Always Looking Up

This week's episode is a solo episode, a casual and candid conversation with you, my listeners and readers. As my 28th year draws to a close I wanted to take the time to reflect on the past 365 days, shine a light on issues I want to amplify in the coming year on my platforms, and answer a few listener questions.

Read the transcription 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 Alice Sheppard. Alice is the Founder and Artistic Director of Kinetic Light, as well as a choreographer and dancer in the company. Kinetic Light is an internationally-recognized disability arts ensemble that, working in the disciplines of art, technology, design, and dance, creates, performs, and teaches at the nexus of access, queerness, disability, dance, and race. We discuss her journey to becoming a dancer, the relationship and history between disability and dance, and her experience with flying across the stage.

Read the transcription HERE

See Under The Mountain at Lincoln Center
Follow Kinetic Light: Website: https://kineticlight.org Instagram: @kineticlightdance Facebook: Kinetic Light
Follow Alice: Instagram: @wheelchairdancr
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 Gabriella Amaya. Gabriella is a disability advocate and host of The Re-Define Podcast, where she and her guests share their experiences about living with a disability and how they re-define what disability means to them. We discuss the fact that disability can be messy, the importance of allowing ourselves to be mad at our disability, seeing our scars as beautiful, and much, much more.

Read the transcription HERE

Follow Gabriella: Instagram: @gabriellamaya

Listen to The Re-Define Podcast:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Follow The Re-Define Podcast: Instagram: @redefinepod Website: https://redefinepodcast.weebly.com

Follow Elizabeth Jameson: Instagram: @_elizabethjameson_ YouTube: @elizabethjameson4678 Website: http://www.jamesonfineart.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 this week’s episode I sat down with Becky Leifman, one of the founders of CO/LAB Theater Group, Marina, a first-year CO/LAB Leader, and Sylvia, a third-year CO/LAB leader. CO/LAB Theater Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Creative Opportunities without Limits And Boundaries. CO/LAB offers individuals with developmental disabilities a creative and social outlet through theater arts. We discuss what being a part of CO/LAB means to them, what they’ve learned from their fellow community members, teachers, and supporting artists, and what they hope the entertainment industry learns from seeing and experiencing their incredible work.

Follow CO/LAB:Website: https://www.colabtheatergroup.com Facebook: CO/LAB Theater Group Twitter: @colabtheater Instagram: @colabtheatergroup YouTube: @COLABTheaterGroup

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 Laurel Lawson. Laurel is a choreographic collaborator, dancer, designer, and engineer with Kinetic Light - an internationally-recognized disability arts ensemble. Working in the disciplines of art, technology, design, and dance, Kinetic Light creates, performs, and teaches at the nexus of access, queerness, disability, dance, and race. We discuss the founding and creation of Kinetic Light, the importance of designing an accessible artistic space for the artists and performers, and what it feels like to truly fly.

Read the transcription HERE

See Under The Mountain at Lincoln Center

Follow Kinetic Light: Website: https://kineticlight.org Instagram: @kineticlightdance Facebook: Kinetic Light

Follow Laurel: Instagram: @worldsoflaurel

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 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