Creating Content with Heart: Embracing Authenticity, Inclusivity, and Community Support

Episode title and number: Creating Content with Heart: Embracing Authenticity, Inclusivity, and Community Support 6-#3

Summary of the show: 
In this episode, a vibrant discussion unfolds about the realities of creating accessible, inclusive content and navigating the emotional landscape of advocacy. Join us as we explore strategies for staying authentic, managing burnout, and inspiring positive change through storytelling. 

Key topics & timestamps:
00:00 Why Representation Shapes Culture
01:43 The Responsibility of Disability Creators
03:50 Where Meaningful Content Ideas Come From
06:49 Curiosity, Lived Experience, and Storytelling
10:18 Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
11:54 Authenticity Over Perfection
12:50 Creating Engagement Beyond Likes
17:56 Why Stories Help Others Feel Less Alone
22:11 Preventing Advocacy Fatigue Through Collaboration
29:03 Final Reflections: Representation with Intention 

Anne's Bio: 
Anne Mok is a blind storyteller, content creator, and emerging voice actor who uses narrative to advance accessibility, inclusion, and representation. Her work bridges lived experience and storytelling to reshape how disability is seen and understood. 

Connecting with Anne & our co-hosts:

• Anne Mock - @purposeinview
• Sylvia Perez -
• Gabby Donza - TikTok | Instagram
• Nasreen Nazarene - Connect via Bold Blind Beauty

Connect with Bold Blind Beauty to learn more about our advocacy:

• Join our Instagram community @BoldBlindBeauty
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel @BoldBlindBeauty
• Check out our website www.boldblindbeauty.com

Music Credit: "Ambient Uplifting Harmonic Happy" By Panda-x-music  https://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-uplifting-harmonic-happy/46309958

Thanks for listening!❤️

Transcript

Steph (00:00)
Disability is not a tragedy. A lack of representation is. Disability positive. Bold Blind Beauty was built on the understanding that representation isn't a bonus. It reshapes culture. As content creators in 2026, what does meaningful representation actually look like? Is it visibility alone or is it authorship, access, and decision-making power?

Who benefits when disabled voices are centered in storytelling? And what does it cost culturally and collectively when those voices are missing from the narrative? In this episode, we explore how content can move beyond optics and become a catalyst for equity, access, and lasting change. Today, storyteller and content creator, Anne Mock,
joins my co-host and me for a thoughtful conversation on what it truly means to create content that advances accessibility, inclusion, and representation. Together, we'll unpack how narrative power shapes perception and what responsibility comes with holding that platform. Let's begin with Anne.

Representation isn't about visibility alone. It's about accuracy, dignity, and leadership. Creators in the disability space are not just influencers. They are culture shapers. What responsibility do creators have to their community?

Anne: (01:43)
Thanks so much, Steph, and thank you so much to the Bold Blind Beauty team for having me on. I really feel creators in the disability space in particular, we carry a very weighty responsibility. Not because we're perfect, but because for many people, we may be the first disabled voice that they've truly listened to. And I think that's where it becomes really important that there isn't one disabled story. Our experiences are incredibly diverse.

They're shaped by culture, personality, access, support system, and how society responds to us. And I really want to say this is from my perspective, there are many incredible creators doing this work in different ways. And I only speak from my lived experience and what feels aligned for me. When people see one disabled creator, it's very tempting to assume that that's the story. But that's actually just one lens.

And our community deserves many lenses. So I feel that it's my responsibility to speak honestly from my own lived experience as a blind woman, as an advocate, as a storyteller, without positioning myself as the spokesperson for everyone. And I also think it's really important to protect our dignity. That means telling stories that don't rely on pity or turning disability into inspiration, but really showing the full picture of our lives.

The things that we're ambitious about our leadership, our humor, our exhaustion, and everything in between. And I know for me, like every post is part of shaping perception. And that perception is what's going to influence design, hiring, policy, and opportunities. So I don't see myself as just influencing an audience. I see myself as

part of shaping how those stories are told and how people understand disability. And I think if we're part of that and we're shaping culture, we have to do it with intention.

