In this episode, we sit down with William Griffin, who works in clinical research and is an aspiring writer in his free time. William brings a powerful perspective on what it means to grow up with a story already being written about you and the process of learning to write it for yourself instead. We explore the idea of “claiming the pen,” shifting from being described, studied, or interpreted to becoming the author of your own disabled narrative. We talk about the messy reality of storytelling: the pressure to be “inspirational,” the fear of being “took much” or “not enough,” and the challenge of knowing where a story even begins. This episode is a reminder that our stories don’t have to arrive fully formed. They just have to be ours.

Links Mentioned:

• Alice Wong: npr.org/2025/11/15/nx-s1-5609903/disability-rights-activist-author-alice-wong-dies-51

• Saou Ichikawa: goodreads.com/author/show/50595830.Saou_Ichikawa

• JetPens: ⁠jetpens.com

• One Story: ⁠one-story.com

• Zoetrope: All-Story: all-story.com

Connect with William Griffin

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Intro/Outro Music Created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Avery, Kelly, and William engage in a virtual conversation. Kelly, on the top right, is a woman with light skin and light brown hair. She is wearing an off-white sweater with silver embellishments, a nose ring, and white earbuds, and is positioned in front of a wall, out of focus, with some decor. Avery, on the bottom, is a woman with light brown, wavy hair. She is wearing a dark grey top and white earbuds. A microphone is positioned in front of her, and the background is blurred, with what appears to be a window behind her. William, on the top left, has short brown hair and is wearing a blue shirt and a black headset. Behind him, yellow walls and a window with white curtains are visible.

Who gets to tell the stories we see on screen, and what changes when those voices finally shift? In this episode, we sit down with Isaac Zablocki, Co-Founder and CEO of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, the largest disability festival in the world. Avery also brings a unique behind-the-scenes perspective as a co-chair of this year’s opening night, sharing what it means to help shape an event centered on authentic representation. Isaac breaks down the origins and mission of ReelAbilities, its growth across cities worldwide, and why prioritizing disabled creatives and filmmakers is essential to driving lasting change in the industry. We highlight standout films and storytelling styles that leave a lasting impact, and Isaac shares what makes these stories resonate far beyond a single screening. This episode isn’t just about one event - it’s about a broader movement toward authentic representation and the growing demand for stories told by disabled voices, year-round. It’s also about reframing disability - not as a limitation, but as a vital perspective that deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.

Links Mentioned:

• ReelAbilities: reelabilities.org

• ReelAbilities Film Festival: reelabilities.org/newyork/ong2026?utm_source=advisory&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ong2026&utm_content=Avery_Roberts

• ReelAbilities Industry Summit: reelabilities.org/summit

• ReelAbilities Stream: reelabilities.org/stream

• Reel Education: reelabilities.org/reeleducation

• ReelAbilities in the Workplace: reelabilities.org/workplace

Connect with Isaac Zablocki

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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: Avery, Kelly, and Isaac engage in a virtual conversation. Kelly, on the left, is a woman with light skin and light brown hair. She is wearing a white sweater with a pink collar, a nose ring, and white earbuds, and is positioned in front of a wall, out of focus, with some decor. Avery, on the right, is a woman with light brown, wavy hair. She is wearing a light grey top and white earbuds. A microphone is positioned in front of her, and the background is blurred, with what appears to be a window behind her. Isaac, in the middle, has short hair and is wearing a grey sweater. Behind him is a wall, out of focus.

We are turning a classic party game into something hilariously relatable with a Disability Edition of “Would You Rather!” From absurd wheelchair upgrades to meaningful conversations about accessibility and independence, no topic is off-limits. Why do some of these “would you rather” questions feel a little too real? Whether you’re here to laugh, learn, or rethink your perspective, this episode brings humor, honesty, and a whole lot of personality. Play along if you dare…and ask yourself: what would YOU rather?

Play free versions of Would You Rather online:

• https://wouldyourather.app/s/w6s57
• https://wouldurather.io/
• https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2016/11/15/would-you-rather-special-needs-edition

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 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 denim 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 navy blue top and is positioned in front of a blurred background that hints at a window.

In this episode, Kelly and Avery are joined by Kara Dorsey, a service dog graduate, and Molly Berman, a seasoned puppy raiser. From the early days of puppy raising to the trust built over years of teamwork, Kara and Molly discuss what it’s really like to have a service dog by your side. We explore everything from the tasks these dogs perform to the unseen labor of puppy raising to the public access challenges service dog teams face. You’ll also hear personal stories about the moments these dogs have changed lives, and the deep bond that forms between a handler and their dog. If you’re thinking about the next steps in your journey or just want to understand more about this unique partnership, this episode is a must-listen!

Links Mentioned:

• Canine Companions: canine.org

• Guiding Eyes for the Blind: guidingeyes.org

Follow Future Service Dog Kite’s Journey!

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Connect with Molly Berman

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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: Avery, Kelly, Kara, and Molly engage in a virtual conversation. Kelly, on the top left, is a woman with light skin and light brown hair. She is wearing a grey sweater with silver embellishments, a nose ring, and white earbuds, and is positioned in front of a wall, out of focus, with some decor. Avery, on the top right, is a young woman with light brown, wavy hair. She is wearing a grey sweater and white earbuds. A microphone is positioned in front of her, and the background is blurred, with what appears to be a window behind her. Molly, on the bottom left, has long brown hair and is wearing a light blue top and white earbuds. Behind her, a window with white curtains is visible. Kara, on the bottom right, is a woman with glasses, shoulder-length brown hair, and is wearing an orange sweater over a white collared shirt. The background features a wall adorned with framed pictures, and a checkered couch is visible to her right.

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

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Connect with Agnes McConlogue Ferro

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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: 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

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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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

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 light-colored 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 grey sweater and is positioned in front of a blurred background that hints at a window.

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

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, a navy shirt with a denim collar and small gold round earrings. Avery, on the right, is also light-skinned with medium-length brown hair. She is also wearing wireless earbuds and a grey hoodie. A microphone is visible in front of her. The background behind both women is out of focus.

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 Andy Rusch

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Connect with Avery Roberts

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Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch

Image Description: Three people engage in a virtual conversation. On the left, Kelly, is a woman with fair skin, light brown hair, and is wearing white earbuds. She has a nose ring and is wearing pink lipstick. A microphone is positioned in front of her. In the center panel, Avery, another woman, also with fair skin and light brown hair, is wearing white earbuds with the wire visible and also has a microphone in front of her. On the right, Andy, a man with dark hair and a beard is wearing glasses and a light blue shirt; he appears to be positioned in front of a bookshelf filled with books and decorative objects. The background behind the women is plain and light. The overall atmosphere suggests a casual and candid conversation.

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.