Have The Nerve: A Podcast About Disability
Have The Nerve is a podcast about disability, brought to you by Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Host Susan Wood discusses a wide range of topics relating to disability. The show aims to encourage open conversation and raise awareness, asking listeners if they have the nerve to talk about disability.
Episodes
Episode 61: World SCI Day 2026
Send us Fan MailRoyal Rehab Group are proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of World SCI Day, held each year on September 5th. This podcast is in collaboration with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia’s Resource Hub, alongside Royal Rehab Lifeworks, NeuroMoves, SCIA’s Peer and Family Support and Sargood on Collaroy.Please be aware that this episode comes with a trigger warning for medical trauma and
Episode 60: Disability Rights, Inclusion, Education and The Next Generation with Professor Alastair McEwin
Send us Fan MailOn this episode, Susan is joined by former Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner, and disability advocate, Professor Alastair McEwin AM. He shares his story of lived experience growing up with a disability, his work as a Royal Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission, helping form the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
Episode 59: Stuck On The Side Of The Road For Four Hours Because Of A Wheelchair
Send us Fan MailWhat would you do if your car broke down on the side of the road and there were no available options for transport assistance to get you somewhere safe? To get you home? This year, Sarah-Jane (SJ) Staszak was stranded on the side of the M4 in New South Wales for four hours after her car broke down, because there wasn't an alternative option for her to be transported safely in
Episode 58: How a Pacemaker Set The Course for a Trip of A Lifetime
Send us Fan MailIn this episode meet Luke Spencer and Kat Yee. At age 12, Luke was diagnosed with Fredrich’s Ataxia, and in May 2024, after a series of complications at the age of 25, he had a pacemaker put in that both Kat and Luke lovingly refer to C-3PO.This is the story of how Luke wanted to snorkelling in Fiji after his pacemaker was put in at the age of 25, and how Kat supported Luke as an E
Episode 57: Resilience, Strength and the Quest for Connection
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, meet 20-year-old Nioka Bush who lives with Cerebral Palsy and is on the autistic spectrum. Nioka shares her experience growing up with her disability, going through the schooling system, the women who have helped shaped her and her advice for the next generation of women growing up with disabilities. This episode has been made in celebration of International Womens
Episode 56: The Journey with IVF, Medical Equity and What Shapes Gratitude
Send us Fan MailMeet Melbourne-based podcaster and disability advocate Peta Hooke. She is the host of 'The I Can’t Stand Podcast', and in 2025, she released a short podcast series called 'Eggs', where she chronicles her real-life experience navigating IVF and fertility with a Cerebral Palsy. On Have the Nerve, Susan and Peta talk a bit more about that podcast and the reception,
Episode 55: Meet the Mother
Send us Fan MailIn the final episode for Have the Nerve for 2025, meet Susan's mother, Alma. Alma came from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental in the Philippines to Australia in 1981. She shares her perspective of raising Susan, observations as she got older, advice for parents of children who have disabilities, and the switch from being the caretaker to being cared for by Susan at the age of 85.T
Episode 54: Dreamers and Allies
Send us Fan MailToday is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)! On this episode, Forrest, Declan and Maz from our EmployAbility team come on the podcast to discuss equity, the importance of lived-experience led training and social progress. This year's theme for IDPwD is 'Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress'. At SCIA, all of our servi
Episode 53: The Lived Experience of Fatherhood and Disability
Send us Fan MailOn this episode Dan Holt, Ash Treseder and Rob Wynn come on the podcast to share their experiences of fatherhood at their respective stages. Whether that's a father to be, a new father or a with grown children, they share their learnings, some of the fears and how the importance of being open and honest about their disabilities to everyone is essential. Information in this epi
Episode 52: Something To Think About - What Have We Learnt?
Send us Fan MailFrom what accessible means and even down to how thick carpet is, on this episode Susan Wood, Liberty Smith and Hayley Dean come on Have The Nerve to have a chat about what we're learnt since working at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and how nothing compares to working alongside people with disabilities, or others who have a similar disability to open up your eyes to the disabl
Episode 51: From The Internet - "You're too pretty to be disabled" and other awkward stories
Send us Fan MailHave the Nerve is back on for 2025!This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.On this episode Laura Burling, Heidz Haydon and Susan Wood talk about about TikToker Claire Sisk (@canseecantsee), a woman who has a visual impairment.
Episode 50: Something To Think About - Are We Given Equitable Opportunities?