Steph (03:50)
So and I'll throw this out to anyone who wants to answer but Where do you find inspiration for meaningful content?

Gabby (04:00)
Mm, that's a great one. I'd love to answer this. think for me, I like to get it from either real world situations, so whatever I've gone through that I can make into content, if it's a story, if it's an experience, I'm very big on vlogging and taking people along for those adventures, but I also get it from other creators.

I do get inspired by other creators. mean, Anne constantly inspires me. So I think like, she's one of the people that I definitely feel the more that I, you know, kind of interact with her and her content. I definitely pull inspiration from her and just like looking at other individuals who are making content. But of course, it's not just about making the content and putting the content out there again. It's also about making it your own.

You know, because we can be inspired by so many people, but you know, we also want to make sure that we're putting up the content in the way that works for us and in the way that we would do it. And I think a lot of the time the content also just comes from however I feel, you know, if I'm really in the mood to make something or something's really sitting on my mind and I really just want to like film it or get it out there, then that's also like just my own inner motivation. But again, it's also from talking to friends and following people that really are making great content and doing such a great job with it. And like I said, just whatever experience I'm going through, whether it's an adventure or any difficult situation, that's also sometimes can be a way for you to get the content going, even if it isn't, you know, inspiring you, it's still a way to show people again, like I said, that other side of who you are.

Dana (05:51)
I think for me, because I do a specific niche with beauty and fashion, for me, I go through traits, what's going on in the industry, magazines, newsletters. Like if I come across a trend that'll trigger something, and then I can brainstorm on it. And then I can create it into whether it was a blog post or a beauty bite.

So that's how I get inspired is because I get so many things in my inbox from the industry and that that'll spark stuff. I usually when I'm sitting going through my emails, I have a near me. when if something sparks, I see something and I like, let me expound on this. And that's how I get inspired.

Gabby (06:49)
I love that. very much agree with Gabby, you know, just that lived experience, like our day to day lives. I think that really gets the spark for me about creating content and just noticing the things that I notice and taking time to enjoy it. And also like, feet fills my cup too. Yeah, it's just those ordinary moments. And then if something is like a barrier between a barrier and a possibility, what's that tension? And like, how can I share that story?

And then if I find something that's kind of empowering, like, how can I share that so that someone else doesn't feel as alone? So looking for those things and kind of just leading with curiosity, I think, is where I find meaningful. Being open-minded.

Nasreen (07:33)
Yeah,

yeah. For me, I like to look at other people's content. I don't create that content unless it's here at Bound Blind Beauty or through Bold Blind Beauty. But I like to look at other people's content just to kind of see what is sort of the, I guess, the word on the street or what is today's current event. And then I get inspired by, you know, what they're doing. But I also take a look at how they're creating their content. That's something I always look at to sort of like

What platforms might they be using or what is the sort of the finished product of their creation and the content message that they're giving out? And that's just something I do on a personal, because I'm just curious and interested. And then that kind of leads me to that path. this inspiring me? Is this content or this person and their message inspiring me enough to continue or do I flick and move up to the next content creator?

And I think to see the raw, I guess, talent, you will, know, flicking through TikTok, if you got the time, you find a lot of raw talent over there, just doing their thing. And some people are really raw and don't care. And other people, you know, they are much more seasoned and you can see that they're doing this for a living or they have a lot of experience in that. So.

that's also kind of, for me, that's also curious and encouraging and inspiring all at the same time.

Sylvia (09:06)
So for me, I agree with everything y'all said, that curiosity and just, but I have two other ones. And one is, know, I wrote my book, Treading the Waters of Life book. It really has a catharsis for myself. So sometimes you're creating content that you're actually, it's your way to kind of get that out for yourself. And then you realize, this might impact someone else and you share it. But my other...

one more recently is I've been following a lot of groups, like a parents of children who are blind group. And I've started creating content and sometimes I just aim it directly at them. It's not really public. It's just going to groups where I'm really trying to address needs that I see there. Like what do I keep seeing messages that I keep seeing people post over and over?

