Best Littleperson Podcasts (2024)

1
Poll: How Would Your Life Be Different If You Didn't Have Dwarfism? 23:52

2+ y ago23:52

23:52

A compilation of my guests from seasons one and two talking about how their lives would be different if they weren’t little. We only have the life we are living, but I thought it would be interesting to see if anyone had thought of how their life would be if they weren’t short-statured. 15 individuals share what they think their lives would be like…

1
Poll: What Does Dwarfism Mean To You? 19:42

2+ y ago19:42

19:42

A compilation of my guests from seasons one and two discussing what dwarfism means to them. There are many built-in struggles for little people. 15 individuals share what dwarfism means in their lives.By Christophe Zajac-Denek

1
Poll: What’s the most difficult thing about dwarfism? 22:42

3y ago22:42

22:42

A compilation of my guests from seasons one and two talking about what they find is the most difficult thing about dwarfism. There are many built-in struggles for little people. 15 individuals share what they have struggled with the most.By Christophe Zajac-Denek

1
Poll: What do you love about being who you are? 19:10

3y ago19:10

19:10

A compilation of my guests from seasons one and two talking about what they love about themselves. As a little person, it can be tough to feel accepting and content in your own skin. These fifteen short-statured individuals open up about their perspectives.By Christophe Zajac-Denek

1
Moving To Los Angeles Opened My Eyes To A World of Possibilities 19:13

3y ago19:13

19:13

My move to Los Angeles took a lot of effort, was scary, and completely changed my world. Though some of the jobs I worked were bad or didn’t treat me as I deserved to be treated, there were many that treated me really well. Some of them were fun, some paid well, and I learned from all of them. This is the story of my move across the country and my …

1
The First Little Person In A Major Commercial As A Person “This Means There’s Hope” - Alexia Vassos 1:37:14

3y ago1:37:14

1:37:14

How many times have you seen a little person play just a person in a commercial on TV? Or in an internet spot? If you haven’t seen this before or, you’re not alone. However, Alexia (fittingly pronounced Ah-Lex-Uh) Vassos broke this streak by being featured in an Amazon holiday shopping commercial in the Fall of 2020 - and she played a human person.…

1
“Please Delete My Number” Firing A Terrible Agent 18:50

3y ago18:50

18:50

Receiving terrible treatment from a certain agent for live events has worn me down. I recently heard from them and we had an annoying and contentious text conversation. Listen in as I recount the conversation and talk about the reasons for my reaction to this agent. It’s not okay to treat people in a disrespectful manner and saying no can be one of…

1
Vietnamese Dwarf Confronts Aggressors “I was like, What The Fuck” - Kevin Ton 1:27:34

3y ago1:27:34

1:27:34

What would you do if you were a little person and someone snuck a photo of you to criticize your stature on social media? This situation happened to Kevin Ton. He retaliated in a physical way because he felt threatened and violated. Though he’s normally a collected and rational person, being treated in this inhumane way is hurtful and makes you fee…

1
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Hired Me to Be A Twinkie with a Dairy Cow on TV 20:40

3+ y ago20:40

20:40

How many actors do you know who have worked in costume, as a Twinkie, with a dairy cow, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!? Christophe has and he recounts the story of a job he worked in 2019 on the late-night ABC show.By Christophe Zajac-Denek

1
“We’re here to make an impact on the world” - Michele Sullivan, The First Female President of The Caterpillar Foundation 41:54

3+ y ago41:54

41:54

From working with Bill Gates, Bono, and Barack Obama, to helping impoverished people living in villages deep into third world countries, Michele Sullivan’s impact is larger than life. Even though she’s 4 feet tall, her outreach has been widespread. Her book “Looking Up” tells the story of how navigating her dwarfism planted a seed that inspired her…

1
Acting in a music video for a major artist "This was a terrible experience" 23:31

3+ y ago23:31

23:31

As a little person, a number of the roles on productions that are available to little people include roles that cover our faces and our bodies to the point of no recognition. So many times actors with dwarfism are asked to work in prosthetics, foam, costumes, wigs, and with contacts, fake teeth, and other things that don't depict what we look like …

1
The Smallest Exotic Dancer In The World Sassee Cassee: “People with disabilities can be sexy” 1:06:13

3+ y ago1:06:13

1:06:13

Sassee Cassee began dancing in gentleman’s clubs at age 18. Being 2’10” and having a driven personality, she was noticed quickly. Her 13 years as an exotic dancer has been quite eventful. She’s had to figure out how to navigate all of the traveling, the high-profile clientele, and her being fetishized based on her appearance. Sassee Cassee talks ab…