Send us Fan MailYou're listening to episode FIFTY and the final episode of Have The Nerve for 2024. On this episode we’re going to talk about equity. Are the opportunities for people, specifically students with disabilities, fairer in 2024 than they were in, let's say, 2000? 16 year old high school student Lara Grimson comes on the podcast to share her story about trying to find work exp
Episode 49: Get To Know Your Body - Rehabilitation and Electrical Stimulation
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode, Physiotherapist Colbey Van Leeuwen comes on to explain the three types of electrical stimulation that can aid in mobility and pain management for individuals living with
Episode 48: Is That... Actually Accessible?
Send us Fan MailIn October this year Professor Shane Clifton wrote a piece for The Conversation titled, 'When even fringe festival venues exclude people with disability, cities need to act on access' after a series of accessibility issues to attend events at one of Sydney's biggest festivals on the calendar.Shane is the Associate Professor of Practice, School of Health Sciences and
Episode 47: Something to Think About - What Does Sport Mean To Me?
Send us Fan MailHave The Nerve Not-So-Short this episode!You will hear the stories of three people who explain what sport means to them, because when it comes to disability and sport society may focus on physical strength or the medals, but it's so much more than that. On this episode you hear from:Tamsin Colley is an international athlete in para-athletics and cerebral palsy football studyin
Episode 46: Get To Know Your Body - Hydrotherapy
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode Exercise Physiologist Alicia Payne answers the question "Why should I exercise in the water?". If you've ever considered getting into a pool, but don'
Episode 45: From The Internet - Ultimate World Cruise Tea Time
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode Laura Burling, Heidi Haydon and Susan Wood discuss @uksecrettravel_'s TikTok where they recall an anonymous post made by someone on the Ultimate World Cruise forum s
Episode 44: What It Is Like To Be A Researcher In Spinal Cord Injury?
Send us Fan MailGetting research off the ground is probably more complex than you'd expect. Doctor Claire Boswell-Ruys is a physiotherapist and senior research fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and has worked in the area of spinal cord injuries for the past 20 years. We talk about all things research, we discuss what it takes to set up a research trial, how it's funded, w
Episode 43: Something To Think About - Why Invest In Medical Research for Spinal Cord Injury?
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - The short episodes between the longer ones. However, today isn't short at all #SorryNotSorry. Duncan Wallace, Executive Director of SpinalCure Australia is on to chat about why you should consider investing in medical research for spinal cord injury and why you should consider the next generation of medical researchers. Having a spinal cord inju
Episode 42: Get To Know Your Body - Falls Prevention
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode Physiotherapist Colbey Van Leeuwen talks about falls prevention for upper limbs and lower limbs. How much do you know about the vestibular system? How can multitasking he
Episode 41: From The Internet - Thoughts and Prayers
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode Laura Burling, Heidi Haydon and Susan Wood discuss Senator Jordon Steele-John's TikTok video when he shared the story of someone attempting to heal his disability aw
Episode 40: Faith, God, Diversity and the Journey
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Associate Professor Shane Clifton from the University of Sydney comes on the podcast to talk about the many lives he led before his accident, his career as a theology lecturer and his accident that led to a spinal cord injury 14 years ago. Susan and Shane talk candidly about their journeys with faith and their disabilities and how the impact of knowing the diversit
Episode 39: Something To Think About - People With Disabilities Need To Pay Bills Too, You Know.
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode of Have The Nerve, Forrest Campbell is back to talk about his experiences finding work after he sustained his spinal cord injury in 2015 and why the role of being inclusi
Episode 38: Get To Know Your Body - Strength Training
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode, Exercise Physiologist Alicia Payne comes on to talk about why strength training is for everyone of any ability!NeuroMoves is a specialised exercise service for people wi
Episode 37: From The Internet - Was He Wrong For Using The Accessible Bathroom?
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.Hey there fellow doomscrollers! In this episode you are listening to Laura Burling, Jade Williams and Susan Wood answer the question: AITA for using a disabled stall?In what initially se
Episode 36: A Moment That Changed Everything
Send us Fan MailTrigger warning, this episode speaks in detail about attempted suicide. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode, 2023 Lifeline Ambassador and public speaker, Matthew Caruana, comes on to share his story, At 16, in an attempt to end his life Matthew jumped seven storeys from a building. He survived, sustained a spinal cord injury and began a journey that would literally chan
Episode 35: Something To Think About - Where Is The Support For Spouses and Partners?
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.On this episode of Have The Nerve, Forrest Campbell comes on to talk about his observations about the lack of peer support for his wife when he sustained his spinal cord injury in 2015.
