041: Ariel of @Carpe_That__Diem on Gender, Identity, and Disability
Uninvisible Pod with Lauren Freedman
Shownotes Transcript
In this second installment of Lauren’s interview with Ariel, we dig further into his conditions and lifestyle: what his advocacy work means to him, his journey through the workforce and struggle to find employment with disabilities, his experience as a service dog handler, and life with thyroid disease, bipolar II, borderline personality disorder, endometriosis as a gender-diverse individual, and chronic pain. He emphasizes that these experiences are not unique to him – but that he is privileged to share his unique experience. (Again – if you hear dogs barking in this one, it’s just Caliban’s buddy Blue giving us a shout-out!)
**Join us as Ariel shares… **
what a typical day is like for him
that he struggles with agoraphobia
his need to connect with nature
what it’s like to lean on others as a Spoonie
that weather changes can trigger his symptoms, and force him to focus his work inward rather than outward
the expansion of his advocacy work
his background as a college instructor, why he loves academics, and how his work as an educator influences his advocacy work
what his advocacy work means to him
how poorly our working world is designed for us – and the lack of accommodations and opportunities available, especially for disabled individuals
factions within the disability community – and how the disability community is, however, also one of the most polite out there
an examination of his childhood development, and how it has influenced who he is today
his experience of discrimination when out in public with his service dog, Caliban
that he used to use mobility aids full-time – and now his disability markers are far less visible
that he lives with additional diagnoses, but chooses not to discuss them because there are already great advocates for those conditions
his advice for other Spoonies or individuals confronting gender identity issues
the importance of finding community
the importance of his changed relationship to food – from dysphoria to nourishment This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit uninvisiblepod.substack.com)