Boldly Challenging Ableism exposes ableism and dismantles myths that marginalize people with disabilities. Host Katrina Simons uses her life-long disability and her experiences in advocacy at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration to boldly, irreverently go where everyone has gone before — to issues like employment, housing, justice, education and culture — but she brings along enough humor and an approachable style that you’ll be thinking anew about what community inclusion really means.
Latest episodes
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E12: Addressing Ableism & Disparities in Healthcare with Sarah Ailey
Katrina Simons sits down with nurse researcher Sarah Ailey to explore how lived experience as a parent drives real advocacy in healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities.…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E11: Navigating Support Systems And Positive Behavior Tools With Dupree Edward…
Katrina Simons catches up with returning guest Dupree Edwards to chat about his recent milestones, from landing a new civil service position to growing his radio show business. Dup…
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25 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E10: Inside the HS Classroom with Science Teacher Emma (Pt 2 of 2)
Katrina Simons sits down with high school general education teacher Emma in part 2 of our conversation to unpack what it’s really like supporting students with disabilities in a bu…
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25 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E9: Inside the HS Classroom with Science Teacher Emma (Pt 1 of 2)
Host Katrina Simons sits down with ninth-grade earth science teacher Emma to chat about the real highs and lows of working in a modern high school. From navigating shifting student…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E8: A Decades Long Legacy of Advocacy with Linda Wolford (Pt 2 of 2)
In the second part of this two-part series, Katrina Simons sits down with Linda Wolford from the Minnesota Council on Disability to dig into the real story behind “enhanced rate” f…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E7: A Decades Long Legacy of Advocacy with Linda Wolford (Pt 1 of 2)
It’s a special homecoming of sorts as host Katrina Simons catches up with Linda Wolford, the Government Relations Director for the Minnesota Council on Disability and a longtime me…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E6: The Red Tape of Accessible Living with Nick Wilkie (Pt 2 of 2)
Katrina Simons welcomes back Nick Wilkie from the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living in this concluding part of their deep dive into accessible living. They discuss the fin…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E5: The Red Tape of Accessible Living with Nick Wilkie (Pt 1 of 2)
Katrina Simons welcomes Nick Wilkie to the podcast to bond over their shared experiences with disability and life in St. Paul. They explore Nick’s role at the Metropolitan Center f…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E4: Navigating Neurodiversity and Self Advocacy with Adam Ruff
Katrina Simon sits down with Adam Ruff from Advocating Change Together to talk about his journey and work in the disability community. They dive into the personal side of being neu…
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24 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E3: Faith, Mental Health, and Finding Your Voice with Guest Joe Carr
Katrina is joined by disability advocate Joe Carr. Joe gets real about the often-overlooked connection between mental health and disability. He opens up about his personal journey,…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E2: Fighting for Better Air Travel Standards with Rob Wudlick
This week we feature Rob Wudlick, an industrial engineer and dedicated advocate for spinal cord injury research. Rob joins Katrina Simon to share the frustrating reality of air tra…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E1: Raising Team Felix with Haley Brunelle and the Magic of AAC
Starting off season two, Katrina chats with her friend Haley Brunelle about her journey as a “medical mom” to her incredible eight-year-old son, Felix. They dive into the world of…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 37 (Encore): Matt McClean on Living as a Disabled Transgender Man
This episode originally aired June 21, 2025: Katrina is joined by Matt McClean who talks about identity and the intersectionality of living as a disabled transgender man. We talk a…
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25 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 36 (Encore): Ableism and Etiquette Rules w/ Joe Carr
This episode originally aired June 1, 2025: This week host Katrina Simon speaks with Graduating student Joe Carr, who shares with us his “etiquette rules.” Joe talks about his advo…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 35 (Encore): Inclusive Learning Beyond High School w/ Mary Hauff & Dupree Edw…
This episode originally aired June 8, 2025: Mary Hauff, Director, Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium, Institute on Community Integration, and Dupree Edwards, Lead Stat…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 34 (Encore): Lobbying for Fair Systems w/ Jillian Nelson
This episode originally aired May 18, 2025: Jillian Nelson, Policy Director, Autism Society of Minnesota. Lobbyist Jillian Nelson talks to us about her life working at the legislat…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 33 (Encore): Michael Sack on Keeping the Twin Cities Accessible and Disabilit…
This episode originally aired October 12, 2025: Michael Sack talks to us about his work with the city of Minneapolis in getting and keeping the community accessible. Then a convers…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 32 (Encore): Artist and Self-Advocate Thomas Robinson
This episode originally aired October 5, 2026: On this episode of Boldly Challenging Ableism, host Katrina Simons speaks with artist and self-advocate Thomas Robinson. Thomas share…
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28 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 31 (Encore): Renata Ticha, Research Associate, ICI at the U of MN
This episode originally aired September 28, 2025: Renata Ticha is a research associate at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. Renata talks with K…
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26 min
Boldly Challenging Ableism – Ep. 30 (Encore): Rebelling Against Ableism w/ BJ Stasio
This episode originally aired September 21, 2025: Episode Description: BJ Stasio, Advocate for the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Activist BJ talks to…