November 15, 2024 • 47 mins
In this episode of Embrace It, Estela and Lainie welcome Jessica Jordan Ping, aka “The Rolling Explorer.” Jessica is a fierce advocate, adaptive fashion consultant, and creator who’s made it her mission to break down stereotypes about disability. Living with CHILD syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting fewer than 60 people worldwide, Jessica brings a fresh perspective on what it means to truly “own it”—from the world of fashion to the challenges of travel, dating, and beyond.
With humor and raw honesty, Jessica shares why she decided to embrace her uniqueness and put herself out there on social media, how she tackles accessibility issues on her travels, and why it’s so important to cut through the pity and just live life on your own terms. From her adventures in adaptive rock climbing to her memorable White House appearance, Jessica proves that representation doesn’t have to fit a mold. Listen in for a conversation that’s both real and refreshing, and discover why Jessica’s motto of “owning it” is an invitation for everyone to live a little more authentically.
- Learn more about The Rolling Explorer
- Follow Jessica on Instagram & TikTok
- Book an EmBRACE It Workshop
- Looking for more great tips, hacks, and blog posts? Visit: Trend-Able.com
- Find more on Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) and patient resources at: HNF-cure.org
- Follow us on IG! @embraceit_podcast | @trend.able | @cmtwegotthis
Hosted by Lainie Ishbia and Estela Lugo.
Embrace It is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 2 (00:03):
Welcome to the Embrace it series, where women
with all types of disabilitiescan be real, resourceful and
stylish.
With each episode, you'll walkor roll away with everyday tips,
life hacks and success storiesfrom community leaders and
influencers.
So take off your leg braces andstay a while with Lainey and
Estella.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Hi, I'm Lainey and I have CMT, and I'm Estella and I
also have CMT a neuromusculardisorder affecting approximately
2.6 million people worldwide.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
That's as many as MS.
We believe disabilities shouldnever get in the way of looking
or feeling good.
Both of us wear leg braces andhave learned through our own
personal journeys to embrace it.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Brought to you by Launchpad 516 Studios.
Each episode is designed tochallenge your own stigmas and
beliefs around disability.
We want our listeners to getthe most value for their time
spent with us, so we interviewsome of the most empowering
disability badasses in the world.
Through storytelling, personalexperiences and tips, we're all
reminded of our own strengthsand endless potential.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
For more information and exclusive resources, check
out our websites attrend-ablecom and hnf-cureorg,
and don't forget to hit thesubscribe button for future
episodes and special promos.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the
Embrace it podcast.
So excited for our guest today.
Hey Lainey, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Hi, Estella, we're recording this everyone.
I don't know when this is goingto come out, but I just saw
your Halloween costume lastnight, Estella.
You nailed it.
You went as Forest Gump and and.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Jenna.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, it was a great costume, so happy Halloween, or
belated.
Halloween people.
Happy Halloween or belatedHalloween people.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yes, it's my favorite holiday.
I love to just, you know, nottake myself so seriously and
it's creative.
You can make costumes, dress up, be silly, act like a child,
which are, you know, right up myalley, and you and Howard were
elf right, you were elf and Iforgot her name, but that's who
I was from the Will Ferrellmovie.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Because my husband, although we're Jewish, is super
into Christmas and Halloween.
But I have to say that you knowwhat and we're going to get to
our amazing guest.
But I was really proud ofmyself.
Halloween.
What I like about it, or what Iused to like about it as a
younger person, is you got to belike super sexy, like almost
like a stripper, and it didn'tmatter because it was Halloween
(02:47):
and this was the first year.
I was like all covered up.
I was in my little elf costumeand a couple of my girlfriends
are like you look so sexy.
I'm like that goes to show youthe more you cover up, you know,
the more More.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Anyways, yeah, more to the imagination.
I felt a little dowdy, but yeah, you looked great.
And speaking of fashion, we haveour guest today who's
definitely knows a thing or twoabout fashion.
Her name is Jessica Jordan Ping, aka.
She calls herself the RollingExplorer.
(03:23):
Oops, there is my New Yorkcoming out.
She calls herself the RollingExplorer.
Oops, there's my New Yorkcoming out.
She calls herself the RollingExplorer.
She is a creator, a speaker,writer, model actor, adaptive
fashion consultant, disabilityadvocate so much more.
She was born with childsyndrome, which is actually a
very rare genetic disorderaffecting only 60 people
(03:44):
worldwide, but Jessica hasreally turned her experience
into an incredible platform forchange and representation.
So welcome, Jessica Hi.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Jessica.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Hi, thank you so much for having me.
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
It's better to have you.
Before we went live here, I wassaying you know, like Estelle,
and I joke every time oh, wehave all these people and
everyone's inspiring andeveryone is like super
interesting, all these differentdisability advocates.
But Jessica, I could not stopwatching your reel.
It's like a teenager.
I was like how does she do that?
(04:21):
And they're so upbeat andyou're, I mean, we're going to
get to all of that with what youdo and your brand and your
social media content, which isamazing.
But before we go there, um,estella mentioned you have we're
born with child syndrome, avery rare condition.
Can you like give us a?
You know the one-on-one ofJessica.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Sure.
So I was born with childsyndrome, which affects about 60
people worldwide with skin andlimb deficiencies, so for me
that's actually a fairly mildcase, believe it or not, as I'm
missing a.
I have a shortened left arm andthen a shortened leg as well on
the left side, but it wasfurther amputated after birth,
(05:02):
so I was able to use aprosthetic instead of just
relying on a wheelchair all thetime, which has been really,
really great.
But yeah, I use variousdifferent mobility aids to get
around and hop around on onefoot and have a heck of a time
doing all of it.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, tell us a little bit about you know, just
growing up with this type ofdisability.
Obviously it's so rare.
What was your upbringing andfamily-like life?
You know?
Socially, how did you becomethis self-confident you know
badass woman just advocating outthere in the world.
How did that all come about?
Speaker 5 (05:41):
You know, it definitely didn't come about
easily and it didn't come aboutuntil really the last five to
six years, I would say, is whenI started to gain any sort of
confidence around my disabilityand being able to speak about it
and advocate around it.
Growing up, when I was a youngchild, I didn't see any
difference between me and mypeers.
(06:02):
I was just like I'm just a kid,I just want to have fun, I just
want to be accepted, I want torun around and be silly and get
into trouble and all the things.
But then as I got older andkids started treating me
differently, I think that waswhen it was like oh wait, I have
to now navigate how tointegrate myself into a social
situations.
And then I became more aware ofinaccessibility, and so each
(06:25):
time that I would face upagainst these different barriers
it would knock my confidence.
And I think by the time I got tocollege in particular, my
confidence was rock bottom.
I didn't really have a lot ofvalue in myself and I didn't
really see how I was ever goingto be accepted.
I just kind of was acceptingthe idea that this was how my
life was going to go.
So it was a tough time, but Ieventually sought out therapy,
(06:51):
started following other disabledcreators online and learning
about the community, learningthat I wasn't alone.
I may be one of 60 with myactual disease, but there are so
many people in the disabilitycommunity who are standing up
and speaking out for disabilityrights, and following their
journeys and hearing theirstories really made me realize
that hey, no, you matter, youcan take up space and it's okay.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Jessica, like, as I said, I mean I'm sounding like a
broken record.
I'm just blown away by you ingeneral and your energy and it's
like so contagious general andyour energy and it's like so
contagious One of the store whenyou're talking about you know
how you have struggled as a, youknow, young adult child.
I, I was like taken bysomething that I heard you
talking about with, like withoutyour prosthetic, I guess you
(07:36):
might not have had a prosthetic,or maybe you had one, but that
you were hopping around like a,like a prom, like just like,
like putting yourself indangerous situations that were
not good for you just to be andI'm using air quotes people like
normal right.
And so many of us can relate tothat, regardless if we're, you
know, people with, you know,missing limbs, or if we're
(07:59):
people with short-term retoothdisorder, the desire to just
kind of blend in.
And now, jessica, you're doinglike a 360.
You're definitely not blendingin, right, you're doing anything
, but You're busting every mythabout disability.
So obviously you'd hear a lotof, I'm assuming, dumb stuff
(08:22):
every day from people.
I mean, if Stella and I hearwhat's wrong with your foot for
limping, I would imagine thatyou've heard a lot.
So what is some ridiculousassumption that stood out to you
?
Speaker 5 (08:37):
I get in my comment section a lot that I'm faking my
disability and that I'm usingCGI to get views and to be
famous.
Essentially, wow, wow.
What is what is CGI?
It's like what um movie peopleuse.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Oh like.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
AI, oh wow.
Yeah.
Yeah that you're faking.
Having like a limb difference?
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
I think that's the most wild, because I don't know
who thinks I have that type ofmoney or time.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
You got some serious like editing skills going on
over there in the background.
Really need to change my resume.
I don't know what about like onan everyday basis Cause, like
Lainey said said, you know allthose interactions with
strangers and people that youmeet while you're, whether
you're filming a content whenyou're out advocating and doing
(09:33):
all of these events.
What are some of the thingsthat you're hearing and what are
those kind of conversations outin the quote unquote real world
?
Do people approach you?
What does that look like you?
You know the majority of time.
What has been your way ofhelping people?
Maybe bring awareness aboutdisability and all of that?
Speaker 5 (09:53):
I would say nine times out of 10,.
If I'm getting approached, it'susually along the lines of like
oh, I'm so impressed by you, oh, you're such an inspiration, oh
, I'll pray for you.
That sort of mentality whereit's just like they.
I think they think they'redoing it with good intention.
Right, that's the idea, and onething that I really try to do
(10:14):
in my advocacy is meet peoplewhere they are a little bit and
not fault them for ignorance andnot knowing.
And ignorance is not even meantto be like a rude or mean term
here.
It's just plain and simple theydon't have the knowledge or the
the, the awareness yet.
And so if they say that, um,sometimes if it depends on how
(10:35):
in a hurry I am I might just nodand be like thank you, and move
on about my day.
