All Episodes
Episodes
255 - The 1% Shift: Rewiring Connection, Shame, and Self-Love with Mike Elliott
Mike Elliott is a relationship expert, men's coach, and founder of The Initiated Man. Though Mike doesn't have a disability, Kathy invited him to apply his expertise on intimacy, self-love, and emotional safety...
View Episode
254 - Stop Trying Every Tactic: The Dating Framework Built for You
Dating With a Disability: Why Generic Advice Doesn't Work
We break down the Five Stages of Dating Success framework, built specifically for people dating with a disability. Standard dating advice assumes everyone...
View Episode
253 - Friendship Series: From Coworkers to Chosen Family
Continuing our Friendship Series, I chat with Karen Hoffman and Julie Baum, a married couple with decades of experience in human services. The episode focuses on friendship rather than dating, exploring our 30+ year...
View Episode
252 - Pride, Not Pity: Dating with Disability Pride
It's Disability Pride Month, and while this topic has been covered previously, this episode dives into how pride shows up specifically in dating.
Reframing Common Comments
Ways to respond to backhanded compliments...
View Episode
251 - "Permission to Feel Pleasure": Sexuality, Disability & Desire
Vanessa Cushing, an AASECT-certified sex therapist, talks about sexuality, disability, and dating.
Healthy Sexuality Basics
Vanessa defines healthy sexuality as centered on connection over performance, requiring...
View Episode
250 Milestone - Confidence, Connection, and Confronting Sexual Ableism
Episode 250: Celebrating 250 Episodes of Dating, Relationships, and Disability
Marking episode 250 with a look back at why this show exists and what it's covered since October 2021. Kathy founded the show to be a...
View Episode
249 - Friendship Series: Everybody Has a Thing
The Friendship series has kicked off to examine what is similar and different when a disability is present - and how friendship development is a lot like dating - they both involve vulnerability, taking risks, and...
View Episode
248 - Six Actions to Take When You're Actively Dating
Stage 4 (Active Dating) of her "5 Stages to Dating Success" framework. It's a tactical, mini-workshop style episode pulling content from her curriculum aimed at professionals in the disability field.
6 Key Skills for...
View Episode
247 - I Need Your Help
Kathy O'Connell shares that she's working on a new book about dating and relationships with a disability — a follow-up to her earlier book Firewalk: Embracing Different Abilities.
The book focuses on two key...
View Episode
246 - LBGTQ+ Challenges and Support (replay)
Pauline Bosma is the founder and coordinator of the Rainbow Support Groups, a network of support groups for LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Pauline works for Massachusetts Advocates...
View Episode
245 - Plan First, Date Better
Resources for this episode
How to Write a Kick Butt Dating Profile Guide
Tell me what you want in a dating playbook.
The Five Stage Dating Success Framework is designed to guide people with disabilities through the...
View Episode
244 - Decide When You Need an Answer
This is a strategy that can apply to nearly everything in life, not just dating. But of course, we’re going to talk about it as it relates to dating.
When you’re overwhelmed and maybe unsure what the answer is to a...
View Episode
