Sit Down With Us

Happy May! We are kicking off a brand new month by diving into the complex world of body positivity, fitness, and diet culture.Faith shares a massive personal update: she’s running a half-marathon for Little Lady Locks! We discuss why she’s doing it "bald and brave" (no wig, no lashes, no brows) to support children with hair loss. Meanwhile, Zara gets real about the "gym-timidation" of being a wheelchair user, from inaccessible changing rooms to the "inspiring" comments that actually aren't that inspiring.To donate, click HERE 

 "It’s not really a job, it’s a vocation."This week on Sit Down with Us, we’re getting up close and personal with Angela. As a nurse specializing in brains and spines, she’s seen it all and busts a few myths along the way.Angela opens up about the "heartstrings" that get pulled when a patient’s life changes forever and how she uses her daughter’s experience to comfort women facing hair loss before/after brain surgery. We talk about resilience, the power of a cup of tea in the middle of the night, and why being a nurse makes you a "brutal" but empathic mum.Whether you’re in the medical profession or have ever been a patient, this conversation is a beautiful reminder of the human connection behind the diagnosis.

We’re back with Part Two! If you haven't seen Part One, go back—we talk about everything from career hurdles to... well, our personal lives.In this week’s sit-down, Zara and Faith continue their deep dive into your DMs, tackling the questions that most people are too polite (or too nosy) to ask. We’re breaking down the "Inspiration Trap," the reality of being "helpless" in public, and the specific etiquette of staring.In this episode, we discuss:The "Cancer Assumption"The Staring RuleThe "Inspiration" PressureComing Out OnlineFinding CommunityJoin us for a coffee (literally, or we won't be nice) and let’s bridge the gap between curiosity and reality.

"We’ve made it to double digits! Blood, sweat, tears, and a lot of miles driven."To celebrate our 10th episode, Zara and Faith are diving into the DMs to answer your most requested (and occasionally unhinged) questions. This week, we’re getting real about the "hidden" side of living with a disability and a visible difference.In this episode, we discuss:• The "Quota" Trap• Job Application Fails• The "Can You Walk?" Question• Alopecia Myths• The "Cure" ConversationJoin us every Wednesday as we sit down to bridge the gap between curiosity and reality.

What happens after you achieve your lifelong dream? This week, we are joined by a true sporting icon: Amy Truesdale, the reigning Paralympic, World, and European Para Taekwondo Champion.Fresh off her Gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Games, Amy gets honest about the "rollercoaster of emotions" that follows a major victory. We explore her 29-year journey in martial arts, the discipline required to stay at the top, and why she’s on a mission to educate the world on what "Paralympic" truly means.Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or just looking for a masterclass in perseverance and humility, this conversation with the "down-to-earth" champ is a must-listen.

Join hosts Zara and Faith in this powerful episode of Sit Down With Us as they chat with the incredibly charismatic Kai D Costa. Kai shares his unbelievable journey from a life-altering motorbike crash at age 18 to becoming a model, public speaker, and master of health psychology. After waking up paralyzed from the neck down following a spinal surgery, Kai fought back through multiple surgeries and chronic pain. Realizing the standard medical approach wasn't giving him the answers he needed, he took his recovery into his own hands by changing his mindset, studying the psychology of pain, and healing himself.Follow more of Kai and his journey below:Instagram GuidedBySeriesYouTubeZBDCommentSectionCouplesMore info and links:Barry WhiteAmy TruesdaleUnhiddenVictoria JenkinsCreatures of ComedyShow Up

We’re wrapping up March with our biggest conversation yet, diving deep into what it actually feels like to be behind the scenes of the fashion and cosmetic industry as models with disabilities and differences."It shouldn't be a bullet point; it should be the norm."This week, Zara and Faith are wrapping up their deep dive into perceptions by looking at the world of fashion, beauty, and modeling. Faith shares the surreal (and nearly car-crash-inducing) moment she saw herself on a massive billboard in Manchester, while Zara talks about the "beauty-first" approach of her recent campaign with Refy.We’re shouting out the brands that are actually listening, from the "Seated" sections on fashion websites to the tattoo-transfer eyebrows that changed Faith’s daily routine. We’re discussing why it's not enough to just have a wheelchair mannequin; we need accessible studios, inclusive directors, and a seat at the table (literally).We also shout out the brands and creators actually doing the work:ZBD Talent, Sophie Morgan, Primark, GymsharkIn Totem  Refy Beauty  Dmuse Zaralena Cosmetics 

"Why do you feel entitled to know?"This week, Zara and Faith are moving away from the media and looking at the people we deal with every single day: the public. From the "hero" who tried to push Faith’s wheelchair without asking to the strangers who assume a bald woman always equals the "C-word," we’re discussing why public perception can be more nerve-wracking than anything else.We also get heated as we tackle the "Low IQ" podcast and Candace Owens’ controversial take on inclusive fashion. Why is it so "tone-deaf" to speak for a community you aren't part of? And why is "No" a full sentence when a stranger asks for your medical history?But it's not all venting! We also celebrate the power of social media as a tool for change. From breaking down harmful stereotypes to busting the common myths surrounding disability and facial differences, we discuss how being visible and vocal online is rewriting the narrative.

