More Than Walking Podcast (More Than Walking)

On December 14, 2023, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how we might envision ourselves as comic book heroes - The Super Adaptables - with the help of AI. Hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia.

Watch the video of the discussion at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/podcast⁠. Sign up for our newsletter or Zoom events to participate in future podcast discussions at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/register.

On February 15, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how we have experienced life's breaking points and yet found ways of breaking through. Hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register.

Get election facts at https://ballotpedia.org/ Register to vote at https://vote.gov/ On Monday, July 1, 2024, the United States Supreme Court weighed in on the polarizing issue of Presidential Immunity. In a 6-3 vote, the justices ruled that a sitting president can’t be criminally prosecuted for “official acts” done while in office. The court is divided on this historic topic, one justice who ruled in favor of the measure is quoted as saying to those who dissented “They strike a tone of chilling doom” while another who dissented said, “With fear for our democracy, I dissent”. Many have expressed concern that given this type of power, the executive branch could become an authoritarian regime with no checks and balances. What worries the disability community is where that leaves us. Our ability to exercise our right to freedom of speech, peacefully protest, and rock the vote is crucial - so how can we protect it? On August 8, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on what happens to the disabled when democracy dies. Hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register. Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/morethanwalking.

On January 11, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on our hopes and fears for a world saturated with Artificial Intelligence. Hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register. Watch the video of the discussion at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/podcast⁠ or https://www.youtube.com/morethanwalking

On January 12th, 2022, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how to engage with and counter the adverse effects of Cancel Culture, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast 

Mass media is constantly pumping through the conduits of almost every electronic device that we operate on a daily basis such that it can be hard to unplug ourselves and just digitally detox. Such an influx of information can be overwhelming and divisive as we try to make sense of the world around us. One troubling aspect of the media frenzy has been the trend of “Cancel Culture,” a form of ostracizing someone because of an offensive or insensitive statement or action they made. While there is nothing wrong with holding one accountable for what they say or do, in some cases we rush to judgment quickly before the facts are laid bare, which can cause irreversible damage to the targeted person’s career and life. How should we engage with and counter the adverse effects of this cultural phenomenon?

On October 13th, 2022, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how people with disabilities are treated within the criminal justice system, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast.

On December 8th, 2022, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion and art workshop celebrating International Day of Persons With Disabilities, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast.

On September 8th, 2022, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how the pandemic and ensuing supply chain issues have impacted their lives, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast.

On May 11th, 2023, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how people with disabilities are represented in the public sphere, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/podcast⁠. Sign up for our newsletter or Zoom events to participate in future podcast discussions at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/register.

Since the beginning, disabled people have been a part of society. Though historians weren’t keeping a census on our community in 1552 B.C., the first recording of someone with a mental disability was put in a document called the Therapeutic Papyrus of Thebes. Fast-forward to 1655, the first self-propelled wheelchair was created by a paraplegic German watchmaker named Stephan Farfler. And now in 2024, Connecticut wheelchair users have helped pass the first law in the U.S. that protects wheelchair users from horrific months-to-years-long repair delays fueled by dominating private equity business practices. Whether you are born with or acquire a disability at a later point, having one doesn't mean you shrivel up and disappear - it means you are now a part of creating a more diverse and inclusive world, one step or wheel at a time.

On May 23, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register. Watch on YouTube at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/morethanwalking⁠.

On January 13th, 2021, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on Diversity, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast. 

Get election facts at https://ballotpedia.org/ Register to vote at https://vote.gov/ In 1948, the International Wheelchair Games were first held in London England for British World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. The founder, Sir Ludwig Guttmann, was a neurologist who fled Nazi Germany and believed that being involved in sports was a great way to rehabilitate. What began as a form of therapy became what is now known as the Paralympics. In 2020, the summer Paralympics had over 4500 athletes participate from 163 countries. The Paralympics presents us with the world's best differently-abled athletes and opportunities to question how people with disabilities are treated back home; athletics has a way of bringing issues of justice, equity, and inclusion to the forefront. Whether you’re a casual observer, a diehard sports enthusiast, or a Paralympian, none of us are just bystanders. On September 12, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register.

