Always Looking Up

Jillian Curwin
  • 5.0 (25)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast dedicated to telling honest and real stories about living in a world that was not necessarily designed for us.

  1. 11H AGO

    Anna Johannes On The Paralympics As An Athlete And As An Audience Member

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Anna Johannes. Anna is a 2012 Paralympic bronze medalist and a seasoned strategist dedicated to redefining the intersection of sport and disability. After transitioning from elite swimming to the corporate world for the past decade, she has now launched her own consultancy, On the One Hand, and currently serves as a Partner and Co-founder at Culxtured, a media collective redefining Paralympic storytelling. We discussed the Milan 2026 Paralympic Games, from the athletes to the competition to the media coverage, and much, much more.   This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Anna: Instagram: @Anna_f_johannes Follow Culxtured: ⁠Instagram: @culxtured TikTok: @culxtured_ Website: https://culxtured.com Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 26m

  2. MAR 10

    Jillian Mercado And Syanne Bloom On Fashion As An Industry And Art Form

    In this week’s episode I welcomed back Syanne Bloom and Jillian Mercado. Syanne is an Afro-Indigenous disabled activist and political commentator who examines the intersection of politics, media, and representation. Her work exposes how industries like fashion often reflect the same systemic inequities seen in government and society. Jillian is an actress, model, and activist who has become a prominent figure in the fashion world, challenging beauty ideals, and re-defining traditional norms in the fashion industry. We discuss fashion as an art form and as an industry, how disabled people are still being treated within and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Syanne: Instagram: ⁠@syannebloom⁠ TikTok: ⁠@syannebloom⁠ Follow Jillian: Instagram: ⁠@jillianmercado⁠ TikTok: ⁠@thejillianmercado⁠ Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 33m

  3. MAR 3

    Plant Kween On The Practices Of Self-Care

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Christopher Griffin better known as Plant Kween. Christopher is a Brooklyn based black, queer, non-binary lifestyle creator with a focus on all things inspirational, fashion, design, and nature. Their work helps people reconnect with nature, live more sustainably, and inspires curiosity about the world around them. We discuss the never ending conversations around disability, the connection between plants and self care, how clothes allow us to be a character in our own stories and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Plant Kween: Instagram: @plantkween TikTok: @plantkween Website: https://www.plantkween.com Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr

  4. FEB 24

    Andrea Dalzell On Redefining Inclusive Healthcare

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Andrea Dalzell. Andrea, known as “The Seated Nurse”—is a New York City nurse leader, disability advocate, and wheelchair user redefining what inclusive healthcare looks like. Through storytelling, consulting, and keynote speaking, she equips institutions to move from empathy to action in disability inclusion. We discuss her journey towards becoming a nurse, what it means to truly listen to your patients and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Andrea: Instagram: @theseatednurse TikTok: @andreadalzell Website: https://www.theseatednurse.com Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 6m

  5. FEB 18

    Syanne Bloom And Jillian Mercado On Bad Bunny, The Fashion Industry And What True Inclusion Can And Should Be

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Syanne Bloom and Jillian Mercado. Syanne  is an Afro-Indigenous disabled activist and political commentator who examines the intersection of politics, media, and representation. Her work exposes how industries like fashion often reflect the same systemic inequities seen in government and society. Jillian is an actress, model, and activist who has become a prominent figure in the fashion world, challenging beauty ideals, and re-defining traditional norms in the fashion industry. We discuss Bad Bunny’s halftime concert and the power of representation and storytelling, the fashion industry and its current lack of disability inclusion and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Syanne: Instagram: @syannebloom TikTok: @syannebloom Follow Jillian: Instagram: @jillianmercado TikTok: @thejillianmercado Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 26m

  6. FEB 12

    Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan On Disability Advocacy Across The World

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan. Cara is a visionary international disability rights advocate whose career has spanned humanitarian action, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and storytelling. She is also a filmmaker and a passionate force for inclusion in the arts and media, most recently participating, owning and producing the short documentary film, Facing the Falls. We discuss her incredible career as an activist, the power and impact in seeing disabled people doing humanitarian work, why representation truly matters and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Cara: Instagram: @cara_yarkhan LinkedIn: Cara Yar Khan Website: https://carayarkhan.com Watch "Facing The Falls": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMa86VBidKE&t=1s Watch Cara's TED Talk, "The beautiful balance between courage and fear": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHgfcA6Vy24 Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 4m

  7. FEB 3

    Cara Reedy And Rebecca Cokley On Disability Through A Policy And Media Lens

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Cara Reedy and Rebecca Cokley. Cara is a journalist, filmmaker and a sometimes actor/comedian. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Disabled Journalists Association where we are working to make a more equitable industry for Disabled Journalists. Rebecca Cokley is a second generation civil rights activist raising a third. She is a political consultant, philanthropist, writer, and producer and is working on her first book. We discuss the current state of disability from both a policy and media perspective, what disability issues and stories we should all be paying attention to and much, much more. For context, this conversation was recorded on January 30, 2026. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn More About the Texas v Kennedy Case: https://dredf.org/texas-and-eight-other-states-renew-attack-on-section-504-and-the-right-of-disabled-people-to-live-in-their-communities/ Follow Disabled Journalists Association: Instagram: @disabledjournalists Website: https://discojourno.com Follow Rebecca Cokley: LinkedIn: Rebecca Cokley Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: ⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠ MN NOICE: ⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠ Community Aid Network MN: ⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠ Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 6m

  8. JAN 27

    Lachi On I Identify As Blind

    In this week’s episode I sat down with Lachi. Lachi is a world touring recording artist, award winning music executive, Disability Culture champion, host of PBS series Renegades, Recording Academy National Trustee, and producer of a GRAMMY-Nominated album. Born legally blind, Lachi created the U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), a consultancy group, collaborating on disability-inclusive solutions with the likes of Netflix, Live Nation and more, while bringing opportunities to its growing global network of professionals with disabilities. We discuss her newly released book I Identify As Blind, out today, and the stories and conversations that have filled its pages, who this book is for and what she hopes her readers take from it, celebrating the disability community and the people in it past, present and future and much, much more. This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Lachi: Instagram: ⁠@lachimusic⁠ YouTube: ⁠Lachi⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.lachimusic.com/index.html ⁠ Follow RAMPD: Instagram: ⁠@rampd_up⁠ Website: ⁠https://rampd.org/ ⁠ Buy I Identify As Blind: https://lachimusic.com/i-identify-as-blind.html Shop Glam Canes https://www.instagram.com/reel/DToHjpeEjbV/ Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read With Me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Minneapolis: Stand With Minnesota: https://www.standwithminnesota.com MN NOICE: https://mnnoice.com Community Aid Network MN: https://www.canmn.org Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits: Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    56 min
See All (229)

5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

A podcast dedicated to telling honest and real stories about living in a world that was not necessarily designed for us.

Information

  • Creator
    Jillian Curwin
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    229
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jillian Curwin
  • Show Website
    Always Looking Up