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 UpDave Duminuco On Redefining The Look Of Fitness
In this week’s episode I welcomed back Dave Duminuco. Dave is a personal trainer at Equinox. We discussed the actual and perceived inaccessibility of gyms and…
Always Looking UpBriauna Mariah On The Importance Of Authenticity In Fashion
In this week’s episode I sat down with Briauna Mariah. Briauna is the Founder and CEO of We Speak Model Management, a non-traditional model management that…
Always Looking UpSema Gedik On Designing With Little People In Mind
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with German fashion designer Sema Gedik. Sema is the founder and CEO of AUF AUGENHOEHE. Launched in 2017, after…
Always Looking UpZane Landin On Grief And Disability
To start I would like to issue a trigger warning. This episode talks about death, grieving, and mourning. If these are triggers for you, please feel free to…
Always Looking UpThe Curwin Siblings On Making Today Our Masterpiece
This week’s episode is a little different. I sat down with my brother to celebrate our father who we lost on Halloween 2015. We discuss the man he was, his…
Always Looking UpShelby Holloway On October Being A DAM Good Month
In this week’s episode, in honor of October being Dwarfism Awareness Month and tomorrow being International Dwarfism Awareness Day I welcomed back Shelby…
Always Looking UpDr. Ben Barry On What We Are Teaching The Future Of Fashion
In this week’s episode I sat down with Dr. Ben Barry. Ben is the Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design, a disability fashion activist, and researcher. He…
Always Looking UpMaria Rabaino On Living Boundlessly
In this week’s episode I sat down with Maria Rabaino. Maria is a wheelchair user, certified fitness trainer and founding member of the Rollettes, a wheelchair…
Always Looking UpBri Scalesse On What It Means To Actually Be Inclusive Of All Bodies
In this week’s episode I welcomed back Bri Scalesse. Bri is a wheelchair user, model, influencer, and advocate. This episode was recorded right after New York…
Always Looking UpSofia Blasco On Making The Art Of Dance Accessible
In this week’s episode I sat down with Sofia Blasco. Sofia is a dancer, Pure Barre instructor, and co-founder and executive director of The Dancer Movement, an…
Always Looking UpMichaela Healy On Hydrocephalus Awareness Month
In this week’s episode, in honor of September being Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, I welcomed back Michaela Healy. Michaela is one of my best friends…
Always Looking UpNic Novicki On The Battle For Authentic Representation
In this week’s episode I sat down with Nic Novicki. Nic is a comedian, actor, and founder of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. This conversation was…
Always Looking UpHaben Girma On The Power Of Writing Our Own Story
In this week’s episode I sat down with Haben Girma. Haben is a disability rights advocate and the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. She is the…
Always Looking UpJulian Gavino On Protecting Our Identities While Building Our Brand
In this week’s episode I sat down with Julian Gavino. Known as The Disabled Hippie, Julian is a model and activist in the disability and transgender…
Always Looking UpSteve Serio On Disability In Sports On And Off The Court
In this week’s episode I sat down with Steve Serio. Steve is a Team USA wheelchair basketball player, 3 time Paralympian, and 2x gold medal winner. We discuss…
Always Looking UpCarly Ruhnke On The Importance Of The Little Person Community
In this week’s episode I sat down with Carly Ruhnke. Carly is a little person with Morquio A syndrome and founder of the Little Carly Foundation. We discuss…
Always Looking UpLisa Cox On Disability Pride Across The World
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Lisa Cox. Lisa is a multi-awarded writer, presenter and consultant based in Australia. She has written for numerous…
Always Looking UpSamantha Rayburn-Trubyk On The "M" Word
To start I would like to issue a warning. This episode does use offensive language in context of recent events that took place prior to recording. Myself and…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On My Balancing Act
In this week’s episode, in honor of disability pride month, it is just me and the microphone. I discuss what it was like being the only little person in my…
Always Looking UpZane Landin On The Intersectionality Of Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Zane Landin. Zane is a mental health and disability advocate, queer rights activist, entrepreneur, and positive change…
