On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast Series: “A Recap of Turin 2025,” Daniel Smrokowski sits down with two incredible athletes, Natalie Green and Trey Garrett, both of whom represented Special Olympics USA in DanceSport at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Join us as we dive into their journeys, advocacy for inclusion, and the transformative power of sport.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:
For Natalie Green:
- Natalie’s journey in Special Olympics Movement : From her first involvement in 2012 to becoming a voice for inclusion and a Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassador.
- The power of inclusion: Why inclusion is a core part of Natalie’s advocacy work and what it means to her personally.
- Dad n' Nat Unified Nation Podcast: Natalie talks about her podcast exploring the #GenerationUnified movement, a powerful initiative that promotes unity and inclusion.
- Special Olympics USA Games 2018: Natalie reflects on her experience as a youth leader and how it shaped her role as a global ambassador.
- Humans of New York feature: How it felt to have her impactful story shared during the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
- Co-authoring Stand – An Inclusion Story: The inspiration behind her book and the message she hopes to share with readers.
- Turin 2025 and the next chapter of her advocacy: What she hopes to achieve as she competes and promotes global inclusion.
- The influence of DanceSport and esports: How competing in these sports has shaped her understanding of teamwork, unity, and personal growth.
- Advice for young athletes: What Natalie would tell young people looking to join Special Olympics or get involved in inclusive sports.
For Trey Garrett:
- Trey’s Special Olympics journey: What inspired Trey to get involved in Special Olympics and how it has impacted his life.
- DanceSport at Turin 2025: Trey talks about his preparations and what excites him about competing in this new area of sport.
- Friendships and community: How Special Olympics has helped Trey form lasting connections and meaningful friendships.
- Balancing life: Trey discusses how he manages his job, hobbies, family time, and Special Olympics commitments.
- Representing Special Olympics USA on the world stage: What it means to Trey to represent his country at the World Winter Games in Turin.
- Travel and Disney: Trey shares some of his favorite travel experiences and how Disney is a special part of his life.
- Looking forward to Turin: Trey’s excitement to meet new people, take photos, and experience everything Turin has to offer.
- Preparation for DanceSport: How Trey is mentally and physically getting ready for his DanceSport competition.
- Advice for new athletes: Trey’s tips for athletes looking to take their Special Olympics involvement to the next level.
- Pride in his journey: Trey reflects on what he’s most proud of and what’s next for him after Turin.
For Both:
- #GenerationUnified: Natalie and Trey discuss the meaning of the #GenerationUnified movement and its significance for the future of Special Olympics and inclusion.
- Advocacy for inclusion: How their experiences with Special Olympics have shaped their missions to advocate for respect and inclusivity.
- Key lessons learned: The most impactful lessons Natalie and Trey have gained from their involvement in Special Olympics and what they want others to take away.
- Fostering global inclusion: Their thoughts on how Special Olympics can continue to break down barriers and create an inclusive global community.
- Celebrating the power of sport: Looking back at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, Natalie and Trey share their vision for how the global community can come together to celebrate unity through sport.
Tune in to hear about the amazing journeys of two athletes who are not just competing on the world stage but also using their voices to inspire others and advocate for inclusion.
Episode 766 ShowNotes & Links: SpecialChronicles.com/Podcast766
About the Podcast Host:
Daniel Smrokowski is a columnist and the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Special Chronicles, which has released over 750 episodes in over 15 years. In recognition of these accomplishments, Daniel is a recipient of the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice for his efforts through media to give people with disabilities a voice. Read more about Daniel HERE