In this week’s episode of Always Looking Up I welcomed back Melanie Waldman. An advocate for disability rights and overall inclusion, Melanie's history & career include sharing her professional connection(s) with a wide range of audiences. In 2025, she launched her platform "Disability Reality Media", which she’s taken to Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW.  Through her platform, she has been able to interview artists on red carpets across the country. As we are two self-professed Bravo girls, we sat down to discuss disability as a costume as seen in both reality and scripted television. 

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode on my Patreon will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Melanie: Instagram: ⁠@whereswaldman⁠ TikTok: ⁠@whereswaldman⁠

Listen to ⁠Disability Reality Podcast⁠:

⁠ Spotify⁠

⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠

Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠@jill_ilana⁠ TikTok: ⁠@jillian_ilana⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠ Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Read With Me:

⁠Goodreads⁠

⁠The StoryGraph⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Isaac Zablocki. Isaac is the Co-Founder and CEO of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, a disability film festival that has developed into a leading independent nonprofit and the premiere global exhibitor of disability-focused cinema. We discuss the beginnings of ReelAbilities and its continued, evolving success, the importance of building community through the watching of films, what we can expect to see and experience at this year’s festival and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn More About The 2026 ReelAbilities Film Festival: https://reelabilities.org/newyork

Follow ReelAbilities: Instagram: @reelabilitiesny TikTok: @reelabilitiesny YouTube: ReelAbilities International

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode of Always Looking Up I sat down with Zach Miller. Zach is a 2x World Champion, 2x Paralympian and 2023 ESPY winner for Best Athlete with a Disability. When he isn’t snowboarding, you can find him riding his motorcycle, driving his Supra, or hopping online for some gaming with friends. We discuss how he discovered para snowboarding, the road to Milan and competing at the 2026 Paralympics, being a member of one team, Team USA and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Zach: Instagram: @themountainmiller

Watch Nothing To Hide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyT77hwvY7E

Follow Culxtured: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@culxtured⁠ TikTok: ⁠@culxtured_⁠ Website: ⁠https://culxtured.com⁠

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Anna Johannes. Anna is a 2012 Paralympic bronze medalist and a seasoned strategist dedicated to redefining the intersection of sport and disability. After transitioning from elite swimming to the corporate world for the past decade, she has now launched her own consultancy, On the One Hand, and currently serves as a Partner and Co-founder at Culxtured, a media collective redefining Paralympic storytelling.

We discussed the Milan 2026 Paralympic Games, from the athletes to the competition to the media coverage, and much, much more.  

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Anna: Instagram: @Anna_f_johannes

Follow Culxtured: ⁠Instagram: @culxtured TikTok: @culxtured_ Website: https://culxtured.com

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I welcomed back Syanne Bloom and Jillian Mercado. Syanne is an Afro-Indigenous disabled activist and political commentator who examines the intersection of politics, media, and representation. Her work exposes how industries like fashion often reflect the same systemic inequities seen in government and society. Jillian is an actress, model, and activist who has become a prominent figure in the fashion world, challenging beauty ideals, and re-defining traditional norms in the fashion industry. We discuss fashion as an art form and as an industry, how disabled people are still being treated within and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Syanne: Instagram: ⁠@syannebloom⁠ TikTok: ⁠@syannebloom⁠

Follow Jillian: Instagram: ⁠@jillianmercado⁠ TikTok: ⁠@thejillianmercado⁠

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Christopher Griffin better known as Plant Kween. Christopher is a Brooklyn based black, queer, non-binary lifestyle creator with a focus on all things inspirational, fashion, design, and nature. Their work helps people reconnect with nature, live more sustainably, and inspires curiosity about the world around them. We discuss the never ending conversations around disability, the connection between plants and self care, how clothes allow us to be a character in our own stories and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Plant Kween: Instagram: @plantkween TikTok: @plantkween Website: https://www.plantkween.com

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Andrea Dalzell. Andrea, known as “The Seated Nurse”—is a New York City nurse leader, disability advocate, and wheelchair user redefining what inclusive healthcare looks like. Through storytelling, consulting, and keynote speaking, she equips institutions to move from empathy to action in disability inclusion. We discuss her journey towards becoming a nurse, what it means to truly listen to your patients and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Andrea: Instagram: @theseatednurse TikTok: @andreadalzell Website: https://www.theseatednurse.com

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Syanne Bloom and Jillian Mercado. Syanne  is an Afro-Indigenous disabled activist and political commentator who examines the intersection of politics, media, and representation. Her work exposes how industries like fashion often reflect the same systemic inequities seen in government and society. Jillian is an actress, model, and activist who has become a prominent figure in the fashion world, challenging beauty ideals, and re-defining traditional norms in the fashion industry. We discuss Bad Bunny’s halftime concert and the power of representation and storytelling, the fashion industry and its current lack of disability inclusion and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Syanne: Instagram: @syannebloom TikTok: @syannebloom

Follow Jillian: Instagram: @jillianmercado TikTok: @thejillianmercado

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan. Cara is a visionary international disability rights advocate whose career has spanned humanitarian action, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and storytelling. She is also a filmmaker and a passionate force for inclusion in the arts and media, most recently participating, owning and producing the short documentary film, Facing the Falls.

We discuss her incredible career as an activist, the power and impact in seeing disabled people doing humanitarian work, why representation truly matters and much, much more.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Cara: Instagram: @cara_yarkhan LinkedIn: Cara Yar Khan Website: https://carayarkhan.com

Watch "Facing The Falls": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMa86VBidKE&t=1s

Watch Cara's TED Talk, "The beautiful balance between courage and fear": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHgfcA6Vy24

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Cara Reedy and Rebecca Cokley. Cara is a journalist, filmmaker and a sometimes actor/comedian. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Disabled Journalists Association where we are working to make a more equitable industry for Disabled Journalists. Rebecca Cokley is a second generation civil rights activist raising a third. She is a political consultant, philanthropist, writer, and producer and is working on her first book. We discuss the current state of disability from both a policy and media perspective, what disability issues and stories we should all be paying attention to and much, much more. For context, this conversation was recorded on January 30, 2026.

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn More About the Texas v Kennedy Case: https://dredf.org/texas-and-eight-other-states-renew-attack-on-section-504-and-the-right-of-disabled-people-to-live-in-their-communities/

Follow Disabled Journalists Association: Instagram: @disabledjournalists Website: https://discojourno.com

Follow Rebecca Cokley: LinkedIn: Rebecca Cokley

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Minneapolis:

Stand With Minnesota: ⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠

MN NOICE: ⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠

Community Aid Network MN: ⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠

Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:

Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