How can I help impact those people? And that's been a recent thing that I've really been focused on.

Gabby (10:10)
That's really good. That's great. Looking for that need, feeling that need. I actually

Dana (10:13)
That's amazing.

speaker-4 (10:15)
Yeah.

Dana (10:18)
I find inspiration everywhere, even in things that don't have anything to do with some of stuff we do. Like I'll say a cooking show, for instance. And you guys know I don't cook. I don't do cooking.

Sylvia (10:32)
You're getting inspiration from a cooking show, Steph?

Gabby (10:36)
You

Dana (10:37)
Only because my daughter-in-law will be watching it and I'm in the room with her and so I have questions

Sylvia (10:45)
Have questions?

Dana (10:48)
I got questions about. And sometimes you know as as the folks are on the show or interacting with one another something might happen or somebody might say something and it has absolutely nothing to do with the work we do but I can take whatever they're talking about and it's about food of all things and apply it to what we do and I find that almost magical.

So typically what will happen is I'll sit and watch it like say on a Tuesday and then on Wednesday morning when I take my shower, that's when it hits me.

Sylvia (11:23)
Thank goodness! This is the-

Dana (11:24)
This

is like magic. It's like, I can take this from this cooking show and apply here and really make a lesson out it. Exactly. That we do, you know, and it sounds funny, you know, but it's real. I find inspiration in nature. find it in just being out among people. I find it in solitude.

Gabby (11:32)
It's four.

about that.

Nasreen (11:53)
Yeah.

Sylvia (11:54)
There are lessons everywhere. you know, something that occurs to me that I think is important to say is that sometimes people are waiting to create content until they think they're a great writer, a great speaker, whatever. you know, each of us has this opportunity to make an impact. And if we wait till like we're perfect and

we're going to say it just the right way, we might have missed out on that opportunity to impact that one person's life.

Gabby (12:25)
That's neat. Very, very neat.

speaker-4 (12:28)
Thank

Nasreen (12:31)
I mean, we don't live in a perfect world, so I think content creation should be extremely perfect either. should just be authentic and natural.

Sylvia (12:41)
Go with the flow. authentic.

Dana (12:44)
Right

Gabby (12:44)
And I think that's what people are connecting to is authenticity.

Dana (12:50)
I do. I definitely do. But here's something I want you guys to think about. How create engagement beyond likes? We're talking about authenticity. And sometimes, you know, when you're being authentic, you might not get those likes or, you know, that engagement that you might be looking for. But how do you create it beyond the likes?

Gabby (12:57)
How do you

Oh, this is, yeah, I, the minute you asked this question, I immediately thought about a comment that someone had left me on a YouTube video recently because I'm someone who gets very like tangled up in like, oh, you know, people aren't interacting. People don't, you know, I'm not getting to the engagement that I really want to get to. But sometimes that's not the most important thing. You know, sometimes

And we all do it regardless of who we are. You know, we all think about, how is this gonna really land for people regardless of what the impact is? And I'm someone who gets very caught up in that. And I'm very honest about that when I post content. You know, I've said that on my YouTube videos and someone, I think for me, when I post, in regards to your questions about, you know, posting outside of just the likes, to me, it's about meeting the person.

You know, the person that's behind the screen, that's clicking on the podcast episode, that's clicking on the video, that may have read a blog post or two, you know, that's what matters to me. Like, it doesn't really matter to me about, okay, I got like, you know, whatever, a thousand likes or a hundred likes or whatever the case might be. That's great. But the likes mean nothing if you're really not getting the impact that that person might be needing, you know?

