Have The Nerve: A Podcast About Disability – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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In this episode, meet 20-year-old Nioka Bush who lives with Cerebral Palsy and is on the autistic spectrum. 

Nioka shares her experience growing up with her disability, going through the schooling system, the women who have helped shaped her and her advice for the next generation of women growing up with disabilities. 

This episode has been made in celebration of International Womens Day, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the globe. 

We believe that stories lived experience is the best way for people to learn about disability and help take action. 

Information in this episode

Breakthru School Leaver Employment Supports https://breakthru.org.au/services/school-leaver-employment-supports/

Nioka Bush Instagram https://www.instagram.com/niokabush/

International Women's Day - https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

If you would like to email us with a podcast topic request email community@scia.org.au with the subject heading 'Podcast Topic Request'

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

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Meet Melbourne-based podcaster and disability advocate Peta Hooke. She is the host of 'The I Can’t Stand Podcast', and in 2025, she released a short podcast series called 'Eggs', where she chronicles her real-life experience navigating IVF and fertility with a Cerebral Palsy. 

On Have the Nerve, Susan and Peta talk a bit more about that podcast and the reception, medical equity and they discuss how our lifelong disabilities have shaped what gratitude means to them. 

Information in this episode

The I Can't Stand Podcast https://www.icantstandpodcast.com/

Eggs - The I Can't Stand Podcast https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/playlists

As a Disabled Woman, My Abortion Wasn't Questioned, but My Pregnancy Was - Article by Nicole Lee (April 27, 2020 Women with Disabilities Australia) https://oursite.wwda.org.au/stories/as-a-disabled-woman-my-abortion-wasnt-questioned-but-my-pregnancy-was

I Just Needed a Mammogram - Article by Asha Prasad (January 16, 2026 Spinal Cord Injuries Australia) https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/i-just-needed-a-mammogram/

Woman who uses wheelchair turned away from mammogram appointment - Article by Nas Campanella (July 9, 2025, Australian Broadcasting Corporation)  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-09/woman-wheelchair-turned-away-from-mammogram/105464036

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

If you would like to email us with a podcast topic request email community@scia.org.au with the subject heading 'Podcast Topic Request'

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

Have The Nerve Not-So-Short this episode!

You will hear the stories of three people who explain what sport means to them, because when it comes to disability and sport society may focus on physical strength or the medals, but it's so much more than that.

On this episode you hear from:

Tamsin Colley is an international athlete in para-athletics and cerebral palsy football studying Exercise Physiology at University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Gerry Hewson is a six-time Paralympian in wheelchair basketball. He currently coaches wheelchair basketball in New South Wales

Daria Alforova is a Para (Wheelchair) Dance Sport Coach from Ukraine who coached Ukrainian national team to multiple world championships, and currently runs Para Dance Sport Sydney.

Information in this episode:

Tamsin Colley (Wikipedia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsin_Colley

Tamsin Colley (Instagram) - https://www.instagram.com/tamsincolley/

ParaMatildas - https://www.paramatildas.com.au/

Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT - https://www.wsnsw.org.au/

Gerry Hewson (Wikipedia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Hewson

Gerry Hewson (Instagram) - https://www.instagram.com/gerry_hewson_/

Paralympics Australia: Wheelchair Basketball - https://www.paralympic.org.au/sports/wheelchair-basketball/

Paralympics Australia: Para Dance Sport - https://www.paralympic.org.au/tag/para-dancesport

Para Dance Sport Sydney (Dance Around School of Dance) - https://dancearound.au/para-wheelchair-dance-sport/?i=1

Disability Sport Australia - Para DanceSport https://www.sports.org.au/para-dancesport

Para Dance Sport Sydney (Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/ParaDanceSydney/

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.

In this episode Exercise Physiologist Alicia Payne answers the question "Why should I exercise in the water?". If you've ever considered getting into a pool, but don't know where to start Alicia will talk you through it!

NeuroMoves is a specialised exercise service for people with neurological conditions and physical disabilities. Our team of Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists want to increase your independence, health and wellbeing and help you work towards your goals, no matter how big or small.

If you want more information visit https://scia.org.au/neuromoves-exercise/.

Information in this episode

Benefits of Hydrotherapy: The Power of Water - https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/benefits-of-hydrotherapy-the-power-of-water/

Why is standing so important for people who can't move their legs? - https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/why-is-standing-so-important-for-people-who-cant-move-their-legs/

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.

