Illegally Deaf
Illegally Deaf is a podcast about overcoming obstacles. I’m Danny Burnside, and just this year I was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. Oh, did I mention I’m a professional Hollywood Voice Actor? Funny how that goes! I’ve made the decision to own my disability and interview remarkable guests who are thriving in light of being disabled. Welcome to the Illegally Deaf podcast.
Episodes
Healing, truth & art. Scott Victor Nelson is a life coach, mental health coach and accomplished Hollywood actor and casting director. Despite Scott’s on and off-camera credits, his primary source of joy and achievement comes through his work leading men’s groups. Providing safe spaces for men to heal emotionally, find brotherhood and transform into the best version of themselves. Scott lives with multiple sclerosi...
Artistic mentor, big brother. Dan Britt is a neurodivergent artist and educator helping differently enabled young adults develop social skills, embrace their voice, and build confidence through the arts and improv. His goal as an artist centers on allyship: fostering consciousness and acceptance of marginalized populations in communities that deserve attention paid to issues that affect them. Dan lives with autism.
Audio artwork. Dee Alvis was supposed to be dead shortly after birth. That didn’t happen. Born in Sri Lanka with spina bifida, a birth defect that causes an opening in the spine, Dee endured numerous surgeries as a child. After the onset of the Sri Lankan cilvil war, his family relocated to the US where Dee thrived in music, radio and audio production, leading to the founding of his own company. Dee lives with spina b...
Disabled representation in Hollywood. Hollywood Senior Global Leader, Karen Horne is a true ally to underrepresented communities. Karen works to promote disabled representation in film and TV. She has served in numerous executive entertainment industry roles with a focus on driving DEIA Initiatives with vision and purpose.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be ...
Visually impaired storyteller. Actor, director, writer, producer Lee Pugsley has always had a passion for the arts and storytelling. Born with glaucoma in South Korea, Lee was adopted as an infant by an American single mother. In his teenage years, he endured the tragic sudden death of his mother and later, fought his own battle with depression. He is now committed to a journey of self discovery. Despite being visuall...
Power Wheelchair Soccer. Tony Jackson is a world renowned broadcaster, coach and player of Power Wheelchair Soccer. A multi-degree holding academic, a twist of fate during his collegiate days led Tony to first taking the PWS court. Since that day, his life has never been the same. Tony lives with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would li...
Over the Bridge Outreach. Doug Bartling Jr. is a voice actor, motivational speaker and founder of "Over the Bridge Outreach," a mission that distributes food, water, clothing and houseware items to those in need. An ex-drug abuser and degenerate gambler, Doug has completely turned his life around with a purpose of helping others. A 2007 diving accident led to his paralysis from the chest down. Doug lives as a quadripl...
The blind property manager! Alberto Carreto was born completely blind in “The city of eternal spring,” Cuernavaca, Mexico. Speaking no English, he moved with his family to the U.S. as a young child. There, he endured living in rough neighborhoods riddled with gang violence. As a teenager, Alberto attended a boarding school for the blind and deaf, where he experienced bullying at the hands of his blind peers. On his tw...
Military PTSD to flourishing artist! Jordan McNaught joined the Royal Military Police in 2016. He was repeatedly mentally abused by a Staff Sargent, leading to a PTSD diagnosis and medical discharge. Meanwhile, his wife was pregnant with their first child. After winning a settlement against the Ministry of Defense, Jordan embarked on an unexpected new career path into the performing arts. Jordan lives with PTSD.
Paralyzed youth to Silver Screen! Hollywood actress, Eileen Grubba was paralyzed at five years old from a medical accident. Her parents were told by doctors that she would never walk again, that she may not survive at all. Through sheer will, Eileen defied the odds and began a journey of teaching herself to walk. Persevering through multiple major surgeries, she has followed her dreams and flourished into an accomplis...
Cerebral palsy and rockin’ the mic! DJ Bob was born three months premature and faced overwhelming physical limitations during childhood. These physical limitations led to him developing a unique skill set as a broadcaster, propelling him to a 15 year career as a DJ and podcast host. Bob lives with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy.
Brittle bones to radio DJ! Jordan ‘J-Man’ Adler was born with the rare bone disease, Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), aka brittle bone disease. Against insurmountable physical limitations, he has excelled as a radio DJ, podcast host and puppeteer. Jordan is wheelchair bound and lives with ongoing Osteogenesis imperfecta.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be consi...
Blind and abandoned at birth. Silvia Buzzanco's unimaginable early life story made national headlines. She has overcome inconceivable obstacles, blossoming into a compassionate, talented and warmhearted woman. Silvia lives with total blindness and childhood trauma related PTSD.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be considered as a guest on the Illegally Deaf P...
Freed from thirty years of depression! Free to laugh now! Chris is a professional voice actor and inspirational speaker. He lives with mobility related disability.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be considered as a guest on the Illegally Deaf Podcast, email illegallydeafpodcast@gmail.com
Join our Discord server!
Miss Wheelchair USA 2014! Sylvia is an air-force veteran who has traveled to forty eight countries as an accessible travel writer and wheelchair user. She lives with Multiple Sclerosis.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be considered as a guest on the Illegally Deaf Podcast, email illegallydeafpodcast@gmail.com
Join our Discord se...
The first ever Canadian Mufasa in "The Lion King" the musical! John is a high-stakes performance coach and public speaker. He lives with hearing loss and sleep apnea.
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be considered as a guest on the Illegally Deaf Podcast, email illegallydeafpodcast@gmail.com
Join our Discord server!
Welcome to the Illegally Deaf Podcast! I tell my story of becoming a Hollywood voice actor with severe hearing loss and explain the name "Illegally Deaf."
If you have a physical, or mental disability and would like to be considered as a guest on the Illegally Deaf Podcast, email illegallydeafpodcast@gmail.com
Join our Discord server!
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