ListenABLE

"My Heart Stopped for 3 Minutes, and It Changed Everything"

When Joshua Ruff’s heart stopped for three minutes, everything changed.Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) since childhood, Joshua had already navigated a lifetime of disability, adaptation, and resilience. But in 2020, a sudden cardiac arrest during the early days of COVID forced him into a profound reckoning with mortality, fear, and what actually matters.Unable to speak and communicating only through his eyes, Joshua was told he might never return home. Instead, that moment became the catalyst for a new way of living. One centred on human connection, creative purpose, and letting go of fear.In this powerful conversation, Joshua shares how surviving cardiac arrest reshaped his outlook on life, relationships, and ambition. He opens up about growing up with DMD, the emotional toll of teenage years, and the quiet pressure to always appear positive as a wheelchair user. We explore how gardening became both therapy and vocation, leading to the creation of Henle Gardens, a lavender farm producing oil, products, and community experiences.This episode is about disability, yes. But more than that, it is about meaning, independence, love, and choosing to live fully without apology.Key Topics CoveredSurviving a cardiac arrest and communicating only through eye movementLiving with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and challenging early life expectancy narrativesLetting go of fear after facing deathGardening as purpose, therapy, and businessBuilding an accessible lavender farm and producing lavender oilIndependence, support systems, and redefining successWhy people with disability are elite problem solversRelationships, self-worth, and rejecting the idea of being a burdenPositivity, grief, and the danger of masking emotionsNotable Moments“The most important thing is human connection. Everything else doesn’t matter.”“My heart stopped for three minutes, and somehow that freed me.”“I didn’t believe I deserved a relationship. That belief almost cost me one.”“People with disability are the best problem solvers because life never gives us the easy path.”“Independence for me is choice, not doing everything alone.”About Joshua RuffJoshua Ruff is a gardener, lavender producer, and founder of Henle Gardens in regional Victoria. Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Joshua has transformed personal adversity into creative expression, community connection, and entrepreneurship.After surviving cardiac arrest in 2020, he committed to building a life driven by purpose rather than fear. Today, his lavender farm produces oil, dried lavender products, and hosts garden visits, festivals, and community groups, proving that accessibility and beauty are not mutually exclusive.

“Some Girls Won’t Date Me Because of My Disability” (Colin Judge’s Truth)

Colin Judge was born with one arm and no legs, and today he is a Paralympic table tennis player, speaker, and analyst living in Dublin.In this episode of ListenABLE, Colin opens up about dating with a disability, rejection, and why you do not need to prove your worth to the wrong people. He shares the moment a short video about dating stopped the scroll online, and how learning to value the people who choose you changed the way he sees relationships and confidence.Colin also takes us through his journey to the Paralympics, the hidden grind of elite sport, and what people do not see behind the scenes of Paralympic competition. From being excluded as a teenager, to finding his sport, to navigating reclassification and identity, this conversation explores resilience, adaptability, and self-belief in a way that goes far beyond disability.We also talk about fear of rejection, finding your voice on social media, taking initiative when it feels uncomfortable, and why accessibility is often more about mindset than infrastructure.This is a powerful, honest conversation about confidence, self-worth, and becoming more than the labels placed on you.Follow Colin Judge on Instagram: @colinjudge100

“A Diagnosis Changed Everything… and Nothing” | Kelly Berger (Rare Disease Story)

What happens when you finally get the diagnosis that explains your whole life… and what doesn’t it change at all?In this powerful episode of ListenABLE, Angus sits down with disability advocate and podcaster Kelly Berger, who shares her journey living with an ultra-rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy, Collagen 6. After years of misdiagnosis, Kelly received her genetic confirmation as an adult, a moment that brought clarity, community and a new sense of direction, without changing who she fundamentally is.Kelly speaks candidly about the emotional weight of diagnosis, navigating healthcare systems, building community, and what real accessibility actually looks like in daily life. From the realities of infrastructure in the US to the gaps between performative inclusion and genuine integration, this conversation goes well beyond awareness and into what meaningful change requires.We also dive into Kelly’s podcast 'Wheel Talk', her advocacy work, and how she’s helping reshape how disability, rare disease and identity are spoken about in public spaces.This is a conversation about resilience, identity, leadership and how visibility changes everything.Living with Collagen 6 congenital muscular dystrophyThe emotional impact of finally receiving a genetic diagnosisRare disease advocacy and disability representationAccessibility in infrastructure and public spacesNavigating healthcare systems and misdiagnosisDisability identity and prideBuilding community with and without disabilityLanguage, inclusion and allyshipPerformative vs meaningful disability representationCreating podcasts within the disability communityWhy visibility mattersKelly Berger is a disability advocate, podcaster and rare disease community leader living with Collagen 6 congenital muscular dystrophy. She is the co-host of Wheel Talk, a podcast exploring disability, identity and lived experience through honest, accessible conversations. Kelly works actively in advocacy, accessibility awareness and rare disease representation.ListenABLE is a podcast created to amplify disability voices, challenge stereotypes and explore what inclusion actually looks like in practice. Hosted by Angus O’Loughlin alongside Dylan Alcott, the show brings real stories, lived experience and meaningful conversations into the mainstream.Podcast: Wheel Talk with Kelly and Averyhttps://www.instagram.com/thewheeltalkpodcast/

The Day Kelly Finally Got Answers After Years of Misdiagnosis

Episode out Tuesday!

Disability Pride, Para Sport and the Power of Storytelling with Elizabeth Wright

In this episode, Elizabeth Wright shares her journey from being a Paralympic swimmer to becoming a sports journalist. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of her career, the importance of representation in media, and her personal experiences with disability. Elizabeth emphasises the need for more coverage of Paralympic sports and the significance of embracing one's identity and pride in the face of ableism. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of disability representation in journalism and the importance of community support. Connect with Elizabeth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethlwright/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-wright-ply-300610129/ Website: http://www.elizabethwright.net/ What we cover: Elizabeth Wright transitioned from Paralympic swimmer to sports journalist. She emphasizes the need for more representation of disabled individuals in media. The Sydney 2000 Paralympics were a turning point for public support of para sports. Elizabeth faced challenges in her identity after retiring from swimming. She found empowerment through photography and art. Living with a disability requires daily practice of self-acceptance. Elizabeth advocates for more coverage of Paralympic sports. She reflects on the ableist perceptions in society. The importance of community pride in disability is highlighted. Elizabeth aims to inspire more disabled individuals to pursue journalism. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:58 Elizabeth Wright's Journey in Sports Journalism 05:51 Reflections on the Paralympic Games 09:05 Life After Competitive Swimming 11:51 Exploring Identity Through Art and Photography 14:54 Understanding Disability and Personal Experience 21:19 The Journey of Adaptation 22:34 Prosthetics: Tools of Empowerment 26:54 Disability Pride: A Daily Practice 31:10 The Future of Disability Representation in Journalism 33:43 Confronting Ableism: Personal Experiences and GrowthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.