July 23, 2025 • 27 mins
Jennifer Gasner's journey is a compelling testament to resilience in the face of adversity, as she shares her profound experiences following her diagnosis of Friedreich's ataxia at the tender age of seventeen. Initially met with shock, Jennifer transformed her struggle into a powerful narrative of determination and advocacy, actively participating in disability rights movements and fostering a sense of community among those facing similar challenges. Her academic pursuits culminated in a BA in English and a master's degree in recreation, illustrating her unwavering commitment to personal growth despite the constraints imposed by her condition. In her recent work as an author, she encapsulates her life experiences in her memoir, "My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis," which seeks to inspire others by conveying that individuals with disabilities possess inherent worth and capabilities. Through this episode, we delve into her insights and the invaluable lessons gleaned from her journey, illuminating the path toward acceptance and empowerment for all individuals navigating the complexities of disability.
A profound exploration of resilience and self-advocacy manifests through the narrative of Jennifer Gasner, who faced the daunting diagnosis of Friedreich's Ataxia at the tender age of seventeen. Initially met with shock, her journey evolved as she adeptly transitioned from the challenges of mobility to embracing life in a wheelchair. Throughout her academic pursuits, including a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master’s in Recreation, Jennifer's commitment to disability advocacy crystallized. As a prominent figure at the Wisconsin Independent Living Centers, she championed disability rights, intertwining her personal experiences with her advocacy work. Her relocation to San Diego marked a new chapter where she continued to mentor youth and promote awareness about neuromuscular diseases as a FARA ambassador. This episode delves into her story, highlighting her transition from a diagnosis filled with uncertainties to a life defined by empowerment and hope, urging listeners to perceive disability through a lens of capability rather than limitation.
Takeaways:
- The podcast features Jennifer Gasner, who has bravely navigated life with Friedrich's Ataxia since her diagnosis at age 17.
- Jennifer transitioned from walking to using a wheelchair, demonstrating immense determination and resilience throughout her journey.
- She has actively contributed to disability advocacy, emphasizing the importance of embracing disability culture and community support.
- In her book, she chronicles her life journey, highlighting the themes of hope, acceptance, and the importance of self-worth despite challenges.
- Jennifer's experience with mentorship has profoundly influenced her outlook on disability, advocating for a shift in societal perceptions towards inclusivity.
- She encourages individuals with disabilities to recognize their inherent worth and capabilities, asserting that their disabilities do not define them.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:49):
My guest today is JenniferGassner. At 17, Jennifer received
the diagnosis of Friedrich'sAlexa, a rare and progressive neuromuscular
disease. Shock was her initialreaction. However, determination
and humor helped hertransition from walking to using
a wheelchair. She earned a BAin English at UW Platteville, actively
(01:13):
participating in studentactivities and radio. She later obtained
her Ms. In recreation fromWestern Illinois University. Jennifer
advocated for disabilityrights at Wisconsin Independent Living
Centers, embracing disabilityculture. At 28, she relocated to
San Diego. She mentored youththrough what's Next and co chaired
(01:36):
UC San Diego's staffassociation for staff with disabilities.
In 2020, as a FARA ambassador,she championed FARA research and
awareness. As a member of theInternational Memoir Writers association,
she was recognized as a memberof the month. Her writing appears
in Shaking the Tree, volumestwo, volumes three, four and six.
(02:01):
Feet Under. Yoga, movies andtravel occupy her free time. She
resides in San Diego withGregory and. And her dog. Welcome,
Jennifer, to the podcast.Well, Jennifer, welcome to the podcast.
How you doing today?
Good. How are you?
I'm good. It's good to haveyou on. I'm looking forward to this
conversation.
(02:23):
Thank you. So am I.
So I love to ask my guest thisquestion. What's the best piece of
advice you ever received?
Probably from my neurologist,about a month maybe after I was diagnosed,
(02:45):
he said, don't let thisinterview with whatever you have
planned, just keep going likethis hasn't happened.
Wow, that's.
Yeah.
Because it was trying toencourage you to stay the course
(03:05):
because, you know, you neverknow how this is gonna work out.