But if I have a minute to giveto it, I'll just be like oh,
like, not really, but like thankyou, and here's why but most of
the time it's probably just athank you and move on about my
day.
And then I bring it to theinternet and I'm like here's why
we don't just say that disabledpeople are inspirational for
(10:57):
trying to grab cheese off thetop shelf at the grocery store.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, that's, that's one of those like you're one of
your posts I mean, you guys whoare listening, you've got to
check out and we're obviouslygoing to put this all in the
show notes some of your socialmedia content and, um, because,
like one of them was, you'rejust so direct.
You're like, do not feel sorryfor me.
I think you have a backgroundof like a song that has the word
pity in it, like I don't, Idon't know, you know I'm, I
don't even know what song it is,probably like Taylor Swift,
(11:26):
which I'm going to this week.
I have no idea what she sings,but I don't know.
You have, like this major songin the background and you're
like, do not pity me, peoplewith disabilities do not need to
be pitied blah, blah, blah,blah, blah, and it's so direct
and it's so strong and it's solike amazing that you, you know,
describe yourself as being soinsecure and so, um, you know,
(11:48):
having so many challenges thatyou were that you've evolved
into this, this young woman,this person who is able to be
like in your face, like, but ina non-threatening, cool way, you
know, which I love about you.
So, jessica, moving forward, youstarted your blog, we're moving
backwards.
I guess I'm just so excited.
(12:09):
I'm all over as the place, asnormal, but you started your
blog, okay.
Oh wait, it's called theRolling Explorer during COVID,
is that right?
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Technically I started it the year prior, but I didn't
put a lot of effort into ituntil COVID.
That's correct.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Okay, and that's where everything started.
So can you tell us how thathappened?
What was your goal in startingthe Rolling Explorer?
What do you do with that partof your social media content now
?
Because it's very different.
You're so many things.
You're a travel blogger, butthen you're also a model.
You're also a disability, likean adaptive fashion designer.
(12:54):
You were at the White House.
I mean, we have a lot to cover,jessica.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
Listen, I have the privilege of just getting to
live my life as my career rightnow, which is kind of wild in
and of itself, so I feel veryblessed for that.
But I think when I started theblog I had no intention with it.
Really, I always say that itwas something that a mentor of
mine in my first job out ofcollege was telling me how to
(13:23):
become a storyteller.
I've always wanted to be awriter.
I always wanted to tell otherpeople's stories.
And he said that you know, it'sa really intense industry and
in order to stand out you'regoing to have to tell stories
every day.
And you might as well startwith your own through a blog.
And I didn't really think muchof it at the time, but I did go
(13:45):
home immediately that night.
I set up a website and I waslike all right, well, I have the
thing, I'll do the thing when Iwant to do the thing.
And I just kind of took itreally slow for that first year,
I would say.
And then, like I said, duringthe pandemic, I had all this
time on my hands and I wasunemployed.
I was looking to move to London.
I couldn't get over therebecause of visas and the
pandemic and everything that wasgoing on in the world, and so I
(14:08):
started writing all the timeand I started posting on social
media.
That was when TikTok wasblowing up.
I didn't get on TikTok duringthat big boom.
I only was focused on Instagramat the time because TikTok was
scary.
Wish I had missed opportunities.
But at the same time, you know,I was lucky enough that my
stuff did take off on Instagramand I kind of really leaned into
(14:30):
that and now it is what it isand I never I've never at any
point in time been like yes,this is where I think it's going
.
I could not have put on mybingo card that certain thing.
Like you mentioned the WhiteHouse.
That wasn't on my brain fouryears ago, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, I mean, it's pretty wild when you think about
and this is something thatLainey and I we talk about a lot
is that it's the story, it'sthe power of storytelling and
the power of sharing your storyand being vulnerable to the
world is what lights you up andwhat draws attention and makes
(15:08):
you magnetic and has all of theright people, you know, uh,
gravitating towards you and allof the empowerment that comes on
the other side of the screenthat you're probably not aware
of on an everyday basis.
The impact that you're havingon the next generation of people
living with disabilities and Iknow travel is a big part of
(15:29):
that.
What have you, what are some ofthe takeaways from your travels
as somebody with a disability?
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, you know, travel has been an interesting
space for me.
That's actually where theRolling Explorer came from.
I wanted it to be a travel blogbecause I feel like that
industry in particular is so notcatering to the disability
community right now still fouryears later and you know, a lot
of it has to do with lack ofeducation and lack of just
(16:02):
directness.
I feel like in communicationaround accessibility too, I
always say that if a hotel isnot accessible, I'd rather them
put it very clearly on theirwebsite.
I'm going to judge them a lotless if they're not accessible
and they put it on their websitethan if I book the hotel and I
stay there and then I can'taccess my room very easily.
That's going to be annoying.
(16:23):
But all of this is to say, youknow, as an amputee, I only
started traveling with myprosthetic leg For the first
time a couple of years ago.
Technically, when I studiedabroad in college, I did bring
my prosthetic, but I wore it oneday.
I was there for like four, fivemonths and I wore it one time.
(16:44):
I was there, so traveled allthe way to England for that.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So can I stop you Like?
Why is that Just I mean why?
Speaker 5 (16:52):
A big part of it is because I wasn't wearing my
prosthetic very frequently.
So I, when I was 10, took myprosthetic 12.
When I was 12, I took myprosthetic off and didn't really
put it back on again untilcollege.
Wow, I have a skin conditionthat comes along with the child
syndrome.
That makes wearing prostheticsincredibly painful, even to this
(17:13):
day.
I can tolerate it a bit morenow, but as a kid I was done.
I can tolerate it a bit morenow, but as a kid I was done.
I was in so much pain all thetime so I had to take it off.
And then in college I onlyreally wore it to work out.
I didn't wear it around toclasses.
I relied on my electricwheelchair pretty much the
entire time, and so when I'vebeen traveling, I've usually
used a manual wheelchair andwould rely on people that I was
(17:36):
traveling with to help me getaround.
And now, as a single adult, ithas become more clear that I
need some level of independence,and I crave that level of
independence.
And I can get that with myelectric wheelchair still, and I
have traveled with it in thepast but it is far more.
(17:57):
My prosthetic gives me far moreindependence, and so I have
leaned into traveling with thata lot more as of late.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
As far as like other countries go, what has been some
of your insights?
As far as traveling with adisability, are there any
countries that you were veryimpressed with their level of
accessibility versus others, andhow did that kind of reshape
your views of the US andaccessibility here?
Speaker 5 (18:25):
You know it's funny, I would say I used to complain
when I lived in England all thetime how inaccessible London is,
and it is a pretty inaccessibleplace, but compared to every
other country and like cityaround the world that I've been
to, it's pretty accessible atthe same time.
Uh, the tube and the bus systemaren't perfect by any means,
(18:46):
but they exist and most uhenough places are accessible
that you can get around a decenta bit and I think, because it's
also a walking city, thathelped a lot in terms of using,
like a wheelchair around thearea.
But one city I want to call out, it's not a global, it's not an
international city New YorkCity.
I've been there twice now inthe last month and it is bad,
(19:09):
it's very bad.
I'm not a fan of theaccessibility in New York at all
.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, no, I don't blame you.
I literally have PTSD from thesubway system when I went to
college at FIT and was commutinga few years after that.
It's very.
You know, we have a lot of workto do and you know, I think
that's part of the value thatyou bring as well to social
media is to show where thereneeds to be work, whether
(19:39):
they're restaurants or venues,what that looks like and how we
can do better.
Yeah, I mean, do you have anyparticular stories about, maybe,
a situation where you were in a, you know, in a rut, traveling,
and you had to kind of eitheradvocate for yourself or rely on
others to help you?
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Yeah, so when I was traveling with my choir in
college, we did a whole big tripto I think it was Spain.
We did like a big tour ofdifferent cities in Spain, took
a bus around and we flew fromBarcelona to Madrid on our final
day to eventually fly fromMadrid back home.
(20:17):
As we were disembarking theplane, I had the accessibility
team at the airport come up tome and be like hey, we're here
to help you get to your nextgate, so your party doesn't have
to wheel you through theairport.
This is a common practice.
This is something that I relyon very heavily while traveling.
(20:38):
So I didn't think anything ofit and I was just like all right
, it's been a long trip, myfriends don't have to help me
here, I'll let the airport staffguide.
But it ended up being the case.
I almost missed the next flightbecause there was a language
barrier there.
I only speak a very littleSpanish and they were keeping me
in this one area and theyweren't taking me to my flight.
(20:59):
My choir director ended uphaving to come to the space that
I was at and be like hey, shehas to come with me, the flight
is boarded.
It's not boarding.
It has boarded.
It is done.
We need to like get her on thisflight.
Uh, and I'm really gratefulthat him and um the tour
director both came and did that,but it was scary.
(21:21):
There for a minute I was what?
21 at the time.
I was young, I didn't know whatI was doing, I was scared and
just sat there, yeah exactly,and I felt very like helpless.
I felt like I, I, what am Isupposed to do?
I didn't have my prosthetic,like I said, so I'm in this
manual wheelchair sitting inthis airport that I don't know
where I am.
(21:41):
I don't speak the language, andit was.
It was scary.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, no, I was going to kind of segue into,
obviously, the air.
You know air travel is a hugeissue right now for people with
disabilities and as someone whohas been a policy kind of
advocate as well, and recentlyat the White House, can you
share a little bit about what isin store and what we are doing
to kind of address these issueswith air travel?
Speaker 5 (22:07):
disability.
I will just say the White Housewas more of a celebration
rather than a policy meeting ofany sort.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
She was a guest Estella.
She was a guest.
I saw her outfit.
I mean I, oh yeah, I did.
I mean it was, she lookedbeautiful.
Yes, I mean not as good as yourLondon Fashion Week outfit, but
it was pretty good.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I agree.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
I could have used a little elevation, but the reason
I say that is I don't thinkI've been necessarily at the
forefront of the air travelpolicy change.
However, I did just see anarticle about American Airlines
having to pay some ridiculous 50million.
