Sometimes the hardest part of living with a rare disease isn't the diagnosis—it's getting someone to believe you.

On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, Rico and Jody Bennett sit down with October Ramirez, Ms. Wheelchair New Mexico 2026, to discuss her journey with MELAS, a rare mitochondrial disease, and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).

After years of experiencing seizures, stroke-like episodes, chronic pain, and other life-changing symptoms, October spent much of her medical journey being dismissed and misdiagnosed before finally receiving answers at age 36.

We discuss what it's like to live with multiple complex conditions, the realities of invisible disabilities and ambulatory wheelchair use, and why someone's ability to stand or walk doesn't tell the whole story.

October also shares her advocacy mission for earlier genetic testing, her experiences navigating medical bias, and the challenges of raising a child while living with a life-limiting illness.

This is a conversation about speaking up, challenging assumptions, and refusing to let others define your reality.

Because patients shouldn't have to fight to be believed before they can get the help they need.

Real people. Real stories. Crushing stigmas, one episode at a time.

contact us at: host@wcroundtable.com

TikTok: Berk109

IG: xjust.another.monthx

Facebook: October Ramirez (Ms. Wheelchair NM 2026)

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn at just 17 years old? For Brian Swift, a football accident the day after Christmas changed everything—but it didn't get the final say.

In this powerful, no-holds-barred episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, Rico and Jody sit down with Brian “The Quadfather” Swift for a conversation about resilience, identity, faith, and what it really means to overcome adversity.

We tackle a tough question: When did the words “disabled” and “handicapped” become negative, and who gets to decide what defines us? From Brian's life-changing spinal cord injury to the challenges he faced pursuing a law degree, transitioning into the corporate world, and finding success in sales, his story reminds us that sometimes the road we didn't plan becomes the road that leads us to our purpose.

Brian also opens up about his journey as an author, the inspiration behind his writing, and the coping skills and mindset that have helped him navigate life's toughest challenges. We dive into a powerful question that makes you stop and think: Does hope restore faith, or does faith restore hope?

And the conversation doesn't stop with inspiration. Brian shares the mission behind SOAR (Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation), the nonprofit he founded to help people with disabilities access adaptive equipment and experience the freedom, connection, and joy of outdoor recreation. He also offers support and encouragement to listeners who may be facing obstacles of their own.

This is more than a conversation about disability. It's about challenging labels, finding purpose, building resilience, and learning to move forward when life doesn't go according to plan.

🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing stigmas one episode at a time.

Contact Us: host@wcroundtable.com

Brian P. Swift, JD https://www.brianpswift.com

Amazon Author Page https://smile.amazon.com/Brian-P-Swift/e/B00G008SS0/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Website: https://www.soarnonprofit.com

SOAR Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6691078564260622/

SOAR Breaking Barriers Podcast https://youtu.be/KA_tZ-89UkA?si=-7LVDEAm5eCQ7KlA

LinkedIn

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-p-s-7b2a8010/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-p-swift-jd-t-7b2a8010/

IG: The Quadfather https://www.instagram.com/thee__quadfather/

FB: Brian P. Swift, JD https://www.facebook.com/brian.p.swift.jd

What happens when life changes in a split second—and then challenges you all over again decades later?

On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Victoria to discuss a remarkable journey of resilience, faith, and discovering new lessons through life’s toughest challenges.

At just 19 years old, Victoria suffered a C3-C4 spinal cord injury in a car accident on October 17, 1987. Despite a devastating prognosis, she spent the next 38 years proving that other people’s expectations don’t have to determine your future. Years later, she faced another life-changing challenge: a hemorrhagic stroke at the base of her brainstem. Her stroke recovery taught her lessons that her spinal cord injury recovery never could.

But this conversation goes far beyond injury and rehabilitation.

We tackle a thought-provoking question: When did the words “handicap” and “disability” become negative? Who gets to decide how we describe ourselves, and how much do the words we use shape the way society sees people?

Victoria also shares how faith has helped her navigate difficult seasons, discusses the positive impacts she has experienced with LifeWave X39, and opens up about her work as an author and speaker.

