#100 - I Was Told I Might Never Walk Again. Now I'm Running the Boston Marathon
Summary
In this conversation, Caylie McMahon shares her inspiring journey from realizing a lifelong dream to facing a life-altering diagnosis of a spinal tumor. She recounts her experiences during the pandemic and the challenges of surgery and recovery. With unwavering support from her family and the University of Michigan community, Caylie navigates her rehabilitation, relearning to walk and eventually returning to the field. She now has her sights set on the Boston Marathon this April, giving back to an organization that did so much for her.
Subscribe to the AdaptX Podcast for more inspiring stories like Caylie's.
Takeaways
Caylie's journey highlights the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.
The support system from family and friends is crucial during rehabilitation.
Relearning to walk after surgery was a significant mental and physical challenge.
Training for the Boston Marathon symbolizes her recovery and determination.
Her athletic background helped her navigate the challenges of recovery.
The experience taught her to appreciate and celebrate the little things in life.
Caylie plans to apply the lessons learned from her journey to her professional career.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Caylie's Journey
00:56 The Stanford Commitment and Its Challenges
03:47 Gap Year in England: A New Direction
06:10 The Tumor Diagnosis: A Life-Altering Moment
10:03 Surgery and Recovery: The Road to Healing
13:52 Support from Michigan: A Team Family
17:59 Relearning to Walk: The Mental Battle
22:08 Returning to the Field: A New Perspective
26:01 Training for the Boston Marathon: A New Challenge
30:00 Transitioning to Professional Life: Lessons Learned
Thank you to our show sponsor, Resolution Fitness. Resolution supplies commercial, home, and adaptive fitness equipment, supporting gyms, condos, and rehabilitation centers, and community spaces in creating inclusive, durable environments built to perform.
Learn more at https://www.resolutionfitness.ca/ (https://www.resolutionfitness.ca/)
29 Oct 2025
#099 - Making Communication Accessible and Empowering for All: The Story of Verbali with Shay Cohen
Summary
In this episode of the AdaptX Podcast, Brendan Aylward speaks with Shay Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Verbali, an innovative AAC platform designed to enhance communication for children with speech challenges. Shay shares the personal story behind Verbali, inspired by his son Matan, who is nonverbal. The conversation delves into the limitations of traditional AAC tools and how Verbali leverages AI to create a more fluid and natural communication experience. The discussion also covers customization options, the role of user feedback, and the future vision for the product, including potential integrations with fitness environments and eye gaze technology.
Takeaways
Shay Cohen's motivation for Verbali stems from his son Matan's communication challenges.
Verbali aims to provide a more natural conversation flow for AAC users.
AI is used to predict and suggest responses, enhancing communication speed.
Customization is key to making AAC tools effective for individual users.
The app learns from user interactions to improve its suggestions over time.
User feedback is actively sought to enhance the app's features.
The vision includes expanding Verbali's capabilities to various devices, including smartwatches.
Social stories can be created using AI to prepare children for new environments.
Eye gaze technology is on the roadmap for future integration.
The goal is to make AAC accessible and engaging for all users.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Verbali and Its Mission
02:53 - The Personal Story Behind Verbali
06:06 - Enhancing Communication with AI
08:55 - Customization and User Experience
12:01 - The Role of AI in AAC Technology
15:12 - Addressing Concerns and Challenges with AI
17:54 - User Personas and Their Needs
21:09 - Integrating Contextual Signals for Better Communication
23:47 - Future Plans and Pricing Models
30:47 - The Evolution of Communication Tools
39:23 - User Feedback and Iteration
43:15 - Expanding Use Cases in Different Environments
49:20 - Future Innovations and Inclusivity
56:57 - Accessing and Supporting the Technology
Verbali - links
Website: https://www.verbali.io (https://www.verbali.io)
Ma-Talk on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ma-talk-ai/id6747360381?platform=ipad (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ma-talk-ai/id6747360381?platform=ipad)
Ma-Talk on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verbali.matalkai&pcampaignid=web_share (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verbali.matalkai&pcampaignid=web_share)
Verbali on the social networks:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Verbali-AI (https://www.youtube.com/@Verbali-AI)
X: https://x.com/verbaliAI (https://x.com/verbaliAI)
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verbali-ai (https://www.linkedin.com/company/verbali-ai)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verbaliAI (https://www.facebook.com/verbaliAI)
7 Oct 2025
#098 - Bridging Communication Gaps: The Hi There Solutions Story with Chase and John Prieve
Summary
In this episode of the AdaptX Podcast, Brendan Aylward speaks with Chase and John Prieve, founders of Hi There Solutions, a company dedicated to creating communication solutions for the deaf and hard of hearing community. They discuss their personal connections to the deaf community, the development of their products Hi There and Just Talk, and the challenges they face in scaling their business while ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The conversation highlights the importance of community feedback, the need for awareness in the market, and their vision for the future of accessibility technology.
Takeaways
Hi There Solutions was inspired by personal experiences with hearing loss.
The company offers two main products: Hi There and Just Talk.
Hi There provides instant video calling with captions in multiple languages.
Just Talk facilitates face-to-face communication between deaf and hearing individuals.
The business model includes both B2C and B2B approaches.
Compliance with the ADA is crucial for businesses using their technology.
The founders emphasize the importance of community feedback in product development.
Funding challenges are common for startups in the accessibility space.
The company aims to expand its reach to various industries and communities.
Future plans include innovations in education, music, and gaming.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to Hi There Solutions
00:49
The Origin Story of Hi There Solutions
04:55
Understanding the Business Model and Compliance
11:55
Challenges in Accessibility and Business Expansion
17:20
Demonstrating Value Beyond the Deaf Community
22:33
Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges
25:02
Navigating Software Development as Non-Technical Founders
26:02
Funding and Scaling Challenges
26:53
Targeting Diverse Business Verticals
27:53
The Importance of the Deaf Olympics
30:13
Fitness Industry's Role in Accessibility
31:56
Leveraging University Resources for Growth
32:59
Challenges with Major Tech Companies
34:58
The Spark of Innovation from Personal Experience
35:51
Improving Fitness Accessibility for All
37:48
Vision for the Future of Hi There Solutions
Just Talk! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_4S5uhstu0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_4S5uhstu0)
Hi There!!! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhNWknAWNA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhNWknAWNA)
Website: www.hitheresolutions.com (http://www.hitheresolutions.com)
Hi There Solutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hithere_solutions/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/hithere_solutions/?hl=en)
Who has been a guest on AdaptX Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Faruk Musema
Tony Jacobsen
Nate Nester
Brandon Biggs
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
17,812
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
15 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
19 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
47
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
71
Contact AdaptX Podcast
Guest appearances
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