I was going to say I couldn'tremember if it was 30 or 50, but
$50 million to about yeah,they're fined.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
I don't know where the money goes, which is
actually a good question.
My boyfriend was like, well,where does that money go?
I was like, hopefully it'sfirst policy change and training
, but yeah well, I.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
So I think I read that some of it's going to the
people who were affected by thedamages caused to pay for
wheelchairs or hospital bills orwhatever it was that needs that
repayment.
But I think the I think it was25 mil was going to that and
then 25 million was going intoback into the company actually
(23:27):
to do training, to do to, tobuild out better infrastructure,
to make sure that, hey, we'regoing to fix the issue, it's not
just going to continue tohappen.
We'll be right back.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
This is John and Mark Cronin from.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
John's Crazy.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Socks and we're interrupting to say we hope
you're enjoying this episode,but please make sure to check
out our show, the SpreadingHappiness Podcast, another great
show produced by Launchpad 516Studios.
New episodes are availableevery week on all your favorite
(24:17):
podcast platforms.
Join us on our new podcast aswe continue our mission
spreading happiness.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Thank you, folks.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
You're tuning in to Embrace it with Lainey
Anastellaella, brought to you byLaunchpad 516 Studios.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
So, jessica, in terms of travel and whatnot, whether
it's just to the airport orbeyond and all the cities you've
been in, and I'm actually goingto London soon, so I'd like
your little 411 info.
But in general, what would yousay?
Like, what do you say to yourfollowers who must like mine and
(24:57):
Estella is right to you and sayyou know, I've never traveled
before, I'm nervous, I don'tknow what I'm going to do, like
when everyone wants to go hereand I haven't.
I've been scared because of mydisability.
What do you tell people whohaven't traveled?
Speaker 5 (25:13):
when it comes to disability and travel, you know
it's unfortunate, because thereality is that traveling as a
disabled person just reallyrequires extra planning on your
part and there's so much burdenthat falls onto the disabled
person's shoulders.
And so I think you know one ofmy favorite quotes from my
favorite music artist, taylorSwift, is if you fail to plan,
(25:37):
you plan to fail.
And I think that same mindset.
I use it across everything, butdefinitely in travel.
If you don't do the research,if you don't call ahead, if you
don't look at what you want todo, then it does fall back on
you.
And to an extent I'm not andthat's not me blaming the
disabled person forinaccessibility.
That's not the case.
(25:57):
It's more just like okay, youdeserve to travel, you should
travel.
But if you're going to do it,you do need to step up and sort
of be like hey, this is what'sgoing to work for me and
advocate for yourself.
If you're traveling with otherpeople, be sure to let them know
like, hey, I can do this andthis, but maybe not this.
(26:17):
If you're going to do this, canyou do it at this time so I can
do this instead?
And like coordinate with people, be willing to compromise,
understand that there is goingto be difficulty and also give
yourself time and grace as well.
I think both of those thingsare important.
If you have feelings like, letyourself feel them, like it's
frustrating, we're allowed to beupset.
(26:39):
It's 2024.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
That there's not a lift?
Like the elevator has beenaround since the 1800s and yet
places don't have elevators?
That's ridiculous.
There's no excuse.
But at the same time,understand there, especially if
you're going somewhere historic,there's going to be barriers,
there's going to be extrabarriers.
That point and just prepareyourself to have those feelings.
(27:02):
But maybe bring a journal brain, make sure you have a playlist
ready to feel your feelings andjust be ready to be a little bit
put off and put behind in somecapacity to, like I said, give
yourself time.
Don't rush around, becausethere is no rushing at this
point.
Like if there's barriers,you're going to have to figure
out how to cross them and thattakes extra time.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Yeah, you sound like you have a really strong support
system as well.
I know you know traveling aloneis exhausting and it's not
something that I opt for eitherand I have.
I'm fortunate enough to have asupport system as well family,
friends, boyfriend, all of that.
Tell me, or tell us, a littlebit about your personal support
(27:43):
system.
I know you know your friendsand your family, and even a
little bit about dating.
What has that been like for you?
And that social aspect ofliving with a disability?
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Yeah, I'm very, very lucky that I have a very, very
strong family support system.
My parents have been next levelat every stage of my life and I
have been so grateful for them.
I've been through a lot ofchange in the last year moving
countries, going through adivorce and at the core of it
(28:16):
all, they have been there.
They flew to London to help memove.
They let me live at home forsix months, they helped me move
into my new place in Chicago and, as different things have been
going down like, they've beenright there by my side every
step of the way, both good andbad.
They came with me to apresentation I gave the other
day and they were there all day.
They didn't have to do that,but they're just such loving
(28:39):
people and I am so grateful tohave that support network and
have had that support networkand I give a huge credit to them
for me being the person I amtoday and they deserve all the
credit in the world for that.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
I also feel like I have a very Like a parent's
dream right.
Like, honestly, I I mean,really all you need to do is
like cut and paste this littleportion of this podcast and say
happy, merry Christmas, happymother's day like doesn't that
be enough?
I'd be like that is literally.
You know, when you raise kidsto be good humans and adults,
(29:13):
like what you just said is whatevery parent dreams of.
You know.
When you raise kids to be goodhumans and adults, like what you
just said is what every parentdreams of.
You know, because I mean trulyso lucky them and good for them.
You know, they also obviouslyraised a fantastic person, um as
well.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
To be able to say that about your parents, it's
pretty cool I feel veryprivileged because I know that's
not an experience thateverybody can share and I truly
am so grateful to them.
Nothing that I have or havedone would be possible without
them.
So I'm glad that you see thebeauty in that, because I do
think that there's somethingreally special in our
(29:51):
relationship.
But I also have been very, verylucky to have a strong, solid
group of friends.
I think I mentioned the factthat I've gone through a divorce
in the last year, so a part ofmy support system kind of
crumbled around me within thatnot just my ex-partner but also
my friends in London and thefamily that I had sort of built
(30:12):
out there.
And suddenly I had to move backto Chicago and had to learn how
to let new people in again andhow I start trusting people and
how I become vulnerable with newpeople again.
And I've been very lucky tomeet a really solid group of
people here in Chicago that I'mvery grateful to have.
(30:33):
They've been very supportive ofme as I've been going through
the divorce.
They've been very supportive ofme as I've been going through
the divorce.
They've been very supportive ofme as I've been picking up the
pieces of my business that Istarted in the UK and now I'm
here and it's.
They've been so great and sounderstanding and I'm grateful
for that as well.
And I know you asked aboutdating.
Dating has been an interestingtransition for me, I would say,
(30:53):
not just as a disabled person,but also somebody post-divorce
like learning how to navigatethose waters.
As somebody who's also veryyoung, I think has been very
interesting.
I'm only 27.
I'm like still in my twentiesand figuring all of this out has
not been easy.
But I also never had a datingreally experience.
(31:14):
I met my ex when I was 20.
So I missed out on all thoseearly years dating experiences
post-college, and so it's beenreally fun, especially having
moved to a new city, getting tosee it through, going on dates
and meeting new people.
At the end of the day, that'skind of what I always like lean
into when I'm dating is hey,it's not like a waste of time,
(31:37):
it's not a bad experience.
If I've gotten to exploreChicago, then hey, at least I'm
having fun.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
I don't mean to cut you off, but I do because okay.
So I I'm not dating.
I'm 54, but I havestepdaughters who are your age
and my own children are prettyclose.
It's hard.
I'm in Michigan, I know my sonis moving to Chicago next year.
In general, without adisability, it's hard to meet
people, and especially for women, like there's just so many
(32:09):
women looking for a relationshipand like you obviously have
extra.
You're extra right and like allof us are extra, but you're
extra extra.
Like how does that work for you?
Are you on sites?
Do you post with prostheticlegs?
Like how do you navigate that?
Speaker 5 (32:28):
I have been on sites in the past.
I'm not currently on them rightnow.
I will say that the dating appsI've not that's where I would
say I get most of my dates fromare dating apps.
Definitely less so fromhappenstance meetings out in
person, but I have met a fewpeople that way too.
(32:50):
It's interesting.
In navigating all of it,there's a lot of mess involved.
I feel like it is hard out hereand the reality is, I agree,
there are a lot of women lookingfor relationships and I don't
know if the same amount of menare looking for relationships
right now.
Not to stereotype, like thegenders and any sort of capacity
, but I do think that that tendsto be the difference and it's
(33:14):
been interesting.
And also, I think, for the lastyear, like I'll be honest, for
a good while I wasn't lookingfor a relationship either, but I
was going on dates.
So that's just the way it wasand it wasn't that I would be
opposed if the right thing hadcome along, I think.
But I wasn't actively like yes,this has to end in marriage,
like that was not my goal withdating.
(33:36):
My goal with dating was to dipmy toe back into the waters and
be like all right.
Well, we'll see what happenshere.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
And how do you like when we've covered dating in the
past, you know, a lot of timespeople are afraid, you know,
after divorce whether it's youknow or never been married to
put themselves out there becausethey're worried about their
disability being the reasonsomeone's not interested in them
.
I mean, are you just I mean onthose sites, for example,
(34:05):
obviously in person someone'sseeing you, right, but like on
those sites, are you likeleading with your disability?
Is it something that you bringup, like how is that?
How do you navigate that andhow do you not follow up?
Aren't there like men that havelike this fetish thing with,
like, like how do you avoid that?
(34:26):
She's laughing you guys?
I didn't offend, but I thinkthat's a thing, right?
Or am I like watch too manyshows?
Speaker 1 (34:35):
There's a fetish for everything I mean.
I understand, but I reallythink that's a thing right?
Or am I like watching too manyshows?
There's a fetish for everythingI mean.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
I understand, but I really think that's a thing
thing.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
There's an amputee fetish, specifically, that's
what.
I meant For sure, so there's alot to unpack in this entire
question.
You know how do I want to saythis.
First of all, let's unpack thefetish thing, yeah let's get
that out.
