Podcast
Ask Win
Hosted by Win Charles · EN
Welcome to Ask Win conversations about being awesome with a disability and raising awareness at the same time and absolutely Yes sometimes you have to say F…..CK you to your own mindset and especially your disability!
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
When The Soccer Ball Goes Sideways
2w ago01:06:42Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailAbuse, disability, and trauma have a way of twisting the story we tell about ourselves until one clear answer snaps everything into focus. Wynn sits down with Amelia, CEO and founder of Evolve Ventures Technologies, for a raw conversation about surviving harm, living as a disabled adult, and reclaiming neurodiversity as a real strength instead of a label that limits you.Amelia shares her experience of chronic traumatic memory loss and the long road to understanding how trauma can reshape the brain, including how memory and threat systems get rewired. Wynn connects that to her own journey with cerebral palsy, from early moments of realizing her body moved differently, to the adult reality of needing help with daily tasks, and the shock of experiencing emotional and physical abuse. We also talk about what happens when you are both a mandatory reporter and the person who needs protection, why Adult Protective Services can feel terrifying, and how much courage it takes to speak when your nervous system wants to freeze.One of the biggest takeaways is about anger. We don’t treat it as something to fear or suppress, but as a signal that your values matter and that something needs to change. We also dig into inner child healing, anxiety that gets dismissed, and why trauma-informed support can make all the difference, especially during vulnerable moments like medical care. We wrap with practical ways to connect, including Amelia’s free consultation and community resources, plus a push for accessibility through video podcasting and captions.If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more survivors and disabled listeners can find it.Congressional School - Explorers WantedAn co-ed independent school in Falls Church, VirginiaSupport the show
Transcribe →From Pulpit To FBI
2w ago00:17:28Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHe went looking for less stress and ended up in the FBI. Retired agent Eric Robinson joins us to tell the true story behind a career jump that sounds impossible on paper: Baptist pastor one Sunday, FBI Academy in Quantico the next, then years spent investigating drug cartels, gangs, public corruption, organized crime, crimes against children, financial crimes, and national security. If you have ever wondered whether you can outgrow a calling and still serve people with integrity, this conversation is for you.We talk candidly about burnout and compassion fatigue, including why carrying other people’s pain in ministry triggered daily headaches and why those symptoms vanished the day Eric got accepted as an FBI agent. From there we get into the reality of FBI SWAT life, the adrenaline and the aftermath, plus what it is like to face the darkest cases without losing yourself. Eric also shares what sex trafficking stings looked like on the ground, how trauma shapes the choices of vulnerable teens, and why rapport-building and simple kindness can make the difference between silence and a conviction.You will also hear what the FBI hiring process demands, from education and background checks to the nerve-racking polygraph, and why Eric believes justice can be part of faithful service. We close on a challenge that applies to every job, every community, and every relationship: stay curious, treat people like humans, and choose compassion in the small moments.Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves real-life stories, and leave a review if it helps you see service and justice in a new way.Support the show
Transcribe →Why A Psychiatrist Walked Away From Diagnoses
4w ago00:14:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA doctor gets told to keep patients. He tries to discharge them. That moment captures a bigger tension inside modern mental health care and it’s what finally pushed Dr. Fred to step away from conventional practice and lean fully into what he calls “restorative care” as an “undoctor.” Dr. Fred Moss Tuesday, June 16, 2026Ask Win: http://askwinpodcast.weebly.com/. Ask Win sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to Ask Win by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles’ TiTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@a.winning.heart?_t=ZT-8yE9mRvWmz1&_r=1 . Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078. How Cdiff changed my life: https://open.substack.com/pub/wcharles622/p/how-cdiff-changed-my-life?r=1baro&utm_medium=ios. A gentle voice: https://blubrry.com/3955765/. Win Charles’ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@she13win?si=WaPoCCwM1C0z6W4A. Win Charles' LimeLife: https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/Win/home.On Ask Win today (Tuesday, June 16, 2026), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Dr. Fred Moss. Dr. Moss is a renowned mental health advocate, keynote speaker, and psychiatrist with a passion for helping people find their authentic selves. As the founder of the Welcome to Humanity movement and True Voice Mastermind, Dr. Fred's work is centered on the power of communication to heal and connect people. He is the author of "Creative 8 - Healing Through Creativity and Self-Expression" and "Find Your True Voice!" and has written numerous articles for Psychology Today. Dr. Fred's most recent work includes the "True Voice Course," which helps people rediscover their voice and share their message with the world, and "Healing the Healer," a virtual course and mastermind designed to support transitioning healers. To learn more about Dr. Moss visit Whoisdrfred.comIf this helped you, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the show
Transcribe →Pride, Disability, And Real Allyship
