In this episode of Remaking Normal, Alexander Freeman sits down with disability advocate, educator, and storyteller Andrew Gurza to explore the complex intersections of disability, sexuality, and queer identity.

Andrew is a powerful voice within the disability and LGBTQ+ communities, known for his candid work around dismantling stigma, challenging ableist misconceptions, and helping people reclaim their bodies and desires with pride. Through his advocacy, writing, and public speaking, Andrew highlights the lived truths that often go unspoken: that disabled people are sexual beings, that queer identity and disability coexist in dynamic and vibrant ways, and that embracing these realities requires both personal courage and societal change.

His work has been featured on BBC, CBC, Daily Xtra, Gay Times UK, Huffington Post, The Advocate, Everyday Feminism, Mashable, Out.com, and several anthologies. He was the subject of an award-winning National Film Board of Canada Documentary “Picture This." Andrew has guested on a number of podcasts including Dan Savage’s Savage Love and Cameron Esposito’s Queery. He has spoken all over the world on sex, disability and what it means to be a Queer Cripple.

Together, Alexander and Andrew dive into what it means to live at the crossroads of disability, sexuality, and queerness — discussing his experience with intimacy with sex workers, running a sex party for the disabled community in 2015 in Toronto, and starting the disabled sex toy company, Bump’n.

https://www.andrewgarza.com

Find out about my documentary "My Own Normal" at https://myownnormalmovie.com and consider working with me on a feature film by visiting my production company Outcast Productions LLC at https://www.outcast-productions.com. Subscribe to the Outcast Productions LLC YouTube Channel @OUTCASTPRODUCTIONSCo and follow @realalexanderfreeman on Instagram.

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In this episode of Remaking Normal, Alexander Freeman explores how the way we speak — our voices, accents, and tone — shapes how the world perceives us, and how deeply speech connects to identity and belonging.

Alexander sits down with Ariela Quetant, a Boston-based speech and voice coach and founder of Sound Your Best, a private coaching practice that helps clients refine communication, confidence, and authenticity. Through her work, Ariela provides private instruction in accent modification, gender-affirming voice, and professional speaking skills, blending science and empathy to help individuals align the way they sound with who they truly are.

With a background in Communication Sciences and Disorders and ongoing Vocology studies, Ariela brings both technical expertise and human understanding to the art of communication. Together, she and Alexander dive into how speech influences perception — how a voice can shape someone’s sense of credibility, gender, or even “normalcy” — and how embracing vocal diversity challenges cultural biases about what a “normal” voice should sound like.

https://www.tosoundyourbest.com

Find out about my documentary "My Own Normal" at https://myownnormalmovie.com and consider working with me on a feature film by visiting my production company Outcast Productions LLC at https://www.outcast-productions.com. Subscribe to the Outcast Productions LLC YouTube Channel @OUTCASTPRODUCTIONSCo and follow @realalexanderfreeman on Instagram.

Support the show