I like that.
Yes. Yes. Definitely.
Gotta give people hope all thetime, right? No matter what the situation.
Yes. And it was good to hear,too, because what I heard or what
(03:28):
I read is the worst casescenario for me. I was 17 at the
time. I was diagnosed with arare disease called Friedreich's
ataxia. And what I read atthat time, and there was very little
(03:53):
known about the disease,Disease, it was 1990, pre Internet
and everything. The worst casescenario was that I was going to
die by the time I was 25.
Wow.
And that was eight years.Eight years away. And he at least
(04:19):
my neurologist at least toldme that's not necessarily the case.
Yeah, that's definitely. Thatwould be devastating news to 17 to
have someone tell you thatthis is. This is kind of a death
sentence. You just don't know.You never know what God's going to
do with those situations.
(04:40):
Correct.
I'm curious, Jennifer, who aresome people, if you think back to
your journey that served as amentor or inspiration for you?
Definitely. My boss from theWisconsin Coalition of Independent
Living Centers, Maureen. Shewas a huge influence on me in terms
(05:09):
of understanding disabilityculture and all the different things
that you are basicallysocialized or told about disability
(05:29):
and how it really differs fromthe reality.
Wow. So what are some of thechallenges. I know this has been
a difficult journey. What aresome of the challenges you've had
to overcome because you havesuch a neat spirit about you? I can
just see it from our initialconversation. How do you keep your
(05:52):
spirits as. As up as you dowith the challenges you may have
to deal with?
Wow. I think there's. There'sa little. Because the disease progresses.
(06:13):
I wasn't in using a wheelchairuntil I was 26, so I had time to
sort of get used to the ideaso that. I'm sorry, I'm getting lots.
(06:37):
Can you repeat the question again?
Just, you're. You have such aneat spirit. How do you keep yourself,
you know, such a positive attitude?
Yes. Well, I think having thattime to sort of understand and get
(06:58):
used to it was a big part ofit. But then also I saw a group of
people with variousneuromuscular diseases. About a year,
(07:20):
no, two years after I had beendiagnosed, I went to this support
group not to end quotes. Andall of the people were obviously
(07:40):
very bitter and very feelingsorry for themselves. And I saw that
as something I could becomeeasily, but I didn't want to live
my life that way. I realized Iwanted to have more of a positive
(08:10):
attitude about everything.
I love that. And I love thefact that you went on to pursue higher
education degrees or whatinspired you to pursue those degrees.
Well, initially I have gone tocollege to pursue a communications
(08:35):
degree to be a DJ for a TVpersonality. And obviously my voice
was different at that point,but you could kind of start to tell
that my voice wasn't reallygoing to lend itself to be actively
(09:02):
involved in that sort ofmedium. So I changed my major to
English, and I realized that Ireally love, loved writing. And so
through my bachelor's degree,I was really heavily involved in
(09:33):
lots of different studentactivities. And my involvement in
that was what led me to pursuemy master's degree initially to be
in college student personnel.But I found out pretty quickly I
(09:59):
didn't like it. So I ended upjust getting a master's in recreation.
I love that you're an advocatefor people disabilities. Tell us
about some of the work thatyou do.
(10:21):
So lately it's been mostlywriting the book and preparing, promoting
Book and talking to peoplereally about their perceptions of
people with disabilities andtrying to get them to understand
(10:47):
and make the shift that we'renot incapable of, of doing things.
We need to do thingsdifferently than the majority of
people that, but that justmake us, and I say in air quotes
(11:10):
again, special.
Right.
Like we just want to betreated as human as well. We're capable,
we're worthy and, and we'renot all, you know, struggling and
(11:36):
constantly depressed aboutthat. You know, the situation we
find ourselves in.
Yeah. That's important to knowthat you, you're not special. You're
just have to do. Maybe you'rethe way you may take you a little
longer or have to do adifferent approach, but that doesn't
(11:58):
mean that you should betreated differently because you do
things differently. Otherpeople do.