And someone left me such a beautiful comment. It actually made me cry. Like it was so nice that they were just like, you know, I hope you know, like the work you're doing, like what you are doing is really helping people and it is impacting people. It just doesn't seem that way because you don't, you feel like you're not getting to that point or you're not there, but you know, what matters is the people. The people is what matters. And I think when we think about likes and engagements and all these other things,

we lose sight of the most important thing. Like we make content, a lot of us here create content to educate, to inspire, to uplift, know, to impact people. We don't make content just for the likes and the follows and the views, you know, we do it because we care about people. We're people first, you know? And so that's what I think about when I think about what I'm going to post and how I want to share it and who it's going to, you know, who my target audience might be.

Sylvia (15:30)
Beautiful Gabby. It is.

True. Yeah.

Dana (15:37)
And even if you just are you if you're doing it for the likes you're doing it for the wrong reason

Gabby (15:42)
Definitely.

Dana (15:45)
I kinda, I think that it would be a little bit challenging to be in this kind of work and do it for the likes. I mean, we all know people that do, but I don't know. It's kind of hard for me to wrap my head around that because as Gabby said, it really truly is about the people and it's about wanting to help people. You know what you've been through and you want to sort of help uplift somebody else.

Gabby (16:12)
Right. mean, that's why, you know, that's why we, that's why we speak. That's why we write books. I'm specifically talking about everybody here on the call. You know, that's why, that's why Anne does what she does. That's why Sylvia does what she does. That's why Dana is so passionate about what she's passionate about. You know, it's because we do it for the people. We don't do it for the case of like, how is this going to get an interaction out of people, you know?

Sylvia (16:39)
I mean if that was the case, Steph would have given up Bold Line Beauty a long time ago, right Steph? Even though there are lots of people who love Bold Line Beauty, know? People who work that doesn't...

Gabby (16:49)
You don't wanna

Dana (16:53)
Yeah, but you know, every time I thought about giving it up, I would always get an email or text or something from someone and nine times out of it was somebody that I didn't know. And they would say, you know, I just want to thank you, you know, so much for what you're doing. You're putting positivity out into the world. You know, you don't have to do that. I mean, obviously we could

go negative, we don't. yet we still try to keep it real because it can be very, hard. As I said earlier, when you can see navigating the world, when you can't see, regardless of what your level of sight is, can be extremely difficult, but yet we are adaptable. But when you get a message like that from someone, it lets you know that what you're doing, isn't

for not, you know, it is the reason.

Sylvia (17:56)
There's a quote and I can't, I'm gonna have to paraphrase and it's kind of long, but the part I remember is, I can stop one heart from breaking, my work has not been in vain.

Gabby (18:07)
Yeah.

And you know, yeah, that's, that's beautiful. And I think Steph, you, you were, as you were talking, I just thought about the fact that like, there's already so much of this, posting just for the online identity to get the views and likes. But I think for us, who are in, in the position of living with a disability, it's like the reason why we do these things isn't to just be like, Hey, poor me, pity me, because a lot of I'm

I'm a thousand percent sure none of us on this call are like that. know, none of us want anybody to look at us and go, that poor blind woman, you know, we do it because we're showcasing people who we are. And it's not only for that purpose, it's for the younger versions of ourselves and the younger people who are coming up now. Like I think about a lot of the teenagers in the blind community who are coming up and, know, just, just seeing them have, they navigate. reminds me so much of like,

just being in high school and like trying to figure out how to navigate all the complexities of that. But again, like you said, we have to adapt. And I think that if we can adapt while still being able to show people like, hey, we're being real. You're gonna get this version of me, whether it's on camera or you meet me at a coffee shop, you know?

Sylvia (19:27)
We are role models and as people, as women who have a disability, who are blind, we are on stage, whether we like it or not.

And I think especially people who, like you said, Gabby, are coming up behind us or who have a recent diagnosis and they might be older, they don't know what to do with it. We try to give them direction of, hey, here's what you can do with it. And I think back to Anne's point about there's so many voices that need to tell their stories because...

Somebody's story is going to click with somebody and it's going to inspire them, motivate them, encourage them.

Gabby (20:10)
And if we can help uplift and hold their hand along the way, we become stronger together.

