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Always Looking Up
Always Looking Up episodes
- Jenna Bainbridge On Making Broadway History Not Once, But Twice
Welcome Back!
In this week’s episode of Always Looking Up I sat down with Jenna Bainbridge. Jenna is an actor, singer, co-founder, disability rights advocate and executive producer of two of my favorite TikTok series. She navigates the world as an ambulatory wheelchair user and, in 2024 became the first wheelchair user to perform in a New Musical on Broadway when she made her debut in Suffs. Now she is again making history portraying Nessarose in the Broadway production of Wicked, being the first wheelchair user to do so on stage. We discuss how she became Nessa, doing Broadway as a wheelchair user, why we all need to be asking ourselves if our outfits sit and much, much more.
Follow Jenna: Instagram: @bainbridgejenna TikTok: @bainbridgejenna Website: https://www.jennabainbridge.com
Follow ConsultAbility: Instagram: @consultability Website: https://www.consultability.org
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
1 hr 19 min - Jillian Curwin On Is Perception Reality?
Dear Diary,
We have some housekeeping to do, and then let's start a conversation about how the world see's (or doesn't see) dwarf bodies.
This episode is the newest in my Jillian's Diary series on Patreon available to my "Second Step-Stool" tier.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies: https://disasterstrategies.org
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
16 min - Liz Gutman On Enhancing The Content We Consume
In this week’s episode I sat down with Liz Gutman. Liz is the Head Audio Description Writer at International Digital Centre in New York City. She has written award-winning AD for 850+ hours of movies and TV, and proudly works as an instructor with Audio Description Training Retreats. We discuss making and creating content that is digitally accessible, how she explains and defines access f*ckery and much, much more.
Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded back in August of 2024 as a collaboration with her podcast, also titled Access F*ckery, so tuned for that conversation which is coming soon, link in show notes.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Listen To Access F*ckery:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Follow Liz: Instagram: @lizgutman Website: https://www.lizgutman.com/about
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies: https://disasterstrategies.org
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
57 min - Kirsten Ferguson On Starting Her Healing Journey To Finishing The NYC Marathon
In celebration of May being Mental Health Awareness Month I am honored to have sat down with Kirsten Ferguson. A successful career woman turned Peloton fitness instructor, Kirsten wholeheartedly embraces the changes that life brings. After seven years of working with the NFL, she shifted her focus to family. Her journey to motherhood was not easy, and fitness helped Kirsten strengthen her body and soul during difficult times. She is now the proud mother of two beautiful daughters and uses her life experiences to fuel her deeply inspiring workouts. We discuss how she came to Peloton (and how Peloton came to her), how she makes the time and space for her mental health, becoming a runner and then empowering others to follow in her footsteps, her journey from hip surgery to running the New York City Marathon, and much, much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Kirsten: Instagram: @iamkirstenferguson TikTok: @iamkirstenferguson
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies: https://disasterstrategies.org
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
43 min - Peet Montzingo On Growing Up Average-Height In A Little Person World
In this week’s episode I sat down with Peet Montzingo. Peet Montzingo is one of the top social media content creators who has over 21.5M subscribers on his YouTube channel, 14.2M followers on his TikTok, and 3.1M followers on his Instagram. Known for his comedic videos that feature his family and daily life, his content also dabbles in the supernatural, where he formerly lived across the street from the infamous Cecil Hotel and documented its strange occurrences. Aside from being a star on social media, Peet is an accomplished singer/song writer, model, and the author of Little Imperfections: A Tall Tale of Growing Up Different. We discuss his experience growing up in a space that was not designed for him, who society will actually listen to when talking about disability issues, average-height allyship in a little person world, and much, much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Peet: TikTok: @peetmontzingo YouTube: Peet Montzingo Instagram: @peetmontzingo Spotify: Peet Montzingo
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies: https://disasterstrategies.org
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
55 min - Keah Brown On Being Unapologetically Herself
