Always Looking Up Jillian Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Daisy Friedman. Daisy is a writer and director based out of New York City. Her history as a multi-organ transplant recipient has drawn her to create work that centers on the intersections of tradition, intimacy, embodiment, and disability. We discuss the spaces in between disabled and not, the power in telling disabled stories that are raw, visceral, and personal, the making and importance of her acclaimed short film As You Are, spoilers ahead, and much, much more.
Watch As You Are: https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2024/05/07/as-you-are/
Follow Daisy: Instagram: @daisyfriedman_ Website: https://www.daisyfriedman.com
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode it is just me and the microphone as I sit in my thoughts and feels and reflect on the Little People of America national conference that just took place in Baltimore. I explain what the national conference is, reflect on what the week meant to me and yes, there was certainly some laughter and perhaps tears.
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Rebecca Williford. Rebecca is a seasoned, nationally recognized disability community leader and an ardent disability rights litigator, currently serving as the President & CEO of Disability Rights Advocates (or DRA), the leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center whose mission is to advance the rights, inclusion, and equity of people with disabilities through high-impact litigation, education, and advocacy. We discuss the role legal action plays in the disability rights movement, how DRA is changing the fabric of society and what it means to be a disabled person, and much, much more.
Follow Rebecca: Instagram: @rebecca.williford.dra LinkedIn: Rebecca Williford
Follow Disability Rights Advocates: Instagram: @dralegal LinkedIn: Disability Rights Advocates Website: https://dralegal.org
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Pamela Rae Schuller. Pamela is an internationally known disability and mental health advocate, and professional stand-up comedian. We discuss how she combines comedy and storytelling with a message about inclusion and mental health, how certain humor has to be earned, being powerfully snarky, underestimating our younger selves and much, much more.
Follow Pamela: Instagram: @pamelacomedy YouTube: Pamela Comedy Website: https://pamelacomedy.com/
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Muroj Negha. Muroj is a fashion designer who is striving to redefine the boundaries of fashion and empower individuals of short stature to express themselves authentically. We discuss trying to fit into spaces and clothing that are not designed for our bodies, the inaccessibility of adaptive fashion for people of short stature, how she is building a brand for herself, the community, and ultimately for everyone, and much, much more.
Follow Muroj: Instagram: @muroj_negha Website: https://muroj.art/ , https://www.graduatefashionweek.com/search-portfolios/muroj-negha
Follow Muroj Negha Fashion: Instagram: @murojnegha.fashion
Body Measurements Google Doc HERE
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Syanne Centeno-Bloom. Syanne is a prominent civil/disability rights activist, content creator and signed model. She has worked with brands like Dove, Thistle and Spire and Victoria’s Secret and also currently serves as a council member for Courage for America, confronting extremist ideologies by far-right lawmakers head-on. We discuss diversity and trends in disability representation, the beauty of vulnerability, showing that being disabled is being human and much, much more.
Follow Syanne: Instagram @syannebloom
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin