loader from loading.io

Is it risky being an openly disabled author?

Crip Culture

Release Date: 12/06/2025

Do disabled people have to write about disability? show art Do disabled people have to write about disability?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to crime writer Ashley Kalagain Blunt. Ashley tells us about the reality of being a bestselling author whilst navigating chronic illness. And we hear an excerpt of Janelle McMillan’s book ‘Rafting – A Wheelchair Won’t Stop Us!’   This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest bios: Janelle McMillan OAM is an artist and author who has cerebral palsy. While she describes herself as non-verbal...

info_outline What is it like going on a book tour as a disabled author? show art What is it like going on a book tour as a disabled author?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to authors Carly Findlay and Gayle Kennedy. Carly tells us about the process of making a book tour accessible. Gayle shares her experiences of being denied access and inclusion. This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest bios: Carly Findlay OAM is an award-winning writer, speaker and appearance activist. Her first book, a memoir called Say Hello, was released in Australia in January 2019. She also...

info_outline Is it getting easier to build and sustain a writing career if you’re disabled? show art Is it getting easier to build and sustain a writing career if you’re disabled?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to journalist Matilda Boseley and author Olivia Muscat. Matilda tells us how audio books and text to speech technology have become tools for work, pleasure and survival. Olivia shares how she decides what creative projects to work on. This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest bios: Matilda Boseley is an award-winning social media reporter and presenter for Guardian Australia. She has spearheaded the...

info_outline What does a sensitivity reader do? show art What does a sensitivity reader do?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to Kay Kerr and Beau Windon. Kay tells us about her experience of using authenticity readers during the book writing process. Beau shares his trick for instantly creating trust and connection when teaching writing workshops. This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest bios: Kay Kerr is an autistic journalist and author living on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She has published three books—Young...

info_outline What does accessibility actually look like in the publishing industry? show art What does accessibility actually look like in the publishing industry?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to author Kylie Maslen and poet Esther Ottaway. Esther tells us about working with 23 disabled writers to create the poetry anthology, Raging Grace. Kylie shares what it is like to write and edit a book on a tight deadline. This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest bios: Kylie Maslen is a writer and critic living on Country stolen from the Kaurna people of the Adelaide plains. Kylie’s first book...

info_outline Is it risky being an openly disabled author? show art Is it risky being an openly disabled author?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to author Micheline Lee and poet Andy Jackson. Micheline tells us why she didn’t disclose her disability during the promotion of her first book. Andy shares the story about a night at a Brunswick pub that completely changed his writing career. This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest bios: Andy Jackson is a poet, essayist, and lecturer in creative writing at the University of Melbourne. His latest...

info_outline Where are all the disabled authors? show art Where are all the disabled authors?

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk about how we made an accessible podcast and the story behind our name. Our guests are Laura Pettenuzzo and Dr Scott Avery. Laura shares what crip time looks for a freelance writer. Dr Scott talks about when he unexpectedly discovered that he had written a book. We ask both of them about representation and whether the publishing industry is accessible.  This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast Guest...

info_outline INTRODUCING Crip Culture show art INTRODUCING Crip Culture

Crip Culture

Crip Culture is a disability-led podcast, hosted by award-winning writer Fiona Murphy and disability advocate/influencer Rosie Putland. Crip Culture shines a light on disability arts from publishing, film, TV, visual arts and beyond. Season one explores the publishing industry: What is it like being a disabled author or editor? Is the industry welcoming? Or are there still barriers? This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast  

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Crip Culture is hosted by Rosie Putland and Fiona Murphy, our producer is Honor Marino. In this episode we talk to author Micheline Lee and poet Andy Jackson. Micheline tells us why she didn’t disclose her disability during the promotion of her first book. Andy shares the story about a night at a Brunswick pub that completely changed his writing career.

Transcript

This podcast is proudly supported by Arts Tasmania and Print Radio Tasmania. Follow us on Instagram @CripCulturePodcast

Guest bios:

Andy Jackson is a poet, essayist, and lecturer in creative writing at the University of Melbourne. His latest poetry collection Human Looking won the ALS Gold Medal and the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Poetry. Andy's poems are included in the anthologies Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets (Bloodaxe, UK, 2025) and Every Place on the Map is Disabled (Northwestern University Press, USA, 2026). He is a co-editor of Raging Grace: Australian Writers Speak Out on Disability (Puncher & Wattman 2024), and he writes and rests on Dja Dja Wurrung country.

Micheline Lee’s novel, The Healing Party, was shortlisted for several awards including the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. Born in Malaysia, she migrated to Australia when she was eight. Micheline has lived with a motor neurone disability from birth. She is also a former human rights lawyer and painter. Her Quarterly Essay is called Lifeboat: Disability, Humanity and the NDIS.

Links and resources:

Cover art: Judy Kuo, Instagram: @judyk__ 

Music credits:
 -Moments Like These — Simon Folwar (Uppbeat)
License: BEB32FWJ6WULT877
-My Tiny Love — Soundroll (Uppbeat)
License: VPFSMMM3K2C71ONF