In this week’s episode I sat down with Keah Brown. Keah is an award winning journalist, author, and screenwriter. Her work on disability, identity, and pop culture has appeared in Town & Country Magazine, Teen Vogue, Elle, The LA Times, Marie Claire UK, And The New York Times, among other publications. We discuss the connection between disability and celebrity, not having time for imposter syndrome, the pressure of writing an acknowledgements page and much, much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Keah: Instagram: @keah_maria TikTok: @keah_maria Website: https://keahbrown.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
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies: https://disasterstrategies.org
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
1 hr 5 min - Anna Pakman, Margo Gignac and James Ian On Emergency Plan And Raising Awareness On The Realities Of Being Disabled In Times Of Disaster
In this episode I sat down with Anna Pakman, Margo Gignac and James Ian, the writer/director and stars of Emergency Plan, a new short film for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Emergency Plan stars Margo and James as a disabled couple forced to send their young son out alone after a catastrophic East Coast earthquake — when it becomes clear no one is coming to help them evacuate. Ali Stroker voices the radio anchor whose warnings grow increasingly urgent as the crisis unfolds. We discuss the making of the film, the real-world inspiration and reason for telling this story, how systems fail disabled people during disasters and much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Watch Emergency Plan: https://www.emergencyplanfilm.com
Follow Anna: Instagram: @annatated
Follow Margo: Instagram: @margo_gignac
Follow James: Instagram: @jamesianmusic
The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies: https://disasterstrategies.org
Learn More About The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge: Website: https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com YouTube: @TheDisabilityFilmChallengeInstagram: @disabilityfilmchallenge
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
1 hr 5 min - Rachel Handler On Saving Her Creative Heart And Embracing Our Stories
In this episode I sat down with Rachel Handler. Rachel is a filmmaker and actor known for her stint as Peg Leg Doris on AMC’s “Interview With the Vampire” and her award-winning Slamdance films “Committed” and “HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?” We discuss the magic of theater and storytelling, her creative processes as both an actor and a writer, the importance of something like the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge for disabled artists and creatives and much, much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Rachel: Instagram: @bionic.brunette YouTube: @RachelHandler Website: http://www.rachelahandler.com
Watch DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY: Click Here
Learn More About The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge: Website: https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com YouTube: @TheDisabilityFilmChallenge Instagram: @disabilityfilmchallenge
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
1 hr 6 min - Mariadeliz Santiago On The Beauty Industry And Disability
In this week’s episode I sat down with Mariadeliz Santiago. Maria is a NYC-based disabled content creator, speaker, and advocate who uses her platform to champion authentic representation and accessibility in media. As a Latina with an upper limb difference and chronic conditions like Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and new daily persistent headache (NDPH), she creates impactful content that bridges beauty, lifestyle, and disability awareness. With a growing and engaged audience, Maria partners with inclusive brands to tell meaningful stories, and regularly speaks on the importance of disability visibility, intersectionality, and inclusive marketing. We discuss the rise and importance of adaptive beauty, how she uses make-up as a palette to show her creativity and express herself, beauty brands that are truly doing it right and much, much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Maria: Instagram: @limbitlessmaria_ TikTok: @limbitlessmaria
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
1 hr 5 min - Makenzie Morgan Gomez On Dancing (Disabled) Through Life
In this week’s episode I sat down with Makenzie Morgan Gomez. Makenzie is a Mexican-American, queer, dynamically disabled performer based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a member of Actors' Equity Association and recently made her Off-Broadway debut starring as Libby in Neil Simon's I Ought To Be In Pictures at Theatre Row, where she used both a cane and a manual wheelchair on stage. We discuss going against society’s expectations of disability, how disability representation should not be limited, question what it means to maintain the integrity of a piece of art and much more.
Join The Patreon: Click Here
Follow Makenzie: Instagram: @makenziemorgangomez TikTok: @makenziemorgangomez YouTube: Makenzie Gomez Website: https://www.makenziemorgangomez.com
Creative Adaptations: https://www.creativeadaptations.co
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: [email protected]
Read With Me:
Goodreads
The StoryGraph
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
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin
1 hr 12 min
About Always Looking Up
From the publisher's feed
A podcast dedicated to telling honest and real stories about living in a world that was not necessarily designed for us.