I feel like, unless people arejust not being honest with me,
(35:03):
I've not encountered any ofthose people and any of the
people that I've met on datingapps.
I'm also quite picky.
I think post-divorce that'ssomething that I have figured
out is I don't want to waste mytime with even going on like one
or two dates with somebody thatI don't find attractive or I
don't think we'd get alongbecause of X, y and Z.
(35:26):
Like I'm not swiping right onevery single person that comes
across my feed, like I'm doingit intentionally.
Even when I didn't necessarilywant a relationship, I was still
swiping intentionally, and so Ithink that's an important thing
to say.
I think, when it comes to theaspect of rejection due to one's
disability, sometimes I thinkthe apps make it easier because
(35:48):
I am very transparent about mydisability online.
I mean mine's very visible, sothat helps.
If you have a hidden disability, I can see why this would be a
more complicated situation, butthere really is no hiding my
disability.
At the very least like I can'treally hide my arm at all unless
I hold it behind me and I wearpants with my prosthetic you're
going to be able to tell likesomething is different, and I
(36:12):
try to always have a bit ofhumor on my profile about
disability in some capacity aswell, but I would say that
because of that, it sort of actsas more of a barrier, a
screening tool.
A screening tool that's a greatway to put it.
A screening tool, people, thatI'm thinking of one app in
particular where people like youand then you can either choose
(36:35):
to match or not.
And I like that app a lotbecause I do think that it is a
screening tool on there, becauseit's less of an algorithm where
you're swiping swiping like agame, it's more intentional
anyway and then you see thatthis person has liked you.
Well, chances are, they atleast paid attention enough to
(36:55):
know that you have a disability.
And in my experience, that hasnot been an issue for me since
moving to Chicago.
And in my experience, that hasnot been an issue for me since
moving to Chicago.
I mean, there's been peoplethat have asked me more
questions than others andclearly felt more comfortable
around it than others, but Ialso think that, generally
speaking, nobody has been onlyone person has made any sort of
(37:19):
song and dance about it, andeven that was something
tolerable.
It wasn't anything, it was morethat they just had never really
encountered disability,especially in dating before.
And then they were just like,okay, so what do I do about this
?
What do I do about that?
And it was a lot for me in thetime and I we didn't see each
other after that date, but alittle on the logical side right
(37:41):
, Like a planner kind of.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
Kind of and it was just or just not wanting to
offend.
I mean that's like truthfully.
I mean some people, you know, Imean that's what this society
now is the opposite for a lot ofpeople.
Some people are just superoffensive and then other people
are so nervous to say the wrongthing or do the wrong thing that
it makes the whole.
You don't even know if you havechemistry, I would imagine,
(38:04):
because they're so caught up innot offending you and it's like
you know.
I think really, jessica, likeyou're so clearly comfortable
with who you are and I love tohear, uh, like anyone, but
especially a young woman, sayyou know, I am picky, like I'm
not just going to settle becauseI have extra.
(38:27):
I use the word extra, we're allI mean.
I'm extra, extra in a lot ofways too, but not, you know, you
might not see it right.
Oh, we see it.
Fine, I know you can see it.
Poor Estella, I love you cansee it.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
I'm like poor Estella I love you.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
The point is that you know you want someone who wants
to get to know you, right?
But this world is based onappearances a lot of it, and we
can't like change that.
So some people are going tojust not be interested in you.
They're not going to beinterested in me because I have
dark hair.
They're not going to beinterested in Estella because
she was wearing pink lipstick.
(39:03):
I mean, people are just people,and so what Estella and I do
when we talk about dating islike getting people to really
see that there could be amillion and one reasons why
someone doesn't connect with you.
And you know they may have todo with your disability or they
may not, but like, that's onthem, that's on them, that's
(39:24):
just.
It's just, it's just you'llfind the right person when the
right person and you connect.
So I love that.
But I want to switch.
We've done, jessica.
You're so interesting andthere's so much to you and we
can't like keep you here forever, although we would like to.
But I want to quickly touch onfitness, because I mean to be
(39:44):
able to hop around with like oneleg and to be a rock climber,
which I don't even understand,because doesn't that require?
I don't know, does that thatdoesn't require two arms, like I
don't know?
But so can you talk about that,because I'm just I'm amazed by
that.
I also am a big proponent forpeople who have shark, memory
(40:08):
tooth or any neuromuscularcondition that doesn't have a
cure, of being able tocompensate for your weaknesses
with your core and with otherthings, and obviously you must
do that, yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
Fitness is kind of newer for me too.
I actually well, yes and noBoth of my parents were in
sports growing up.
Let me start by saying that mydad was a PE teacher, and so
physical activity was somethingthat just like was expected in
some capacity for me.
I think Not that they expectedme necessarily with the
disability to get out there, butI think it was in my genetics,
(40:47):
like I want to do something andI always liked performing.
I think I as much as I canthank my parents for making me
who I am.
My desire to be an entertaineris also a big reason I am who I
am today, and so I did a lot ofmusical theater growing up, and
I also did a lot of dance.
So I trained 13 years as a kidin dance studios in my hometown
(41:12):
and that was my physical fitness, that was what I liked to do
for fun, and for some of that Iwore my prosthetic and then when
I took the prosthetic off, Ihopped around to dance and I
learned how to do it on one foot.
And you know, growing up thenin college and in like
post-college time, I realized aswell that, okay, fitness helps
(41:34):
me feel better, it helps me feelmore confident too, like
maintain a figure that makes mehappy.
It helps me boost my endorphins, which helps with my mental
health, and so leaning intogoing to the gym and all of
these things has been reallyinteresting.
But you know, I'm from a smalltown in the middle of nowhere,
illinois.
(41:55):
I didn't realize that adaptivefitness was a thing.
I know the Paralympics are hugeand have been huge forever.
I didn't even know that was athing.
I know the Paralympics are hugeand have been huge forever.
I didn't even know that was athing until truly like four
years ago.
I think that's kind of sad,honestly, that something so
global was something that didn'treach my corner of the world
(42:17):
until I was 22, 23 years old,and so for me, I didn't really
realize how much I could havedone and, like, looking back, if
I had known that, it makes mewonder like what I've been even
more into fitness.
But I think since learning that, I've been really interested in
like challenging myself andpushing myself, and that's how I
got involved with rock climbing.
(42:38):
When I moved to Chicago I waslike I need something, I need a
hobby that gets me out of myapartment.
I work from home.
I need something to dosomething.
And so somebody I was dating atthe time was really into rock
climbing, and so I just lookedit up.
I was like adaptive rockclimbing, maybe that's a thing,
and it was.
And so I started going to thisgym.
(42:59):
I started learning the ropes.
Fun little pun there.
And technically, it does help tohave all your limbs.
I will say it would probably beeasier, but I'm lucky because I
can use my shortened arm tohelp pull me up a little bit and
my residual limb, like I canput it, on certain footholds.
(43:20):
I'm not going to be climbinglike the most difficult rock
walls Like I'm doing, like thelower level ones that have more
footholds, that have morehandholds, but it's still fun
for me, it's still a challengeand I think that's why I like
that sport in particular,because it's both a physical and
mental challenge at the sametime.
So it just keeps me reallyengaged while I'm doing it, and
(43:41):
it's individual as well.
It's not something that I haveto rely on anybody else?
Speaker 3 (43:46):
Yes, and you could probably meet a lot of guys, I
would imagine.
Listen, I keep telling mystepdaughters they need to have
more hobbies that are like, notlike makeup and, by the way I
speak, like plenty of men wearmakeup.
I mean, this is not a gender,we're not doing gender thing
here.
I'm just saying, like golf,good hobby, like these are
(44:07):
hobbies.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
Yeah, just something that other people do, that are
mixed mixed around and I lovethat you found something that
challenges you and I thinkthat's good for anyone.
You know, if we can combine thephysical challenge with the
mental challenge and theemotional challenge, it all kind
of reflects back into our livesand in other unexpected ways
(44:30):
and I feel like, yes, we cantalk to you all day, jessica,
and we want everyone listeningto follow your content to really
see some of the amazing thingsthat Jessica is doing that we
haven't even discussed today.
But we like to end our podcastswith the question of what does
embrace it mean to you?
Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah.
So to me, embrace it just meanslike living in your
authenticity and really justowning who you are, every facet
of who that is, and not beingnot having weird guilt or shame
or any sort of negativity aroundwho you are, falling in love
with yourself.
I think embrace it is justanother form of self-love.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
I love that, yay.
Well, thank you, jessica.
Yay is right.
Jessica, you are so cool.
Speaker 3 (45:21):
I want to grow up and be you.
I mean seriously at least.
I want to learn how to makereels like you do.
You're really good at it.
She's inspiring and I mean,honestly, she was on Facebook,
recognized you.
I'm ending, I'm going to end,but I'm just saying, like you
were invited or like 10 peoplewere invited creators, and you
(45:44):
were one of them to Meta slashFacebook.
You're doing so great and can'twait to see where, where you go
next.
I'm a follower now Friendableis following you, jessica and um
, it was so cool to get to knowyou and um, you know we, we.
I use the word inspiring very,very purposely, consciously,
yeah, and, and you really arefor me, inspiring, um, because
(46:06):
of the person you are.
It's really cool.
Speaker 5 (46:09):
So anyways, where can people find you?
Yeah, uh, thank you so much forall the kind words.
First of all, I also just wantto say that, lainey, estella,
it's been so lovely chattingwith you, but, um, you can find
me at the rolling explorer onall the main social media
platforms.
Uh, I try to show up every day.
Thank you so much for for allof it, guys.
(46:30):
This has been great.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
Absolutely so much fun.
Thank you so much and um,everyone, check out Jessica and
we'll see you next time.
Bye everyone.
Hey, embracers, thank you somuch for listening and
supporting the Embrace itpodcast Brought to you by
Launchpad 516 Studios Executive,produced by George Andriopoulos
and hosted by Laini Ishbia andEstella Lugo.
(46:52):
Our music and sound effects arelicensed through Epidemic Sound
Embrace.
