{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"035: You Don't Need to Be Well to Be Whole, CJ Janzen\u2019s Message for the Marginalized","description":"According to Statistics Canada, nearly 1 in 5 Canadians aged 15 and older live with one or more disabilities\u2014yet many of their stories remain untold. On this episode of Your Radical Truth, host Margaret Mary O\u2019Connor shines a spotlight on one of those voices. Meet CJ Janzen\u2014\u201cThe Singing Speaker\u201d\u2014a queer, disabled advocate, storyteller, and artist living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a severe chronic illness that leaves them mostly bedbound. From working as a paramedic and scuba instructor to launching {dis}ABILITY Unleashed, CJ\u2019s life defies convention. Their journey of surviving childhood abuse, alcoholism, and complex chronic illness is matched only by their resilience and determination to create inclusive spaces where disabled artists can thrive. With a mantra of \u201cChoose to live joyously within the tempest of adversity,\u201d CJ uses story, song, and strategy to challenge stigma and ignite hope. In this heart-opening interview, they speak candidly about brain fog, living with limited energy, and finding purpose in creative advocacy. Whether organizing Disability Pride Month events from bed or writing for anthologies like Start Over and Pillow Writers, CJ is committed to amplifying the voices too often left out. They remind us that joy, connection, and meaning are still possible\u2014even in the hardest moments. To learn more, visit www.YourRadicalTruth.com\/035-CJ-Janzen  ","author_name":"Your Radical Truth podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/yourradicaltruth.com\/podcast\/","html":"