The new year can sparkle and still hurt. In this episode, I talk about loneliness during festive disruption, moving to person-led support, and unlearning internalised ableism shaped by growing up with a disability in a world that expects you to be “low maintenance.”

I share my intentions for 2026 and why taking up space, asking for help, and not apologising for existing matters.

If you’ve ever felt invisible in a season that promises connection, you’re not alone.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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This final episode of the year is a reflective conversation about consent and why it matters in everyday life.

I talk about how physical touch, especially hugging, is often automatic and well intentioned, but not always comfortable for everyone. From my own perspective, I share why consent is about more than just intention. It’s about pausing, checking in and allowing people the space to choose.

This episode looks at consent through a broader lens, beyond disability alone. Everyone has different boundaries, comfort levels and experiences, and those can change over time. Respecting that doesn’t make things awkward, it makes people feel seen.

I also take a moment to reflect on the year that’s been for the podcast. From returning to solo episodes to reaching Episode 40, it’s been a year of learning, growth and finding my voice.

Thank you for listening and being part of this space. Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I’ll be back in 2026 with more honest conversations.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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What if the problem isn’t you, but the job description you’re trying to squeeze into? In this episode, I open up about what happens when we stop forcing ourselves to fit rigid roles and start shaping work around our strengths instead. Job carving has completely changed the way I see my own career, and I think it could change yours too.

I share the honest side of navigating work with a disability, from naming support needs to dealing with stigma, and why it can be so exhausting trying to “prove” yourself in systems that were never designed with you in mind. But I also talk about the moment things clicked for me and how reframing my strengths helped me imagine a role I could actually thrive in.

This episode is about more than job design. It is about confidence, self-worth and giving yourself permission to ask for work that aligns with who you are. You will walk away with practical ideas, but also a reminder that your value is not defined by a checklist in a job ad. If you have ever felt like you are the wrong shape for the role in front of you, this might be the perspective shift you need.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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Ever cheered loudly for someone else’s milestone and then wondered why your own path feels slow? In this catch-up, I open up about taking a pause after three emotional episodes with my mum, celebrating my brother’s wedding, and navigating the mix of joy and comparison that followed. I talk about feeling stuck, naming pressure, and rebuilding momentum without forcing a sprint.

I also dive into the difference between curiosity and connection around disability, and why better questions build real understanding. Plus, a bit of grounding from my gym progress, proof that small reps count. If you’re easing back after a break, this one’s your reminder that slow growth still moves you forward.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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In the final part of this three-part series, Mum and I reflect on our 24-year journey navigating disability, independence, and the future ahead. What began with a health scare that pushed us to accept outside help has grown into a new balance of care, freedom, and resilience.

We open up about how smart home technology changed my independence, the reality of facing employment discrimination, and the tough but necessary conversations about ageing and what comes next.

It’s a raw, honest chat about disability, and redefining what support really looks like. A special mention to my mum for being so open and willing to share her side of the journey.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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Moving from a small country town to a massive Perth high school was life-changing for me, but not in a good way. I went from being “Sam” to “just the chick in the wheelchair,” and the isolation hit hard. I had no friends, no independence, and my mental health spiralled.

In this second conversation with Mum, we revisit those volatile teenage years, the suicidal thoughts, and the heartbreak of Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, something I believed would change my life for the better but instead left me worse off.

We also talk about the prejudice I faced outside of accessibility, tertiary institutions saying they “couldn’t accommodate someone like me,” providers misunderstanding my needs, and people speaking to Mum instead of me.

But through therapy, resilience, and a lot of difficult conversations, our relationship came out stronger. We found our way through the darkness and into something better.

If this episode has raised difficult feelings for you, please remember support is available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 confidential support.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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What happens when a mother’s role changes overnight? In this heartfelt episode, I’m joined by my mum, Di, as we reflect on my sudden onset of dystonia at age eight and how it reshaped our family.

Mum shares those first terrifying days, watching her active farm kid struggle to walk, endless hospital visits, and tests that offered no answers. We talk about my early optimism clashing with teenage reality, the emotional challenges that followed, and the life-changing decisions she faced about treatments like Botox.

Through it all, one philosophy guided us: accessibility without limitation. From school to abseiling and skydiving, it was never about lowering expectations, it was about making things fit.

For parents, carers, or anyone moved by stories of resilience, this conversation is equal parts raw, challenging, and comforting. As Mum always says: “I will always be okay, and so will you.”

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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In this vulnerable episode, I open up about the emotional and practical challenges of ageing with a disability. From fears of physical decline and lack of medical answers, to the deep anxiety of one day losing my mum, who has been my primary caregiver since I was eight, this episode explores what it means to age when your independence is so closely tied to someone else’s care.

I talk about the guilt, grief and hope that come with future planning, and my desire for sustainable support that doesn’t sacrifice freedom or connection. Ageing with a disability is confronting, but it’s also a privilege, and I’m doing my best to honour that.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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In this episode, I sit down with my friend Sophie to chat about our very different experiences on dating apps, me as a woman with a disability, and her as an able-bodied woman.

From hiding my wheelchair in profile pics to getting invasive questions like “Can you feel it?” in the first few messages, I share what it’s really like trying to date in a world that often overlooks women with a disability. Meanwhile, Sophie deals with the usual ghosting and bad banter.

We talk about how ableism shows up even in digital spaces, how exhausting it can be to explain accessibility needs, and why being seen as “inspiring” just for dating isn’t the compliment people think it is.

It’s raw, real, and definitely not your average dating chat.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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Have you ever wondered what you’d tell your younger self if you could? In this deeply personal episode, I read a letter to my younger self; the girl still fighting against her disability, feeling out of place, and unsure where she belonged.

I reflect on the shift from denial to acceptance, and how making peace with my disability became the unexpected key to contentment. I talk about what’s still hard, what’s gotten easier, and what’s surprised me most.

This isn’t just my story. It’s an invitation to reflect on your own. Be kinder to yourself. Write that letter. You might be further along than you think.

You’ll also hear a small update about the podcast and what’s ahead as it moves into a new chapter.

Thanks so much for listening to A Wheelie Good Chat! Your support means the world.

Follow along on Instagram: @awheeliegoodchat | @sam.bamalama

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