Out of Sync - Exploring Life Through Disability

In this episode, we meet Chris Sciabarra—a writer whose sense of freedom began not in the body, but in the mind. Inspired early on by thinkers like Ayn Rand and later shaped by the dialectical ideas of Bertell Ollman, Chris built an inner world grounded in reason, inquiry, and intellectual independence. But while his mind roamed freely, his body told a different story. Living with the rare conditi...

After the sudden passing of her mother, Isabel finds herself stepping into a role she never expected to take on so early: caring for her brother Tony, who has autism, while grieving a profound loss of her own. In this conversation, she reflects on their lifelong bond, the family dynamics that shaped them, and the delicate dance of being — and staying — a sister when the line between sisterhood and...

At 10, Marina survived a horseback riding accident that left her in a three-month coma. Recovery meant relearning basic skills, navigating school and friendships, and adjusting to a new way of living. A natural competitor and self-described overachiever, she performs in theater at Zeno Mountain Farm, hand-cycles marathons, and gains more independence every day—even when it’s hard. Her story explor...

In this episode, I meet Ross, whose life changed when his son Josh was born with cerebral palsy. What began as a father’s determination to include his child in everyday life grew into a larger mission: creating Access Sport America - an adaptive sports program - that rethinks what the world expects people with physical disabilities to be capable of. As our conversation unfolds, our stories begin t...

Everyone’s story is shaped by family, whether they’re present or not. Noble is no exception. He reflects on the dynamics with his parents and sisters, one of whom has Down syndrome. As a child, he noticed small cues others might miss. As a teenager, those moments became more intense — realizations about difference, responsibility, and connection. In this episode, we wonder: are these experiences r...

Independence doesn’t happen overnight—it’s something built slowly, through work, community, and learning how to navigate the world at your own rhythm. From friendships and creative projects at Zeno Mountain Farm to the quiet moments of figuring things out alone, Lucy reflects on what it means to grow up, leave home, and imagine a life that is fully hers. Moving out also means asking bigger questio...

When I asked Grace what it was like raising a toddler in a tipi with no running water or electricity in Vermont, she laughed and said she was lucky—because Ian didn’t toddle very much. Babies with Down syndrome often take things slower than most, and as Ian grew, Grace made a point of taking everything slowly but seriously, focusing on life skills. An experienced educator, she knew a lot about kid...

Kate describes herself as intensely social, deeply connected to music, sometimes too trusting — and many other things. This is her life with Williams syndrome, a rare genetic condition she reflects on. We talk about growing up alongside her siblings and peers at different rhythms, navigating school and work while often being underestimated, competing at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhab...

Ila, an occupational therapist and co-founder of Zeno Mountain Farm, shares what it takes to build a community in Vermont where people with and without disabilities live, work, and create together. She also dives into the films Zeno makes—not just about disability, but about real stories and people—showing why representation in culture matters. This episode is about the messy, joyful work of inclu...

Have you ever had breakfast across from someone wearing a princess costume, spent the afternoon sliding through the woods on a 200-foot slide into a pond, turned dishwashing into a party, or stripped off your clothes to lie in a storm? Welcome to Zeno Mountain Farm, where we put as much energy into having fun as most people put into work. Where having fun is the work. Where everything we do implie...

This is Krista. Becoming a mother of twins at 35 changed everything, and even more so when one of them suffered a brain injury at birth. She learned to balance grief with problem-solving, to lean on her husband while advocating together, and to trust schools and professionals while finding her own ways to support her children. A neighbor of Zeno Mountain Farm, she discovered a community that expan...

Hannah was seventeen when we recorded this. She grew up doing community theater, with her mobility aids as part of her character. Living with cerebral palsy meant learning to step onto a stage even when auditions felt like judgment, and discovering the freedom to be herself—unedited. At Zeno Mountain Farm, she learned to reach out when she needed support, to support others, and to navigate challen...

Isabelle was seventeen when they shared this. They’re the sibling without a disability, learning to navigate feelings of responsibility and powerlessness, gratitude and doubt, and to recognize when their own emotions matter. Thoughtful and honest, Isabelle reflects on identity, independence, love, and the resilience life asks for in a world not built for everyone, as they and their twin Hannah, wh...

I’m Léa Hirschfeld, sharing how discovering Zeno Mountain Farm and growing up with my brother sparked the journey that became this podcast. Out of Sync: Exploring life with disability — one story at a time. You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.