The IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast

Breaking Barriers: Disability, Theatre & Representation with Gracie McGonigal In this episode, Nicole sits down with actor Gracie McGonigal to dive into the world of theatre, disability, and what it really takes to make the industry more inclusive. From their childhood love of Wicked to the challenges of auditioning for roles that weren’t designed with disability in mind, they unpack the highs, the hurdles, and why real representation on and off stage matters.Gracie shares her journey navigating drama school auditions, the privilege of being a “passing” disabled person in the industry, and the moments that made her feel truly seen. Nicole reflects on her own experiences, the impact of visibility for younger generations, and the ways theatre is slowly (but not fast enough!) evolving.Key topics:✨ The power of representation in iconic roles✨ How audition opportunities differ for disabled actors✨ Why disabled creatives need to be in decision-making roles✨ The role of social media in amplifying change (and negativity)✨ Fighting for inclusivity in drama schools and beyondTheatre is changing, but there’s still work to do. If you care about representation, love the arts, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to push for progress, this is one you won’t want to miss.

In this conversation, Shelbee Clarke shares her journey as a pioneer in women's amputee football, discussing her role in the England Amputee Team and the team's fundraising efforts for the World Cup. She reflects on her personal battle with cancer, the impact of football on her life, and the importance of representation in sports for young girls with disabilities. Shelbee emphasises the growth of women's amputee football and the joy of coaching young players, highlighting the significance of creating a supportive community. Shelbee also shares her experiences and insights on adaptive football, the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability, and the importance of creating inclusive spaces for children. She discusses the rules of adaptive football, the training required to build confidence on crutches, and her journey from player to coach. Shelbee stresses the significance of community and support in sports, encouraging others to embrace their journeys and find their place in the world of football.

In this conversation, Nicole and Emily explore themes of vulnerability, addiction recovery, emotional healing, and the importance of community support for individuals with limb differences. They discuss the power of journaling as a tool for self-discovery and emotional processing, as well as the challenges of navigating heartbreak and triggers. Emily shares her journey of overcoming addiction and the tools she uses to cope with emotional pain, including writing and cold water swimming. The conversation also touches on the significance of community involvement, particularly with the charity REACH, and the impact of shared experiences on mental health. Emily promotes her upcoming writing course aimed at helping others heal through expressive writing which can be found at https://throughwriting.co.uk/home

Kayla Inman shares her journey of overcoming complex regional pain syndrome and making the decision to amputate her leg. She discusses the emotional experience of waking up without pain after the surgery and the challenges she faced in learning to walk again. Kayla also talks about her role as a disability advocate and the importance of creating a more accessible and inclusive world. She shares her experiences with running, playing sand volleyball, and starting a support group for individuals with limb differences. Kayla emphasizes the need for patience, education, and understanding in promoting inclusivity.

Megan Blunk, a gold medallist in wheelchair basketball, shares her experiences and insights on mental health, competition, and finding balance. She emphasizes the importance of staying focused, finding balance, and enjoying life while training. Megan discusses her struggles with mental health and the impact it had on her experience at the Paralympics. She also talks about the changes in representation and resources for athletes with disabilities, and the positive impact it has had on the team. Megan shares her journey of self-discovery and finding peace outside of sports. She highlights the challenges of navigating support systems and accessibility, and the turning point that led her to pursue wheelchair basketball and achieve success. In this conversation, Megan Blunk and Nicole discuss the journey of self-discovery and acceptance as individuals with disabilities. They talk about the challenges they face in society, including ableism and the pressure to be seen as inspirational. Megan shares her experience of being in a wheelchair and how representation and improved accessibility have made a positive impact. They also discuss the importance of understanding and managing mental health, including the effects of PMS. Megan emphasizes the need to slow down, take breaks, and be kind to oneself. They touch on the topic of accessible design and express the desire to have a future conversation dedicated to it.

Today Nicole and Shannon are joined by Disability Advocate, Designer and Author Victoria Jenkins to break down the topic of ableism. During their discussion they cover how to identify, address and overcome ableism in daily life whilst showing that once you know better you can do better.  check out Victoria's adaptive clothing brand unhidden over at @unhidden_clothing you can find Victoria over at @victoria_is_unhidden and for her 'Little book of ableism' visit www.unhiddenclothing.com This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion.

Today Nicole is joined by Ambassador and Koalaa Limb Buddy Sarah Fisher to talk about the incredible challenge she is taking on in 2023!  They talk about everything from Training, Prosthetics and growing up with a limb difference.  Follow Sarah over at @singlehandlyntw to join her and Woody on their adventures! 