Episode 34: Get To Know Your Body - Shoulder Health
Send us Fan MailThis is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.In this episode Physiotherapist Colbey Van Leeuwen talks about what shoulder health means and why it's so important you know the right way to take care of them. NeuroMoves is a spec
Episode 33: From The Internet - Is The Boyfriend Overprotective?
Send us Fan MailIt's 2024 - A New Year, A New Start. This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About. In this episode you are listening to Laura Burling, Jade Williams and Susan Wood answer the question: WIBTA for saying my girlfriend and I aren
Episode 32: Disability and the Performing Arts
Send us Fan MailWe’ve spoken about access to large scale events such as music festivals, concerts, Susan may have mentioned something about the weird inclusion issue in running events, but what about smaller scale events like attending a play, or hang on – what if you are a playwright with a disability and you want to stage a production, what if you are a stage actor with a disability and want to
Episode 31: Disability Royal Commission, Connecting Cultures and the landscape of disability for First Nations
Send us Fan MailTrigger warning, this episode discusses sexual and physical abuse of people with disabilities and listen discretion is advised.In this episode of Have the Nerve Susan speaks to Jake Briggs, long time disability advocate, Managing Director of CultureConnex and host of the podcast Keep Rolling with Jake Briggs. They talk about his career as an advocate, his work in service provision,
Episode 30: Continence Poverty - The Cost When You Can't Afford
Send us Fan MailHow many times a year do you think the average person with a disability, requiring products like these would need to go to the bathroom? How much does it cost?What does someone do when they can’t afford basic medical necessities to go to the bathroom? AND what happens if you are an immigrant who needs continence products and you don’t qualify for any funding at all?Edwina Spooner f
Episode 29: Companion Cards and the Meticulous Planning Just To Go Out
Send us Fan MailIt's getting into the warmer seasons now and when the weather gets warmer people like to go out more.What does that have to do with this episode? Senior Community Services Coordinator Laura Burling and Representative Advocate Jade Williams talk with Susan about what a Companion Card is, why they are important and they talk about why more people should understand the meticulous
Episode 28: Have the courage to be your own advocate
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Have the Nerve Susan speaks to Geraldine Watts. disability advocate. After a series of accidents that affected her spine, in 2016 her intervertebral disc disintegrated and she lost mobility, function and sensation. It was only in 2020 where she was formerly diagnosed with a spinal cord injury that set her off to find and absorb as much information about her disab
Episode 27: Ground Zero at Brand X - Voices from #SydneyWorldPride Part Two
Send us Fan MailSydney WorldPride 2023 didn’t just happen in two weeks between February to March, it’s the gift that keeps on giving and Susan will keep giving those gifts.Let's cast our minds back, hit rewind, do some reminiscing and hear performances and interviews of the artists that made up Ground Zero at Brand X in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.Ground Zero was a performing arts creative
Episode 26: Emergency Preparedness and Planning for People with Disabilities
Send us Fan MailAccording to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Asia-Pacific region is the most disaster prone region in the world. Australia has a long history with heatwaves, bushfires, drought, flood and tropical cyclones and we’re going from La Nina to El Nino, meaning, potentially a repeat of the 2019 – 2020 bushfires that saw the whole country on fire. In this episode, Susan ta
Episode 25: The Underdogs - Disability and High School
Send us Fan MailIn Episode 23 - Be Curious, Not Judgemental, Paediatric Nurse Consultant Jodie Thompson from Kids Collaborative and Paediatric Clinical Psychologist Amanda Lane-Brown talked with Susan about primary schooling and children with disabilities. What about high school?CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses suicidal ideation and addiction. Listener discretion is advised. If you are stru
Episode 24: Voices from Sydney Mardi Gras 2023 #SydneyWorldPride
Send us Fan MailIt is Sydney WorldPride and Have The Nerve will be bringing you interviews from all over the place, highlighting the voices of people with disabilities in this community. TW: This episode does contain content about abuse that can be triggering to some people. In this episode, you'll here from Aspen Luke, a 17 year old Susan met on the train, who is about to participate in his
Episode 23: Be Curious, Not Judgemental - Disability and Primary School
