I’d Rather Look Like a Praying Mantis Than Feel Like a Lobster

The Tangent · Aug 2, 2026 · 21m

What do underwear elastic, hand splints, lobsters and praying mantises have to do with disability pride?In this episode, I unpack an analogy I was told as a child, and the surprising way it shaped how I understood my changing body for decades. I reflect on my complex relationship with splinting, the difference between supporting function and chasing “normal”, and why disabled people’s autonomy must remain at the centre of decisions about their bodies.This is a conversation about the stories we unknowingly carry, the lasting impact of other people’s words and learning to work with your body as…