In this week’s episode I sat down with Joshua Castille and Caden Zane Marshall. Joshua is a Deaf performance artist who strives to form meaningful collaborations that explore the boundaries of art. He has worked on various projects in different roles including ASL master, director, actor, set designer, and more. Caden is a seasoned performer, American Sign Language interpreter, and influencer. Caden's 15+ years of experience in the theatre community has led him to focus on topics of queer activism and advocacy for inclusive spaces and works of art that highlight underrepresented communities. We discuss how shows like Deaf West’s Big River and Spring Awakening revolutionized how Broadway saw deaf people on stage, advocating for theater that incorporates rather than tokenizes, why we need to have deaf and disabled people in the rooms where decisions are made and much, much more.

Follow Joshua: Instagram: @castillejoshua Twitter: @CastilleJoshua Website: https://www.joshuacastille.com/

Watch Josh perform Satisfied from Hamilton HERE

Follow Caden: TikTok: @themusicaldealer Instagram: @whereiscaden YouTube: The Musical Dealer Website: https://cadenzane.com/

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this week’s episode I sat down with Madison Tevlin. Madison is an award-winning model, host, content creator, actor and advocate. She shatters the expectations people have about Down syndrome, reminding everyone that it is the least interesting thing about her. We discuss the powerful “Assume That I Can” video and the impact of authentic storytelling, how fun it is to defy expectations when we are underestimated, what it means to her to be someone the next generation is looking up to and much, much more.

Follow Madison: Instagram: @madisontevlin TikTok: @madisontevlin YouTube: Madison Tevlin Website: https://www.madisontevlin.com/

Watch the "Assume That I Can" video HERE

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this special episode I sat down with Madison Ferris, Danny Gomez, and Laura Winters to talk about the play All of Me, opening Off-Broadway The Pershing Square Signature Center here in New York City on May 14, 2024. All of Me, written by Laura and starring Madison and Danny is a boldly humorous and candid love story exploring class and disability in America today. Let’s get into it.

All About All of Me

Website: https://thenewgroup.org/production/all-of-me/

Buy Tickets Here: https://thenewgroup.org/production/all-of-me/tickets/

Follow The New Group: Instagram: @thenewgroupnyc YouTube: TheNewGroupNYC Twitter: @TheNewGroupNYC Facebook: The New Group

Follow Madison: Instagram: @maddd.hatter

Follow Danny: Instagram: @dannyjgomezofficial Website: https://www.dannyjgomez.com/

Follow Laura: Instagram: @laurawinters12 Website: https://www.laura-winters.com/

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin