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Q The Conversation
Paul Amadeus Lane and Bryson Foster have teamed up to host a podcast designed to highlight assistive technology and the many great people and organizations supporting the disability community.
Guests will include nonprofit organizers, assistive technology experts and people making their unique mark in this exciting and ever-changing world.
This podcast is sponsored by Quantum Rehab. Paul and Bryson are both long-time users and advocates of Quantum power wheelchairs.
Q The Conversation
Brewability
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Count them 1, 2, 3 guests on this great episode with a business that has been making a great, tasty change within the disabled community.
Brewability is a brewery and pizzeria devoted to crafting inclusivity and empowerment alongside remarkable beer and delicious food. Employing adults with cognitive, developmental and physical disabilities while welcoming patrons of all ages and abilities, they are pioneering a delicious, new brand of belonging.
Learn more about Brewability at: https://www.brew-ability.com/
Edge 4 - the new and improved mid-wheel drive - group 3 complex rehab power wheelchair from Quantum Rehab. Uniting the best qualities of its predecessors with next-gen features, Edge 4 sets a new standard for mid-wheel drive excellence.
Quantum Rehab supports open and candid conversations between our hosts and guests. Views and opinions are theirs and do not necessarily represent the collective view of Quantum Rehab.
I'm bobbing my head.
SPEAKER_03What about you, man? Hey, Paul. Tell you what, anytime you hear that song, you know what time it is. It's time to cue the conversation once again, Paul. Really great to be back with you once again, my friend. And man, we've got an action pack episode today. We don't have one. We don't have two. Paul, we've got three guests on today that have a really interesting story, a really interesting business. I'm excited to get into it, aren't you?
SPEAKER_05I am too, Bryson. And they have an incredible story. You know, it really resonates with our community and everything. So I am looking forward to it, man. We're gonna make it do what it does. We have a lot of fun. And to kind of tease the you know, the folks out there. Oh, first, let me say this. Thank you so much for tuning in. Like, hit the subscribe button, comment on these episodes, share them, because we love you as our viewers and our listeners, and we love doing this, Bryson and I, we sure do. So, Bryson, to kind of set the mood while we're gonna talk about today, what is your favorite pizza topic?
SPEAKER_03That's a tough one, Paul. That's a really tough one. I think for me, pepperoni, right? But that's kind of boring. That's kind of boring. I've always been a buffalo chicken pizza kind of guy, though. Spice it up, you know what I'm saying? I I I I like that a lot. You don't get that in a lot of places sometimes, but I tell you what, I definitely think a good buffalo chicken pizza always hits the spot for me. What about you, Paul? What's going on? Your pizza, man. I'm gonna have to try that, man.
SPEAKER_05You know what, you know what? When I was younger, you know, I was like just a pepperoni guy. Then I started grabbing eight of pepperoni and sausage, then I went like everything on my pizza, but now I'm basic now. You know, give me some some sausages, some jalapenos, and I'm good with it. You know, that's to me, I'm I'm I'm cool with it. And it it depends on what type of pepperoni. I like the pepperoni that's kind of look like almost big like bologna. You know what I mean? They're not they're not salami, but they they're big, they're big pepperoni, so I like that and everything. But that's that's how, oh, I forgot. You gotta put some garlic too. Throw some garlic all around that pizza, sprinkle some oregano on it, and then I'm there, Bryson. I'm there. Oh, what's your favorite beverage when it comes to uh your pizza?
SPEAKER_03Ah, that's that's a good question, Paul. Well, you know, I will say this I think I'm gonna have to go with a local favorite. Paul, you might have not heard about this, but we might have to get you hooked up with some cher wine that's brewed here, made in Salisbury, North Carolina. That's where it's based. It's a great cherry flavor. I love a good cheer wine with some pizza. I don't know why, it's just a great combination. And I think if they don't have cheer wine, because some places don't have it, because they're uncultured. Um, I would say, let's go with a Pepsi. I like a nice, nice, nice Pepsi with pizza. I I don't get into the alcohol too much side of it, but Paul, what about you, man? Are you a beer with pizza kind of guy? Or are you are you soda like myself? Come on now.
SPEAKER_05Well, you know, there's different levels of Paul, right? So um younger Paul with his pizza, Thunderbird, or old English 800, right? Smalt liquor out of the bag, right? Okay, fine. But when Paul got a little older, Paul, you know, I do not like root beer, but for some reason, root beer and pizza go hand in hand together. Nowadays, you know, I'll do my pizza with maybe like some alkaline water, um, something with not a lot of sugar in it. So that's how I get down with it now. But Bryson, one of these days, we gotta get a pizza, we gotta get a couple of bottles of old English 800 in the in a brown paper bag, and we're gonna have some fun doing the video, all right?
