On this episode, comedian Mean Dave shares how comedy led him to discover his addiction recovery is protected by the ADA, and how he’s bringing disability awareness to 12-step programs, helping people understand meetings as the “ramp” that gets recovering addicts up to the “curb” of a manageable life.

Mean Dave, who is a fixture in comedy clubs around the San Francisco Bay Area. He is in his tenth year of addiction recovery. In October, Mean Dave MC’d the Comedians with Disabilities Act when FREED brought that comedy troupe to Grass Valley for a fundraiser at The Center for the Arts. Mean Dave has also opened for Josh Blue, Jay Mohr, Judy Tenuta, and Big Jay Oakerson, and has toured many universities across the United States.

Today we're joined by Caleb Dardick, author of the new memoir, "The Adventures of Superfreak: My Childhood on the Hippie Trail" which tells the story of how his parents, FREED founders Sam and Geeta Dardick, "dropped out" and took their three young kids on a 20,000 mile road trip before eventually homesteading in North San Juan and joining the Independent Living Movement.

Caleb Dardick was raised by activist parents with disabilities in the heart of the American counterculture. Caleb’s career has included public service, community engagement, environmental advocacy, and disability-related projects, including roles with the Berkeley Mayor’s Office, UC Berkeley, the Ed Roberts Campus, SYRCL, and Nevada County government. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Caleb is also a leadership coach and storyteller. Stay tuned to hear more about the "The Adventures of Superfreak: My Childhood on the Hippie Trail", a story about building community, living with a disability, and inheriting a generation's idealism.

Join us for a great chat with Allie Wheelz about all things gaming accessibility. From physical tools of access to the friendships in the game that changed the course of her life, this months episode teaches us all about the world of videogames and the community made along the way.

Our guest today is Allie Williams, but you might know her as her as Allie Wheelz, content creator and disability advocate, public speaker and gamer from Oklahoma. Living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2, Allie has long used her platforms to challenge stereotypes, sharing her life as a disabled adult and fostering honest conversations about inclusion and representation. She holds two college degrees and has performed on Broadway, giving her a unique perspective that combines advocacy, entertainment, and lived experience.