Always Looking Up

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Clinton Brown. Clint is a member of the LPA community and founder of the DAAA team, the New York Towers. We discuss the the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, aka DAAA, how the New York Towers came to be, and why it is so important that little people get to participate in athletics.  Follow Clint: Instagram: @thinklikeclint Twitter: @CB3inNYC  ...

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Dr. Erin Pritchard. Dr. Pritchard is a Lecturer in Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University, author of the book Dwarfism, Spatiality and Disabling Experiences, and activist in the little person community. We discuss the differences between little person, person with dwarfism, and dwarf, the m-word, and inspiration porn.  Follow Dr. Pritchard: Twi...

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Emily Voorde. Emily currently works in The White House as an Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement. Prior to joining the Biden administration she worked on the Pete for America campaign as a body woman for Chasten Buttigieg. We discuss our learning of what it means to be a little person and to be disabled, why representation matters, especial...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with the person who knows me best and has certainly known me the longest, my mom Audrey Curwin. We discuss how I got diagnosed, what it meant to her to become an average-height parent of a little person child, and how we both learned how to advocate for accessibility in an inaccessible world. Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Webs...

To start, I would like to issue a trigger warning. This week's episode talks about disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image. If these are triggers for you, please feel free to skip this episode.  With this week being National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I am sharing a part of my story I have hinted at but have never fully told and that is my battle with disordered eating and re...

In this week's episode I am sitting down with Sean Eberle.  Sean is a short stature athlete who competes in adaptive CrossFit. We connected over our mutual interest in Peloton. We discuss how he got into adaptive CrossFit, finding our place on the Peloton leaderboard, and wh y adaptive fitness matters so much to the little person and disabled communities. Follow Sean: @sreberle Peloton: TheSh...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with my brother Ben to talk about the controversy surrounding Disney’s live action remake of Snow White. We discuss Peter Dinklage’s public reaction, as well as other prominent members of the little person community, Disney’s response to what Mr. Dinklage had to say, and how this instance exemplifies a long lasting struggle for the accurate representation o...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Lucy Trieshmann. Lucy is currently a law student at NYU and a disability justice activist. We discuss how many public spaces are still inaccessible, the various injustices the disabled community is continuing to face, and her work with The Breaking Point Project.  Follow Lucy: Instagram: @disabledinjustice  Twitter: @lucy_treishmann Website:...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Alexis Barber. Alexis is a content creator here in New York City and is someone I have been following for quite some time, and am continually inspired and empowered by the work she does. We discuss ableism in diet culture, why disability needs greater representation in the health and wellness spaces and what it truly means to live in and love a disable...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Angela Singletary, the founder and owner of A Little Perspective and Purpose by Ang. We discuss finding her place and purpose in LPA, our thoughts on the proposed "cure" for dwarfism, and how A Little Perspective came to be. Follow Angela: Instagram: @purposebyang Facebook: Purpose by Ang YouTube: Coach Ang Website: https://www.purposebyang.com Follow...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Rance Nix. Rance is a New York based actor who can be seen in the upcoming series Kings of Napa on the Oprah Winfrey Network. We discuss how he came to be Dana King, the changes we are seeing in the entertainment industry, and tell the story of how we met at a party in Atlanta. Follow Rance: Instagram: @rancenix Twitter: @RanceNix Website: https://www....

To start, I would like to issue a trigger warning. This week’s episode talks about body image and disordered eating. If these are triggers for you, please feel free to skip this episode. This week it is just me and the microphone talking about my new year's resolutions for 2022. I explain why I'm not resolving to change my body and what I am looking forward to in the year to come. Follow Me: Insta...

To start, I would like to issue a trigger warning. This week’s episode talks about self harm and suicide. If these are triggers for you, please feel free to skip this episode.  I sat down with Danielle Gray, model and founder of the app Train Like A Gymnast. We discuss how Train Like A Gymnast came to be, our mental and physical health journeys, and how we turn our perceived limits into our g...