On March 16th, 2023, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on mental health, mass shootings, and solutions to U.S. gun violence, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast. Sign up for our newsletter or Zoom events to participate in future podcast discussions at www.morethanwalking.com/register.

According to a May 6, 2024 report on statista.com, life expectancy after SCI greatly correlates to the severity and age of the person at the time of injury. For example, a 20-year-old who suffers from paraplegia may expect to live on average about 42 more years, while someone the same age who has sustained low tetraplegia may live 27 more years, compared to the average 58 years for someone without SCI. These stats are alarming, especially when you consider all the factors in our society and healthcare system that make it difficult - and often intentionally so from a “fiscally responsible” mindset of our elected officials - to promptly access the health services we need. Although our everyday struggles can consume us, we can also learn to see beyond those difficulties and discover where we belong and what we can do in this new life. On June 27, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register.

On March 21, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how people with disabilities are affected by immigration policies in the United States. Hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register.

On November 16, 2023, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how the United Nations functions to gather the global family together to discuss and debate important issues, such as disability. Hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/podcast⁠. Sign up for our newsletter or Zoom events to participate in future podcast discussions at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/register.

On October 31, 2024, Super Adaptables Co-host Corey Lee sat down with Stratford, CT Registrar of Voters (D) James Simon to discuss how the voting and verification process works at the local, state, and national level and why American voters can be confident in official election results.

On February 9th, 2023, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how they de-stress and define recovery in the wake of a spinal cord injury, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast. Sign up for our newsletter or Zoom events to participate in future podcast discussions at www.morethanwalking.com/register

A new year is always an opportunity to start over, to try something new, and not repeat our previous mistakes. This may sound great to us as individuals, but even then some things never seem to change, no matter how great our intentions are. As a society, therefore, we should strive even harder to be better, as we face more complex issues that are even more difficult to resolve. On February 15, 2023, a shooting at El Paso Mall became the United States’ 67th mass shooting this year. That number is staggering! While many of us offer up thoughts and prayers, urge politicians to pass “common sense” gun laws, and support efforts to increase mental health resources, there is a dangerous potential for individuals with mental illness or cognitive disabilities to become the scapegoats of this complex issue. Let’s explore this topic together!

On April 13th, 2023, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on how disability rights legislation affects us all, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/podcast⁠. Sign up for our newsletter or Zoom events to participate in future podcast discussions at ⁠www.morethanwalking.com/register.

The political world is no stranger to divisive language, but what happens when campaigning shifts from policy debate to propaganda, and who pays the price? Campaigning doesn’t come cheap. According to one statistic from 2020, congressional and presidential races collectively cost over 14 billion dollars. While smear campaigns have come to be expected, in recent years the mudslinging between candidates has turned into fearmongering with racial overtones that stereotype and vilify entire communities. As a result, programs to protect and support vulnerable minority groups, including the disabled community, are in jeopardy even more than they already were. Sticks and stones may break bones, but surely the policies of propaganda can hurt all of us in the end. On October 10, 2024, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by C4 quadriplegic and Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee, and C7 quadriplegic and More Than Walking CEO Jonathan Sigworth. Participate in future podcast discussions by signing up for our newsletter or Zoom events at ⁠https://www.morethanwalking.com/register.

On November 3rd, 2022, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on what motivates them to vote in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast. If you are eligible to vote in the U.S. midterms, make sure to do so by this Tuesday, November 8th. Find out how at https://www.ballotready.org.  

On December 16th, 2021, More Than Walking members were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on the Power of Peer Mentoring, hosted by Hip Hop musician Corey “Pheez” Lee from Connecticut, who has C4 quadriplegia. Watch the video of the discussion at www.morethanwalking.com/podcast