Jody brings his own perspective on the pressure to stay positive, especially on social media. He shares why maintaining a constant image of positivity became overwhelming—and why he ultimately stepped away from a large social media following to protect his own well-being.

This is an honest conversation about faith, identity, recovery, mental health, and the reality that nobody can be positive every single day.

Victoria’s story reminds us that our circumstances may change our lives, but they don’t get to define who we become.

🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing stigmas, one episode at a time.

Email: Host@wcroundtable.com

Facebook: facebook.com/VAllen5

TikTok: @Lady_vick5

IG: we_all_have_a_different_walk

http://lifewave.com/victoriaallen

Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

What happens when a childhood filled with challenges, rejection, and feeling different becomes the fuel to change the way the world sees disability? Meet Carlos Murillo.

On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Carlos to talk about growing up with spina bifida, navigating life as a wheelchair user, and the emotional toll of feeling left out, struggling to make friends, and being treated differently as a kid. Those experiences left a lasting mark on Carlos, shaping how he sees the world and fueling his determination to educate others about disability.

Instead of letting those experiences define his future, Carlos decided to become part of the change. He's stepping up as an advocate, sharing his story, and building his platform through Rolling with Carlos Productions. With this being his fifth podcast appearance in a short period, Carlos is making it clear that he's got something to say—and he's not slowing down anytime soon.

And when we say Carlos has no limits, we mean it! From adaptive basketball, archery, tennis, and skateboarding to zip lining and scuba diving, Carlos is out there proving that adventure doesn't stop at the wheelchair. He shares his experiences in adaptive sports, his drive to try new things, and his mission to challenge the assumptions people make about individuals with disabilities.

But just when you think he's done it all, Jody Bennett throws down a new challenge: wheelchair boxing! That invitation sparks something in Carlos, opening the door to another opportunity to push boundaries and prove himself.

This is a conversation about overcoming rejection, turning pain into purpose, finding your voice, and refusing to let other people's perceptions dictate your life.

Carlos isn't waiting for the world to change—he's getting out there and helping change it himself.

The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing stigmas one episode at a time.

contact WcRT: host@wcroundtable.com

Facebook: Carlos Murillo

IG: carlos_murillo1994

beacon.ai/carlos_murillo1994

In this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Kyzia Wunderlich, Executive Director of The Heart of Texas, for a conversation about disability, accessibility, advocacy, and the journey that brought her to where she is today.

Kyzia shares the story behind her path to becoming Executive Director of The Heart of Texas and the mission that drives her work: helping wheelchair users discover fun, accessible events and adventures they can enjoy with family and friends—while also helping businesses understand what real accessibility looks like.

We talk about her work with Heart of Texas TV, Monkey Business with the Wunderlichs, and the Houston Accessibility Guide, along with her experiences exploring accessibility throughout Houston.

Kyzia also takes us behind the scenes of what it means to become Mrs. Heart of Texas—including the requirement that contestants have a disability platform and use their voice to create awareness and positive change.

But the conversation goes deeper.

WcRT and Kyzia tackle a question that affects all of us:

Why are people uncomfortable around people with disabilities?

Is it fear? Lack of exposure? Not knowing what to say? Or simply the way society has traditionally portrayed disability?

This episode challenges listeners to look beyond the wheelchair, move past the awkwardness, and start seeing the person first.

Because accessibility isn't just about ramps, doors, or parking spaces.

It's about creating a world where everyone feels welcome, included, and free to participate.

🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing Stigmas, One Episode at a Time.

Contact us at: host@wcroundtable.com

Kyzia Social Media

IG: wunderlichmonkies

Facebook: Kyzia Wunderlich

www.theheartoftexas.com

www.msheartoftexaspageant.com

msheartoftexaspageant@gmail.com

What happens when you stop trying to make disability look inspirational—and start calling out the BS?

The Wheelchair Round Table, sits down with professional keynote speaker, author of The Squeaky Wheelchair, and disability advocate Thomas Moon for a conversation about self-advocacy, independence, and refusing to quietly accept barriers that shouldn’t exist in the first place.

