Bubble People Podcast

Disability Representation and Access, from Hollywood to Disneyland, with Julia Irzyk

This week, we are joined by Julia Irzyk, Hollywood talent agent and disability rights attorney. We talk about how the film and television business has grown to accommodated disabled actors.
We also discuss the Disney Access pass debacle and what people don't understand about pain killers and chronic pain.
@bubblepeoplepod on Instagram and Tiktok
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
 
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17UYz0V04Hh5AlPXN7vUJT4MaUdsIynFMOtHxxepY-qQ/edit?usp=share_link
 
Link to article by Julia on The Hill about the opioid crackdown: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/583332-the-opioid-crackdown-leaves-chronic-pain-patients-in-limbo/mlite/
Link to the Disney Access Service (DAS) Defenders page: https://dasdefenders.org/

"The Golden Girls" was groundbreaking on chronic illness? With Miles Griffis of "The Sick Times"

Host Justine Barron welcomes Miles Griffis, editor of "The Sick Times" to talk about those groundbreaking "Golden Girls" on ME/CFS, which were ahead of even OUR time.
With rants on conservatorships and Covid caution in some LGBTQ circles. 
Link to Miles' news outlet: www.thesicktimes.org
 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and Tiktok.
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
 
Link to episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u51jWUjPvAygCXyqFaXBVACOSJhtGHo5KKefa_-lm3M/edit?usp=share_link 

Is "Unbreakable" an ableist nightmare? With Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp

Kalyn Heffernan, rap legend from the band Wheelchair Sports Camp, joins host Justine Barron to talk about her run for Denver mayor, making music videos, brittle bone disease, comedy in disability, and their shared antipathy for "Unbreakable."
Note: Wheelchair Sports Camp wrote the music that starts and ends the podcast! 
 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and Tiktok
Link to transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15knoaiiaWcmiKjPVXSx3yeXNoKg2TI_nhC0EHoF5OG0/edit?usp=share_link
Link to Letterboxd review of "Unbreakable": https://letterboxd.com/bubblepeoplepod/film/unbreakable/
 
Link to the Wheelchair Sports Camp videos we discussed:
"YESS I'm a MESS" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0so3QeYb1A
"Hard out here for a gimp" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7oPvlIMveI
"Mary had a little band" (our podcast song!) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cv7OJuLN2w

Subtle autism in "Heated Rivalry" with journalists Eric Michael Garcia and Sara Luterman

Host Justine Barron is joined by journalists Eric Michael Garcia and Sara Luterman to discuss autistic representation, "Heated Rivalry," Barbie, and more. 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and Tiktok
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
 
Link to transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G3syvXUcMYetAU-HvABHGEmUqEVojcfvArPGf2jeNKQ/edit?usp=sharing
 
Link to Sara's story on "Heated Rivalry": https://19thnews.org/2026/02/heated-rivalry-older-gay-men-acceptance/
Link to Eric's book on autism: https://www.amazon.com/Were-Not-Broken-Changing-Conversation/dp/1328587843
 
 
 

"A Christmas Carol" and inspiration porn with journalist Rachel Charlton-Dailey

British journalist and author Rachel Charlton-Dailey joins just Justine Barron to discuss the ableist history of Tiny Tim.
We also discuss how the print/online media attacks disabled people and what it's like working as a disabled journalist. 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and Tiktok.
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11HYzmnt4dyVKVCZXHPqamiRXvWfYRIR7PdbePUbztJQ/edit?usp=sharing
Letterboxd review: https://letterboxd.com/bubblepeoplepod/film/scrooge-1951/
 

Maysoon Zayid walked away from a Hollywood deal that turned her life into caricature

Legendary comedian Maysoon Zayid had an ABC deal to develop a sitcom  based on her life as a Palestinian woman with cerebral palsy. She walked away rather than let Hollywood turn her vision into racist, ableist, and misogynistic caricature.
We also talk accommodations, the disability tax for artists, and being disabled in a war zone. 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and Tiktok
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
 
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Do4E2OE2k3PdeICzGGe_Bintx6NjXVvCDxVYZfrDg-c/edit?usp=share_link
Maysoon's graphic novel Shiny Misfits: https://www.amazon.com/Shiny-Misfits-Graphic-Maysoon-Zayid/dp/1338752502
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Imani Barbarin on disability, eugenics, and 'Wicked"

Imani Barbarin joins Bubble People host Justine Barron to talk about disability, eugenics, politics, what kinds of disability representation she'd like to see in Hollywood, and Nessa Rose in "Wicked." Recorded in November 2025.
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more content
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hlzrofJlgAVcp6jhUQUuiYl3d7GBtJ0YCfMPw6dtLqc/edit?usp=sharing
Letterboxd review: https://letterboxd.com/bubblepeoplepod/film/wicked-2024/
 

Blindness and Disability in a Kung Fu Classic, with "Burn it Down"'s Kim Brown

Kim Brown, host of "Burn it Down with Kim Brown," joins host Justine Barron to talk about vision loss and being dangerous despite disability.
We discuss a Kung Fu classic, "Against the Drunken Cat's Paws" (1979), featuring a blind alcoholic woman who can fight. With a bunch of other disabled characters. Did Kung Fu cinema represent disability better than Hollywood today? 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more content
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19SsMw0hkBCChiGAqLgmhKCG99klZRq1A/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=117771475840693984840&rtpof=true&sd=true
Letterboxd review for "No One Can Touch Her" (English title) - https://letterboxd.com/bubblepeoplepod/film/no-one-can-touch-her/
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp

Long Covid and vampire movies - "Blade" with Leslie Lee III (RIP)

Beloved "Struggle Session" host and Long Covid advocate Leslie Lee III appeared on Bubble People shortly before he passed away, on November 10. 
We talked about one of his favorite movies, "Blade," and how vampires are coded disabled characters. 
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more content
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Ye2l6-ytG8PcPunOvFE4Z4a1OttE6cj/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=117771475840693984840&rtpof=true&sd=true
Letterboxd review: https://letterboxd.com/bubblepeoplepod/film/blade/
 

Author Kristen Lopez and the persistent legacy of "Freaks" (1932)

Author Kristen Lopez discusses her new book, "Popcorn Disabilities," and how Hollywood perpetuates ableism, with host Justine Barron.
We discuss the 1932 film "Freaks," with its unprecedented inclusion of so many disabled characters (even by today's standards). 
Also: Ableism rants on Trump's "fitness" for office and disabled seats in movie theaters.
@bubblepeoplepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more content
Music by Wheelchair Sports Camp
Link to transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13PCi0-8DJ9XLCOKIOHrzKIrIRpA2xSyR/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=117771475840693984840&rtpof=true&sd=true
Letterboxd review: https://letterboxd.com/bubblepeoplepod/film/freaks/