Episodes

  • Austin Halls On Finding The Beauty And Power Of Disability Through Music

    Austin Halls On Finding The Beauty And Power Of Disability Through Music
    Jan 13 2026
    In this week’s episode I sat down with Austin Halls. Austin is a singer, storyteller, and motivational figure born with Moebius Syndrome, using music, fashion, and psychology to redefine self-expression and visibility. He’s the first person with Moebius Syndrome to walk New York Fashion Week and creates empowering dance-pop that turns disability into celebration. We discuss the healing and expressive power of music, leaning into authenticity the beauty of advocacy, how living in New York City has made the impossible possible and much, much more.This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠.Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠Follow Austin: Instagram: @theaustinhalls TikTok: @austinhalls Spotify: Austin Halls YouTube: @AustinHalls Website: https://www.austinhalls.comFollow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ezra Frech On How Perceptions Can Change Through The Power Of Sport, His Career-Defining Photo Finish And The "Invisible Class" Campaign

    Ezra Frech On How Perceptions Can Change Through The Power Of Sport, His Career-Defining Photo Finish And The "Invisible Class" Campaign
    Jan 6 2026
    In this week’s episode I sat down with Ezra Frech. Ezra Frech is a 20 year-old 2x Paralympian from Los Angeles who competes in the T63 100M, Long Jump, and High Jump. He recently won gold in both the 100M and High Jump, and placed 5th in Long Jump at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Ezra is an accomplished athlete, advocate, model, motivational speaker, and 2024 and 2025 ESPY Nominee whose goal is to normalize disability on a global scale by elevating the Paralympic Movement. We discuss his journey to the starting line in Paris, how the Paralympics have changed perceptions of disability, those moments in life where you know you your life is about to change, the realities of traveling while disabled and his work with Ottobock’s Invisible Class campaign and much, much more.This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠.Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠Follow Ezra: Instagram: @ezrafrech TikTok: @ezrafrechLearn More About ⁠Ottobock⁠ and ⁠The "Invisible Class" Campaign⁠ Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    53 mins
  • Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird On Writing The Stories Our Younger Selves Could Only Dream Of Reading

    Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird On Writing The Stories Our Younger Selves Could Only Dream Of Reading
    Dec 23 2025
    In this week’s episode I sat down with Niamh Ni Hoireabhaird. Niamh is a disability journalist from Ireland. Having been featured in publications like the Guardian, HuffPost, the Journal, the Irish Independent and the Women's Media Center, Niamh’s work seeks to highlight and raise awareness of national and international disability issues.. We discuss disability as a practice, society not wanting disabled people to take up space, and our refusal to listen, becoming a journalist and writing stories for everyone through a disabled lens and much, much more.This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠.Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠Join The Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠Follow Niamh: Instagram: @niamhnih TikTok: @niamhnih Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/niamh-ni-hoireabhairdFollow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Tori Calamito On Oz, Wicked: For Good, And What Defines A Munchkin

    Tori Calamito On Oz, Wicked: For Good, And What Defines A Munchkin
    Dec 16 2025
    In this week’s episode I sat down with Tori Calamito. Tori, Oz historian and content creator, is a life-long Oz fan who has been collecting Oz memorabilia for 28 years and has been posting about Oz online for 20 years. Tori is a multi-platform content creator and a trusted source for all things Oz. “The Oz Vlog” has helped connect fans and collectors around the world through the wonders of social media. We discuss disability in The Land Of Oz and Wicked: For Good, the parallels between Oz and the real world, what defines a Munchkin and who is, or isn’t, one, and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠City Harvest⁠ and ⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠.Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠Join The Patreon: https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUpFollow Tori: Instagram: @theozvlog TikTok: @theozvlog YouTube: Tori .Calamito Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theozvlogFollow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠https://wck.org⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Jillian Curwin On Redefining Feeling Seen And Being Seen

