
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
234 episodes
When Life Changes Course: From Pediatrician & Army Flight Surgeon to Author with Dr. Amanda Zeine
Dr. Amanda Zeine never planned to join the military — but her path led her from ROTC to becoming a pediatrician and Army flight surgeon, serving two deployments overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury, Amanda...
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Season 7
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Episode 261
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53:13

Money, meaning, and the stories we tell ourselves with Carrie West
In this episode, I sit down with Carrie West to talk about her unique journey—from studying counciling/psychology to diving into the world of film and TV, and now writing books and teaching courses on storytelling. Carrie shares how she helps p...
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Season 7
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Episode 260
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45:01

RE-RELEASE: Book Title Announcement!
This is a RE-RELEASE!The day is finally here, I'm ready to announce the title of my first book! AHHHH it's been a long time coming and I'm so excited to share it with you!If you'd like to join my insiders email list all things abo...
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Season 7
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Episode 259
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12:00

Immigration, Inspiration, and Disability Advocacy with Kat Paz
In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Kat Paz, a disability advocate with a heart for cheering others on. Kat shares her story of immigrating from the Philippines to San Francisco at just 16 ...
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Season 7
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Episode 258
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42:18

I'm not dead yet! with Travis Robinson
I loved sitting down with Travis and learning about his life! I extra loved when I would ask too many questions in a row and he perfectly answered back with one word “yes”. Travis has an incredible story and he's so inspiring. He shares his jou...
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Season 7
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Episode 257
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36:12

Season 7: Voices That Move Mountains
Season 7 is here! I discuss briefly why we jumped from season 5 to season 7... and that season 6 is deticated to the bonus epsiodes for my book, Embracing Your Different Ability®, that's launching this year!If you'd like to be a guest on...
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Season 7
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Episode 256
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9:06

Plot Twist! Jumping from Season 5 to 7. Here’s Why!
What's happening to season 6? In this short solo episode, I’m sharing the real reason why I’m skipping straight from Season 5 to Season 7. (Spoiler alert: Season 6 isn’t gone… it’s just different.) I’m reserving Season 6 for something ...
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Season 5
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Episode 227
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11:02

Living Beyond the Limits with Erin Perkins
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Erin Perkins, deafblind advocate and founder of Mabely Q, to talk about her journey growing up deaf, navigating school and being diagnosed with Usher’s Syndrome, a condition doctors said would leave her...
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Season 5
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Episode 226
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51:16

Empowering Deaf Families from Iran to North America and Beyond with Guita Movallali
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Guita Movallali, a passionate advocate, psychologist, and leader in the world of early intervention for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Born and raised in Iran, Guita shares her incredible journey of...
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Season 5
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Episode 225
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56:22

Raising Self-Advocates: A Mother’s Pride in Her Sons’ Strength and Voice with Rebeka Acosta
In this inspiring episode, Katey sits down with Rebeka Acosta, an advocate, educator, and proud mom, to talk about raising children who use their voices with confidence. Rebeka shares how her sons, both navigating medical complexities, have lea...
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Season 5
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Episode 224
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40:19

Writing for Change: A Journey of Services, Advocacy and Impact with Ted Neill
Author and Advocate Ted Neill joins the show to share his powerful journey from working at a home for orphans in Nairobi, Kenya, and then in human services, to becoming a full-time author of nearly 30 books! We explore his middle-grade book ser...
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Season 5
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Episode 223
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55:37

RE-RELEASE: My Mom's Side of My Story
This RE-RELEASE episode is a blast from the past! It was episode 4.. so definatley sounds different but so fun to listen to again! And I'm so excited about my amazing mom as my FIRST guest! -----Many people always want to kno...
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Season 5
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Episode 222
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26:10

The Journey to Wellness Begins Within — with Tess Cheng
It was a breath of fresh air talking with Tess on this episode! She shares her journey with growing up with Hong Kong, attending a boarding school in London along with her wellness health journey. She is a wealth of knowledge and it's so great ...
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Season 5
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Episode 221
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46:44

RE-RELEASE: People are people no matter what ability! with Dustin Henslin
This is a Re-Release Episode with my friend Dustin. I definately need to have him back on! Dustin was diagnosed with CP, Cerebral Palsy, at the age of one and he shares some of his story on today's episode. "People are people no mat...
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Season 5
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Episode 220
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45:43

I have a crazy idea - Book Update!
Sometimes I just have these crazy ideas I have to run with... let's be real, I have crazy ideas daily, but this one is extra speical! I decided to write a bonus chapter to the book that will NOT be published in the book. Listen in and find out ...
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Season 5
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Episode 219
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10:06

Let's Talk Motivaiton with Brittany McCormick
Brittany is back! I'm so happy to have her back on the podast, she's such a delight. In this episode we talk so much more about motivation in all aspects of life! Be sure to listen in and share with others!Listen to Brittany's First Epis...
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Season 5
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Episode 218
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41:17

No Timeline on Dreams: Homeschooling, Writing, and the Power of Perseverance with Mindy Meyer
In this episode, I sit down with a passionate homeschool mom who carved her own path, both in how she educated her children and how she's pursuing her dream of publishing a book. Over 15 years after writing her manuscript, she's finally bringin...
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Season 5
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Episode 217
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43:45

Time Management As A Tool with Jill Wright
In this episode Jill shares so much about her amazing journey! I learn she's dyslexic, had no idea, and she talks about her jouney of being a mom and learning her child is autistic. We also dive into time management and no it's not the boring t...
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Season 5
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Episode 216
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46:35

The Editing Process Round 3: Pleasantly Surprised!
I'm getting closer to getting this book launched! This episode I share about the moment I got my round 3 edits back and my reaction to seeing all the red marks! However it wasn't what I expected!Here's the TikTok video I menti...
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Season 5
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Episode 215
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8:54

Birds and Bees and Kids with Amy Lang
In this episode Amy really pushed me out of my comfort zone and talked about topics I'm not used to talking about publicly! I'm so grateful for her and what she's doing because we ALL need to be talking about this and encouraging the youth to b...
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Season 5
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Episode 214
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56:35

Empowered by sharing and embracing her hearing loss with April
I had such a great time talking with my guest, April, on this episode! She brings such a wonderful persepctive of hearing loss in your early 20s. She is honest and open while sharing her story and I know you'll learn a lot about hearing loss th...
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Season 5
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Episode 213
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1:04:31

BONUS - Design the Life You Love Challenge with Lyndsey Kampen
I received an email from my friend Lyndsey this week and saw she is running a new challenge in May 2025. I quickly emailed her back and wanted to know more and thought, why not make it a bonus podcast episode so you can hear about it too and jo...
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Season 5
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36:00

Book Title Announcement!
The day is finally here, I'm ready to announce the title of my first book! AHHHH it's been a long time coming and I'm so excited to share it with you!If you'd like to join my insiders email list all things about the book and be the first...
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Season 5
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Episode 212
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12:00
