what he says he is, straightforward.
Denis knows his material, the ins and outs of inclusion, and he gives a damn.
Listen to Denis and you'll come away with a much better understanding of what it's like for those who need accommodation and accessibility when attending a lecture, meeting, or visiting what may be your website.
Denis has a way of breaking things down to what should or should have been 'simple'. To get a taste of this, pick up his book, The Inclusive Speaker (Link).
Or take his "How inclusive do you think you are as a speaking professional?" quiz (Link). Visit his website to learn more or even reach out to Denis (Link) -- he's easy to talk with.
We should all come away after listening to Denis asking "How inclusive am I?"
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Victory
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
This is an encore episode while I focus on my teaching.
This week's guest is Lori Frisher.
The title of a podcast needs to have a hook. 'The Who' has the song, Athena. But that isn't the hook I was looking for. So I Googled "badass Greek goddess" and Athena came up. Bingo!
Lori is a badass fighter. She's a disrupter, which is where I've been driving the podcast for the past month.
During the show, we talked about her receiving Cochlear Implants. Not about her being the first to do so, but about how hearing impacted her life. Lori mentioned the sounds of water and coins being dropped onto a countertop. Think about those sounds for a moment... She made me appreciate my sense of hearing -- especially since I lack the sense of touch.
I pointed out my theory that before the implants, her experiences of missed inside jokes, being a collegiate athlete, and working with Walter Cronkite combined to form a thread that led her to her company, Ready Or Not! Media.
No, the ! isn't a typo -- it's intentional. And it doesn't surprise me that this modern-day Athena uses it to send a message.
As I do with all my guests, Lori and I talked more after the recording stopped. As we said our goodbyes, I told her to "Kick some ass!". She immediately responded, "You do the same!". We both will continue doing so.
Miss-Adventures: Guide to Ultimate Empowerment for Women
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
She's Not Just a Pretty Face
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
This is an encore episode while I focus on my teaching.
This week's guest is Sandie Roberts
Right from the start, I knew Sandie was deeper than her good looks as a model. Just four years into being a full-fledged member of the disability community, she's breaking the glass walls and the glass ceiling that surrounds this much-suppressed group. This is evident from the heading of her website: "Rolling into confidence, let’s create the life we deserve!"
Sandie uses her platform as a model to bring "normalcy" to the labels that society places upon us. She is a positive role model rather than a positive rolling model (sorry for the corny joke).
As I strive to point this show in a new direction, Sandie and I discussed the guilt that comes with becoming disabled as an adult: The misdirected guilt of being a burden upon our family.
Sandie was also comfortable discussing her recent online encounters with some very troubling people. You can read about that HERE on BBC News.
It's real, so let's talk about it.
Sandie's cover photo is by Deb Burrows
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com
Host, Scott Martin
After surviving a bout with 'the flesh-eating disease' that left him as a quad amputee plus months of intense rehabilitation, Scott returned to his career and continue leading a nationally ranked college soccer program but fell into a deep depression and needed a change.
Part of what he calls 'breaking myself down in order to build myself back up' he sold everything that didn't fit into his car and he and his cat, Bogart, headed west to return to his beginning by coaching a third-level group of castoff 12-year-old boys that he tabbed as his 'soccer rats', leading them to an undefeated state league title.
This steered him to write his memoir Play From Your Heart that is said to be the next Wild. With writing the manuscript wrapping up, Scott is now seeking representation before taking it to publishers.
Since starting the Life's a Road Trip podcast, he is respected for shining a positive light on the disability community, a severley underrepresented group of 1.8 billion persons worldwide.
Email Scott at scott.lifesaroadtrip@gmail.com