In this laugh-out-loud episode, Avery Roberts, Kelly Berger, and Steve Way dive into the wild, weird, and downright hilarious things strangers say to people who use wheelchairs. From awkward compliments to bizarre questions and "well-meaning" assumptions, they share the most unforgettable encounters they've had while just living their lives on wheels. With a mix of laughter and serious reflection, they share personal anecdotes, discuss common misconceptions, and highlight the humor found in everyday interactions. Get ready for some eye-rolls, giggles, and maybe even a snort-laugh or two as we celebrate humor, resilience, and the strange social gymnastics of the able-bodied world. Because when life rolls a little differently, so do the punchlines.
Warning: mature audience encouraged. Snort-laughs may occur.
Links Mentioned:
Good Bad Things: https://www.goodbadthings.com
Ramy: https://www.hulu.com/series/ramy-4bcb6c3a-3d9a-4d49-b8e0-57fb7de9c8d6
Connect with Steve Way
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Website
Connect with Kelly Berger
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Connect with Avery Roberts
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features three individuals engaging in a virtual conversation. On the left, Avery has medium-length brown hair, is wearing wireless earbuds and a grayish-blue shirt, and is speaking into a microphone. In the middle, Kelly has shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing wireless earbuds and a similar light grayish-blue sweater. On the right, Steve has short light brown hair, is wearing glasses, and has a nasal BiPAP mask. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.
In this episode, Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger chat with Marcella Genut, a disability advocate and academic advisor at her alma mater, about living with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) and what it really takes to build an independent life. From navigating college with style, managing money like a boss, to balancing caregivers and career goals, Marcella keeps it real. Expect laughs, wisdom, and some solid advice on finding your path, owning your story, and why community makes all the difference.
Links Mentioned:
Medicaid: https://www.medicaid.gov
Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab): https://rsa.ed.gov/about/states
Home and Community-Based Services Waiver: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/index.html
Accessible College: accessiblecollege.com
CarePathways: https://www.carepathways.com
Careify: https://www.careify.co
List of Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) & Centers for Independent Living (CILs) by State: https://acl.gov/programs/centers-independent-living/list-cils-and-spils
National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services: https://www.nasddds.org/state-agencies/
Wheels on Campus: The First College Guide for Wheelchair Users: https://newmobility.com/college-guide-for-wheelchair-users/
Children’s Medicaid Waivers, Katie Beckett programs, and other Medicaid programs: https://www.kidswaivers.org
Connect with Marcella Genut
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Website
Connect with Kelly Berger
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Connect with Avery Roberts
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features three women engaged in a virtual conversation. On the left, Kelly, a light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair, is smiling, wearing wireless earbuds and a light-colored sweater with horizontal stripes. In the middle, Avery, another light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair, is wearing wireless earbuds. On the right, Marcella, a light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair, has a BiPAP mask around her nose – the device is light gray. The backgrounds are light and minimal, with personal touches such as decor items in each space. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.
In this feel-good (and slightly tear-jerking) episode, Avery Roberts, Kelly Berger, Stephanie Chicas, and Nora Ramirez dive into the magic of community, connection, and a whole lot of heart. From late-night texts to deep convos over FaceTime, these four incredible women share how friendship and sisterhood have shaped their journeys as disabled women – and how the internet (yep, even social media!) helped bring them together. They get real about the power of vulnerability, the work it takes to build meaningful bonds, and the joy that comes from finding people who just get it. Whether you’re looking for your crew or already found your people, this episode is your reminder that connection = power. So hit play, feel the love, and maybe send a text to your bestie after.
Links Mentioned:
Connect with Stephanie Chicas
Connect with Nora Ramirez
Instagram | Website | Linktree
Connect with Kelly Berger
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Connect with Avery Roberts
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features four women engaging in a virtual conversation. In the top left, Avery has long brown hair and is wearing a dark teal shirt, sitting close to a microphone with wireless earphones. In the top right, Kelly has medium-length brown hair, wearing a white, black, and tan patterned shirt with wireless earphones. In the bottom left, Stephanie has long dark hair and is wearing a pink shirt that says “Disabled and Sexy,” along with a tracheostomy around her neck. In the bottom right, Nora has long dark hair and is wearing a white blouse. The backgrounds are light and minimal, with personal touches such as decor items in each space. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.
In this episode, Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger discuss Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month, sharing personal experiences and insights about muscular dystrophy (MD). They get real about what it’s like living with muscular dystrophy (MD), share some eye-opening personal stories, and spill the tea on what people think they know about MD (spoiler alert: there’s a lot to clear up!). You’ll laugh, you might cry (in a good way), and you’ll definitely leave empowered to raise awareness, amplify voices, and get involved in the movement. The conversation emphasizes the significance of personal stories and collective action in raising awareness and fostering understanding of MD.
Links Mentioned:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/muscular-dystrophy
MDA Awareness Month Resources: https://www.mda.org/press-releases/mda-launches-mdastrong-campaign-in-september-during-historic-75th-anniversary
Connect with Kelly Berger
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Connect with Avery Roberts
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Intro/Outro music by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Avery and Kelly are engaged in a virtual conversation for Wheel Talk with Kelly and Avery Podcast. On the right, Avery has long brown hair and is wearing a dark teal shirt, with wireless earphones and a microphone nearby. On the left, Kelly has medium-length brown hair, wearing a pastel pink and white striped shirt with a matching headband, and also has wireless earphones and a microphone in view. The background behind Avery is softly blurred, featuring a light-filled space, while the background behind Kelly shows a cozy room with neutral-colored walls and some decor items. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.
In the inaugural episode of Wheel Talk with Kelly and Avery Podcast, hosts Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger introduce themselves and share their personal stories of living with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). Get ready for real talk, laughs, and maybe even a few “wait, WHAT?!” moments as they bust myths, tackle challenges, and open up about life living with a disability. They discuss the challenges and misconceptions faced by individuals living with disabilities, the importance of advocacy, and the power of community and sisterhood among disabled women. Plus, they dish on their favorite things – like going to concerts, jamming to good music, and the need for increased authentic representation in entertainment and media – and conclude with a call to action for listeners to engage and share their stories.
Connect with Kelly Berger
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Connect with Avery Roberts
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Intro/Outro music by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features two women smiling and engaging in a virtual conversation for Wheel Talk with Kelly and Avery Podcast. On the left, Avery has long, brown hair, wearing a dark navy top with a microphone close by. On the right, Kelly has medium-length, brown hair and is wearing a pastel-colored striped shirt, also with a microphone in view. Both are wearing wireless earphones, with speech-to-text captions following their conversation. The background behind Avery is blurred with soft lighting, while the background of Kelly on the right shows a cozy, neutral-colored room with some decor on the wall.