FOR THE NERD PODCAST
  • Home
  • About
    • About Scott
    • FTN Contributors
    • FTN Team
  • Podcast Episodes
  • Preview Clips
  • Contact

Special Guest Announcement: Stacey Gordon

9/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Scott Murray

​In the last nine years, I've consistently included podcast episodes about Jim Henson.  I cannot imagine my childhood without his genius, entertaining and educational work.  The  attachments and memories of The Muppets and Sesame Street are still with me to this day.

One of the many genius things about Jim's imagination and creativity was the ability to combine entertainment with education. Granted, many people can effectively do that today, but in Jim's day - he broke the code for simultaneously achieving it with children AND adults.  After Jim tragically passed away, the process of continuing his traditions was going to be challenging.

However, one of the powerful ways Sesame Street continued his mission to educate children and adults was the creation of Julia - a Muppet with autism.  The importance of her presence is obvious when it comes to children. Julia helps them better understand someone like Julia while showing how people can treat her with compassion, understanding and inclusion.  Yet, adults or other parents can benefit from watching Julia as well.

Before getting the opportunity to bring Julia to life, performer Stacey Gordon worked as a habilitator (not rehabilitator) for families with special needs children, including those with autism. One particular job required her to work 46 hours a week.  So, when her son was diagnosed with autism, she was prepared, but that didn't mean certain challenges would be any easier.

Part of her experience as a parent has included watching kids and adults respond to her son in disappointing and hurtful ways. On the other hand, she has a lot of pride in the brilliance and "superpowers" that he possesses. 

When you combine this experience with her history in puppetry, you have someone who was born to bring Julia to life. 

Autism is also an important part of our lives. My wife's brother Zac is autistic, and I've watched him accomplish so many amazing things in the past 20 years.

September 24th is Jim Henson's birthday. So, that week's episode will be dedicated to him, his work and his legacy. I'm honored to announce that Stacey Gordon will be our special guest on the show. Joe Hennes (Tough Pigs) will also be on to discuss memories of Jim Henson.

0 Comments

    Nerd blog

    All about nerd culture and the show.

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020

    Categories

    All
    Anime
    Ant-Man
    Back To The Future
    Batman
    Celebrity Interviews
    Claudia Wells
    Comic Books
    Dan Ortiz
    Darth Vader
    DC Comics
    DC Fandome
    Discovery Cove
    Disney World
    Elise Baughman
    Fandom
    Hanna
    Harry Potter
    Into The Badlands
    James Tolkan
    Jeanette White​
    Jim Henson
    Justin Cook
    Lego
    Michael Austin
    Podcasting
    Prop Culture
    Red Dwarf
    Scott Murray
    Sesame Street
    Stacey Gordon
    Stargirl
    Star Trek
    Star Wars
    The MCU
    The Muppets
    Tom Farr
    Transformers
    T-shirts
    TV Shows
    Universal Studios
    Vacations
    Video Games

    RSS Feed

Social Media

Email and phone

contact@ftnshow.com
1-800-513-NERD (6373)

Subscribe 

Apple Podcasts       Radio Public
Spotify                          Amazon Music
Stitcher
Copyright 2020 For the Nerd Podcast
  • Home
  • About
    • About Scott
    • FTN Contributors
    • FTN Team
  • Podcast Episodes
  • Preview Clips
  • Contact