Yeah, yeah. And I've done, youknow, different things. I mentored
youth with disabilities. I'vehelped out my friends who are teachers
(12:22):
that are professors atuniversities with their classes and
things like that as well.
I love it. So tell us aboutyour book, My Unexpected Life Finding
Balance beyond my Diagnosis.
(12:43):
So it's really chronologicalpicture of my life from the time
I was 16, so pre diagnosis toabout 28. So it's. It's about basically
(13:10):
my journey from fear toacceptance after receiving that news
at 17. So I go throughcollege, grad school, a little bit
of my early professionalcareer and things like that.
(13:35):
You have the term balance inyour title of your book. What does
balance mean to someone likeyou who's had to kind of maybe do
things differently? Otherpeople have.
Well, that. That's a reallyinteresting question because balance
(13:55):
is sort of a difficult thingfor anyone with any sort of a taxi.
A taxi is loss of balance andcoordination. So I think for me,
(14:15):
the balance was really aboutembracing my identity and not always
being so quick to ask forpeople's. What. What is the word
(14:36):
I'm looking for to. To expectpeople to accept me despite my disability.
Like you. You accept me withmy disability no matter what.
(15:01):
Yeah, that's a good point.How, how have people received your
book who picked it up so far?
I fairly. Well, I don't meanto like say that you get to take
any point, but I reallyappreciated the people, people who
(15:29):
say they can relate. And even,even one of my doctors who write
it has said, oh, you reallybrought to life the feeling being
young and being a teenager andreally navigating, figuring out are
(15:58):
you going to navigate throughthe world with all of these pressures?
I love that. What, what wordsdo you want to have for people who
are dealing with disabilities.Maybe kind of a word of encouragement
as you've overcome so many things.
(16:20):
I just think it's reallyimportant to keep in mind that you're
worthy, you're lovable, andyou have lots of abilities, despite
what everyone says or implies.
(16:42):
I love it. So I gotta ask youabout Dave Matthews. So it seems
like you have a friendshipwith this rock star, Dave Matthews,
who I think, if I'm notmistaken, just got inducted Rock
and Roll hall of Fame. How hasthat. How is that that connection
influenced your. Your life andyour writing?
Well, I don't know really ifhe's been. I shouldn't say this,
(17:10):
that yes, he's been aninfluence in my writing because I
written about him, but I thinkhe really was instrumental in getting
me confidence and in me toreally grasp the future I thought
(17:44):
I had lost. Because I grew upin Wisconsin and I had always wanted
to move to California. Thatwas always in the back of my head.
And because of his friendshipand being able to. To get the van
(18:12):
that he graciously gave me, Iwas able to fulfill the dream of
moving to California. Sowithout him there, there really would
be probably no fuck or no, nofulfillment of that dream, because
(18:47):
being in San Diego was reallyintegral to me finding the writing
community and all that.
Who wants to leave lovelyWisconsin for sunny California though?
It is. It can be beautifulthere with. With doubt.
(19:14):
I used to live in Wisconsinfor. For eight years. So I know what
lovely. How lovely the wintersare in Wisconsin.
Where. Where Wisconsin did you live?
Milwaukee.
Oh, yeah. I lived there for awhile too.
Yeah. They told me it's nevercold there. Then I moved there and
(19:34):
it snowed in November anddidn't melt until April. So I think
they did not. They were nothonest about the weather in Wisconsin.
Yeah, definitely.
As you think about your book,you talk about a turning point for
you. Tell us a little bitabout the turning point you elaborate
on in your book.
(19:58):
I, for. For one huge turningpoint would be definitely going to
this poor group and meetingthe. Meeting a bunch of older people
(20:20):
and seeing how bitter theywere. That was a huge turning point.
And then the other one waswhen my boss Maureen, who I spoke
about earlier, reallyexplained to me the idea that Jerry
(20:48):
Lewis and Christopher Reevewere really not always perceived
very well within thedisability community. That really
(21:09):
shifted my perspective a lot.
Yeah, that makes sense. So Ilove to ask my guest this question.
Oh, go ahead.
