Peanut Butter Falcon: Disability, Sport, and Independence with Stephanie Rovetti

Today, we have an incredible guest—Stephanie Rovetti, a 🥉 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist in rugby and soon-to-be occupational therapist! We share an exciting, hilarious, and deeply emotional discussion about the powerful film Peanut Butter Falcon (now streaming on Netflix), starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, and Zack Gottsagen. Stephanie’s connection to this film is personal—her brother, like Zack’s character, has Down syndrome. This makes our conversation even more meaningful as we explore themes of family, identity, empowerment, and overcoming societal limitations.

In this episode, we dive into Stephanie’s journey in rugby, where she opens up about her Paris Olympics experience, the challenges of injuries and mental health, and her emotional decision to retire (even though we try to convince her otherwise!). We also discuss her path to becoming an occupational therapist, why she chose this field, and her passion for working with children. She shares her vision for empowering individuals with disabilities and the importance of fostering independence rather than overprotection.

As we analyze Peanut Butter Falcon, we explore one of its most emotional scenes—the moment when Zack’s character says, “I’m the bad guy.” We unpack the deep impact of this statement, discussing how many people, especially those with disabilities, internalize feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt due to societal conditioning. This leads to a broader conversation on self-worth, imposter syndrome, and how we all struggle to see ourselves as the hero of our own story. Another pivotal moment in the film challenges the way disabled individuals are treated—are we truly helping when we protect them, or are we holding them back? Stephanie reflects on her own struggles with balancing love, protection, and independence when it comes to her brother.

We also highlight a key takeaway from the film about facing fears and embracing life’s experiences. There’s a moment when the characters nearly die, and the response is, “Well, at least it’ll make a good story.” This sparks a profound discussion on how hardships, loss, and even humor shape our lives, making us stronger and more resilient. Beyond the film, we explore the unique ways neurodivergent and disabled individuals express love and connection. Sometimes, it’s through sharing a special interest, sometimes through actions rather than words—but it’s always real and meaningful.

We encourage you to check out Stephanie’s journey—she’s an incredible sister, future OT, and an all-around inspiring human. Tune in, laugh, cry, and experience this powerful conversation with us!

Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ Join your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec, as we process some key scenes to help you better understand your emotions and maybe even find some validation in them.

To find our new guest: Steph Rovetti

https://www.instagram.com/steph_rovetti/

https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/stephanie-rovetti-1128687

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Attention

0:54 Sponsorship

1:57 Intro

7:59 Scenes

18:42 Discussion

You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/different_spectrums

⚠️ Reminder: Our podcast isn’t a substitute for therapy. If you need help, please seek professional assistance or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911 in case of an emergency.

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