Diversability Amplified Podcast: Adaptive Fitness for All ft. 2x Paralympian Alyssa Gialamas (S2:E3)

Diversability Leadership Collective member Alyssa Gialamas (she/her) joined Diversability CEO & Founder Tiffany Yu (she/her) to talk about adaptive fitness for all.

About our guest: 2x Paralympian in Rio 2016 and London 2012 holding 21 American records and swimming on Team USA for a decade. Founder of AMG Fitness a 501c3 non-profit that elevates fitness resources for people with disabilities by home workouts and in-person adaptive fitness classes.

Website: http://amgfitness.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssa.gialamas/

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Transcript

13:12:58 Hi everyone, this is Tiffany Yu here and we have decided that we are going to record an episode of the Diversability Amplified podcast.

13:13:08 I have our guest here, Alyssa Gialamas, and she is the Founder of AMG Fitness Foundation.

13:13:16 And I've got a lot, I've got a lot here that I can read off, but maybe we'll turn it over to Alyssa.

13:13:21 Alyssa, can you share a little bit more just introduce our audience to who you are and how you started AMG?

13:13:28 Yeah, absolutely. As Tiffany said, I'm Alyssa. And for those of you who can't see me, which is all of you because we're on a podcast.

13:13:37 I walk with long leg braces. I have something called arthrogryposis so I was born with it.

13:13:42 It's not genetic. It's kind of just what you get is what you get. So I walk with long leg braces and my hands are also affected and kind of a little a lot of life has been lived.

13:13:55 I am a two-time Paralympian and I started AMG Fitness after I retired from swimming.

13:14:02 And so during Covid, I was really interested in getting workouts at home and I was online and I really couldn't see anything for me specifically because I feel like there is so many great people in wheelchairs that show their workouts or so many people who can walk and share their workouts and there was no really like in between like I can't do squats but I'm not in a wheelchair

13:14:24 so. I really wanted to create something for everyone. I wanted someone to come on my website free of charge and get a great workout in no matter if they're seated standing or anything in between.

13:14:38 So AMG Fitness was actually started in my living room on Instagram Live. And so after a couple months of that, it transformed into a 501c3 nonprofit because I really, really value all of, I really think that.

13:14:57 There's a lot of boundaries when it comes to adaptive fitness like getting to a gym and getting out of the house and costs and I wanted to make sure those boundaries were as little or as less as possible.

13:15:11 Okay, there's so much that I want to dig into there, but first let's start with the Paralympics like what So one personal thing I like to share is for those who are familiar with my story.

13:15:23 My physical education, so I acquired my disability at 9 and my physical education class, it was not adaptive or integrated.

13:15:32 It was probably one of my most traumatic memories growing up. So I guess this question for you, you know, you were born with your disability, how did you personally get interested in adaptive sport it sounds like your sport is swimming and then what led you to the Paralympics and what was that experience like?

13:15:48 Yeah, absolutely. Another fun fact about me is I actually have a twin brother who is non-disabled.

13:15:55 So I was kind of born with a role model. I wanted to do everything he was doing. No matter if it was running, swimming, jumping.

13:16:02 Whatever. So my parent, my mom was also someone that was a really big force into the, adaptive world and in the sports world in general, both my parents, you know, grew up playing sports and so they wanted their kids to also grow up and have as many opportunities in sports as possible.

13:16:21 So I actually started swimming when I was 3 years old as a form of physical therapy and I loved it because it was the one sport I could beat my brother in.

13:16:29 He sank like a rock and I was able to swim. And so Growing up kind of thinking that, with this disability, I kind of, I really like swimming because I was free and I felt like when I took my braces off I was just like everyone else and so I think that's why I kept going.

13:16:46 I had no idea I was good at swimming. I say I fell into success. So I always am on an able body team, my entire childhood.

13:16:56 I didn't think I've heard about the Paralympics or adaptive sports till I was way older.

13:17:01 And I was, and so I got a little older and so people got a little faster so I was like in that weird in between that like you're not little anymore and people are getting more serious about their sports so I couldn't really keep up like I wanted to like I could when I was little.

13:17:17 So my mom put me in adaptive or wheelchair softball and that was kind of like my first plans into this adaptive sports world and like meeting other people with disabilities and that was eye opening.