Always Looking UpEmily Ladau On What It Means To Be Proud To Be Disabled
In this week’s episode I sat down with Emily Ladau. Emily is a disability rights activist and author of the book Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to…
Always Looking UpNicole Newnham On Sharing A Blueprint For Activism
In this week’s episode I sat down with Nicole Newnham. Nicole, along with Jim LeBrecht, is the co-director and co-producer of the Oscar nominated documentary…
Always Looking UpJim LeBrecht On Crip Camp And Sharing The History Of The Disability Rights Movement
In this week’s episode I sat down with Jim LeBrecht. Jim, along with Nicole Newnham, is the co-director and co-producer of the Oscar nominated documentary Crip…
Always Looking UpJenna Bainbridge On Why Disability Needs To Be Portrayed With Authenticity
In this week’s episode I sat down with Jenna Bainbridge. Jenna is an actor, singer, disability rights advocate, and ambulatory wheelchair user. She most…
Always Looking UpDr. William Mackenzie On The Medicine Around Dwarfism
In this week’s episode I sat down with Dr. William Mackenzie. Dr. Mackenzie is a world-renowned pediatric orthopedics expert. He currently serves as chairman…
Always Looking UpSarah Galli On The Reality Of Disability On Bravo
In this week’s episode I sat down with Sarah Galli. Sarah is host of the Bravo podcast Andy’s Girls where she focuses on the psychology behind the Real…
Always Looking UpCara Reedy On Amplifying Disabled Voices
In this week’s episode I sat down with Cara Reedy. Cara is currently serving as the Director of the Disabled Journalists Association. Prior to that she was the…
Always Looking UpSid Marcos On How Much A Disabled Life Is Worth
In this week’s episode I sat down with Sid Marcos. Sid is a disabled writer, producer, and business developer who I met last summer while she was working on…
Always Looking UpRebecca Cokley On A Year Of Always Looking Up
This week marks a year of Always Looking Up, and what a year it has been. Over the past 365 days I have been able to talk to the most amazing people who…
Always Looking UpBekah Bailey and Rebecca Cokley On How One Decision Impacts The Little Person Community
To start I would like to issue a trigger warning. In this episode myself and my guests talk about sexual harassment and sexual assault. If these are triggers…
Always Looking UpSara Curwin On The Impact Of Being A Teacher
In this week’s episode I sat down with my cousin Sara Curwin. Sara is a teacher, teaching students with learning differences. We discuss her path to becoming a…
Always Looking UpJudy Heumann On The Work To Be Done
In this week’s episode, as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the 504 Sit Ins, I was honored to speak to Judy Heumann. Judy is a lifelong disability rights…
Always Looking UpPaula Carozzo On Accepting Your Disability Identity
In this week’s episode I sat down with Paula Carozzo. Paula is an inclusion advocate and disabled content creator based in Miami. We discuss: her journey from…
Always Looking UpShelby Holloway On The Influence Of Language
Trigger warning: This conversation does include offensive language. Shelby and I do not condone the language that we use but felt it was necessary to say in…
Always Looking UpImani Barbarin On Why You Need To Listen To Disabled People
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Imani Barbarin. Imani is a content creator, disability blogger and activist. We discuss how she got her start in…
Always Looking UpKaylee Perron On How We See The World From Different Heights
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Kaylee Perron. The Asheburn to my Mullins, she has been my best friend since we were three years old. We discuss when…
Always Looking UpClinton Brown On The Power Of Sports
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Clinton Brown. Clint is a member of the LPA community and founder of the DAAA team, the New York Towers. We discuss the…
Always Looking UpDr. Erin Pritchard On The True Power Of Words
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Dr. Erin Pritchard. Dr. Pritchard is a Lecturer in Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University, author of the book…
Always Looking UpEmily Voorde On Being Someone Our Younger Selves Looked Up To
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Emily Voorde. Emily currently works in The White House as an Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement…
Always Looking UpAudrey Curwin On Raising A Little Person
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with the person who knows me best and has certainly known me the longest, my mom Audrey Curwin. We discuss how I got…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On Seeing My Body As Healthy
