In honor of International Women’s Day, join us in celebrating disabled women who are changing the media landscape, one story, one role, and one accessible set at a time. In this episode, we sit down with Jillian Mercado and Agnes McConlogue Ferro to talk about what it really means to be a disabled woman in media. From breaking stereotypes and navigating tokenism to advocating for accessibility on and off set, this conversation celebrates accessibility wins, allyship, and what true inclusion actually looks like.

Links Mentioned:

• Lolo Spencer: https://www.lolospencer.com

• Marissa Bode: https://gomag.com/article/marissa-bode-is-unlimited/

• Inclusion Done Right! Conference: https://healthprofessions.stonybrookmedicine.edu/cce/IDR26

• National Dance Institute’s DREAM Project: https://www.nationaldance.org/en/childrens-programs/the-ndi-dream-project

Connect with Jillian Mercado

Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Agnes McConlogue Ferro

LinkedIn

Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Intro/Outro Music Created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Avery, Kelly, Jillian, and Agnes engage in a virtual conversation. Kelly, on the top left, is a woman with light skin, brown hair, a nose ring, and white earbuds. She is wearing a bright pink, long-sleeved shirt and is positioned in front of a blurred wall with some decor. Avery, on the bottom right, is a woman with light skin, long brown hair, and white earbuds. She is wearing a dark top and is positioned in front of a plain background that hints at a window. Jillian, on the bottom left, is a woman with light skin and long black hair. She is wearing a light-colored top, positioned next to a mirrored closet door reflecting parts of the room, including a bookshelf filled with books and decorative items. Agnes, on the top right, has light skin and wavy blonde-brown hair. She is wearing a dark top, positioned in front of a wooden door and a white wall with some decorative items visible.

Rare Disease Day is kind of our Super Bowl. Purple, blue, green, and pink lights, awareness posts, big feelings…and a whole lot of people learning what “rare” actually means. In this episode, we chat about life as rare women - being medical mysteries, navigating diagnostic odysseys, and finding community in the uncommon. Individually rare doesn’t mean alone, and this episode explores what that really looks like beyond the hashtags. We break down the myths around rarity, the emotional toll of constantly explaining your body, and what happens when awareness doesn’t always turn into support. With humor, honesty, and lived experience, we dig into the realities of care, access, and systems that weren’t designed with the rare disease community in mind. Most importantly, we talk about what actually helps: patient-led research, real funding, flexible workplaces, disability benefits, caregivers, and showing up for rare communities long after Rare Disease Day ends. Because being rare isn’t just a statistic - it’s an identity, a community, and a source of power. No clapping required. Just keep showing up.

Links Mentioned:

• Share your rare disease story, join local or virtual events, and help raise awareness for the rare disease community: https://www.rarediseaseday.org
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): https://rarediseases.org
• EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases: https://everylifefoundation.org
• Rare Disease Legislative Advocates (RDLA): https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/

Connect with Kelly Berger

⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Avery Roberts

⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Intro/Outro Music Created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Avery and Kelly engage in a virtual conversation. Kelly, on the left, is a woman with light skin, brown hair, a nose ring, and white earbuds. She is wearing a black top and is positioned in front of a wall, out of focus, with some decor. Avery, on the right, is another woman with light skin, brown hair, and white earbuds. She is wearing a red sweater and is positioned in front of a blurred background that hints at a window.

Ever felt stuck in limbo, knowing something isn’t right but not having a name for it? Now imagine living there for years, navigating tests, specialists, and unanswered questions while the world expects clarity you don’t have. This is the reality of the diagnostic odyssey. In this episode, Avery and Kelly dive into the long, messy, and often isolating road to diagnosis, or the reality of never receiving one at all. They unpack what it really means to live “in the in-between,” where uncertainty, fear, and grief collide. They share personal stories of growing up without clear answers, being dismissed, or misdiagnosed. They explore the emotional weight of uncertainty, the pressure to find a label to feel legitimate, and the systemic barriers that leave so many rare and disabled people without guidance or support. From hard truths about the medical system to empowering conversations about disability identity beyond diagnosis, this episode is a grounding, validating reminder that you don’t need a label to belong. Whether you’re still searching for answers, learning to live without them, or supporting someone who is, this conversation meets you where you are.

