Shows / Always Looking Up
Always Looking Up
A podcast dedicated to telling honest and real stories about living in a world that was not necessarily designed for us.
Episodes
- Always Looking Up
Catarina Rivera On Building A Brand And Embracing Her Identities
In this week’s episode I sat down with Catarina Rivera. Catarina is a dynamic public speaker, DEIA consultant, and content creator. She works with companies to…
- Always Looking Up
Jenna Bainbridge On Making Broadway History Not Once, But Twice
Welcome Back! In this week’s episode of Always Looking Up I sat down with Jenna Bainbridge. Jenna is an actor, singer, co-founder, disability rights advocate…
- Always Looking Up
Jillian Curwin On Is Perception Reality?
Dear Diary, We have some housekeeping to do, and then let's start a conversation about how the world see's (or doesn't see) dwarf bodies. This episode is the…
- Always Looking Up
Liz Gutman On Enhancing The Content We Consume
In this week’s episode I sat down with Liz Gutman. Liz is the Head Audio Description Writer at International Digital Centre in New York City. She has written…
- Always Looking Up
Kirsten Ferguson On Starting Her Healing Journey To Finishing The NYC Marathon
In celebration of May being Mental Health Awareness Month I am honored to have sat down with Kirsten Ferguson. A successful career woman turned Peloton fitness…
- Always Looking Up
Peet Montzingo On Growing Up Average-Height In A Little Person World
In this week’s episode I sat down with Peet Montzingo. Peet Montzingo is one of the top social media content creators who has over 21.5M subscribers on his…
- Always Looking Up
Keah Brown On Being Unapologetically Herself
In this week’s episode I sat down with Keah Brown. Keah is an award winning journalist, author, and screenwriter. Her work on disability, identity, and pop…
- Always Looking Up
Anna Pakman, Margo Gignac and James Ian On Emergency Plan And Raising Awareness On The Realities Of Being Disabled In Times Of Disaster
In this episode I sat down with Anna Pakman, Margo Gignac and James Ian, the writer/director and stars of Emergency Plan, a new short film for the Easterseals…
- Always Looking Up
Rachel Handler On Saving Her Creative Heart And Embracing Our Stories
In this episode I sat down with Rachel Handler. Rachel is a filmmaker and actor known for her stint as Peg Leg Doris on AMC’s “Interview With the Vampire” and…
- Always Looking Up
Mariadeliz Santiago On The Beauty Industry And Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Mariadeliz Santiago. Maria is a NYC-based disabled content creator, speaker, and advocate who uses her platform to…
- Always Looking Up
Makenzie Morgan Gomez On Dancing (Disabled) Through Life
In this week’s episode I sat down with Makenzie Morgan Gomez. Makenzie is a Mexican-American, queer, dynamically disabled performer based in Brooklyn, NY. She…
Always Looking UpMark Povinelli On The Return Of Benjamin Lay
In this week’s episode I sat down with Mark Povinelli. Mark is an activist as well as an actor on stage and screen. He is currently portraying Benjamin Lay…
Always Looking UpRachel Wherley, Erin Elswood and Shelby Holloway On Mascots Matter And Calling For An End Of Discriminatory Disability Mascots
In this week’s episode I sat down with Rachel Wherley, Erin Elswood, and Shelby Holloway, the co-directors of the Mascots Matter campaign. Mascots Matter is an…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin And Felicia Gans On Turning 30, What We've Lost, What We've Gained, And What's Next
In this week’s episode I sat down with Felicia Gans Sobey. Felicia is a deputy editor of content strategy at The Philadelphia Inquirer. She is also a retired…
Always Looking UpMelanie Waldman On Finding Comfort In Being Yourself
In this week’s episode I sat down with Melanie Waldman. Melanie is a multi-award-winning filmmaker with the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, a member of…
Always Looking UpEliza Orlins On Pushing For Change Within The System
For context, this episode was recorded on February 19, 2025. In this week’s episode I sat down with Eliza Orlins. Eliza Orlins is a career public defender who…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On Turning 30 And Healing In A World Not Necessarily Designed For Me
In this week’s episode it is just me and the microphone as I sit down to answer your questions about my ongoing surgery recovery journey, healing in a world…
Always Looking UpAllison E. Lang On The Beauty Of Disabled Bodies
In this week’s episode I sat down with Allison Lang. Allison is a content creator, speaker, model, and a medal-winning Paralympian, having just competed in the…
Always Looking UpChuck Aoki On Wheelchair Rugby And Changing How The World Watches Para Sports
In this week’s episode I sat down with Chuck Aoki. Chuck is an American wheelchair rugby, aka “murder ball” player, a 4-time Paralympic medalist and one of the…
Always Looking UpViolet On The Weight Of Words When Said Behind A Podium Or A Desk
