Send us Fan Mail

Click here to listen with the full transcript

In this episode, Kurt Wilkinson and John Beer have an eye-opening conversation with Rand Metcaffe, his wife Rebecca Metcaffe, and Actual Lives founder Terry Galloway. Rand with the help of Rebecca and Terry is able to tell three of his stories from Actual Lives. "Drive By Healing" shows how Rand can take a moment of ableism and turn it into a moment of comedy, "Body Amnesia" gives us a look at Rand's unique relationship with his body-mind, and "You Can Call Me Al" shows how wide misconceptions of people with similar disabilites can lead to new friendships.

Guest Bios

Before meeting at a fundraiser, Rand and Rebecca spent years just missing each other as they criss-crossed the country. Rand mainly dedicated himself to disability advocacy, protesting for accessible buses, and passage of the ADA. He was also the Executive Director of the Houston Center for Independent Living. Meanwhile, Rebecca was a wildlife biologist working various seasonal positions. On one black bear study at a marine corps base, the marines nicknamed her 'snack'. Now married and retired in Tallahassee, they enjoy sometimes deep, often hilarious, porch chats with their across the street neighbor, Terry Galloway. When they are not playing a cat and mouse game of chess (Rand the cat, Rebecca, the poor mouse), they listen to audiobooks, ride trikes, watch Dr Pol with their dog, and enjoy spectacular meals made by their son Joey, who is a professional chef. They also regularly test their marriage by writing and performing together for The Mickee Faust Club.

Deaf since nine, queer since forever, and Texan by cruel twist of fate, Terry Galloway is the author of Mean Little deaf Queer, a memoir about growing up on the margins and making a ruckus there. This year Beacon/Penguin issued a special 15th Anniversary edition of her memoir with a new Afterword, written after Galloway received the cochlear implants that allowed her the mixed miracle of being “cured.” In Austin, Texas she was known for cross-dressing her way through two legendary local theaters—Shakespeare at Winedale and Esther’s Follies; and for co-founding Actual Lives, a performance project for adults with disabilities. Now in Tallahassee, Florida, she and Donna Marie Nudd, her wife and creative partner, run the 38 year-old community theater for the weird community, the Mickee Faust Club—a theatrical haven for locals of all stripes, including straights, queers, crips with attitude, Mennonites and men-in-tights. Galloway has toured the world with her three solo shows. One show, Lardo Weeping–was adapted into an opera. After getting cochlear implants, she wrote two other musicals, one which toured the UK as a work in progress. Her op-eds, scholarly articles, poems and plays have been widely published and anthologized. And yes, she was once an Apple+ crossword clue. Across, not down.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Jennifer McKinney welcomes Kaye Love back to the podcast after many years . Kaye shares her story, "Solitary Confinement with Seizures and Watergate," about living in a time when disability was much less understood by the public. Jennifer and Kaye are able to discuss the importance of disability education and the need for accessible and inclusive child care centers.

Click here to listen with the full transcript

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Kurt Wilkinson talks with his friend and fellow host of the show, Adam Griebel, and his wife, Laura Griebel. Laura shares her story, "Floaters," about proving her abilities in the swimming pool at a summer camp. Adam and Laura both share their story, "Lonely No More," and talk about finding each other and how their relationship has evolved over the decades. And finally Adam shares his stories, "Krishna" and "Lotus Blossom", opening up about his spirituality post head-injury.

Click here to listen with the full transcript

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.