Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Alycia Anderson
115 episodes
4 days ago
Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today.
What You’ll Hear
From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it.
Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!)
In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting.
Who It’s For
Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection.
Listen & Support
Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.
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Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today.
What You’ll Hear
From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it.
Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!)
In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting.
Who It’s For
Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection.
Listen & Support
Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.
Rewrite the Narrative: Melissa Salazar on ADHD & Opportunity
Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
31 minutes
1 month ago
Rewrite the Narrative: Melissa Salazar on ADHD & Opportunity
In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson shares an inspiring conversation with Melissa Salazar, a disability advocate and Netflix employee known for her resilience and ability to turn adversity into opportunity. Melissa recounts her journey from being labeled 'too much' due to her Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), surviving domestic violence, to teenage motherhood, and living in her car before finding stability at Jubilee Village. She discusses her career in staffing, her advocacy for disability inclusion at Netflix, and her vision for helping marginalized communities. The episode emphasizes embracing uniqueness, resilience, and the power of creating opportunities for all individuals.
Jump to Your Favorite Moments
00:00 Introduction to Pushing Forward with Alicia
00:26 Meet Our Guest: Melissa Salazar
01:12 Melissa's Journey: From Adversity to Advocacy
04:06 Embracing ADHD as a Superpower
07:54 Overcoming Adversity: Personal Stories
12:16 Creating Safe Spaces and Opportunities
14:34 Career Growth and Disability Advocacy
25:41 Future Aspirations and Final Thoughts
29:13 Closing Remarks and Gratitude
A Quote from Melissa
“Anytime somebody tries to shove you into a box, you should realize that's their box, not your box. So live your box.” ~ Melissa Salazar
Highlights & Deeper Meanings
💫 Unleashing the Power Within
🏠 Overcoming Homelessness: A Journey of Resilience
🤝 Empowering Each Other
🎯 Finding Purpose and Creating Safe Spaces
⚡ Transforming ADHD into a Superpower
🧠 Embracing Neurodiversity
💌 Pep Talk for Anyone Feeling Overwhelmed: Just Be You
🌿 Finding Strength in Stillness
📦 Live Your Box: Embrace Your Authentic Self
💛 The Importance of Empathy at Work
🌟 A Journey of Resilience
Connect with Melissa Salazar
LinkedIn Profile
Follow Up with Alycia
Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast | Follow Alycia on Instagram | Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn | Book Alycia for a Speaking Event | Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series
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Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today.
What You’ll Hear
From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it.
Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!)
In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting.
Who It’s For
Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection.
Listen & Support
Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.