Welcome to another encore episode of You First. We’re taking a little break from making new episodes and are re-sharing some past episodes that we feel are worth another listen. This is the third of four encore episodes, initially released in July of 2023, and it’s called "Paving a Way Read More

Today we have another encore episode of You First. This is the second of four encore episodes as we’re taking a bit of a break from producing new episodes. Now this episode, "The Intersection of Disability and Reproductive Justice," is by far our most popular episode – and by a Read More

We’re taking a break from producing new episodes of You First for a bit, so we’ll be re-releasing four older episodes that we feel are worth another listen. We’re starting things off with an episode that is from February 2021 called "Disability Media Representation." We spoke with Beth Haller and Read More

In this episode of You First, hosts Maddie and Keith dive into disability voting rights and the upcoming 2024 election with experts Michelle Bishop, Monica Wiley, and Jack Rosen from the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). The discussion explores voting accessibility, challenges faced by disabled voters, and new support resources in Read More

In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie interview Matthew Cortland, a Senior Resident Fellow at Data for Progress. Matthew shares insights about their work in public opinion research and advocacy focused on disability issues and social policies. They discuss their personal journey, including challenges with the healthcare Read More

In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Maddie and Keith talk with disabled activist and attorney Marissa Ditkowsky about the challenges and inequities faced by disabled women in healthcare, employment, and financial freedom. Marissa discusses her role as Disability Economic Justice Council at the National Partnership for Women and Families and Read More

In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Keith and Maddie interview Cara Reedy, founder and director of the Disabled Journalists Association. Cara shares her journey from political science and theater to journalism, spending ten years at CNN. She discusses the challenges of being disabled in the newsroom, toxic Read More

Content warning: mentions of suicide, assisted suicide, and medical violence against people with disabilities. In this compelling episode of the You First podcast, hosts Maddie and Keith continue their in-depth interview with Anita Cameron, a prominent activist in the disability rights movement. They explore Anita's role at Not Dead Yet, focusing Read More

On this episode of You First, we talk with the fantastic disability rights activist Anita Cameron. Anita was, and still is, a core reason why we have disability rights today. They were an early adopter of disability rights and justice advocacy and heavily involved and a leader of the organization Read More

In this unique episode of You First, hosts Maddie and Keith share a personal and insightful discussion about Long Covid and its effects on everyday life. Initially delayed due to Maddie's Long Covid flare-up, this episode takes a candid and casual approach to a serious topic, highlighting symptoms, the politicization of masking, Read More

Today's episode features disability and artificial intelligence (AI) experts Larry Weru, Ariana Aboulafia, and Jennifer Gray. AI has been around for years, but things changed when OpenAI released ChatGPT. Since then, the news around AI has increased a lot. AI is more than just a chatbot responder; it can be used Read More

This podcast episode features Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan, prominent figures in disability advocacy and social change. Their pioneering initiative, #CripTheVote, created alongside Alice Wong, has been important in raising awareness about the political power of disabled citizens and sparking meaningful conversations about disability, politics, and activism. Through their efforts, Read More

In this episode of You First, co-hosts Keith and Maddie speak with Indigenous activist and disability rights leader Vesper Moore about the Mad Movement, psychiatric survivorship, and envisioning a future of collective care. Vesper, deeply involved in mental health and disability rights activism, discusses their work in altering perceptions and Read More

In today's episode, we are joined by two international disability advocates, Rosangela Berman Bieler and Patricia Almeida. During our conversation, we discuss the importance and impact of global disability policy and rights work, including their work with the UN and UNICEF. They also discuss how other countries compare to the Read More

In this week's episode, co-hosts Keith and Maddie talk with The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies' Co-Directors Shaylin Sluzalis & Germán Parodi. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people Read More

In this episode of You First, we talk with Jen White-Johnson (she/they), a renowned artist, educator, and disability activist who uses the arts as a medium to champion the life, joy, and experiences of the disabled and neurodivergent community. Jen discusses their journey as someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Read More

Two Disability Rights Florida education advocates, April Katine and Daysi Ortiz, join Keith in education planning for students with disabilities. The three discuss the importance of individual education plans (IEPs) and transition planning and offer tips on how parents can more effectively find success throughout the process. Tune in to Read More

In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie talk with guests Neal Carter, Jess Moore Matthews, Sarah Blahovec, and Dom Kelly about disability-inclusive campaigning, strategies to reach disabled voters, and the significance of accessible elections. Today's episode is not about any specific candidates or voting laws. Instead, we focus on Read More

In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie discuss the impact of language on disability rights and inclusion with advocates Lawrence Carter-Long, Damian Gregory, and Laura-Lee Minutello. The conversation highlights the #SayTheWord disability campaign, personal experiences with disability-related language, government services, marketing, and legislation affecting the disability community. They Read More

In this bonus episode, You First Podcast host Maddie talks with 5 guests about various legal and medical precedents that have led to the division between the disability and LGBTQ+ communities. The history between the LGBTQ+ community and the disability community is often at odds with each other. Historically, LGBTQ+ identities Read More