As 2025 steams toward its end, I wanted to highlight the interviews that captured listeners’ attention most. Since launching my indie, Disabled-led podcast “Finding Avalon” earlier this year, five stories in particular resonated with Finding Avalon’s audience. Find out whose!
In its first season, I curated and produced a collection of diverse Disabled voices, as well as stories from our community allies. From playwrights and paralympians to service dog trainers and mental health experts, Finding Avalon shared 20 episodes on Disabled life, leadership and community empowerment.
Throughout season one, my goal was to empower both guests and listeners, as we continue to learn together how to unlearn ableism and build meaningfully inclusive communities. My 16 guests brought a diversity in lived experience, expertise and passion, showcasing an array of Disabled perspectives.
I’m humbled and proud in equal measure to have been able to build this body of work with 20 installations and 17 voices combined into an accessible, public and cost-free learning resource available across multiple platforms for everyone to enjoy and learn from.
The Top 5 Storytellers of 2025
The Revelation of Self-Compassion: A Journey Through Song with Naomi Kavka
Listen to Naomi’s interview and read her blog story.
Canada’s Opioid Poisoning Crisis: See the Person, Stop the Stigma with Kathryn Dunmore
Listen to Kathryn’s interview and read her blog story.
Ableism and Fatphobia: Barriers in Healthcare with Fernand Vedrenne
Listen to Fernand’s interview and read his blog story.
Spiritual Awakening or Neurodivergent Self-Discovery? Not a Coincidence with Jenniva
Listen to Jenniva’s interview and read her blog story.
Disability, Community & Leadership: A Work of Art with Kristen Herrington
Listen to Kristen’s interview and read her blog story.
As a quick recap, here are the top five most demanded episodes in Season One:
- The Revelation of Self-Compassion: A Journey Through Song with Naomi Kavka (Episode 2)
- Canada’s Opioid Poisoning Crisis: See the Person, Stop the Stigma with Kathryn Dunmore (Episode 8)
- Ableism and Fatphobia: Barriers in Healthcare with Fernand Vedrenne (Episode 3)
- Spiritual Awakening or Neurodivergent Self-Discovery? Not a Coincidence with Jenniva (Episode 6)
- Disability, Community & Leadership: A Work of Art with Kristen Herrington (Episode 4)
To discover the other 11 compelling guest stories in the Finding Avalon collection, the Season One Episode List can be found here and my blog expands on each story while also including more resources.
Thank you, Finding Avalon guests!
I want to sincerely thank, once again, all my incredible guests in Season One for sharing their authentic and deeply personal lived experiences with disability, chronic illness and neurodivergence and for showcasing the outstanding leadership and advocacy work they’re leading in the name of disability inclusion, equity and justice.
From coast to coast in Canada to across North America, the UK and Europe, these exciting stories and compelling voices are well worth listening to:
Naomi Kavka (British Columbia, Canada)
Fernand Vedrenne (Mexico City, Mexico)
Kristen Herrington (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Ashley King (Alberta, Canada)
Jenniva (New York, United States)
Charlotte Paul (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Kathryn Dunmore (Ontario, Canada)
Chloe Hammond and Ocho (England, United Kingdom)
Roxy Velez and Adonis (Spain/Germany)
Gemma Gray (Scotland, United Kingdom)
Candice Colwell (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Angel Reyes-Giacalone (Cape Breton, Canada)
Láyla Messner (Alberta, Canada)
Ionatan Waisgluss (British Columbia, Canada)
Kristina Kyser (Ontario, Canada)
Paul Tingley (Nova Scotia, Canada)
This was my very first attempt at podcasting, completely self-taught, highlights, bloopers and all! I’m grateful to my Disabled community advocates and allies who made Season One a success!
Check out the podcast on Spotify or wherever you get your shows!
Finding Avalon: Storytelling, Advocacy & Life 
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