by Betsy Fasbinder | Jan 19, 2022 | Podcasts
As a dual citizen of New Zealand and the United States, Angela Muir Van Etten served as national president of both Little People organizations and qualified as a lawyer in both countries. She was admitted to the bar in New Zealand, Ohio, and New York.
As a dwarf of three-feet-four-inches, LPA has twice awarded Angela its highest honor—the Kitchens Meritorious Service Award—for her work as a leader in banning dwarf tossing in licensed establishments in New York and Florida and in breaking the six-inch reach barrier in buildings and facilities open to the public throughout America.
Angela has been a legal writer and editor of disability civil rights law books for Thomson Reuter, a staff writer for the Christian Law Association, and an advocate and coordinator for the Coalition for Independent Living Options. Her articles on dwarfism and disability advocacy have been published in LPA Today, and online in the HuffPost blog.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Jan 5, 2022 | Podcasts
Lucky-number-seven of nine children, Margot McMahon discovered their front acre of woods, ravines and the Lake Michigan shoreline before riding horses in prairies, hiking mountains and sailing while her social justice journalist parents wrote and painted their history. Natural materials like wood, sand, bronze and stone inspired her to sculpt while being locally, nationally and internationally awarded. Margot was compelled to find and tell their untold story to better understand herself as she emerged from a flock of artistic siblings. Growing up in this hectic and artistic family, young Margot was unaware of her parents’ history: Who knew her father was captive and force-marched between three POW Luftwaffe camps? That her mother flew across the nation in first generation Boeing planes, later finding ways to be an award-winning travel writer and teacher while raising a large family?
Margot has preserved the history of her parents’ dramatic lives beyond what she observed in her own lifetime. Fasten your seat belts, hold on tight and enjoy the ride through A WWII Saga and If Trees Could Talk!
by Betsy Fasbinder | Dec 15, 2021 | Podcasts
Judy Lipson is the Founder and Chair of Celebration of Sisters, established in 2011 to commemorate the lives and memories of her beloved sisters to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital. Judy has published articles, given speeches and been interviewed by the Open to Hope Organization, the Centering Organization, SKATING Magazine, and in literature published by Massachusetts General Hospital, where she has maintained a close philanthropic relationship for more than twenty years. Her passion for figure skating secured her the United States Figure Skating Association 2020 Get Up Champion Award.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Dec 1, 2021 | Podcasts
As an Episcopal priest, Willa Goodfellow’s ministry included work with troubled teens, college students, congregations in transition, diocesan structures to develop spiritual leadership within local communities, and advocacy for the full inclusion of LGBTQ people. She was a professional troublemaker.
Life-long depression caught up with her in her fifties. Her poor pitiful brain nearly threw itself over the edge as a consequence of a major depression misdiagnosis and treatment with way too many antidepressants, until she was re-diagnosed with bipolar disorder and began her road to recovery. But hey—she got some great rants out of the experience and went freelance as a troublemaker. She is now a mental health journalist, speaker, blogger, and author of Prozac Monologues: A Voice from the Edge.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Nov 17, 2021 | Podcasts
Stephen Dexter is an actor, writer, audiobook narrator, and activist based in New York City whose work can be seen on both stage and screen. He has appeared on Off-Broadway and International stages and is a lifetime member of the legendary Actors Studio. He has worked steadily in film and TV, most recently appearing on “Evil” on Paramount Plus, “Dr. Death” on NBC Peacock, and “Billions” on Showtime. He is also an award-winning audiobook narrator with over 200 titles to his credit. His most recent film “American Morning”, which he wrote, produced and stars in alongside Emmy-winner Richard Schiff (“The West Wing”, “The Good Doctor”), deals with the aftermath of a school shooting and the desperate measures a survivor resorts to to reconcile his guilt and affect change. The film is currently on the festival circuit and has been lauded both here and abroad receiving a Spirit Of Cinema nomination and Special Mention for Best Short Film at the venerable Oldenburg Film Festival in Germany.
