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When Jake asked me to feature myself as this month’s trainer profile, I was honored — but, truthfully, a little uneasy. I’m usually the one behind the scenes, writing these blogs to highlight our incredible athletes and coaches at ZOOZ. Flipping the script and putting myself in the spotlight felt, frankly, a bit strange.

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But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years — through journalism, filmmaking, and now coaching — it’s the power of storytelling. So, here’s mine.

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Where It All Began

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I didn’t always know I’d become a fitness coach at an inclusive gym. But I did always know I wanted to advocate for people with disabilities — a passion shaped by the three most influential women in my life: my mom, my grandmother, and my sister.

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My mom raised me and my older sister, Becky, as a single parent in New Jersey. Becky is profoundly developmentally disabled and non-verbal. My grandmother, my mother’s mother, had multiple sclerosis and used a wheelchair full-time. Disability wasn’t something that came into my life by chance — it was my life.

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Growing up in a home where disability was the norm, I quickly came to understand how inaccessible the world really is — not just for disabled individuals, but for the families who love and support them.

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My mother was an unwavering advocate. She made sure Becky lived a full, joyous life. Birthday parties, vacations, a Bat Mitzvah, a Sweet 16 — my sister experienced every milestone. But those moments didn’t happen by default. They happened because my mom fought for inclusion every step of the way.

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I watched her lead, and I followed. By middle school, I was speaking up for Becky too.

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One moment that still stands out happened in 7th grade. We were reading Flowers for Algernon, a book that features a disabled character, in English class, and several students began making jokes about people with disabilities. I was devastated. I came home in tears. My mom listened and then calmly asked, “What are you going to do about it?”

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So I took action. I brought my mom and sister in for a classroom presentation on disability. We answered questions. We shared our story. And years later, some of those classmates told me that moment shifted how they saw the world. That experience planted the seed for everything I’ve done since.

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From Newsrooms to Documentaries

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That early sense of purpose pushed me toward storytelling. In high school, an English teacher recognized my passion for writing and advocacy and encouraged me to pursue journalism. I took that advice to heart.

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I studied journalism at Rutgers University, interned at five different news stations, and began my career as a reporter and anchor in Utica, NY, then Rochester, and finally Richmond, VA.

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While I covered all kinds of stories — breaking news, politics, weather events — I always carved out space to highlight the disability community. That focus earned me a Catalyst for Change award from The Arc of Virginia and two Emmy nominations, including one for a series that exposed abuse at a facility for people with disabilities, and mental illness.

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During my journalism years, I also developed a deep personal love for health and fitness. I worked out daily, and at one point even considered becoming a registered dietitian and personal trainer. Exercise became a lifeline — not just physically, but mentally — especially in the high-stress world of local news.

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Over time, I felt an undeniable pull toward longer-form storytelling — a deeper, more immersive way to explore the narratives closest to my heart. I shared this vision with my friend Kody, whom I’d met during a college internship. We were both reporters with a shared desire to move beyond daily news cycles and tell stories with lasting impact. In 2020, we co-founded BirdMine, a production company dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices — with a special focus on disability, mental health, and identity.

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Filmmaking & the Road to ZOOZ

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Our first two films highlight the disability community.

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Thirteen, our first short narrative film, was deeply personal. It was inspired by and is a love letter to my mom and sister. The film is about a mother who fights to have a  Bat Mitzvah —a Jewish coming of age ceremony – in a synagogue that is resistant to break from tradition. My sister was the first non-verbal person with disabilities to have a Bat Mitzvah at our conservative synagogue in the 90s. The film went on to screen internationally, won multiple awards, and is now distributed through New Day Films.

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Our next project, Meandering Scars, became something even bigger. The documentary was nearly five years in the making and follows wheelchair athlete and domestic violence survivor Erika Bogan as she attempts to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about the mental health crisis in the disability community. It has so far world premiered at Dances With Films in Los Angeles and held private screenings in Atlanta and Ohio.

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Making that film changed me. Watching Erika’s physical and emotional strength, and the role fitness played in her healing, reminded me just how powerful movement can be — not only for the body, but for the soul.

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It reignited something in me. I didn’t just want to film these stories. I wanted to be part of them — in a hands-on, tangible way.

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Coming Full Circle: Joining ZOOZ

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My first introduction to ZOOZ was actually as a filmmaker. One of BirdMine’s earliest pieces was a video spotlight on ZOOZ Fitness and its founder, Jake. I walked into that gym and immediately thought, I want to be part of this.

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Fast forward a few years: I texted Jake out of the blue, asked if he remembered me, and told him I wanted to join his team. I asked what it would take.

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A few months later, I was certified as a personal trainer — and officially became part of the ZOOZ family.

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Today, I work part-time at ZOOZ while continuing my filmmaking projects. I coach athletes one-on-one and assist with group classes, including circuit training, boxing, and Zumba.

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As someone who grew up in disability culture, I know how rare it is to find inclusive, accessible spaces that truly empower people with disabilities to move, grow, and belong. ZOOZ is that space.

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It’s not just a gym — it’s a community. It’s a place where people grow stronger, inside and out. I’m so proud to be a part of it.

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Creating the ZOOZ Blog

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A few months into coaching, I pitched an idea to Jake: Let me create a blog to tell the stories of our athletes and trainers. Let’s make a space where people feel seen and celebrated. Let’s educate. Let’s challenge the way the world sees disability.

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As always, Jake didn’t hesitate. That’s how the ZOOZ blog was born.

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Looking Ahead

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Filmmaking and writing will always be my first loves. But ZOOZ and this community have become a second passion — one I plan to nurture for years to come.

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I want to continue growing as a coach, earning more certifications, and supporting the gym in every way I can — through storytelling, advocacy, and coaching.

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ZOOZ has already helped me become a healthier, more grounded version of myself. And I feel incredibly lucky to be part of something that’s creating real, meaningful change.

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Thanks for letting me tell my story — and thank you for being part of this community that makes it all possible.

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