Episode 0 | An overview and Acknowledgement of Country

Conversations have always been great drivers of change. That’s why we are so excited to launch a new CPA podcast that features conversations between some great minds, thinking differently about how we change expectations, attitudes and culture around some of today’s biggest disability issues: ableism, accessibility, visibility, and inclusion.

Season one features Nadia Badawi, Iona Novak, Bronya Metherall, Pete Horsley and Alistair McEwan chatting with Tracey Spicer, Tara Moss, Naomi Simson, and Rae Johnston. We’ve also asked some wonderful Australians with lived experience of cerebral palsy to share their stories with us, including Hannah Diviney, Emily Dash, Lia Sintras, Arran Keith, Joe Darcy, and  Marley Lyras-Hull!

Cerebral Conversations is coming soon! Tell your friends, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  

Episode Transcript

S1 (00:00):
We'd like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of
the land on which we're recording in Australia. We'd also
like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on
which you're listening to us. And we'd like to pay
our respects to elders past and present.
Hello, I'm Andy McLean, and I'm Ben McAlary.

(00:23):
Together, we're hosting a brand new podcast series called Cerebral Conversations.

S2 (00:28):
And so, Andy, tell us, what's that going to be
all about?

S1 (00:31):
Well, we think the time's right for a big disability moment.
We've seen movements like #MeToo and #Black Lives Matter have
a massive impact in terms of changing expectations and attitudes
and culture. And I guess what we're really thinking is
that disability is one of the last bastions of discrimination
feels like we're on the cusp of a huge movement
for inclusion, advocacy and accessibility in this space.

S2 (00:55):
And I'm just thinking recently the Paralympians have led that
worldwide campaign to change attitudes towards disability with the hashtag
#WeTheFifteen movement, representing the one point two billion people around
the world living with a disability.

S1 (01:13):
Yeah. And then you've got companies like Nike and IKEA
out there who are creating accessible products. So it's really
starting to feel like we're gathering some momentum.

S2 (01:22):
Feels like the perfect time, actually, for Cerebral Palsy Alliance
to launch this brand new podcast. For this first season,
we've asked some great minds to think differently about some
of the biggest disability issues, like advocacy, inclusion, innovation, research,
and so much more.

S1 (01:42):
Yeah, and the podcast includes people like Tara Moss, Rae Johnston.
We've got Naomi Simpson and Tracey Spicer, a whole bunch
of disability advocates, and importantly, a whole bunch of people
living with cerebral palsy themselves, tackling all kinds of topics.
We look at ableism, disability, visibility in society, including movies

(02:02):
and Disney princesses. Such amazing and powerful stories.
To find out what can happen when great minds think
differently about redefining the impossible. Listen to cerebral conversations, but
don't take our word for it. Here's just some of
the voices you'll hear.

S3 (02:20):
I met cerebral palsy when I was four years old.
Her name was Luisa and she was my best friend.

S4 (02:27):
I really do believe that that we are missing out
when we're not harnessing the the creativity, the problem solving skills,
the ingenuity of people with disability,
The visibility of disabled people in relationships or disabled people
being parents or that kind of thing like that sort

(02:48):
of visibility is very helpful for me in kind of
combating against my insecurities around whether I can have that,
whether that's like in the future for me.
I think that there is still shame around disability. I
think there's that ableism is a major factor, and that's

(03:09):
mostly informed by myth. And, you know, just so a
lack of understanding.
Just because we have a disability doesn't mean we can't
do everything that everyone else can do. We still have
the same hopes, dreams, goals as everyone knows.

S5 (03:25):
Don't limit yourself because you think, you know, you can't
do something because of your disability. I did that for
many years, and I've just pushed my way through that
and thought, no, I'm not going to let that stop
me anymore.

S6 (03:38):
I don't think the doctors knew that because they knew
what was happening. But we never saw that before, that
you're on the ed end of end of life. And
next of all, it's OK. She's doing what we were
told couldn't be done.

S3 (03:51):
In Australia, w e can do ethical safe as can be, best
research on stem cells and other therapies that parents are
crying out for.

S7 (04:02):
It seems to me when society focuses its attention on something,
it wants change. Things move fairly quickly and governments listen.
Is there still, to a degree a discriminatory and bigoted attitude
towards people with a disability?

S3 (04:17):
Life is like eating an icecream. It's often difficult, sometimes messy, but always enjoyable if you can find the sweetness in it.
Cerebral Conversations is coming soon. So tell your friends and
make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you
get your podcast from.