The Tangent
There's a point… and we’ll get there.
Together we explore the complicated, quirkiest, and most amusing (often untold) details of living with a disability. This isn't your typical disability podcast—it's a wild ride through the rollercoaster of diversity, complete with side-splitting tangents that prove laughing through the confusion is the best way to go.
I'm your host Chaeli - I’ve been disabled and a wheelchair user my whole life. I’ll guide you through many unfiltered tales and unexpected twists that make up an extraordinary, full life. Join us as we unravel the threads of resilience and humor, sharing candid conversations with guests who've conquered obstacles and found the punchline in life's hilarious curveballs.
Tune in, subscribe, and let's embark on a journey where every tangent leads to a moment of genuine, uplifting clarity... eventually.
Episodes
24 episodes
I dropped out of my PhD programme
Five years ago, one question from my therapist changed everything: Do you actually want a PhD?In this episode, I unpack my winding academic journey, the internalised ableism tangled up in my ambition, and the moment I realised...
When Do You Actually Feel Like an Author?
I’ve written two books and I’m working on a third, but saying “I’m an author” is still weird to me.In this episode, I’m getting into the reality of writing about my own life... from the existential crisis sparked by my first book to the ...
I’d Rather Look Like a Praying Mantis Than Feel Like a Lobster
What do underwear elastic, hand splints, lobsters and praying mantises have to do with disability pride?In this episode, I unpack an analogy I was told as a child, and the surprising way it shaped how I understood my changing body...
Running 50km when you feel underprepared
What happens when race day arrives and you feel like you're not ready? In this episode, I share the very unplanned story of our Festival of Running 50km... from headaches and exhaustion to forgotten lap counts, endless opportunities...
The Little Things – Finding Disabled Joy
What does disabled joy actually look like?In this episode, I'm sharing a few small moments that brought me genuine joy simply because I'm disabled... from thoughtful acts of allyship to everyday experiences that made me feel seen, includ...
What Disability Pride Means to Me
For years, I celebrated Disability Pride quietly. In 2017, I stumbled across a Disability Pride exhibition in a Philadelphia subway station, and something clicked. This year, that celebration feels different as we launch a campaign sharing disa...
We're back baby! Season 2 starts now...
After a year away, The Tangent is back.This episode is a catch-up and a fresh start. I'm sharing where I've been, why I took a break, and what's ahead for the podcast.As we're kicking off Disability Pride Month, you can exp...
Introducing The Tangent
There's a point... and we'll get there.Through The Tangent, I invite you to explore the intricate and captivating details of living with a disability. In each episode of this immersive journey we dive deep into the b...
I have too many notebooks!
In this episode of The Tangent, I’m getting real about the systems and strategies I’m using (and still figuring out) to be more productive and happier in 2025. Productivity isn’t just about doing more - it’s about doing what m...
New year, same me, better systems
"I'm going on quests"2025 is here and I'm excited about it! In this episode, we reflect on 2024, look forward to what I'm keen to achieve in 2025, and a few new approaches and nuggets I'm bringing with me. Let's do the thin...
What happened when I got bladder botox (ft. casual ableism)
"not one of the thousands of questions was asking what my disability is"Advocacy doesn't look the same every time you do it. Being an advocate for myself in hospitals or medical settings is one of the most difficult for me. In this epis...
Cape Town Marathon was chaotic for us
"Your body can rally for you, if you solve the right problem."I love running so much. If you ask a thousand marathon runners what their favourite thing about doing these races is, you'd probably find a thousand answers, but there are so...
I don't think balance is a thing
"I don't think it's about balance at all, I think it's about prioritising"We focus a lot of energy on finding balance and keeping all the plates spinning in the air. What if that is an unrealistic goal for our lives? In this episode, we...
Voting As a Disabled Person in 2024
“don’t let the system, and the admin and the bureaucratic bullshit get you down”I didn't realise that claiming my right to vote in 2024 would be as trying and involve so many people, so many tears, and some fresh, borrowed rage. In this...
We went to the Eras Tour!
“I know I’m going to be pretty insufferable for the people around me if anyone tells me that something is not possible”I have been a Taylor Swift fan forever and after nearly two decades of being a Swiftie we missioned across the world ...
My service dog got explosive diarrhoea!
"That was a humbling experience for sure..."I got my service dog, Eden, in my 3rd year of university and she changed my life. In this episode, we go through some stories that I haven't really shared before and some behind-the-scenes jou...
Can I park here?
"I'm not saying we're bad drivers"I've had so many debates and arguments about disabled parking, so let's get into it. This episode is just a quick intro of my perspective on this part of disabled life. Let's do the thing!
I had emergency surgery and then ran the Comrades!
"It wasn't best case scenario but it wasn't worst case scenario either, so that's a win"When plans don't go to plan in dramatic ways the only thing to do is go with the flow. In 2023 we decided to create and attempt the 7in7...
That's not the compliment you think it is
"It can get heavy always letting things go." I'm constantly engaging with other people. Over the years have had some pretty entertaining things said to me, but sometimes it doesn't hit the mark as you may think. In this episode, we...
My body can be a hard place to live
"the level of denial I had about this was unparalleled in my life"Being disabled can be really rough sometimes and we don't always get the chance to acknowledge this and talk about it. We're busy living our lives but it's also fine to s...
Life is risky in a wheelchair, but it's assessed risk
"Everybody falls, but you learn from it"We all have moments where we do something embarrassing and it leads to a story shared for years to come. For me, my wheelchair and my disability have added many stories to my catalog. In thi...
There are so many models!
"I just registered the overwhelm people have... there are so many models!"The history and theory of disability can be an intriguing place to start investigating the way disabled people exist in society. In this episode, we'...