SPEAKER_03All right, Paul. I don't do alcohol, but hey, you know what? For you, I would I would fight through and take some couple sips, even though alcohol's not it for me. But I would have lives.
SPEAKER_05You know, we gotta do two prices. We gotta pour a little liquor out for the homies, too, who's not with us.
SPEAKER_03So that's always, always Mr. Amade is lane, always.
SPEAKER_05Hey, but without any further delay, let's bring on our very special guest.
SPEAKER_03How are y'all doing? Good to have you on with the podcast. We're really excited to talk about uh all that you get to do. For those that don't know, uh brewability is a really great cause. It's a really great business. Um we're super excited to have y'all on because what Paul and I talk about a lot with our podcast is we want to bring people on who are making waves in the disability community. Um and you three are are really doing that. Um so without further ado, if you'd like to introduce yourselves and also tell us in our audience a little bit about what brewability is all about and what you all do, that'd be great.
SPEAKER_04Well, my name's Jared Needer, and I also do positively paralyzed on social medias. Um I've been injured for about 15 years. Uh, participated in spinal grange research for 10 years in Louisville. And then last year I moved to Colorado. And a big part of the reason I moved here was all the services of Craig Hospital and everything surrounded with that. And I started uh driver's training, and I quickly found out how expensive everything was, and having the job was like instrumental in moving forward with that, getting in with folk rehab, and that's where these two came in. I was able to get a job here at Brewability, which employs all people with disabilities here, and it's been a great opportunity for me, and you'll meet the other two that make it happen for people like mute.
SPEAKER_05That's awesome. Now I do have a question. You talk about Louisville, Kentucky.
SPEAKER_04Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_05Are you a wildcat or a cardinal?
SPEAKER_04Shut your mouth. I'm a Kansas Jayhawk.
SPEAKER_06All right. I love it.
SPEAKER_04Born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. Um, I still have basketball season tickets. I'm a huge Kansas fan. My dad was just talking to Bill Self the other day.
SPEAKER_05Wow, I can get down with that. You know, my mom, my mom was born and raised in Independence, Kansas. So I'm all down with that. Awesome. Thank you for sharing that. Really appreciate that.
SPEAKER_02Uh, I'm Jess. I uh recently moved here from the UK. I was a formal special education teacher, and then the rest of my experience um is in hospitality. So here I am the director of operations. I work with Tiffany like 15 hours a day, six days a week. Um, and I just love what she's created here. It's uh the mission's amazing. Uh, we make a huge impact on our community daily, whether that be our staff um or our outside community that come here. Um and yeah, it's just uh a grace war. So sorry about the noise.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we're right here on Broadway. So um I'm Tiffany Fixter. I'm the founder of Brewability and Feasibility. Uh we started 10 years ago, um, October 22nd, 2016 was our first day in operation. And uh we had a brewery, and then in 2018 I started a pizzeria, and then now uh 2019 we combined them into the same building. So um we're fortunate to own the building, and so we've made a lot of modifications for anybody that might walk or roll through our doors. Uh, we currently have 27 staff with intellectual, uh developmental or physical disabilities.
SPEAKER_04Nice. This looks really cool. Like when you roll in, there's an opener on the front door, then we have a sensory area at the front, and there's headphones and stuff for people to touch on the walls if they have different sensory needs. The dance floor has a bone conduction system underneath it, so people that have hearing difficulties can feel the music. We have space for an interpreter to sit at the table up front. Like everything down to the toilet paper is made by people with disabilities here. It's not just like lip service. She lives and breathes everything.
SPEAKER_05Where did the idea come from to kind of put this together?
SPEAKER_01I was a special ed teacher, uh, mostly Kansas City. It's my career. And then I moved here to run an adult day program. Um, and I had 130 clients, and only one had a part-time job.
SPEAKER_05So what's what what what's been kind of like the the biggest challenge to put this together? Because something, you know, and then we can be honest, putting something like this together, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, you know, a lot of planning, a lot of things you have to try out first, see if it works and if it doesn't. So talk about the different challenges and how you overcame those challenges to where we're at today, where you guys are just making it do what it does.
SPEAKER_01I mean, I think financial has always been the biggest challenge. Um, yeah, it's been a rough 10 years if you think about everything that's happened. Um, and it's still pretty rough, obviously, with all the cuts and everything to our community. Um, it continues to be probably our biggest challenge is just um having some sort of consistency with our sales. Yeah, it's it's we either have a line out the door or no one's here. It's very inconsistent.
SPEAKER_04Beast or famine. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I guess as well, another thing that we um try to do here is um we adapt our space on like lived-in experiences. So we'll often have people with all sorts of disabilities come in here, and we often ask, like, what can we do to make our space even more accessible for you? Um, and although it's really great and we love being accommodating to everybody, there are additional costs that do come with that. Um, and the space is expensive, like all of our adaptations they cost a lot of money. Um, and it's expensive to also maintain as well. So um that obviously goes with the financial side of things, but um yeah, I'd say it's it's hard.
