In this week’s episode I sat down with Ezra Frech. Ezra is a 20 year-old 2x Paralympian from Los Angeles who competes in the T63 100M, Long Jump, and High Jump. He recently won gold in both the 100M and High Jump, and placed 5th in Long Jump at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. He is an accomplished athlete, advocate, model, motivational speaker, and 2024 and 2025 ESPY Nominee whose goal is to normalize disability on a global scale by elevating the Paralympic Movement.

We discuss his journey to the starting line in Paris, how the Paralympics have changed perceptions of disability, those moments in life where you know you your life is about to change, the realities of traveling while disabled and his work with Ottobock’s Invisible Class campaign 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 Ezra: Instagram: @ezrafrech TikTok: @ezrafrech

Learn More About ⁠Ottobock⁠ and ⁠The "Invisible Class" Campaign⁠

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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Niamh Ni Hoireabhaird. Niamh is a disability journalist from Ireland. Having been featured in publications like the Guardian, HuffPost, the Journal, the Irish Independent and the Women's Media Center, Niamh’s work seeks to highlight and raise awareness of national and international disability issues.. We discuss disability as a practice, society not wanting disabled people to take up space, and our refusal to listen, becoming a journalist and writing stories for everyone through a disabled lens 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 Niamh: Instagram: @niamhnih TikTok: @niamhnih Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/niamh-ni-hoireabhaird

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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Tori Calamito. Tori, Oz historian and content creator, is a life-long Oz fan who has been collecting Oz memorabilia for 28 years and has been posting about Oz online for 20 years. Tori is a multi-platform content creator and a trusted source for all things Oz. “The Oz Vlog” has helped connect fans and collectors around the world through the wonders of social media. We discuss disability in The Land Of Oz and Wicked: For Good, the parallels between Oz and the real world, what defines a Munchkin and who is, or isn’t, one, 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 Tori: Instagram: @theozvlog TikTok: @theozvlog YouTube: Tori .Calamito Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theozvlog

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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week's episode it is just me and the microphone. With the chapter that was the year 2025 coming to an end, and 2026 just around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to unpack and reflect. I went into this year with plans and expectations that quickly and quite often had to be altered, in both good ways and bad. And those experiences have made an impact on my body, physically, mentally, emotionally, and have both enabled and empowered me to redefine what it means, for me, to be a little person, a person with dwarfism, in an average-height world.

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

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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Hillary Wool. Hillary is a disabled business strategist, model, and advocate reshaping how we think about ambition, style, and wellness for chronically ill and disabled women. As a partner at Boston Consulting Group, she led global research on the disabled workforce experience, which was covered in outlets including The New York Times and Forbes. She has also modeled in national campaigns with Target and Marshalls. Online, she shares her disability journey living with ankylosing spondylitis and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, including intentional style and adaptive fitness. We discuss being a disabled woman at the intersection of style and advocacy, good girl grief, navigating between what’s right with our bodies and what’s right for our careers and much, much more.

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

Join The Patreon: ⁠HERE⁠

Follow Hillary: Instagram: @hilla_rose TikTok: @hilla_rose

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

All episodes are edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode of Always Looking Up I sat down with Lindi Marcusen. Lindi is a Paralympic sprinter and long jumper whose journey began after surviving a catastrophic accident in 2017 that resulted in the loss of her right leg and a traumatic brain injury. A former high-level gymnast, Lindi turned to adaptive sports during her recovery, finding purpose and power through competition. Now a 5x national champion and 100 meter American record holder, she represented the USA in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, proving that resilience and determination can redefine what’s possible. We discuss her Paralympic journey that started with learning to walk again, traveling while disabled, the structural and societal barriers that are put in place, and how she is working to dismantle them and much, much more.

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

Join The Patreon: HERE

Follow Lindi: Instagram: @lindi.marcusen TikTok: @lindimarcusen

Learn More About Ottobock and The "Invisible Class" Campaign

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

All episodes are edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Selene Luna. Selene is an actress and producer hailed by The New York Times as “a polished spitfire.” A magnetic live performer, she’s toured extensively alongside Margaret Cho and Dita Von Teese. We discuss the mask people with dwarfism are often forced to wear, the moment in her career where she was able to take the mask off, creating a character such as Soledad on Mayans M.C. and much, much more.

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

Join The Patreon: HERE

Follow Selene: Instagram: @selene_luna Website: https://seleneluna.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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Caity. Caity is the founder of her own fashion brand where she repurposes thrifted garments and enhances them with her signature free-motion embroidery. Her work is best described as wearable art, incorporating appliqué and embroidery featuring nature-inspired and character-driven motifs. We discuss her being a designer with dwarfism in the fashion industry and how she is making space for her, what the industry is missing when it comes to designing for little people's bodies, creating without perceived limits and much, much more.

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

Join The Patreon: HERE

Follow Caity: Instagram: @ca8ty TikTok: @ca8ty Website: https://www.ca8tydesigns.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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with Jake Stimell. Jake is a disability inclusion and accessibility specialist at New York Road Runners, who is on a mission to make the sports world more accessible for and inclusive of people with disabilities. Jake advocates for people with disabilities to be involved in the sports world as athletes, spectators, employees and community representatives, and he firmly believes that the sports world is stronger when it includes people with disabilities. In the excitement and anticipation of the TCS New York City Marathon we discuss how New York Road Runners has made their races, including the marathon, accessible, what we can look forward to seeing and experiencing at this year’s Marathon, why we should be celebrating the first and final finishers on race day and much, much more.

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow New York Road Runners: Instagram: @nyrr TikTok: @newyorkroadrunners Strava: New York Road Runners Facebook: New York Road Runners Website: https://www.nyrr.org

Watch the 2025 TCS NYC Marathon: https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/race-day/watch-the-race

Follow Jake: LinkedIn: Jake Stimell

Watch the trailer for Final Finishers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1gdy0KC6w4

Watch Becky Curran's Journey To The Start Line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK6UG0112jw&t=2s

Learn More About The Economic Impact of the TCS NYC Marathon: https://www.nyrr.org/media-center/press-release/2025_0930_nyrrfy25impact

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 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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠

In this week’s episode I sat down with John Feal. John is best known for his work with the FealGood Foundation (“FGF”), a 9/11 First Responder advocacy group that has provided both economic aide and individual comfort to countless First Responders, as well as his tireless efforts on behalf of those Responders in the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Today, John remains steadfast 24/7 in his activism on behalf of First Responders and continues his grass roots efforts to help all those in need. To his core, John knows his mission of advocacy will never cease to be needed; it is, has been and always will be about one thing…. “The Responders”. He shares his story and we discuss how to be an effective advocate and why it is imperative that we keep trying.

Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠

This episode is available for purchase on the Patreon without membership. All of those proceeds will be donated to the FealGood Foundation.

Follow The FealGood Foundation: Website: ⁠https://fealgoodfoundation.com⁠

Follow John: Instagram: @johnfeal9117

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

Read With Me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠

RSVP: ⁠⁠Celebrating Dwarfism in the Arts⁠⁠

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

Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:

Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠

United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