    Jillian Curwin On Redefining Feeling Seen And Being Seen
    Dec 9 2025
    In this week's episode it is just me and the microphone. With the chapter that was the year 2025 coming to an end, and 2026 just around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to unpack and reflect. I went into this year with plans and expectations that quickly and quite often had to be altered, in both good ways and bad. And those experiences have made an impact on my body, physically, mentally, emotionally, and have both enabled and empowered me to redefine what it means, for me, to be a little person, a person with dwarfism, in an average-height world.All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between City Harvest and Food Bank For NYC.Join Always Looking Up on Substack: https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.comFollow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.orgWorld Central Kitchen: https://wck.orgNo Kid Hungry: https://www.nokidhungry.orgList Of NYC Food Pantries: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.pageSupport Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    19 mins
  • Hillary Wool On Being An Unrare Flower In A World Not Designed To See Our Beauty

    Hillary Wool On Being An Unrare Flower In A World Not Designed To See Our Beauty
    Nov 25 2025
    In this week’s episode I sat down with Hillary Wool. Hillary is a disabled business strategist, model, and advocate reshaping how we think about ambition, style, and wellness for chronically ill and disabled women. As a partner at Boston Consulting Group, she led global research on the disabled workforce experience, which was covered in outlets including The New York Times and Forbes. She has also modeled in national campaigns with Target and Marshalls. Online, she shares her disability journey living with ankylosing spondylitis and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, including intentional style and adaptive fitness. We discuss being a disabled woman at the intersection of style and advocacy, good girl grief, navigating between what’s right with our bodies and what’s right for our careers and much, much more.All proceeds from purchasing this episode on my Patreon will be split between City Harvest and Food Bank For NYC. Join The Patreon: ⁠HERE⁠Follow Hillary: Instagram: @hilla_rose TikTok: @hilla_roseFollow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All episodes are edited and produced by Ben Curwin.Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Lindi Marcusen On Finding Her Own Path To The Paralympics And Defending The Right To Travel While Disabled

    Lindi Marcusen On Finding Her Own Path To The Paralympics And Defending The Right To Travel While Disabled
    Nov 18 2025
    In this week’s episode of Always Looking Up I sat down with Lindi Marcusen. Lindi is a Paralympic sprinter and long jumper whose journey began after surviving a catastrophic accident in 2017 that resulted in the loss of her right leg and a traumatic brain injury. A former high-level gymnast, Lindi turned to adaptive sports during her recovery, finding purpose and power through competition. Now a 5x national champion and 100 meter American record holder, she represented the USA in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, proving that resilience and determination can redefine what’s possible. We discuss her Paralympic journey that started with learning to walk again, traveling while disabled, the structural and societal barriers that are put in place, and how she is working to dismantle them and much, much more. All proceeds from purchasing this episode on my Patreon will be split between City Harvest and Food Bank For NYC. Join The Patreon: HEREFollow Lindi: Instagram: @lindi.marcusen TikTok: @lindimarcusenLearn More About Ottobock and The "Invisible Class" Campaign Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All episodes are edited and produced by Ben Curwin.Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠https://wck.org⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    1 hr
  • Selene Luna On The Mask Put Upon Little People And The Power That Comes From Taking It Off

    Selene Luna On The Mask Put Upon Little People And The Power That Comes From Taking It Off
    Nov 11 2025
    In this week’s episode I sat down with Selene Luna. Selene is an actress and producer hailed by The New York Times as “a polished spitfire.” A magnetic live performer, she’s toured extensively alongside Margaret Cho and Dita Von Teese. We discuss the mask people with dwarfism are often forced to wear, the moment in her career where she was able to take the mask off, creating a character such as Soledad on Mayans M.C. and much, much more.All proceeds from purchasing this episode on my Patreon will be split between City Harvest and Food Bank For NYC. Join The Patreon: HEREFollow Selene: Instagram: @selene_luna Website: https://seleneluna.comFollow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.orgWorld Central Kitchen: https://wck.orgNo Kid Hungry: https://www.nokidhungry.orgList Of NYC Food Pantries: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.pageSupport Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf⁠
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    1 hr and 13 mins