In this episode we give you a sneak peak of the Empower Hour's approach. Every week we will be giving away REAL, Powerful Science backed life hacks to move you into the future self you imagine today. Subscribe and follow along for a new approach to life change that ANYONE can accomplish.

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In this powerful conversation, Don Wyckoff sits down with Garrett Smith of Communities Not Cages to explore the urgent fight to reform New York State’s prison system. Together, they unpack how thousands of people—many sentenced as teenagers—are serving extreme, decades-long sentences for choices made before their brains were even fully developed.

Modern neuroscience shows that the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and long-term judgment, isn’t fully mature until around age 25. Yet young people as young as 17 have been given life sentences that ignore the science of human development and the capacity for change.

This episode highlights the movement pushing back against these injustices, including critical legislation like the Second Look Act and the Marvin Mayfield Act, which aim to bring humanity, science, and fairness into the sentencing and resentencing process.

If you care about justice, rehabilitation, and building real community safety, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Find out more about Garrett and his agency at https://www.communityalternatives.org

Or you can visit https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org

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Today I sit down with Emma Rimsa and Nate Hamilton of Miter Box Media. They are the creators of a new award winning documentary “The Power to Move” a Powerful film that tells the story of Thomas Quiter a man with Osteo Genesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease) who for 5 years was denied access to the mobility device that would actually help him to Independently integrate himself into his community. While leaving him trapped to the confines of his home.  Like Thomas, millions of Americans struggle with bureaucracy and insurance companies just to get the equipment they need to live independently in their communities.

The documentary was so powerful I had to meet the team and I'm glad I did, because I see the passion that drives them to tell this story and introduce a solution oriented approach that Tom and his crew of the mobility independence foundation (themif.org) have established by utilizing open source hardware to create mobility devices that work for the people that need them and making the designs available to all that need it. This move enables folks to build and repair their own mobility device without the “Intellectual Property” restraints most companies use.

If you would like to know more about the team at Miter Box Media please follow the link https://www.miterboxmedia.com

You can find out more about the documentary “The Power to Move” at https://www.miterboxmedia.com or by visiting Thomas Quiter’s Team at the Mobility Independence Foundation at www.themif.org  

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Today I sit down with Matt Lacey VP of the board and Director of R&D at the Mobility Independence Foundation

Matt’s background is in manufacturing and industrial maintenance. As a maintenance technician, he’s worked on both electrical and mechanical machinery. Matt grew up in a family that always did their own work to repair anything at their homes. From house repair to automotive and lawn equipment they would just get things done. Even neighbors in need of repair assistance can always count on him to do what they can not. He believes a community should come together and utilize each person’s skills to help each other and those who can not help themselves. He has a wife and 3 grown children that are making their own way in the world. His journey with The MIF began before its inception while helping Tom to repair and upgrade his chair. From those early beginnings he’s helping shape what we can do for generations to come

Find out more about the MIF and the Movement at : THEMIF.ORG

Douglas Hovey (Doug) is the Founding Chief Executive Officer of Independent Living, Inc., a consumer-directed, cross-disability service organization based in the Hudson Valley region of New York State. Since 1987, under Doug’s leadership, Independent Living, Inc. has grown from a staff of 3 to over 100 employees and has an affiliate company, Independent Home Care, employing 550 homecare workers. Doug has long championed the cause of equal rights, access, and opportunity for all persons with disabilities; recognizing that people with disabilities face many obstacles, including stigma, stereotype, discrimination, segregation, marginalization, underemployment, limited access to healthcare and affordable and accessible housing, to name a few. Independent Living focuses on the elimination of attitudinal and architectural barriers and supports individuals to turn their perceived deficits into assets.Doug’s professional training and diversified experiences have provided him with a wide range of knowledge and skills. He has coordinated many conferences, trained hundreds of businesses, and lectured widely at conventions, before TV and radio audiences and public and private sector workshops. He has also consulted on many commercial and residential construction projects to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities and the NYS Building Code. Moreover, he is regularly invited to deliver testimony before the NYS legislature regarding critically important disability legislation, policy and regulation.Doug holds graduate degrees in Health Care Administration and Rehabilitation Administration from the New School for Social Research in New York and The University at San Francisco, respectively, and is professionally and personally familiar with the challenges faced by people with disabilities. He serves as Chairman of the Orange County Human Rights Commission and a member of the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) and the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of NYS (CDPAANYS). Doug also serves on the NYS Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) and the NYS Master Plan on Aging Advisory committee. He has received numerous awards for his leadership in community services and disability rights, and is recognized for his expertise on many disability issues. Doug and his wife Julie live in the Town of Newburgh.

If you'd like to more about Independent Living Inc you can out more here: https://www.myindependentliving.org

Today I sit down with Former NY Senate candidate and CEO of The Mobility Independence Foundation and the Subject of the award winning documentary "The Power to Move"

Tom and his crew have fought for years to realize a movement that will finally allow people to make decisions for themselves by providing "Open Source Hardware" that will allow for faster acquisition of these highly regulated mobility devices and the ability to fix them without the insurance providers having the ability to hold up the process. This is how we fight the unscrupulous insurance providers looking only to profit at the expense of those who cannot fight.

You can find out more by going to https://themif.org

Contact Tom Directly at the [email protected]

Watch for the Documentary release in 2026 after the last showing at the European Film Festival

Today I sit down with 68 yr old Frank "The GOAT" White. He's a man with a story of anquish, alcholosim and demons who took a different path and created a life worth living through sobriety. Frank is a motivational speaker with a focus on sobriety, a dirt track racer and a hero in the world of recovery. Listen to his story and you will realize that you can accomplish anything with the right mindset.

If you would like to reach out to Frank you can find him @

https://www.facebook.com/frank.white.96199344

Today I sit down with a local legend who's found celebrity and fame in his own very unique way...By being true to his inner callings and pushing fear to the side Doug has created a life worth living and shares with us how it all came to be! A wild ride of a story the barely scratched the surface of this dude's life. Join me as Doug and I share some things that will encourage you to do the same AND get similar results!

Today I sit down with Executive Director of the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC).

We discuss The world of disabilities, where we've been and where we are now. We discuss the new Disability advocates Hall of Fame and touch on how we can do more to bring awareness to a topic that will certainly affect every person in the world at some point.Either a relative, spouse or yourself...Do you know how to make your home accessible or how to advocate for yourself?

These are the topics we cover but we also challenge the listeners to reach out and spread the message that none of us can afford to ignore!

Find out more about NYSILC here : https://nysilc.org

Find out more about NYAIL https://ilny.us

Today I sit down with Comedian Alex Riba. We discuss the inner dialogue that must happen when pushing past anxiety and jumping out of the comfort zone. Learn what it takes and hear the truth about pushing past your fears to find your own success.

Alex Riba can be found on Facebook - Stop by and say hello to a very funny dude who shows us that nervousness can be your niche or a super power when you know how to implement it into your daily purpose.

No more letting fear stop you! Keep pushing and visualizing the reality you want NOT the possibility that scares you.