Disabled and Proud

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Georgia Stannard who became an amputee at the age of 22 after she was hit by a bus.

 

Georgia is so much more appreciative of her body once she became an amputee. Every day is different. She had to adapt and alter her life and be patient as she was less able to do things.

 

Georgia had to overcome the fear of being disabled and get used to how her life is going to change and will be different as she now only has one leg. 

 

In this episode you will hear: 

• How Georgia lost her leg
• What effect becoming disabled at 22 had on her life
• Georgia’s change of perspective once she became disabled 

 

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

 

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Triple amputee Mark Ormrod MBE a former Royal Marine, Invictus Games Athlete author and motivational speaker.

 

Mark speaks about how being disabled in the modern world means he doesn’t miss out on things and he excitedly shares that there is so much opportunity and assistance for disabled people to take part in activities and sports. 

 

As you will hear in the show, there is now also a lot of representation in the media for disabled people with models, influencers, sports stars and TV personalities slowly but surely getting more of the right attention, and good job too! 

 

However Mark keeps it real in this show and shares that despite all the increasing representation etc. there are still issues with classifications of disability while competing in sports.

 

In this episode you will hear: 

• How Mark dealt with becoming disabled at 24 years old
• Marks transition from being in the Royal Marines to becoming an Invictus games athlete and motivational speaker
• Mark’s views on disability classification in competitive sports  

 

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

 

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Ashley Eakin. Ashley is a director and writer in Hollywood who is at the forefront of disability representation. We speak about her short "Single" & "Forgive us our tresspasses", which are on Netflix. Forgive us our tresspasses is about Aktion T4 a regime that was implemented by Hitler in 1939 which saw the murder of 300,000 disabled people and the sterilization of a further 400,000. This secret program developed gas chamber technology used in concentration camps in WW2. She talks openly about being a disabled woman, how she has found it a struggle for the majority of her life and how her chronic condition is rare. In 2017, her video on SoulPancake "That Moment" went viral regarding her disability, and from there saw her work be guided towards disability representation. Finding a community for her was so vital and how having this community and showing up for them has become a large factor in her life. She talks about the process of writting and shooting forgive us our tresspasses and how the story came about, the shooting of it . This conversation is so powerful when talking of representation and how seeing the physical representation is so important.

In this episode you will hear: 

• About sushi syndrome
• About connecting in the disability community
•  the positives of social media
• Medical diagnosis of disability and societal diagnosis of disability
• Expressing emotions

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Ant Andrews. Ant is incredibly open regarding his disability. He no longer has a large intestine, which means he wears a stomach bag. I had so many questions regarding his disability and his stomach and he answered each one with such grace. He is potentially the first guest who also asked me questions regarding my disability. I loved having Ant on the show. He is really open about how this can be quite an embarrassing disability, but he wants to help fight the stigma that can come with an invisible disability. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• Ant talks from the perspective of someone who was not born with a disability. His doctors and medical practitioners said he's  considered disabled now and can qualify for disability benefits.
• Brooke shares how fitness became a big part of her life and her journey as a disabled person. She talks about not thinking about getting back into fitness as a ‘me’ thing but as a ‘we’ thing - she sees herself as an example for other people who look like her to look to.
• Conditions affect people in different ways. They cover the imposter syndrome that came with comparing their struggles with others and feeling that they didn’t have it as bad as others.
• The various immunosuppressants and medications the doctors would convince Ant to take. He speaks about how complicated his drug regimen became throughout his treatment.
• Having a disability doesn’t define you as a person and should not be the only thing people see when they see you. People with disabilities are still people with lives and personalities.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways:

• Conditions affect each person differently; you shouldn’t compare your struggles and experiences with another person’s.
• Despite how the media portrays it, having a disability can have its perks.

Resources

Brooke Millhouse Instagram

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Jessica Ping-Wild. Jessica Ping-Wild is a model, actor, dancer, singer, creator, influencer, writer, and blogger. In June 2020, she founded The Rolling Explorer, a blog dedicated to sharing her experiences as a disabled young woman living in the 21st century. Jessica is very well versed in disability and how it can affect life. She has CHILDs syndrome, an incredibly rare condition, which roughly 60 people worldwide have. CHILDs is a genetic syndrome that causes issues with skin and limb differences on one side of the body. Jessica contrasts how disability is viewed in America versus England and the differences she has noticed. We also speak about her IG series "accessibiliTEA" on how accessible some venues are or are not as well as her take on Tik Tok dances. This is a great conversation about the reality of disability. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• Jessica refers to her disability as a rare disease.
• Jessica talks about CHILDs Syndrome and how it affects the very few people with it. It mostly affects females and information on CHILDs isn’t readily available.
• The differences between how the UK and the US view disability. Brooke and Jessica contrast how each society treats their disabled citizens and how the media portrays disability in both countries.
• She shares that her career path choice was not affected by her rare disease. She also shares her goals of creating an accessible travel blog and of travelling the world.
• They both talk about society's overall view on disability and absurd questions and comments they’ve both gotten.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is said on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”.

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways: 

• Different countries view disability differently based on their societal goals, their media and how advanced general knowledge on disability is.
• CHILD’s syndrome is a very rare disease that roughly only 60 people worldwide have.

