On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S8:Pt4: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Kelvin Limbrick from ComEd to talk about the innovative and eco-friendly goat grazing program that’s helping manage vegetation under power lines in northern Illinois. With nearly three dozen goats on the job this summer, ComEd is leading the way in sustainability by using goats to clear brush and keep the power grid resilient in challenging terrains. Kelvin shares the story behind this...
Jun 30, 2025•54 min•Ep. 774
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S8:Pt4: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Kelvin Limbrick, ComEd Vegetation Management Sr. Program Manager to discuss important environmental topics, including their vegetation management practices, the role of brush control, and their sustainability efforts in celebration of Earth Day. Key Topics: Vegetation Management: Kelvin shares insights into why vegetation management is critical for maintaining ComEd’s infrastructure an...
Jun 23, 2025•35 min•Ep. 773
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Jenny Fortner , a dedicated Special Olympics International Board Member to talk about how she volunteered with her son Joey Fortner, a Yale University student and his friends from Athletes in Action. Jenny shares her personal journey and deep-rooted commitment to Special Olympics as she reflected on her and her son's roles at the 2025 World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. From Jenny'...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 772
On this heartfelt Father’s Day episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast, we revisit a meaningful conversation with Adam Smrokowski , proud father of our very own award-winning host, Daniel Smrokowski. Adam opens up about the journey of raising a son with special needs, the early challenges and triumphs of fatherhood, and the profound impact the Special Chronicles platform has had on their lives. We also explore how their story continues to change lives within the Special Olympics movement and b...
Jun 15, 2025•41 min
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Carly Pietrzak, Chief of Staff at Bridge Business Resource Group , and John Kloosterman, Vice President of Bridge BRG at United Airlines. Together, they reflect on their powerful experience at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 and the impact of United Airlines’ ongoing partnership with Special Olympics. From walking alongside athletes during the Opening Ceremony to...
Jun 09, 2025•51 min•Ep. 771
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Shawn Ferguson , the Chief of Global Government Relations at Special Olympics , to explore the mission and impact of the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion . The Coalition is uniting global leaders, governments, and advocates to drive systemic change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Together, they are working to create a more inclusive...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 770
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with sits down with three remarkable leaders who are paving the way for a more inclusive world: Sky Riley , Senior Manager of Global Youth and Education at Special Olympics, Louis Kleemeyer and Tim Pietrowski from the Global Youth Leadership Council . Together, they provide insight into the 2025 Special Olympics Global Youth Leadership Summit in Turin, Italy, which brought together youn...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 769
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Kellie Matthew , a Special Olympics USA athlete, who competed in Alpine skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 . Kellie, who has been a part of Special Olympics since she was just 9 years old, shares her incredible journey from Coral Springs, Florida, to the international stage. We dive into her experiences, challenges, and the lessons she’s learned through th...
May 19, 2025•31 min•Ep. 768
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Nick Mills , a dedicated Special Olympics athlete from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who has been part of the Special Olympics family for 20 years. Nick has competed in a variety of sports, including Alpine skiing, basketball, athletics, bowling, soccer, and volleyball. He’s also actively involved in the Special Olympics South Dakota Athlete Leadership Council and serves as a Health M...
May 12, 2025•32 min•Ep. 767
🎙️ Episode 250 – Special Mother’s Day Live Podcast with Daniel & His Mom Recorded live from the Imperial Oak Brewery in Willow Springs, Illinois, this heartfelt 30-minute episode celebrates Mother’s Day with a very special guest—Daniel Smrokowski’s mom, Linda Smrokowski! Join Daniel and his mom for a touching and inspiring conversation as they reflect on: Daniel’s miraculous birth story—born three-and-a-third months premature The developmental therapies and support Daniel received growing u...
May 11, 2025•31 min
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with two incredible athletes, Natalie Green and Trey Garrett, both of whom represented Special Olympics USA in DanceSport at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 . Join us as we dive into their journeys, advocacy for inclusion, and the transformative power of sport. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: For Natalie Green: Natalie’s journey in Special Olympics Movement : From...