To start, I would like to issue a trigger warning. This week's episode talks about disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image. If these are triggers…
Always Looking UpSean Eberle On Adaptive Fitness
In this week's episode I am sitting down with Sean Eberle. Sean is a short stature athlete who competes in adaptive CrossFit. We connected over our mutual…
Always Looking UpThe Curwin Siblings On Peter Dinklage And Snow White
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with my brother Ben to talk about the controversy surrounding Disney’s live action remake of Snow White. We discuss…
Always Looking UpLucy Trieshmann On Disability Injustice
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Lucy Trieshmann. Lucy is currently a law student at NYU and a disability justice activist. We discuss how many…
Always Looking UpAlexis Barber On Redefining What It Means To Love Your Body
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Alexis Barber. Alexis is a content creator here in New York City and is someone I have been following for quite…
Always Looking UpAngela Singletary On Finding Your Place And Purpose
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Angela Singletary, the founder and owner of A Little Perspective and Purpose by Ang. We discuss finding her place…
Always Looking UpRance Nix On How He Became A King Of Napa
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Rance Nix. Rance is a New York based actor who can be seen in the upcoming series Kings of Napa on the Oprah…
Always Looking UpMy New Year's Resolutions
To start, I would like to issue a trigger warning. This week’s episode talks about body image and disordered eating. If these are triggers for you, please feel…
Always Looking UpDanielle Gray On Knowing What You Are Worth
To start, I would like to issue a trigger warning. This week’s episode talks about self harm and suicide. If these are triggers for you, please feel free to…
Always Looking UpKathy D. Woods and Dana Michael Woods on Family, Faith, Fashion, and Adversity - Part 2
This week's episode is part two of my conversation with fashion designer Kathy D. Woods and her husband, actor Dana Michael Woods where we continue to discuss…
Always Looking UpKathy D. Woods and Dana Michael Woods on Family, Faith, Fashion and Adversity - Part 1
This week's episode is extra-special because it is part one of a two-part episode. I sat down with fashion designer Kathy D. Woods and her husband, actor Dana…
Always Looking UpMartino Cartier On The Power Of A Wig And A Wish
In this week’s episode I sat down with Martino Cartier. Martino is a celebrity hair stylist and philanthropist. We discuss the impact he and his non-profit…
Always Looking UpMaria Town On Knowing Our Past To Change Our Future
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Maria Town. Maria is the President and CEO of the American Association of People With Disabilities. Prior to…
Always Looking UpLil Gabi D On The Power Of Feeling Seen
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Gabi though you may know her as Lil Gabi D. Gabi is a digital content creator, using her platforms to advocate…
Always Looking UpMark Povinelli On Acting And Activism
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Mark Povinelli. Mark is an actor and activist, currently serving as the President of Little People of America…
Always Looking UpNancy Volpe Beringer On Project Runway And Designing Without Limits
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Nancy Volpe Beringer. Nancy is a fashion designer who competed on season 18 of Project Runway, making it all the…
Always Looking UpLucy Jones On What It Really Means To Be An Ally
In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Lucy Jones. Lucy is a fashion designer who focuses on solution-based design. In 2017 she founded FFORA, an…
Always Looking UpJillian Curwin On All The Little Things
In that week's episode I am in the hot seat. My brother Ben, who is also the show's editor and producer, sat in the host's seat and asked me questions about…
Always Looking UpKelsey Lindell On Ableism And How It Does Not Discriminate
In this week’s episode I am talking to Kelsey Lindell. Kelsey is a disability advocate and fitness influencer. In August she was named Well+Good’s first ever…
Always Looking UpStacie Lick On Disability And Sexual Assault And Telling My Story
To start, I want to issue a trigger warning. This week’s episode talks about sexual harassment and sexual assault. If these are triggers for you, please feel…