SPEAKER_01Changing public perceptions, too. We do have some people on that are just straight up rude. We don't want them here.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I mean, a lot of times it does, you know, we we work together here, you know. I can't physically pour beers, and a lot of times I'm paired with someone with an intellectual disability that doesn't allow them to run the register. Um, so sometimes it takes a little bit longer, and most people get what we're doing here, but some people don't, you know what I mean? And from a business owning standpoint, I mean she's paying two people to do one person's job essentially, you know. So that that's really challenging on her end.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we're currently not getting any supports. Uh we're looking into supported employment, but uh they're sales only, yeah.
SPEAKER_04And and we all make above minimum wage and get tips. So, you know, we don't make two dollars an hour or something like that. You know, we all make a good good wage, so let that all falls on her.
SPEAKER_02We have fun too. Oh, we have a lot of fun, a lot of fun. It's a very fun space to to come and visit for sure.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, you never know what's gonna happen here.
SPEAKER_02The drama is crazy.
SPEAKER_04There could be a mechanical bull, there could be a drag show, you know, there could be Jorge making waffles for brunch, his dancing cobra for his flute.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, all sorts of crazy things happening.
SPEAKER_04Hold on a second. Y'all y'all got brunch? We we have wrestling out on the patio, we have live music every week, three days usually. Like it's it's a great environment.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and Paul, you were talking about you like big pepperonis. Are these big enough for you?
SPEAKER_05Oh, yeah, that's what I'm talking about. That's the pepperoni that Bryson, that's what I'm talking about. That's real pepperoni pizza right there. And so you all have brunch too?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we do breakfast pizzas and um yeah.
SPEAKER_04She lives here, so she might as well sell some pizza.
SPEAKER_05Wow, okay, okay. Now I'm gonna ask you something else too about that. So you got a full bar, yeah, yeah, full bar or just just beer.
SPEAKER_01Uh we are beer, wine, and canned cocktails right now.
SPEAKER_05Okay, okay. Now uh yeah, yeah, do you have to have old English 800 on tap?
SPEAKER_06I do not agree.
SPEAKER_05If we get a heads up, you're coming in town, we will. All right. I I definitely get that. And and Bryson, this is what I'm talking about, Bryson, when we started this podcast, talk about these incredible journeys, incredible stories. And and Bryson, this this is what it's all about.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, for sure, Paul. And you know, one question I have for you all, and Jared, you kind of touched on it. The sheer amount of accommodations that y'all have, people with varying disabilities, is just phenomenal. Um, and it really touched me when I went on your website, we were doing research to go, and and they have listed, if you go on there, all the accommodations. And I think for me, you know, as Paul and I, and Jared, you can relate to this as a wheelchair user, it's not as easy as just sometimes getting in a car and going someplace. You know, there's planning that goes into it. And a lot of times, I know I've done it myself. Okay, if I'm meeting friends at a restaurant or going somewhere, you're sitting there looking at these Google photos, trying to find like, hey, where is the handicapped parking? Um, and so I I guess my question for you with the accommodations is is why is that so important to have that that listed for you all? Um, and I know that you mentioned kind of that a process of adapting it as you go. What does that look like for you all?
SPEAKER_04Well, I think I would say that like I you you guys know, like as wheelchair users, a lot of places don't work for you. And you got to bring a lot of equipment, and you know, this is the only restaurant, bar, whatever that I've ever been to that I can use, the bathroom. I don't have to bring my mug. They have adapted utensils, I don't have to bring my fork, I don't have to bring anything special because they have everything here. You know, I I got a trunk or a bag that's that's got my cup and my silverware and all that, and it's usually all dirty from carrying it around. And this is the one place that I that I can go and not need anything. And you know, you guys can probably relate. I'm having some low blood pressure right now, so I'm gonna have to lean back.
SPEAKER_05Oh no, hey Jared, no, no problem. Hey, the struggle is real, man. I I'm I'm with you on it. I'm a quiet, I'm a quiet myself, so I you know, I I definitely get that, brother. Definitely get that. And that is so cool that these different you utensils and everything. I mean, look at that, look at that, Bryson.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so we can provide this. This is uh right on our bar. Um, so it's readily available, it's all super clean and ready to go.
SPEAKER_04So they put their number on the wall in the bathroom in case you have trouble capping and you need any assistance. It rings in the building and somebody will come help you. Like this is the only place people like us can go and just be ourselves.
