The Tangent

There's a point... and we'll get there.Through The Tangent, I invite you to explore the intricate and captivating details of living with a disability. In each episode of this immersive journey we dive deep into the behind-the-scenes narratives, untold stories, and unexpected tangents that shape life while navigating the world with a disability and how to build resilience and all that. Join me for candid conversations - sharing triumphs, challenges, and the everyday moments that make life extraordinary. This podcast goes beyond conventional narratives, celebrating the diverse experiences within the disability community while also weaving in unexpected tangents that delve into the intersectionality of identity, the role of technology, and insights into creating a more inclusive world. Whether you're a disabled person, a curious listener, or an advocate for genuine, human storytelling, "The Tangent" invites you to join me on an adventure where each episode unfolds as a new opportunity to broaden your perspective and embrace the richness that comes with diversity. Tune in and let's explore life's most captivating stories... one tangent at a time.Support the show

In this episode of The Tangent, I’m getting real about the systems and strategies I’m using (and still figuring out) to be more productive and happier in 2025. Productivity isn’t just about doing more - it’s about doing what matters in a way that feels good. I share what’s working for me, what I’m still tweaking, and how we can build habits that support both our goals and our well-being. No perfect formulas here, just an honest look at how we can set ourselves up for a year of focus, fulfillment, and maybe even a little fun. Let’s do the thing!Support the show

"I'm going on quests"2025 is here and I'm excited about it! In this episode, we reflect on 2024, look forward to what I'm keen to achieve in 2025, and a few new approaches and nuggets I'm bringing with me. Let's do the thing!Support the show

"not one of the thousands of questions was asking what my disability is"Advocacy doesn't look the same every time you do it. Being an advocate for myself in hospitals or medical settings is one of the most difficult for me. In this episode, I wanted to share just talk about my first experience with bladder Botox, but it evolved into a storytime of my hospital experience from start to finish. Lessons learned, ableism endured, trauma shared. Let's do the thing!Support the show

"Your body can rally for you, if you solve the right problem."I love running so much. If you ask a thousand marathon runners what their favourite thing about doing these races is, you'd probably find a thousand answers, but there are so many common threads that bring us together as we overcome challenges through these events. There are also so many things that can (and do) go wrong, and that's where some of the best stories come from! In this episode, we go through our 2024 Cape Town Marathon, as an adaptive duo team. Let me just say, there were a few crises to manage...So, let's do the thing!Support the show

"I don't think it's about balance at all, I think it's about prioritising"We focus a lot of energy on finding balance and keeping all the plates spinning in the air. What if that is an unrealistic goal for our lives? In this episode, we're exploring this question and a few other ideas like gratitude, people pleasing and owning our enthusiasm so we can find our heart & soul people with more ease.So let's do the thing!    Support the show

“don’t let the system, and the admin and the bureaucratic bullshit get you down”I didn't realise that claiming my right to vote in 2024 would be as trying and involve so many people, so many tears, and some fresh, borrowed rage. In this episode, we go through all the hoops of getting an ID (and a temporary one too) as a physically disabled, wheelchair-using South African. Support the show

“I know I’m going to be pretty insufferable for the people around me if anyone tells me that something is not possible”I have been a Taylor Swift fan forever and after nearly two decades of being a Swiftie we missioned across the world to see her in person. Unhinged? Probably. Worthwhile? A million times, yes!   Support the show

"That was a humbling experience for sure..."I got my service dog, Eden, in my 3rd year of university and she changed my life. In this episode, we go through some stories that I haven't really shared before and some behind-the-scenes journey of being a working dog mom. Let's do the thing!Support the show

"I'm not saying we're bad drivers"I've had so many debates and arguments about disabled parking, so let's get into it. This episode is just a quick intro of my perspective on this part of disabled life. Let's do the thing!Support the show

 "It wasn't best case scenario but it wasn't worst case scenario either,  so that's a win"When plans don't go to plan in dramatic ways the only thing to do is go with the flow. In 2023 we decided to create and attempt the 7in7 Challenge - running 7 ultra-marathons in 7 days finishing with the Comrades Marathon on day 7. Insane, I know.In this episode, you're getting the backstory of what happened when my body decided to throw a spanner in the works 16 days before the Comrades Marathon. It was a wild time and definitely memorable.Let's do the thing!Support the show

"It can get heavy always letting things go." I'm constantly engaging with other people. Over the years have had some pretty entertaining things said to me, but sometimes it doesn't hit the mark as you may think. In this episode, we're talking about some things that are said to me on the regular, that don't feel like compliments, and aren't that funny from my side. This is all about learning and taking a second to think about what you're saying, and an opportunity to do better next time. So, let's do the thing! Support the show

"the level of denial I had about this was unparalleled in my life"Being disabled can be really rough sometimes and we don't always get the chance to acknowledge this and talk about it. We're busy living our lives but it's also fine to show the hard parts too. This episode is exactly that, taking a moment to talk about the hard parts of living in my disabled body. Support the show

"Everybody falls, but you learn from it"We all have moments where we do something embarrassing and it leads to a story shared for years to come.  For me, my wheelchair and my disability have added many stories to my catalog. In this episode, you'll get a few of the more memorable disabled fail moments that (mostly) ended in laughter and learning. Let's do the thing. Support the show

"I just registered the overwhelm people have... there are so many models!"The history and theory of disability can be an intriguing place to start investigating the way disabled people exist in society. In this episode, we're getting a little knowledge share-y, looking at how history and the development of different models of disability across the decades impact how disabled people live life.  We take on these models as they're used to create policies and largely dictate how we are perceived by those around us.Support the show

"There's always a disability caveat... here's mine"We're generally not great at communicating about things that we don't understand or 'touchy subjects' that are complicated to unpack. Disability is seen as one such topic. In this episode of The Tangent, we dive into the complexities and nuances of disabled life. There are many different experiences, perspectives, and approaches to unpack,  so let's take a deep breath and start here.Let's do the thing!Support the show

"I'm not an expert but I do know everything about my own experiences"Welcome to the ridiculousness! If you've ever wondered about living with disability and had questions that you weren't sure how to ask, this is the place for you. Start here and listen up for little knowledge nuggets that I've learned (so far) throughout my full, beautiful, and messy disabled life.The first episode of The Tangent explores where I've come from, where I find myself now, and why we should embrace all the random places life takes us and all of the things we can learn along the way. Support the show