Media Representation: Do you see your life reflected in popular media?

Glass Half Full with Leslie Krongold, Ed.D.

Do you see images of yourself reflected in popular media? As a person with a chronic health condition and/or disability, is your life reflected in movies, television, print, or social media?

In this themed podcast episode you'll hear from Christophe Zajac-Denek -- an actor, musician, surfer, skateboarder, and little person -- whose podcast, I'm Kind of a Big Deal, explores the unique lives of people with dwarfism. Christophe has worked in Hollywood movies for 11 years but rarely do you see his face.

Lindsey Kizer, recently diagnosed with narcolepsy, appeared in an earlier podcast episode. Her experience of narcolepsy reflected in media has often been as a joke with the character falling asleep mid-sentence.

John Poehler is a published author and award-winning blogger in Colorado. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1999, John's memory of mainstream media's representation of people with bipolar disorder was far from accurate.

Daniel G. Garza, an HIV/AIDS patient leader, advocate, and educator talks about the first movie where he saw characters portrayed with HIV/AIDS. Daniel has a blog/podcast and YouTube channel.

Ania Flatau, an avid dancer born with spina bifida, was featured in a previous podcast episode, Ania has never seen spina bifida represented in popular movies or television but she is quite proud of a certain wheelchair skater, Aaron Fotheringham.

For those with myotonic dystrophy, like myself, all we have is this documentary, Extremis.