Send us Fan MailIt's the beginning of a new school year for students in Australia. For the first episode of 2023 (coincidentally starting with Episode 23!), Paediatric Nurse Consultant Jodie Thompson from Kids Collaborative and Paediatric Clinical Psychologist Amanda Lane-Brown talk with Susan about how being curious to ask questions without judgement is THE key element for children with a di
Episode 22: Finding your confidence on the days when you really feel disabled
Send us Fan MailOn the final episode of 2022, Emily Bray comes on to talk about confidence, meaning and purpose on the days when you really feel disabled. What does that mean? These are the times where something has happened and you have the very confrontational thought: "Holy crap. I'm actually disabled".Where do you find the resilience to keep going when you have a body that requi
Episode 21: NDIS, WTH?! (Where's The Help)
Send us Fan MailWhen you don't know what something is, how do you know what to ask for?The most major reform for people with disabilities in Australia, but so fraught with tedious obstacles. This is the third episode where we have covered the NDIS because it is such a complicated beast.How much do you actually know about NDIS Support Coordination?Have you ever looked at your NDIS plan and fel
Episode 20: The Overlooked Victim Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Send us Fan MailTW: This episode talks about domestic violence, sexual assault, coercive control and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support you can call the National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au/In Australia, on average, one woman a week is murdered at the hands of a current, or former partner,
Episode 19: I Am More Than My Disability
Send us Fan MailIt is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week in Australia and this year we’re saying #IAmMoreThanMyDisability. Emily Bray is a wife, mother, social worker, researcher and PhD candidate. We talk about the language of disability and subconscious bias. What happens if you don’t want to be an athlete? Well… nothing, you just live a regular life. But why does it seem to hard for the broader
Episode 18: Neuroplasticity and The Human Body
Send us Fan MailFor this episode of Have the Nerve, Susan talks to Dr Camila Quel de Oliveira, Lecturer in Physiotherapy at UTS, and NeuroMoves Physiotherapist Hannah Maslen about the most amazing part of the human body – the brain. From in the womb to end of life, we talk about neuroplasticity and the information super highway that is the spinal cord. How does this relate for people with spinal c
Episode 17: The Importance of Diversity in Politics with Senator Jordon Steele-John
Send us Fan MailIn this episode Susan speaks to Western Australia Greens Senator, Jordon Steele-John. We talk about his first day working at Parliament House as a person with a disability, the importance of disability representation in politics and diversity and how including people with disabilities in legislation goes well beyond topics such as the NDIS and Disability Support Pension.Information
Episode 16: The Psychology of Grief, Pain and Complex Trauma
Send us Fan MailListeners are advised that the following podcast does discuss situations around grief and trauma that can be triggering to people.On this episode I talk about the complexities of grief and trauma with clinical psychologist, Skye Dong. Skye helped develop SCIA’s Engage Program as part of our broader Resilience Programs. We're going to talk about the different ways people manife
Episode 15: Employment, Disability and Changing a Culture of Discrimination
Send us Fan MailFinding work and having a disability is hard.No like, it's really hard. In this episode, Susan talks to Phat Ngo, Employment Service Manager for SCIA's EmployAbility Service and Dominika Jachym, EmployAbility's Employment Coach about the obvious misconceptions of disability and employment, how that feeds into the hesitation a lot of employers have when hiring someone
Episode 14: Why is standing so important for people who can’t move their legs?
Send us Fan MailMaybe some of you may not have thought this was possible. Maybe some of you didn't know that this could and should be something to consider. We're not talking about miraculously standing up and walking around, Physiotherapist Colbey Van Leeuwen and Exercise Physiologist Alicia Payne talk about the importance of standing in therapy, particularly for people who have had tra
Episode 13: Sexual Rights, Sex Work and Disability with Rachel Wotton
Send us Fan MailThat irresistible urge, the attraction, the anticipation and excitement for the slightest touch. Rachel calls it skin hunger. Rachel Wotton is a Sex Worker living in Inner Sydney, Churchill Fellow and PhD candidate at Western Sydney University. Her PhD is about exploring the experiences of people with disabilities accessing sex workers in Australia. Susan and Rachel talk about the
Episode 12: So, How Disabled Do You Need To Be For The NDIS?
