Black people can be disabled: breaking the cycle of disability stereotypes – Khadija Gbla by Carey Scheer
From surviving a civil war in Sierra Leone to classrooms in Australia, Khadija carried chaos in her body long after the bombs stopped.
Her autism was dismissed as a cultural difference by white Australians, scorned as “not Black enough” within her community, and punished by chronic pain no one believed. For years, the world told her she was broken — until her diagnosis gave her the power to name who she had always been.
Now, as she raises her autistic son, she also heals her younger self — creating a better world for them both, and for others yet to come.
Perhaps, the real danger was never their difference, but a world that refused to see it.
Produced by: Carey Scheer
Featuring: Khadija Gbla
For more stories like Khadija’s, check out the Purple Orange podcast.
Untitled by Keras Marszalek
“ Growing up, gay and Muslim felt like oil and water, two parts of himself that were never meant to mix, but he carried both at school, at home, and in prayer.”
This story follows Kaan’s journey navigating the clash between his Turkish Muslim upbringing and his identity as a gay man. From hiding behind humour and secrecy to finding the courage to come out, his story reveals both the weight of religious guilt and the relief of honesty.
“Faith told him who he was supposed to be. His heart told him who he already was.”
Perhaps, faith guided Kaan in his prayers, but truth set him free.
Produced by: Keras Marszalek
Special thanks to Janak Rogers.
All The Best Credits
Host: Kwame Slusher
Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell
Events and Partnership Coordinator: Phoebe Adler-Ryan
Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie
Artwork by Annie Hamilton
Theme Music composed by Shining Bird
Special shout out to our volunteers Ray, Sue, Sharon, Lindsay, Andrew and Ash