Links Mentioned:

• Global Genes’ Becoming An Empowered Patient: A Toolkit For The Undiagnosed: https://globalgenes.org/toolkit/becoming-an-empowered-patient-a-toolkit-for-the-undiagnosed/

Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Intro/Outro Music Created by Andy Rusch

Accessible parking aisles aren’t just lines on the pavement – they’re lifelines. In this episode, Kelly and Avery tackle the frustrations, safety risks, and everyday indignities disabled people face when able-bodied drivers ignore the rules. From common violations and absurd excuses to the emotional and practical impact of blocked access, we break down why those stripes matter and how better education, enforcement, and community accountability can make a difference. Laugh, learn, and maybe cringe a little as we call out the “Able-Bodied Acuras” of the world and show why respecting accessible spaces is a small act with a huge impact.

Links Mentioned:

• BraunAbility Drive for Inclusion Movement: https://www.braunability.com/us/en/community/drive-for-inclusion.html

• Request & Order your Save Our Spots Tickets:https://www.braunability.com/us/en/community/the-driving-force/save-our-spots.html#order

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://ada.gov

• Contact Your Region/ADA Center: https://adata.org/find-your-region

• Parking Mobility App: https://www.parkingmobility.com/volunteer/

• NYC311 App to report illegal parking in accessible spaces in NYC: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01025 

• MyLA311 App to report illegal parking in accessible spaces in LA: https://lacity.gov/myla311

Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Intro/Outro Music Created by Andy Rusch

Ever wonder how the music that opens and closes Wheel Talk came to life? In this episode, we go behind the beat with Andy Rusch, the talented disabled writer and musician who composed our signature intro and outro. From first ideas to final notes, we explore the story of how our sound was crafted, the creative process, and the decisions that shaped the rhythm, tone, and mood of the podcast. Join us as we celebrate creativity, accessibility, and representation in mixing and shine a spotlight on a disabled creative making waves behind the scenes. Whether you’re a podcast fan, a creator, or just love a good story about music, this episode is for you. 

Links Mentioned:

• MorganWolf Press: morganwolfpress.com

• PIC II on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Et85fYf95NNEE9CfGCLqw

Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Connect with Andy Rusch

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Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch

Ever struggled with a heavy door? Now imagine doing it from a wheelchair — every single day. This is the everyday battle many wheelchair users face: opening doors that just weren’t designed with accessibility in mind. Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger discuss the significant challenges that doors present to individuals living with disabilities, particularly those who use mobility devices. They explore various types of doors, the awkward interactions with strangers when seeking assistance, the effectiveness of automatic push buttons, and the importance of reporting inaccessible spaces. From poorly placed buttons to impossible entryways, we explore real stories, unexpected challenges, and creative solutions. The conversation emphasizes the need for better design and awareness in public spaces, as well as community engagement and advocacy to improve accessibility for all. 

Links Mentioned:

• Report an ADA violation: https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://ada.gov

• Contact Your Region/ADA Center: https://adata.org/find-your-region

Connect with Kelly Berger

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Connect with Avery Roberts

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Avery and Kelly engage in a virtual conversation. Kelly, on the left, is light-skinned with shoulder-length light brown hair. She is wearing wireless earbuds and a patterned shirt. Avery, on the right, is also light-skinned with medium-length brown hair. She is also wearing wireless earbuds and a dark colored top. A microphone is visible in front of her. The background behind both women is out of focus.

Ever read a book where the disabled character is either a tragic inspiration or magically “cured” by the final chapter? Yeah…same. In this episode, Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger are joined by the brilliant Erin Hawley – writer, book reviewer, and creator of Erin’s Library and the Disability Readathon – to talk all things authentic disability representation in literature. Erin spills the tea on harmful tropes and why disabled authors deserve more space on your bookshelf. They dive into how storytelling shapes public perception and where to find books that actually get it right. Plus, Erin shares her faves and what’s next for the future of inclusive lit. Come for the hot takes, stay for the book recs, and leave ready to diversify your TBR pile – with stories that see you. 

