On this episode of Hoorf, host Elle Billing welcomes Ivan Hardcastle, an occupational therapist whose 15-year journey led him to make a radical choice - stepping away from a high-stress, high-volume clinical partnership to create a private practice centered on quality care. These days, Ivan runs an innovative online coaching program helping parents and school staff support children with emotional regulation and sensory needs. The conversation takes a creative turn as Ivan shares his passions for theater and woodworking, essential elements of maintaining balance in life. His perspective on slowing down and building genuine connections resonates deeply. As an OT who prioritizes both practical skills and human connection, Ivan brings a refreshing approach to the care-based fields that emphasizes genuine understanding over quick fixes.

On this episode, we meet Virginia Townsend, the artist behind the vibrant creations of Bunnie Rabbitte, whose story illustrates how support and success are not mutually exclusive. In a wide-ranging conversation about art and mental health, Virginia opened up about the daily reality of creating while living with PTSD. Like many artists navigating disability, Virginia's journey includes managing sleep disorders and triggers that disrupt the flow of her day. Through sharing her experiences, Virginia highlights a truth that often gets overlooked: disability needs aren't one-size-fits-all, and our support systems shouldn't be either. Her advocacy for integrated, comprehensive care services speaks to something bigger than just accessing help; it's about creating the conditions where disabled artists don't just survive - they thrive and create remarkable work that enriches our world.

On this episode, Elle welcomes Joris Grey, a leadership coach working with queer entrepreneurs to build businesses that align with their values. Joris shares his perspective on unlearning toxic masculinity, and how that journey shapes his approach to authentic leadership. We explore the wisdom of listening to our bodies (even when capitalism tells us not to), and dive into the real challenges of being visibly queer in professional spaces. The conversation takes us into some deeper waters as we discuss the rising threats to LGBTQ rights, both in Joris's home country of the Netherlands and globally. But at its heart, our discussion keeps circling back to the importance of authenticity and community for personal and collective liberation.

After six months of planning, Elle is thrilled to welcome this episode’s guest to the podcast! Teisha Gillespie is a marketing director and podcast host. Teisha's podcast, "Not Your Average GOAT," highlights diverse stories of adversity and diversity, aiming to dismantle stigma. She emphasizes the power of relatable, authentic stories in changing perceptions and reducing shame around mental health and disability. Elle and Teisha take a little time to discuss how inaccessibility created barriers to this interview, and Teisha addresses the challenges of paternalism and advocates for showing rather than telling to demonstrate the capabilities of blind — and other disabled — individuals.

Guess who's back and ready to dive into the beautiful mess of life and art? It's your favorite chronically ill queer femme, Elle Billing, kicking off Season 3 of Hoorf! Podcast. This time, they're chatting with Charlie Reynolds, a conceptual artist and MFA candidate at the University of Michigan. Charlie, a recipient of the 2024 Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities, creates art that tackles the heavy stuff - war, gender, and disability - using materials that hold personal meaning. Charlie also opens up about his journey as a veteran, navigating the choppy waters of PTSD and how his experience in the Navy is the one muse that just won’t let him go.