Living with cerebral palsy, Thomas brings a refreshingly unapologetic perspective to disability. He talks about his philosophy of “Pain in the Butt Syndrome,” why sometimes you have to make some noise to get heard, and the importance of challenging systems built around compliance rather than people.

We dig into institutional barriers, accessibility, self-advocacy, and the problem with what Thomas calls “inspiration porn.” This isn't a conversation about feeling sorry for yourself—or pretending every challenge is a beautiful journey.

It’s about speaking up, pushing back, demanding better, and knowing when being a pain in the butt is exactly what the situation requires.

Because sometimes the squeaky wheel isn't broken.

It just wants to be heard.

🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Real People. Real Stories. Crushing Stigmas. One Episode at a Time.

Facebook: TJ Moon

IG: tj.wheelchair

Youtube: @tjwheelchair

www.disabilityspeaker.org

Spencer Blomquist has spent nearly 18 years navigating life as a quadriplegic and he has learned that independence isn't something you simply receive. Sometimes, you have to fight for it.

On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, Rico, SJ, Jody, and Spencer dive into the real-world battles that come with disability, from healthcare and caregiving to accessible travel and financial independence.

Spencer opens up about his fight with Humana to protect the 24-hour care and caregivers he depends on, and why losing those services isn't simply an inconvenience—it can directly impact a person's ability to live independently.

We also talk about ABLE United savings programs and how people with disabilities can use financial tools to plan for their futures without giving up the independence they've worked so hard to build.

Then things take a turn toward adventure.

Spencer is an accessible travel specialist and travel agent who helps people with disabilities navigate the complicated world of accessible cruising. With that expertise, Rico and Spencer start planning a Wheelchair Round Table cruise for Jody—because apparently putting a wheelchair user and a travel agent on a cruise ship sounded like a good idea.

And of course, the conversation doesn't stop there.

We get into disability advocacy, peer mentoring, accessible travel, independence, and the importance of making sure people with disabilities have a seat at the table when decisions affecting their lives are being made.

Jody also opens up about the possibility of running for Congress, leading to a bigger conversation about disability representation, advocacy, and what it means when people with lived experience decide to step into the political arena.

This is a conversation about fighting for your independence, knowing your rights, planning your next adventure—and having a damn good time along the way.

Real people. Real stories. Real advocacy.

Welcome to another conversation on The Wheelchair Round Table.

Facebook: Spencer Blomquist

Youtube: @WheelieAwesomeAdventures

expediacrusises.com/en-US/SpencerBlomquist

*******🎥 Technical Note: We lost Spencer and SJ’s video feeds halfway through the episode—but the conversation kept rolling! Technology happens. 😂*******

The Hardest Chapter Doesn’t Decide How Your Story Ends: The Karla Ruelas Story

In this powerful episode of The Wheelchair Roundtable, we sit down with Karla Ruelas to talk about the woman she was before the wheelchair, the battles nobody could see, and the journey that changed her life forever.

Before her injury, Karla was a college graduate, interior designer, athlete, and independent young woman building her life in Houston TX. But behind that independence, she was also dealing with clinical depression.

Then, on August 21, 2021, at just 28 years old, Karla was involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. She survived with a C5-C6 complete spinal cord injury.

Karla takes us through the accident, the uncertainty of those first days, rehabilitation at Memorial Hermann, Kindred, and TIRR, and the difficult reality of coming home and becoming dependent on her parents again.

But this isn't just a story about paralysis.

It's about depression, identity, family, independence, and learning how to find yourself again.

Karla opens up about rebuilding her relationship with her parents, redefining what independence means, confronting the emotional challenges of life after injury, and discovering the strength to keep moving forward.

And we lighten things up with a rapid-fire showdown between the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Houston!

This is a conversation about resilience, family, mental health, and the realization that the hardest chapter of your life doesn't get to decide how your story ends.

🎧 Listen, share, and join the conversation.

The Wheelchair Roundtable — Crushing Stigmas, One Episode At A Time!

Tik Tok: karlaarue

IG: karlaarue

Facebook: Karla Rue

email the show at: host@wcroundtable.com