Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love

Mandi Alvarado
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Series

Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love is a podcast where personal story meets collective action. Hosted by an openly Queer Christian Disabled woman, this series expands on Mandi's original podcast, Find Your Beautiful, with a fresh lens—bringing lived experience, advocacy, and vision for change to the forefront. Through powerful storytelling and interviews, each episode uplifts the lived experiences of people with disabilities while also highlighting organizations working toward disability justice and meaningful access. Together, these conversations explore how disability justice and anti-ableist practices can be woven into our daily lives, workplaces, and communities. Whether you’re an individual seeking to unlearn ableism or an organization ready to create meaningful access, Beyond Beautiful offers insights, tools, and love-rooted strategies to build a more liberated and inclusive world.

  1. Episode 1

    Beyond Emergence

    Season 3 of Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love begins with a deeply personal solo reflection on what transformation truly means. Mandi challenges society's traditional idea of transformation as changing yourself to become more acceptable - and instead explores what it means to become more fully who you already are. Through reflections on disability identity, internalized ableism, butterfly metaphors, faith, accessibility, and authentic allyship, Mandi shares how transformation can happen internally, relationally, and collectively. Music Credit: "Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond Emergence

  2. Episode 2

    Beyond the Brain

    In this week’s episode of Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love, Mandi sits down with recovery expert Dr. Robb Kelly for a powerful and honest conversation about addiction, trauma, neuroscience, and healing. Dr. Robb shares his personal journey with alcoholism, recovery, and rebuilding his life, while also unpacking how trauma impacts the brain and why treating root causes—not just symptoms—is critical in the recovery process. Together, they discuss breaking generational cycles, mental health stigma, practical tools for healing, and finding hope even in life’s darkest moments. Content Note: This episode includes discussions of addiction, suicide, trauma, mental health struggles, and explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. This conversation is not intended to replace medical advice—please consult your healthcare providers before starting or stopping any treatments or medications. Episode LinksDr. Robb Kelly's Website Dr. Robb's Instagram: @Addiction_Doctor Bouy Hydration Drops Special Offer Beyond Beautiful Collective Facebook Group Mandi's Instagram: Intersectional_Access Sign Up for Mandi Mail

    Beyond the Brain

  3. Episode 3

    Beyond Surrender

    In this deeply personal solo episode, Mandi explores the reality that transformation often requires surrender. But surrender isn’t always soft, peaceful, or aesthetically pleasing—it can involve grief, endings, and releasing things that once felt safe. Mandi opens up about letting go of harmful theology, navigating the loss of relationships that required self-betrayal, surrendering people-pleasing habits, and redefining faith through a lens of authenticity, love, and liberation. She also explores repentance, redemption, disability theology, and why becoming more of yourself may require shedding masks that others benefited from. This episode is for anyone navigating change, grief, faith deconstruction, boundaries, and the messy middle of becoming. Music Credit"Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Links MentionedBouy Hydration Drops Beyond Beautiful Collective Mandi Mail

    Beyond Surrender

  4. Episode 4

    Beyond Autism

    In this episode of Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love, Mandi sits down with podcaster, entrepreneur, speaker, and autism advocate Sam Mitchell, host of Autism Rocks and Rolls. Together, they explore autism, identity, bullying, masking, authenticity, advocacy, and what it means to reject the idea that disabled people need to be “fixed” in order to belong. Sam shares his journey of building a successful podcast and nonprofit while embracing his identity as an autistic person and using his platform to challenge stigma surrounding autism and disability. This conversation also dives into representation, success, self-acceptance, and the importance of creating spaces where disabled people can show up authentically. Please note: this episode includes a few technology and audio challenges throughout the recording. Mandi also reminds listeners that guests are invited to use the language and frameworks that feel authentic to their lived experiences, even when perspectives may differ from her personal disability justice lens. Links Mentioned in this EpisodeBuoy Hydration Drops Autism Rocks and Rolls Beyond Beautiful Collective Mandi Mail

