Joyce welcomes back Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships, with the Bender Leadership Academy to the show. Scott will discuss the non-profit organization’s participation in Highmark Health’s Walk for a Healthy Community on Saturday, May 13, 2023, and the programs and services offered by the Bender Leadership Academy to young people with disabilities.

Joyce is thrilled to have as her guest, country music superstar, Ty Herndon, to the show. Mr. Herndon will discuss his career in the country music industry and living with bipolar disorder, which was diagnosed at the age of 59. He will share why he supports the Bender Leadership Academy’s #NotAshamed campaign and discuss his 10-episode podcast, Soundboard, featuring conversations with artists discussing their struggles and wins along their mental fitness journeys.

Joyce is honored to welcome John Kemp, the American disability rights leader who co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities and is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama to the show. He will discuss his work as a disability rights leader and his book, “Disability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive,” which was published in October 2022.

Joyce welcomes Andrea Carelli, Senior Vice President and Director of Client and Community Relations for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, PA. Andrea will discuss PNC’s commitment to hire people with disabilities as a part of their diverse workforce.

Continuing with Women’s History Month, Joyce is proud to bring back Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Highmark Health, Karen Hanlon, to the show. She will explain her commitment to hiring people with disabilities as a diverse part of the workforce.

Joyce welcomes Isaac Zablocki, ReelAbilities Film Festival Co-Founder and New York Director. Mr. Zablocki will talk about this year’s ReelAbilities Film Festival and the festival’s mission to bring the community together to explore, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of shared human experience through film. He will speak to the importance of diversity in films and how the ReelAbilities Film Festival strives to make films and productions more accessible to the disabled and non-disabled communities.

Joyce and callers reflect on the life and disability rights work of the late Judy Heumann.

Joyce welcomes Samuel Estes, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors at the Hundley Foundation and Board Director at the Bender Leadership Academy. Samuel will discuss advocacy for disenfranchised youth and children living with disabilities. We are so proud to have Sam Estes on the show, as we celebrate Black History Month.

In recognition of February as Black History Month, Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, President, and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute back to the show. The Advanced Leadership Institute is an organization aimed at cultivating Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities. Mr. Frazier will share the ways this organization works to build African American Leaders in the region.

Joyce welcomes Ardana Jefferson, Executive Director of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF) to the show. The HCEF 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was established in 1999 to support the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. Over the years, HCEF's role in the community has developed and expanded to meet these needs. HCEF relies on support from community foundations, corporations, and individuals and receives no governmental funding. Ms. Jefferson will share more about the mission of the nonprofit organization and its accomplishments under her leadership.