13:17:31 And the coach there said, oh, you're a swimmer. And I said, yeah. And he kind of connected me to Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association and they watched me swim and they said you're really good and I was like I don't know I guess so I got stable body people I had no idea and so I went to nationals 6 months later and I actually broke an American record and so that's kind

13:17:52 of how I fell into the success of swimming so I guess that's kind of how I made it all the way to the Paralympics.

13:18:01 I think I was 14 when that happened. I remember A teacher actually in a year book. When I was, or when I was finishing up eighth grade row, I hope I see you in the Paralympics one day because I think it was the start of it and she was right.

13:18:16 She saw me in the Paralympics. My junior year of high school and then again junior year of college.

13:18:25 That's so cool and how was your experience at the Paralympics? What was that like?

13:18:29 It was awesome. I mean, being so young, I mean, I was, I didn't even have my license and I was going to London in the Paralympic.

13:18:37 So I think the first time around London, 2,012, it was the goal was just to be there.

13:18:43 So my goal was already set when I made the team so it was a really cool experience. I made finals in the 200 free and being able to put on my cap and gout or cabin goggles and having Jalamus with the American flag is something I'll never forget.

13:18:59 And so then coming back, the goal was to meddle in Rio. So I think a lot more pressure was on Rio.

13:19:06 You're older, you're more wise, you kind of know what's going on in the parallel, you kind of know what to expect.

13:19:11 You've been on the circuit for a long time. Like we've had worlds, you've had Pan Am games like you know what this world is like.

13:19:19 So that was definitely a lot more pressure. I didn't medal at we're all, or I didn't medal in Rio.

13:19:28 I didn't medal in Rio. So that was definitely disappointing, but I don't think it took away for just how incredible and how.

13:19:35 So that was definitely disappointing, but I don't think it took away for just how incredible and how privileged I am to be able to say that I went to

13:19:36 Yeah, and I want to share that. So. London, 2,012 and Rio, 2,016 also left behind.

13:19:48 There's something called like an Olympic and Paralympic legacy that each place that hosts the Host the games hope to leave behind and I know London and Rio both left behind something positive in terms in terms of the Paralympics.

13:20:01 Did you feel that when you were there so for London, at least my understanding of it. My understanding of it, I had too much caffeine.

13:20:10 My understanding of it is that the Paralympics were aired. It was like record number of hours that were aired on on their equivalent of NBC and then for Rio.

13:20:21 But I heard that all of the the stands were filled like you actually had an audience there. Did you did you feel that difference when you were there?

13:20:29 Absolutely. I think London was one of the coolest experiences when we were talking about that. Because I feel like it set the president for anything else coming forward.

13:20:44 Like London made the Olympics just as important as Earth made the Paralympics just as important as the Olympics.

13:20:51 Like you was plastered everywhere. It was sold out. Every single night and like to be able to see that and see how this city really came together.

13:20:58 To support something that America like really wasn't it wasn't where it should have been at that time.

13:21:08 Like, and so I think it's really cool to see the growth, especially now. I like turn on the TV and there's Jessica long and I'm like, yeah, it's like every single time or Tatiana or like anyone I'm like oh I don't have like and it is so cool because like coming from London like I came home and no one knew what the Paralympics

13:21:24 were like it was like oh yeah you went there and like to now see how it's grown like gives me so much pride and I saw that London like just set the president and I feel like Real followed that in a sense of like America was like, okay, like, we probably need to show this more because of what everyone else is doing, which is really cool as well.

13:21:45 And I think it's become a more household name and athletes have become a more household name and I think it's so cool to see it grow from where I was in London to now.

13:21:59 Yes, absolutely.

13:21:56 Yeah, I have 3 more questions on the Paralympics. Okay, so one is about the metal pay disparity.

13:22:06 One of my friends, her name is Jenny Sichel did a lot of advocacy around making sure that Paralympic metal pay was equitable to Olympic metal pay.

13:22:20 Did you like? Did you see any of those discrepancies while you were an athlete or did any of that concern you at the time or were you just like, I'm in high, I'm a high school junior.

13:22:31 I'm so excited to be here.

13:22:33 I think it hit me later on life mostly because I am a younger athlete. I was the younger athlete while training.

13:22:43 So the $400 I got every month because I was on Team U.S.A. is great when you're in college.