Speaker 3 (46:56):
It is hosted with Buzzsprout Do you have a
disability related topic you'dlove for us to feature, or could
someone you know be a fabulousguest on our show?
We would love to hear yourcomments and feature them on our
next podcast.
So leave us a voicemail or youcan even send us a text to
631-517-0066.
Speaker 1 (47:18):
Make sure to subscribe to this feed wherever
podcasts are available and leaveus a five-star review on Apple
Podcasts while you're at it.
Follow us at embraceitunderscore podcast on Instagram
and make sure to follow all thegreat podcasts produced by
Launchpad 516 Studios.
Speaker 3 (47:35):
We hope you join us next time and continue to
embrace it.
Welcome to the Embrace it series, where women
with all types of disabilitiescan be real, resourceful and
stylish.
With each episode, you'll walkor roll away with everyday tips,
life hacks and success storiesfrom community leaders and
influencers.
So take off your leg braces andstay a while with Lainey and
Estella.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Hi, I'm Lainey and I have CMT, and I'm Estella and I
also have CMT a neuromusculardisorder affecting approximately
2.6 million people worldwide.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
That's as many as MS.
We believe disabilities shouldnever get in the way of looking
or feeling good.
Both of us wear leg braces andhave learned through our own
personal journeys to embrace it.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Brought to you by Launchpad 516 Studios.
Each episode is designed tochallenge your own stigmas and
beliefs around disability.
We want our listeners to getthe most value for their time
spent with us, so we interviewsome of the most empowering
disability badasses in the world.
Through storytelling, personalexperiences and tips, we're all
reminded of our own strengthsand endless potential.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
For more information and exclusive resources, check
out our websites attrend-ablecom and hnf-cureorg,
and don't forget to hit thesubscribe button for future
episodes and special promos.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the
Embrace it podcast.
So excited for our guest today.
Hey Lainey, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Hi, Estella, we're recording this everyone.
I don't know when this is goingto come out, but I just saw
your Halloween costume lastnight, Estella.
You nailed it.
You went as Forest Gump and and.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Jenna.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, it was a great costume, so happy Halloween, or
belated.
Halloween people.
Happy Halloween or belatedHalloween people.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yes, it's my favorite holiday.
I love to just, you know, nottake myself so seriously and
it's creative.
You can make costumes, dress up, be silly, act like a child,
which are, you know, right up myalley, and you and Howard were
elf right, you were elf and Iforgot her name, but that's who
I was from the Will Ferrellmovie.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Because my husband, although we're Jewish, is super
into Christmas and Halloween.
But I have to say that you knowwhat and we're going to get to
our amazing guest.
But I was really proud ofmyself.
Halloween.
What I like about it, or what Iused to like about it as a
younger person, is you got to belike super sexy, like almost
like a stripper, and it didn'tmatter because it was Halloween
(02:47):
and this was the first year.
I was like all covered up.
I was in my little elf costumeand a couple of my girlfriends
are like you look so sexy.
I'm like that goes to show youthe more you cover up, you know,
the more More.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Anyways, yeah, more to the imagination.
I felt a little dowdy, but yeah, you looked great.
And speaking of fashion, we haveour guest today who's
definitely knows a thing or twoabout fashion.
Her name is Jessica Jordan Ping, aka.
She calls herself the RollingExplorer.
(03:23):
Oops, there is my New Yorkcoming out.
She calls herself the RollingExplorer.
Oops, there's my New Yorkcoming out.
She calls herself the RollingExplorer.
She is a creator, a speaker,writer, model actor, adaptive
fashion consultant, disabilityadvocate so much more.
She was born with childsyndrome, which is actually a
very rare genetic disorderaffecting only 60 people
(03:44):
worldwide, but Jessica hasreally turned her experience
into an incredible platform forchange and representation.
So welcome, Jessica Hi.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Jessica.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Hi, thank you so much for having me.
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
It's better to have you.
Before we went live here, I wassaying you know, like Estelle,
and I joke every time oh, wehave all these people and
everyone's inspiring andeveryone is like super
interesting, all these differentdisability advocates.
But Jessica, I could not stopwatching your reel.
It's like a teenager.
I was like how does she do that?
(04:21):
And they're so upbeat andyou're, I mean, we're going to
get to all of that with what youdo and your brand and your
social media content, which isamazing.
But before we go there, um,estella mentioned you have we're
born with child syndrome, avery rare condition.
Can you like give us a?
You know the one-on-one ofJessica.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Sure.
So I was born with childsyndrome, which affects about 60
people worldwide with skin andlimb deficiencies, so for me
that's actually a fairly mildcase, believe it or not, as I'm
missing a.
I have a shortened left arm andthen a shortened leg as well on
the left side, but it wasfurther amputated after birth,
(05:02):
so I was able to use aprosthetic instead of just
relying on a wheelchair all thetime, which has been really,
really great.
But yeah, I use variousdifferent mobility aids to get
around and hop around on onefoot and have a heck of a time
doing all of it.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, tell us a little bit about you know, just
growing up with this type ofdisability.
Obviously it's so rare.
What was your upbringing andfamily-like life?
You know?
Socially, how did you becomethis self-confident you know
badass woman just advocating outthere in the world.
How did that all come about?
Speaker 5 (05:41):
You know, it definitely didn't come about
easily and it didn't come aboutuntil really the last five to
six years, I would say, is whenI started to gain any sort of
confidence around my disabilityand being able to speak about it
and advocate around it.
Growing up, when I was a youngchild, I didn't see any
difference between me and mypeers.
(06:02):
I was just like I'm just a kid,I just want to have fun, I just
want to be accepted, I want torun around and be silly and get
into trouble and all the things.
But then as I got older andkids started treating me
differently, I think that waswhen it was like oh wait, I have
to now navigate how tointegrate myself into a social
situations.
And then I became more aware ofinaccessibility, and so each
(06:25):
time that I would face upagainst these different barriers
it would knock my confidence.
And I think by the time I got tocollege in particular, my
confidence was rock bottom.
I didn't really have a lot ofvalue in myself and I didn't
really see how I was ever goingto be accepted.
I just kind of was acceptingthe idea that this was how my
life was going to go.
So it was a tough time, but Ieventually sought out therapy,
(06:51):
started following other disabledcreators online and learning
about the community, learningthat I wasn't alone.
I may be one of 60 with myactual disease, but there are so
many people in the disabilitycommunity who are standing up
and speaking out for disabilityrights, and following their
journeys and hearing theirstories really made me realize
that hey, no, you matter, youcan take up space and it's okay.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Jessica, like, as I said, I mean I'm sounding like a
broken record.
I'm just blown away by you ingeneral and your energy and it's
like so contagious general andyour energy and it's like so
contagious One of the store whenyou're talking about you know
how you have struggled as a, youknow, young adult child.
I, I was like taken bysomething that I heard you
talking about with, like withoutyour prosthetic, I guess you
(07:36):
might not have had a prosthetic,or maybe you had one, but that
you were hopping around like a,like a prom, like just like,
like putting yourself indangerous situations that were
not good for you just to be andI'm using air quotes people like
normal right.
And so many of us can relate tothat, regardless if we're, you
know, people with, you know,missing limbs, or if we're
(07:59):
people with short-term retoothdisorder, the desire to just
kind of blend in.
And now, jessica, you're doinglike a 360.
You're definitely not blendingin, right, you're doing anything
, but You're busting every mythabout disability.
So obviously you'd hear a lotof, I'm assuming, dumb stuff
(08:22):
every day from people.
I mean, if Stella and I hearwhat's wrong with your foot for
limping, I would imagine thatyou've heard a lot.
So what is some ridiculousassumption that stood out to you
?
Speaker 5 (08:37):
I get in my comment section a lot that I'm faking my
disability and that I'm usingCGI to get views and to be
famous.
Essentially, wow, wow.
What is what is CGI?
It's like what um movie peopleuse.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Oh like.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
AI, oh wow.
Yeah.
Yeah that you're faking.
Having like a limb difference?
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
I think that's the most wild, because I don't know
who thinks I have that type ofmoney or time.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
You got some serious like editing skills going on
over there in the background.
Really need to change my resume.
I don't know what about like onan everyday basis Cause, like
Lainey said said, you know allthose interactions with
strangers and people that youmeet while you're, whether
you're filming a content whenyou're out advocating and doing
(09:33):
all of these events.
What are some of the thingsthat you're hearing and what are
those kind of conversations outin the quote unquote real world
?
Do people approach you?
What does that look like you?
You know the majority of time.
What has been your way ofhelping people?
Maybe bring awareness aboutdisability and all of that?
Speaker 5 (09:53):
I would say nine times out of 10,.
If I'm getting approached, it'susually along the lines of like
oh, I'm so impressed by you, oh, you're such an inspiration, oh
, I'll pray for you.
That sort of mentality whereit's just like they.
I think they think they'redoing it with good intention.
Right, that's the idea, and onething that I really try to do
(10:14):
in my advocacy is meet peoplewhere they are a little bit and
not fault them for ignorance andnot knowing.
And ignorance is not even meantto be like a rude or mean term
here.
It's just plain and simple theydon't have the knowledge or the
the, the awareness yet.
And so if they say that, um,sometimes if it depends on how
(10:35):
in a hurry I am I might just nodand be like thank you, and move
on about my day.
But if I have a minute to giveto it, I'll just be like oh,
like, not really, but like thankyou, and here's why but most of
the time it's probably just athank you and move on about my
day.
And then I bring it to theinternet and I'm like here's why
we don't just say that disabledpeople are inspirational for
(10:57):
trying to grab cheese off thetop shelf at the grocery store.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, that's, that's one of those like you're one of
your posts I mean, you guys whoare listening, you've got to
check out and we're obviouslygoing to put this all in the
show notes some of your socialmedia content and, um, because,
like one of them was, you'rejust so direct.
You're like, do not feel sorryfor me.
I think you have a backgroundof like a song that has the word
pity in it, like I don't, Idon't know, you know I'm, I
don't even know what song it is,probably like Taylor Swift,
(11:26):
which I'm going to this week.