In this episode I sat down with Violet aka hi its vi. Violet is a disability advocate, filmmaker, and content creator with almost 100 thousand followers on…
Always Looking UpAdam Ayers On The Wins That Happen On A Level Playing Field
In this week’s episode I sat down with Adam Ayers. Adam is the current president of the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, also known as DAAA. DAAA is a…
Always Looking UpKeely Cat-Wells On Making Investments And Making Space For Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Keely Cat-Wells. Keely, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Presidential Leadership Scholar, has been a dedicated advocate…
Always Looking UpJulia Métraux On Media Literacy And Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Julia Métraux. Julia is Mother Jones' disability reporter, where she covers disability, chronic illness and mental…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On What It Means To Be Healing
In this week's episode it is just me and the microphone. After my most recent doctor's appointment last week (week of 1/6/2025) I wanted to sit down and update…
Always Looking UpMarissa Bode On Nessarose, Making History, And The Magical, Accessible World Of Wicked
In this week’s episode I sat down with Marissa Bode. Marissa is an artist and actor who made history in her feature-film debut as Nessarose in the film Wicked…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On My Surgery Recovery Journey So Far
I'm back! After a brief hiatus I am back on the microphone to catch you all up on what has happened in the too many minutes that we've been apart. I share how…
Always Looking UpAriella Elm On The Disabled Vote
In this special episode Jillian sat down with Ariella Elm. Ariella is a content creator on TikTok who covers politics, local and global news. With Election Day…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin With A Little Life Update
In this special episode it is just me and the microphone as I share a little life update as I will be having surgery in the matter of days which means the…
Always Looking UpMadison Lawson On How Perceptions Shape Our Realities
In this week’s episode I sat down with Madison Lawson. Madison is a journalist, model and disability rights activist. Recognizing the importance of authentic…
Always Looking UpApril Lockhart On Normalizing Disability In The Fashion Industry
In this week’s episode I sat down with April Lockhart. April, coined the Internet's "Disabled Fashion Girlie", has become a pioneer in the disabled community…
Always Looking UpSteven Verdile On The Squeaky Wheel And Building A Community Through Laughter
In this week’s episode I sat down with Steven Verdile. Steven is the founder of Squeaky Wheel Media, a nonprofit organization that empowers disabled writers to…
Always Looking UpSophia Herzog Gibb On Why Everyone Is Watching The Paralympics
In this week’s episode I sat down with Sophia Herzog Gibb. Sophia is a two-time medal-winning Paralympian, having competed as a swimmer in the 2016 and 2020…
Always Looking UpTiffany Yu On Creating A Must-Have Community
In this week’s episode I sat down with Tiffany Yu. Tiffany is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability…
Always Looking UpTilly Griffiths On Becoming An Impact Storyteller
In this week’s episode I sat down with Tilly Griffiths. Tilly is a two-time Stanford graduate from the United Kingdom, recently completing her Master's degree…
Always Looking UpShaunta-Maé Alexander On Peloton And Training With The Healed Versions Of Ourselves
In this week’s episode I sat down with Shaunta-Maé Alexander. Shaunta-Maé is an incredibly gifted Public Speaker, Adaptive Athlete, Brand Ambassador…
Always Looking UpKayla Hamilton On Being A Dancer And A Storyteller
In this week’s episode I sat down with Kayla Hamilton. Kayla is a Texas-born, Bronx based performance maker, dancer, educator, and consultant. She is a Bessie…
Always Looking UpAubrey Smalls On The Realities Of Life As A Little Person
In this week’s episode I welcomed back Aubrey Smalls. Aubrey is an actor, filmmaker, and content creator with dwarfism who uses his platforms to educate people…
Always Looking UpDaisy Friedman On The Intimacies And Intricacies Of Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Daisy Friedman. Daisy is a writer and director based out of New York City. Her history as a multi-organ transplant…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On A Week Of New Friendships And New Memories
In this week’s episode it is just me and the microphone as I sit in my thoughts and feels and reflect on the Little People of America national conference that…
Always Looking UpRebecca Williford On DRA And Changing The Fabric Of Society
In this week’s episode I sat down with Rebecca Williford. Rebecca is a seasoned, nationally recognized disability community leader and an ardent disability…
