"Talking Ableism, Hashtag Appropriation and Rom-Coms with Keah Brown"

This week, writer, journalist, and disability rights activist Keah Brown joins Ana for a difficult conversation about disability, ableism, and body positivity. Their wide-ranging conversation begins with Keah detailing how she’s worked to find self love and body positivity and a discussion on the lack of representation disabled people face in movies and popular culture writ large. They then turn to Keah’s desire not to be pigeonholed as a writer, and the pro’s and con’s of using Twitter to connect with other people. The conversation ends on an important note, when Ana apologizes for using ableist language, and the importance of looking at disability as something that is not static, but that comes in a variety of forms, as well as the need for privileged people to leave their comfort zones and be willing to make mistakes to expand their own horizons. Then, Crooked Contributor Erin Ryan stops by to answer a listener question about navigating romantic relationships across a political divide. Ana and Erin come to the consensus that debating from similar source material, and talking to rather than past each other is essential. Sometimes to hear someone, you have to accept that you might not convince them you’re right. Ana referenced several pieces Keah has written on the pod, which you can find below. On the erasure of Stephen Hawking’s disability On the importance of filters, and lipstick On the lack of representation of disabled people Get in touch with us at withfriendslikepod@gmail.com and on Twitter at @crooked_friends. Check out our sponsors! Get your body moving in your workspace at fully.com/friends. Check out squarespace.com/friends for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain name with the offer code “friends.” Turn your Pinterest board into reality with 25% off your design package at havenly.com/friends. Go to getquip.com/friends to get your first refill pack free with a Quip electric toothbrush. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices