Description:

Why is it that in the movies we watch and the reality TV we consume, disability is only portrayed in a handful of ways? Why are we always the "inspiration" or the "tragedy," but never just the person?

In this episode of The Advocacy Life, Kevin Nunez delves into the "Exposure Method" to explore how American media sanitizes the disability experience. From the "cute" portrayals on TV to the harsh reality of "survival math" and the lack of "days off" from a diagnosis, Kevin bridges the gap between how the world sees us and how we actually live.

Show Notes

None for this episode.

Episode Transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aHVJO0FY-t5MWVXC0KYNN_wmff1Ur9kL/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111303226198366895898&rtpof=true&sd=true

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Living Beyond Disability book series

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Description:What exactly makes people uncomfortable about disability? Often, it’s because society only sees the "cute and cuddly" version of our lives. In this episode of The Advocacy Life Podcast, we’re breaking that mold.I’m talking about the power of full exposure. To bridge the gap in understanding, people need to see the raw, unfiltered reality of disability—not just the triumphs, but the struggles, the financial hurdles, and the everyday resilience required to navigate a world that wasn't built for us.In this episode, we discuss:New Year’s Resolutions: I’m sharing an update on my goal to finish my next book draft by March and have it out by December 2026! How are your resolutions holding up in mid-February?The Exposure Method: Why showing the "uncomfortable" parts of disability is the only way to create true empathy and change.Existence vs. A Full Life: There is a massive difference between just "experiencing" life and actually living it. We explore how to find value in every moment.The Price of Advocacy: Why being a leader means being willing to be the first one to step into the fire.Universal Truths: Disability and death are the only two certainties in life. It’s time we stop hiding from them and start talking about them.We are all part of the same human story. Let’s stop wasting time and start living with purpose.📍 TIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Introduction: What makes people uncomfortable?1:50 – New Year’s Resolution Update (Book 2026!)4:10 – Why we need to "Expose" Disability9:30 – Moving past the "After-School Special" version of our lives14:00 – The burden and beauty of being an Advocate19:45 – Living a Full Life vs. Just Existing24:00 – Final thoughts: Don’t waste your life.Show NotesNone for this episode.Episode Transcripthttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1sjRHwzK5lMXPdYPIzxvr_P9DtwRyiap8/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=111303226198366895898&rtpof=true&sd=trueSocial Media/Website@TheAdvocacyLife FB @theadvocacyliferelaunchedMean Websitehttps://advocatekevinnunez.wordpress.com/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/TheAdvocayLifeRelaunchedInstagram https://www.instagram.com/theadvocacylife?igsh=N2tyYmdyajQwNGY4Tumblrhttps://www.tumblr.com/theadvocacylifeThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@theadvocacylifePinterest https://pin.it/7dHI38DfsLinkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-nu%C3%B1ez-261856364/Books Living Beyond Disability book serieshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1H7DM4Z?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbkLetters from Limbo Newsletterhttps://advocatekevinnunez.wordpress.com/moments-of-brightness-newsletter/PayPal https://www.paypal.me/KevinGNunezCashapp https://cash.app/$KevinGNunez

Description: Have you ever said, "I hate politics," or felt like the government is just too complicated to understand? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Advocacy Life Podcast, I’m doing something a little "insane"—I’m going to oversimplify government and politics so you can get involved without losing your mind. Using nothing but a few imaginary pizza pies, we’ll break down:

The "Kevin Definition" of Politics: Why it’s actually just the art of politely arguing over resources.

The Majority Rule Myth: Why a direct democracy doesn't always work and how our representative system actually gives you a voice.

The Disability History Gap: Why advocates must know their own history and how it ties into the greater American story.

Accountability: Why "eternal vigilance" is the price of freedom and how you can hold elected officials accountable.

As disability advocates, we have a role to play. If we sit back and stay silent, we won't get the resources or rights we need. Let’s bridge those gaps together in a fun, conversational style.

+2

TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Welcome to The Advocacy Life 1:30 – Fun Fact: My thoughts on the Stranger Things finale 4:15 – The Pizza Analogy: How politics and resources work 9:00 – Choice vs. Control: Socialism, Group Homes, and Prisons 15:30 – Democracy vs. Representative Republic 20:00 – The Constitution & Why Education Matters 25:00 – A Call to Action for Disability Advocates

Show Notes

Free Civics Course: https://www.khanacademy.org

Find Your Representatives:

https://www.congress.gov/

Episode Transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pMA0B1UG8BH8GlhnN51PbcxhIC7RmJfm/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111303226198366895898&rtpof=true&sd=true

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Living Beyond Disability book series

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Welcome back to The Advocacy Life Podcast! In this crucial episode, "The Wheelchair Tool," we are bridging the gap of understanding between the public and mobility devices.

Host Kevin Nunez addresses common misconceptions and misunderstandings about wheelchairs, clarifying the difference between an electric wheelchair and a scooter.

Key Takeaways in this episode:

Tool, Not a Toy: A wheelchair is an expensive, customized life tool, not an accessory, handbag, or luxury item. Kevin's new chair, for which he's been fitted, costs between \$50,000 and \$60,000.

The New Chair Goal: Kevin shares his goal of getting a new wheelchair with a rise function to allow him to speak and interact at eye level, and to reach higher shelves.

Wheelchair Etiquette 101: Learn the dos and don'ts of interacting with someone in a wheelchair:

Never hang off the back or push the chair without permission.

Never grab the joystick.

Stop the overused, disrespectful jokes like, "How fast does that thing go?".

Defense Mechanism: Kevin discusses how the wheelchair serves as his only defense in public, even during an active shooter drill.

