In this week’s episode I welcomed back Dr. Erin Pritchard. Dr. Pritchard is a Lecturer in Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University, author of the book Dwarfism, Spatiality and Disabling Experiences, and activist in the little person community. We discuss the roots of the stereotypes towards people with dwarfism, the need to teach the social model of disability, examine how the disabled community views people with dwarfism, and explain why it is so important for the dwarfism community to stand together to advocate for change.

Follow Dr. Pritchard: Twitter: @ErinPritchard15

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Dr. Akilah Cadet. Dr. Cadet is a Black disabled woman who is founder and CEO of Change Cadet, a company that provides individuals and companies with services that support embedding anti-racism, diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging into overall organizational identity & strategy. In addition, she is an author, columnist and public speaker and was named a 2021 Forbes Next 1000 Honoree. We discuss the relationship between white supremacy and ableism, why disability is not often thought of as an aspect of diversity in the workplace, and the difference between being an ally vs. being an accomplice.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow Dr. Akilah Cadet: Instagram: @changecadet Twitter: @changecadet Website: https://www.changecadet.com

Join the Change Cadet Action Network HERE

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin 

In this week’s episode I sat down with father and filmmaker Olivier Bernier. Olivier is the director of the new documentary Forget Me Not which follows his and his wife Hilda’s personal journey as their son Emilio, who has down syndrome, prepares to start school. We discuss the ongoing segregation of children with intellectual disabilities in schools, the societal and systemic barriers his family encountered, and the importance of telling their story.

Read the transcription HERE

Watch Forget Me Not

Amazon

Vimeo On Demand

Tubi

Hoopla

Follow Forget Me Not: Instagram: @forgetmenotdocumentary Facebook: Forget Me Not Documentary Twitter: @fmndoc Website: https://www.forgetmenotdocumentary.com

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin 

In honor of Saturday having been International Day of Persons With Disability I sat down with Logan Aldridge. Exactly a year ago Peloton announced that Logan was joining the team as one of its newest strength instructors and adaptive training specialist. After sharing his story we discuss his mentality of “it’s just an arm”, the importance of creating accessible fitness solutions for all abilities, how he and Peloton are bringing the disabled community onto the platform, and so much more.

Follow Logan: Instagram: @aldridgelogan

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

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 fitness spaces, the importance of seeing different body types in fitness marketing, and question what a personal trainer should look like.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow Dave: Instagram: @daveduminuco

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected] 

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

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 gives a voice to models who deserve to be celebrated. We discuss the founding of We Speak, the difference between authentic and inauthentic disability representation, and the need to stop being afraid of disability, both inside the fashion industry and in society at large.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow We Speak: Instagram: @wespeakmodels Website: https://www.wespeakmodels.com 

Follow Briauna: @briaunamariah

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

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 gives a voice to models who deserve to be celebrated. We discuss the founding of We Speak, the difference between authentic and inauthentic disability representation, and the need to stop being afraid of disability, both inside the fashion industry and in society at large.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow We Speak: Instagram: @wespeakmodels Website: https://www.wespeakmodels.com 

Follow Briauna: @briaunamariah

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

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 conducting years of research and community building, AUF AUGENHOEHE is a fashion label for little people. We discuss the creation and growth of her fashion label, explain the differences between adaptive, accessible, and inclusive fashion, and why designing for disability cannot and should not be treated like a trend and so much more.

Follow Sema: Instagram: @sema.gedik

Follow AUF AUGENHOEHE: Instagram: @aufaugenhoehe.design Facebook: AUF AUGENHOEHE Website: https://www.aufaugenhoehe.design/en

Size Guide - Find Your Fit: https://www.aufaugenhoehe.design/en/pages/size-chart

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.jillianilana.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin 

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 skip this episode.

In this week’s episode I welcomed back Zane Landin. Zane is a mental health and disability advocate, queer rights activist, entrepreneur, and positive change maker who identifies as Hispanic, Queer, and Disbaled. He is the founder of Positive Vibes Magazine, which is a digital magazine dedicated to telling authentic stories about mental health, wellness, and inspiration. After sharing our individual stories with grief we discuss how being in a state of grief can be disabling, the misconceptions about what grief is and how it affects someone, and how grief, like disability, is a very individual experience.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow Zane: Instagram: @zanelandin Twitter: @LandinZane LinkedIn: Zane Landin

Positive Vibes Magazine: Website: https://positivevibesmag.com Instagram: @positivevibesmag Facebook: @positivevibesmag

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

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 legacy, and share just a few of our favorite memories with him.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow Jillian: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin