In this episode of What It's Really Like, I sit down with disability advocate, entrepreneur, and author Tiffany Yu for an honest conversation about identity, belonging, and creating change.Tiffany shares how growing up as an Asian American woman shaped her experience with disability, the challenges of navigating multiple identities, and the journey from self-acceptance to empowering others. We discuss the importance of community, representation, disability pride, and the lessons behind her groundbreaking book, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. Along the way, Tiffany opens up about her personal story, advocacy work, and what it really takes to build a more inclusive world.Whether you're disabled, an ally, or simply curious about how identity shapes our experiences, this conversation offers valuable insights, practical takeaways, and plenty of inspiration.Follow Tiffany:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imtiffanyyu TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imtiffanyyuYouTube:  @imtiffanyyu  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyayu/ Website: tiffanyyu.com

And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would love the conversation 💚

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In this episode of the What It’s Really Like podcast, I'm joined by actress, writer, and disability advocate Lolo Spencer for a candid conversation about identity, representation, dating, and life as a disabled woman in the entertainment industry.We discuss intersectionality, Lolo's experience as a Black disabled woman, navigating relationships and dating, breaking stereotypes around disability and sexuality, and her role on HBO Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls. We also dive into acting, advocacy, accessibility in Hollywood, and the importance of authentic representation both on and off screen.Whether you're interested in disability advocacy, intersectionality, entertainment, dating, or representation in media, this conversation offers honest insights, plenty of laughs, and an important perspective that isn't heard nearly enough.Follow Lolo Spencer:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itslolospencer/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itslolospencer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKhnl8iyRPa1TNJrMO-UN-Q Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itslolospencer Threads: https://www.threads.com/@itslolospencer Be sure to subscribe for more conversations about disability, accessibility, advocacy, beauty, fashion, relationships, and the experiences that shape our lives.

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In this episode of What It's Really Like, I sit down with Peet Montzingo to talk about growing up as the only average-height person in a family of little people, navigating family dynamics, and what it feels like to not quite fit into the world around you. Peet shares stories from his childhood, his experience auditioning for The X Factor, life on the road as a member of a boy band, living with ADHD, building a career as a creator, and the lessons he's learned about identity, confidence, and belonging.

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow Peet and check out his music!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PeetMontzingo

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peetmontzingo

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hyTKV3jmNLZ2yVSodG2uq

New episodes of What It's Really Like every week. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation!

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Keely Cat-Wells spent 4 years in and out of hospitals with no diagnosis, lost her dream career in dance, and underwent life-changing surgeries before rebuilding her life as a disability advocate, entrepreneur, and founder of Making Space.
In this episode of What It’s Really Like, Keely opens up about chronic illness, medical trauma, ableism in Hollywood, getting an ileostomy at a young age, and how she turned some of the hardest years of her life into a global mission for disability inclusion.
Follow Keely:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keely_cat_wells Making Space: https://www.instagram.com/_making_space__

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On today’s episode of What It’s Really Like, I sat down with Brandon Farbstein to talk about his experience navigating life as both queer and disabled. We discuss identity, bullying, self-acceptance, dating, representation, and the unique challenges that come with existing at the intersection of multiple marginalized communities. Brandon also opens up about growing up with dwarfism, finding confidence, and what he wishes more people understood about disability and LGBTQ+ experiences.
Follow Brandon: @BrandonFarbstein

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On today’s episode of What It’s Really Like, I sat down with Jen Montzingo to discuss her extraordinary journey of living with dwarfism, being put up for adoption by her wealthy birth parents at just three months old, growing up in a group home before being adopted by loving parents with dwarfism, and later navigating a life-changing spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed. Jen shares her lived experience with disability, abandonment, adoption, resilience, identity, and rebuilding her life through unimaginable challenges. This powerful conversation explores ableism, family rejection, trauma, perseverance, and what it truly means to overcome adversity while redefining your own story.
Follow Jen on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmontzingo/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenmontzingoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jenmontzingo

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Lucy Edwards and I got real and vulnerable about our shared experience of going blind in our teens. You can follow the What It’s Really Like podcast on Spotify to listen to more conversations like this one!
Follow Lucy:
Instagram: @LucyEdwardsOfficial
TikTok: @LucyEdwards
Etia’s Instagram: @EtiaLondon
Learn more about Etia London and sign up to get 10% off! https://etialondon.com/

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In this episode, Molly interviews her own parents about their experience raising her as a child slowly going blind.

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I’m so grateful to have been able to sit down and have this powerful conversation with the beautiful and wise Shalom Blac! She is such an icon and an incredible woman, content creator, and mama! Make sure to follow her journey:Youtube: ‪@SHALOMBLAC‬ IG: https://www.instagram.com/shalomblac/...TikTok:   / shalomblac  

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In this episode of What It’s Really Like, host Molly Burke welcomes her best friend of ten years, Bradon Schwartz, for a deeply personal and vulnerable conversation. Braden shares his complex journey growing up in a hyper-insular Seventh-day Adventist community, where homeschooling and strict religious rules defined his early world.

The discussion takes a raw turn as Bradon reflects on the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. He candidly describes how his family initially framed this trauma as the "reason" for his sexuality, leading him to spend years suppressing his true self. Bradon details the highs and lows of his slow coming-out process, including a phase of dating women—and even Miss Idaho—to prove he was straight before finally owning his identity at 19.

Molly and Bradon revisit the "lore" of their friendship, from their initial bonding hike to Bradon’s eventual marriage. A major highlight of the episode is the reconciliation with Bradon’s family. After years of tension and a legal threat involving a former employer, Bradon’s father apologized and chose his son over bigoted expectations, leading to a beautiful moment where his parents walked him down the aisle.

Now entering his "gay rancher era," Bradon is co-owning a business with his parents and working to sustain Extreme Mobility, a nonprofit providing adaptive athletics for the blind. It’s an episode defined by the power of grace, authenticity, and the strength of a decade-long friendship.

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