Always Looking Up

In this week’s episode I sat down with Keely Cat-Wells. Keely, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Presidential Leadership Scholar, has been a dedicated advocate for disability rights since becoming Disabled in her teens. She is the CEO of Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform and co-founded Making Space Media, producing content that centers Disabled voices. We discuss investing in disability, the success of creating pipelines to companies such as NBC, Indeed, and Hello Sunshine, making outer space accessible and much, much more.

This episode was recorded before the LA fires.

Learn more about and support the Mascots Matter Campaign using the link here: https://bit.ly/4h6XN16

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

Follow Keely: Instagram: @keely_cat_wells LinkedIn: Keely Cat-Wells Website: https://keelycatwells.com/

Follow Making Space and Making Space Media: Instagram: @_making_space__ , @_making_space_media Website: https://www.making-space.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

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Julia Métraux. Julia is Mother Jones' disability reporter, where she covers disability, chronic illness and mental health as it relates to politics. Her experience is influenced by her lived experience with vasculitis, a TBI, ME/CFS and hearing loss. We discuss what it means to be a disability reporter, how reporting on disability has evolved over time, issues and stories she is looking out for in the upcoming administration and much, much more.

Follow Julia: Instagram: @julia.metraux BlueSky: @metrauxjulia Newsletter: Julia Métraux Website: https://juliasmetraux.journoportfolio.com

Mother Jones: Julia Métraux

Mentioned Articles:

The New Yorker

Business Insider

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

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

Read With Me:

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week's episode it is just me and the microphone. After my most recent doctor's appointment last week (week of 1/6/2025) I wanted to sit down and update you all on how I'm doing, how I'm feeling, my frustrations, my hopes, my growth, my pain...all of it.

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

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

Read With Me:

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Marissa Bode. Marissa is an artist and actor who made history in her feature-film debut as Nessarose in the film Wicked, being the first actor that is also a wheelchair user to play the part. We discuss her audition process, what Nessa means to her, the importance of seeing disabled characters authentically portrayed on screen and stage and much, much more. And yes, there will be spoilers.

Follow Marissa: Instagram: @marissa_edob TikTok: @marissa_edob YouTube: Marissa Bohdee  

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

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

Read With Me:

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

I'm back! After a brief hiatus I am back on the microphone to catch you all up on what has happened in the too many minutes that we've been apart. I share how my recovery has been going, talking about the ups, the downs, the moments of joy, of frustration, and everything in between, before sharing what my plans are for the future of Always Looking Up as we head into the new year.

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

Read With Me:

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this special episode Jillian sat down with Ariella Elm. Ariella is a content creator on TikTok who covers politics, local and global news. With Election Day just around the corner we discuss voting and accessibility and making sure that disabled voices are heard and disabled votes are counted.

Election Resources:

https://vote.gov

https://www.ada.gov

Find Out How to Vote in Your State - AAPD

Follow Ariella: TikTok: @ariellaelm Instagram: ariella.elm Threads: @ariella.elm Twitter/X: @AriellaElm YouTube: Ariella Elm Substack: https://ariellaelm.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

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this special episode it is just me and the microphone as I share a little life update as I will be having surgery in the matter of days which means the podcast will be on a bit of hiatus. I then discuss what it has been like to live and exist in my body during this time, the impact it has had on my physical, mental, emotional, and social health before looking ahead to the future, talking about what I'm looking forward to and working towards.

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

Read With Me:

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Madison Lawson. Madison is a journalist, model and disability rights activist. Recognizing the importance of authentic representation in media from a young age, Madison strives to bring light to the disabled experience and to create a world that is more equitable for the next generation of disabled people. We discuss the relationship between history and accessibility, how perceptions perpetuate behaviors, the realities of simply existing as a disabled person and much, much more.

Follow Madi: Instagram: @wheelchairbarbie

Watch Madison Share Her Story HERE

Access the Vote: Muscular Dystrophy Association 

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 April Lockhart. April, coined the Internet's "Disabled Fashion Girlie", has become a pioneer in the disabled community through her online fashion content. Her approach to vulnerable storytelling about her limb difference online has amassed millions of views and empowered many within the disabled community to express themselves through style. With September being Fashion Month here in New York City we discuss all things fashion from shopping for clothes as disabled women to, as she puts it, normalising disability in the fashion industry, much, much more.

Follow April: Instagram: @aprillockhart TikTok: @april_lockhart YouTube: April Lockhart

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 Steven Verdile. Steven is the founder of Squeaky Wheel Media, a nonprofit organization that empowers disabled writers to use humor to combat ableism, and the first-ever satire publication focused on disability. We discuss the ways in which traditional comedy spaces are inaccessible, why it was so important to build a team of writers with voices that are authentic and genuine, how The Squeaky Wheel consistently finds the right balance of laughter and reality, and much, much more.

Follow Steven: Instagram: @sillyverdile Twitter: @StevenVerdile Website: https://www.stevenverdile.com

Follow The Squeaky Wheel: Instagram: @thesqkywheel Website: https://thesqueakywheel.org Facebook: The Squeaky Wheel

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.