Sylvia (20:18)
Yeah.

Nasreen (20:19)
We're providing hope to those who perhaps think that there is no hope or they feel hopeless for the various reasons that you just described, Sylvia.

Sylvia (20:30)
And I think a lot of non-disabled people going back to stuffs is they do follow our content too. And their attitudes about blindness are being changed. And so that's a cool thing we get to do.

Gabby (20:46)
They know someone that is living with vision loss and how can they, they want to know how to best support that person and understand their point of view. I think we create allies that way too.

Dana (21:00)
think what we all do is just what we represent is real life because that's what we all have in common. We may have maybe women with disabilities, but we live real life and we showcase in whatever we do that other people can benefit from what we do because we are living real life.

Thank you so much for the really thoughtful discussion on engagement beyond the likes. think there was a lot of great takeaways from that. can't wait to look at the video and then pull out some shorts from that, because I think that was really good. But our last question is about

sustainable content creation, it requires boundaries and collaboration, rest and shared leadership. How do you sustain your work and not get stuck in advocacy fatigue?

Gabby (22:11)
I like to prioritize collaboration. There's times where I'm in the fatigue. I live with vision loss and chronic daily pain. it's, boundaries are really important. But those times are where I don't feel well enough to create content. You know what? I'm being a cheerleader behind the scenes. I'm supporting other people's content and collaborating with them. And I think that's a strategy. That's the strategy that I use to help myself.

you

Sylvia (22:42)
And I think that's great that you acknowledge that sometimes you need a break, you got to step back for your own mental and physical well being. And sometimes I've had to do that. Or sometimes you're going through something and you just need to step back. And I love that. Yeah.

Gabby (22:58)
We do. Yeah.

Dana (23:00)
think with the breaks too, it can also make you even more creative when you come back to it because I find myself if I've stepped away from it from a little bit, then it like jolts me back into maybe being so, you know, more creative and not get that fatigue or just get bored. So those breaks are like a refresh.

Gabby (23:25)
That's so true. Absolutely. Even greater like creativity and it's like, wow, and then you're ready to go.

Dana (23:27)
Good

Nasreen (23:36)
it's okay to show your vulnerability like with those breaks and those boundaries because when you do come back fresh, like you said, Dana, you can actually talk about that as a contact creator and just say, hey, you know, I took a break because so I went through so and so, or I was doing so and such and such and share that experience and let the listeners know, hey, you know, there's a human side to you and you had to step back or you had to do something because, you know, you

Dana (24:05)
Mm-mm.

Nasreen (24:05)
You

were being impacted by whatever it was. And at the end of the day, you're human. And I think with today's environment and all about mental health and mental wellbeing and all that stuff, I think that all plays well into showing your vulnerability. I think that's widely accepted now than it perhaps ever was before.

Gabby (24:27)
It people

Sylvia (24:28)
permission to do the same.

Gabby (24:31)
Yeah. And I agree, you I think about when you said, you know, about the rest part, it's like, I think about last month after I had my, while I was in recovery after surgery, it's like, during that time, I still wanted to create content because I was there was a part of me that's like, I'm bored at home. And I'm spending all this time at home for the time being. But in that space, it also taught me that like, I can

make content on the days when I really felt like I wanted to make the content. But also during that time of creating content, talking about how sometimes your body will literally force you to rest and take a break. And sometimes you have to just listen to that and not push those boundaries because, you know, we all know what can happen when we start pushing those boundaries and not listening to our bodies and listening to our minds. And, and I think like, I really needed to just like, I think part of my brain was just like, yeah.

Now I no longer, like when I feel like I need rest, I'm just like, okay, I'm going to take this break and, you know, just recuperate. So I feel like I'm my, my full at my full potential and presenting myself, you know, being the best that I can be. Right.

Sylvia (25:42)
Someone recently said to me, sometimes you've got to be your own advocate.

Gabby (25:47)
Mm-hmm.

