Aubrey Smalls On Defining What It Means To Simply Be And Celebrate Being A Little Person
Always Looking Up
10/07/25
•83m
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In this week’s episode I welcomed back Aubrey Smalls. Aubrey is an actor, filmmaker, and content creator with dwarfism who uses his platforms to educate people about what it means to be a little person and dwarfism history. October is a month for celebration in the dwarfsim community, so we wanted to take the time to discuss how we will be celebrating as well as have a conversation about how being a person with dwarfism is perceived and defined in 2025. Oh, and my mom, Audrey Curwin, makes a cameo appearance to highlight a little person who has left a lasting legacy in our family and our community.
Join The Patreon: HERE
Follow Aubrey: Instagram: @aubreysmalls TikTok: @aubreysmalls
Follow Dwarfism History: Instagram: @dwarfismhistory TikTok: @dwarfismhistory
RSVP: Celebrating Dwarfism in the Arts
Dear Average Height People: Instagram: @dearaverageheightpeople Website: https://www.dearaverageheightpeople.com
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
Read With Me:
Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from @chnge):
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (@chirla_org): https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (@immdef_lawcenter): https://www.immdef.org
Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (@ic4ij): https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/
United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/
Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf
Previous Episode
Dr. Akilah Cadet On Standing At The Intersection Of Sports And High Fashion
September 30, 2025
•75m
In this week’s episode I welcomed back Dr. Akilah Cadet. Dr. Cadet is the Founder, CEO of Change Cadet consulting firm, a Forbes listed entrepreneur, co-owner of the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer teams, and author of White Supremacy Is All Around: Notes From a Black Disabled Woman in a White World. She literally has all the degrees, lives in Oakland, CA, celebrates her disability, is a proud Beyoncé advocate, and has an incredible shoe game. We, as two disabled women who share a passion for sports and fashion, discuss being a woman owner in sports, what it means to actually be a community and purpose driven team, the intersection of sports and high fashion and much, much more.
Follow Dr. Cadet: Instagram: @changecadet Substack: https://changecadetactionnetwork.substack.com LinkedIn: Dr. Akilah Cadet Website: https://www.changecadet.com
Join The Patreon: HERE
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
Read With Me:
Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from @chnge):
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (@chirla_org): https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (@immdef_lawcenter): https://www.immdef.org
Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (@ic4ij): https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/
United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/
Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf
Next Episode
In this week’s episode I sat down with John Feal. John is best known for his work with the FealGood Foundation (“FGF”), a 9/11 First Responder advocacy group that has provided both economic aide and individual comfort to countless First Responders, as well as his tireless efforts on behalf of those Responders in the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Today, John remains steadfast 24/7 in his activism on behalf of First Responders and continues his grass roots efforts to help all those in need. To his core, John knows his mission of advocacy will never cease to be needed; it is, has been and always will be about one thing.... “The Responders”. He shares his story and we discuss how to be an effective advocate and why it is imperative that we keep trying.
Join The Patreon: HERE
This episode is available for purchase on the Patreon without membership. All of those proceeds will be donated to the FealGood Foundation.
Follow The FealGood Foundation: Website: https://fealgoodfoundation.com
Follow John: Instagram: @johnfeal9117
Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com
Read With Me:
RSVP: Celebrating Dwarfism in the Arts
Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from @chnge):
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (@chirla_org): https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (@immdef_lawcenter): https://www.immdef.org
Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (@ic4ij): https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros
Relief For Disabled People Impacted By The Los Angeles Fires:
Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund/
United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: https://unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant/
Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: https://www.inevitable.foundation/erf
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