Navigating Disability

When 19-year-old Jonathan Sigworth fell off a 70-foot cliff in the Himalayas, his life changed forever. But what followed wasn’t just recovery, it was revolution. In this episode, Jonathan shares how a spinal cord injury transformed his path, igniting a mission to uplift and empower others living with SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) across the globe.

From starting India’s first wheelchair rugby team, to creating the award-winning film More Than Walking, and co-founding a non-profit with his wife Jessica, Jonathan’s story is one of raw grief, spiritual grounding, resilience, and bold activism. He opens up about confronting depression and isolation, navigating the U.S. and Indian health care systems, and the urgent global need for accessible rehab tools.

We explore the emotional cost of invisibility, the power of peer mentorship, and how online education is revolutionising SCI independence.

🎧 Listen in for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had, about grief, growth, and global change.

Connect with Jonathan:

Email: [email protected] 

More than walking:

• www.morethanwalking.com 
• www.youtube.com/c/morethanwalking  
• www.facebook.com/morethanwalking 
• www.twitter.com/morethanwalking 
• www.instagram.com/morethanwalking 
• www.linkedin.com/company/more-than-walking 

Trigger warning: This episode discusses depression, isolation, and suicidal ideation. If you need support, please contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 (AU) or your local mental health line.

In this raw and inspiring conversation, Zoe Simmons, award-winning journalist, author, and fierce disability advocate, shares her journey from medical gaslighting and feeling invisible to embracing her identity as autistic, chronically ill, and living with mental health challenges.

Zoe unpacks how she came to call herself “disabled,” confront stigma, navigate self-image and accessibility, and realise that access and inclusion benefit everyone.

From dismantling internalised ableism and imposter syndrome to celebrating the power of community, communication, and compassion, Zoe offers deeply human and hopeful insights. She speaks directly to those who are newly diagnosed or questioning their identity: if it disables you, you’re valid, and you’re not alone.

She also shares practical wisdom on finding support, both online and in real life, and how vulnerability can become a powerful tool for advocacy and change.

Trigger warning: references to self-harm and suicidal ideation. If you're struggling, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Tune in to feel seen, informed, and empowered. If this episode moves you, please subscribe, share, and join our growing community of intentional change‑makers.

Connect with Zoe:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZoeSimmonsJournalist 

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/zoe-simmons-7119a994 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@somethingbeginningwithz 

Website: https://zoesimmons.com.au/ 

Instagram/Threads: @SomethingBeginningWithZ

At just 19, Jeremy Muir’s life changed forever after a car accident left him with a spinal cord injury. But as Jeremy says, “Why not me?”, a question that became a driving force behind his journey of resilience, reflection, and radical independence.

In this powerful episode, Jeremy opens up about the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of adapting to life as a quadriplegic. From his early struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, to building a fulfilling life filled with love, purpose, and advocacy, Jeremy’s story is both deeply human and extraordinarily hopeful.

We talk candidly about the gaps in mental health support, life before the NDIS, navigating relationships, and why disability must never be an afterthought in society. His reflections remind us that inclusion isn’t just a policy, it’s a mindset and a responsibility we all share.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses topics related to depression and suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14.

🎧 Join us for this emotionally rich episode that will leave you inspired to listen more, judge less, and advocate fiercely.

When life delivered two seismic blows, her daughter’s rare genetic diagnosis and her own cancer battle, Hayley Thiele didn’t crumble. She transformed.

In this episode, Hayley shares her raw and remarkable story of parenting her daughter Pippa, who lives with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, while navigating her own cervical cancer diagnosis. From feeding tubes to oxygen tanks, relentless hospital admissions to moments of joyful chaos, Hayley brings a powerful blend of vulnerability and humour. She opens up about grief, guilt, medical trauma, and what it means to truly see and celebrate your child’s abilities.

Hayley’s story is more than a journey through the NDIS and disability advocacy. It’s a masterclass in fierce love, community strength, and reshaping what we think life "should" look like.

🎧 Trigger warning: This episode includes themes of medical trauma and mental health. If you need support, please contact Lifeline at 13 11 14.

👉 Listen, share, and subscribe to help shift the narrative around disability. Your support fuels change.

Socials 

Alee Disability IG @aleedisabilityss 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-thiele-88b111329/ 

Alee Disability Support Services Website: https://aleedisability.com/ 

Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic has spent his life proving that limitations don’t define us, they refine us. In this powerful episode of Navigating Disability, Kate and Jenn sit down with the world-renowned motivational speaker, author, and advocate to explore his journey from childhood bullying and deep despair to global stages and a life of hope, faith, and purpose.

Nick shares raw and moving stories, from the moment at 15 when a Bible story transformed his perspective, to the high school speech that revealed his calling, to a hug from a student that reminded him of the power of love spoken out loud. He opens up about the role his parents played in building resilience, his battles with depression, and the mindset shifts that helped him turn obstacles into opportunities.

This conversation is an invitation to reframe your own challenges, embrace gratitude, and believe in your worth—whether or not you can see the whole plan.

