IN THIS FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON ONE:  Nikki Crowe received a diagnosis of triple negative stage three breast cancer in May 2018, only seven months after her second child was born.  At the same time, she was dealing with a serious heart defect that impacted how her cancer would be treated. After several rounds of aggressive chemo, a mastectomy and months of chemo pills, Nikki is now doing well and regaining her strength day by day, but she still faces two major surgeries that have been delayed due to COVID. Nikki talks about coping while raising two young boys, enduring body shaming and other harsh commentary from medical professionals, and dealing with toxic positivity from able-bodied people who just didn't get it.

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on YouTube, Instagram at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, or by email at [email protected], and through our website whatsthedifferencepodcast.ca. Thanks for tuning in!

RECORDED: September 19, 2020

FIRST AIRED: October 23, 2020

AUDIO PRODUCTION: Jackie Rosen

IN THIS EPISODE: In part two of our discussion about having kids with special guest Shaini Saravanamuthu, we examine what it’s like to be pregnant when you have an invisible or visible physical disability and how difficult it is to find information online about anything beyond mainstream pregnancy culture and experiences. And why is it that some women who can’t or decide not to carry due to an invisible disability are diagnosed with infertility? But there are women who DO have both: we hear about Shaini’s battle with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and how she managed to proactively take charge of her fertility well in advance of having a family. Finally, we explore the challenges of infant and child care and how simple tasks like bathing or cutting your child’s nails can be extremely difficult if you live with sight loss, epilepsy or other health issues. 

There’s still plenty of stigma, but we are just as worthy of parenthood as anyone else – and we won’t stop talking about it!

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on YouTube, Instagram at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, or by email at [email protected], and through our website whatsthedifferencepodcast.ca. Thanks for tuning in!

RECORDED: August 15, 2020

FIRST AIRED: September 25, 2020

AUDIO PRODUCTION: Jackie Rosen

IN THIS EPISODE: In part one of our discussion about having kids with special guest Shaini Saravanamuthu, we explore the myths and stigma surrounding child-rearing for people with disabilities. We delve into why we will be – or already are – amazing parents when it comes to raising our kids. We discuss Cynthia's incredible eight-year journey to parenthood, the options open to us if we cannot carry ourselves but at the same time, why the line “why don’t you just adopt” can actually be hurtful. Finally, we talk about the potential outcomes of having genetic children and how we would feel if our children are born with the same disabilities as we have. 

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on YouTube, Instagram at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, or by email at [email protected], and our brand new website whatsthedifferencepodcast.ca. Thanks for tuning in!

RECORDED: August 15, 2020

FIRST AIRED: September 18, 2020

AUDIO PRODUCTION: Jackie Rosen

IN THIS EPISODE: We meet Sandra Perlstein and Mackenzie Salt, two adults living with Asperger's syndrome - often classified as a high-functioning form of autism. But what’s the deal with the terms ‘high-functioning’ and ‘low functioning’ anyway? Sandra and Mackenzie describe their lives starting with their childhoods, when they could sense they were somewhat different from their peers and what it's like to be diagnosed in your teens vs. in your 30s. They address some of the biggest myths about being on the autism spectrum and yes, neurodiverse people can get married and have their own families - just like everyone else!

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on YouTube, Instagram at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, or by email at [email protected], and our brand new website whatsthedifferencepodcast.ca. Thanks for tuning in!

RECORDED: July 18-19, 2020

FIRST AIRED: August  21, 2020

IN THIS EPISODE: While it's difficult to navigate life while using a wheelchair, walker or cane, people with invisible disabilities can face the same struggles. Except for us, others may look at us funny if we park in an accessible spot, take the last remaining seat in the subway car or cram into the elevator rather than taking the stairs or an escalator. Jackie, Cynthia, Sam and Stacie welcome special guest Shaini - who lives with a form of blindness called retinitis pigmentosa - to discuss the weird looks and comments they've gotten throughout the years when they've required some extra mobility assistance. But it's a problem facing fully able-bodied people too, including new mothers who are often forced to carry strollers up flights of stairs! So what can we do to fix these these issues and make life easier for everyone? Tune in to find out!

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, or by email at [email protected]. Thanks for tuning in!

RECORDED: June 20, 2020

FIRST AIRED: July 24, 2020 

IN THIS EPISODE: What’s it like to be told you’re never going to get your dream job or climb the corporate ladder because you have a disability? It’s something Jackie, Cynthia, Sam and Stacie aren’t exactly unfamiliar with, but the more we are told we can’t do something, the more determined we are to smash that glass ceiling. The ladies also welcome special guest (and newly-minted lawyer!) Erica who discusses some of the amazing ways employers have accommodated her visual impairment.

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast, or by email at [email protected]. Thanks for tuning in!

RECORDED: May 30, 2020

FIRST AIRED: June 26, 2020

IN THIS EPISODE: Mental health awareness has been a big focus throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but feeling the negative impact of self-isolation is no stranger to people with visible or invisible disabilities. We discuss the emotional challenges we've learned to cope with throughout the years - everything from Stacie's and Sam's depression as a result of their challenges, to Cynthia's feelings of shame, and even Jackie's crippling fears of fire alarms and building demolition. We've all been there, we get it, and if you're watching this, we get you too.   

We invite you to leave your thoughts by visiting us on Instagram and Facebook at @whatsthedifferencepodcast or by email at [email protected]. Thanks for tuning in!  

Recorded: May 9, 2020 

First Aired: May 22, 2020

IN THIS EPISODE: Is romance any different when you have an invisible disability? It can be, but when it comes right down to it, the crappy dates, weird break ups and random LinkedIn invitations years later (why? Just WHY?) are pretty much the same. The good news? Jackie, Cynthia, Stacie and Sam have all since met the person of their dreams and they couldn't be happier!

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses sexual assault from 33:00 through 39:00. It was even challenging for us to talk about, so we get it! If this is upsetting, we strongly encourage you to skip over this section.

NOTE: This episode was recorded four days before the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic and we hadn't even heard of the term "social distancing" at this point. We have not recorded in person since this day.  

Recorded: March 7, 2020 

First Aired: April 24, 2020

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The ladies welcome special guest Dan Rosen, comedian and playwright, who discusses what it's like to live with Crohn's disease in the midst of a pandemic (and toilet paper shortages!). The panel talks about the impact COVID-19 has on those living with chronic illnesses, and how social distancing has impacted them both physically and mentally. 

Full video version can be viewed on our YouTube channel! Click here to watch! (If this link doesn't work, highlight "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy0VRdadkRI" and paste into your browser or YouTube app)

First recorded: April 4, 2020

First aired: April 17, 2020

In the second installment of the What's the Difference roundtable, the ladies discuss how their parents first learned of their disabilities, the impact it had on the way they were raised and the struggles they encountered - and rallied against - in elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools.

Got a question or comment?  Interested in being on the show?  Contact us at [email protected]

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Recorded: February 8, 2020

First aired: March 11, 2020