Spotlight Series 2026: Disability and Entertainment

About this EpisodeLewis Edon discusses his journey through bone cancer diagnosis, acting career, and mental health advocacy.Lewis Edon reflects on how a childhood diagnosis of bone cancer shaped his confidence, creativity and career. He explains how making YouTube videos helped him find his voice before he moved into acting, including work as an extra on the BBC drama The Gold. Lewis also discusses his advocacy platform, Let’s Be Real, and gaming channel, Wheel Assassin Guides, highlighting the value of bringing personal interests and disability identity together to create an authentic and supportive community.The conversation also examines disability and performance in the film industry, from inaccessible locations and unsuitable equipment to the importance of self-advocacy and access coordinators. Lewis, Lucy and Alice consider the emotional labour disabled professionals often carry, as well as the tendency for non-disabled colleagues to overthink everyday interactions. Lewis then speaks candidly about the effects of physical illness on mental health, including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation during childhood and adolescence. He addresses stigma around men’s mental health, the pressure to appear strong, the need for boundaries as a public figure, and the challenge of separating a medical diagnosis from one’s wider identity without reducing disability stories to negativity or “inspiration porn.”To download transcripts of this and every episode visit www.labledpodcast.co.uk, enjoy bonus episodes and a little bit more lABLEd, sign up to our Substack About our GuestLewis runs an online advocacy platform, Lets Be Wheel, and is a health and disability advocate, actor, and storyteller. Lewis created the platform to raise awareness, break social stigmas, and advocate for accessibility and inclusion. It focuses heavily on supporting individuals living with rare and chronic, long-term health conditions.Follow our Guest Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letsbewheelTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@letsbewheelWheelassassinGuides Gaming YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/WheelassassinGuidesSupport this PodcastLike LABLEd Podcast on FacebookTweet lABLEd PodcastFollow LABLEd Podcast on InstagramGot a comment or Question? Please email us!lABLEd Podcast is currently self-funded. Please consider donating to keep this show going. You can visit our Go Fund Me.Production TeamHost: Alice Evans, Lucy Wood and Daisy HolderGuest Booker: Emma PurcellEditor Adam HullSocial Manager: Ella McD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.