May 05, 2025•48 min•Ep. 766
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down Jim Bluemond , a dedicated Special Olympics coach who will be representing Special Olympics USA as a snowshoeing coach at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, in 2025. Jim has been involved in the Special Olympics Movement for the past three years, and his personal connection to the organization runs deep. As a parent of a Special Olympics athlete, Jim has a unique p...
Apr 28, 2025•43 min•Ep. 765
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down Mallory Marvin , a Special Olympics USA athlete who competed in Snowshoeing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, in 2025. Mallory has been involved with Special Olympics Movement for 14 years and is a true leader in the movement, representing not just her sport but the incredible spirit of the Special Olympics community. Throughout this episode, we dive deep into ...
Apr 21, 2025•35 min•Ep. 764
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Tyler Lagasse , a Special Olympics USA athlete who’s making waves in the world of Alpine skiing. Tyler has been a part of the Special Olympics Movement for over 21 years and is set to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin 2025 . We talk about his incredible journey, from his early days as a Special Olympics athlete to his experiences as a multi-sport competito...
Apr 14, 2025•46 min•Ep. 763
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Grace Payne , Sargent Shriver Global Messenger for Special Olympics, as she reflects on the recently concluded Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin 2025. Grace shares her incredible journey with Special Olympics and her role as a Global Messenger, offering insight into the impact of these Games on the athletes and the global community. Episode Highlights: Grace shares her j...
Apr 07, 2025•45 min•Ep. 762
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Lou Lauria , the Chief of Sport and Competition for Special Olympics, to discuss his journey, the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin 2025 , and what it takes to organize such a global event. Lou shares insights on the Games, the athletes, and the incredible impact of the Special Olympics movement . Lou reflects on how we connected through the Special Olympics World Games ...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 761
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Melissa Hart , the author of the highly anticipated book Down Syndrome Out Loud , which highlights over 20 inspiring stories of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Melissa shares the powerful motivation behind compiling these stories and why now is the right time for this book to make an impact. Melissa dives into the process of connecting with families, interviewing individuals, and curating perso...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 760
On this rebroadcast episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Dr. Jackie Jodl , Chief Global Youth and Education Officer at Special Olympics . This Week, our focus of Spread The Word is on Inclusive Action. Join us for an education conversation about Inclusive Mindsets , Unified Champion Schools Create Universal Dignity and Empathy, Leaders of Courageous Action, and how Special Olympics programs are leading the way in inclusive education! We think the world woul...
Mar 17, 2025•59 min•Ep. 759
On this rebroadcast episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Laura Hertzog from Minnesota who wrote the article "The Short Bus Stops At My House." This Week our focus of Spread The Word is to Stand Up To Bullying. Tune in to hear Laura talk about: Challenges her brother has; Why she wrote “The Short Bus Stops At My House”; Why Kids Make Fun of Short Bus?; Laura’s inspiration; Special Education and Standardized Tests- David and Daniel have similar stories; Beaut...
Mar 10, 2025•35 min•Ep. 758
On this rebroadcast episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Soeren Palumbo, co-founder of Spread The Word , to talk about the Spread the Word Day of Activation this week on March 5th. This Week, our focus is on derogatory language. Tune in to a rebroadcast conversation with Soeren as he talks about: his backstory of growing up with his sister who has intellectual disabilities; why he co-founded this campaign; how he met Timbo Shriver; Importance of the r-word ...
Mar 03, 2025•51 min•Ep. 757
On this rebroadcast episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S8:Pt2 : Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Charlie Carpenter, a ComEd EnergyForce Ambassador from Misericordia to talk about Charlie's Challenges and Accomplishments because of his disability; Being an EnergyForce Ambassador, a Real Passion of Music, and we chat about the Arts and Cultures Programs and enjoy swimming at Misericordia. This episode originally aired on October 16, 2023 Episode 756 ShowNotes & Link...
