Popcorn Disabilities | Kristen Lopez on Disability Representation in the Movies

Popcorn Disabilities | Kristen Lopez on Disability Representation in the Movies

Leah Smith talks with entertainment journalist and author Kristen Lopez about her upcoming book Popcorn Disabilities, which examines how film has shaped public understanding of disability. They explore why disabled women and girls rarely see themselves portrayed with depth, how “pretty disabilities” distort real experiences, and what it means to grow up without disabled role models in media.  Their conversation moves through the complicated history of little-person representation, the ongoing erasure created by CGI, and the industry’s discomfort with addressing ableism directly. They also discuss the need for disabled people behind the camera, the political moment threatening disability rights, and what authentic storytelling could look like when disabled creators and allies share real power. 00:00 – Cold open preview clips 00:35 – Welcome & introductions 01:12 – Why Kristen wrote Popcorn Disabilities 02:46 – Representation, community, and internalized narratives 04:11 – Gender, disabled women, and “pretty disabilities” 08:03 – Sexuality, safety, and erased identities 11:16 – Representation in Coming Home and Forrest Gump 15:34 – LP representation, Freaks, and CGI erasure 20:31 – Snow White, casting debates, and studio fear 23:55 – Hollywood gatekeeping and avoiding ableism 31:37 – Disability rights under threat today 35:08 – Imagining authentic representation and disabled leadership 39:05 – Self-identifying, workplace barriers, and access 41:28 – Closing reflections & resources Kristen's Links & Upcoming Events: Website (The Film Maven): https://thefilmmaven.com/ [https://thefilmmaven.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenlopez88/ [https://www.instagram.com/kristenlopez88/] X (Twitter): https://x.com/kristenklopez [https://x.com/kristenklopez] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kristenklopez.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/kristenklopez.bsky.social] OC Book Fair on 11/14: https://www.theocbookfair.org/ [https://www.theocbookfair.org/] Freaks Screening at the Los Feliz 3 on 11/15: https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/kristen-lopez-presents-freaks-11-16-25/ [https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/kristen-lopez-presents-freaks-11-16-25/] GADIM and Props No More links: Props No More Documentary: https://propsnomore.org [https://propsnomore.org] GADIM – Global Alliance for Disability & Media: https://gadim.org [https://gadim.org]

Tylenol, Autism & Ableism | A Discussion about Media Representation and Politics

In this episode of Props No More, Leah Smith is joined by Dr. Kara Ayers, Jason Harris, and Matt Shedd to unpack the political claim linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism. Together, they explore why autism has become a cultural and political “boogeyman” and how misinformation harms autistic people, women, and new parents. The conversation delves into the lingering “refrigerator mother” myth, the persistence of ableism, and the ways autistic humor and culture challenge stigma. The panel also highlights why research literacy matters, the importance of finding community and rejecting shame after a new diagnosis, and why we need autistic people’s perspectives to help shape a better world. 00:00 – Cold open preview clips 01:02 – Welcome & introductions 03:45 – Why autism? Fear, politics, and the “boogeyman” narrative 07:25 – Mother-blaming, “refrigerator moms,” and ableism in diagnosis 11:10 – The harm of misinformation: policy contradictions & stigma 15:30 – Correlation is not causation: What the research really says 18:05 – Autistic humor and resilience in the face of stigma 21:20 – Pain, pregnancy, and the “just tough it out” message 25:15 – Finding community & rejecting shame after diagnosis 28:10 – Why the world needs autistic thinkers and voices 33:00 – “Props No More”: How disabled people are used as political props 37:20 – Closing reflections & where to learn more (Props No More, GADIM)

Representation, Stigma, and Power: Leah Smith on the Vision Behind Props No More

Welcome to the Props No More Podcast, a production of the Global Alliance for Disability and Media and Entertainment (GADIM) and Disability Rights Podcasts. In this first episode, host Matt Shedd speaks with Leah Smith, Director of Public Relations for GADIM, about the forthcoming Props No More documentary. They discuss how disabled people have too often been used as “props” in media, why authentic representation matters, and how accurate portrayals can shape public attitudes, reduce stigma, and even influence life-or-death policy decisions. Learn more at propsnomore.org [http://propsnomore.org/] Explore GADIM at gadim.org [http://gadim.org/] 00:00:04 – Opening: “Our lives aren’t worth living” narrative 00:00:35 – Show intro & series overview 00:01:43 – Guest intro: Leah Smith (GADIM) 00:02:08 – What is “Props No More”? (film + platform) 00:02:58 – What “prop” means in disability representation 00:04:20 – Impact on kids: stigma, erasure, and villains 00:06:10 – Why creators with disabilities must shape stories 00:07:46 – How the project evolved & went global 00:09:39 – Leah’s path into comms, PR, and policy 00:14:33 – Barriers: skills training & “what sells” in media 00:17:37 – Against the “inspiration” trope (buying milk ≠ heroic) 00:20:46 – The feedback loop & naming disability 00:23:19 – Misconceptions, pregnancy reactions, job bias 00:25:59 – Accessibility: captions, audio description, ASL 00:29:20 – Journalism pitfalls: headlines & mental health stigma 00:33:31 – Politics & policy 00:37:43 – GADIM’s vision: toolkits, style guide, documentary 00:39:48 – Momentum, UN conversations, global learning 00:41:31 – Outro & where to learn more