Born with Retinitis Pigmentosa a genetic degenerative eye condition Ben Akuoko at first struggled with what to do once he finished high school due to low vision but after taking the colour personality test Ben recognized that he wanted to help other individuals in need, feel properly understood through social work. On this episode join us as we share Ben's journey toward creating more representation within the disabled and African American community. To follow along on his journey or to check ou...

We all have a passion something we work hard to give others or achieve in life. On this episode grab a hot mug of your favourite beverage and join us as I chat with Opera singer, tea lover, and storyteller Robin Hahn as she shares her ten year journey to get a proper diagnosis of Hyper Mobile Elhers Danlos Syndrome, a unique look at how disabled individual performed in opera in the past, what she's doing on YouTube and so much more. To learn more about the genre of Opera click the links below. ...

Spreading happiness to everyone might sound like a huge and complicated task but its just another day at the office for John and Mark X. Cronin the creators and owners of John's Crazy Socks the world's largest sock store. On this episode John and Mark share their journey from John competing in the Special Olympics at the age of five to the creation of John's Crazy Socks to the importance of providing opportunities for other disabled individuals to work as Sock Wranglers, the creation of the firs...

No matter how old people get, no matter what we experience we all have made mistakes hopefully learned from them and become better people along the way. On this week's episode I sit down with Adam Gunton as he shares his journey of drug addiction and homelessness to his meeting with Jesus Christ and IHOP, to the creation of Recovered On Purpose his non profit organization, his best selling novel From Chains to Saved, and his helping other treatment centres through Behavioural Health Partners. If...

The lessons taught to us by are parents and our relationship with them helps us form the choices we make later on. Monica Patrice Wallace spent two decades as a middle school guidance councillor helping students develop a healthy thought process in class think well work well so to speak. On This episode Monica Patrice Wallace shares her story as a councillor, her healing journey recovering from a family death, the recognition of toxic behaviours in her own relationship, and what you should and s...

Growing up the farmers daughter Kate Kelly enjoyed many tasty home cooked meals. Due to a lack portion control and unfortunate school bullying Kate developed a negative image of herself and became bulimic and would later on be diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. On this episode Kate Kelly takes us on her two decades long journey of self discovery while working as a functional nutritionist, we discuss the different between self loving and self loathing through what we eat, how everyone's body respond...

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders that can cause seizures and other health issues. David Jensen struggled in school as a result of seizures and was later diagnosed with ADHD. On this episode find out how David despite his heath issues has gone on to start multiple ventures from his own clothing brand, ground coffee, the Buds and Brews Podcast and more all with help of his strong work ethic inspired by his mom and different strains of cannabis one to relax and one to enhance the effec...

Major life changes such as the passing of a loved one, moving, or receiving a major diagnosis can be difficult to process. To deal with major change you may need to find an outlet or, coping strategy, on this episode join us for a conversation with art therapist Jackie Schuld as she shares her journey from becoming a therapist to her late in life diagnosis of Autism/ADHD her written and illustrative works and the messy but necessary parts of art, phycology and processing emotions. To check out J...

Despite loosing his sight at a young age Kyle Coon has always had a desire to test the limits of adventure and athletics from running, to rock climbing and amateur wrestling. On this episode Kyle Coon shares his story of meeting Erik Weihenmayer the first blind person to climb mount Everest, being inspired him to compete as a Para Triathlete, becoming a two time Paralympian placing 8th in the 2024 games. The process behind writing his book Discovering A Life Without Limits and so much more. T...

Well! we made it to 100 episodes of the Sit Down Stand Out show. to celebrate this millstone on this episode I bring on one of my broadcasting mentors Chris Koppin who's 3 decade long broadcasting career continues to excite and entertain listers of CKDO Durham's Classic Hits you'll hear about the importance of show prep, being authentic in interviews and some just funny memories we share. We here at the Sit Down Stand Out Show Podcast and Rollingdragonmedia want to thank all of our guests and li...

Since 2009 Tiffany Yu has been working towards creating opportunities and growing the disabled community through events and employment opportunities. On this our 100 episode we hear Tiffany's story from becoming disabled at age 9, her career in investment banking, how her community and organization Diversability grew four times its original size during the Covid-19 Pandemic and the creation of her new book The Anti-Ableist Manifesto Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability...

Born with Cerebral Palsy , from a young age Aleem Jaffar always wanted to created positive changes around him from discussing environmental issues, writing articles about the dangers of drunk driving, to his current work as a job developer. On this episode as an early recognition of World Cerebral Palsy Day join us to hear about what it's like as a job developer, his time on the CBC Gem show Push and so much more. To Follow Aleem o his journey click the links below. https://www.instagram.com/...