13:22:48 I'm like, yeah, please, I have no other income. That's great. And like now I realize that like you couldn't be a professional athlete after college and like survive on your own like it does not pay and so like I saw a lot of people like really I think that was a huge factor in either retiring or kind of moving somewhere.

13:23:09 That they might not want to move to or like kind of all of these things because you can't afford to be a professional summer and so I wasn't around when that was implemented.

13:23:19 It was after Rio, but to be able to see how much it impacted just the people I know that now we're swimming professionally and like being able to pay their rent and like not having to do weird side hustles or like a part-time job or like trying to kill yourself doing all of this while training because you don't have the resources and that and that I think that is the coolest thing so

13:23:48 I'm all for it but it was definitely a big issue like I remember. Even after Rio, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to retire and the parents and me and kind of like the first generation of my parents.

13:24:02 Were like, you graduate, you get a job. Like, repaid for school, you are gonna wake up and pay rent and go get a job and swimming isn't going to pay that so how you could you could do both but you can't just be a swimmer and so I feel like that is.

13:24:17 Definitely something people, hugely impacted people prior to. The metal money.

13:24:24 Yeah, I am now thinking back to like when I was a high school junior if I got $400 a month.

13:24:32 I would have been. I would have been elated.

13:24:33 Yeah, right and then I'm swimming I was still on TV for about 2 years. When I've started my full-time job and I was like, okay, I like this spot.

13:24:44 Like to definitely does it pay my rent.

13:24:47 Yeah, yeah, yeah. One of the things I have noticed in talking to more Paralympic athletes is that I feel like, I guess the question is like, how can we create better bridges between those who are disability rights or disability justice activists with the Paralympic movement and adaptive athletes.

13:25:08 Absolutely, I think it's really cool now in my new role in G and kind of like stepping out of the Paralympic world and meeting more people in another world and like it's trying to combine both of those 2, right?

13:25:23 Like there are incredible powerhouse people that are doing so many incredible things in the disability rights community and then there's so many people that are doing incredible things in the sports community for people with disabilities.

13:25:34 Like I'm I'm still wondering how to bridge that because they're so similar in my mind and they have so many things that like they can benefit from each other but it is like a weird gap like I don't know why but like I feel like sometimes you're there on one side or you're on the other and I really wish it came together.

13:25:55 And the sense to be like we're all fighting for the same issue. And I do believe that sometimes, I know like just from past conversations and different people I meet.

13:26:08 In the sport, I know like just from past conversations and different people and me in the sport world work fine of as a token of inspiration and different people and we, in the sport world, we're fine of as a token of inspiration and a lot of people fight.

13:26:15 Like don't wanna be a token of inspiration when they go to the supermarket or get on a bus or like all of their very Monday normal things should it be a token of inspiration.

13:26:27 And I definitely see both sides of that, but I do think that being an athlete no matter if you're disabled or not, but I do think that being an athlete no matter if you're disabled or not takes a lot no matter if you're disabled or not takes a lot of work getting to the Olympics and Paralympics takes a lot of work getting to the Olympics and Paralympics takes a lot

13:26:38 of work and I think that maybe they can shift their mindset being like oh it's because they have disability it's like no they have a disability and they're swimming 4 HA day and working their butts off to get somewhere just like you are and I think that's maybe how you bridge to Gap. We're both fighting for the same thing.

13:27:03 But you are finding it a different way than we're fighting.

13:27:03 Yeah, one of the things I often talk about is that there's no one way that advocacy looks.

13:27:05 Right.

13:27:06 And I think I think what you're talking about like To make it to the Paralympics?

13:27:12 You have to be very extremely good at your sport, right? This is not something that you can walk on per se.

13:27:20 And so I think I think part of the gap is so so the injury I have it's called a brachial plexus injury and there are Paralympic athletes who are snowboarders and things like that.

13:27:32 But, but I. And I guess what I'm trying to say is sometimes when people meet me, they'll be like, oh, I know this Paralympic athlete who does XYZ sport, maybe you can do that too, right?

13:27:44 Right.

13:27:44 And, and I think it diminishes how hard Every athlete works at their sport in order to be able to represent Team U.S.A. or their country or even compete in this event.

