The Amazing Authorities Podcast

Episode: The ROI of Inclusion — Kevin McShane on How Disability Hiring Drives Business Performance

Host: Mitch Carson
Guest: Kevin McShane
Date: November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This insightful episode dives into how hiring people with disabilities is not just a matter of social good, but a savvy business decision that improves performance, productivity, and organizational efficiency. Mitch Carson sits down with Kevin McShane—professional speaker, podcaster, and disability inclusion advocate—to explore the practical ROI of disability hiring, the barriers that organizations face, and why inclusion is a powerful driver of independence and innovation. Kevin shares not just data and strategy, but his personal journey and the mindset that has shaped his message.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kevin’s Background and Mission (00:53–03:49)

• Podcasting for Progress: Kevin has hosted his podcast, Let's Have This Conversation, for over five years (nearly 1,200 episodes), focusing on “conversations that move the needle of progress forward” in fields like business, entrepreneurship, sports, and lifestyle. (01:08)
• Personal Story: Kevin was inspired to speak out about disability and work after facing rejection from 10 newsrooms post-college solely because of his physical disability—despite holding a journalism degree. He eventually found work and purpose in advocating for disability inclusion.

  “When I was nine years old, I found out that I wouldn’t be able to walk for the duration of my life... it took me six and a half years out of college to get my first paying job. And ironically it was helping the government look into why and how they can hire folks with disabilities more rapidly.” (02:23)

The Business Case for Disability Hiring (03:57–07:40)

• Scope of Advocacy: Kevin works with technology organizations, state governments, and diversity-focused corporations to underscore the value of hiring people with disabilities.
• Key ROI Metrics:
  • Increased productivity and decreased turnover: “They show up to work and they outperform their non-disabled counterparts by a clip of 90%.” (05:00)
  • Productivity can increase by 72–80%. (05:00)
  • “When you make accommodations for people with disability... 80% of the time it costs less than 500 bucks. As simple as the use of a headset or assistant software.” (06:25)
• Problem Solving & Innovation:

  “People with disabilities are natural problem solvers... they’re natural innovators because they have to solve problems.” (06:25)

Talent, Barriers, and Attitudes (07:40–10:55)

• Reframing Disability: Both Mitch and Kevin agree that disabilities (or “challenges”) often equip individuals with unique perspectives that can benefit organizations when facing complex, human problems.
• “Superpower” Mindset:

  “Every person and every individual with a disability has a superpower... inclusion is the gateway to independence.” (08:25)

• Early Lessons in Limitations and Empowerment:
  • Kevin recounts receiving the news of lifelong mobility limitations as a child, and his principal’s life-changing advice:

    “‘The only other artificial limitations on your life are the ones that you place on yourself personally. And you can do everything that everybody else does, but your portrait of success may look a little bit different.’” (09:26)

Journalism, Family, and Personal Drive (10:55–15:25)

• Why Journalism? Kevin chose the field to promote diverse voices and foster conversation:

  “I wanted to be an objective voice for inclusion and diversity when it came to storytelling.” (11:04)

• Family Support: Kevin is an identical twin; his brother, Keith, is a sports psychology professor in the US and a strong supporter.

  “We have a motto in our household... keep climbing to greater heights.” (12:32)

• What Drives Kevin:
  • The importance of making the most of your “deck of cards” in life.
  • The concept that “talent is an equally distributable commodity. But sometimes access to opportunities is not.” (14:10)

Perspectives on Adversity and Opportunity (15:25–20:25)

• Overcoming Exclusion: Kevin describes how being denied internships forced him to work unpaid for four years before landing a job and how this cultivated both resilience and perspective.

  “I don’t believe that I’ve been given an unfair shake. What I believe I’ve been given is a unique ability to put things into perspective and then use that to my advantage.” (16:01)

• Shared Experiences: Mitch shares his own story of overcoming addiction to connect with listeners on re-framing adversity.
  • “It’s how we deal with it defines us. Do you agree?” (18:40)
  • Kevin responds:

    “There’s no 50% off policy when you have a disability... it’s about making the best of your circumstances and really finding what your unique superpower is and running with it.” (19:16)

How to Connect with Kevin (20:46–21:17)

• Website: KevinMcShaneSpeaks.com
• LinkedIn: Active
• Podcast: Let's Have This Conversation (available on all platforms and YouTube)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Affordable Accommodations:

  “When you make accommodations for people with disability... 80% of the time it costs less than 500 bucks.” — Kevin McShane (06:25)

• On Organizational Value:

  “People with disabilities are natural problem solvers… natural innovators because they have to solve problems.” — Kevin McShane (06:41)

• On Superpowers and Limitations:

  “Every individual with a disability has a superpower… inclusion is the gateway to independence.” — Kevin McShane (08:25) “The only other artificial limitations on your life are the ones that you place on yourself personally.” — Kevin’s principal (09:26)

• On Opportunity:

  “Talent is an equally distributable commodity. But sometimes access to opportunities is not.” — Kevin McShane (14:10)

• On Adversity:

  “There’s no 50% off policy when you have a disability… it’s about making the best of your circumstances and really finding what your unique superpower is and running with it.” — Kevin McShane (19:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Kevin’s Podcast & Mission: 01:08–03:49
• Business Value of Disability Hiring: 05:00–07:40
• Superpowers and Inclusion Philosophy: 08:25–10:55
• Personal Story—Learning About His Disability: 09:26–10:55
• Family Support and Motivation: 12:32–14:10
• Access, Opportunity, and Building Bridges: 14:10–15:25
• Adversity as Advantage: 16:01–19:16
• Contact Info and Closing: 20:46–21:17

Tone and Style

Genuine, motivational, grounded in personal experience, and focused on practical business impact. The conversation balances data-driven advocacy with authentic, lived insight, using a mix of personal anecdotes, measured optimism, and a drive for systemic change.

For listeners, this episode offers real-world strategies, relatable stories, and actionable arguments for making disability inclusion central to business growth—not just a matter of compliance or charity.