Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Way

Today we are joined by Daniel McDonald.

Daniel is an LGBTIQ+ Gadigal and Wonnarua artist and advocate living with a disability. Daniel is deaf and has been developing his skills as an artist and advocate over the last 15 years.

In this episode we discuss advocacy and art, the intersectionality and closing the gap and being a fashion icon.

Just a heads up, as part of the discussion there are mentions of systemic discrimination.

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are joined by Elliot McLaren. 

Elliot is a gay stand up comedian living with HIV of Maori-Scottish descent based in Sydney. A personal story teller, Elliot recently presented his debut stand up hour “Memoirs of a Meth Head” at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival which explores his personal experiences with growing up, coming out and addiction.In this episode, we discuss: How to have conversations around intimacy when living with HIV, the power of storytelling in reducing stigma around sensitive topics and the role of comedy in queer and disabled spaces.

Just a heads up, this episode has mentions of addiction and drug use, violence and death of a loved one.

You can follow Elliot at @elliot_mclaren

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are speaking with Demon Derriere. Demon is a Hoh/Deaf person, body positive booty manipulator and the creative director of Big Thick Energy, a festival celebrating all bodies.

Demon wants to demand society’s attention to break down stereotypes of beauty, to abolish discrimination and fat phobia and to liberate all bodies.

In our conversation we discuss: the body positivity movement, creating accessible and intersectional spaces and the difference between body positivity and body acceptance.

Just a heads up there are mentions of fatphobia.

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are speaking with Gary Bigeni.

Gary is a gay fashion designer living with hearing loss - his designs are bright, bold and joyous, often using hand painted designs, some of which were done in his mum’s backyard! Gary flaunts a personal style that is vibrant as much as it is celebratory.

In our conversation we discuss the influence of family on creativity, connecting with community through art and the role of personal style in the queer + disability communities.

If you'd like to follow Gary, you can find them @garybigeni

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are speaking with Rosie Roulette…Rosie is a Melbourne-based queer, non-binary artist and producer living with Ehlers (Ella’s) Danlos Syndrome and creator of The Chronic Cabaret: a movement, a celebration of talent and diversity, and a powerful statement in disability advocacy. They are also the producer and brains behind “Nerdlesque”. A theatre space where the unconventional is celebrated, merges the spirited worlds of nerd culture and burlesque celebrating geek culture and body positivity. 

In our conversation we talk about: Prioritising accessibility for audiences at live events, body positivity and gender expression in performance art and art as advocacy.

Just a heads up, this conversation has mentions of: Experiences of tokenism and discrimination.

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Tom is a bisexual man with disability, an improviser and occasional standup. He is an incomplete paraplegic who acquired his disability at 19 and uses a manual wheelchair.

Tom performs at Improv Theatre Sydney and produces a monthly narrative improv show called Silly Odyssey. He is also currently doing an honours degree in History.

In this episode, we talk about about advocating for yourself and setting boundaries in creative spaces, Intimacy as a queer and disabled person, the creative industry’s biggest rivalry: improv vs. standup

Just a heads up, as part of the discussion there are mentions of sexual aids and sex work.

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN.

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are speaking with Malaika Mfalme.

Malaika is a London-Born, Tanzanian Australian singer / songwriter, guitarist, activist, podcaster, avid video game player and unserious photographer. Malaika was born with a Venus malformation in their left leg essentially meaning they’ve lived with severe to intense leg pain for much of their life.

 In our chat we discuss their recently released debut album “Yasmin”, their experience of being a trans, disabled musician and occupying those spaces and what its like being a twin!

Just a heads up, as part of the discussion there are mentions of grief and death of a loved one.
If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN.

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are joined by Sonny Jane Wise.

Sonny Jane is a trans, multiply neurodivergent & disabled public speaker, advocate and author.

Sonny was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as a child and grew up only hearing a deficit narrative about their neurodivergence.

Since then, they have gone on to build an audience of over 100, 000 people online, have written The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills and We’re All Neurodiverse and has worked with organisations and services around Australia and the world to help change the narrative around neurodivergence and create a more neurodiversity affirming society.

If you’d like to follow Sonny, you can find them @livedexperienceeducator online.

ust a heads up, as part of the discussion there are mentions of:

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN
Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are speaking with Margherita Coppolino…

Margherita is a first generation Australian, born to a Sicilian mother who migrated in 1959. She was born with a Short Statured condition and is a proud feminist and lesbian.

Margherita is an Intersectionality Consultant, and has sat on several Boards in Executive and Non-Executive positions. She was recently appointed Co-Chair of ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Oceania and a member of the ILGA World Board. She is also the Co-Chair of Inclusive Rainbow Voices, a new disabled people’s organisation that represents and advocates for the human rights of all LGBTIQ+ people with disability.

If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN.

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway

Today we are joined by Karan Nagrani.

Karan is a blind, hearing impaired, gay advocate, content creator and public speaker from Western Australia. He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 11, which causes progressive loss of sight.

When his vision loss progressed to the point of having to quit his job, Karan started creating content on social media to raise awareness of the realities of being blind and to share the impact of his disability on his mental health.

Through his online content, Karan has created unique resources to shed light on what it’s like living as a blind, gay man.If you’d like to follow Karan, you can find him @karannnagrani online.

Just a heads up, this episode mentions: mental health challenges and racism and racial slurs.If this episode raises any issues for you, you can contact QLife, Lifeline, or 13 YARN.

This series has been developed as part of the Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Way project, which is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services through the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building grants.

Follow us on instagram @ourvoicesourway