Embracing the Polio Family: John R. McFarlane’s Story
John R. McFarlane is an Actor with Polio and a Polio Advocate. John and Keith talk about Polio Advocacy, traveling the world, and John’s personal experience living with Polio. They talk about the importance of living life and embracing the “Polio family.” BEGIN: Thought I would just share a bit about myself. As you may […]
Empowering Minds: Temple Grandin on Autism and Opportunity
Temple Grandin Ph.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. She returns to Disability Empowerment Now to talk with Keith about her books “The Autism Brain” and “Visual Thinking.” She also discusses […]
From Paralympic Podium to Advocacy: Jenny Sichel on Winning, Training, and Leading Change
Jenny Sichel is a 2016 Rio Paralympic Silver Medalist and 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Coach for Team USA in the sport of rowing. She was a USRowing National Team member for seven years and in that time won five international silver medals. When she’s not on the water, Jenny is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and […]
Breaking Barriers: Andrew Gurza on Disability, Podcasting, and Representation
Andrew Gurza is the host of Disability After Dark, a podcast that looks at disability stories and started in 2016. Andrew and Keith bond about their podcast experiences and they also bond over their shared disability. Andrew talks about the origins of Disability After Dark and the overall message it aims to bring to the […]
C. Quintana: Writing Orphan Black and Championing Queer Stories
C. Quintana is a Queer Playwright and a Television Writer for Orphan Black: Echoes. CQ talks to Keith about working in television and on the Orphan Black series. They talk about how they first met, catch up on each other’s accomplishments and discuss the importance of representation in the world of television. Season 4 Ep […]
Crafting Words, Building Community: Poet Liv Mammone on Creativity, Publishing, and Disability Advocacy
Liv Mammone (she/her) is an editor and poet from Long Island. Her poetry has appeared with Button Poetry, The Poetry Foundation, The Medical Journal of Australia, and in many places. In 2017, she competed for Union Square Slam as the first disabled woman to be on a New York national poetry slam team She was […]
Breaking Barriers on Stage: Megan Lummus & Katherine McCrackin on Autism, Advocacy, and the Power of Representation
Megan Lummus is an openly autistic stage and film director and Katherine McCrackin is an openly autistic actor. Each with their own unique background, they talk to Keith about their love of theater and the stage. They also discuss the importance of diversity and representation on the stage and in the directors chair, their individual […]
Behind the Scenes with the DEN Team Pt.2: Nicole Feltman & Eileen Castro
Behind the Scenes Mini-Season Eileen Castro, who has been a creative producer with DEN for one year, helps with the Spanish transcripts and focuses on uploading podcast episodes to all streaming platforms and the official website, as well as creating and sending out newsletters. Nicole Feltman, who has been with the team since Season 1, […]
Behind the Scenes with the DEN Team Pt.1: Pascal Albright & Isabella Barnard
Behind the Scenes Mini Season Isa Barnard is the Spanish transcript writer and the website designer for Disability Empowerment Now. Pascal Albright is the producer of the podcast and videocast and credited with the creation of the newsletter. Both team members help Keith with the overall project and talk about their start with DEN and […]
Mastering Digital Media: Alex Pere on Storytelling, Content Creation, and Disability Empowerment
Alexandra Pere is a digital media professional and content “wizard”. When she’s not engrossed in the latest documentary, she’s writing for the University of Arizona College of Engineering. She’s a long-time wildcat with a bachelor’s in science journalism and religious studies and a master’s in journalism. Alex is a professional storyteller engaging in best practices for marketing, content […]