Oh, I was gonna say, and keepin mind, this is 19. Well, maybe
2,000 so, you know, forcurrent. Current listeners may not
(21:39):
know, Jerry Lewis hosted a 10telethon every year around Labor
Day. And so that was hiscontribution to defining disability.
(21:59):
And Christopher Reeve famouslyplayed Superman but had a spinal
cord injury.
So what in the. In thedisability community shifted their
opinions of those two? Becausewe always think of, you know, Christopher
Reeves as being so here, youknow, heroic after dealing with that
(22:21):
spinal injury and Jerry Lewisas being the face of the shrine.
Was it not Shriners? What wasit? The muscular dystrophy? Right.
Yeah. A lot of it was to dowith their. The way they portrayed
(22:41):
disability. It's alwayssomething sad and pitiful. And as
people who were not worthy orable to participate at all in life,
(23:08):
it was very much from adeficit point of view. And Christopher,
really famously, all he wantedwas to find a cure for spinal cord
(23:28):
injury. And the cure kind ofimplies that people with disabilities
are not fine the way they are.They need to kind of accept or they
(23:51):
should try to meet some. Somestandard of able body and to be able
to fit into society.
Now, I can see how that wouldbe very hurtful then, for that community.
(24:11):
If you're trying to fixsomething all the time and you're
not accepting this is who I amand just living with this is who
I am for a lot of people whocan't be necessarily fixed supposedly,
then, yeah, I could see howthat would be very hurt.
Yeah.
I love to ask my guest thisquestion. Jennifer, what do you want
(24:32):
your legacy to be.
Really? I just hope my legacyis one where I talk. I like to think
I talk pretty really aboutthings. I'm not afraid to be vulnerable,
(24:56):
but I also just want to beable to shift somebody's perspective
about disability.
I love that. And that's soimportant because I think even just
examples you just talkedabout, about, you know, Christopher
Reeves and Jerry Lewis, toknow that you're okay being who you
(25:19):
are in the situation that Godhas placed you in is helpful for
people who are there andlooking for hope. And I think the
whole part that we talkedabout early on in this podcast, everybody
needs that hope. So how canyou find hope in your current situation?
Yeah.
So where can people hopefullyfind your book, My Unexpected Life
(25:41):
and find Finding Balance andBeyond My Diagnosis?
So it's available on Amazonand you can order it from almost
anywhere you buy books. It'snot necessarily going to be on the
shelf at your local bookstore,but you can definitely order it through
(26:11):
them.
And where can they connectwith you on social media and follow
what you're doing.
I'm on Instagram at Jenny J.Writer and Facebook at Jennifer gaster,
author and LinkedIn atJennifer Gaster.
(26:34):
Well, Jennifer, thanks so muchfor coming on the podcast and sharing
your story and providing hope.I pray that people who pick this
up and listen to us areinspired by your story and pick up
your book and read it andleave a review, because it's important
for those who buy the book toleave a review so more people can
find it.
Please.
Yes, please leave reviews.
And and if you go to mywebsite, which is jennifer gassner.com
(27:01):
you can sign up for themailing list and you get a link to
the playlist for the bookbecause I mention a lot of music.
Cool. Well, Jennifer, thankyou. You have a blessed day. And
thanks for being on the show.
(27:21):
You, too. Thank you so much.
My guest today is JenniferGassner. At 17, Jennifer received
the diagnosis of Friedrich'sAlexa, a rare and progressive neuromuscular
disease. Shock was her initialreaction. However, determination
and humor helped hertransition from walking to using
a wheelchair. She earned a BAin English at UW Platteville, actively
(01:13):
participating in studentactivities and radio. She later obtained
her Ms. In recreation fromWestern Illinois University. Jennifer
advocated for disabilityrights at Wisconsin Independent Living
Centers, embracing disabilityculture. At 28, she relocated to
San Diego. She mentored youththrough what's Next and co chaired
(01:36):
UC San Diego's staffassociation for staff with disabilities.
In 2020, as a FARA ambassador,she championed FARA research and
awareness. As a member of theInternational Memoir Writers association,
she was recognized as a memberof the month. Her writing appears
in Shaking the Tree, volumestwo, volumes three, four and six.