SPEAKER_05But this number on the wall can save you. So I'm glad that you you talked about that. I mean, to think about something like that, that is just ingenious. I mean, this is something, Bryson, that I feel every restaurant, every should should should reach out to our friends over at Brewability, cookie cutter this to each and every every restaurant they have, because this will help us, Bryson, to go out and have a good time.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, that's what we're trying to get Tiffany to be a consultant so she can help other people to do this because other restaurants can do this. They just need somebody to show them how it's done.
SPEAKER_03For sure. And I think you could also, you know, Jared, as you mentioned, take this over into to other industries like public businesses that aren't food related. I think what's so it's almost kind of counterculture in a lot of ways, it shouldn't be. Accessibility should be at the forefront, but it definitely is. So it's definitely cool to see that that you all are are really doing that. Um, and I think too, another question for me, as a foodie myself, what would you say is the number one selling item? We got to make our audience a little hungry here so they can go out to to brewability. So, what would you say is maybe the number one selling, but also what is your favorite item?
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean, if you're gonna talk about number one selling, there's probably like five of them, I would say. The definitely the green chili pork pizza, yeah, sweet and spicy, yeah, pesto prosciutto.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's my favorite.
SPEAKER_04Buff chicken dip.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_04So Tiffany's mom used to have a cinnamon roll shopper. She still does. She's yeah, yeah. Yeah, but they they adapted the recipe from the cinnamon roll and dropped it on our pizza crust, and the cinnamon roll pizza is amazing.
unknownAll right.
SPEAKER_03All right, so the minute you said that, Jared, me and Paul's face were like, that's unreal.
SPEAKER_05I know. Bryson, Bryson, Bryson. We got we gots to. I'm not using the King's English site right now. I'm I'm I'm I'm gonna use my hood English, Bryson. We gotsta get out there and go to brewability, man. We gots to do that.
SPEAKER_03We do. I mean, you know what? My stomach's rumbling a little bit now, Jared, that you said that. I'm blaming that on you.
SPEAKER_04And the barbecue chicken, the buffalo chicken pizza, both of those are really good.
SPEAKER_05I mean, you know, Tiff and Jeff, I I I want to, you know, talk to you all since you all have some in the space of special ed and everything. What does uh inclusivity uh mean to you both personally? And and how do you make sure that this is being done at Brewability?
SPEAKER_01I think for me, I've just seen over the years working in special education, it's you get a lot of pushback from even just pushing into the Gen N classrooms, um, and then at the day programs, you know, we're trying to take people out in the community. A lot of people really don't want you there. And so it's just finding. I want to make sure that people know that this space is for everyone. We're not just you don't have to have a disability to come here, which is now kind of the opposite of what I was trying to do, right? I just want everyone to just come as they are and be comfortable and have fun at our bar and restaurant.
SPEAKER_05Um, Jess, we're not gonna let you off the hook.
SPEAKER_02I think for me, um, when I was a teacher, it completely changed my life for the better. Um, I had a bit of a tough time in England and I felt really lost and I didn't really know what I wanted to do with myself. Um, and then when COVID happened, I fell into this job uh and I really saw a different side to what I thought disability was before being a teacher. Um, and it opened my eyes so much and kind of similar to what Tiffany said, like we take our students on school outings, and I felt that like they weren't very accepted or like we'd get funny looks, and it's just it's uh uncomfortable and it's unfair. And so um this space, I don't know, it just inclusivity is so important. I believe that we should all be treated equally, and um, you know, everybody has their own unique, amazing personalities, and just being able to be a part of this and getting it out there and spreading awareness and trying to promote other places to do things like this, it's so important. Um so yeah, I just I love it.
SPEAKER_04So that's a cool thing about brewability too is it allows certain individuals to really showcase their talents. Like I work with Jose, and you will not find anybody that pours a better beer than he does, you know, and he takes a lot of pride in it. Yeah, and it's really cool to see people that are actually really good at their job and uh and and take satisfaction from that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Breaking a stereotypes is really, really important. Um, just because you have a disability does not mean you're not able to create great food, customer service, uh, work hard, earn your own money. Um, so that's really what our mission is here.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, a lot of times our employees kind of hyperfixate on making things as best as they can be. So, I mean, the the customer really wins.