Always Looking UpPamela Rae Schuller On Making Fun And Making An Impact
In this week’s episode I sat down with Pamela Rae Schuller. Pamela is an internationally known disability and mental health advocate, and professional stand-up…
Always Looking UpMuroj Negha On Being A Changemaker In An Industry That Refuses To Design For Us
In this week’s episode I sat down with Muroj Negha. Muroj is a fashion designer who is striving to redefine the boundaries of fashion and empower individuals…
Always Looking UpSyanne Centeno-Bloom On The Value Of Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Syanne Centeno-Bloom. Syanne is a prominent civil/disability rights activist, content creator and signed model. She has…
Always Looking UpAlex Barone On Seeing Disability With More Authenticity
In this week’s episode I sat down with Alex Barone. Alex is an actor who can be seen in The Luckiest Girl Alive, Dopesick, as well as the fifth season of…
Always Looking UpJoshua Castille And Caden Zane Marshall On Having Deaf And Disabled People In The Rooms Where Theater Happens
In this week’s episode I sat down with Joshua Castille and Caden Zane Marshall. Joshua is a Deaf performance artist who strives to form meaningful…
Always Looking UpMadison Tevlin On The Fun Of Defying Expectations
In this week’s episode I sat down with Madison Tevlin. Madison is an award-winning model, host, content creator, actor and advocate. She shatters the…
Always Looking UpMadison Ferris, Danny Gomez, and Laura Winters On All of Me, A Hot Disabled Love Story
In this special episode I sat down with Madison Ferris, Danny Gomez, and Laura Winters to talk about the play All of Me, opening Off-Broadway The Pershing…
Always Looking UpDustin Giannelli On Access Being The Key To Communication
In this week’s episode I sat down with Dustin Giannelli. Dustin Giannelli is the CEO & Founder of HearsDustin LLC and a DEI and Accessibility focused public…
Always Looking UpJudge Sunny Bailey On The DAAY Court And A New Approach To Seeking Justice
In this week’s episode I sat down with Judge Soonhee “Sunny” Bailey. Judge Bailey sits on Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court. In 2018 she created the…
Always Looking UpMedusa On Telling Stories Through The Language Of Music
In this week’s episode I sat down with Medusa. Medusa is a non-binary revenge-pop artist based in New York. They aim to transform stories of queer joy and…
Always Looking UpLachi On Amplifying Disability Culture And Transforming The Music Industry
In this week’s episode I sat down with Lachi. Lachi is a globally touring singer and songwriter, award winning social entrepreneur, GRAMMYs Chapter Board…
Always Looking UpIsabel Mavrides-Calderón On Creating A Legacy For Present And Future Generations
In this week’s episode I sat down with Isabel Mavrides-Calderón. Isabel is a disability justice activist and organizer. Her work focuses on advocating for…
Always Looking UpColin Buckingham On The Realities Of Living In An Average Height World That Does Not Understand What It Means To Be A Little Person
To start I would like to issue a trigger warning. In this conversation we do discuss harassment, assault, and trauma. If these are triggers for you, please…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin And Emily Ladau On Disability, Privacy, And The Royal Family
In this special episode I sat down with Emily Ladau. Emily is a disability rights activist, storyteller, digital communications consultant, author of the book…
Always Looking UpAmanda Leduc On Disability, Fairy Tales And Telling Stories That Can Be Both Painful and Full of Love
In this week’s episode I sat down with Amanda Leduc. Amanda is a disabled writer and author of the non-fiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and…
Always Looking UpAlycia Anderson On What It Means For A Brand To Listen To Disabled People
In this week’s episode I sat down with Alycia Anderson. Alycia is a TEDx motivational speaker, corporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility…
Always Looking UpHannah Bonam-Young On Writing Stories Where Disabled People Get A Happy Ever After
In this week’s episode I sat down with Hannah Bonam-Young. Hannah is a writer of romance novels including Next of Kin, Next to You, and Out On A Limb that…
Always Looking UpEmma Vogelmann On Changing A World That Is Always Trying To Change Us
In this week’s episode I sat down with Emma Vogelmann. Emma, also known as The Wheelchair Activist, is a disability activist based in the UK. She is the…
Always Looking UpMatthew Jeffers On Being A Dwarf Actor On Stage And Screen
In this week’s episode I sat down with Matthew August Jeffers. Matthew is an actor of stage and screen, having appeared on shows such as New Amsterdam, FBI…
Always Looking UpDom Kelly On New Disabled South And What It Takes To Build A Coalition
In this week’s episode I sat down with Dom Kelly. Dom is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, a non-profit working to achieve liberation and…