The Shining Beautiful Series Podcast
Listen to this podcast and discover the power of "Shining Beautiful" in life and in your community. Mikelle is perhaps the only non-verbal podcaster in the world. How does she do it? With technology. Meet Mikelle, who experiences cerebral palsy, her mother, Katherine Carol, and Gretchen Storm, speech therapist, and assistive technology guru. Together they talk about everyday life with a disability, how technology empowers people with disabilities to own their lives. This sassy team of coffee drinking techies interview technology and rehabilitation experts as they sit around the kitchen table at Mikelle's home.
- Update frequency
- every 19 days
- Average duration
- 25 minutes
- Episodes
- 143
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Healthcare. Charting Your Own Path.
At the time of Mikelle's diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the path was uncharted. Expectations for her were low, and while willing to learn, her doctor knew little about her condition. Katherine and Mike…
Persistence Pays
Oh, the holidays created some challenges for the ladies. Family in the hospital, Mikelle's van totaled by a DUI driver on Christmas Day, a missing new computer, and continued staff shortages, but wi…
It is a Holiday Sandwich!
Well, 2021 had to end with some chaos. Sandwiched in between a couple of family ER visits (not us) and a drunk driver crashing into Mikelle's parked van, we had a great holiday. Join Liz, MaryAnn, M…
Has COVID Changed the Power of the IEP?
It is time to get honest about education and the impact of COVID on both teachers and students. Educating students with special needs presents opportunities and challenges even when everything is wor…
Staff Shortages are Scary!
It is Halloween and we are supposed to be scared, right? While the jack-o-lantern glow fades, the staffing shortages burn brighter every day. Mikelle, Katherine, and Kendyl, a direct service profes…
What is Happening?
Oh, boy! Not even sure where to start on this episode, but it feels like chaos cause it is like chaos. Good times mix with challenging times. Change is complex and confusing.
Perhaps, the most cha…
Conversation, Culture, Change with Powerhouse, Amy Gonzales
Please forgive the tech advocates for the slow start on this podcast. We are not perfect but we are smart enough to invite Rehabilitation Subject Matter Expert, Amy Gonzales to our podcast! In this…
Recruiting and Hiring in a Changing World! Finding Alenna.
This is not our first hiring rodeo. Over the years, we have pretty good luck building an amazing team. However, this year everything is different. Confronting a labor shortage in health care, we h…
New Home, New Life!
We are fascinated with Win Charles's courage and grace. After both her parent's passed, she found herself facing a dilemma about where she should live. None of this was planned. Listen to see how …
Nutrition, Wellness and Cerebral Palsy
Check the literature and there isn't much on wellness and cerebral palsy. MaryAnn, a nutritionist in training, Katherine, and Mikelle discuss the unique needs of people with CP and how they approach…
Happy Mom's VENT Day!
There are days....and this is one of them. Katherine planned a quick road trip to look at reality, clear her mind and seek new vistas for both her and Mikelle. Celebrating moms! We all need a chanc…
An Introduction our Storytelling Project-Adding Voice to Advocacy.
What a great episode with Jerome Deroy from Narativ.com! This episode is all about the story. How to listen to it. How to tell it. And, the importance of sharing it. Shining Beautiful was awarded a…
Rockn' the Radio. MIkelle and Katherine prepare for the big interview.
Podcasting pays off! Mikelle and Katherine prepare to be interviewed by KUNC's Henry Zimmerman of the Colorado Edition. Nervous, the ladies discuss how they prepared for the big moment with Gretche…
Celebrating 2 Years!
Hello, dear listeners. Thanks to you, we are now celebrating two years of podcasting. Listen in to hear what wonderful opportunities are coming our way because of you!
Finding Sunshine in Winter
February is typically the month of romantic love, but this year isn't any more typical than the last one! For the gals at SB, the month has been jammed packed with unexpected events, which if allowed…
Hello and Goodbye to Danika. Diversity Makes the Team Stronger.
We apologize. We failed to introduce you to a valued team member and now she is leaving us! So, say hello and goodbye to Danika. Unlike some of our other fabulous team members, Danika is older, a m…
Hiring a Friend. The intricacies of friendship, personal support and onboarding during Covid-19,
Hiring a friend has its risks. What happens to the friendship? Can your boss still be your friend? All these questions were asked by Mikelle and her friend, Lex. Complicating a new hire is the on…
Happy New Year 2021
Whew! The holidays are over and the ladies are focusing on new goals for 2021 and celebrating some last-minute victories in 2020. The ladies have been wickedly busy this winter and thank you for al…
Covid and Quarantine
The experts warned us. We did our best to avoid it, but it still entered our circle--even our house! Yep, we had to get tested and went quarantine. Mom and Mikelle and no one else. That was a fir…
Disability, Dentistry and Drama
As far as support services have come for people with disabilities, dentistry lags behind. Part funding, part lack of trained dentist and a system overwhelmed with patients, it is tough to get great …