"I flung my bag and went marching after him!" In this very special episode, we are celebrating our one-month anniversary and Mother’s Day by welcoming our first-ever guest to the sofa: Faith’s mum, Angela!We’re taking a deep dive into the family side of living with a difference. Angela shares the "poignant" and hilarious moments of being a protective mother.We discuss the transition from "trying to fix it" to "just rolling with it," the hidden struggles of a Celiac diagnosis, and why Faith ended up apologizing to a man who asked if she had cancer. This is an episode for the parents, the caregivers, and anyone who has ever felt the need to "protect" the ones they love.From the first bald patch, to a doctors appointment from hell... to worldly advice for all mothers, carers and friends to those with a difference; an episode not to miss. Shoutout to:Novo Cabelo - https://novocabelo.co.uk/ Little Lady Locks - https://www.littleladylocks.com/Little Princess Trust - https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/Alopecia UK - https://www.alopecia.org.uk/

95% of all disabled TV roles are being played by non-disabled actors.0.3% of all actors have a visible difference.So lets talk about it..."I never saw a single bald person online as a positive representation growing up."This week, Zara and Faith are knuckling down on perceptions. From the TV shows that shaped our childhoods to the movies winning awards today, how are people with disabilities and differences actually being portrayed?We’re diving into why that one episode of Friends still "triggers" Faith, the problematic 95% statistic of non-disabled actors playing disabled roles, and the beautiful moment Zara’s niece saw her in a Barbie doll. Whether it’s Emma Stone’s shaved head or the "Pitbull trend" that gives us the ick, we’re discussing where the media gets it right—and where they need to do better.Shoutout to Novo Cabelo and their amazing hair systems which are discussed in todays episode.

"I was raised not to be a quitter, but I might complain along the way!" If you don't define yourself, the world will do it for you—and they usually get it wrong. This week, we’re sharing the 7 steps we use to take the pen back. We’re wrapping up our Month of Love with the most important relationship of all: the one you have with yourself. Today, Zara and Faith are sharing their personal "Self-Love Toolkit"—from the simple joy of a Sunday bath and cold-water face washes to the deeper work of therapy and setting hard boundaries.If you’ve ever felt the burnout of working from home, the "doom-scroll" fatigue of social media, or the struggle of standing up for yourself, this episode is your permission slip to slow down.

"I’ll get over it, I just need time."This week, Zara and Faith get into the gritty reality of rejection. We’ve all felt the sting of a dating knockback, but when you have a visible difference or disability, it often comes with an added layer of "audacity."Faith shares the story of "Ross"—the guy who loved the research but couldn't handle the reality—and how she learned that a partner should add to your confidence, never take away from it. Meanwhile, Zara talks about the "sweet but bittersweet" moment her partner told her she’d look amazing bald, and the powerful lesson of having a partner who shaves their head in solidarity.Normalization is the goal, but what happens when the reality of dating with a disability doesn’t play by the rules?

Happy Valentine’s month! While the world is busy buying roses and chocolates, we’re pulling back the curtain on a topic that is notoriously under-discussed: dating while disabled/with a difference.In our debut episode of Sit Down With Us, Zara and Faith get real about why dating looks a little different when you don’t fit the "social norm" of what’s traditionally considered attractive. We’re tired of the "picture-perfect" Instagram couple tropes and the weird looks in public, it’s time to normalize the reality.

Before we dive into the deep end, let’s get personal. In this intro episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on who we are beyond the labels. Faith and Zara share the story of how they met, how their friendship clicked, and why they finally decided to say out loud what everyone else is thinking.This isn't about suffering; it's about two friends living life, sharing a laugh, and reclaiming the narrative on what it means to be "different." Sit down with us and get to know the voices behind the mic.

Welcome to the seat you’ve been waiting for. Join Faith and Zara for a quick look at Sit Down With Us, a podcast that ditches the "inspirational" filters to talk about disability and difference as they actually are. We’re bringing together healthcare pros, fashion creators, and our own community for honest, funny, and raw conversations about navigating a world that has a lot of opinions but not many answers. Hit subscribe, we’re just getting started.