Joanne O'Riordan: What is an accessible. livable place? That's something we're still not grasping with to this day.
What A Woman PodcastShow Notes
In this last episode of the second season of the podcast, our guest Joanne O'Riordan is the epitome of everything what a woman is about - a powerful, extraordinary woman whose attitude to life is inspiring for us all and who is breaking down barriers for women and the disabled community. Joanne is a broadcaster, sports journalist and activist who was born with a rare condition known as Total Amelia meaning she was born without all four limbs, one of only seven people worldwide with the condition. When was born, doctors felt her life would be limited but Joanne's family wanted her to grow up with the same opportunities as everyone else, instilling a philosophy in Joanne of no limbs, no limits, the title of an excellent documentary about her early life.
Joanne became known for her activism when she was just fifteen and she challenged the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny about cuts to the budget for disability payments and a year later she spoke at a UN summit in New York where she famously said 'I do not look at the word impossible and see impossible. I look at the word and my life and say I'm Possible'. Now twenty seven, Joanne's passion for sport has led to a flourishing career as a sports journalist for the Irish Times and she recently broadcast the documentary A Sporting Chance about equal opportunities for women in sport.
It was absolute delight to meet Joanne as her personality and infectious laugh filled the room and I did my best to keep up with her quick wit as we talk about everything from our shared personality traits as Taureans, life plans, splitting opinions in her journalism and why its important to just be yourself.
Follow Joanne:
Twitter: @Joanneor_Ox
Instagram- @Joanneor
@rte sport - no limbs no limits
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