Disability After Dark

Episode Notes On E343, we do a popcorn & power chairs episode where I review the new HBO Doc called The Boy Who Lived about David Holmes, Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double on the HP films who had an accident which left him paralyzed.  We learn about their deep bond, we go along with David as he chronicles the highs and lows of his life before and after disability.  He makes me think differently...

Episode Notes On episode 342, I sit down with Dean Grosbard as we talk about his experience with sleep disorders and sleep disabilities.  We explore how sleep is always a symptom and never the cause, why Dean is part of the sleepy community + how all that affects everyday life and relationships.  Enjoy! Follow me at andrewgurza.com and sign up to be on a main show or an offshoot by e-mailing andre...

Episode Notes On episode 341, I sit down with my friend April Hubbard as we talk about her journey choosing MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying). This was a big conversation; we talk about April's decision to choose MAID, we talk through big feelings, April outlines her process being assessed + so much more. This was a hard one to do, but very important. Follow me at andrewgurza.com and sign up to b...

Episode Notes Welcome back to Disability After Dark friends! On episode 340, I sit down with self-proclaimed “disabled dick-slinger” Rachele Manett.  We talk about their experiences being disabled with scoliosis, how they got into sex education and disability – finding that space to talk about what we’re not supposed to talk about.  We talk about pleasure focused education and disability + so much...

Episode Notes In E339, I sit down with online content creator Sean Ferrick as we explore what would happen if he became disabled.  I love having open conversations like this with folks, and Sean made for such a warm, inviting guest, you won’t want to miss our banter. Enjoy!  Follow Sean here: linktr.ee/SeanFerrick   Episode Sponsors  Clone-A-Willy or Clone-A-Pussy all your own and get 20% off site...

Episode Notes In E04 of Popcorn and Power Chairs, I decided to do a documentary.  In this episode, we watch a documentary about disability called Including Samuel.  We meet Samuel and his family, as they document 4 years of his life with Cerebral Palsy.  The film looks at disability through the lens of Samuel’s family, and it focuses primarily on what inclusion looks like for Samuel and other disa...

Episode Notes In E338, I bring you an episode that I recorded way back in 2022 with my friend Kori Doty.  We talk about Kori’s experience with connective tissue stuff, being neurodivergent, how fucked up our benefit system is, disability grief + so much more.  Enjoy!  You can follow Kori by going to www.koridoty.com   Episode Sponsors  Clone-A-Willy or Clone-A-Pussy all your own and get 20% off si...

Episode Notes In Episode 03 of Popcorn and Power Chairs, Andrew reviews the 2021 Oscar award winning film CODA (Child Of a Deaf Adult), about the only hearing person in a family of Deaf fishermen.  Come with us as we explore the struggles of main character Ruby being the sole interpreter for her family, but also explore some of the ways the film could be done better.  Enjoy! This podcast is powere...

Episode Notes In E337, I bring back one of my fave series, “What’s Your Condition?” where we Google disabilities and conditions to learn more about them. On this episode, I look at Ankylosing Spondylitis.  We uncover that it isn’t as rare as you might think, don’t ask a person with AS why they need to sit down, and we learn that rest does not help this condition + so much more.  Enjoy!  Learn more...

Episode Notes In Episode 02 of our new series, Popcorn and Powerchairs, Andrew explores whether the classic 1982 Sci-Fi Family flick, E.T. has connections to disability, and yup we find some: from some of the language they use, to the medicalization of E.T.s body, this film definitely has some disability markers that we can talk about. Enjoy! To be a guest on Popcorn and Powerchairs or Disability...

Episode Notes E336 is another one of my favourite series, “What Would Happen If You Became Disabled Tomorrow?” where I ask non-disabled folks (usually adult film stars) to consider how their lives would change so that we can combat ableism.  This time I spoke to the adorable porn star Teddy Wilder.  He really dove into this hypothetical with grace, humor, hotness and more! Enjoy! Follow Teddy at w...

Episode Notes Welcome to my new side project, Popcorn & Powerchairs where we watch disability film together each week and talk about it. In episode one, we review The Theory of Everything with Eddie Redmayne playing famed physicist Stephen Hawking. We talk about the movie, how disability is represented in it and some of the key themes. Enjoy! If you want to recommend a movie, piece of media, o...