Today, Nicole is joined by Koalaa founder Nate Macabuag to talk about his journey from attempting to create a prosthetic as a university project to being nominated for Forbes 30 under 30 for his work in creating a whole new approach to prosthetics.  Check out @koalaacommunity for more on his teams work

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. In this episode Shannon is joined by fellow Support Committee member Liz to talk all things prosthetics. Liz talks of her experiences with prosthetics growing up, her role at Open Bionics and her Hero Arm!  You can check out Liz's Hero Arm experiments over at @bionicfizzy. You can also find Open Bionics over at @openbionics

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. This Friday Nicole was joined my Vanessa, IAP Ambassador and Mother of two.  Vanessa recently shared an open letter to the doctor who advised her to terminate her pregnancy with her youngest daughter Ivy after the 20 week scan highlighted that Ivy would be born with congenital limb differences. During this episode Vanessa reads aloud her poignant letter, unpacks the situation further and shares her approach to advocating for Ivy moving forward.  There was laughter, tears and a guest appearance of Ivy herself!  To see more of Vanessa's journey follow her over at @vanessamcleod_ To read Vanessa's letter visit https://iampossiblefoundation.co.uk/the-iap-blog/f/to-the-doctor-who-told-me-to-terminate-my-pregnancy 

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. Today Shannon is joined by Wolfgang Kern, a film maker who experienced an accident at work that resulted in an acquired limb difference. He shares his story, the impact on his mental health and both Shannon and Wolfgang find similarities in their limb difference journeys. You can find Wolfgang over at @woifi_film Check out his podcast over at @translatinglovepodcast

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. This week producer and author Danny Jordan talks to Nicole about his journey from TV producer to inclusive childrens author, his promise to his wonderful daughter Emerson and the importance of representation in the media.  We hear more about his first book 'Rae's First Day' which was released at the beginning of April.  Danny also gives us the inside scoop on what's next for The Capables and we cannot wait! There was laughter and tears but one thing is for sure - Danny has so much passion for advocating, being an ally and creating a world where children can see themselves as the hero of the story! Find Danny Jordan on Instagram @dannyjordan & Follow @thecapables for more updates on The Capables Series. 

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. Todays guest is The Great British Bake off star and Channel 4 Presenter Briony May Williams! She talks to Shannon about her experience in the public eye, representation of disability in the media, how to manage negative comments and disability as an identity.  You wont want to miss this one!  Go follow Briony over on instagram - @bryonybakes Check out The IAMPOSSIBLE Community - @theiampossiblefoundation Visit www.iampossiblefoundation.co.uk for more on our work and how you can support our cause. 

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. Today Jessica Parham talks to Nicole about her book 'Good to be Me', the impact and conversations it is starting in households worldwide and the importance of inclusion and diversity in childrens literature.  She also gives us a some exciting news on her next project! You can follow Jessica on Instagram over at @goodtobemebook 

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. Today our Trustee Shannon Crossland talks to Ambassador Lily George about dating, assumptions and not being defined by her limb difference.  

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. Our Guest today is two time Paralympian, World & European Silver Medallist and Adaptive CrossFit athlete Jude Hamer. Jude started playing wheelchair basketball in 2007 and has played 2 Paralympic Games and 9 Championships. Today we talk about training for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, her journey from surgery to Rio 2016 and experiences around mental health. TW: We want to thank Jude for her open and honest discussion around her mental health and put a trigger warning at the start of the episode for those listening that may be impacted by discussions around depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

This is the IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast bringing together experts, scientists, Paralympians, adaptive sports professionals, authors and disability advocates to talk all things Limb difference, disability and inclusion. Today our Founder Nicole talks to Trustee Shannon crossland about her journey to becoming a influencer within the disability community. In 2019 Shannon started using her Instagram account as a platform to share her journey to body confidence. She joined the IAP team shortly after and over the last 2 years has become a strong and positive voice within the community. She has been featured in publications worldwide from METRO to Forbes whereby she has raised awareness around limb differences and held society accountable for its current treatment of those deemed as different. In 2020 Shannon joined us as a Trustee at IAMPOSSIBLE and is leading the development of the Support Committee.

Nicole Brennan, Founder of The IAMPOSSIBLE Foundation, talks about The IAMPOSSIBLE Podcast which debuts on March 26th 2021.