13:27:57 Right, like you are not just showing up and becoming a Paralympian. It was really interesting and I'm gonna use very, very generic terms right now.

13:28:08 I had a conversation a few weeks ago and someone was like, oh, I'm a I was a professional summer for 12 years.

13:28:15 I went to the Paralympics and I was like, oh my gosh, me too, I can't believe we never ran into each other like blah blah blah.

13:28:22 I'm talking about all of this and he was like, oh no, I was just, you know, like I went to nationals and I was like, okay, well, if you're not, apparently being like, it's kind of like say do what to your high school basketball game and you and you're saying you're an NBA player like it's you know and like really realizing how much

13:28:38 work it takes to be able to say that you are a parent Olympian and like having that title is important.

13:28:44 Yeah. Alright, my last question on. On your Paralympic life. So before we started recording, we were chatting a little bit about LA.

13:28:56 28, the Olympics and the Paralympics are coming back to the US. I think for the first time since Salt Lake City, maybe what's that 2,004?

13:29:04 And I think Coming back to LA. For the first time since the 19 eighties. What are you hoping the legacy that LA.

13:29:15 28 leaves behind in terms of the Paralympic legacy.

13:29:17 I hope it changes the game. I hope more people recognize the Paralympics. I hope more people come to the Paralympics than the Olympics.

13:29:25 I want it to be the star of the show because I believe it should be the star of the show and I believe that with this could change so many lives of so many Paralympians and really elevate that and get ran deals and all of those things that we see.

13:29:42 Michael Phelps and Ryan Lofty and all of those big household names be able to receive Katie Lindecki.

13:29:51 I really hope that after all LA, 2028 that we're saying Jessica Long, Mackenzie, Tatiana Mcfadden, like I could probably list all of the people that I really hope that every time you say that they know exactly who you're talking about.

13:30:06 Are you gonna come out to LA? Yeah.

13:30:08 Absolutely. It's only for the Paralympics, though. No Olympics.

13:30:14 Alright, I will see you there. We'll make it if we don't meet before, 2028.

13:30:21 I will see you. I'll see you there.

13:30:21 Yes, absolutely.

13:30:24 Okay, good segue. So one of the things you mentioned, you mentioned meeting this other person who said that they were a Paralympic athlete for 12 years.

13:30:32 They were and then you later found out that they were in the nationals and I guess didn't qualify for the Paralympic team.

13:30:41 I wanted to cite this study. Which says that the nonprofit Lake Shore Foundation revealed that 81% of people with disabilities do not feel comfortable in fitness spaces.

13:30:53 And I actually think you are one of the certified. Trainers? Are you part, are you part of this initiative?

13:30:58 Yes.

13:31:00 Okay, so, can, let's, let's talk a little bit more about that. 81 that 81%.

13:31:05 Like who are some of the people who are coming into the classes that you're teaching at AMG fitness.

13:31:12 Do you do you feel like that 81% number is accurate?

13:31:16 Absolutely, you know, like I have a physical disability and I feel like that is one of the ways that my nonprofit is really kind of like standing out besides all of the other nonprofits in a way because I'm teaching what I preach and I am I am living with what I am trying to teach as well.

13:31:37 So it's not someone who is able-bodied saying, oh, I would love for you to have be in my class.

13:31:43 It's like, hey, I'm doing this too. I'm doing it adapted to like we're in this together where you I have men so many instances that I don't feel comfortable and a jam or a fitness space.

13:31:52 So here is a very open, very Mary open space that you can feel safe in. And I really think it's cool because, I really think it's cool because I recently had someone come to my class and you could tell that she was, I recently had someone come to my class and you could tell that she was their best.

13:32:11 I recently had someone come to my class and you could tell that she was nervous and you could tell that she was nervous because, I recently had someone come to my class and you could tell that she was nervous when she like first showed up and like a lot of my friends come to like it's just people to help or people to kind of support like I really try to make this as much of a community.

13:32:18 Based as possible and get really like my did people there and so she walked in I could tell she was nervous and by the end of it she was like wow this is one of the best workouts like I haven't felt like I could walk into a workout class since my injury and this is the first time I felt comfortable I felt like an instructor knew what she was talking about and like really had a great workout and I think that's why exactly

13:32:43 why I do it and I We are talking about this earlier, like how do we get like where do we find the motivation to get these people to come to our classes to come to virtual workouts.

