Episodes

Feb. 8, 2022

Highmark Inc. – Disability Ally and Employment Champion

Joyce is excited to have back to the show the returning champion of competitive employment for Americans with disabilities, David Holmberg, President, and CEO of Highmark Health. Mr. Holmberg launched an initiative in 2020 to...
Feb. 1, 2022

Triumph/Breaking Bad Actor, Advocate & Philanthropist, RJ Mitte

Joyce is thrilled to welcome actor, advocate and philanthropist, RJ Mitte to the show. RJ will discuss his career in Hollywood and his experience breaking down stereotypes and changing public mindsets with his easy-going and ...
Jan. 25, 2022

NTID’s and RIT’s Commitment to Students with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Dr. Gerard J. Buckley, President of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology, (RIT) to the show. Dr. Gerard Buckley has more than 30 years of experience in high...
Jan. 18, 2022

Disability Rights Activist, and Author, Emily Ladau

Joyce welcomes Emily Ladau, Disability Rights Activist, Communications Consultant, and Author to the show. Ms. Ladau will be discussing her advocacy work and her latest book, Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say...
Jan. 11, 2022

Mission and Goals of BBI

Joyce welcomes Peter Blanck, Chairman, Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) to the show. Mr Blanck will discuss the mission of BBI and its latest efforts to reach around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic, and so...
Jan. 4, 2022

Bender Leadership Academy/Mary Brougher Mental Health Initiative

Joyce welcomes to the show Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships for Bender Leadership Academy. Joining Scott on the show will be Leanne Thomas, Account Manager, Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Chief-of...
Dec. 28, 2021

Year-end Reflections on Accomplishments/Goals

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Maria Town, President & CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); Holly O’Donnell, President & CEO, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Peri Jude Radecic, CEO, ...
Dec. 21, 2021

New Horizons Program With The CLO

Joyce welcomes Keisha Lalama, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO) Education Director, Associate Professor of dance at Point Park University, and choreographer to the show, Christine Kobus, board member of the CLO also joins th...
Dec. 14, 2021

2021 Graduates of Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes to the show Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships for Bender Leadership Academy. Joining Scott on the show will be Asher Jordan, graduate and winner of the Academy’s 2021 Sam Miller Award and ...
Dec. 7, 2021

North Way Christian Community Church

Joyce welcomes Pastors, Scott Stevens and David D’Angelo of North Way Christian Community Church in Wexford, PA to the show. Both members of the clergy for this congregation of faith will discuss the programs and services off...
Nov. 30, 2021

Fundraising for 2022 Mardi Gras for EAWCPA

Joyce welcomes Audrey Russo, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council to the show. Ms. Russo will be honored as the Epilepsy Association of Central and Western PA (EACWPA) 2022 Mardi Gras King on Fat Tuesday, Ma...
Nov. 23, 2021

Mission of Variety the Children's Charity

Joyce welcomes Charlie LaVallee, CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity to the show. Variety the Children’s Charity is a non-profit organization that strives to enable children with disabilities to live life to the fullest wit...
Nov. 16, 2021

Business/Disability Community Together to Employ Disabled

Joyce welcomes the Honorable Tony Coelho, author, and principal sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Tinamarie Duff, Global Lead, with the Disability Focused Employee Resource Group at Bristol-Myers Squibb...
Nov. 9, 2021

Epilepsy Alliance America

As November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes two members of the board of Epilepsy Alliance America, Allison DeBattista, founding member and serves as board member of the Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana Also Li...
Nov. 2, 2021

Highmark, Inc. Committed to Hiring People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Deborah Rice-Johnson, President, and Chief Growth Officer for Highmark, Inc. to the show. Ms. Rice-Johnson will share her story of success and how she started her career at Highmark and rose the President of Hi...
Oct. 26, 2021

Mission of SimpleHealth

Joyce welcomes Carrie SiuButt, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SimpleHealth to the show. At 13, Carrie was diagnosed with dystonia, a rare movement control disease. For her walking became excruciatingly painful over time. Li...
Oct. 19, 2021

National Disability Rights Leader, Jonathan Young

Joyce welcomes National Disability Rights Leader and the originator of Disability Mentoring Day, Jonathan Young to the show. Jonathan served at the White House during the Clinton administration as the Disability Liaison to th...
Oct. 12, 2021

Mission of the Careers 2B Program

Joyce welcomes Gary Dick, Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Highmark Health Solutions to the show. He will be discussing his organization’s long-standing commitment to hire people with disabilities through the Program he cr...
Oct. 5, 2021

Innovation in Technology for People with Disabilities at Pitt

Joyce welcomes Dr. Rory Cooper, who early this year was appointed the University of Pittsburgh’s (Pitt's) first-ever assistant vice chancellor for research for STEM-health sciences collaborations. Dr. Cooper is world-renowned...
Sept. 28, 2021

Mission of the Advanced Leadership Institute

Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, President and CEO of the Advanced Leadership Institute to the show. Conceived in 2016 with a vision to address the lack of Black executive management in Pittsburgh's corporations, TALI partnered w...
Sept. 21, 2021

University of Harford’s Commitment to Students with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Mark Boxer, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Hartford to the show. Named to this post in June of 2020, he will discuss how he has carried over the same commitment to hi...
Sept. 14, 2021

Bender/Coelho Disability Leadership Initiative

Following the passing of Bender Consulting Services President, Mary Brougher, Joyce Bender, Founder and CEO, has joined forces with former Member of Congress, Tony Coelho, the primary author of the Americans with Disabilities...
Aug. 31, 2021

Encore HMHS’ Commitment to the Employment of People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Mick Malec, president, of HM Health Solutions. Mr. Malec will discuss his commitment, as well as the organization’s commitment, to the employment of people with disabilities. His leadership is...
Aug. 10, 2021

HMHS' Commitment to the Employment of People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Mick Malec, president, of HM Health Solutions. Mr. Malec will discuss his commitment, as well as the organization's commitment, to the employment of people with disabilities. His leadership is...