Épisodes

  • Finding Your Neurodistinct Voice

    Finding Your Neurodistinct Voice
    Dec 11 2025
    “Our brains process the sounds for emotion before we process the words for understanding.”

    In this episode, Heather and Steve sit down with Google technologist and autistic advocate Tim Goldstein, whose late-in-life diagnosis rewired how he sees communication, work, and autism itself. Tim shares how he went from being “the kid who kept getting fired” to someone who now coaches others on using voice, story, and language to actually get results in a neurotypical world—without selling themselves out.

    You’ll hear them dig into:

    Why how you say something often matters more than what you say

    The difference between “masking” and simply adapting to shared social norms

    Why Tim hates the word “neurodivergent” and prefers “neurodistinct”

    How the words we use with managers can accidentally make them feel stupid… and sabotage our own accommodations

    Heather’s daughter’s powerful mic-drop: “I’d rather you not define me by what I can’t do.”

    Eye contact, notifications, and the fine line between “the world should change” and “I want better outcomes, so what can I tweak?”

    Dating, loneliness, and why so many autistic adults miss subtle signals of interest

    If you’re autistic, love someone who is, or work in education, healthcare, or HR, this conversation will change how you hear every interaction—and how you talk about autism from here on out. Learn more about Tim: https://www.timgoldstein.com/

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    45 min
  • DadAbility Episode: VLAWsity Breaks Down Estate Planning for Our Families

    DadAbility Episode: VLAWsity Breaks Down Estate Planning for Our Families
    Nov 19 2025
    Only one in four adults has a will, and for families in the disability community, that gap can change everything. We may not know who will take over when we’re gone, but if we never start the plan, how will anyone know what mattered most about the people we love?


    In this DadAbility episode, Steve goes solo to talk straight with dads about stepping up at home and beyond. It’s real talk about juggling the day-to-day while keeping an eye on the future. Dads feel that pull to take care of things. Estate planning isn’t flashy, but it’s one of those jobs that feels good once it’s done. Getting it handled brings calm, confidence, and a sense that you’re truly showing up for your family.

    Steve is joined by attorneys Kevin Barone and Ted Perry, co-founders of VLAWsity, a do-it-yourself online platform that helps families create wills, powers of attorney, and special needs trusts from home. Their mission is to make the process affordable, accessible, and manageable on your own schedule.

    Together they unpack what a special needs trust really does, how it protects eligibility for programs such as SSI and Medicaid, and why families in the disability community need to act now rather than later.

    Steve shares candid reflections as a dad of an autistic adult son and foster/adoptive parent, while Kevin and Ted explain how taking time to plan ahead can prevent courts or the state from making decisions that should stay within the family.

    If you have ever thought, “I know I should do this, but I don’t know where to start,” this conversation is your roadmap and your reminder that estate planning is not about fear. It is about love, peace of mind, and the kind of steady leadership that helps dads protect the people who count on them most.

    👉 Learn more or start your will today at VLAWsity.com

    #FindingCommonGround, #PodcastWithPurpose, #ChangingTheWayAdvocacysDone, #EmpowermentAdvocacy, #UnfilteredConversations, #FocusedOnSolutions, #InviteTheElephantToDinner, #DadAbility, #DadsWhoCare, #ModernFatherhood, #DadAdvocate, #StrongDads, #FamilyFirst, #FatherhoodJourney, #ParentingWithPurpose, #LegacyPlanning, #EstatePlanning, #PlanForTheFuture, #ProtectYourFamily, #FinancialWellness, #FatherhoodMatters, #MenWhoLead, #RealTalkForDads, #DadLifeUnfiltered, #NextGenDads, #BuildingLegacy, #SecureTheFuture, #DadCommunity, #EmpoweredParenting, #FamilyAdvocacy, #DisabilityDads, #SpecialNeedsDads, #CaregiverDads, #DadsSupportingDads, #PlanningWithPurpose, #HonestConversations, #ProtectWhatMatters, #StrongerTogether


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    36 min
  • Kathy Takes Over – No More Listening Mode for Steve!

    Kathy Takes Over – No More Listening Mode for Steve!
    Nov 14 2025
    What happens when a former guest takes the mic and flips the script? In this hilarious and heartfelt episode, Kathy Caruso returns to Finding Common Ground — but this time, she’s running the show.

    Host Steve Gonyea finds himself in the hot seat as Kathy digs deep into his story, his “why,” and what drives his advocacy as a dad. With Heather chiming in from the sidelines (and occasionally fanning the flames), this takeover turns into one of the most revealing and entertaining episodes yet.

    Expect laughter, honesty, and a few moments that’ll make you think twice about what happens when we let go of control and truly open up.

    Tune in, share your favorite quote from the episode, and tag us with your thoughts — we love hearing how these conversations resonate with you!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    50 min
  • Autism Dad & Paramedic: Prep for Emergencies

    Autism Dad & Paramedic: Prep for Emergencies
    Oct 30 2025
    How many times have you had to educate the people trying to help your child with autism?

    In this episode of Finding Common Ground, Steve talks with Matt Yelton, a paramedic, flight medic, and autism dad who lives and breathes this reality every day. When emergencies happen, Matt has been on both sides — the parent advocating for his child, and the first responder called to help.

    He shares how his personal experiences inspired him to train first responders across New York to recognize when behaviors are rooted in autism, not defiance and how families can prepare before a crisis ever happens.

    “The best thing you can do at the start of the school year is figure out who these kids are and talk to their educators, talk to their families, learn what makes them tick.”

    You’ll also hear:

    What to do before a crisis so first responders are ready to help your child

    Why dads need to be part of the advocacy conversation

    How real change happens when parents and professionals learn from each other

    This one will leave you better prepared and more hopeful about the helpers who show up when it matters most.

    Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app, and join us in Finding Common Ground between families and first responders.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    34 min
  • 🎧 Showing Up Without Burning Out: The Unfiltered Catch-Up

    🎧 Showing Up Without Burning Out: The Unfiltered Catch-Up
    Oct 23 2025
    What happens when two advocates hit pause on the chaos and just talk it out?Heather and Steve take a breather from the headlines and just talk. In this unfiltered catch-up, they open up about juggling life, advocacy, and everything in between — from Heather’s upcoming trip to the First Place Global Symposium to Steve’s work with the National Council on Severe Autism.
    They trade stories, laughter, and strategy on how to keep showing up without burning out, diving into transition challenges, teasing their upcoming guest lineup, and showing how the right conversation can make all the difference. Listen now for a real, no-guest look behind the movement they’re building together.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    37 min
  • 🎙️ Barrier Demolition with Kurt Roskopf

    🎙️ Barrier Demolition with Kurt Roskopf
    Oct 20 2025
    What happens when we stop patting ourselves on the back for “special” inclusion—and start building communities where accommodations are normal, and leadership is shared?In this episode, Heather and Steve talk with Kurt Roskopf, disability ally and founder of the Everybody Skis program. When a skier who needed some accommodations was sent home dry, Kurt felt awful—and that moment reframed how he approached every day after that. It set in motion a movement that redefined inclusion across Wisconsin and beyond.Steve first met Kurt through the Helpipedia initiative—a national collaboration connecting families, educators, and professionals to disability resources. We discuss this as well as what real inclusion looks like. Moving from symbolic gestures to structural change. which gives you a blueprint for rethinking belonging in your own community.Blueprint for Barrier DemolitionKurt’s journey reveals lessons that can reshape how we approach everything—from the way we build teams and plan community events to how we design classrooms, businesses, or neighborhood spaces. The blueprint that emerges isn’t about following exact steps, but about rethinking how we show up and realizing that small shifts can spark big change.Listeners will leave asking themselves:
    • What would true inclusion look like in my space?
    • How might I remove one barrier this week?
    • Who could I invite to lead beside me instead of waiting to be invited?
    Kurt’s reflections remind us that we’re not just making room for people—we’re rebooting the way our communities work. Real inclusion isn’t a one-time act of kindness; it’s a redesign of how we live, learn, and lead together.You’ll hear moments that stay with you:“When people with disabilities lead, they teach us how to move mountains.”
    “We’re not just opening doors—we’re rebooting the whole planet so everyone can walk through.”

    Learn More
    Helpipedia.org
    kurt@spiritofthegame.org

    Text or call: (262) 372-1754If you're ready to move beyond the feel-good photo-op and build true belonging in your own hometown, this episode is your invitation to start.









    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    42 min
  • Bonus Episode! Finding Common Ground On Location: Pathways for Success

    Bonus Episode! Finding Common Ground On Location: Pathways for Success
    Oct 9 2025
    Steve and Guest Host Alexandra Fernandez speak with Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, Parent Advocate and founder of Better Together Kathy Caruso and others about the Pathways for Success event which brought experts and advocates from across New York State to Utica. Check out the full video of the event on our YouTube Channel:

    https://youtu.be/pIiFhcaPYqs

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    12 min
  • Straight Answers to Tough Questions with Assembly Member Brian Miller

    Straight Answers to Tough Questions with Assembly Member Brian Miller
    Oct 1 2025
    What if the fastest way to protect disability services this year isn’t a viral post—but scheduling a meeting now, before legislators head back to Albany? In this episode, AM Brian Miller gives straight answers and a playbook you can use now—from timing your outreach to crafting testimony that actually moves votes.

    Why listen: Unlike many politicians, Miller doesn’t dodge the tough stuff. He leans in. Listen as he dives into the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), looming Medicaid reforms (including the CDPAP rollout), DSP wages, the red tape that blocks common-sense partnerships, and how to make your voice count before this legislative session begins.

    You’ll learn practical moves:
    • Perfect timing: While summer is a great time to connect with legislators, fall works too—and it’s not too late. Now is the moment to book longer, substantive meetings that won’t be possible once session starts, so your stories can shape bills before legislators are back in Albany.
    • How to advocate: Replace mass emails with personal letters/calls that get read and get returned.
    • Testify like a pro: Use a 5-minute structure (personal story → crisp facts → clear ask) and always follow up with the panel afterward.
    • Unstick the system: Pair innovative pilots with smarter funding routes (Veterans, Aging, Education, Medicaid) and identify one word or phrase that could be tweaked in law/reg so that solutions aren't blocked.
    • Policy focus areas: ADA/Olmstead compliance, DSP wage action, pausing/assessing rushed reforms, and making oversight reports accessible to the public and legislators.
    Standout quotes:
    • “Really get involved and understand how the different funding streams and different groups can work together to help our loved ones because this could be a difficult chapter coming up, but it’s not the end of our story.” — Heather M. Burroughs
    • “Don’t rely on a form letter. Try to connect in person and be precise, but also personal.” — AM Brian Miller
    What Brian Miller models: Bridge-building, engineering-style problem solving (root-cause → corrective action), and a consistent record of showing up for disability families, on the record and in the room.

    Listen if you’re:
    Parents & caregivers, self-direction leaders, DSPs and providers, advocates preparing testimony, or anyone ready to trade outrage for outcomes. Hit play to grab the blueprint—and pass it to a friend who needs it.



    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/finding-common-ground--6199849/support.
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    48 min