Out of Sync - Exploring Life Through Disability

Léa Hirschfeld
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  • Documentary

Out of Sync is an intimate podcast about life through disability — and a space for listening — created and hosted by me, Léa Hirschfeld. The first series was recorded across the United States during a Villa Albertine residency, from Vermont’s snow to California’s sun, gathering voices from Zeno Mountain Farm and beyond. Some guests are characters in my French-language book ZENO. The recordings came first; the book followed later. Together, they trace the same world — not as adaptations, but as parallel gestures — told in different languages, at different moments in time. Out of Sync will then open up to other English-language stories from different places, shaped by distinct lives, territories, and communities. To help us grow: click here! (https://www.outofsyncpodcast.com/support) New episodes drop every Tuesday. Transcripts for each episode are available on our YouTube channel. (https://www.youtube.com/@OutofSync_Podcast) For French stories, visit www.decalespodcast.com (http://www.decalespodcast.com) Out of Sync : exploring life through disability — one story at a time. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. Thinking Freely, Living Carefully: Life with SMAS | Chris

    Apr 28

    Thinking Freely, Living Carefully: Life with SMAS | Chris

    In this episode, we meet Chris Sciabarra—a writer whose sense of freedom began not in the body, but in the mind. Inspired early on by thinkers like Ayn Rand and later shaped by the dialectical ideas of Bertell Ollman, Chris built an inner world grounded in reason, inquiry, and intellectual independence. But while his mind roamed freely, his body told a different story. Living with the rare condition Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome, Chris faced lifelong physical limitations that made everyday life a constant negotiation. What emerges is a powerful contrast—and ultimately, a reconciliation—between independence as an idea and interdependence as a reality. Raised in a close-knit Brooklyn family, Chris’s story reveals how freedom is often sustained not alone, but through deep bonds of care and mutual support. This is a conversation about philosophy, illness, and the quiet strength of family—the kind that makes survival, and even flourishing, possible. I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Chris's blog & essays are available here : https://notablog.net/ “Born Again”: Fifty Years Ago Today (24 April 2024): https://medium.com/@cms10_7549/born-again-fifty-years-ago-today-32bd3935241cBack to Life from the Brink (28 April 2026):On Medium: https://medium.com/@cms10_7549/back-to-life-from-the-brink-9651105cbbc0On Substack: https://chrismatthewsciabarra.substack.com/p/153e7046-0763-48db-b764-57e047730828 Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h 33m
  2. Staying a Sister: Grief, Care, and My Brother | Isabel

    Apr 7

    Staying a Sister: Grief, Care, and My Brother | Isabel

    After the sudden passing of her mother, Isabel finds herself stepping into a role she never expected to take on so early: caring for her brother Tony, who has autism, while grieving a profound loss of her own. In this conversation, she reflects on their lifelong bond, the family dynamics that shaped them, and the delicate dance of being — and staying — a sister when the line between sisterhood and mothering begins to blur. I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h 7m
  3. Horseback Accident Survivor, Running for the Thrills | Marina

    Mar 31

    Horseback Accident Survivor, Running for the Thrills | Marina

    At 10, Marina survived a horseback riding accident that left her in a three-month coma. Recovery meant relearning basic skills, navigating school and friendships, and adjusting to a new way of living. A natural competitor and self-described overachiever, she performs in theater at Zeno Mountain Farm, hand-cycles marathons, and gains more independence every day—even when it’s hard. Her story explores finding freedom in unexpected places. What does it take to rebuild your life? How do small victories shape who we are? I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast on Patreon. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    50 min
  4. A Place in the Sun for My Son — Life with Cerebral Palsy | Ross

