Is coexistence enough, or is it time we rethink the way we build community?

In this powerful episode of Connected Conversations, host Elena Petrova speaks with Julia Risso Villani - activist, educator, theater teacher, and voice-over artist—about why disability should never be framed as a tragedy, and how we can move beyond “coexistence” to something deeper: coexistence, collective care, and community without hierarchy.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why “coexistence” isn’t the goal—and what true coexistence looks like
• How society’s obsession with “normal” excludes and devalues difference
• The role of education, childhood representation, and language in shaping equity
• Julia’s work using art and storytelling to drive political and cultural change
• Why access must be a collective responsibility, not a favour

From language to legislation, this episode challenges us to confront our own assumptions, and to reimagine the futures we build.

🎧 Tune in to hear Julia’s radical and necessary vision of dignity, difference, and collective strength.