SPEAKER_05You know, um, when you said that that resonated with Bryson and myself. Because Bryson and myself, we we're both in the in the media game. And Bryson and I have worked with uh other uh industry, other folks who are not disabled. And when they see Bryson and I uh do what we do, sometimes they're like, wow, I forget you're in a wheelchair. Bryson, you get that too, don't you?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, Paul, I get that get that quite a bit. Um, where they go, oh, well, you don't look disabled. And my question would be, well, what does disability look like? Yes. Um, and I really do think that you are really blurring the lines there and say, hey, it doesn't matter what condition you have, we're all one people. And and and like you said, Jess, you know, we're able to to do things just like an able-bodied person is, um which is which is really um great. And you know, too, I guess mentioned it a little bit about, you know, kind of breaking down those harmful ideologies. Um, and I think one thing for me is that um a lot of people look at disability accommodations as for the disabled community when in reality it benefits everybody because at any point, um, about 90% of people, you know, gain disability status at some point in their lives. So, how do you continue to break down those kind of harmful ideologies? Um, and maybe, like you said, you have some rude customers that come in. Um, how do you take those times to kind of educate them um in a way, but also being firm and saying, hey, this is what we're doing, and people with disabilities deserve to be in these spaces just as much as you do?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, Jess is in charge of customer education.
SPEAKER_02I'm quite mean. Um, we have to be when people are ignorant, rude, disrespectful to my staff, I uh do not take it lightly at all. Um, we do try and educate them first and let them know what we do here uh and the purpose of our business. Um, and then if they can. I swiftly remove them.
SPEAKER_01We do have a disclaimer door saying, like, your words matter, um, your actions matter, and and you really need to basically behave yourself in the space.
SPEAKER_04I mean, this really is like a pretty magical place, but also it's just a bar to some people, you know. And when when they come in, they might, you know, have already had a few and they don't get it. You know, it's time to leave.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Yeah. You know, I I love that because you know, you look at Jess, Jess looks looks all sweet, and you know, she but but but but you know, some something tells me she'll get she'll get turned in a minute if somebody comes at y'all sideways, she'd be like, y'all got to get up out of here. But you know, I'm but I'm going to there you go, you know, and and and I'm glad because if you people will try to punk us when it comes to disabilities, they they'll try to do that. So we we have to stand up, we have to be like, no, you're not gonna do that, you know. Just because you know, I'm disabled or you know, the staff is disabled, you're not gonna come in here and disrespect nobody, you know.
SPEAKER_02I can give you an example of something, and Jared can account for this. It's like there has been times where I've been on a bar, on the bar, and uh Jared is the closest point of contact. And I've seen people look at him and directly walk past him and come to me to serve a drink. And my thing with that is I just completely ignore them and I walk away because you know where to order. So, and it there's just like small examples, the things that we deal with, and that like yeah, we don't we don't overlook anything like that, and I take it very seriously.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I had someone say, Well, the reason you're struggling is because um is that people just don't want to eat where there's people with disabilities, you know, and I've heard that time and time again. And so uh we really do try to make sure um everyone is very hygienic, everyone's wearing the purple blue gloves, we have the full aprons. We're really trying, we have a pretty open kitchen so you can kind of look in there. Uh as we try to dispel it that way just to show, like, hey, we're cleaner than most places.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and actually, I think Tiffany should be out here with customers more, but she will not leave the kitchen to make sure everything is up to snuff. You know, she stays in the kitchen and makes sure everything is coming out high quality.
SPEAKER_05Y'all, y'all do me a favor. People who say that give them my email address. I I would love to answer. I I would love to give them some get right. You know what I mean? I would I would just love I would love to have a conversation with them and be like, you know, what is your problem? You know, it's like people to be that let me say I gotta get clearance from Keith before I say this. Keith have clearance to say this. I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna cuss. I don't do I don't cuss. But uh, you know, people are just that ignorant, you know, just to and and and it's sad because like like like you know, just like B Money brought out 90% of the people one day gonna be just like us, they're gonna be disabled. And when they reach that point, they're gonna they want to make sure that people have empathy for them, that's going to understand what they're going through, and and for them to have that, you know. Bryson, um, I'm I'm getting angry, so I'm uh I'm gonna shut up right now.
SPEAKER_01When you guys come out here, maybe you could have those people on the podcast and you can grill them.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. I will I will do that. I will, I'm there, I'm I'm there. We're gonna do it. We're gonna do it, Bryson. For sure, for sure.
SPEAKER_04And you know, set up one of those little question tables with Paul.
SPEAKER_03I was gonna say that. I was gonna say that, Jared. I think that would be, I don't know if that would be a good idea, but we'll see. We'll see how it plays out. It's all right, I'll be behind you. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Just got a taser.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Like a true Londoner.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I yeah. I have all the things.
SPEAKER_03But I think what's really great is you are putting people with various disabilities at the front and center and really saying, hey, there are people like this in society. And Jared, I want to switch gears to you. I want to talk about um, I know that you're involved with ruibility, but also a lot of the other things. I want to talk about your Instagram page. Um which really enough, when I was doing research earlier, I was like, that means sounds really familiar, positively paralyzed. And I've followed you for years, I think. So that was that was kind of crazy. But um, I I kind of want to talk about that for you because you're not just involved with rubility, you're involved with various things. And people go on your Instagram. I mean, you you do so much, and it's really inspirational to me. And it's awesome to see somebody like that. So, can you kind of talk about some of those other things that that you're involved in and how you know social media has kind of given you a platform to be front and center and put your disability on display?
