In this episode of Perspectives, we sit down with Sydnye White, Vice President of Content & Storytelling at Special Olympics, who leads the global effort to bring the stories of Special Olympics athletes to audiences around the world.

For Sydnye, storytelling is about far more than awareness. It is about changing perception.

Working across a global movement that serves millions of athletes with intellectual disabilities, Sydnye and her team focus on stories that reveal strength, joy, resilience, and leadership. These are not narratives of limitation. They are stories that challenge assumptions and expand how audiences understand ability, inclusion, and human potential.

Drawing on her background as a television producer and filmmaker, Sydnye shares how emotion-centered storytelling helps audiences move beyond information toward transformation. She also reflects on how curiosity, experimentation, and a sense of play can unlock stories that resonate across cultures and communities.

This conversation explores:

• How storytelling can reshape how the world sees intellectual disability

• Why emotion is essential to building connection and empathy

• The responsibility of representing athletes with authenticity and respect

• How global organizations build stories that resonate across cultures

• What storytellers can learn from the perspective and wisdom of Special Olympics athletes