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Special Chronicles Podcast

Special Chronicles Podcast

By: Special Chronicles Network
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About this listen

Disabled Voices Matter! As an award-winning intellectual disability advocate and host of the Special Chronicles Podcast, Daniel Smrokowski tells special needs stories from an insider’s perspective. “PodmanDan” is himself a person with special needs. As your weekly guide to finding joy and acceptance, Special Chronicles offers entertaining and informational disability conversations.2024 By Special Chronicles Network Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Improvaneers Tour: Theater on the Lake in Chicago | Ep.780
    Aug 11 2025

    🎙️In this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Recorded LIVE at Theater on the Lake in Chicago, Join host Daniel Smrokowski (with a cameo from his love, Georgia) as The Improvaneers bring their Midwest Tour to the stage. Hear from Director Liz, mom of Improvaneer named Emily, plus real audience reactions — all in this inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at inclusion, performance, and personal growth.

    Episode 780 ShowNotes & Links
    • Tour & Film Here: Burn The Script DocuSeries
    • Learn more about The Improvaneers: TheImprovaneerMethod.com
    • Listen and Follow at SpecialChronicles.com/Pod
    • 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts
    • 📺Like watching your podcasts? Click here to Watch This Full Episode or See Full Episodes on YouTube
    • Support This Podcast: Click Here to Donate Now and support the mission of Special Chronicles
    • ➕Join SpecialChronicles+ PLUS! Go to SpecialChronicles.com/PLUS for our Premium Pre Show with behind the scenes podcast chats, exclusive bonus content, and to help support the show.
    • 🛒Shop Our Merch: Shop Our Disabled Voices Matter Collection
    • 📱Follow us on Socials: @SpecialChronicles
    • 📧Email: Send us a message here
    • 📧Newsletter: Subscribe to our Mailing List HERE
    • 🎤Speaking Engagements with Daniel: Learn more and Book Daniel to speak HERE
    • 💡Partner: ComEd EnergyForce
    • ✈️Partner: United Airlines Bridge BRG
    • 📻Podcast Hosting: Podbean
    • 📡Recording Studio: StreamYard
    • 🥇PSA: Sign the Inclusion Pledge Now!
    • Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.
    About the Podcast Host:

    Daniel Smrokowski is a columnist and the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Special Chronicles, which has released over 750 episodes in over 15 years. In recognition of these accomplishments, Daniel is a recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice for his efforts through media to give people with disabilities a voice. Read more about Daniel HERE

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    18 mins
  • The Improvaneers: Changing Lives Through Improv
    Aug 4 2025

    In this powerful episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Rob Snow, comedian, speaker, and creator of The Improvaneers, the world’s first all-Down syndrome improv troupe, and with Nick Doyle, Assistant Director/National Sales Executive, from The Improvaneer Method.

    Rob and Nick share how a casual conversation turned into a life-changing movement, the impact of the Improvaneer Method, and how improv is helping individuals with developmental disabilities gain confidence, communication skills, and new opportunities. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming film documenting this powerful journey.

    Episode 779 ShowNotes & Links
    • Click HERE to purchase tickets to The Improvaneers Midwest Tour Theatre On The Lake August 7th
    • TheImprovaneerMethod.com
    • Burn The Script DocuSeries
    Watch the Pre-Show | Exclusive Access Only On SpecialChronicles+ PLUS
    • Listen and Follow at SpecialChronicles.com/Pod
    • 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts
    • 📺Like watching your podcasts? Click here to Watch This Full Episode OR See Full Episodes on YouTube
    • Support This Podcast: Click Here to Donate Now and support the mission of Special Chronicles
    • ➕Join SpecialChronicles+ PLUS! Go to SpecialChronicles.com/PLUS for our Premium Pre Show with behind the scenes podcast chats, exclusive bonus content, and to help support the show.
    • 🛒Shop Our Merch: Shop Our Disabled Voices Matter Collection
    • 📱Follow us on Socials: @SpecialChronicles
    • 📧Email: Send us a message here
    • 📧Newsletter: Subscribe to our Mailing List HERE
    • 🎤Speaking Engagements with Daniel: Learn more and Book Daniel to speak HERE
    • 💡Partner: ComEd EnergyForce
    • ✈️Partner: United Airlines Bridge BRG
    • 📻Podcast Hosting: Podbean
    • 📡Recording Studio: StreamYard
    • 🥇PSA: Sign the Inclusion Pledge Now!
    • Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.
    About the Podcast Host:

    Daniel Smrokowski is a columnist and the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Special Chronicles, which has released over 750 episodes in over 15 years. In recognition of these accomplishments, Daniel is a recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice for his efforts through media to give people with disabilities a voice. Read more about Daniel HERE

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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Disability Is Another Face of Diversity (Encore) | Closing Out Disability Pride Month
    Jul 28 2025

    To conclude Disability Pride Month, we’re rebroadcasting one of our most powerful conversations. Host Daniel Smrokowski sits down with his college friend Maria DiSabato in this encore episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, recorded on location at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

    Maria shares her lived experience with disability—exploring questions like:

    • What does disability mean to you?

    • What do you wish peers, professors, and classmates understood?

    • Is disability a part of how you describe yourself?

    • Do you feel there’s a stigma, and how can we break it?

    • And why disability is truly another face of diversity.

    This thoughtful and empowering dialogue offers fresh insights—and is the perfect conclusion to Disability Pride Month.

    Episode 778 ShowNotes & Links

    • Listen and Follow at SpecialChronicles.com/Pod
    • 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts
    • 📺Listen to this Full Episode on YouTube
    • 📺Like watching your podcasts? See Full Episodes on YouTube
    • Support This Podcast: Click Here to Donate Now and support the mission of Special Chronicles
    • ➕Join SpecialChronicles+ PLUS! Go to SpecialChronicles.com/PLUS for our Premium Pre Show with behind the scenes podcast chats, exclusive bonus content, and to help support the show.
    • 🛒Shop Our Merch: Shop Our Disabled Voices Matter Collection
    • 📱Follow us on Socials: @SpecialChronicles
    • 📧Email: Send us a message here
    • 📧Newsletter: Subscribe to our Mailing List HERE
    • 🎤Speaking Engagements with Daniel: Learn more and Book Daniel to speak HERE
    • 💡Partner: ComEd EnergyForce
    • ✈️Partner: United Airlines Bridge BRG
    • 📻Podcast Hosting: Podbean
    • 📡Recording Studio: StreamYard
    • 🥇PSA: Sign the Inclusion Pledge Now!
    • Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.

    About the Podcast Host:

    Daniel Smrokowski

    Daniel Smrokowski is a columnist and the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Special Chronicles, which has released over 750 episodes in over 15 years. In recognition of these accomplishments, Daniel is a recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice for his efforts through media to give people with disabilities a voice. Read more about Daniel HERE

    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
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