SPEAKER_04For sure. Um, I mean, it's kind of been like the snowball effect. Like, you know, you start doing a little social media and then you get more opportunities, and then it just starts growing. And now it's, you know, um I the next thing I got coming up, I'm gonna be a part of Adaptee Golf. They're coming to Denver, so I'm gonna try out the golfing thing that they got going on. Um, I'm involved with Craig Hospital. I'm a volunteer there, um, and I lift weights there. I'm part of the peer mentoring program. I do the Power Wheelers class on Mondays, and then they're also looping me into a separate uh like peer mentor-driven class that they have. Um, yeah, there's my social media. I'm involved with the Denver Barbarians uh quad rugby team. Um yeah, I just I like to do a lot of different stuff. And when I first got injured, um and I moved to Kentucky for the spinal cord injury research, I started doing a little social media just to keep friends and family, you know, updated on what was going on. But then the more I got into it, like uh, you know, wherever you're at, there's usually not very many people like you. And I found out online I could find a lot of people like me, I could learn different things. Um, and it really helped me as much as I feel like I helped other people, you know, it was like very much a two-way street. And now it's just yeah, it's it's really fun. I don't like um sitting around doing nothing. So I figured if I don't have a job, you know, I can I can just share what I'm doing and spread awareness. It's been a great community to be a part of. Um and you know, from starting a community online, then I started throwing parties and mouvable, and then you know, I'd have like 150 people with disabilities at parties. It's just been a really satisfying like I feel like I found a home, you know, and I didn't feel like I belonged after I had a disability. And I feel like through social media I found a home.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and and Jared, if you don't mind, um talking about your uh your disability, you know, what happened.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, in uh when I was 29 years old and I was uh down in Mexico on vacation. I usually went down there every year to go diving. Um and I went running down the beach just to dive into the surf on the first night of the vacation and just hit a sandbar. And immediately, luckily, I never lost consciousness. I don't think I have enough of a brain to get knocked out. You know, I've been in the several times, but I never been knocked out. Um, so I was able to hold my breath and I didn't have to have a trach, but uh, you know, I was in the ICU in Mexico for a few days, and I was life flying to Swedish here at uh Colorado, and then I was at Craig Hospital for four months. Um I'm a C5, complete quadriplegic. Like I said, I participated in in research for 10 years and I got to do a ton of cool stuff, but then I decided it was time to just like live life, quit being a lab rat.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I get that. What what is one thing you learned about yourself uh post injury?
SPEAKER_04You know, I'm I'm still the same person, you know. I still have the same strengths and same weaknesses. I'm still a very hard worker, you know. I still like to be busy and help people. I still have a bad temper that I gotta work on controlling, you know. Like a lot of people think that everything's over. It's like, no, I'm still the same person. I'm just in a wheelchair now, and I gotta figure out how to deal with things now that I'm just in a little bit different of a body.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I'm glad you said that, Jared, because I, you know, I I got a short fuse sometimes too. I I'm not like Bryson. Bryson is all just Bryson, he he's like my equalizer. You know, he's always bubbly, always smiling. But those are the ones you gotta watch out for. Because if Bryson ever gets mad, Bryson is gonna tear the roof off. That's all I'm gonna say.
SPEAKER_04That's my little brother. He doesn't get mad for nothing, but if he does, just get out of the way.
SPEAKER_03Hey, Paul and I are like the disabled Batman and Super Fan. You know, I mean, we got you know, somebody's gotta be the light, somebody's gotta be the dark a little bit, you know. But but I'm ready to ride for my boy Paul. I tell you what, I'm getting up out of this wheelchair, I'm not worried about it. Ride a diet, ride a diet, right, Bryce? Literally and figuratively, you know what I'm saying? So um, but yeah, I wanna um my next question is kind of for you, Tiffany and Jess, whoever wants to to answer this. Um but you know, I I guess for me, Paul and I are always I think we're both positive people in a lot of ways. We always want to look forward. Um, so what is kind of next for brewability? Are you looking at expansion? Um, but what's next for you both professionally and also personally um in your own lives? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, you know, we're we're looking into supported employment. So we're looking, uh we do have an extensive waiting list, and that's growing every day with the state of the economy. So uh it was exceeding 900. I know it's way over that at this point. Like it's just um overwhelming. So we're trying to figure out what what can we do. Uh so we have an embroidery machine, screen printer, so we could teach those skills. Um yeah, just continuing. We do work experience field trips. So anyone that is maybe interested or not sure uh their career path and they want to try working in a restaurant, we offer that here.