I have no idea what she sings,but I don't know.
You have, like this major songin the background and you're
like, do not pity me, peoplewith disabilities do not need to
be pitied blah, blah, blah,blah, blah, and it's so direct
and it's so strong and it's solike amazing that you, you know,
describe yourself as being soinsecure and so, um, you know,
(11:48):
having so many challenges thatyou were that you've evolved
into this, this young woman,this person who is able to be
like in your face, like, but ina non-threatening, cool way, you
know, which I love about you.
So, jessica, moving forward, youstarted your blog, we're moving
backwards.
I guess I'm just so excited.
(12:09):
I'm all over as the place, asnormal, but you started your
blog, okay.
Oh wait, it's called theRolling Explorer during COVID,
is that right?
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Technically I started it the year prior, but I didn't
put a lot of effort into ituntil COVID.
That's correct.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Okay, and that's where everything started.
So can you tell us how thathappened?
What was your goal in startingthe Rolling Explorer?
What do you do with that partof your social media content now
?
Because it's very different.
You're so many things.
You're a travel blogger, butthen you're also a model.
You're also a disability, likean adaptive fashion designer.
(12:54):
You were at the White House.
I mean, we have a lot to cover,jessica.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
Listen, I have the privilege of just getting to
live my life as my career rightnow, which is kind of wild in
and of itself, so I feel veryblessed for that.
But I think when I started theblog I had no intention with it.
Really, I always say that itwas something that a mentor of
mine in my first job out ofcollege was telling me how to
(13:23):
become a storyteller.
I've always wanted to be awriter.
I always wanted to tell otherpeople's stories.
And he said that you know, it'sa really intense industry and
in order to stand out you'regoing to have to tell stories
every day.
And you might as well startwith your own through a blog.
And I didn't really think muchof it at the time, but I did go
(13:45):
home immediately that night.
I set up a website and I waslike all right, well, I have the
thing, I'll do the thing when Iwant to do the thing.
And I just kind of took itreally slow for that first year,
I would say.
And then, like I said, duringthe pandemic, I had all this
time on my hands and I wasunemployed.
I was looking to move to London.
I couldn't get over therebecause of visas and the
pandemic and everything that wasgoing on in the world, and so I
(14:08):
started writing all the timeand I started posting on social
media.
That was when TikTok wasblowing up.
I didn't get on TikTok duringthat big boom.
I only was focused on Instagramat the time because TikTok was
scary.
Wish I had missed opportunities.
But at the same time, you know,I was lucky enough that my
stuff did take off on Instagramand I kind of really leaned into
(14:30):
that and now it is what it isand I never I've never at any
point in time been like yes,this is where I think it's going
.
I could not have put on mybingo card that certain thing.
Like you mentioned the WhiteHouse.
That wasn't on my brain fouryears ago, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, I mean, it's pretty wild when you think about
and this is something thatLainey and I we talk about a lot
is that it's the story, it'sthe power of storytelling and
the power of sharing your storyand being vulnerable to the
world is what lights you up andwhat draws attention and makes
(15:08):
you magnetic and has all of theright people, you know, uh,
gravitating towards you and allof the empowerment that comes on
the other side of the screenthat you're probably not aware
of on an everyday basis.
The impact that you're havingon the next generation of people
living with disabilities and Iknow travel is a big part of
(15:29):
that.
What have you, what are some ofthe takeaways from your travels
as somebody with a disability?
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, you know, travel has been an interesting
space for me.
That's actually where theRolling Explorer came from.
I wanted it to be a travel blogbecause I feel like that
industry in particular is so notcatering to the disability
community right now still fouryears later and you know, a lot
of it has to do with lack ofeducation and lack of just
(16:02):
directness.
I feel like in communicationaround accessibility too, I
always say that if a hotel isnot accessible, I'd rather them
put it very clearly on theirwebsite.
I'm going to judge them a lotless if they're not accessible
and they put it on their websitethan if I book the hotel and I
stay there and then I can'taccess my room very easily.
That's going to be annoying.
(16:23):
But all of this is to say, youknow, as an amputee, I only
started traveling with myprosthetic leg For the first
time a couple of years ago.
Technically, when I studiedabroad in college, I did bring
my prosthetic, but I wore it oneday.
I was there for like four, fivemonths and I wore it one time.
(16:44):
I was there, so traveled allthe way to England for that.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So can I stop you Like?
Why is that Just I mean why?
Speaker 5 (16:52):
A big part of it is because I wasn't wearing my
prosthetic very frequently.
So I, when I was 10, took myprosthetic 12.
When I was 12, I took myprosthetic off and didn't really
put it back on again untilcollege.
Wow, I have a skin conditionthat comes along with the child
syndrome.
That makes wearing prostheticsincredibly painful, even to this
(17:13):
day.
I can tolerate it a bit morenow, but as a kid I was done.
I can tolerate it a bit morenow, but as a kid I was done.
I was in so much pain all thetime so I had to take it off.
And then in college I onlyreally wore it to work out.
I didn't wear it around toclasses.
I relied on my electricwheelchair pretty much the
entire time, and so when I'vebeen traveling, I've usually
used a manual wheelchair andwould rely on people that I was
(17:36):
traveling with to help me getaround.
And now, as a single adult, ithas become more clear that I
need some level of independence,and I crave that level of
independence.
And I can get that with myelectric wheelchair still, and I
have traveled with it in thepast but it is far more.
(17:57):
My prosthetic gives me far moreindependence, and so I have
leaned into traveling with thata lot more as of late.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
As far as like other countries go, what has been some
of your insights?
As far as traveling with adisability, are there any
countries that you were veryimpressed with their level of
accessibility versus others, andhow did that kind of reshape
your views of the US andaccessibility here?
Speaker 5 (18:25):
You know it's funny, I would say I used to complain
when I lived in England all thetime how inaccessible London is,
and it is a pretty inaccessibleplace, but compared to every
other country and like cityaround the world that I've been
to, it's pretty accessible atthe same time.
Uh, the tube and the bus systemaren't perfect by any means,
(18:46):
but they exist and most uhenough places are accessible
that you can get around a decenta bit and I think, because it's
also a walking city, thathelped a lot in terms of using,
like a wheelchair around thearea.
But one city I want to call out, it's not a global, it's not an
international city New YorkCity.
I've been there twice now inthe last month and it is bad,
(19:09):
it's very bad.
I'm not a fan of theaccessibility in New York at all
.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, no, I don't blame you.
I literally have PTSD from thesubway system when I went to
college at FIT and was commutinga few years after that.
It's very.
You know, we have a lot of workto do and you know, I think
that's part of the value thatyou bring as well to social
media is to show where thereneeds to be work, whether
(19:39):
they're restaurants or venues,what that looks like and how we
can do better.
Yeah, I mean, do you have anyparticular stories about, maybe,
a situation where you were in a, you know, in a rut, traveling,
and you had to kind of eitheradvocate for yourself or rely on
others to help you?
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Yeah, so when I was traveling with my choir in
college, we did a whole big tripto I think it was Spain.
We did like a big tour ofdifferent cities in Spain, took
a bus around and we flew fromBarcelona to Madrid on our final
day to eventually fly fromMadrid back home.
(20:17):
As we were disembarking theplane, I had the accessibility
team at the airport come up tome and be like hey, we're here
to help you get to your nextgate, so your party doesn't have
to wheel you through theairport.
This is a common practice.
This is something that I relyon very heavily while traveling.
(20:38):
So I didn't think anything ofit and I was just like all right
, it's been a long trip, myfriends don't have to help me
here, I'll let the airport staffguide.
But it ended up being the case.
I almost missed the next flightbecause there was a language
barrier there.
I only speak a very littleSpanish and they were keeping me
in this one area and theyweren't taking me to my flight.
(20:59):
My choir director ended uphaving to come to the space that
I was at and be like hey, shehas to come with me, the flight
is boarded.
It's not boarding.
It has boarded.
It is done.
We need to like get her on thisflight.
Uh, and I'm really gratefulthat him and um the tour
director both came and did that,but it was scary.
(21:21):
There for a minute I was what?
21 at the time.
I was young, I didn't know whatI was doing, I was scared and
just sat there, yeah exactly,and I felt very like helpless.
I felt like I, I, what am Isupposed to do?
I didn't have my prosthetic,like I said, so I'm in this
manual wheelchair sitting inthis airport that I don't know
where I am.
(21:41):
I don't speak the language, andit was.
It was scary.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, no, I was going to kind of segue into,
obviously, the air.
You know air travel is a hugeissue right now for people with
disabilities and as someone whohas been a policy kind of
advocate as well, and recentlyat the White House, can you
share a little bit about what isin store and what we are doing
to kind of address these issueswith air travel?
Speaker 5 (22:07):
disability.
I will just say the White Housewas more of a celebration
rather than a policy meeting ofany sort.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
She was a guest Estella.
She was a guest.
I saw her outfit.
I mean I, oh yeah, I did.
I mean it was, she lookedbeautiful.
Yes, I mean not as good as yourLondon Fashion Week outfit, but
it was pretty good.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I agree.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
I could have used a little elevation, but the reason
I say that is I don't thinkI've been necessarily at the
forefront of the air travelpolicy change.
However, I did just see anarticle about American Airlines
having to pay some ridiculous 50million.
I was going to say I couldn'tremember if it was 30 or 50, but
$50 million to about yeah,they're fined.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
I don't know where the money goes, which is
actually a good question.
My boyfriend was like, well,where does that money go?
I was like, hopefully it'sfirst policy change and training
, but yeah well, I.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
So I think I read that some of it's going to the
people who were affected by thedamages caused to pay for
wheelchairs or hospital bills orwhatever it was that needs that
repayment.
But I think the I think it was25 mil was going to that and
then 25 million was going intoback into the company actually
(23:27):
to do training, to do to, tobuild out better infrastructure,
to make sure that, hey, we'regoing to fix the issue, it's not
just going to continue tohappen.
We'll be right back.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
This is John and Mark Cronin from.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
John's Crazy.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Socks and we're interrupting to say we hope
you're enjoying this episode,but please make sure to check
out our show, the SpreadingHappiness Podcast, another great
show produced by Launchpad 516Studios.
New episodes are availableevery week on all your favorite
(24:17):
podcast platforms.
Join us on our new podcast aswe continue our mission
spreading happiness.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Thank you, folks.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
You're tuning in to Embrace it with Lainey
Anastellaella, brought to you byLaunchpad 516 Studios.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
So, jessica, in terms of travel and whatnot, whether
it's just to the airport orbeyond and all the cities you've
been in, and I'm actually goingto London soon, so I'd like
your little 411 info.
But in general, what would yousay?
Like, what do you say to yourfollowers who must like mine and
(24:57):
Estella is right to you and sayyou know, I've never traveled
before, I'm nervous, I don'tknow what I'm going to do, like
when everyone wants to go hereand I haven't.
I've been scared because of mydisability.
What do you tell people whohaven't traveled?
Speaker 5 (25:13):
when it comes to disability and travel, you know
it's unfortunate, because thereality is that traveling as a
disabled person just reallyrequires extra planning on your
part and there's so much burdenthat falls onto the disabled
person's shoulders.
And so I think you know one ofmy favorite quotes from my
favorite music artist, taylorSwift, is if you fail to plan,
(25:37):
you plan to fail.
And I think that same mindset.
I use it across everything, butdefinitely in travel.
If you don't do the research,if you don't call ahead, if you
don't look at what you want todo, then it does fall back on
you.
And to an extent I'm not andthat's not me blaming the
disabled person forinaccessibility.
That's not the case.
(25:57):
It's more just like okay, youdeserve to travel, you should
travel.
But if you're going to do it,you do need to step up and sort
of be like hey, this is what'sgoing to work for me and
advocate for yourself.
If you're traveling with otherpeople, be sure to let them know
like, hey, I can do this andthis, but maybe not this.
(26:17):
If you're going to do this, canyou do it at this time so I can
do this instead?
And like coordinate with people, be willing to compromise,
understand that there is goingto be difficulty and also give
yourself time and grace as well.
I think both of those thingsare important.
If you have feelings like, letyourself feel them, like it's
frustrating, we're allowed to beupset.
(26:39):
It's 2024.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
That there's not a lift?
Like the elevator has beenaround since the 1800s and yet
places don't have elevators?
That's ridiculous.
There's no excuse.
But at the same time,understand there, especially if
you're going somewhere historic,there's going to be barriers,
there's going to be extrabarriers.
That point and just prepareyourself to have those feelings.
(27:02):
But maybe bring a journal brain, make sure you have a playlist
ready to feel your feelings andjust be ready to be a little bit
put off and put behind in somecapacity to, like I said, give
yourself time.
Don't rush around, becausethere is no rushing at this
point.
Like if there's barriers,you're going to have to figure
out how to cross them and thattakes extra time.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Yeah, you sound like you have a really strong support
system as well.
I know you know traveling aloneis exhausting and it's not
something that I opt for eitherand I have.
I'm fortunate enough to have asupport system as well family,
friends, boyfriend, all of that.
Tell me, or tell us, a littlebit about your personal support
(27:43):
system.
I know you know your friendsand your family, and even a
little bit about dating.
What has that been like for you?
And that social aspect ofliving with a disability?
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Yeah, I'm very, very lucky that I have a very, very
strong family support system.
My parents have been next levelat every stage of my life and I
have been so grateful for them.
I've been through a lot ofchange in the last year moving
countries, going through adivorce and at the core of it
(28:16):
all, they have been there.
They flew to London to help memove.
They let me live at home forsix months, they helped me move
into my new place in Chicago and, as different things have been
going down like, they've beenright there by my side every
step of the way, both good andbad.
They came with me to apresentation I gave the other
day and they were there all day.
They didn't have to do that,but they're just such loving
(28:39):
people and I am so grateful tohave that support network and
have had that support networkand I give a huge credit to them
for me being the person I amtoday and they deserve all the
credit in the world for that.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
I also feel like I have a very Like a parent's
dream right.
Like, honestly, I I mean,really all you need to do is
like cut and paste this littleportion of this podcast and say
happy, merry Christmas, happymother's day like doesn't that
be enough?
I'd be like that is literally.
You know, when you raise kidsto be good humans and adults,
(29:13):
like what you just said is whatevery parent dreams of.
You know.
When you raise kids to be goodhumans and adults, like what you
just said is what every parentdreams of.
You know, because I mean trulyso lucky them and good for them.
You know, they also obviouslyraised a fantastic person, um as
well.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
To be able to say that about your parents, it's
pretty cool I feel veryprivileged because I know that's
not an experience thateverybody can share and I truly
am so grateful to them.
Nothing that I have or havedone would be possible without
them.
So I'm glad that you see thebeauty in that, because I do
think that there's somethingreally special in our
(29:51):
relationship.
But I also have been very, verylucky to have a strong, solid
group of friends.
I think I mentioned the factthat I've gone through a divorce
in the last year, so a part ofmy support system kind of
crumbled around me within thatnot just my ex-partner but also
my friends in London and thefamily that I had sort of built
(30:12):
out there.
And suddenly I had to move backto Chicago and had to learn how
to let new people in again andhow I start trusting people and
how I become vulnerable with newpeople again.
And I've been very lucky tomeet a really solid group of
people here in Chicago that I'mvery grateful to have.
(30:33):
They've been very supportive ofme as I've been going through
the divorce.
They've been very supportive ofme as I've been going through
the divorce.
They've been very supportive ofme as I've been picking up the
pieces of my business that Istarted in the UK and now I'm
here and it's.
They've been so great and sounderstanding and I'm grateful
for that as well.
And I know you asked aboutdating.
Dating has been an interestingtransition for me, I would say,
(30:53):
not just as a disabled person,but also somebody post-divorce
like learning how to navigatethose waters.
As somebody who's also veryyoung, I think has been very
interesting.
I'm only 27.
I'm like still in my twentiesand figuring all of this out has
not been easy.
But I also never had a datingreally experience.
(31:14):
I met my ex when I was 20.
So I missed out on all thoseearly years dating experiences
post-college, and so it's beenreally fun, especially having
moved to a new city, getting tosee it through, going on dates
and meeting new people.
At the end of the day, that'skind of what I always like lean
into when I'm dating is hey,it's not like a waste of time,
(31:37):
it's not a bad experience.
If I've gotten to exploreChicago, then hey, at least I'm
having fun.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
I don't mean to cut you off, but I do because okay.
So I I'm not dating.
I'm 54, but I havestepdaughters who are your age
and my own children are prettyclose.
It's hard.
I'm in Michigan, I know my sonis moving to Chicago next year.
In general, without adisability, it's hard to meet
people, and especially for women, like there's just so many
(32:09):
women looking for a relationshipand like you obviously have
extra.
You're extra right and like allof us are extra, but you're
extra extra.
Like how does that work for you?
Are you on sites?
Do you post with prostheticlegs?
Like how do you navigate that?
Speaker 5 (32:28):
I have been on sites in the past.
I'm not currently on them rightnow.
I will say that the dating appsI've not that's where I would
say I get most of my dates fromare dating apps.
Definitely less so fromhappenstance meetings out in
person, but I have met a fewpeople that way too.
(32:50):
It's interesting.
In navigating all of it,there's a lot of mess involved.
I feel like it is hard out hereand the reality is, I agree,
there are a lot of women lookingfor relationships and I don't
know if the same amount of menare looking for relationships
right now.
Not to stereotype, like thegenders and any sort of capacity
, but I do think that that tendsto be the difference and it's
(33:14):
been interesting.
And also, I think, for the lastyear, like I'll be honest, for
a good while I wasn't lookingfor a relationship either, but I
was going on dates.
So that's just the way it wasand it wasn't that I would be
opposed if the right thing hadcome along, I think.
But I wasn't actively like yes,this has to end in marriage,
like that was not my goal withdating.
(33:36):
My goal with dating was to dipmy toe back into the waters and
be like all right.
Well, we'll see what happenshere.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
And how do you like when we've covered dating in the
past, you know, a lot of timespeople are afraid, you know,
after divorce whether it's youknow or never been married to
put themselves out there becausethey're worried about their
disability being the reasonsomeone's not interested in them
.
I mean, are you just I mean onthose sites, for example,
(34:05):
obviously in person someone'sseeing you, right, but like on
those sites, are you likeleading with your disability?
Is it something that you bringup, like how is that?
How do you navigate that andhow do you not follow up?
Aren't there like men that havelike this fetish thing with,
like, like how do you avoid that?
(34:26):
She's laughing you guys?
I didn't offend, but I thinkthat's a thing, right?
Or am I like watch too manyshows?
Speaker 1 (34:35):
There's a fetish for everything I mean.
I understand, but I reallythink that's a thing right?
Or am I like watching too manyshows?
There's a fetish for everythingI mean.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
I understand, but I really think that's a thing
thing.
Speaker 5 (34:39):
There's an amputee fetish, specifically, that's
what.
I meant For sure, so there's alot to unpack in this entire
question.
You know how do I want to saythis.
First of all, let's unpack thefetish thing, yeah let's get
that out.
I feel like, unless people arejust not being honest with me,
(35:03):
I've not encountered any ofthose people and any of the
people that I've met on datingapps.
I'm also quite picky.
I think post-divorce that'ssomething that I have figured
out is I don't want to waste mytime with even going on like one
or two dates with somebody thatI don't find attractive or I
don't think we'd get alongbecause of X, y and Z.
(35:26):
Like I'm not swiping right onevery single person that comes
across my feed, like I'm doingit intentionally.
Even when I didn't necessarilywant a relationship, I was still
swiping intentionally, and so Ithink that's an important thing
to say.
I think, when it comes to theaspect of rejection due to one's
disability, sometimes I thinkthe apps make it easier because
(35:48):
I am very transparent about mydisability online.
