The Different Ability® Podcast
Why am I different? Why do things have to be so difficult? Am I dumb? Why am I scared? Will it be this hard forever? Will I ever find the help I need to succeed? When will being different be accepted? Welcome to The Different Ability® Podcast where we will answer all of these questions and a whole lot more! Each week host Katey Fortun brings you tips and tricks on how to navigate being different, along with inspiring stories of guests that are living an amazing life having Different Abilities of their own. Parents and Educators of kids with Different Abilities share their stories to encourage others that they are not alone and we can all get through this together! Katey, who has dyslexia, shares her personal Different Ability stories to show you that being different is a gift, being different is amazing and using your Different Abilities, you too can create and live the life you have always dreamed about! Katey believes that everyone has Different Abilities and it's time to let our Different Abilities shine bright! You are amazing, you are important, you are strong, you are smart and the world needs you just the way you were made! Are you ready to be inspired and encouraged to be the person you were made to be, Different Abilities and all? We know you're ready, so come along, we are all in this together! "You can do anything you put your mind to, with a lot of hard work, determination and never giving up! It's not your disability, it's your Different Ability®!" - Katey
Episodes
204 episodes
It's never too late to chase your dreams! with Carol Wyllie
The conversation I had with Carol on this episode was nothing short of amazing! We dove into her being an amazing mom to her two incredible girls, supporting them in all that they loved! She's an amazing advocate for her daughters and she talks...
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Season 5
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Episode 204
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53:34
Advocating for himself! with Max Lowe
I had the pleasure of meeting Max in real life at a conference I spoke at in late 2024. He is a vibrant, warm human and is so welcoming! Max is making big changes in his life and I'm so proud of him! He shares some of his story with us today on...
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Season 5
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Episode 203
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35:22
Is Inclusion Enough? Employment for people with disabilites with Heather Hagen
This conversation with Heather couldn't have come at a better time! This episode was recoreded early January 2025 and I'm so happy we had this conversation before everything in the US happened in later January 2025. This is not a time to stop f...
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Season 5
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Episode 202
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57:42
RE-RELEASE: BIG ANNOUCEMENT!
This is a RE-RELEASE episode of my big annoucment I shared in 2024!
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Season 5
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Episode 201
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19:11
200th Episode!
It's the 200th episode of the Different Ability® Podcast! It's not only the 200th podcast episode, it's also the 200th episode on my YouTube channel for my motivation moment videos! I for sure did NOT plan that, I actually realized it when i wa...
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Season 5
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Episode 200
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14:11
The Importance of Early Intervention in Hearing Loss: Shannon Bonardy's Story
Shannon shares her story learning she would need hearing aids at the age of 22 after struggling to hear for years. She shares her story of how she felt when she found out and dives into being a mother to two young children, all while having hea...
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Season 5
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Episode 199
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49:18
Turning Pain into Purpose Through Poetry with Traci Neal
Traci is such a great guest and shares her incredible story! She is open and vaunerable when sharing her story. You don't want to miss this episode! Share with your friends and family! Traci's BioTraci Neal is a neurodivergen...
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Season 5
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Episode 198
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48:25
One New Goal, One Year: How I Achieved My 2024 Goal!
Happy New Year & Happy 2025!In 2024 I gave myself one new goal and I only focused on that new thing, not the million things I normally am doing... and it worked! Listen in and hear all about the goal I gave meyself and how I accompl...
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Season 5
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Episode 197
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17:32
Almost full circle: disability diagnosis and the doctor who diagnosed me!
While writing my book I really wanted to know who the doctor was who diagnoised me... we are almost full circle! I not only got his name, I have my diagnosis paperwork! I hope to be able to connect with the doctor soon!This episodes...
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Season 5
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Episode 196
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13:34
The Main Motivation for Writing My Book: The Book Edition
There's many reason why I'm writing my book, but on this episode I'm sharing the main reason.I do have this episode on my youtube chanel as well. There are a few spot in the episode where I'm sharing pictures, if you'd like to see those...
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Season 5
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Episode 195
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13:15
Beyond Vision: Empowering a More Inclusive World with Lois Strachan
Living a somewhat "normal" life in South Africa for 21 years, Lois found herself facing a major life change at the age of 21. She was told she would be fully blind for the rest of her life. Lois shares her story on today episode and she's remar...