Maintenance & Health: The importance of regular servicing, and how being vigilant (like Kevin) can help prevent pressure sores (which are preventable, unlike what happened to Christopher Reeve).

Be respectful, be kind, and realize the person in the chair is just trying to live their life the best way they can.

Episode Transcript

https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/8457760100267752062/wmlNVLD4RKnq15t6xT7_ZC8Fqyt3qGD_oniImTCAIPI/tal-s4-e2-the-wheelchair-tool

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Living Beyond Disability book series

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Welcome back to The Advocacy Life Podcast and Vlog! We are kicking off 2026 with a brand new season of episodes, focusing on what truly matters: Gratitude and Goals!

Host Kevin Nunez is back after missing November and December (life happened, including a kitchen remodel and he's bringing quality over quantity by switching to two high-quality episodes a month.

In this episode, Kevin gets personal, sharing what he's deeply thankful for:

Family and Friends: A huge shout out to the family (Dad, Mom, Stepdad, etc.) who help set up the podcast equipment, and to friends—the initial reason he started podcasting.

Growth: Being thankful for the podcast evolving from sketchy cell phone recordings to a fully-developed show, and for hitting 200 subscribers on theadvocacylife.com alone!

Health Victories: Celebrating a major victory in 2025: the first year in about five years without any surgeries or major hospitalizations.

Small Connections: Sharing a major connection made at a state function that led to sending in a resume for a potential staff position with Governor-Elect Mikey Sherrill.

Then, he lays out his ambitious goals for 2026:

Writing: Finishing his third book, the conclusion to the Living Beyond Disability series, which focuses on Disability Policy 101 for self-advocates.

Personal Victory: Buying new clothes and new accessible Billy Shoes—a huge deal after losing weight and dealing with the constant battle of finding shoes that fit orthotics.

Social Life: The deeply personal goal of making a real, close friend to talk to more regularly.

Episode Transcript

https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/4836865999870251777/-RSP64PDdqblEDJmK-nf3q09PHSVtyz6ZQFpKGTXb4w/tal-s4-e1-goals-and-gratitude

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Books

Living Beyond Disability book series

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1H7DM4Z?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

Letters from Limbo Newsletter

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Description

False hope can be a comforting lie, but it often leads to greater disappointment. In this powerful and incredibly honest episode, Kevin Nuñez tackles the sensitive topic of false hope within the disability community, sharing his personal experiences and why he believes brutal honesty, paired with empathy, is essential.

Evin recounts his own childhood experiences with doctors and therapists who gave his family false expectations about "walking again," only to face repeated letdowns He argues that this practice, often well-intentioned, can be more damaging than helpful, especially for children who internalize these unfulfilled promises as personal failures This isn't just about physical rehabilitation; it extends to broader societal interactions where people offer empty reassurances about things they don't understand

This episode challenges us to rethink how we support and communicate with individuals with disabilities[cite: Kevin advocates for a balance of empathy and realism, pushing for genuine understanding over platitudes He asks why we celebrate minimal progress instead of recognizing the full, complex lives people with disabilities lead, and stresses the importance of fostering self-love and self-respect in a world that often measures worth by physical ability.

Show Notes

• New Jersey families support planning councils https://njcdd.org/the-regional-family-support-planning-councils/

• Mom to Mom hotline https://mom2mom.us.com/contact/

• NJ SPAN https://spanadvocacy.org/

• Episode Transcript TAL S3 E 17 Disability and Parenting.docx

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Living Beyond Disability book series

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https://advocatekevinnunez.wordpress.com/moments-of-brightness-newsletter/

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Description

We all have dreams, but what happens when they don't work out? In this powerful episode, Kevin Nuñez shares his personal journey of chasing a lifelong dream, only to have a new, unexpected door open. He reflects on his childhood dream of being a politician and how that evolved into a deeply personal goal of serving on a national advocacy board.

Kevin takes you behind the scenes of his application process, sharing his confidence and the emotional blow of being rejected from what he saw as his "dream job". But just two hours later, he received a call that changed everything, offering him an opportunity to serve on another national board that he had never even considered.

This episode is a vital reminder that advocacy isn't for money or fame; it's about being a voice for the voiceless and "planting the seed for a tree that someone else will sit under". Listen in as Kevin explores the importance of being aware of the "windows and doors that are open to us" and why a perceived "no" can be the redirection you need.

Episode Transcripts

TAL S3 E 15 Open Doors (1).docx

Show Notes

• NJCDD https://njcdd.org/about-the-njcdd/

• NACDD https://nacdd.org/

• TASH https://tash.org/

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Living Beyond Disability book series

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https://advocatekevinnunez.wordpress.com/moments-of-brightness-newsletter/

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Description

When did we, as a society, give up our conscience for comfort? In this powerful and unfiltered episode, Kevin Nuñez challenges listeners to pop their own "bubble" and confront the uncomfortable truths of a divided America.

Kevin opens up about disturbing events, like the tragic death of a young woman on a subway, and questions why people stood by and did nothing. He reflects on a time when a national tragedy like 9/11 united Americans, contrasting that with the current culture of indifference.

This is more than just a commentary on society; it's a personal call to action. Kevin shares how his disability has taught him to constantly adapt and grow, a skill he argues many Americans have lost. He challenges the idea that being able to walk means you are going somewhere, pointing out that many people who walk all day have no purpose behind their steps.

episode transcript

TAL S3 E 14 Pop Your Bubble.docx

Show Notes

• All comments welcome

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Living Beyond Disability book series

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https://advocatekevinnunez.wordpress.com/moments-of-brightness-newsletter/

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