Disability Episodes

As the hosts of the Othering Podcast, Mike and Dory advocate for marginalized communities. Their podcast provides a platform where neurodivergent, disabled and LGBTQ+ people can share their stories. During this episode, you will hear Dory and Mike talk about: Why they started the Othering Podcast, and how they came up with the name of the show Sharing their own lived experiences of neurodivergence and disability on their podcast How they select their podcast guests and topics Why...

Jasmine Williams-Jacobs is the founder and director of Black Remote She, a community-driven platform for Black queer, trans, non-binary, disabled people and allies interested in working and connecting remotely. Black Remote She connects community members to remote-flexible job postings at equitable work cultures, as well as to liberatory networks, mutual aid support and gender-affirming resources as tools for economic empowerment. Black Remote She has been recognized in numerous publications,...

A special crossover episode with Made For Us, a podcast that explores the intersection of innovation and inclusion.

Oliver James is a California-based personal trainer, motivational speaker, literacy activist, and influencer. He has been featured by Today, NPR, the Jennifer Hudson Show, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Rachael Ray, and ABC News, among many others. Additionally, he received the Barbara Bush National Literacy Award in 2023. Oliver is the author of "Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok." His book is about teaching himself to read starting at the age of 32, and his exper...

Justin Valenti is an artist and disability advocate. He enjoys creating artwork in his home studio and at the VisAbility Art Lab at VisArts in Rockville, Maryland. He is also the business owner of Artistic Expressions by Justin K Valenti, and has exhibited his artwork in Maryland, Virginia and California. Justin has been an advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since childhood. He has been on the Board of Directors for the Arc Maryland since 2020. During this...

Nieta and I discuss systemic challenges that disabled people face in the United States (e.g., in employment, healthcare, housing), how politics impacts those challenges, and the importance of increasing the disability community’s political power in the United States.

In this year-end solo episode, I celebrate some big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2025, highlight the variety of topics that my guests and I discussed on my podcast, and share what podcasting-related things I've been up to this year! I also reflect on several challenges that the neurodivergent and disability communities are facing in the United States, and share my focus for the year ahead. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript, which also cont...

Kellina Powell, known as the Deaf Queen Boss, is a podcast speaker, best-selling author, and passionate advocate for the deaf and disability communities. She empowers young adults with disabilities to chase their dreams, breaks down barriers around mental health, and educates others about deaf culture and inclusion. During this episode, you will hear Kellina talk about: What it was like for her to grow up deaf from an early age, and her exposure to deaf culture How she educates people ...

Caroline Mincks shares how their own experience with hearing loss in adulthood and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) inspired them to create the audio drama Seen and Not Heard, the importance of challenging misconceptions about deafness and OCD, and the impact of authentic disability representation in media.

Abbie Hills is a UK-based talent agent, producer, writer, and passionate disability advocate with cerebral palsy. Abbie founded The Dazey Hills Company in 2019 to promote diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, representing talent across the UK and Europe. Her writing has gained recognition with recent placements in film festivals, including the British Independent Film Festival, Lit Laughs, and the Palm Springs Diversity Screenplay Contest. In addition to her writing, Abbie wo...

In this year-end solo episode, I celebrate some big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2024. I also share my views on how major politicized social issues impact the disability community...

Aashna Parikh is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant and inclusive marketing specialist based in India. Living with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities, she has consulted and collaborated with Forbes-listed and Fortune 500...

Marisa Hamamoto is the first professional dancer to be named as one of People Magazine’s "Women Changing the World." Her award-winning nonprofit and professional dance company, Infinite Flow, employs disabled and nondisabled artists with a mission to foster inclusion. Marisa is also a stroke survivor who is autistic and has PTSD.

Ross K. Foad is a professional actor and voice artist in the United Kingdom. A second generation actor, he was just 18 months old when he made his acting debut, but would get his proper start in acting on the London comedy circuit as a stand up comic...

Jeremy Andrew Davis is a screenwriter, film director, and consultant for disability representation in media. He describes himself as multi-disabled with several neurodivergencies as well as chronic illnesses. As a recognized name in disability, he...

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and I'm excited to host my first podcast guest who is talking about Down syndrome! Mary Borman is an ambassador for Down syndrome and 2018 Self-Advocate of the Year for the National Down Syndrome Society...

Nadine Drummond is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker from London with roots in Jamaica. A former producer and reporter at CNN and Al Jazeera, she now develops media and content strategy for 14 African countries in her role at the United...

Noah Seback cannot speak -- however, he has a lot to say. Noah is a nonspeaking autistic young man with apraxia, which has made it impossible for him to communicate reliably for most of his life. Then, at the age of 16...

As a child, Ariel Henley's face was compared to a Picasso painting. This horrifying comment didn’t come from a schoolyard bully. It was written in a magazine article about Ariel and her experience growing up with Crouzon syndrome, a congenital...

For 25 years, Ruth Rathblott hid her limb difference. She doesn't hide it anymore. As she explained in her recent TEDx Talk: when she stopped hiding, she found freedom. Ruth has been a leader in nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years, with 15...

Ayanna Davis, also known as phenomenallyautistic on social media, is an autism advocate who was born & raised in Westchester County, New York. Along with being autistic, she has survived over 300 seizures, is living with chronic illnesses and has...

Travis Davis remembers the first time he realized the impact of sharing his story -- a simple lunchtime conversation that encouraged him to start talking about his life with cerebral palsy. Since that pivotal conversation, Travis has become a TEDx...

Margaux Wosk is a non-binary, autistic artist residing in Canada, and the owner of Retrophiliac, their own art business. They are bridging the gap between activism, advocacy and art to bring a message of acceptance to the world. During this episode,...

Julia Ward is an actor and filmmaker whose award-winning documentary, in.clu.sion, is raising awareness about the authentic representation of people with disabilities in the media. Julia is also a senior in high school, and filmed in.clu.sion during...