In this episode of Remaking Normal, Alexander Freeman tells the story of entrepreneur, disability activist, tedx speaker, influencer, mentor, author, TV personality Collette Divitto of Collettey's Cookies and the movement she is building by creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

@colletteyscookies

Find out about the documentary "My Own Normal" at myownnormalmovie.com and consider working with Alexander on a feature film by visiting outcast-productions.com. Subscribe to the Outcast Productions LLC YouTube Channel @OUTCASTPRODUCTIONSCo and follow @realalexanderfreeman on Instagram.

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In this episode of Remaking Normal, Alexander Freeman sits down with disability activist, actor, producer, modern dancer, writer, journalist, radio show host, and communications strategist Lawrence Carter-Long for a wide-ranging and deeply informed conversation about disability media representation, power structures, voting rights, health care, infrastructure, income, and public benefits.

He is perhaps best known for his leadership as Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), where he helped shape national disability policy conversations and media narratives. He has created, curated, critiqued, and consulted on projects for prominent organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Turner Classic Movies, and the American Film Institute. His contributions to cultural discourse include writing for esteemed outlets like Film Quarterly, PBS, The Atlantic, and USA Today. Lawrence is featured in the award-winning documentary “Code of the Freaks” and appeared as an actor in the NY Times Critic’s Pick “Best Summer Ever.” Lawrence has lectured and curated programs on the history and evolution of disability in media at the Library of Congress, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and the United Nations. Lawrence is the Director of Engagement for the ReelAbilities International Film Festival.

Together, Alexander and Lawrence unpack how media representation influences public opinion and policy outcomes, why disabled people are marginalized in conversations about democracy, and how systemic barriers affect access to voting, healthcare, transportation, income, and benefits.

@lcarterlong

Lawrence@NothingWithoutUs.com

lawrence@reelabilities.org

Find out about the documentary "My Own Normal" at myownnormalmovie.com and consider working with Alexander on a feature film by visiting outcast-productions.com. Subscribe to the Outcast Productions LLC YouTube Channel @OUTCASTPRODUCTIONSCo and follow @realalexanderfreeman on Instagram.

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In this episode of Remaking Normal, Alexander Freeman sits down with disabled filmmaker, educator, and disability-rights activist Stan Clawson to explore how storytelling, branding, and political advocacy intersect through the power of documentary film.

Stan is a bold and incisive voice within the disability community, known for creating branded independent documentary content for companies and organizations that want to tell authentic, socially grounded stories. Through his filmmaking, educational work, and activism, Stan challenges the narratives that too often marginalize disabled people—reframing them through a lens of agency, complexity, and political urgency. His work pushes back on ableist assumptions, elevates disabled leadership, and highlights the systems and policies that shape disabled lives.

A committed advocate, Stan uses filmmaking as both an artistic practice and a political tool: to document inequity, amplify underrepresented voices, and spark deeper conversations about disability rights, social justice, and the broader political forces affecting disabled communities. His projects often blend personal narrative with institutional critique, reminding audiences that disability is not just a personal experience, but a political identity shaped by access, representation, and power.

Together, Alexander and Stan dive into what it means to create media that doesn’t simply portray disability, but actively advances disability rights. They discuss branded storytelling, the responsibilities of representing marginalized communities, and the transformative potential of documentary film in shifting public perception. Stan shares insights from his work partnering with organizations to craft inclusive media, his approach to blending storytelling with advocacy, and his commitment to using film as a catalyst for systemic change.

@stanclawson

Find out about the documentary "My Own Normal" at myownnormalmovie.com and consider working with Alexander on a feature film by visiting outcast-productions.com. Subscribe to the Outcast Productions LLC YouTube Channel @OUTCASTPRODUCTIONSCo and follow @realalexanderfreeman on Instagram.

Support the show