SPEAKER_04So not to interrupt, but it's really cool. Like I came in here one morning to help out with some things, and I didn't realize they did this. But there was like a whole high school class of disabled students, and and they're teaching them how to you know clean the restaurant, how to do everything, and then they get to learn how to make a pizza and they get to have a pizza, and it's a really cool work experience thing they do. It was it was really cool to watch. I didn't realize you did that originally.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's a little fun, yeah. There it keeps us teaching, which is the point. So yeah. Um, so I think just giving people those experiences, because it is really sad when you have somebody that's in their 80s that's been in the day program and they've never even tried to cook before. It's like, oh my gosh. So um, yeah, just letting people try it out.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and that that's another thing that's great about her. The other day I came into work and she handed me a leaf blower and she's like, go blow off the patio. I'm just kind of like, you know what? How the fuck am I gonna do this? But I figured it out and she knew I could figure it out, and that that's what's kind of great about this place is it does empower you to be more than you think you can be.
SPEAKER_02Plenty of work to do. Yeah, I mean, we have so much going on, it's so hard. We've had a lot of questions about franchising. We just we honestly don't have enough hours in the day to like figure all of our stuff out, like it's crazy. Uh, we're looking into consulting-ish, kind of.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Um, and then there's another project we're working on. I don't know if we could speak about it yet. Not quite yet. Not quite yet. We're working on it. Um, but there are some really fun things that we have coming up, uh, some really important things that we're hoping are not just gonna help like our little community over here, but like millions and millions of people. So stay tuned for short awkwards. We'll let you know. We'll let you know. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, I tell you what, anything that we can do to help out, please, please let us know. Um we do, thank you. You know, I I tell you, I've I've been consulting for a little over a decade, and it it is really, really transformational. You know, what can happen when someone gives us a chance to share our experience on how to make life more accessible, not only for the community, but for all. So I am sending positive vibes to make sure that happens uh for you, uh, for you, Tiff, and you know, to make that make that happen because you all have something great. And I I'm looking forward to if the trip pans out to uh uh Colorado to come out there and and get some pizza and hang out with you all. And I do have a question as far as the crust. What how do you guys do your crust? Is it sourdough crust or what kind of crust do you guys got?
SPEAKER_01Uh so we started as a brewery, and so we actually use spent grain uh from the beer, so it gives it a nice um multi-grain texture. So it's kind of Neapolitan, it's hand-stretched. Um yeah, uh touch of agave.
SPEAKER_05So oh my goodness.
SPEAKER_01Top 100 in the nation at the pizza convention.
SPEAKER_05So whoa, that's what I'm talking about. My last question for me, and then I'll I'll send it over to Bryson, see if he has another question. Is what type of advice would you give others out there who are thinking about just thinking outside the box when it comes to certain things? What type of advice would you give them? We'll start with you, uh Jared, then we'll go with Jess, and then Tiff will have you wrap it up.
SPEAKER_04Just do it. Whatever you're thinking about, just do it. People ruminate and have like analysis, paralysis. Just whatever you're thinking. Don't worry about you know figuring out how you're gonna get paid or whatever. I mean, obviously, you need to know some things, but just move forward. Don't don't wait, just move forward with your idea.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'd say um give people a chance. Um, we have some of the most loyal staff, like Tiff mentioned earlier. Nathan's been with her for over 10 years. Uh, we have another young man, he's been with us for 10 years. I mean, the majority of our staff have um been with us for a very long time, and I think obviously it speaks to the lack of uh employment opportunities. Um, but I think even if there were more, I don't think they'd leave us because we have a lot of fun. Um, but they love to work and they love working hard. So I think yes, there are always gonna be uh hurdles, but giving the community a chance is you know, it works and uh you won't be let down. It's hard, but it works. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think whatever you're trying to do out there, uh you just need to do something really well. Um, someone's not just gonna buy, I don't know, like a if you're making a candle and it doesn't smell good or it doesn't light really well. And then so we'll have groups of people say, Oh, well, somebody with a disability made this. Can you sell it? I'm gonna trial it out. If it's not a good product, I'm not going to sell it. So this is not a charity case. Like you have to have, you have to work really hard and it has to be something that people actually want.
SPEAKER_06Right.
SPEAKER_01Um, so if if you are thinking of starting a product or a business, you just need to do it really well.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Yeah, that's great. Because as a person with a disability, if you're not, then you're just kind of like pandering and open the they're gonna hook you up because of your disability.
SPEAKER_02It's like, well, we work at work, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, that's right. We need to bring a competitive product.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_05No, I'm with you. That's that's what I'm talking about. You gotta gotta bring the goods, gotta have the goods, gotta have the goods.
SPEAKER_01And I'll tell you if it's not good. Oh, she will.