🎧 Tune in for lessons that will inspire you to live with courage, compassion, and an unshakeable belief in what’s possible.

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au

When Jo Chambers' mum unexpectedly transitioned into a wheelchair and aged care, Jo found herself thrust into the world of caregiving, advocacy, and grief. But what started as a mission to bring light into her mum’s new life became a bold business venture, Colour My Wheels, that’s now reshaping the way we view mobility aids in Australia.

In this emotionally raw and inspiring episode, Jo shares the whirlwind journey from hospital corridors to the halls of the Paralympics. Discover how a simple idea, decorative wheelchair covers, sparked profound conversations, boosted confidence, and empowered disabled individuals to reclaim visibility and style.

We also explore the toll of caregiving, what happens when support is scarce, and how Jo is now in her own season of healing.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to caregiver burnout, hospital trauma, and emotional distress.
 Support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline at 13 11 14.

🎧 Tune in to hear how one woman turned adversity into advocacy, and how something as simple as a wheel cover can start a revolution in inclusion.

How does a globe-trotting NBA executive become a powerhouse disability advocate? In this deeply moving episode, Phil Hayes-Brown, CEO of Wallara  and devoted father to Phoebe, his nonverbal daughter who lives with an intellectual disability, shares the inspiring personal journey that transformed his path from corporate boardrooms to compassionate care rooms. Phil opens up about the realities of being a full-time carer, the evolution of his family dynamics, and the hard-won wisdom gained from raising Phoebe. With heartfelt reflections on advocacy, inclusion, and independence, Phil challenges assumptions about care and powerfully reframes what lived experience truly means. If you’ve ever felt unseen as a carer or overwhelmed navigating systems like the NDIS, this conversation offers clarity, connection, and hope.

🎧 Listen now and share with someone navigating disability, care, or transition.

Learn more about Phil Hayes-Brown and Wallara: 

🌐 Website: https://wallara.com.au/

Phil's Credentials & Affiliations:

• Adjunct Professor (Research), Monash University
• Bachelor of Economics and Law, Monash University
• Harvard Business School Exec Program in Not Profits, 2012
• Williamson Community Leadership Program, 2016
• AACB Influential Leader Class, 2019
• Elected to NDS Victoria State Committee, 2021
  🔗 Monash Global Influence Feature

What does it really mean to provide neuroaffirming support for young people with disabilities? In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of Navigating Disability, we sit down with Breanna Jenkins, founder of Soul Support, to unpack her journey as a late-diagnosed autistic woman, carer, and disability advocate.

From lived experience to founding a thriving support agency, Breanna shares how feeling safe and seen can transform the lives of neurodivergent children and their families. We explore the power of early intervention, the realities of support work, and the importance of creating inclusive group activities for both physical and neurodivergent disabilities.

Whether you're a parent, professional, or ally, this conversation is packed with insight, validation, and practical guidance on building dignity-affirming support systems that truly meet people where they are.

 🔗 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and follow Soul Support on social media:

•  Website
•  Instagram
•  Facebook
•  LinkedIn (Breanna Jenkins)

In this raw episode of Navigating Disability, hosts Kate Read and Jenn Abbott sit down with Bruce Simpson, a seasoned trial lawyer, disability advocate, and survivor of a profound mental health crisis.

Bruce opens up about what led to the moment his life nearly ended. A missed court deadline during recovery from a brain bleed, a career built on perfectionism, and decades of silent suffering brought him to the edge. But when his carefully planned final act didn’t go as expected, Bruce was forced to confront not only the weight of his despair but also the possibility of healing. One bullet didn’t fire, and everything changed.

What followed was four days in a psychiatric hospital, months of therapy and medication, and a radical shift in purpose. Now, Bruce uses his voice to challenge stigma, advocate for mental health equality, and remind others that they are not alone. With a semicolon tattooed on one hand and “I’m not finished” inked across the other, Bruce’s story is a battle cry for honesty, humanity, and hope.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of mental health crises and self-harm. If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14 (Australia) or 988 (US).

🎧 Listen now, share this powerful story, and don’t forget to subscribe.

In this profoundly moving episode, we sit down with Giuliana Ferretti, mother, advocate, Advanced Enrolled Nurse, and founder of both Plan Wise Living and the not for profit charity Genovation. During this deeply personal conversation we discuss raising her daughter Gabriella, who lives with a rare genetic disorder. Giuliana shares how a mother’s gut instinct defied medical doubt, how love evolved into full time care, and how she’s built a life centred around inclusion, advocacy, and hope.

With over 20 years of experience in the disability sector and a career that spans nursing, education, and community leadership, Giuliana brings unmatched insight into the realities faced by families supporting loved ones with complex needs.

We explore the emotional toll of constant caregiving, the systemic challenges within the NDIS, and what true inclusion could look like if society embraced universal design. Giuliana’s story is one of resilience and fierce love, a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a family navigating the unknown.

💬 Trigger Warning: This episode discusses caregiver fatigue, grief, and systemic neglect.
 📞 If you need support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14.

🎧 Listen now, share widely, and help us shift the narrative on disability and inclusion.