(02:01):
Feet Under. Yoga, movies andtravel occupy her free time. She
resides in San Diego withGregory and. And her dog. Welcome,
Jennifer, to the podcast.Well, Jennifer, welcome to the podcast.
How you doing today?
Good. How are you?
I'm good. It's good to haveyou on. I'm looking forward to this
conversation.
(02:23):
Thank you. So am I.
So I love to ask my guest thisquestion. What's the best piece of
advice you ever received?
Probably from my neurologist,about a month maybe after I was diagnosed,
(02:45):
he said, don't let thisinterview with whatever you have
planned, just keep going likethis hasn't happened.
Wow, that's.
Yeah.
Because it was trying toencourage you to stay the course
(03:05):
because, you know, you neverknow how this is gonna work out.
I like that.
Yes. Yes. Definitely.
Gotta give people hope all thetime, right? No matter what the situation.
Yes. And it was good to hear,too, because what I heard or what
(03:28):
I read is the worst casescenario for me. I was 17 at the
time. I was diagnosed with arare disease called Friedreich's
ataxia. And what I read atthat time, and there was very little
(03:53):
known about the disease,Disease, it was 1990, pre Internet
and everything. The worst casescenario was that I was going to
die by the time I was 25.
Wow.
And that was eight years.Eight years away. And he at least
(04:19):
my neurologist at least toldme that's not necessarily the case.
Yeah, that's definitely. Thatwould be devastating news to 17 to
have someone tell you thatthis is. This is kind of a death
sentence. You just don't know.You never know what God's going to
do with those situations.
(04:40):
Correct.
I'm curious, Jennifer, who aresome people, if you think back to
your journey that served as amentor or inspiration for you?
Definitely. My boss from theWisconsin Coalition of Independent
Living Centers, Maureen. Shewas a huge influence on me in terms
(05:09):
of understanding disabilityculture and all the different things
that you are basicallysocialized or told about disability
(05:29):
and how it really differs fromthe reality.
Wow. So what are some of thechallenges. I know this has been
a difficult journey. What aresome of the challenges you've had
to overcome because you havesuch a neat spirit about you? I can
just see it from our initialconversation. How do you keep your
(05:52):
spirits as. As up as you dowith the challenges you may have
to deal with?
Wow. I think there's. There'sa little. Because the disease progresses.
(06:13):
I wasn't in using a wheelchairuntil I was 26, so I had time to
sort of get used to the ideaso that. I'm sorry, I'm getting lots.
(06:37):
Can you repeat the question again?
Just, you're. You have such aneat spirit. How do you keep yourself,
you know, such a positive attitude?
Yes. Well, I think having thattime to sort of understand and get
(06:58):
used to it was a big part ofit. But then also I saw a group of
people with variousneuromuscular diseases. About a year,
(07:20):
no, two years after I had beendiagnosed, I went to this support
group not to end quotes. Andall of the people were obviously
(07:40):
very bitter and very feelingsorry for themselves. And I saw that
as something I could becomeeasily, but I didn't want to live
my life that way. I realized Iwanted to have more of a positive
(08:10):
attitude about everything.
I love that. And I love thefact that you went on to pursue higher
education degrees or whatinspired you to pursue those degrees.
Well, initially I have gone tocollege to pursue a communications
(08:35):
degree to be a DJ for a TVpersonality. And obviously my voice
was different at that point,but you could kind of start to tell
that my voice wasn't reallygoing to lend itself to be actively
(09:02):
involved in that sort ofmedium. So I changed my major to
English, and I realized that Ireally love, loved writing. And so
through my bachelor's degree,I was really heavily involved in
(09:33):
lots of different studentactivities. And my involvement in
that was what led me to pursuemy master's degree initially to be
in college student personnel.But I found out pretty quickly I
(09:59):
didn't like it. So I ended upjust getting a master's in recreation.
I love that you're an advocatefor people disabilities. Tell us
about some of the work thatyou do.