Jun 700:38:53Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailElisa Neven-Pugh Saturday, June 6, 2026A Different Shaped Heart: http://adifferentshapedheart.weebly.com/. A Different Shaped Heart sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to A Different Shaped Heart by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles’ TiTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@a.winning.heart?_t=ZT-8yE9mRvWmz1&_r=1 . Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078. How Cdiff changed my life: https://open.substack.com/pub/wcharles622/p/how-cdiff-changed-my-life?r=1baro&utm_medium=ios. A gentle voice: https://blubrry.com/3955765/. Win Charles’ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@she13win?si=WaPoCCwM1C0z6W4A. Win Charles' LimeLife: https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/Win/home.On A Different Shaped Heart today (Saturday, June 6, 2026), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Elisa Neven-Pugh. Elisa is a young woman with cerebral palsy who has a strong belief in personal accountability and in every aspect of life and to be real with one's emotions. Elisa have written a book called For Heaven’s Sake, Get on the Boat! A quadriplegic’s guide to walking by faith. It is Elisa’s hope that this book and her motivational speaking services will help people get on the boat of their lives to truly live to their full potential. To learn more about Elisa visit Positivelyadaptive.comComing out can be risky even when you already know who you are. Win sits down with Eliza for a candid, sometimes funny, sometimes heavy conversation about what it took to live openly as a gay woman after growing up with a homophobic parent, and why she waited until after her dad died to come out. Pride Month is the backdrop, but the heart of this talk is everyday safety, family grief, and the kind of acceptance that changes how you breathe in your own life.We also get practical about LGBTQ+ allyship and how to support the community without being intrusive, fake, or performative. Eliza lays out a simple approach: make contact, be kind, give people space, and let trust do its work. We dig into how to learn about identity and sexuality without overwhelming yourself, why pressure can push people back into hiding, and what “I’m here for you” looks like when you actually mean it.Then we widen the lens to disability advocacy and cerebral palsy, including what happens when healthcare treats CP like it only belongs in childhood. We talk wheelchairs, mobility, chronic pain, and the reality of navigating hospitals while worrying about bias. If you care about inclusive healthcare, disability rights, LGBTQ+ support, and honest conversations about faith and resilience, you’ll find a lot to sit with here. Subscribe, share this with someone who wants to be a better ally, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re bringing into your own life.Congressional School - Explorers WantedAn co-ed independent school in Falls Church, VirginiaSupport the show
Transcribe →I Explain Exactly Why I Ended Up In The ICU After Surgery
Jun 700:19:45Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe catch you up on why the show name changes back to Ask When, then we get real about what recovery looks like when a “better hip” comes with a painful dislocated toe. We also share the full story behind landing in the ICU on a ventilator after surgery, plus what we’re doing next for school and support. • changing the podcast name back to Ask When and why it matters for finding the show • asking for help with professional podcast cover art and logo design • hip recovery update and how a bedbound injury dislocates a toe • deciding between Dysport injections and toe surgery for a contracted toe • the cost of repeated Botox style treatments versus a surgical fix • what leads to intubation, aspiration concerns, and time on a ventilator • failing a class twice, losing a spot at a university, and transferring to ASU • looking for a tutor and adjusting to an aide transition If there's any professional designers out there who know about podcasting, please help me. If anyone wants to help me, we can do it virtually. Support the show
Transcribe →Coming Out After Loss While Living With Cerebral Palsy
Jun 500:38:53Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailElisa Neven-Pugh Saturday, June 6, 2026A Different Shaped Heart: http://adifferentshapedheart.weebly.com/. A Different Shaped Heart sponsor: https://melodyclouds.com. Please donate to A Different Shaped Heart by going to Payment Venmo Win1195 at https://venmo.com/. Win Kelly Charles’ Books: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Kelly-Charles/e/B009VNJEKE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1. Win Kelly Charles' MONAT: https://wincharles.mymonat.com. Flying Has Become Hell for Passengers with Wheelchairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRntgEiTHIY. PodMatch: https://podmatch.com. Win Charles’ TiTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@a.winning.heart?_t=ZT-8yE9mRvWmz1&_r=1 . Win Charles has given you an exclusive offer of $50 off of delicious chef-prepared meals: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=wch3003078&utm_source=referral&utm_content=link&promo=wch3003078. How Cdiff changed my life: https://open.substack.com/pub/wcharles622/p/how-cdiff-changed-my-life?r=1baro&utm_medium=ios. A gentle voice: https://blubrry.com/3955765/. Win Charles’ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@she13win?si=WaPoCCwM1C0z6W4A. Win Charles' LimeLife: https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/Win/home.On A Different Shaped Heart today (Saturday, June 6, 2026), Best-Selling Author, Win C welcomes Elisa Neven-Pugh. Elisa is a young woman with cerebral palsy who has a strong belief in personal accountability and in every aspect of life and to be real with one's emotions. Elisa have written a book called For Heaven’s Sake, Get on the Boat! A quadriplegic’s guide to walking by faith. It is Elisa’s hope that this book and her motivational speaking services will help people get on the boat of their lives to truly live to their full potential. To learn more about Elisa visit Positivelyadaptive.comCongressional School - Explorers WantedAn co-ed independent school in Falls Church, VirginiaSupport the show