This week's episode is part two of my conversation with fashion designer Kathy D. Woods and her husband, actor Dana Michael Woods where we continue to discuss family, faith, fashion and adversity.  Follow Kathy: Instagram:  @kathydwoods  Website: www.kathydwoodsstore.com   Follow Dana: Website: Oh So Small - Dana Michael Woods IMDb: Dana Michael Woods Follow and Support Grace 4...

This week's episode is extra-special because it is part one of a two-part episode. I sat down with fashion designer Kathy D. Woods and her husband, actor Dana Michael Woods. Over the next two weeks we discuss family, faith, fashion and adversity. Follow Kathy: Instagram:  @kathydwoods  Website: www.kathydwoodsstore.com   Follow Dana: Website: Oh So Small - Dana Michael Woods IMDb: D...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Martino Cartier. Martino is a celebrity hair stylist and philanthropist. We discuss the impact he and his non-profit Wigs and Wishes has made over the last ten years and how we are both striving to make the world a better and more beautiful place.   Follow Martino: Instagram:  @martinocartier   Follow Wigs And Wishes: Instagram @wigsandwishes W...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Maria Town. Maria is the President and CEO of the American Association of People With Disabilities. Prior to joining AAPD, Maria served as the Senior Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Obama where she managed the White House’s engagement with the disability community and older Americans. We discuss her wor...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Gabi though you may know her as Lil Gabi D. Gabi is a digital content creator, using her platforms to advocate for dwarfism awareness. We discuss the portrayal of little people in the media, the perpetuation of certain stereotypes, and why representation matters. Follow Gabi: Instagram: @lilgabid  Twitter: @lilgabid TikTok: @lilgabid YouTube: Lil...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Mark Povinelli. Mark is an actor and activist, currently serving as the President of Little People of America. Mark’s credits include Modern Family, Mad Dogs, My Dinner With Hervé, and Water For Elephants. As President of the Board, Mark is the face of LPA and oversees the board and various committees, along with presiding over all national meetings. W...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Nancy Volpe Beringer. Nancy is a fashion designer who competed on season 18 of Project Runway, making it all the way to the finale. Since then, she has launched The Vault by Volpe Beringer, an online luxury resale store that caters to both the able-bodied and disabled. She believes in sustainability and adaptability- that fashion can and should include...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with Lucy Jones. Lucy is a fashion designer who focuses on solution-based design. In 2017 she founded FFORA, an adaptive fashion accessories label of which she is the CEO. She also happens to be one of my best friends here in New York City. We discuss FFORA, disability in fashion, and what it really means to be an ally to the disability community.  &nb...

In that week's episode I am in the hot seat. My brother Ben, who is also the show's editor and producer, sat in the host's seat and asked me questions about what being a little person means to me. I had no knowledge of the questions being asked and nothing was off-limits. We discussed growing up in a world where I was often the only little person in the room, how I almost became an athletic traine...

In this week’s episode I am talking to Kelsey Lindell. Kelsey is a disability advocate and fitness influencer. In August she was named Well+Good’s first ever disabled trainer of the month. On a daily basis Kelsey uses her platforms to combat ableism, a prejudice that no one wants to talk about and affects everyone. We discuss our disabled experiences, the many forms of ableism, and the changes we...

To start, I want to issue a trigger warning. This week’s episode talks about sexual harassment and sexual assault. If these are triggers for you, please feel free to skip this episode. I am starting by talking to Stacie Lick, a family friend and Lieutenant in the Gloucester County Special Victims’s Unit, basically a real-life Olivia Benson. We are discussing disability and sexual assault- the stat...

In this week’s episode I am sitting down with disabled model and advocate Bri Scalesse. Bri is a true queen in every sense of the word. Paralyzed at age six, Bri has refused to let her disability, or society’s perception of disability, stop her from pursuing her dreams. She has wheeled the runways at New York Bridal Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week and opened designer Nancy Volpe-Beringer’s...