Episode Notes On E335, I sit down with guest Kate McLennan as we talk about experiences with a starter pack of disabilities including CMT and Bechet’s.  We go into Kate’s experience feeling shame around disability but also we delve into what brings Kate joy and so much more in this episode.  Enjoy it!  Sign up to be on Disability After Dark + send in minisode letters and show ideas to: andrew@andr...

Episode Notes Happy Disability Pride Month! On Episode 334, I sit down with a disabled drag king who has the best drag name ever (I’m jealous!) Ru Palsy.  We talk about their experience of Cerebral Palsy & being blind in one eye, the comedy in disability, the accessibility of drag and so much more!  Enjoy!  Follow Ru Palsy here: www.instagram.com/rupalsy   Sign up to be on Disability After Dar...

Episode Notes Outside of Disability, I love everything Paranormal and spooky, and also true crime! It is absolutely my favorite genre. So, I want to start a new podcast called "Chairanormal Activity", where I read your spooky/paranormal/ghost/true crime stories from my wheelchair each and every week. I like that it veers away from disability a little, and is a fun thing to do. So, if you...

Episode Notes In this special episode, Disability After Dark has partnered with KUOW in Seattle to bring you an episode of one of the most notable podcasts of 2023, Ten Thousand Things, where host Shin Yu Pai -- the current reigning Civic Poet of Seattle! -- sits down with award-winning disability rights activist Alice Wong to discuss her long history of advocacy. From lobbying her university for...

Episode Notes On episode 333, I sit down with transmasc drag performer Sev Faust.  We talk about their experience of multiple disabilities including Ankylosing Spondylitis, PMDD + so much more.  We talk about drag and disability, and that time a disability insurance agent followed Sev to a drag show + the broken system that is disability + so much more good stuff.  Enjoy! Sign up to be on the show...

Episode Notes On Episode 332, I sit down with mixed media painter and artist, Elle Billing.  She talks about her experience of being disabled while also being a caregiver to her mother.  We explore what you feel like when all of a sudden your body can’t do something, the grief that comes alongside that; plus so much more.  Follow Elle’s work here: bio.site/elleandwink   Episode Sponsor  Clone-A-Wi...

Episode Notes On episode 331 I sit down with my guest Maylan Chavez as we explore her experiences with Spinal Muscular Atrophy; we talk about advocacy, intimacy, CureSMA, her love of Fall Out Boy & so much more. Enjoy!  Follow Maylan at www.instagram.com/maythesunrise Follow me at www.andrewgurza.com Episode Sponsors Clone-A-Willy or Clone-A-Pussy all your own and get 20% off sitewide by using...

Episode Notes On this very special bonus episode I sit down with my co-actors Ken and Frank as we talk about our new play Access Me, opening in Toronto June 16-24th.  We talk about what it’s like to be queer and disabled, share insights into creating disability theater, we talk working as a team, what it’s like being three power chair users on stage + so much more.  Enjoy!  Episode Sponsors: Clone...

Episode Notes On Episode 330, Andrew sits down with author of the book, Disability Pride, Ben Mattlin.  We talk about his reconnecting to his cripdom, what laws like the ADA need to do to be better, what brings him disability pride + so much more.   Enjoy!  Follow his work and buy the book here: www.benmattlin.com   Episode Sponsors: Clone-A-Willy or Clone-A-Pussy all your own and get 20% off site...

Episode Notes On episode 329, I sit down with my Black, Queer, Disabled Bestie - Jay Baldwin.  We talk about queerness and disability, representing disability on Canadian TV shows; what it means to be Black, Queer and Disabled, their badass Facebook Group + so much more.  Enjoy!  You can follow me at www.andrewgurza.com   You can follow Jay: linktr.ee/JayBaldwin Episode Sponsors: Clone-A-Willy or...

Episode Notes On episode 328, I sit down with my new BFF Martha and we chat about her life with Down Syndrome at 23; how she wants to be a public policy advocate for people with disabilities and why she should be in a rom-com kissing Zac Efron.   This one was really, really fun and made me look at my own internalized ableism around intellectual disabilities.  Enjoy!  You can follow Martha here: ww...

Episode Notes In episode 327, I sit down with my new friend, queer disabled cartoonist and essayist, A Andrews.  We talk about their experiences being a queer disabled person with Spina Bifida.  We take a deep dive into our experiences of queerness and disability and it felt so good.  A talks about their book A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex and Disability, getting profiled in The Advocate, saying...