Resources 

Jessica Ping-Wild LinkedIn | Instagram

Brooke Millhouse Instagram

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by James Sutliff, a Certified Disability Specialist Coach and Personal Trainer at James Sutliff Personal Trainer & Disability Specialist Coach. James has dystonia, which affects his speech and his hands. This episode was POWERFUL. It wasn't until he pushed harder for answers that he got referred to specialists and found out his dystonia was caused by continuous concussion & head bangs whilst playing rugby over the years. Not having a diagnosis quite literally ruined him - he had no money, no job, no savings until he got his diagnosis. He talks about how much he loves his job working with disabled people and training them, and how being disabled has made him into the person that he is. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• The journey to getting a diagnosis for James. He shares his experience of not having a diagnosis for 5 years and how things changed for him after being diagnosed.
• James talks about what it’s like for him to live with Dystonia. He shares how life is different for him than that of the average person and how he manages it.
• How James’ disability affected his previous career. He talks about how he lost his career as a plumber/heating engineer and how not having a real diagnosis at the time affected him.
• His current career as a personal trainer. He has found this career path to be the best for him.
• James’ advice to people who have similar experiences, persons with disabilities and anyone in general. He says pushing for answers is the best way to navigate life.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways:

• No matter the obstacle, not giving up is the only way to see through to your goal.
• Even though James’ years without a diagnosis negatively affected his life, he still found a way to live comfortably.

Resources

James Sutliff LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Brooke Millhouse Instagram 

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Nina Healthily. Nina has hEDs, a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue in her body. hEDs is chronically under-researched and rare, it is also invisible. Nina talks openly about how she learnt to accept her disability, how she is also chronically unwell, and how this affects her life. We talk about the pandemic and its impact on accessibility. Disability is not a one size fits all, Nina points out. Only 8% of disabled people in the UK use a wheelchair and therefore are not represented by the traditional symbol of disability. Nina is wonderfully eloquent on disability and I think that this conversation will enlighten anyone in the disabled sphere. 

In this episode you will hear:

• About hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome. Nina shares how hEDS works and affects her body.
• There are 13 types of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and she has the most common type. It’s seen as rare in the medical community but is actually more rarely diagnosed.
• Nina talks about the medication she takes for some of her comorbid conditions. She also talks about how it has helped her understand her bodily limits.
• STD’s and the many misconceptions about its diagnosis. They talk about the diagnostic criteria for EDS and STD’s and how they can be misdiagnosed.
• Diverse representation of disability. More representation for disabled persons is needed in the media and that does not mean just one person in a wheelchair. They talk about the disabled community in itself being very diverse, needing more representation.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways:

• The disabled community in and of itself is very diverse and therefore disabled representation in the media should be more than one person in a wheelchair.
• Medications can be a big help to chronically ill people. 

Resources

Nina Healthily Instagram

Brooke Millhouse Instagram

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Tyler Saunders. Tyler was born without his leg. He speaks about how in his early 20s he had a lightbulb moment when he realised that he no longer wanted to wear his prosthetic. For him, his prosthetic was never quite what he wanted as it was uncomfortable and he only really wore it so that he didn't stand out. When Tyler left uni he found wheelchair basketball and that is when he was pickled into the fitness world. From training in Germany for 3 years he knew that his life was to be in fitness. He talks about his time on "Ninja Warrior UK" being a Dad with a disability and how his training revolves around life goals and not aesthetics. We also take a trip down memory lane thinking about our times as children waiting to get prosthetics! Tyler is clearly someone who works on breaking his own limiting beliefs. He plays a very important role in the NFG (National Fitness Games) Adaptive games, believing that showing up as a disabled body in fitness is integral for representation.  

In this episode you will hear: 

• Freedom from prosthetics
• How Tyler inspires other people 
• How does Tyler refer to his disability
• How the technology for prosthetics develop 
• Tyler’s experience at Ninja Warrior UK

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by inclusive activist, disabled influencer, and model, Paula Carozzo, who has been on a quest to redefine and break stereotypes on what being disabled is. At the age of five, Carozzo was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after brain damage from surgery. With a fondness for fashion and beauty, Carozzo is recognized as a spokesperson for adaptive fashion, inclusive beauty, and accessibility. In this episode, Paula explains the social model of disability & the medical model of disability. She is a powerhouse of disability advocacy in the US and talks about her project Inclusive collection which is a web3 project/NFT.

In this episode you will hear: 

• Paula shares why she refers to her disability as a condition that limits her ability. 
• Paula says her biggest barrier to social restrictions is inaccessibility, principally because her condition is mostly physical.
• About web3 and having an inclusive collection community. Paula explains what web3 is about and common misconceptions about NFTs.
• They talk about their job being neutral when people talk to them about overcoming their disability. 
• They converse about people feeling like they deserve an explanation as to why disabled people look different.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways:

• Every disabled person refers to their disability as something else and it’s important to use their preferred label when speaking and/or referring to them.
• Disabled people do not owe you an explanation about why or how they are the way they are.

Resources

Paula Carozzo Instagram | TikTok

Brooke Millhouse Instagram

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en

This week on Disabled and Proud Brooke Millhouse is joined by Charlie Holford. Charlie speaks openly about how the military failed him in their diagnosis of his leg. For him, amputation was the best thing that could have happened to him; he had to endure 8 years of pain and suffering before his leg was amputated. He talks about how he was angry and upset for a long time but ultimately fitness has helped him regain his power. He shares some of the odd questions and messages he is sent over social media. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• How Charlie refers to his disability, both around his friends and around other disabled people.
• How Charlie’s disability affected his career and how he fared in other jobs he worked in.
• Charlie speaks about what inspired him to keep going.
• The question that displeases Charlie about his disability, and why he doesn’t like when people ask it.
• Charlie gives advice to younger people with similar disabilities. He recommends surrounding yourself with other people in similar situations and seeking guidance and strength from them.

Enjoyed this show? Tell us your favourite moment by connecting with Brooke via https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/

About This Show: 

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what is says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without need to conform for society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection! 

Key Takeaways:

• Disabilities should not be treated as a taboo topic.
• Forming a community and surrounding oneself with people who can truly understand your situation can be very helpful for your growth.

Resources

Charlie Holford Instagram 

Brooke Millhouse Instagram

INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en