Transcribe →Hiatus And A Healing Update
Apr 1200:19:43Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe hit pause on new releases while I deal with heavy stress, school, and medical recovery on 24-hour care until May 19. I share a real update on my hip healing, mobility with cerebral palsy, and how I’m planning future foot surgery without losing my independence. • Taking a short podcast hiatus to reorganise life until May 19 • Managing stress while juggling school, home life, medical appointments and care support • Hip replacement recovery update and what walking looks like right now • Cerebral palsy gait realities and why wheelchairs and power chairs matter for long distances • Meeting listeners in person and remembering there are real people behind the mic • Foot surgery timing, Arizona heat, and the decision to delay for better healing • The moment I realised I broke my hip after a speech and why ER choices get complicated • Using humour to frame CP as “the gift that keeps on giving” • Plans to update cover art, the feed, and share more once I’m able Thank you for following us, and we’ll see you guys on the nineteenth. Support the show
Transcribe →We Are Trying To Delay Surgery While We Find Reliable Accessible Transportation
Apr 800:15:29Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mailhttps://gofund.me/0400dcee2Foot pain sounds simple until you’re the one staring at your shoes thinking, “I can’t do this today.” We’re checking in with a blunt, personal update on severe bunion pain, what the podiatrist says, and why we’re trying hard to keep surgery as a last resort. Recovery isn’t just inconvenient, it can mean months off your feet, lost strength, and a huge hit to independence. After a past hip replacement spiral that ended with aspiration pneumonia and an ICU stay, the risk calculation looks very different.Then we pivot to the other half of the same problem: transportation. If you don’t have reliable mobility, every medical decision gets heavier. We talk about raising money through a GoFundMe, visiting a dealer, and trying to line up a wheelchair accessible van in Phoenix, Arizona. We get specific about what “handicapped accessible vehicle” needs to include, from a ramp to a workable seating and transfer setup. We also share what we’re looking for brand-wise, why a newer Chrysler Pacifica is the goal, and why the used market can be a minefield when you’ve already dealt with breakdowns.We also touch the real-world obstacles people rarely say out loud: grant hunting, credit issues, the need for a co-signer, and the safety concerns that come with ride share, especially as a woman. If you’ve ever dealt with chronic pain, disability logistics, or just the stress of keeping your life moving when your body refuses to cooperate, this conversation will feel familiar.Subscribe for more honest updates, share this with someone who understands accessibility, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. What’s your best tip for finding grants or affordable accessible vans?Support the show
Transcribe →We Finally Put Danielle’s Name On The Podcast For A Reason
Apr 800:09:56Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailDanielle landed a radio interview and I hadn’t even heard it yet, so we press play on the story behind the story. What starts as a quick recap turns into a real look at how local media moments can boost confidence, widen visibility, and shine a light on disability inclusion work that actually changes lives.We talk about what the interview focused on, including Best Buddies and the personal connection that made the segment feel meaningful instead of performative. Danielle also got to sing her own songs on air, which is its own kind of brave, and we share the details on her next round of DJ duties coming up on May 3 and May 5. If you love behind-the-scenes podcast conversations, artist journeys, and community-centered storytelling, this one has all of it.Then I drop a surprise announcement Danielle doesn’t know is coming: we’re renaming the podcast to reflect what’s already true, that we co-host this together. The rebrand is about credit, clarity, and building something that feels honest for long-time listeners and brand-new ones. Also, yes, Arizona decides to add dramatic rain and wind right in the middle of our recording.Stick around to hear what we’re changing, why we’re changing it, and what we’re covering next, including Special Olympics and Special Olympics snowboarding. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find us.Support the show
Transcribe →I’m Recovering From Surgery And Rebuilding My Next Step
Apr 200:09:29Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTomorrow the cast comes off, and that one moment has me thinking about everything at once: healing, mobility, patience, and what it means to live with cerebral palsy while your body forces you to slow down. I’m home after a hip replacement and hamstring lengthening, following a month in the hospital, and I’m walking you through the real in-between stage where you’re not fully “back,” but you’re finally moving toward what’s next.We get into the practical side of post-surgery recovery: the knee immobilizer, the bandaging questions, the frustration of not being able to do much with a cast, and the relief of knowing the hip replacement feels stable. Then we talk rehab decisions that can make or break momentum, including why neurological physical therapy may be a better fit for CP than standard orthopedic PT, and how it feels to wait for answers while knowing your leg will be weak at first.The surprise turn is that recovery is also triggering a bigger life update. I’m dropping one project and picking up another as fall approaches, and I’m even making a college major shift that feels like a full reset. If you’re navigating cerebral palsy, disability, surgery recovery, physical therapy, or any life change that demands flexibility, you’ll hear the messy, honest thought process behind rebuilding a plan. Subscribe, share this with someone in rehab, and leave a review with the change you’re trying to make next.Support the show
Transcribe →