    Beyond Autism

  5. Episode 5

    Beyond Straight

    In this deeply personal kick-off to LGBTQIA+ Pride Month episode, Mandi shares her coming out story—from childhood clues and early experiences of attraction to navigating divorce, faith deconstruction, church hurt, and finding love. Through stories of grief, authenticity, and transformation, Mandi reflects on growing up as a disabled Latina in a culturally Catholic family, the challenges of reconciling faith and sexuality, and the ways God pursued her long before she had language for who she was. This episode isn't just about coming out. It's about becoming more fully yourself, trusting God's presence through uncertainty, and discovering that authenticity and faith were never meant to be enemies. Links in this EpisodeBuoy Hydration Drops Music Credit: "Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond Straight

  6. Episode 6

    Beyond Learning

    What happens when people decide what you're capable of before you've had the chance to prove them wrong? In this episode of Beyond Beautiful, Mandi sits down with Michelle Steiner, a writer, advocate, paraeducator, and photographer who lives with an invisible disability. Throughout her life, Michelle was told she wouldn't be able to attend college, earn a degree, get published, or pursue the career she wanted. Yet she has done all of those things—and more. Together, Mandi and Michelle explore learning differences, invisible disability, self-advocacy, educational barriers, and the power of believing in yourself when others underestimate you. This conversation is a reminder that disability does not define our potential, and that sometimes the greatest barriers we face are the expectations others place on us. Links in This EpisodeBuoy Hydration Drops Michelle's Website Mandi Mail Music Credit: Attribution Code "Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond Learning

  7. Episode 7

    Beyond the Hierarchy

    In this personal solo episode, Mandi explores the hierarchy of disability, the ways ableism operates as a system, and how internalized and lateral ableism can shape our relationships with ourselves and other disabled people. Drawing from her own experiences growing up as a physically disabled person, Mandi reflects on the pressure to distinguish herself from people with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive disabilities and the harmful messages she absorbed about whose disabilities were considered more acceptable, valuable, or worthy of respect. Through the lens of disability justice, she examines how ableism encourages disabled people to compete for dignity rather than challenge the systems that marginalize all of us. She also shares how her understanding of disability, community, and liberation transformed as she moved from separation toward solidarity. This episode is an invitation to engage in honest self-reflection, embrace accountability without shame, and imagine a future where every disabled person belongs. LinksBuoy Hydration Drops Mandi Mail Music CreditAttribution Code "Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond the Hierarchy

  8. Episode 8

    Beyond a Recipe

    What if accessibility extended all the way to the dinner table? In this episode of Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love, Mandi sits down with Nina Blake, The Grain-Free Lifestyle Coach, to explore how food, creativity, and inclusion intersect. After being faced with eliminating grains and numerous allergens from her diet, Nina refused to accept that she had to give up the foods and traditions she loved. Instead, she began "breaking recipes"—reimagining familiar comfort foods in ways that are both delicious and allergy-friendly. Together, Mandi and Nina discuss the emotional impact of dietary restrictions, the importance of creating meals everyone can enjoy, and how adapting recipes can foster connection rather than exclusion. This conversation is about more than food—it's about belonging, accessibility, resilience, and making sure no one has to miss out. LinksNina's Website 7 Simple Grain-Free Recipes Nina's Substack Nina's Facebook Group Nina's Facebook Profile Nina's Instagram Nina's Youtube Music Credit"Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond a Recipe

  9. Episode 9

    Beyond LGBTQIA+ Pride

    What happens when your faith and your identity collide? In this deeply personal episode, Mandi reflects on her journey as a queer Christian, the pain of losing her faith family after coming out, and why she chose to deepen rather than abandon her relationship with God. Mandi explores the expansiveness of God's love, the importance of cultural and historical context when interpreting Scripture, and the ways Christians have applied that context to many biblical teachings while often refusing to do so when discussing sexuality. She also begins breaking down the passages most often used to condemn LGBTQIA+ people, including Genesis 19, Leviticus 18 & 20, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, and 1 Timothy 1. This isn't an episode about changing hearts or winning an argument. It's an invitation to listen, question, and consider another perspective. There is room for faith, questions, queerness, and your whole self. LinksBuoy Hydration Drops Mandi Mail Music Credit"Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond LGBTQIA+ Pride

