Podcast reflections for the last 6 months

Ted discusses the challenges of living with disabilities, but believes you can still achieve whatever you are willing to work for.

A conversation with Michael Pedroza who lives with a condition called Ataxia. Diagnosed at the age 13, he talks about overcoming his condition that affects his muscle coordination. MIchael is involved adaptive sports which has helped him to take on life's challenges.

Jesse Kantu, based in Houston, Texas, commands a distinctive presence in the world of contemporary art. His path is one that combines rigorous training with personal reflection, allowing him to create works that resonate on multiple levels. After graduating from the University of Houston in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture and a minor in Art History, Kantu expanded his practice by pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Houston Baptist University in 2015. These academic experiences, combined with years of exploration, helped him develop an artistic language centered on the complexities of human experience. Kantu engages with themes that bridge the universal and the specific, often examining how people live, feel, and struggle across different cultures. His art is not merely visual—it’s a vessel for empathy, self-examination, and truth, carrying questions about what it means to exist in this world today.

Ivan is a waiter at Taste of Texas and he discusses all his experiences over his ten-years of waiting on customers.

Michaela is director of Achilles International (Houston Chapter).

Achilles International, a global organization operating in 18 countries including the US, transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. Since our founding in 1983, we have empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe.

Achilles International’s portfolio of programs includes the Achilles Freedom Team which serves wounded military personnel and veterans; Achilles Kids which provides training and race opportunities for children with disabilities; the TriAchilles Team which expands our running program into biking and swimming; Achilles Chapter workouts; and, our signature Hope & Possibility® race which takes place in several cities worldwide.

While our programs focus on running, our main objective has always been to bring hope, inspiration, and the joys of achievement to all.

Maritza is retired-CPA turned yoga teacher. She discusses the benefits of yoga and how she teaches the visually impaired.

Evan Mintz is the editor of opinion and community engagement for the Houston Chronicle.

Mintz previously served as deputy opinion editor at the Chronicle, where he was a 2017 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing for his contributions to a series on gun laws and violence. Mintz was also part of the editorial board team that was a finalist for the 2018 Burl Osborne Award for Editorial Leadership.

A licensed attorney, Mintz began at the Chronicle as a freelance writer after leaving the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in winter 2011 and joined full-time in autumn 2012. Mintz attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City, where he served as editorial board editor of the Cardozo Jurist. He also worked as executive editor at the Rice Thresher, the student newspaper at Rice University, where he received a bachelor degree in history and the Bobb Award for writing and journalism. In his free time, he enjoys gardening.