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Season 5
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Episode 194
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51:23
Relationships and Boundaries: Thriving with Disabilities with Katie Thune
This epsiode Katie dives into teaching safety, boundaries and saying no for people and children with disabilties. This is such an important topic we need to talk about, teach our children and continue to learn for ourselves! Tune in and share t...
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Season 5
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Episode 193
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47:37
Breaking Barriers: How her Disability Became a Career Superpower with Dana Stubbs
Dana and I had a wonderful conversation in this episode! Her story is inspiring, and she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to thinking about your health in a not so western medicine way. She shares how her disability is her gift and how sh...
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Season 5
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Episode 192
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55:40
Learning about Autism and loving her family! with Wendy Whitcomb Marsh
Wendy is such a breath of fresh air and we had such a great time talking on this episode! She brings a weath of education knoweledge from her 40+ years in the education world. She not only retired from the education world, but she has created a...
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Season 5
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Episode 191
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1:00:55
Diagnosed with Dyslexia to Children’s Book Author! with Sasha Saidman
I had so much fun talking with Sasha on this episode! We discussed growing up struggling in school and being diagnoised with dyslexia in elementary school. It was so much fun talking to someone that has been through what I have been through, of...
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Season 5
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Episode 190
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59:54
Don't be afraid to try! with Sarah Bruce
Ohhh this episode is so good! Sarah was an amazing guest sharing her story and sharing all about her being a driving instructor for students with disabilties along with being a counsellor and life coach! She talks about how she totally changed ...
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Season 5
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Episode 189
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50:27
In honor of my Great Aunt Lynn - The Book Edition
On this episode I share more about my Great Aunt Lynn, someone who I looked up to for many years and still do. I write a lot about her in my book, that will be available in 2025, and I wanted to share a bit more about her that I didn't share ab...
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Season 5
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Episode 188
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10:59
Advocacy and Leadership with Kylee Leota
We had an amazing conversation on today episode! Kylee has so many mic drop moments in this episode she is just incredible! From her time being a teacher, in the classroom, to working in school leadership and what shes doing now, she brings so ...
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Season 5
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Episode 187
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1:27:22
Near Miss - Listening to your gut!
Life can be so unfair and so short... we are very lucky and had gaurdian angels watching over us for sure! Listen in to hear the story of how thankfully listened to my husbands gut and didn't do something that turned out very tragic.&nb...
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Season 5
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Episode 186
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21:19
Teaching English with an Aussie with Adriana Cefala
Oh, this episode makes me smile when listening to it! Adriana and I are like sisters from another mister for sure! She's like the very long distant friend I didn't know I needed! We have so much fun chatting and learning all about Adriana, her ...
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Season 5
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Episode 185
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1:07:31
Her medical health journey to building a legacy with Emily Hartstone
Emily so kindly shares the years of her difficult medical health journey but puts such a positive spin on the many hurdles she has had to jump over. She shares about her love of horses and competing in her younger years, to being diagnosed with...
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Season 5
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Episode 184
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52:42
This is not easy! The Book Edition.
This episode I'm sharing a bit of my book writing journey and how it's going having dyslexia and writing a book... it's not easy, but it's worth it!Join my behind the scenes book email list! If you already get my emails, this is a diffe...
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Season 5
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Episode 183
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24:57
From struggling with LD in childhood to Author, Speaker and Coach, with Patrick Richard Garcia
Patrick Richard Garcia shares his story of growing up as a child with LD, in Canada. He moved around a lot throughout his younger years. He shares his struggles, his wins, what he has learned through the years and the teachers that impacted him...
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Season 5
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Episode 182
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1:01:43
It's the journey up with Kari Berridge
Kari Berridge is an amazing guest with an incredible story! She vulnerability shares her story and all of the amazing things she's doing with her life now. This episode has so much wonderful information and stories, you don't want to miss it!
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Season 5
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Episode 181
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1:04:52
How did it go? Recap Keynote Speaker - Reno, NV
Back on epsidoe 176 it was the beginning of Season 5 and I was out in Reno, NV Keynote speaking at a conference. I recorded that episode before the conference so this episode is a recap of how it actually went! In short, it was AMA...
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Season 5
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Episode 180
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36:06