In this deeply human and inspiring conversation, Bart sits down with Dr. Eric Fishon — author, educator, disability advocate, and nonprofit leader — to explore the lived reality of unseen disabilities and the power of advocacy, empathy, and inclusion. Dr. Eric shares his journey from a successful corporate career in customer experience and organizational culture to discovering his diagnoses of narcolepsy, chronic fatigue, ADHD, anxiety, and depression later in life. What followed was not an ending, but a reinvention. Through his Doctor Disruptor platform, Xtermigator Kids, and his work with the Invisible Disabilities Association, Dr. Eric is helping individuals and families understand that disability is not inabilityand that different is, in fact, beautiful.

Major Takeaways / Learnings

Unseen disabilities are real — even when others can’t see them. Validation can be life‑changing.

Diagnosis brings clarity, not limitation. Knowing what you’re dealing with opens the door to tools, accommodations, and self‑compassion.

It’s okay to not be okay. Giving yourself grace is a critical step toward healing and growth.

Advocacy often begins with personal struggle. Dr. Eric turned his own challenges into a mission to help others.

Accommodations are not special treatment — they’re access. Education and workplaces still have work to do.

Helping others creates purpose and fulfillment. Service can be as powerful as medicine.

Technology and AI can be equalizers. The right tools help people with limited energy amplify their impact.

Disability does not define your ceiling. With support, inclusion, and understanding, potential expands.

Memorable Quotes

“It’s okay to not be okay.”

“Disability is not an inability — it can be your greatest superpower.”

“Those letters after your name mean nothing if you’re not helping someone behind you.”

“Helping others gives a high no medicine can replace.”

“Never forget where you’ve been — and turn around to help someone else get there.”

Why It Matters / How to Use It

This episode is a powerful reminder that many of the struggles people carry are invisible, and that empathy, awareness, and inclusion are leadership skills, not extras. Dr. Eric Fishon’s story offers hope to anyone who has felt misunderstood, dismissed, or alone in their challenges. Whether you’re living with an unseen disability, supporting someone who is, or leading a team, this conversation encourages you to ask for help, give grace, and use your experiences to lift others. It’s a call to redefine success, not by what we overcome alone, but by how we help others rise with us.