SPEAKER_05I love that. I love that. Gotta keep gotta keep wondering what any of us are thinking.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you're lucky I have it in cursing on the time because my mouth is proud of you. I don't think I swell what no, you're good.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I mean, I mean, you gotta keep it a buck, and that's all we gotta do. That's what you gotta do. Bryson, any any last words for our distinguished guest?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, my my last question for you all is if um somebody wants to get involved and support brewability, where can they find you either on social media or can they donate? Um, what does that look like? How can people get involved?
SPEAKER_04I work Fridays and Saturdays, and there's a tip jar sitting.
SPEAKER_02Um, all of our social medias, we are on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. Um just hear about it. Yeah, we do uh we're actually gonna start like a docuseries slash reality TV show. My aunt is a film producer. Um, so we do have a GoFundMe out for that right now. Um anything that can be donated to that, we're really hoping that it's gonna blow up and be out there. Um just to raise more awareness. Let's bring some more people in. Uh, the more money we have, the more we can help more people. So um, yeah, I guess following, liking, sharing always so important. Uh coming in, come and say hi. Even if it's five minutes, you grab a beer and you leave. Just come and come and visit us, come see what we do. Um, yeah, let's share, tell friends, tell friends, tell everybody.
SPEAKER_04Just check it out for yourself. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Bryce, take you when you come out, Bryson. I can make you a uh we do our Buffalo chicken dip. We have a Buffalo chicken pizza, but we also have Buffalo Chicken Mac.
SPEAKER_03Hey man, let me tell you, I I love some mac and cheese. So you're speaking my language. You're speaking my language. I'm a listen. I'm gonna go back to the channel. Chicken bacon jalapeno mac and cheese. Oh man, come on, Jared. Don't even play with me right now.
SPEAKER_02I feel like you guys are uh a fun couple to hang out with. You better get your asses out. Oh sorry, get your bums out. They almost did it.
SPEAKER_04We knew it wouldn't happen.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, we'll definitely make it a part of our road to see. Bryson and I were trying to be like the John Madden of accessibility. It's hard for us to fly places. So we're trying to we're trying to get Lex Luthor, uh, Keith, to get us like a um He's a conversation bus. Yeah, an RV so we can go we can go throughout the United States and go and uh hang out with everybody and do that. So if that happens, then uh then we'll definitely be there.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that sounds fun.
SPEAKER_05Winnebago makes accessible RVs, get them as a sponsor. Ah, that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna do that. But but but thank y'all so much for being on. We had a had a blast with you all. I mean, we can't wait to see you all in person. We can hang out, have a lot of fun, and uh and and taste some of that amazing cuisine, and uh and and and and thank you so much for for just um being who you guys are, and we look forward to to to spending some time with you all again.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_05Thank you. Yeah, Bryson, that was amazing. You know, Jared, Jess, and Tiff, I mean, they some cool people, man.
SPEAKER_03Legit the LeBron, Bosch, and Wade of Pizzeria's and Brew and Breweries. You know what I'm saying? Like I think I think that's just great combo. I think me and you are like Jordan and Pippin, but they're they're definitely the big three for sure. And Paul, you know, I think whenever we do these episodes, I only say it every episode, but it's really true for me. It just really warms my heart um to see what they're doing, getting to talk to them and seeing people like Jared, who, you know, I've seen on social media for a long time, get to hear his story and just the way that they're shining a light on people with disabilities and really making waves, say with community. It's really awesome to see. And what's so beautiful about it is they're so genuine about the cause. And I think that that's um just really, really great to see. Um, and we need more people like that. I definitely think uh, like Jared said, you know, if you're a business um or you know, a restaurant, definitely model what they're doing because they've got it down to a science, I feel like they sure do.
SPEAKER_05And you know, when we get there, Bryson, we're gonna have to make us a special cue, the conversation pizza. You know what I mean? We're gonna make it like out of this world, but it's gonna be fantastic. You know, we're gonna put a little bit of this, a little bit of that on it, and it's gonna be it's gonna be amazing. So that's what that's what we're gonna done did, Bryson. That's we're gonna done did. But uh hey, bud, always great kicking in with you and hanging out with you, man. Can't wait till the next one.
SPEAKER_03Same here, Paul, man. I love love doing this with you and been very blessed. And we've been able to do this and showcase a lot more people. And you know what? This is only the start, and we say that a lot too, but it is only the start. I'm really excited to see what else we can get into on the next time when we cue the conversation. We'll see you then.
SPEAKER_05Absolutely, Bryson. You know, we got to sing it out and say, We've only just begun. We gotta that's what we gotta do. So do me a favor, y'all. Like, like, like, comment, comment, comment, subscribe, subscribe, subscribe, hit that notification bell, share this episode until next time. On cue the conversation. Yes, that's what we do. All right, thank y'all.