"Makayla's Voice" with Julio Palacio

Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Due to a rare form of autism, 14-year-old Makayla has grown up with plenty to say but lacking the ability to say it — until now. Thanks to a groundbreaking therapy, she has found her voice and is making up for lost time. In Julio Palacio’s deeply moving Oscar-shortlisted documentary short, “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World,” Makayla uses a letter board to communicate with her family and to share her amazing writings.

Julio joins Ken on the pod to discuss how he first met Makayla when he was working on an earlier film about her father (a very successful music producer) and then recently found out about Makayla’s remarkable breakthrough. What followed was a beautiful collaboration between Makayla, her family and the film team. The result is a joyful celebration of a young woman’s difficult but inspiring journey and a truly special voice that can finally be heard.

“Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World” is now streaming on Netflix.

Hidden Gem:

“When There Are No Words”

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