Boldly Goes to Season 2

A second season of the Institute on Community Integration’s Boldly Challenging Ableism radio show and podcast is underway, with the first two episodes drawing strong listenership.

Host Katrina Simons talks with Haley Brunelle about the daily hurdles of navigating healthcare systems with her 8-year-old son, Felix, who uses augmentative and alternative communication devices. She also talks with Rob Wudlick, an industrial engineer and spinal cord research advocate, about battling an airline after his custom wheelchair was destroyed during a flight.

“The momentum for this show feels stronger than ever after Season 1 blew past our expectations,” said Chad Larson, president of AM950 KTNF. “People are genuinely hungry for honest conversations about ableism and disability.”

The series airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on AM950 . It is also available on demand on YouTube , Spotify , and other podcast platforms. The show aims to expose ableism and dismantle myths that marginalize people with disabilities, with Simons using her lifelong disability and advocacy experiences to interview a diverse mix of guests about what real inclusion means in employment, justice, housing, education, and culture.

Her low-key approach draws in even listeners who might not otherwise be accustomed to beating a loud protest drum.

“The point of the show is not to say my issues are more important than yours, but to just say, ‘Jump on board, and we’ll get there together,’” Simons said.

That’s not to say she’s shying away from difficult topics. In an upcoming episode, she said, she hopes to tackle proposed limits to a variety of physical and other therapies. Those limits are in response to cuts put in place due to fraud investigations in Minnesota, which advocates say are unfairly punishing people with disabilities.

“Katrina is the heart of the show. She builds genuine connections with the audience and has a talent for bringing out the best in every guest she interviews,” Larson said. “We're proud to be the platform for it.”

In another upcoming show, Linda Wolford will talk about creating enhanced pay rates for direct support professionals who support people with disabilities who have higher care needs, a critical issue amidst the crisis in staffing levels.

“I really wanted to see how [the show] could improve in Season 2, and we had many people who wanted to come on and talk about something important,” Simons said about the factors behind committing to a second season. “I’m really glad people still want to listen, and I hope we can delve into the most current issues Minnesotans with disabilities are facing today, because this is something I’ve not seen before in my lifetime.”

Boldly was envisioned as a cross-disability series for a broad audience. The show name is a nod to the ADAPT community’s rallying cry, “To boldly go where everyone has gone before.” The phrase refers to the disability community’s frustration with continually having to advocate for its legally protected right to access public places, job opportunities, quality health care, and other aspects of community life.

Last season, Simons spoke with Joe Carr, organizer of Joe & Bill’s Lemonade Stand for Gillette Children’s, an annual event that has raised more than $70,000 in the last decade for specialty pediatric care. Carr, who has cerebral palsy, is a Gillette patient, but his advocacy goes beyond fundraising. Earlier this month, he testified before the Minnesota Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, advocating for health insurance coverage for augmentative and alternative communications (AAC) devices, which he uses to communicate.

“Don’t make assumptions about me, just ask,” Carr said via such a device on the Boldly podcast last season, sharing with Simons his guidelines for engaging with him. “I’m not an inspiration just for existing; I’m just living my life. Let’s have a real conversation – just talk to me.”