We asked experts from a broad range of industries to open up to us about things they know about their industry but that we probably don’t and we’ve shared some of those responses below.

Bob Smiley | Comedian

Being a comedian is hard work. I actually think comedian is the only job that other people automatically think they can do. You never meet a brain surgeon at a party and think “I could do that.” However, a good comedian makes it look so easy on stage that the people in the audience think they can do it. But, in reality, it’s hard work and not everyone CAN do it. People also don’t factor in all the Junior High Lock-in shows you have to do at 1AM right after the shaving cream fight just to get your name out there, or the corporate show you do for 200 workers forced to sit through your act before getting their bonus checks.
When you first start out you have to take every gig just to get stage time to practice your material. Read more>>

Tania Rouser | Painter

Painting and art making is incomplete without marketing and content creating for social media. Read more>>

Yvette Plummer Burkhalter | Executive Director of THRIVE Center and Show and Tell

I believe people believe that people with intellectual developmental disabilities (I/DD) have their needs met by taxpayers. The truth is that families/caregivers have to fight to get support and services that their loved one with I/DD is eligible to have in order for them to live in the community independently. The crazy bureaucracy, the nonsensical rules that families had no part in creating, the exhaustion and uncompensated efforts families must endure to keep their loved ones from being in an institution are far from equitable or inclusive. Not to mention that BIPOC families that have a loved one with I/DD are not only underserved but many are not served at all. In addition, there is a long waiting list for eligible people with I/DD to receive long-term support and services as well. It’s a broken system that taxpayers pay to keep going. Read more>>