Welcome to a place where disability voices are heard and where they are able to tell their stories, whether it be personal or professional. Listen now.
Most Recent Episodes
Building Empathy Through Humor: Zach Anner Kicks Off Season 5 Of Disability Empowerment Now
Welcome back to Disability Empowerment Now for the launch of Season 5! Host Keith Murfee-DeConcini sits down with comedian, writer, and author Zach Anner for a remarkably funny, deeply honest, and inspiring conversation.
Zach opens up about writing and narrating his hilarious, best-selling memoir, If at Birth You Don't Succeed, overcoming internalised ableism, navigating romance and dating with cerebral palsy, and why he views his disability as his ultimate operating system. Plus, Zach shares powerful advice for aspiring creators and storytellers on finding their unique voice, using humor to disarm misconceptions, and why the disability experience is the universal human experience.
Whether you're a long-time fan of Zach’s work or discovering him for the first time, this season premiere sets an unforgettable tone for a season all about genuine connection.
In this episode of Disability Empowerment Now, host Keith Murfee-DeConcini connects with Aaron Gwynaire, the solo indie game developer and artist behind Neyyah. Aaron spent seven years single-handedly crafting Neyyah—a pre-rendered, point-and-click adventure puzzle game heavily inspired by retro classics like Myst and Riven. Together, they explore what it means to spend years building a massive, immersive world from scratch, and how slow-paced, atmospheric games can serve as a meditative escape for players navigating mental health, sensory overload, and emotional fatigue.
Keith and Aaron dive into the therapeutic intersection of nostalgic game design, environment-driven storytelling, and the solo creative journey—highlighting how intentional digital spaces can cultivate focus, peace, and alternative paths to healing.
Building Worlds for the Mind: Solitary Game Design, Nostalgia, and Mental Well-Being with Aaron Gwynaire
Pixelated Healing: Games, Storytelling, and Mental Health with Filipe F. Thomaz
In this episode of Disability Empowerment Now, host Keith Murfee-DeConcini connects with Filipe F. Thomaz, creator of the emotionally charged indie game Into a Dream, to explore how computer games and narrative art serve as powerful tools for mental health and healing. Moving far beyond simple escape, Filipe breaks down how interactive storytelling creates an accessible space for players to process depression, grief, and emotional isolation at their own pace.
Some of Our Memorable Guests
Season 4 Episode 24, 100th Episode Disability Empowerment Now is celebrating its 100th episode with Former Senator Tom Harkin. Thomas Richard Harkin is an American lawyer, author and politician who served as a United States senator from Iowa from 1985 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously was the U.S. representative for Iowa’s 5th congressional district from 1975 to 1985. He is the longest-serving senator to spend the entire tenure as a state’s junior senator. Former Senator Harkin is most known for introducing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into the Senate.
Season 3 Episode 1, Temple Grandin P.h.D is a renowned autism spokesperson, author and animal behaviorist and an academic. She is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Facilities she has designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Dr. Grandin talks to Keith about her books “Thinking in Pictures,” and “Visual Thinking.” She talks about the disability mindset and emphasizes learning life-skills like “shopping, how to save money and general work skills,” and how to get a good career with these skills.
Season 3 Episode 8, Kurt Yaeger is an American actor and disability advocate known for his inspiring story of resilience and determination. He was born on January 3, 1977, in San Francisco, California. However, in 2006, his life took a dramatic turn when he was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Despite this life-altering event, Kurt Yaeger continued to pursue his passion for acting and quickly established himself as a talented actor in the entertainment industry. He’s best known for his roles in popular TV shows like “Sons of Anarchy” and “Quarry.”
Check Out Our Mini-series Dating With Disabilities
Dating with Disabilities is a miniseries that explores dating and intimacy in an authentic and vulnerable way. Sexually explicitly on purpose, these conversations explore topics for mature and open-minded audiences who are looking to know more about disability and sexuality and everything in between. Fellow podcast host and advocate Andrew Gurza and advocate and poet Liv Mammone join Keith for these important conversations.
Now in its third year with over 13,000 listens worldwide, Disability Empowerment Now was founded on a simple yet powerful mission: to give the disability community an authentic platform to share their true, unedited experiences. Host Keith Murfee-DeConcini connects with guests from across the globe, creating a space where serious advocacy meets shared laughter.
From industry leaders like Tom Harkin, Temple Grandin, Kurt Yaeger, Danny Woodburn, and Ben Mattlin to close allies like Kat Stratford, Liv Mammone, and Andrew Gurza, no topic is off-limits. The podcast explores everything from complex legal rights to the humor of dating with a disability, and it is precisely this broad range of perspectives that fuels Keith's passion for the show.
A recipient of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 award and a Marquis Who’s Who honoree 77th edition (2023/2024), Keith remains steadfast in his mission. He plans to take his vision even further through public speaking and authorial work, continuing to raise awareness and fight for accessibility everywhere.
Stream wherever you access podcasts