Links Mentioned:

• The Disability Readathon: https://www.disabilityreadathon.com

• From Erin’s Library: https://www.youtube.com/@FromErinsLibrary

• The Moonlit Margins Book Society: https://www.themoonlitmarginssisterhood.com

Connect with Erin Hawley

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website

Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features three women engaging in a virtual conversation. On the left, Kelly has shoulder-strength brown hair and is wearing a cream-colored sweater, wireless earbuds, and brown earrings. In the middle, Erin has shoulder-strength brown hair and is wearing a white shirt with green stripes. On the right, Avery has long brown hair and is wearing a blue shirt and wireless earbuds, and is speaking into a microphone. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.

What was life like before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – and where are we now? In this powerful episode, hosts Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger sit down with disability advocate and policy powerhouse Naomi Hess to explore the ADA’s impact – past, present, and future. From curb cuts to Capitol Crawls, they unpack the stories, struggles, and triumphs that shaped the most important civil rights law for Americans living with disabilities. They discuss what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still needs to be done. Listen in for a mix of history, advocacy, and real talk about building a more accessible future.

Links Mentioned:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://www.ada.gov

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): https://www.aapd.com

Disabilities Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF): https://dredf.org

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Netflix documentary): https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist: https://judithheumann.com/being-heumann/

The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: https://www.tiffanyyu.com/book

Deaf President Now!: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34965967/

Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/change-not-charity-americans-disabilities-act/

Connect with Naomi Hess

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Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Features three women engaging in a virtual conversation. From left to right: Kelly has medium-length, light brown hair, speaks into a microphone, wears white earbuds, and a white top; Avery has long, brown hair, speaks into a microphone, and wears white earbuds; Naomi has short, curly hair and is wearing a red shirt. Speech-to-text captions appear at the bottom of the screen, following their conversation. The background includes various personal items.

In this empowering and unfiltered convo, Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts sit down with disability life coach Amber Bosselman to talk all about identity, confidence, and unapologetic self-love. From the messy journey to self-acceptance to the highs and lows of being visibly disabled in an often clueless world, Amber brings the real talk – and the real glow-up. Amber is offering a FREE life coaching session to anyone interested in exploring confidence, independence, and living their best life with a disability. Don’t miss this chance to connect – you never know what one conversation can unlock. DM her or visit https://sites.google.com/view/amberbosselmancoaching/home to learn more!

Connect with Amber Bosselman

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Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Features three women engaging in a virtual conversation. On the left, Avery has medium-length brown hair, is wearing a blue shirt and wireless earbuds, and is speaking into a microphone. In the center, Kelly has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a light-blue colored top with wireless earbuds. On the right, Amber’s hair is in a bun, and she is wearing a white shirt. Speech-to-text captions appear at the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.

In this laugh-out-loud episode, Avery Roberts, Kelly Berger, and Steve Way dive into the wild, weird, and downright hilarious things strangers say to people who use wheelchairs. From awkward compliments to bizarre questions and "well-meaning" assumptions, they share the most unforgettable encounters they've had while just living their lives on wheels. With a mix of laughter and serious reflection, they share personal anecdotes, discuss common misconceptions, and highlight the humor found in everyday interactions. Get ready for some eye-rolls, giggles, and maybe even a snort-laugh or two as we celebrate humor, resilience, and the strange social gymnastics of the able-bodied world. Because when life rolls a little differently, so do the punchlines.

Warning: mature audience encouraged. Snort-laughs may occur.

Links Mentioned:

• Good Bad Things: https://www.goodbadthings.com

• Ramy: https://www.hulu.com/series/ramy-4bcb6c3a-3d9a-4d49-b8e0-57fb7de9c8d6

Connect with Steve Way

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Connect with Kelly Berger

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features three individuals engaging in a virtual conversation. On the left, Avery has medium-length brown hair, is wearing wireless earbuds and a grayish-blue shirt, and is speaking into a microphone. In the middle, Kelly has shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing wireless earbuds and a similar light grayish-blue sweater. On the right, Steve has short light brown hair, is wearing glasses, and has a nasal BiPAP mask. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.