(10:21):
So lately it's been mostlywriting the book and preparing, promoting
Book and talking to peoplereally about their perceptions of
people with disabilities andtrying to get them to understand
(10:47):
and make the shift that we'renot incapable of, of doing things.
We need to do thingsdifferently than the majority of
people that, but that justmake us, and I say in air quotes
(11:10):
again, special.
Right.
Like we just want to betreated as human as well. We're capable,
we're worthy and, and we'renot all, you know, struggling and
(11:36):
constantly depressed aboutthat. You know, the situation we
find ourselves in.
Yeah. That's important to knowthat you, you're not special. You're
just have to do. Maybe you'rethe way you may take you a little
longer or have to do adifferent approach, but that doesn't
(11:58):
mean that you should betreated differently because you do
things differently. Otherpeople do.
Yeah, yeah. And I've done, youknow, different things. I mentored
youth with disabilities. I'vehelped out my friends who are teachers
(12:22):
that are professors atuniversities with their classes and
things like that as well.
I love it. So tell us aboutyour book, My Unexpected Life Finding
Balance beyond my Diagnosis.
(12:43):
So it's really chronologicalpicture of my life from the time
I was 16, so pre diagnosis toabout 28. So it's. It's about basically
(13:10):
my journey from fear toacceptance after receiving that news
at 17. So I go throughcollege, grad school, a little bit
of my early professionalcareer and things like that.
(13:35):
You have the term balance inyour title of your book. What does
balance mean to someone likeyou who's had to kind of maybe do
things differently? Otherpeople have.
Well, that. That's a reallyinteresting question because balance
(13:55):
is sort of a difficult thingfor anyone with any sort of a taxi.
A taxi is loss of balance andcoordination. So I think for me,
(14:15):
the balance was really aboutembracing my identity and not always
being so quick to ask forpeople's. What. What is the word
(14:36):
I'm looking for to. To expectpeople to accept me despite my disability.
Like you. You accept me withmy disability no matter what.
(15:01):
Yeah, that's a good point.How, how have people received your
book who picked it up so far?
I fairly. Well, I don't meanto like say that you get to take
any point, but I reallyappreciated the people, people who
(15:29):
say they can relate. And even,even one of my doctors who write
it has said, oh, you reallybrought to life the feeling being
young and being a teenager andreally navigating, figuring out are
(15:58):
you going to navigate throughthe world with all of these pressures?
I love that. What, what wordsdo you want to have for people who
are dealing with disabilities.Maybe kind of a word of encouragement
as you've overcome so many things.
(16:20):
I just think it's reallyimportant to keep in mind that you're
worthy, you're lovable, andyou have lots of abilities, despite
what everyone says or implies.
(16:42):
I love it. So I gotta ask youabout Dave Matthews. So it seems
like you have a friendshipwith this rock star, Dave Matthews,
who I think, if I'm notmistaken, just got inducted Rock
and Roll hall of Fame. How hasthat. How is that that connection
influenced your. Your life andyour writing?
Well, I don't know really ifhe's been. I shouldn't say this,
(17:10):
that yes, he's been aninfluence in my writing because I
written about him, but I thinkhe really was instrumental in getting
me confidence and in me toreally grasp the future I thought
(17:44):
I had lost. Because I grew upin Wisconsin and I had always wanted
to move to California. Thatwas always in the back of my head.
And because of his friendshipand being able to. To get the van
(18:12):
that he graciously gave me, Iwas able to fulfill the dream of
moving to California. Sowithout him there, there really would
be probably no fuck or no, nofulfillment of that dream, because
(18:47):
being in San Diego was reallyintegral to me finding the writing
community and all that.
Who wants to leave lovelyWisconsin for sunny California though?
It is. It can be beautifulthere with. With doubt.
(19:14):
I used to live in Wisconsinfor. For eight years. So I know what
lovely. How lovely the wintersare in Wisconsin.
Where. Where Wisconsin did you live?
Milwaukee.
Oh, yeah. I lived there for awhile too.
Yeah. They told me it's nevercold there. Then I moved there and
(19:34):
it snowed in November anddidn't melt until April. So I think
they did not. They were nothonest about the weather in Wisconsin.
