Disability Disrupters

About Disability Disrupters

Disability Disrupters is brought to you by Disability Responsiveness New Zealand Ltd. It is a podcast featuring interviews with disabled people from around the globe. We delve into the lives of remarkable disabled people, learn how they have achieved their goals, and also canvas their views on the disability sector landscape, including how they perceive leadership and management within that sector by disabled people ourselves. Tune in to hear these insightful interviews, as well as updates and information about the ways in which we demand that society respond positively to our needs.

Publisher

Dr Pam MacNeill

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Aug 2024

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

28 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   S1E28 - Interview with Wally Noble - Disability researcher, Disability awareness presenter and Advocate

   Wally Noble My name is Wally Noble and I am a T4 paraplegic and manual wheelchair user whose work is grounded in lived experience, disability awareness, and creating greater understanding of the everyday realities faced by disabled people. I work as a researcher with the Donald Beasley Institute (https://www.donaldbeasley.org.nz/about/our-people/wally-noble) and also as an online presenter, delivering disability awareness training that encourages respectful communication, inclusion, and practical change. Outside of this professional work, I am a proud father of six and grandfather to seven mokopuna. I am a keen pool player and a former Waka Ama paddler. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an important part of my life, and I consistently work on my fitness and making healthy food choices. My approach to both work and life is focused on participation, independence, wellbeing, and helping build communities where disabled people are understood, respected, and included. Wally is bookable for Workplace Health & Safety presentations, keynote presentations, workshops, and organisational briefings at https://wallynoble.co.nz/ (https://wallynoble.co.nz/) Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast 00:21 Introduction to Podcast guest 00:47 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast 01:18 Interview with Wally Noble 33:07 Deep Dive - Changing the Conversation, Shifting the Power 55:28 Goodbye from Dr Pam 55:41 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast Support the Disability Disrupters podcast by contributing to our tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters (https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters) Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops, view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/ (https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/) Audio Shorts background music, credit and thanks to www.andrelouis.com (http://www.andrelouis.com) Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters (https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters) Read transcript (https://pnc.st/s/disability-disrupters/863658da/interview-with-wally-noble-disability-researcher-disability-awareness-presenter-and-advocate/transcript)

2. 

   31 Aug 2026

   S1E27 - Interview with David Goldfield - Marketing Director at Blazie Technologies and Accessible Technology Trainer

   David Goldfield David Goldfield is a visually impaired technology user with over 35 years of experience working in the blindness technology space. He provided tech support for Blazie Engineering and then spent 18 years providing computer training to blind children and adults. After that, he worked at Comcast as a program manager for the company’s accessibility team. David is now the marketing director for Blazie Technologies, developers of computers with an eight-dot Braille input keyboard. David is a practicing Catholic. In his spare time, you’ll find him interacting with people on Mastodon and listening to interfaith debates. David has also been a dedicated Doctor Who fan for over 40 years and enjoys audio drama, particularly science fiction. Relevant Links: Personal Web Site: www.DavidGoldfield.com (http://www.DavidGoldfield.com) Blazie Technologies, developers of BT Speak and BT Braille www.BlazieTech.com (http://www.BlazieTech.com) Leasey Central (an add-on for JAWS or Fusion) https://hartgenconsultancy.com/leaseycentral/ (https://hartgenconsultancy.com/leaseycentral/) FastSMRW, a Mastodon client https://brynify.me/pages/FastSuite.php (https://brynify.me/pages/FastSuite.php) Fedra, another Mastodon client https://github.com/trypsynth/fedra (https://github.com/trypsynth/fedra) Mona, my Mastodon client of choice for iOS https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mona-7-for-mastodon/id6755672518 (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mona-7-for-mastodon/id6755672518) Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast 00:21 Introduction to Podcast 00:47 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast 01:18 Introduction to Podcast guest - David Goldfield 44:12 Advert - NZ Election 2026 Disability Policies report 44:46 Introduction to the Deep Dive discussion 45:25 Deep Dive - The exhaustion of continually educating people about blindness and disability 01:19:09 Goodbye from Dr Pam 01:19:22 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast Support the Disability Disrupters podcast by contributing to our tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters (https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters) Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops, view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/ (https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/) Audio Shorts background music, credit and thanks to www.andrelouis.com (http://www.andrelouis.com) Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters (https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters) Read transcript (https://pnc.st/s/disability-disrupters/4fba0c8f/interview-with-david-goldfield-marketing-director-at-blazie-technologies-and-accessible-technology-trainer/transcript)

3. 

   31 Jul 2026

   S1E26 - Interview with Dr. Huhana Hickey - MNZM, Māori disability and human rights advocate, scholar and former lawyer

   Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM is a Māori disability and human rights advocate, scholar and former lawyer of Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Ira and Tainui whakapapa. A disabled wahine and wheelchair user, she brings lived experience and expertise to her work advancing the rights of tāngata whaikaha and whānau hauā. Huhana holds a PhD in Law and tikanga Māori from the University of Waikato and has held numerous national leadership, governance and advisory roles across disability, health, justice and human rights. Her advocacy is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, intersectionality and the collective wellbeing of whānau and communities. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and disabled people. Dr. Huhana talks about singer Dame Hinewehi Mohi and her daughter Hineraukatauri. For some history and context, read the history of the [Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre](https://www.rmtc.org.nz/history (https://www.rmtc.org.nz/history)). Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast 00:21 Introduction to Podcast 01:02 Advert - Ask Dr Pam 02:11 Deep Dive Introduction 03:04 Deep Dive - Summary of Submission to the Disability Support Services Bill 22:25  Disability Support Services (DSS) Bill - Oral Submission by Foundation for Equity Research New Zealand 27:45 Intro to Podcast Guest 28:44 Interview with Dr. Huhana Hickey 01:19:10 Goodbye from Dr Pam 01:19:23 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future! Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV (https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV) Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops - view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/ (https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/) Audio Shorts, background music provided by www.andrelouis.com (http://www.andrelouis.com) Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters (https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters) Read transcript (https://pnc.st/s/disability-disrupters/07f4df04/interview-with-dr-huhana-hickey-mnzm-m-ori-disability-and-human-rights-advocate-scholar-and-former-lawyer/transcript)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

82

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.