Send us Fan MailEligibility within the NDIS is a little bit of grey area. Although under the NDIS Act 2013 there are no specific diagnosis or disabilities listed, actually accessing the NDIS can be fraught with problems. For the first full episode of Have the Nerve in 2022, Susan talks to SCIA's Senior Support Coordinator Louise Hilton and SCIA's Policy and Advocacy Officer Megan Bingham
Episode 11: Tourism, Access and City Planning with Access Bondi
Send us Fan MailNow that Summer is upon us in the Southern Hemisphere, Mike Cerrone, Project Officer for Waverley Council's Access Bondi! talks to Susan about why it's important for tourist destinations to be accessible for all people of all abilities. Bondi Beach is a popular tourist destination on the east coast of Australia that brings in millions of visitors every year. We talk about
Episode Ten: Psychosexual Exploration, Sexual Self-Esteem and Disability
Send us Fan MailCandice Care-Unger and Arlyn Owens from Royal Rehab's Sexuality Service in Sydney talks to Susan about how sexual self-esteem and empowering sexual confidence in people with disability is more than the literal mechanics of sex. Whether you've had your disability long term, or recently, Candice and Arlyn talk about psychosexual intervention, the holistic approach to sexual
Episode Nine: Nazim Erdem - Paralympic Gold Medalist, Wheelchair Rugby
Send us Fan MailWe’re celebrating the diversity of disability and highlighting spinal cord injury awareness for the entire month of September. In this bonus episode of Have The Nerve, former Australian Steeler and Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Gold medalist, Naz Erdem joins me to talk about his life as a Paralympian across five Paralympic games, his post Paralympic career and his hopes for the futu
Episode Eight: Louise Sauvage - Paralympic Gold Medalist and Coach, Wheelchair Racing
Send us Fan MailHave The Nerve is celebrating the diversity of disability and the importance of disability representation for the month of September. In this episode, Louise Sauvage (Former wheelchair racer, Australian Paralympic Wheelchair Racing Gold Medalist and now the coach for up-and-coming wheelchair para-athletes and Australian Paralympic gold medalist Madison de Rozario), talks about grow
Episode Seven: Talking about first experiences after a spinal cord injury
Send us Fan MailWhen you think about first milestones in your life what do you think about? First day of school?First kiss?First boyfriend or girlfriend?....What about the first time you realised your injury is permanent? Or the first time you fell out of your wheelchair?It's not often we get to talk about what it's like to experience, or sometimes re-experience, things for the first tim
Episode Six: Over 65s, NDIS and Aged Care funding
Send us Fan MailNavigating support funding for older Australians with a disability can be difficult. What happens if you are aged 65 and over and acquire a disability?For this episode we’re going to be discussing supports for older Australians with a disability from the NDIS to My Aged Care Funding. You'll hear lived experiences from Susan who sustained a brain injury in 2005 and was able to
Episode Five: Pain management and medicinal cannabis
Send us Fan MailWhat is like to live with pain that never stops? What is out there for pain management?CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses suicidal ideation and addiction. Listener discretion is advised. If you are struggling with similar feelings we encourage you to please call the 24 hour crisis support service Lifeline on 13 11 14. For this episode, Susan talks to Cannadoc cofounders Dr Dav
Episode Four: What you should know about SCI and bowel management
Send us Fan MailDid you know that acquiring a spinal cord injury can affect more than somebody's legs?Spinal cord injury (SCI) can significantly affect the bowel. Edwina Spooner from Coloplast explains how an SCI can affect the bowel, surgical and non-surgical options, considerations for intimacy and maintaining your independence. Information about what we have discussed in this episode:SCIA
Episode Three: What you should know about SCI and bladder management
Send us Fan MailDid you know that acquiring a spinal cord injury can affect more than somebody's legs?Spinal cord injury (SCI) can significantly affect the bladder. Edwina Spooner from Coloplast explains what a neurogenic bladder is, the importance of hygiene, good catheter technique and considerations you should make for situations like going out an intimacy. Information about what we have d
Episode Two: Life lessons with SCIA's Peer and Family Support Team
Send us Fan MailCan having a disability change you?The SCIA Peer and Family Support team talk about their lived experiences and the reality of living with a spinal cord injury.Hear from Rob, Dan and Jess about what is truly important, lessons they’ve learnt along the way like patience, advocating for themselves, independence and dealing with mental health.Let’s put disability into perspective; cha
Episode One: Got Pride! Identity, discrimination and overcoming barriers for queer people with disability
Send us Fan MailWhat are some of the challenges that people with disability within the queer community face when finding supports? Join host Susan Wood, SCIA Peer and Family Support Coordinator Jess Pellow, SCIA Policy and Advocacy Team Leader Michael Magro and ACON Community Health Promotion Officer, LGBTQ+ People With Disability Project Charbel Zada to talk about the QueerAbility NDIS Toolkit, d
Recommended
The Kylecast
Australian Dental Council Exam Prep Podcast
Country Breakfast
From Idea to Intellectual Property
The Business Of
SBS Mandarin - SBS 普通话电台
The Dead Can't Sue
Gettable
Saturday Extra - Full program podcast
Mick in The Morning with Roo, Titus and Rosie
The Rush Hour with JB & Billy
FOX FOOTY Podcasts