Yeah, definitely.
As you think about your book,you talk about a turning point for
you. Tell us a little bitabout the turning point you elaborate
on in your book.
(19:58):
I, for. For one huge turningpoint would be definitely going to
this poor group and meetingthe. Meeting a bunch of older people
(20:20):
and seeing how bitter theywere. That was a huge turning point.
And then the other one waswhen my boss Maureen, who I spoke
about earlier, reallyexplained to me the idea that Jerry
(20:48):
Lewis and Christopher Reevewere really not always perceived
very well within thedisability community. That really
(21:09):
shifted my perspective a lot.
Yeah, that makes sense. So Ilove to ask my guest this question.
Oh, go ahead.
Oh, I was gonna say, and keepin mind, this is 19. Well, maybe
2,000 so, you know, forcurrent. Current listeners may not
(21:39):
know, Jerry Lewis hosted a 10telethon every year around Labor
Day. And so that was hiscontribution to defining disability.
(21:59):
And Christopher Reeve famouslyplayed Superman but had a spinal
cord injury.
So what in the. In thedisability community shifted their
opinions of those two? Becausewe always think of, you know, Christopher
Reeves as being so here, youknow, heroic after dealing with that
(22:21):
spinal injury and Jerry Lewisas being the face of the shrine.
Was it not Shriners? What wasit? The muscular dystrophy? Right.
Yeah. A lot of it was to dowith their. The way they portrayed
(22:41):
disability. It's alwayssomething sad and pitiful. And as
people who were not worthy orable to participate at all in life,
(23:08):
it was very much from adeficit point of view. And Christopher,
really famously, all he wantedwas to find a cure for spinal cord
(23:28):
injury. And the cure kind ofimplies that people with disabilities
are not fine the way they are.They need to kind of accept or they
(23:51):
should try to meet some. Somestandard of able body and to be able
to fit into society.
Now, I can see how that wouldbe very hurtful then, for that community.
(24:11):
If you're trying to fixsomething all the time and you're
not accepting this is who I amand just living with this is who
I am for a lot of people whocan't be necessarily fixed supposedly,
then, yeah, I could see howthat would be very hurt.
Yeah.
I love to ask my guest thisquestion. Jennifer, what do you want
(24:32):
your legacy to be.
Really? I just hope my legacyis one where I talk. I like to think
I talk pretty really aboutthings. I'm not afraid to be vulnerable,
(24:56):
but I also just want to beable to shift somebody's perspective
about disability.
I love that. And that's soimportant because I think even just
examples you just talkedabout, about, you know, Christopher
Reeves and Jerry Lewis, toknow that you're okay being who you
(25:19):
are in the situation that Godhas placed you in is helpful for
people who are there andlooking for hope. And I think the
whole part that we talkedabout early on in this podcast, everybody
needs that hope. So how canyou find hope in your current situation?
Yeah.
So where can people hopefullyfind your book, My Unexpected Life
(25:41):
and find Finding Balance andBeyond My Diagnosis?
So it's available on Amazonand you can order it from almost
anywhere you buy books. It'snot necessarily going to be on the
shelf at your local bookstore,but you can definitely order it through
(26:11):
them.
And where can they connectwith you on social media and follow
what you're doing.
I'm on Instagram at Jenny J.Writer and Facebook at Jennifer gaster,
author and LinkedIn atJennifer Gaster.
(26:34):
Well, Jennifer, thanks so muchfor coming on the podcast and sharing
your story and providing hope.I pray that people who pick this
up and listen to us areinspired by your story and pick up
your book and read it andleave a review, because it's important
for those who buy the book toleave a review so more people can
find it.
Please.
Yes, please leave reviews.
And and if you go to mywebsite, which is jennifer gassner.com
(27:01):
you can sign up for themailing list and you get a link to
the playlist for the bookbecause I mention a lot of music.
Cool. Well, Jennifer, thankyou. You have a blessed day. And
thanks for being on the show.
(27:21):
You, too. Thank you so much.
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