The Different Ability® Podcast
The Different Ability® Podcast
Katey Fortun
Why am I different? Why do things have to be so difficult? Am I dumb? Why am I scared? Will it be this hard forever? Will I ever find the help I need to succeed? When will being different be accepted? Welcome to The Different Ability® Podcast where we will answer all of these questions and a whole lot more! Each week host Katey Fortun brings you tips and tricks on how to navigate being different, along with inspiring stories of guests that are living an amazing life having Different Abilities of their own. Parents and Educators of kids with Different Abilities share their stories to encourage others that they are not alone and we can all get through this together! Katey, who has dyslexia, shares her personal Different Ability stories to show you that being different is a gift, being different is amazing and using your Different Abilities, you too can create and live the life you have always dreamed about! Katey believes that everyone has Different Abilities and it's time to let our Different Abilities shine bright! You are amazing, you are important, you are strong, you are smart and the world needs you just the way you were made! Are you ready to be inspired and encouraged to be the person you were made to be, Different Abilities and all? We know you're ready, so come along, we are all in this together! "You can do anything you put your mind to, with a lot of hard work, determination and never giving up! It's not your disability, it's your Different Ability®!" - Katey
It's Never Too Late to Understand Yourself with Walter & Stephanie
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with husband-and-wife duo Walter and Stephanie to talk about their journeys of discovering they are neurodivergent later in life. Stephanie shares her experiences of being diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and, years later, receiving additional diagnoses, including autism and ADHD. Walter opens up about recently learning he has ADHD and how that new understanding has changed the way he sees himself. Together, they discuss raising daughters who hav...
Jul 15
55 min
Back Behind the Mic!
Send us Fan Mail Where I've been, what I've been building, and the lessons I've learned along the way. After a few quiet months away from the microphone, I'm excited to be back behind the mic. The last few months have been filled with some of the biggest changes of my life... publishing my first book, stepping away from my corporate career, building new dreams in Colorado, and starting a new chapter that has challenged and stretched me in the best ways. But this episode isn't just about catch...
Jul 8
16 min
The Dyslexic Font That Sparked a Bigger Conversation with Rebeka & Taosies
Send us Fan Mail What happens when a simple font sparks a powerful conversation? In this episode, returning guest Rebeka Acosta is back! This time joined by her teenage son, Taosies, for a real and eye-opening discussion about dyslexia, perspective, and growth. This conversation started when I sent Rebeka the first three chapters of my book in both a standard font and a dyslexic-friendly font. She didn’t like the dyslexic font… but her son LOVED it. That difference in perspective led to this ...
Apr 8
1 hr 4 min
Breaking Barriers & Building a Life Without Limits with Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Send us Fan Mail What happens when you refuse to accept the limits others place on you? In today’s episode, I sit down with Jo Elizabeth Pinto for a powerful conversation about inclusion, advocacy, and navigating a world that doesn’t always know how to support you. We talk about the importance of having people who believe in you, discovering how you learn best, and building confidence and independence along the way. This conversation is a reminder that inclusion and advocacy can change ...
Apr 1
24 min
Navigating Loss, Motherhood, Homeschooling, and Dyslexia with Stephany Rios
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I’m joined by Stephany Rios, host of the Homeschool with Steph podcast, homeschooling mom of five, and entrepreneur. Stephany shares her powerful life story—growing up and stepping into a caregiving role at a young age while her mom battled cancer. In her early 20s, she helped care for her mom, supported her eight younger siblings, along side her dad, and followed in her mom’s footsteps by becoming a nurse. Through it all, she experienced deep loss, resili...
Mar 27
56 min
Chapter 28 Conversation – Courage, Celebration, and Taking the Next Step | Embracing Your Different Ability®
Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of The Different Ability® Podcast for Season 6, Katey reflects on Chapter 28 of Embracing Your Different Ability®, sharing the courage it took to be vulnerable, the mix of emotions she experienced finishing the book, and the practical lessons she’s learned along the way. She discusses how to navigate fear, self-doubt, and external labels while celebrating accomplishments and embracing unique abilities. Katey offers advice for anyone working toward big go...
Mar 26
34 min
Chapter 27 Conversation – Raising an Advocate – Lessons from a Parent | Embracing Your Different Ability®
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey sits down with her mom, Lynn, to explore Chapter 27 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss how Lynn’s perspective on learning disabilities has evolved since Katey’s diagnosis and the vital role of family, community, and support systems in navigating early challenges. Lynn shares advice for parents and caregivers just starting their journey, what an ideal “village” of support looks like, and how to foster sel...
Mar 26
29 min
Chapter 26 Conversation – Finding Courage in the Face of Limiting Beliefs | Embracing Your Different Ability®
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom dive into Chapter 26 of Embracing Your Different Ability®, focusing on limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and the courage it takes to keep going—even when quitting feels easier. Katey opens up about the moments during the writing process when negative self-talk crept in and how her different ability both challenged and strengthened her along the way. They discuss the importance of support systems, using tools and...
Mar 26
14 min
Chapter 25 Conversation – Advocating for Change Through Personal Storytelling | Embracing Your Different Ability®
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom reflect on Chapter 25 of Embracing Your Different Ability® and the power of personal storytelling as a catalyst for advocacy and change. Katey shares how speaking at her great aunt Lynn’s celebration of life shaped her confidence as a speaker and reaffirmed her purpose as an advocate. They discuss stepping outside comfort zones, the impact of encouragement from educators, and why sharing personal experiences...
Mar 26
34 min
Chapter 24 Conversation – From Struggles to Strengths: Living with Different Ability® | Embracing Your Different Ability®
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 24 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. Katey shares the pivotal mindset shift that led her to embrace the concept of Different Ability®—reframing dyslexia from a limitation into a source of strength. Together, they discuss navigating misconceptions, finding purpose through life’s unexpected turns, and creating “motivation moments” that spark growth and confidence. This conversation a...
Mar 26
30 min
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