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PODCAST

The Different Ability® Podcast

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

education education for kids

All Episodes

30:33

Chapter 24 Conversation – From Struggles to...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

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...

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17:00

Chapter 11 Conversation – Testing My Limits: The...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 11 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the challenges students face in embracing accommodations during high school, the balance between independence and support, and how using an IEP can make a tangible difference in academic performance. Katey shares strategies for testing oneself with and without accommodations, highlights the importance of self-advocacy, and offers gu...

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20:55

Chapter 12 Conversation – A Teacher’s Impact: How...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 12 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the pivotal role of teachers in helping students advocate for themselves, highlighting the encouragement Katey received from Mrs. D during a vulnerable moment in school. Katey shares how writing a letter about her foreign language requirement shaped her mindset toward self-advocacy, the importance of having allies in education, and ...

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22:13

Chapter 10 Conversation – A First Job That Taught Me...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 10 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss Katey’s first job and the invaluable lessons it taught her about leadership, responsibility, and independence. From being trusted with new responsibilities to learning time management and accountability, Katey reflects on how these experiences built her confidence and prepared her for future challenges. This conversation emphasizes ...

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29:22

Chapter 27 Conversation – Raising an Advocate –...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

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...

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45:32

Chapter 4 Conversation – Shifting the Narrative: “I...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey, her mom Lynn, and a special guest appearance by her dad dive into Chapter 4 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore the transformative power of the phrase “I just learn differently,” how it shaped Katey’s identity through middle school and beyond, and the critical role of parental support in embracing her diagnosis rather than feeling shame. The conversation also tackles society’s fixation on “normal,” momen...

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21:47

Chapter 15 Conversation – From Small Town to Big...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 15 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the mental shift required when transitioning from the supportive environment of high school to advocating for yourself in college. Katey shares how early experiences practicing handshakes and introductions built her confidence in meeting professors, strategies for students who feel anxious about self-advocacy, and tips for creating ...

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23:33

Chapter 3 Conversation – Finding My Voice Through...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 3 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss the long journey of recognizing hidden struggles, the emotional impact of feeling “dumb” or “stupid,” and the importance of advocacy when schools don’t always listen. Together, they share insights for parents and children navigating dyslexia, address the guilt and helplessness parents may feel, and offer encouragement for kids who ar...

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34:40

Chapter 19 Conversation – Ask, Connect, Achieve: How...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 19 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss how Katey’s experiences at UW-Stout prepared her for networking, taking risks, and confidently putting herself out there. Katey shares lessons learned from mentors, how to handle “not right now” responses with persistence and humility, and the bold moments that helped open unexpected doors. This conversation reinforces the power of ...

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24:02

Chapter 13 Conversation – From Rebellion to...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 13 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They explore the pivotal moments that shaped Katey’s college decision, including advice from her Great Aunt Lynn, navigating peer influence, and the impact of a tour guide who helped her see the college in a new light. Katey shares how this experience taught her the value of being open to new possibilities, the importance of disability service...

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35:13

Chapter 14 Conversation – Embracing Dyslexia and...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 14 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They discuss Katey’s journey of self-acceptance and overcoming self-doubt while pursuing the Art and Design program at UW-Stout. Katey shares the challenges of transitioning to a larger college environment, forming strong connections with roommates, and learning to embrace her dyslexia. The conversation also highlights the importance of utilizin...

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33:14

Chapter 20 Conversation – The Hand That Raised Mine:...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 20 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. Katey reflects on a powerful moment that felt like her hand was being raised by Lynn herself and how that experience reshaped her perspective on public speaking and advocacy. Together, they discuss the role of vulnerability in sharing personal stories, the importance of finding “your people,” and carrying forward a legacy of advocacy through los...

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14:45

Chapter 26 Conversation – Finding Courage in the Face...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

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...

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36:29

Chapter 23 Conversation – Embracing Mentors and...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast, Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 23 of Embracing Your Different Ability®. They dive into the powerful role mentors play in shaping confidence, careers, and advocacy. Katey reflects on Doug’s advice to focus on making friends rather than just selling, how mentorship helped her navigate a career shift into sales, and why relationship-building has been central to her professional growth. Through stories of unexpected con...

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15:03

RE-RELEASE: Dyslexia Struggles

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/18

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m bringing back a powerful conversation from the archive: Dyslexia Struggles. As I prepare for the release of my book Embracing Your Different Ability®, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this episode where I open up about the real, everyday challenges I face living with dyslexia. From the frustrations to the behind-the-scenes moments people don’t always see, I share honestly about what it’s like and the tools and strategies that have helped me navigate it ...

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12:49

RE-RELEASE: Standing up to your bully!

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/11

Send us Fan Mail Re-releasing this episode because the message still matters. If you’ve ever been made to feel “less than,” this is your reminder: you are not alone! Let’s stand up to our bullies, grow in confidence, and embrace what makes us uniquely us - differences and all! Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching! Sign Up Here! Shop new products here! Places you can reach me at: Website: https://kateyfortun.com/ https://kateyfortun.com/podcast...

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56:10

Her Son’s Diagnosis Changed Everything — For the...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/03/04

Send a text In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Patty Laushman — coach, educator, and neurodiversity advocate — to talk about her journey as a mom navigating years of uncertainty before learning her son is autistic. She shares what those first 8½ years were like, the challenges her family faced, and how one doctor’s words changed everything for the better. We also talk about her path through college, becoming a mom later in life, and how her personal experiences led her to support neur...

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49:29

Living Fully with CMD: Advocacy, Confidence &...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/02/25

Send a text In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts, hosts of the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast, for an honest and uplifting conversation about living fully with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). Together, we talk about what it really means to grow up learning your body, your needs, and your voice — and how self-advocacy becomes a life-changing skill. Kelly and Avery share their personal journeys navigating life in power wheelchairs, embracing d...

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63:00

Rising Through It All: Faith, Fire & Fierce Advocacy...

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/02/18

Send a text In this powerful conversation, Kimberly Hendrix shares her journey through life’s hardest seasons — from marriage struggles and motherhood to building a decades-long business, raising a child with Down syndrome, and facing breast cancer. Through it all, she’s leaned on faith, resilience, and courage to rise stronger and advocate fiercely for her children, women, and families everywhere. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that adversity doesn’t define you — it can refine you. K...

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13:59

Audio Book Talk & Bloopers!

The Different Ability® Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Send a text In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of recording my audio book Embracing Your Different Ability®! I share how the process has been going, what’s surprised me, what’s been harder than expected, and what I’ve loved most about bringing my book to life in my own voice. And because real life (and real recording) isn’t always perfect, I’m also sharing some bloopers from the studio that will definitely make you laugh. Whether you’re an author, a speaker, or someone who just...

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