Always Looking Up

In this week’s episode I sat down with Rebecca Cokley. Rebecca is the program officer for the Ford Foundation’s first-ever U.S. Disability Rights program, which is focused on strengthening the field, building a pipeline of diverse leadership, promoting disability pride, and mobilizing resources toward disability rights work. Prior to joining the foundation Rebecca was the co-founder of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress and is a three-time presidential appointee under President Obama. With 2024 being a pivotal election year we discuss the disability rights and disability justice issues on the ballot,  as well as ways in which the disability community can get involved, highlighting the work that is being done by individuals and organizations, the fact that visibility is often confused for impact when it doesn’t have to be and much, much more.

Follow Rebecca Cokley: Twitter: @RebeccaCokley

Organizations Mentioned:

AAPD RevUp Campaign

Center American Progress

Data For Progress

Disability Victory

New Disabled South 

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana 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 Amy Roloff. Amy is a reality TV star, appearing on the show Little People Big World, an a cookbook author and a motivational speaker. We discuss having to contextualize what it means to be a little person, the power of sport in the little person community, life through a camera lens and much, much more.

Follow Amy: Instagram: @amyjroloff Website: https://amyroloffslittlekitchen.com 

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Bradley Rose. Bradley is a Peloton Instructor, and teaches cycling classes from Peloton Studios London, bringing his unique British charm and eternally optimistic attitude to every ride.  Prior to joining Peloton, Bradley spent the last ten years in the USA, working as an actor, appearing in both films and TV shows. After sharing his story we discuss how he defines being a survivor, how he came into fitness and becoming a Peloton instructor, what it means to be a part of the disabled, survivor, and Peloton communities and much, much more.

Follow Bradley: Instagram: @bradley_rose23 TikTok: @bradrose23

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Professor Javier Robles. Professor Robles is a professor at Rutgers University in the Kinesiology and Health Department, is the Director of the Center for Disability Sports, Health and Wellness at Rutgers, and is the Chair of the New Jersey Disabilities Covid-19 Action Committee. We discuss the differences between equality vs. equity, the importance of disability education, what is needed in order to have a society that is truly inclusive for people with disabilities, why his class is the reason I transferred to Rutgers and much, much more.

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Caitlin Conner. Caitlin, in addition to being the founder and CEO of Be More Adaptive, a global disability database, is a mom, a model, an advocate, and an athlete. After sharing her beautifully impactful story we discuss what it means to be a T-Rex and a chameleon, the differences between adaptive and universal design, the ability to be strong with a disability, the fact that we are worthy of joy and much, much more.

Follow Caitlin: Instagram: @caitlin.andherlegnamed.rex LinkedIn Newsletter: Adversity Is Your Super Power

Follow Be More Adaptive: Instagram: @bemoreadaptive Website: https://www.bemoreadaptive.org

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Violet aka hi its vi. Violet is a disability advocate, filmmaker, and content creator with almost 70 thousand followers on TikTok. Violet’s advocacy focuses on the representation of people with dwarfism in the media. In light of some recent at the time of recording comments made by actor Hugh Grant regarding the film Wonka we discuss how modern remakes of classic films are perpetuating harmful stereotypes, what Peter Dinklage actually said when discussing the upcoming Snow White film, the dwarfism representation we are hoping to see on screen and behind the camera in 2024 and much, much more.

Follow Violet: TikTok: @hi.itsvi Instagram: @hello.itsvi

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Kylie Miller. Kylie is an audio journalist and social media curator. She is dedicated to advocating for disability rights and amplifying disability pride through podcasting and social media. She is the former producer of Judy Heumann’s podcast The Heumann Perspective and currently manages social media for Judy Heumann Legacy and Lachi Music. To celebrate Judy Heumann’s birthday we discuss Judy’s life, legacy, and what it was like to be working for and now continuously empowered by her.

Follow Kylie: Instagram: @ky__mills

Follow Judy Heumann's Legacy: Instagram: @theheumannperspective Website: https://judithheumann.com/heumann-perspective/

Listen to The Heumann Perspective:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

Follow Lachi: @lachimusic

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Chris Ruden. Chris is an amputee, Type 1 diabetic record-holding powerlifter, motivational keynote speaker, author, and disabled model who was featured on The Rock’s hit TV show “Titan Games”. Through his platforms, his message of “creating your world without limits” has made a global impact. We discuss what it means to be respectfully curious, the feelings of not being disabled enough, how disability protects us and much, much more.

Follow Chris: Instagram: @chrisruden LinkedIn: Chis Ruden Website: https://chrisruden.com 

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

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

To start I would like to issue a trigger warning. In this conversation we do discuss disordered eating and eating disorders. If these are triggers for you please feel free to skip this episode.

I sat down with Jackie Silver. Jackie is a Registered Dietitian with a Masters of Health Science (MHSc) in Nutrition Communications. In her practice she works with kids, teens, and adults with autism, ADHD, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. We discuss her approach to nutrition and wellness and how she applies it to her practice, the necessary unpacking that needs to be done when it comes to understanding disability, how it still seems like there is no room when it comes to disability in regards to health and much, much more.

Follow Jackie: Instagram: @accessiblewellness Facebook: Accessible Wellness TikTok: @jackiesilvernutrition Website: https://jackiesilvernutrition.com 

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast 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 Katharine Quinn. Katherine is a multi-hypenated theatre creative and content creator. She served as the writing associate on Shucked and is currently working on The Great Gatsby at the Papermill Playhouse and How To Dance in Ohio, which is now in previews and opens on Broadway December 10th. We discuss how Broadway has both changed and remained the same since the pandemic, the ways Broadway could be more accessible through technology, the importance of a show like How To Dance In Ohio and authentic disability representation and much, much more.

Follow Katherine: TikTok: @itskatharinequinn Instagram: @itskatharinequinn YouTube: Katharine Quinn - Broadway and Beyond Website: https://www.katharinequinn.com 

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

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.