The Wheelchair Activist

Hi Arlo, Hope you are well! Sending over everything for the next episode of The Wheelchair Activist - scheduled to go live on Monday at 10am your time. Please let me know if you need anything else in addition to what I've included below! YouTube link:   https://youtu.be/-lBQLn5vK1g MP3 File:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FHpmR0R60D-0ZUKzcOUK1thsk71s96j7/view?usp=sharing Transcript:&n...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . It's almost Halloween and we've got the perfect episode for spooky season! Emma chats with historian Dan Howlett about the role disability played in the Salem Witch Trials. We hope you enjoy these fascinating stories and hidden histories! Dan Howlett received his Ph. D. in History from George Mason University in 2025. He currently teaches cour...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This month, Emma is chatting with musician, advocate, and author, Lachi! They discuss Lachi's work in the music industry, her commitment to authenticity, her upcoming book, I Identify As Blind, and so much more! Lachi is a world touring recording artist and author, award winning music executive, globally renowned disability inclusion advocate, host...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode, Emma interviews the founder of Purpl, Georgina Colman! Being disabled is expensive. Purpl is working to offset the average £1,095 of additional costs disabled people spend per month by being the UK’s first discount platform built by disabled people, for disabled people. Georgina Colman is the founder of Purpl, the UK’s first dedicated...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . July is Disability Pride Month and it's felt different and complicated this year. Emma is speaking directly to listeners in this first-ever solo episode sharing her reflections on Disability Pride Month, the current attacks on disability rights, and the contradictions it all brings to surface. Mentioned in this episode... • Diversability D-30 Disab...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode, Emma chats with Anna Landre about a very important topic - how climate change impacts disabled people, where they're left out of climate action, and how the lack of inclusive disaster planning and response costs disabled lives. Anna Landre is an award-winning activist and researcher focusing on what she calls the disability law "imple...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . We're discussing all things AI and Disability on this episode The Wheelchair Activist! Emma speaks with Christine Hemphill, a researcher, designer, and innovator specialising in disability and age-inclusion. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Open Inclusion, a UK-based, globally active research agency leading in disability and age-informed...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode of The Wheelchair Activist, Emma chats with Tiffany Yu about her new book! Tiffany is a disability advocate, content creator, and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. The book is now available in both the UK and the US. Enjoy Emma and Tiffany's conversation about topics that the book covers including the definition of ableism, how...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . Welcome back to The Wheelchair Activist! We are kicking off season four with an incredible guest, David Holmes. David worked as a stunt double for the Harry Potter films and acquired a spinal chord injury after an accident on set of Deathly Hallows part one. His story is told in the HBO documentary "The Boy Who Lived" and David's book, also titled...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . For the final episode of season 3, Emma interviews Rebekah Taussig and Sophie Bradbury-Cox about their journeys as disabled mothers. They discuss societal stigma around disabled motherhood, barriers to accessing medical care during pregnancy, and the particular joys of parenting with a disability. Learn more about Rebekah at www.rebekahtaussig.com...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . Coming right off of the highly anticipated film's premiere weekend, this episode features actress Marissa Bode who plays Nessarose in the new film adaptation of the musical Wicked! Emma and Marissa chat about the Wicked audition process, how Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo surprised Marissa when she got the role, previous portrayals of Nessa, the i...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode, Emma interviews journalist and content creator Lucy Edwards! They discuss her recent collaboration with Barbie, how she became an entrepreneur, advice for disabled content creators and consultants, plus more! Learn about Lucy and check out her content here: https://linktr.ee/lucyedwards If you enjoy this podcast, please consider suppo...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode, Emma interviews actor and singer, Jenna Bainbridge! She is currently performing on Broadway in the new Tony award winning musical, Suffs. Learn more about Jenna at www.jennabainbridge.com and learn more about Suffs at suffsmusical.com. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting by sharing this episode, rating the show, cont...

Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode, Emma interviews two couples! First, you'll hear from Chloe and Alex (@SticksAndCopper on social media) about their experience as an interabled couple. Then, you'll hear from Carrie and Alex about their relationship as an engaged couple who both are disabled. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting by sharing this episode...

Full Episode  Transcript  and  Youtube version [CC] . This episode, Emma speaks with actor Zak Ford-Williams! They discuss his breakout role as Lord Remington on the most recent season of Bridgerton, disability representation in period dramas, and his acting career thus far. Zak Ford-Williams t rained at the Manchester School of Theatre, graduating in 2020. His theatre credits include:  The Real &...

Full Episode Transcript and Youtube version [CC] . Happy Pride Month! This episode of The Wheelchair Activist, Emma speaks with Annie Segarra, Ezra Johnson, and Jasper Williams about the intersections of being a part of both the disabled and LGBTQIA+ communities. Annie Segarra is a dedicated activist, content creator, and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community; she is queer and gender fluid and al...

Full Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hq4CW9apOvepm5Saurz5kOmU3S-okTqc/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106641314972831086485&rtpof=true&sd=true Youtube version [CC]: https://youtu.be/dwW75ZNCehE This episode of The Wheelchair Activist, Emma speaks to author Melissa Whitney about disability representation in romance novels. Melissa is a legally blind woman who explores them...

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses mental health and related sensitive topics. Please take care while listening. Full Episode Transcript Watch this episode on Youtube [CC] This episode of The Wheelchair Activist is all about mental health and disability. Given the importance of the topic, this episode is split into two parts. First, Emma interviews Fern Lulham-- A blind public speaker and men...

Full Episode Transcript Watch this episode on Youtube [CC] In the Season Three premiere of the Wheelchair Activist Podcast, join Jillian Curwin—a disability advocate and fashion enthusiast. Jillian discusses her frustrations with the fashion industry's inclusivity, emphasizing the ongoing journey for true representation. The episode explores disability representation, highlighting both progres...

Dom was born with a severe form of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (more commonly known as Brittle Bones). He had more than 25 broken bones during birth, is of short stature and uses a powered wheelchair for his mobility. Dom joined the Purple Goat agency team in February 2021 as Head of Strategy - the world's first and only disability-led and disability focused agency looking to create the most inclu...

Alan Benson is a disability rights activist and campaigner, with a particular interest in accessible travel. As a wheelchair user Alan has a firm belief in a pan impairment approach based on a lifetime of lived experience of discrimination and barriers. He credits much of his knowledge and success to the amazing, supportive online community. As Chair of Transport for All and Deputy Chair at London...

Peta Hooke is the creator and host of The I Can’t Stand Podcast. She is thirty-something living in Melbourne, with Cerebral Palsy. Peta is a passionate advocate for the disability community through educating non-disabled people on what it is actually like to live with a disability. The I Can’t Stand Podcast, is a weekly podcast answering the audiences’ questions they have about disability. There i...

Zoe Portlock is a Digital Accessibility Expert who established and now leads Accessibility for the UKs biggest investment platform. Zoe also writes about digital accessibility for Scope. Her work and advocacy is informed by her lived experience. She is autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic, has Irlen Syndrome, M.E/CFS and fibromyalgia. Zoe is a tenacious advocate for all people with access needs, driven t...

Holly Tuke is the author behind the award-winning blog Life of a Blind Girl. She is registered blind due to a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity, and she also has ME/CFS. Holly was named as one of the top 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list in 2018 and 2019. She also won the Social Media Influencer of the Year award at the 2019 RNIB S...

Victoria is an award winning adaptive designer, disability advocate, speaker and writer. She has spent the past 14 years working as a garment technologist in the fashion industry before becoming disabled in her mid 20’s and has a variety of gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal conditions. This is what led to her founding Unhidden, a socially responsible universally designed fashion range for peopl...