I mean mine's very visible, sothat helps.
If you have a hidden disability, I can see why this would be a
more complicated situation, butthere really is no hiding my
disability.
At the very least like I can'treally hide my arm at all unless
I hold it behind me and I wearpants with my prosthetic you're
going to be able to tell likesomething is different, and I
(36:12):
try to always have a bit ofhumor on my profile about
disability in some capacity aswell, but I would say that
because of that, it sort of actsas more of a barrier, a
screening tool.
A screening tool that's a greatway to put it.
A screening tool, people, thatI'm thinking of one app in
particular where people like youand then you can either choose
(36:35):
to match or not.
And I like that app a lotbecause I do think that it is a
screening tool on there, becauseit's less of an algorithm where
you're swiping swiping like agame, it's more intentional
anyway and then you see thatthis person has liked you.
Well, chances are, they atleast paid attention enough to
(36:55):
know that you have a disability.
And in my experience, that hasnot been an issue for me since
moving to Chicago.
And in my experience, that hasnot been an issue for me since
moving to Chicago.
I mean, there's been peoplethat have asked me more
questions than others andclearly felt more comfortable
around it than others, but Ialso think that, generally
speaking, nobody has been onlyone person has made any sort of
(37:19):
song and dance about it, andeven that was something
tolerable.
It wasn't anything, it was morethat they just had never really
encountered disability,especially in dating before.
And then they were just like,okay, so what do I do about this
?
What do I do about that?
And it was a lot for me in thetime and I we didn't see each
other after that date, but alittle on the logical side right
(37:41):
, Like a planner kind of.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
Kind of and it was just or just not wanting to
offend.
I mean that's like truthfully.
I mean some people, you know, Imean that's what this society
now is the opposite for a lot ofpeople.
Some people are just superoffensive and then other people
are so nervous to say the wrongthing or do the wrong thing that
it makes the whole.
You don't even know if you havechemistry, I would imagine,
(38:04):
because they're so caught up innot offending you and it's like
you know.
I think really, jessica, likeyou're so clearly comfortable
with who you are and I love tohear, uh, like anyone, but
especially a young woman, sayyou know, I am picky, like I'm
not just going to settle becauseI have extra.
(38:27):
I use the word extra, we're allI mean.
I'm extra, extra in a lot ofways too, but not, you know, you
might not see it right.
Oh, we see it.
Fine, I know you can see it.
Poor Estella, I love you cansee it.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
I'm like poor Estella I love you.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
The point is that you know you want someone who wants
to get to know you, right?
But this world is based onappearances a lot of it, and we
can't like change that.
So some people are going tojust not be interested in you.
They're not going to beinterested in me because I have
dark hair.
They're not going to beinterested in Estella because
she was wearing pink lipstick.
(39:03):
I mean, people are just people,and so what Estella and I do
when we talk about dating islike getting people to really
see that there could be amillion and one reasons why
someone doesn't connect with you.
And you know they may have todo with your disability or they
may not, but like, that's onthem, that's on them, that's
(39:24):
just.
It's just, it's just you'llfind the right person when the
right person and you connect.
So I love that.
But I want to switch.
We've done, jessica.
You're so interesting andthere's so much to you and we
can't like keep you here forever, although we would like to.
But I want to quickly touch onfitness, because I mean to be
(39:44):
able to hop around with like oneleg and to be a rock climber,
which I don't even understand,because doesn't that require?
I don't know, does that thatdoesn't require two arms, like I
don't know?
But so can you talk about that,because I'm just I'm amazed by
that.
I also am a big proponent forpeople who have shark, memory
(40:08):
tooth or any neuromuscularcondition that doesn't have a
cure, of being able tocompensate for your weaknesses
with your core and with otherthings, and obviously you must
do that, yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
Fitness is kind of newer for me too.
I actually well, yes and noBoth of my parents were in
sports growing up.
Let me start by saying that mydad was a PE teacher, and so
physical activity was somethingthat just like was expected in
some capacity for me.
I think Not that they expectedme necessarily with the
disability to get out there, butI think it was in my genetics,
(40:47):
like I want to do something andI always liked performing.
I think I as much as I canthank my parents for making me
who I am.
My desire to be an entertaineris also a big reason I am who I
am today, and so I did a lot ofmusical theater growing up, and
I also did a lot of dance.
So I trained 13 years as a kidin dance studios in my hometown
(41:12):
and that was my physical fitness, that was what I liked to do
for fun, and for some of that Iwore my prosthetic and then when
I took the prosthetic off, Ihopped around to dance and I
learned how to do it on one foot.
And you know, growing up thenin college and in like
post-college time, I realized aswell that, okay, fitness helps
(41:34):
me feel better, it helps me feelmore confident too, like
maintain a figure that makes mehappy.
It helps me boost my endorphins, which helps with my mental
health, and so leaning intogoing to the gym and all of
these things has been reallyinteresting.
But you know, I'm from a smalltown in the middle of nowhere,
illinois.
(41:55):
I didn't realize that adaptivefitness was a thing.
I know the Paralympics are hugeand have been huge forever.
I didn't even know that was athing.
I know the Paralympics are hugeand have been huge forever.
I didn't even know that was athing until truly like four
years ago.
I think that's kind of sad,honestly, that something so
global was something that didn'treach my corner of the world
(42:17):
until I was 22, 23 years old,and so for me, I didn't really
realize how much I could havedone and, like, looking back, if
I had known that, it makes mewonder like what I've been even
more into fitness.
But I think since learning that, I've been really interested in
like challenging myself andpushing myself, and that's how I
got involved with rock climbing.
(42:38):
When I moved to Chicago I waslike I need something, I need a
hobby that gets me out of myapartment.
I work from home.
I need something to dosomething.
And so somebody I was dating atthe time was really into rock
climbing, and so I just lookedit up.
I was like adaptive rockclimbing, maybe that's a thing,
and it was.
And so I started going to thisgym.
(42:59):
I started learning the ropes.
Fun little pun there.
And technically, it does help tohave all your limbs.
I will say it would probably beeasier, but I'm lucky because I
can use my shortened arm tohelp pull me up a little bit and
my residual limb, like I canput it, on certain footholds.
(43:20):
I'm not going to be climbinglike the most difficult rock
walls Like I'm doing, like thelower level ones that have more
footholds, that have morehandholds, but it's still fun
for me, it's still a challengeand I think that's why I like
that sport in particular,because it's both a physical and
mental challenge at the sametime.
So it just keeps me reallyengaged while I'm doing it, and
(43:41):
it's individual as well.
It's not something that I haveto rely on anybody else?
Speaker 3 (43:46):
Yes, and you could probably meet a lot of guys, I
would imagine.
Listen, I keep telling mystepdaughters they need to have
more hobbies that are like, notlike makeup and, by the way I
speak, like plenty of men wearmakeup.
I mean, this is not a gender,we're not doing gender thing
here.
I'm just saying, like golf,good hobby, like these are
(44:07):
hobbies.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
Yeah, just something that other people do, that are
mixed mixed around and I lovethat you found something that
challenges you and I thinkthat's good for anyone.
You know, if we can combine thephysical challenge with the
mental challenge and theemotional challenge, it all kind
of reflects back into our livesand in other unexpected ways
(44:30):
and I feel like, yes, we cantalk to you all day, jessica,
and we want everyone listeningto follow your content to really
see some of the amazing thingsthat Jessica is doing that we
haven't even discussed today.
But we like to end our podcastswith the question of what does
embrace it mean to you?
Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah.
So to me, embrace it just meanslike living in your
authenticity and really justowning who you are, every facet
of who that is, and not beingnot having weird guilt or shame
or any sort of negativity aroundwho you are, falling in love
with yourself.
I think embrace it is justanother form of self-love.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
I love that, yay.
Well, thank you, jessica.
Yay is right.
Jessica, you are so cool.
Speaker 3 (45:21):
I want to grow up and be you.
I mean seriously at least.
I want to learn how to makereels like you do.
You're really good at it.
She's inspiring and I mean,honestly, she was on Facebook,
recognized you.
I'm ending, I'm going to end,but I'm just saying, like you
were invited or like 10 peoplewere invited creators, and you
(45:44):
were one of them to Meta slashFacebook.
You're doing so great and can'twait to see where, where you go
next.
I'm a follower now Friendableis following you, jessica and um
, it was so cool to get to knowyou and um, you know we, we.
I use the word inspiring very,very purposely, consciously,
yeah, and, and you really arefor me, inspiring, um, because
(46:06):
of the person you are.
It's really cool.
Speaker 5 (46:09):
So anyways, where can people find you?
Yeah, uh, thank you so much forall the kind words.
First of all, I also just wantto say that, lainey, estella,
it's been so lovely chattingwith you, but, um, you can find
me at the rolling explorer onall the main social media
platforms.
Uh, I try to show up every day.
Thank you so much for for allof it, guys.
(46:30):
This has been great.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
Absolutely so much fun.
Thank you so much and um,everyone, check out Jessica and
we'll see you next time.
Bye everyone.
Hey, embracers, thank you somuch for listening and
supporting the Embrace itpodcast Brought to you by
Launchpad 516 Studios Executive,produced by George Andriopoulos
and hosted by Laini Ishbia andEstella Lugo.
(46:52):
Our music and sound effects arelicensed through Epidemic Sound
Embrace.
Speaker 3 (46:56):
It is hosted with Buzzsprout Do you have a
disability related topic you'dlove for us to feature, or could
someone you know be a fabulousguest on our show?
We would love to hear yourcomments and feature them on our
next podcast.
So leave us a voicemail or youcan even send us a text to
631-517-0066.
Speaker 1 (47:18):
Make sure to subscribe to this feed wherever
podcasts are available and leaveus a five-star review on Apple
Podcasts while you're at it.
Follow us at embraceitunderscore podcast on Instagram
and make sure to follow all thegreat podcasts produced by
Launchpad 516 Studios.
Speaker 3 (47:35):
We hope you join us next time and continue to
embrace it.
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