  10. Episode 10

    Beyond the Kitchen

    What does independence look like when you’re given the opportunity to build something that works with your life instead of forcing your life to work around it? In this episode of Beyond Beautiful, Mandi sits down with Marlee Kivens to hear the story behind her journey with Pampered Chef. Living with Spina Bifida and learning differences, Marlee has built a successful direct-sales business while finding greater independence, confidence, and community along the way. Marlee shares how she went from relying on a Personal Care Attendant to help her cook to cooking independently, the role direct sales has played in her life, and what it means to create a business on her own terms. Mandi also reflects on her own experience in direct sales, beginning in 2014 when her son was just six months old, and how that experience helped her discover her advocacy voice and reclaim ownership of her disability story. This conversation is about more than cooking or entrepreneurship. It’s about possibility, independence, community, and believing that disabled people deserve opportunities that allow us to thrive. Because sometimes the right opportunity doesn’t just give you a business. It gives you a new way to see yourself. LinksMarlee's Pampered Chef Website Pampered Chef Interactive Catalog Mandi Mail Music Credit"Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond the Kitchen

  11. Episode 11

    Beyond Disability Identity

    What happens when your faith and your understanding of disability begin to change? In this deeply personal episode of Beyond Beautiful, Mandi shares the evolution of her relationship with God—from discovering faith as a child, through seasons of rebellion and conservative Christianity, to confronting the ableism, shame, and spiritual violence that shaped how she understood disability and herself. Mandi explores how church spaces, inaccessible practices, traditional interpretations of Scripture, and assumptions about healing can communicate harmful messages about disabled bodies. She also shares the moment Nancy Eiesland’s The Disabled God transformed her understanding of disability theology and introduced her to the radical possibility of seeing the resurrected Christ as a wounded, disabled body. This episode isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking harder questions, reclaiming faith after religious trauma, and discovering a theology that makes room for disability, queerness, justice, grace, and joy. If you've ever been made to feel like your body was a problem to be fixed, your questions were a threat to your faith, or your identity made you less worthy of God's love, this conversation is for you. Content warning: This episode discusses religious trauma, spiritual violence, ableism, shame, and harmful experiences within Christian communities. LinksBuoy Hydration Drops Mandi Mail Sign Up Power the Podcast Music Credit"Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond Disability Identity

  12. Episode 12

    Beyond Community Integration

    What happens when the right to live in community becomes a legal question? In this episode, Mandi explores Texas v. Kennedy, Olmstead v. L.C., and the history of Willowbrook State School to unpack the fight for community integration. She names Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson, the two women at the center of Olmstead, and reflects on what Willowbrook teaches us about institutionalization, segregation, choice, and belonging. Because needing support should never mean losing your right to belong. “My need for support doesn’t erase my right to belong.” ⚠️ Content note: This episode discusses institutionalization, abuse and neglect, medical experimentation, and disability segregation. LinksBuoy Hydration Drops Mandi Mail Music Credit"Basic Implosion" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Beyond Community Integration
  • 12 Episodes

About

Beyond Beautiful: Disability, Liberation, Love is a podcast where personal story meets collective action. Hosted by an openly Queer Christian Disabled woman, this series expands on Mandi's original podcast, Find Your Beautiful, with a fresh lens—bringing lived experience, advocacy, and vision for change to the forefront. Through powerful storytelling and interviews, each episode uplifts the lived experiences of people with disabilities while also highlighting organizations working toward disability justice and meaningful access. Together, these conversations explore how disability justice and anti-ableist practices can be woven into our daily lives, workplaces, and communities. Whether you’re an individual seeking to unlearn ableism or an organization ready to create meaningful access, Beyond Beautiful offers insights, tools, and love-rooted strategies to build a more liberated and inclusive world.

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