Feb 24, 2025•24 min•Ep. 756
On this rebroadcast episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Commander Bill Devine on the Special Chronicles Podcast to talk about how you can be cool and take the Polar Plunge in support of the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. We talk about: What the Polar Plunge is and how long Bill has been plunging, Why so many are taking the plunge, History of the event’s 23 years of Polar Plunges, How you can Plunge...
Feb 17, 2025•40 min•Ep. 755
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Daniel Smrokowski sits down with Pete Beale-DelVecchio, President and CEO of Special Olympics Illinois to reflect on his first year and introduction to Special Olympics. We talk about his Accomplishments and Challenges, Leadership Style, Vision for future of Special Olympics Illinois, Inclusivity Goals, Program Highlights, Athlete Impact, Athlete Leadership, Voices, Community Engagement, and Corporate Partnerships. We look forward to his Future ...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 754
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's Unified at Work Series S6:Pt2: Paul White, CEO of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower sits down with Award-winning Podcaster Daniel Smrokowski for a thorough understanding of the Sunflower initiative, its importance for people with hidden disabilities, and tune in to the final segment for an exciting new development of the Sunflower Extra Cards! Creation and Inspiration of the Sunflower scheme, Personal and impactful stories from individuals with hid...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 753
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's EnergyForce Series S8:Pt1: Join award-winning Podcast Host Daniel Smrokowski as we kickoff our 8th year of partnership with the ComEd EnergyForce Ambassador Program with an updated educational presentation on energy and solar savings, energy efficiency tips, learn more about Electric Vehicles (EVs), and we test your knowledge with an Energy Savings Quiz. Episode 752 ShowNotes & Links: Donate Now: Support Our 2025 Giving Campaign 🎧 Listen o...
Jan 27, 2025•29 min•Ep. 752
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast's DanTalks series : Join Award-winning Podcaster Daniel Smrokowski as he speaks to the Knights of Columbus about his story in Special Olympics and the many opportunities he has had because of Athlete Leadership, from being a former Sargent Shriver Global Messenger to his jobs of this podcasting platform and working at United Airlines. Tune in to hear the latest speech he's presented to the Knights of Columbus, thanking them for supporting Special...
Jan 20, 2025•18 min•Ep. 751
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Presents Unified at Work Series S6:Pt 1: Amanda Spies from Special Olympics Illinois joins us for a presentation to Ingredion. Join us for an inspiring episode with Daniel Smrokowski, a pioneering advocate and original Special Olympics Service Ambassador at United Airlines. Host of the award winning podcast Special Chronicles, with over 750 episodes, and recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice, Daniel has dedicated his career to giving ...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 750
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast: Katie O'Neill, a Special Olympics Illinois Athlete Leader, sits down with Award-winning Podcaster Daniel Smrokowski to talk about her story: Turning Disability Challenges to Joys, Late Start to Special Olympics Success, Overcoming Bullies and Spreading Awareness, Confidence through Athlete Leadership, 3x World Champion Cheerleader, Speaking at International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference, Employed as a Special Education Paraprofessional, a...
Jan 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 749
Friend of the podcast and Sargent Shriver Global Messenger Wyatt Spalding sits down with former SSGM and Award-winning Podcaster Daniel Smrokowski on the Special Chronicles Podcast to recap their experience this past week attending a state dinner at the White House. President Joe Biden invited Special Olympics athletes like Wyatt and Daniel to attend " A Christmas for All, " in celebration of Unity, America, and Special Olympics. On a special crossover episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast a...
Dec 30, 2024•57 min•Ep. 748
Jonathan Sutter, CEO & Founder of Traveling Wiki sits down with Award-winning Podcaster Daniel Smrokowski after an impromptu conversation they had at O’Hare Airport a few months ago ago to talk about the largest non-profit resource center for travelers with disabilities. Join us as we follow up our conversation about TravelingWiki.com, Document Resources for TSA (as the sole resource for 20M American) with Autism, ALS, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s communities to enable access for t...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 747