13:32:56 Like I think the hardest part is getting someone to show up and like again just ability or not it's hard to show up for things it's hard to say oh I want to work out at 8 30 in the morning on a Saturday morning when you're in bed and you have some coffee but I'm like really pinpointing like okay I think that you need 1% really comes from even prior to coming into those

13:33:19 fitness spaces.

13:33:21 Yeah, so I mean, that's the 1 million dollar question, which is how do you how do you get people to shop?

13:33:27 Because even if I look at my own journey so I became disabled in 1997. I can still distinctly remember the first time I tried and adaptive.

13:33:38 Try to do some sports activity, which was rock climbing. That was 2016. So that's 19 years after I became disabled.

13:33:47 Feeling like I couldn't even take that first step. So I'm curious if you have been able to.

13:33:52 Find some ways to really encourage people to show up because because that is the hardest part.

13:33:57 Right. I think it's worth a mouth and I think she, I remember her walking out. But I'm telling all of my friends about this and like really seeing that and I think it's word of mouth and I think it's really trying to show them that it is a safe space.

13:34:13 I know what I'm doing and that I am also someone with the disability. I get it. We don't even have to say anything.

13:34:18 And we both understand each other in a lot of different senses because we've had a lot of the same experiences.

13:34:25 And so I think, you know, really trying to put forward that this is a safe space.

13:34:34 It is, I know I keep saying that and I need to find another way to say that. But trying to get people to show up to be like, this is good for you and this is good for your community and I think.

13:34:45 You know, and hopefully getting more people to come on a regular basis. I feel like that is also very difficult.

13:34:52 They can come and then things get in the way and people, you know, like if you had put fitness first in a really long time.

13:35:01 I think that's really hard to then fitness first. So it's kind of finding the motivation to come and come again.

13:35:11 Yeah, absolutely.

13:35:09 Yeah, and you feel great afterwards. But. But I love what you're saying about you, you kinda, you know, you and I are, we're both going to be the biggest cheerleaders for whatever we're building, right?

13:35:21 Because we're building what we wish would have existed when we were younger. And so finding those evangelists who can go out and talk about the things that you're building and bring a friend the next time.

13:35:32 So the cool thing is is that AMG has actually had a lot of really incredible winds recently, like you got an airy grant.

13:35:41 Can you talk about? Some of some of the momentum that you've been able to have over, it just feels like the last couple of months, but yeah, but yeah, share some of the wins that you've had.

13:35:48 Yeah, absolutely. OG has had some great winds recently and it's really cool because I think when like what you're saying when you're building something and you're in the nitty gritty and you're in it every single day you really kind of forget.

13:36:02 How far you've come because I am someone that's a perfectionist and I'm always looking ahead, right?

13:36:07 And as someone who's also building something, you're always looking what 6 months are gonna look like, what a year is gonna look like and you kind of forget to celebrate the winds of like, oh yeah, that was really awesome.

13:36:18 And like how far we've come and. Hi, I have an incredible grant writer and I have calls with her weekly and she's really the words behind AMG.

13:36:31 I feel like I'm someone that likes to spit out a lot of words and she can crack them and write them so beautifully and like we get a really great message across.

13:36:37 And I remember submitting it to Erie and we were on the phone and I was like I really because just how we were to things and like we've like really learned how to encompass what we're trying to do in a great spin of words and sometimes you only have like a couple characters or different things like that.

13:36:56 And I remember submitting and I was like, I feel like this was the best one we've submitted so far.

13:36:59 Like we told the story, we did it well and we were rewarded, which is incredible, an area is such a, I remember the first time, they put a bro in a wheelchair in one of their ads for bras and I think I bought every bra. Like I've directly remember that.

13:37:17 I think I was like in eighth from ninth grade. I don't know how well there was but it was a really big deal because it was the first time any company has really done that and like they still stand by it and I think that is an incredible thing.

13:37:29 To be able to partner with Harry.

13:37:33 All right, so tell me about this grant writer and are they available for hire?

13:37:37 Yes, she is. I mean, don't take her away from, A. I'm definitely someone who does that, but she's incredible.

13:37:48 Her name's Self. She actually started with me right when AMG first began. And she was like, oh, I worked for the Boys at Girls Club and did a whole bunch of incredible things.