In this episode Laura Burling, Heidi Haydon and Susan Wood discuss @uksecrettravel_'s TikTok where they recall an anonymous post made by someone on the Ultimate World Cruise forum sharing their experience waiting for lift with someone in a wheelchair and as the doors were opening they witnessed four people rushing in front of the person in a wheelchair, turning around and then laughing at the person with a disability.

You can watch @uksecrettravel_'s TikTok video here: Ultimate world cruise tea time https://www.tiktok.com/@uksecrettravel_/video/7316479399925271841

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

Getting research off the ground is probably more complex than you'd expect.

Doctor Claire Boswell-Ruys is a physiotherapist and senior research fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and has worked in the area of spinal cord injuries for the past 20 years.

We talk about all things research, we discuss what it takes to set up a research trial, how it's funded, why it can't be everywhere and why medical research in Australia for people with spinal cord injuries may be different from overseas research.

Information in this episode:

Doctor Claire Boswell-Ruys - https://neura.edu.au/researchers/dr-claire-boswell-ruys

NeuRA - Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre - https://neura.edu.au/research/research-expertise/spinal-cord-injury

Professor Simon Gandevia - https://neura.edu.au/researchers/prof-simon-gandevia

Professor Jane Butler - https://neura.edu.au/researchers/prof-jane-butler

Get A Grip Spinal Stimulation for Upper Limb and Respiratory Function in Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia - https://neura.edu.au/project/get-a-grip

eWalk Trial - https://neura.edu.au/project/ewalk-trial

Therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia and hypercapnia - https://neura.edu.au/project/therapeutic-acute-intermittent-hypoxia-and-hypercapnia

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

This is Have The Nerve Shorts - The short episodes between the longer ones. However, today isn't short at all #SorryNotSorry.

Duncan Wallace, Executive Director of SpinalCure Australia is on to chat about why you should consider investing in medical research for spinal cord injury and why you should consider the next generation of medical researchers.

Having a spinal cord injury himself just over 40 years ago, Duncan discusses his observations of how society perceives disability, securing funding and the roll out of a world first medical research trial happening in Australia.

Information in this episode:

The Spinal Cord Iceberg - https://www.spinalcure.org.au/research/spinal-cord-injury-facts/

SpinalCure Australia - https://www.spinalcure.org.au/

Forward Ability Support - https://fas.org.au/

Professor Reggie Edgerton - https://www.michaeljfox.org/researcher/v-reggie-edgerton-phd

Professor Perry Bartlett, Queensland Brain Institute - https://qbi.uq.edu.au/profile/769/perry-bartlett

Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) - https://neura.edu.au/

Get A Grip (Operating with NeuRA and NeuroMoves) - https://neura.edu.au/project/get-a-grip

eWalk Trials - https://neura.edu.au/project/ewalk-trial

Neilson Foundation - https://www.neilson.org.au/

WALK ON - The Remarkable Life of David Prast by Peter Murray - https://www.amazon.com.au/WALK-Remarkable-Life-David-Prast/dp/0645383422

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.

In this episode Physiotherapist Colbey Van Leeuwen talks about falls prevention for upper limbs and lower limbs. How much do you know about the vestibular system? How can multitasking help? Let Colbey explain!

NeuroMoves is a specialised exercise service for people with neurological conditions and physical disabilities. Our team of Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists want to increase your independence, health and wellbeing and help you work towards your goals, no matter how big or small.

If you want more information visit https://scia.org.au/neuromoves-exercise/.

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About.

In this episode Laura Burling, Heidi Haydon and Susan Wood discuss Senator Jordon Steele-John's TikTok video when he shared the story of someone attempting to heal his disability away at an event

Has someone try and heal your disability away? How did you respond?

You can watch Senator Jordon Steele-John's video here:
I did not in fact - rise from my place of “brokenness" -  https://www.tiktok.com/@jordonsteelejohn/video/7327872406423358738?_r=1&_t=8klWCevEZpC

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send a text

In this episode, Associate Professor Shane Clifton from the University of Sydney comes on the podcast to talk about the many lives he led before his accident, his career as a theology lecturer and his accident that led to a spinal cord injury 14 years ago.

Susan and Shane talk candidly about their journeys with faith and their disabilities and how the impact of knowing the diversity in people has shaped their outlook on what God means to each of them.

Information in this episode

Associate Professor Shane Clifton - University of Sydney:  https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/shane.clifton.html

ShaneClifton.com: https://shaneclifton.com/

The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability - Nancy L Eiesland: https://www.amazon.com.au/Disabled-God-Liberatory-Theology-Disability/dp/0687108012

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.