    Mar 24

    A Place in the Sun for My Son — Life with Cerebral Palsy | Ross

    In this episode, I meet Ross, whose life changed when his son Josh was born with cerebral palsy. What began as a father’s determination to include his child in everyday life grew into a larger mission: creating Access Sport America - an adaptive sports program - that rethinks what the world expects people with physical disabilities to be capable of. As our conversation unfolds, our stories begin to echo—his as a parent, mine as a sibling. Together, we explore what it really means to support, challenge, and believe in someone. A story about raising expectations, redefining ability, and building a life that refuses to be limited. I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    58 min
  5. Navigating Struggles While Supporting a Sibling with Special Needs | Noble

    Mar 17

    Navigating Struggles While Supporting a Sibling with Special Needs | Noble

    Everyone’s story is shaped by family, whether they’re present or not. Noble is no exception. He reflects on the dynamics with his parents and sisters, one of whom has Down syndrome. As a child, he noticed small cues others might miss. As a teenager, those moments became more intense — realizations about difference, responsibility, and connection. In this episode, we wonder: are these experiences related to his relationship with addiction? Did those years lay the foundations for the work he does today as a substance abuse counselor? I’m Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Episode 9 of Out of Sync - exploring life through disability, one story at a time, opening a new chapter of the podcast recorded in Boston. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h 12m
  6. Time To Move Out: Life With Down Syndrome | Lucy

    Mar 10

    Time To Move Out: Life With Down Syndrome | Lucy

    Independence doesn’t happen overnight—it’s something built slowly, through work, community, and learning how to navigate the world at your own rhythm. From friendships and creative projects at Zeno Mountain Farm to the quiet moments of figuring things out alone, Lucy reflects on what it means to grow up, leave home, and imagine a life that is fully hers. Moving out also means asking bigger questions: about love, belonging, and the simple desire to live a fulfilling life. Independence can feel exciting, uncertain, sometimes lonely—but also full of possibility. I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    35 min
  7. Tipi living & tidiness: nothing down about Down syndrome | Grace

    Mar 3

    Tipi living & tidiness: nothing down about Down syndrome | Grace

    When I asked Grace what it was like raising a toddler in a tipi with no running water or electricity in Vermont, she laughed and said she was lucky—because Ian didn’t toddle very much. Babies with Down syndrome often take things slower than most, and as Ian grew, Grace made a point of taking everything slowly but seriously, focusing on life skills. An experienced educator, she knew a lot about kids—but advocating for her own taught her something new: the power of community and common sense. I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    58 min
  8. Bouncing On Boundaries: Life With Williams Syndrome | Kate

    Feb 24

    Bouncing On Boundaries: Life With Williams Syndrome | Kate

    Kate describes herself as intensely social, deeply connected to music, sometimes too trusting — and many other things. This is her life with Williams syndrome, a rare genetic condition she reflects on. We talk about growing up alongside her siblings and peers at different rhythms, navigating school and work while often being underestimated, competing at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, and her hopes for a partner and maybe a family. I'm Léa Hirschfeld, and this is Out of Sync: exploring life through disability, one story at a time. New episodes drop every Tuesday on all platforms - for transcripts, check out our YouTube channel. 🇫🇷for French stories: Décalés ! You can support this independent podcast here! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    43 min
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About

Out of Sync is an intimate podcast about life through disability — and a space for listening — created and hosted by me, Léa Hirschfeld. The first series was recorded across the United States during a Villa Albertine residency, from Vermont’s snow to California’s sun, gathering voices from Zeno Mountain Farm and beyond. Some guests are characters in my French-language book ZENO. The recordings came first; the book followed later. Together, they trace the same world — not as adaptations, but as parallel gestures — told in different languages, at different moments in time. Out of Sync will then open up to other English-language stories from different places, shaped by distinct lives, territories, and communities. To help us grow: click here! (https://www.outofsyncpodcast.com/support) New episodes drop every Tuesday. Transcripts for each episode are available on our YouTube channel. (https://www.youtube.com/@OutofSync_Podcast) For French stories, visit www.decalespodcast.com (http://www.decalespodcast.com) Out of Sync : exploring life through disability — one story at a time. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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