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

In this episode of The Wheelchair Roundtable, it’s just the three of us — Rico, Jody, and S.J. — and we’re covering some big issues that could directly impact wheelchair users.

We break down the new Medicare prior authorization changes being discussed for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs, what they could mean for people who rely on complex mobility equipment, and why these changes matter.

Then we turn our attention to the Department of Transportation and the proposed changes affecting airlines and wheelchair users, including the growing discussion around airline liability and responsibility when a wheelchair is damaged, lost, or needs to be replaced.

We also talk WABC, adaptive sports, and what’s happening in the world of wheelchair athletics.

But this episode isn’t all policy and serious conversation. With no guest this week, you get the three of us doing what we do best — talking, debating, joking around, and having a few laughs. Rico and Jody get into a conversation that takes some unexpected turns, and it’s a reminder that sometimes the best podcast moments happen when we’re just being ourselves.

Rico also takes a moment to reflect on the Quadfather’s injury, the impact it had on him personally, and how that experience helped inspire the creation of The Wheelchair Roundtable in the first place.

Important information. Real conversations. A little controversy. A lot of personality.

Just Rico, Jody, and S.J. — and an episode you’re going to want to hear.

Email us: host@wcroundtable.com

IG: wcroundtable2025

Donny Wright’s story is a powerful reminder that life can change in a moment—but that moment doesn’t have to define the rest of your life.

In 1978, Donny was just 15 years old. A motorcycle ride that happened because of a simple change of plans would forever change his life. Donny suffered a devastating spinal cord injury, underwent two open-heart surgeries, and faced the unimaginable loss of his friend Ricky Grammar that same day.

But this episode isn’t just about the accident.

It’s about what happened after.

We take Donny from those early days of recovery and rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigos, to the people who helped shape his mindset, to the spiritual experiences that stayed with him for decades. We hear the incredible story of his journey to Mazatlán and the experience that would give him a completely different perspective on the events of his life.

And then… Donny becomes a sports badass. 💪

We all talk with Donny about adaptive sports, competition, becoming an athlete, becoming a mechanic, figuring out how to do things differently, and refusing to accept the words “you can’t.”

Together, Jody, Rico, and SJ take Donny on a journey back to that 15-year-old kid who had no idea what his future would hold—and explore the incredible man he would become.

This is a story about loss, survival, faith, resilience, reinvention, and ownership.

Most importantly, it’s a story about understanding that your circumstances may change your path—but they don't get to decide where the road ends.

Email: host@wcroundtable.com

Season 4 Premiere — The Wheelchair Roundtable Podcast

Season 4 is here, and we’re kicking things off with some big changes and even bigger conversations.

In this episode, we talk about the Quad-Father taking a well-deserved break from the show and introduce our new in-person co-host, Jody Bennett — WABC Heavyweight Wheelchair Boxing Champion, CEO, and adaptive athlete.

Jody takes us inside the world of adaptive football, sharing what it’s like playing for the NFL-approved Las Vegas Raiders Wheelchair Football team and what adaptive sports mean for athletes looking to compete, challenge themselves, and redefine what’s possible.

SJ also brings the conversation back to the Rio Grande Valley, talking about the growth of adaptive sports and the opportunities being created for athletes in South Texas.

And then we turn the microphone over to you.

We close the episode by answering questions from our listeners — and these aren’t easy questions. They’re real, personal, and heavy, leading to some of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the show.

New season. New co-host. New perspectives.

Same mission: real people, real stories, and real conversations that drive change.

Welcome to Season 4 of The Wheelchair Roundtable.

Email us at: host@wcroundtable.com

What happens when life gives you a second chance?

In this powerful episode of The Wheelchair Roundtable, we sit down with Antonio "The Roller" for an honest conversation about redemption, resilience, and refusing to let your past define your future.

Antonio shares his journey from going to prison at just 17 years old to sustaining a life-changing spinal cord injury and learning to navigate life with hand controls and a wheelchair. Along the way, he opens up about the people who helped shape his new perspective—including his beloved grandmother, "Grand Dog."

Joining the conversation, Dr. San Juanita Cimijotti and The Quad Father break down what muscle spasms really are, why they happen after a spinal cord injury, and how they impact everyday life. Their clinical insight, combined with Antonio's lived experience, creates an educational discussion that's both informative and relatable.

This episode is filled with laughter, hard truths, inspiration, and real conversations about accountability, forgiveness, perseverance, and finding purpose after life's biggest setbacks.

No matter where you've been or what obstacles you're facing, this conversation is a reminder that your greatest chapters can still be ahead of you.

Because your story isn't defined by your worst decision—it's defined by what you choose to do next.

IG: holditdowntx

IG: rollercycles

ridewiththeroller@gmail.com

management@holditdowntx.com

IG: wcroundtable2025