13:37:58 She works for, at a museum nonprofit right now. And so she really has such good eye of finding things that work out for us and how to pursue a in that space because I could do all the fitness I could do all of the other things but in a sense I could do all the fitness.

13:38:17 I could do all of the other things, but in a sense of nonprofit world, I knew very little.

13:38:18 I just knew I wanted it to make a nonprofit. So she is definitely the brains behind all of that.

13:38:21 Yeah, and I think what I'm appreciating is that, you know, We're not all doing this work in a vacuum, right?

13:38:29 You turn to people for support for different things that you need. And one of the, you know, you talked, you talked about this, Airy Grant, the fact that they, they were really a pioneer in terms of adaptive intimates for a long time.

13:38:43 And I don't know if you saw, but this New York Fashion Week Victoria Secret. Came out with their adaptive line.

13:38:47 Yeah.

13:38:50 I mean, what do, do you think? I don't know, I don't even know what the question is there.

13:38:54 Do you have any reactions to kind of seeing that happen.

13:38:58 Absolutely. I was born in 1995. Like I grew up with none of this. Like, and to be able, I kind of go back to being a little girl and being able to now see.

13:39:09 All of these incredible women with disabilities and have different bodies and being able to be like, oh, I could be whatever I want.

13:39:16 I can be in Victoria's secret fashion show. I can be an entrepreneur. I can be a businesswoman and I feel like there was nothing there so much like a long time ago that had any of that so to be able to see those women is really cool and to be able to see the next generation of girls with disabilities grow up is also really cool.

13:39:35 So it warms my 4 or 5 year old heart when I think about that because that one was like oh like what you know like there wasn't any role models there wasn't any role models there wasn't any role models there wasn't anything like that so

13:39:46 Yeah, I have been thinking about this Victoria Secret thing because I just remember being a kid and you would get those catalogs and Victoria's Secret.

13:39:55 Defined for me what was sexy and when we couldn't see ourselves and we were like, oh, we're not that, right?

13:40:00 And AREA has a very different brand, right? They to me they feel more approachable, they feel more I don't know, youthful is the word that or fun.

13:40:10 Different, different.

13:40:10 Yeah, like comfy. I would say comfy like they like you know like everything they oh like you know like I feel like I'm comfortable there but Victoria's secret I agree like that was you knew what Victoria's secret angel models looked like for years and years and years.

13:40:26 Yeah, yeah, yeah. So one of the things I like to talk about is a little bit of real talk.

13:40:32 So. You don't run AMG fitness full time, right?

13:40:37 Correct.

13:40:38 Can you talk a little bit kind of? Talk a little bit about your multi-hyphenate life, how you make it work, how you're able to find balance.

13:40:47 Yeah, absolutely. I think it is. Really important and I feel like it is something that I've been ingrained in that like you can follow your patch and you can do it all.

13:40:58 I would love A and G to be my full-time job at some point, but that is not where we're at right now.

13:41:02 We're startup, we're young, we have a lot more learning to do. And I am someone that wants to be financially independent and financially smart and I think I was raised with those values.

13:41:14 So having a pee of having a nice paycheck every month is a good thing and I feel like that is something like I don't know the social media is like being an entrepreneur blah blah blah and I was like I like that I know when I get paid and I like how much I get paid every month and I think you know like everyone's like ditch corporate corporate or whatever and I was like I

13:41:34 think there's so much to have when you are in corporate as well and I don't think it's a negative thing.

13:41:40 To not only follow your passion and do everything that makes my part your heart happy but also have a full time job and be successful in that full time job too.

13:41:50 I think it is a balancing act. I'm still learning the balancing act. But it's very, important to me to kind of do both and really just, be able to, yeah.

13:42:02 Yeah, I, I think especially in the advocacy world people are like, well, that's your paycheck.

13:42:08 And then you're like, well, I actually can't make rent, you know, and, and that's, and that's important.

13:42:14 That's important and needed too. So.

13:42:14 Yeah, and like having a disability is so expensive. I will have good health insurance to pay for my braces.

13:42:24 I want you have to live in places that are accessible and like there's so many added things that I think comes with this ability and it's terms of finances.

13:42:34 So I think it's not, I don't, it's not as easy as everyone says to be like, oh, ditch corporate.