Nasreen (25:50)
My phrase or word for this year that I heard somewhere out there in cyberspace was self-abundance. So I think that comes into the play of what we're all talking about boundaries and listening to yourself, being kind to yourself and giving yourself the self-abundance that you need.

Gabby (25:59)
No.

Yeah, definitely.

Dana (26:17)
I agree with everything that everybody has said here. As you were talking, I'm thinking, you know, this is the longest that I've been away from nearly everything that we do here at Bold Blind Beauty. been several months. And I'm still not feeling like myself. And I don't know when that's going to happen, but I just have to trust the process. But it's true that

You know, we really have to listen to our bodies. We only come this way once. You know, we only get one shot. This is not a dress rehearsal. And it's not to say that we're going to get everything right. We're going to get everything perfect because we're human. And as humans, we're flawed and we're going to make mistakes, but that's part of the beauty of life as well. So I'm just sort of trusting the process and knowing that

Gabby (26:55)
Mm-hmm

Dana (27:14)
when it's time, I'll be back, you know, hopefully, you know, I can't think of a good analogy, so.

Sylvia (27:25)
But in the meantime, you're also leaning on others. So you're part of that collaboration part. And that's good leadership is collaborating, like Ann said.

Gabby (27:36)
Definitely. Even when we were having the technical issues and things like earlier, it was so cool because we all came together to solve the problems. I think that says a lot about us and the community in general. When we come together, it's amazing what we can do.

Dana (27:36)
For sure.

the

other thing to that, Anne, was taking the pressure off. Because I was sitting here losing my mind. And I know Sylvia had had an issue earlier. And then a couple others were having. And it was like, it's OK. It's OK. So the rest of us would chime in and lift that person up and say, it's all right. It's OK. And you don't know how good that feels.

Gabby (28:19)
Yeah.

Sylvia (28:20)
This

episode is happening is almost miraculous.

Nasreen (28:25)
So true.

Dana (28:29)
Real life. I'm sorry. What'd you say? Real life. Yeah, it definitely was. And I think that this was the perfect episode for that to happen. You know, we're talking about content creation and how we do that. And here in this, this very episode, we talked about the good, the bad, the not so good, and we still push through. Yeah.

Gabby (28:55)
We all made sure we were all looking good.

Sylvia (29:03)
Steph, do you want everyone to share where people can find their content? We definitely want to know where to find Anne's.

Nasreen (29:10)
Sure

Dana (29:11)
I sure do!

Gabby (29:14)
So you can find me on Instagram at Purpose in View, on my Instagram at purposeinview.com. And yeah, excited. So let's connect and support each other. That's the biggest thing. Awesome. Thank you, Anne. You can find me on Instagram at g.donza underscore. I'm also on TikTok as well with the same username, just without the underscore.

Dana (29:27)
Thank you.

Sylvia (29:42)
And for me, I'm on Instagram and I think it's Sylvia S. Perez, I think. Oh my gosh, I'm not so good at that. But my book is available, Treading the Waters of Life on Kendall or on my website, TotalImpactPartners.com. And I'm definitely on Facebook where I do share a lot of content there.

Dana (30:04)
And for me, they tuned to more content on the bull blind beauty platforms. Yes. And Nazarene, I I'm sensing that you're like, my God, what am going to say? I could be wrong. I could be wrong. I don't want to presume. anybody wanting to get in contact with Nazarene can always contact her through through bull blind beauty. She's

Gabby (30:06)
And for me...

Dana (30:34)
Excuse me, she is my right hand person and without her, none of this would have been possible. So again, I just thank you so much Nazrin for hanging in there with me all these years and just for showing up for everybody showing up, especially this evening.

Thank you. Thank you so much for the wonderful conversation. You know, at Bull Blind Beauty, we're not just creating content. We're shaping narrative. We are shifting perception. We're building a world where blind and low vision individuals are not side stories. We're central. If this episode resonated with you, share it. Commit to one bold accessibility action this week.

because representation is powerful. But representation with intention, that's transformational.