CMT or Charcot Marie Tooth Disease is a rare neurological genetic condition that affects 1 in every 2500 people or 15000 Canadians at the time of writing. Victoria Berezovich struggle with a number of challenges from trying to get a diagnosis of CMT to two spinal fusion surgeries to the mental challenge that people with all disabilities face finding individuals with similar who can support and understand us in our struggles. Join me on this episode as Victoria shares her story of meeting familie...

If you know the story Cinderella you know that emotional and physical abuse can take a tremendous toll on a person's confidence. Ashley Lawrence for many years struggled to raise four children while being a victim of domestic violence once she was able to get out of that situation she discovered Miss Wheelchair USA a charity organization that hosts beauty pageants to raise money for necessary items for those disabilities since 1997. on this episode enjoy a story of confidence rebuilding, new cha...

Trigger Warning: September is Suicide Prevention month Despite working for large organizations such as Warner Bros, Walt Disney at the age of 19 Gina Cavalier struggled with Suicidal ideation or, thoughts of taking her own life on and off since childhood. On this episode we discuss how the modern convenances of wealthy countries may be the reason for high numbers of mental health issues. We also discuss the importance of remembering those whom have already passed away, why they took their own li...

We all have goals, dreams, and ambitions that we want to achieve in life for Bean Gill her goals were to make positive changes health wise in the lives of others and to have her own tv show, Both of these goals came true but, not in the way anyone expected, on this episode Bean shares her journey of becoming paralyzed from the waist down due to Epstein Barr Virus her emotional and physical recovery, to the development of the ReYu Paralysis Recovery Center, and the creation of the CBC documentary...

Ray Charles, Steve Wonder and Deshaymond all of these individuals are musicians whom have had to overcome adversity to achieve there dreams in music. On this episode Deshaymond shares his journey from growing up in Growing up in Coonville, a rural, impoverished, neighbourhood that sits on the outskirts of Lafayette,Louisiana, studying music since the age of 5, to loosing his sight in 2015 do to Optic Atrophy and almost giving up on life itself to creating his first album "I Am its a true story o...

Rebecca Rubin Seligson has always loved writing and working with children but when her son was born and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy she struggled as a young parent and not finding much disability representation in the media at the time. Rebecca created Wheellustrated Tales in 2021 to write and publish picture books with the goal of normalizing disabilities in children’s literature. Despite disabilities making life challenging at times Rebecca is a true example of a hard working parent that giv...

Life is full of interesting relationships some are strictly business between your boss and your coworkers others are more personal like the relationship parents and their children have. For Danny West over the last 3 decades as a physical therapist working with patience who have suffered spinal or traumatic brain injuries the relationship he has with his patients depends on how much effort the patients are willing to put into the journey. On this episode join us for Danny's journey from working ...

Ever since she was a little girl growing up in Glasgow Scotland Katie Anna McConnell has had two main passions classic Disney films and preforming in musical theatre. Life has a strange way of putting barriers in front of us for Katie that barrier came in the form of a genetic condition that left Physically disabled, Chronically ill and Neurodivergent. On this episode Katie shares how she continues to preform in musical theatre despite these challenges, how she met and fell in love with her assi...

If you want something bad enough how hard are you willing to work for it? Kilo House wanted to be involved in music since the age of fourteen. Despite the challenges of Cerebral Palsy Kilo House has always worked hard to create music that he himself would enjoy whether as a band member or a studio producer. On This episode we hear Kilo House's journey from working to improve the use of his legs to play the drums, to the development of his most recent musical piece Prince of Darkness to check out...

Life is about memories and moments the moment you take your first steps, score your first goal, or in the case of our guest the moment your discover your true passion. Daniel Romero first fell in love with broadcasting thanks to a toy FM microphone at the age of six and since then despite being blind Daniel has spent his 17 year career saying yes to many opportunities including playing base guitar for the group Midair Decision. on this episode we discuss everything from creating accessibility in...

The music business is a difficult industry to enter regardless of age, ethnicity, or background now imagine putting a mental health challenge or disability on top of it. I sit down with Arthur Gwynne the operations manager for an organization called RAMPD or Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities as we discuss how the origination has grown over the last three years from an idea by Preforming artist Lachi to an organization that continues create accessible events, work with a...

The phrase Don't Think it ink it was coined by Mark Victor Hansen the founder and co creator for the Chicken Soup for The Soul book series. Our guest Caitie Brianna has used her love of drawing and tattooing as the chicken soup for her soul for the last 15 years and is now opening up her first shop Bone and Lilly Tattoo in Knoxville, Tennessee in July. Hear Caitie's unique journey growing up in Virginia, living with undiagnosed Autism and ADHD for years, her influences in the industry such as he...