13:42:42 And I think, it is to be said that I respect so many people who are in corporate roles and, work really hard at those jobs.

13:42:49 Yeah, and fun fact, I don't know if you know this, but diversibility actually started as a side hustle while I was still working in corporate full-time and you know even now you know I've been I've been doing this full time since 2,017.

13:43:03 But up until then, and even still now, I reflect on how

13:43:09 Sometimes, sometimes as a disabled person, you have a lot of power being in in the company in the company as well.

13:43:31 Yeah, absolutely.

13:43:18 But I'm a big fan of the side hustle. I used to do a lot of interviews about like how to how to manage it and then I and then I think I burnt out and I and I was like I can't talk about this anymore I have to pick one because But, all right, I think.

13:43:35 Was there a question that you wish I would have asked you?

13:43:42 Huh. I don't think so. I think it's all really good.

13:43:47 I don't think so.

13:43:48 Okay. My last question, or I guess I have 2 questions for you. So.

13:43:54 Part of the reason why we are recording this podcast, we'll have some real talk in here is because we had brought Alyssa in the host, a virtual adaptive fitness class, and I was the only one who showed up.

13:44:05 And so we're gonna reschedule her to come in November. But, But yeah, I don't know what the question is there.

13:44:13 How, how do you think we should get people to show up in November?

13:44:19 Oh man, maybe you listen to this podcast and be like, oh yeah, they're awesome.

13:44:23 I should really go work out with them. But no.

13:44:25 But also, I like, yeah, and I, the fact that you're a 2 times Paralympian, I was like, hello, I was very excited about that.

13:44:32 Okay. Yeah, you know that I think this is what I really tried to incorporate in all my messaging and getting people to show up is that Oh, I have a plan for all abilities.

13:44:46 So whatever you come, come as you are and I know that I would take care of you, know that I will be ready to.

13:44:55 Serve in the workout you want and just come because I think the more people that come and the more people that Kind of participate the better the class and the better you feel and I think it is such a way to get started in virtual fitness if you don't know what that is or very weary of that or the any 1% that don't feel comfortable come anyway and maybe don't put your camera on and

13:45:21 say hey I'm just gonna watch and see what this is all about and I bet you had to add of it you will be ready for your next class.

13:45:29 Yeah, and I think it's one of those things too where There's something really special about, even if it's an intimate class, being able to come and ask the questions that maybe you were afraid to in, you know, a large hot yoga class somewhere where, you know, people are doing stamps that you can't do.

13:45:49 And so, so this is very special having a list of here is very special and I always close with the same question, which is what do you grateful for today?

13:45:58 I am grateful. That it's Thursday. That I got to talk to you.

13:46:05 I think this is such an unexpected, surprise and I think we had a really awesome conversation. So I'm really grateful for that.

13:46:12 And I am grateful for my family and friends and I think I wake up every day and I'm really grateful for the people in my life.

13:46:19 I love that. And if we want to follow you, where's the best place to do that?

13:46:23 Yes, follow me on Instagram under Alyssa, follow me on TikTok under AMG fitness.

13:46:31 Follow me on LinkedIn. I can post all about AMG there under Alyssa Gialamas and I also have a Facebook page under Alyssa Gialamas.

13:46:41 So there's a lot of ways to reach out and please don't feel free to reach out.

13:46:44 And we're trying to help Alyssa grow on TikTok so that she creates more more content there.

13:46:50 And actually, you might appreciate this. There is, I'm actually part of a program right now called Sports on TikTok.

13:46:58 It's like trying to bring together a lot of sports creators and part of why trying to bring together a lot of sports creators and part of why I put my name in a lot of sports creators and part of why I put my name in is because I feel like I'm like this unlikely athlete who like had so many bad experiences around physical education has, but I will try everything at least once.

13:47:12 And swimming is actually my last. The last thing I want to figure out.

13:47:18 Oh, awesome!

13:47:20 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, thank you for being a guest on the Diversability Amplified podcast.

13:47:27 And for those who are listening in check out the show notes where we will include all of Alyssa's links that she mentioned as well.

13:47:34 And we hope to see some of you in November. Maybe if I get it all set up in time, we can go ahead and put the link.

13:47:39 Put the link for you to sign up there as well.