Alycia Anderson welcomes back Nashville photographer, disability advocate, and Let Them Stare creator Angelea Yoder to discuss her advocacy, her VACTERL Association diagnosis, and the liberation of moving from hiding invisible medical differences to sharing them publicly, including a Good Morning America segment that shifted her fears into feelings of acceptance. Angelea explains VACTERL and how it has impacted her life through multiple anomalies and more than 20 surgeries, and Alycia shares they have the same VACTERL-related experiences. They focus on Angelea’s first Let Them Stare phase, the photography-based children’s book Look at Me: Look What I Can Do, now on Kickstarter to raise $40,000 for self-publishing and printing, with tiers for preorders and donating books to schools and hospitals. They also discuss consent and privacy for disabled kids on social media, and Angelea previews future plans including an adult coffee-table book, a disability-focused modeling agency, and a community hub. The episode’s mantra is simple and powerful: “Let them stare.” 

The Big Ideas Behind the Brave Moments 

📸 Disability representation through real photography and storytelling

👀 Let Them Stare as a movement for visibility and pride

🧒 Helping disabled kids feel seen, celebrated, and less alone

💬 Moving from hidden medical differences to public advocacy

🧬 Understanding VACTERL Association and invisible disability

❤️ Finding liberation through vulnerability and shared lived experience

📚 Creating children’s books that reflect real disabled kids

🛡️ Consent, privacy, and dignity in disability storytelling

🏥 Navigating medical complexity, childhood surgeries, and self advocacy

🌎 Changing how the world sees disability, difference, and possibility

👗 Expanding disability representation in fashion, media, and modeling

✨ Building community around visibility, belonging, and the mantra “Let them stare”

The Quotes We’re Carrying Forward 

“I want to start doing something that can help people and change the world.” ~ Angelea Yoder

“Even if it changes one child’s perspective of, ‘Oh, I’m not alone anymore,’ then this whole thing was worth it.” ~ Angelea Yoder

“I would love to see disfigurement and disabilities in so many more media campaigns and PR campaigns.” ~ Angelea Yoder

“Let them stare.” ~ Angelea Yoder

From Hidden to Seen, One Moment at a Time 

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:25 Meet Angelea Yoder

02:39 From Radio to Purpose

04:44 Hidden to Heard

06:34 Understanding VACTERL

09:52 Shared Diagnosis Bond

13:19 Kids Book Let Them Stare

16:48 Kickstarter Funding Goals

17:35 Kids Privacy Online

22:09 How to Support and Tiers

23:54 Whats Next for Project

26:56 Final Links and Farewell

28:16 Pushing Forward Mantra 

Connect with Angelea Yoder

Keep up with Angelea Yoder, photographer, storyteller, disability advocate, and creator of LET THEM STARE, as she works to change the way the world sees disability, visible and invisible differences, and childhood representation. Her upcoming children’s photo book, Look At Me, Look What I Can Do!, celebrates the strength, joy, and ability of every child.

Back the Book on Kickstarter:

Look At Me, Look What I Can Do! Children’s Book

Website:letthemstare.org

LinkedIn:Angelea Yoder

Instagram:@angeleaphoto

Facebook:Angelea Photo

Connect with Alycia

🌐 Website: ⁠https://alyciaanderson.com/⁠

🎙️ Podcast: ⁠https://alyciaanderson.com/podcast⁠

💼 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyciaanderson/⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/alyciaanderson/⁠

Pushing Forward with Alycia gives disability a voice through conversations about accessibility, inclusion, ambition, resilience, leadership, and creating a more inclusive world for all people.

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