1
The First Professional Dwarf Skateboarder “The Industry Turned on Me” - Pancho Moler 1:35:41

3+ y ago1:35:41

1:35:41

For Pancho Moler, skateboarding was the sport where he found himself and felt accepted as a little person. Becoming a sponsored skateboarder and being featured in magazines for his talent made him feel validated. But when the industry decided to treat Pancho like a gimmick, he had to come to terms with being othered on a global level. Pancho talks …

1
Bisexual Dwarf: “Why I Wished I Was Straight” - Sarah Hunt 57:52

3+ y ago57:52

57:52

Bi-sexuality and dwarfism are a unique combination. Little people face many challenges on a daily basis regardless of their sexuality. For Sarah Hunt, 4 foot 6 inches, identifying as bi-sexual hasn’t made her life any easier. Hunt was bullied for her size and shape in school. Although the combination of her sexual orientation and having to have mul…

1
Being a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day: “I’ve decided it’s not for me” 24:16

3+ y ago24:16

24:16

Having dressed up in the past as a leprechaun for parties, events, productions, and at bars, Christophe Zajac-Denek talks about his experience playing a character in drunken, wild environments. Although there’s good money to be made by playing costume characters, getting dressed up in costume comes with a cost. Christophe discusses his thoughts on …

1
"Little People Need To Feel Confident" Dru Presta - Founded Short Favor Clothing Brand 58:43

3+ y ago58:43

58:43

One of the biggest struggles for little people is finding clothes that fit and look good. The apparel options at traditional stores are not made with short-statured individuals in mind. Dru Presta is over what the department stores have to offer. She’s decided to take matters into her own hands and start creating clothes that specifically little pe…

1
"Society Sees Me As Defective" Author Kristen DeAndrade On Limb Lengthening 1:36:06

3+ y ago1:36:06

1:36:06

Limb lengthening is a relatively misunderstood medical procedure. However, Kristen DeAndrade knew it’s what she wanted for herself at a very young age. At 12 years old she went through with the first lengthening operation which led to her having two external fixators attached to her lower legs. Her tibias were broken in two places and she used the …

1
Breaking Through the Barriers of the Acting World With Nic Novicki 55:17

3+ y ago55:17

55:17

Little people have a history of being portrayed in media as dehumanized and unreal characters. The majority of roles for little people in movies, TV shows, and commercials have been demeaning, degrading, and misrepresentative of their actual experience. These roles include leprechauns, elves, munchkins, oompa loompas, Chucky, and others. Nic Novick…

1
The M-word vs. the N-word What's the Difference? With Ali Chapman Part 2 48:27

3+ y ago48:27

48:27

Using words to describe individuals who look different is a practice that goes back centuries. In recent years, people have used very offensive terms when referring to little people and African-Americans. Little people have been called ‘midget’, and African-Americans have been called the N-word. However, some people have likened the act of calling …

1
Life as an African-American Woman With Dwarfism: Ali Chapman Part 1 59:46

3+ y ago59:46

59:46

Ali’s life with dwarfism has its challenges. Growing up in Indiana and seeking protection from pointed and harsh comments, Ali learned at a young age how to cover up in winter to disguise herself as a child so no one would realize that she was a little person - she practiced this behavior later into her teens. Having no ambition to leave high schoo…

1
Season 2 Trailer 2:50

3+ y ago2:50

2:50

Dwarfism may be the first thing people notice about a person, but there is so much more to Little People than having short limbs. In fact, data shows that less than 1% of Americans are diagnosed. In Season 2, your host Christophe Zajac-Denek, who is diagnosed with a type of Dwarfism called Cartilage Hair Hypoplasia talks with authors, actors, cloth…

1
Dating Pitfalls as a 3’ 8” Christian: Jon Michael Ogletree Part 3 35:46

3+ y ago35:46

35:46

This is part three of my conversation with Jon Michael Ogletree and the Season 1 Finale of I’m Kind Of A Big Deal. We are rounding out the season speaking with Jon Michael, who has a rare form of dwarfism and is an accomplished pianist and CFO. He also is a part of a strong faith community as he is a practicing Christian. Though he has a healthy an…

1
“God-Made” Musical Gift: Jon Michael Ogletree Part 2 58:01

3+ y ago58:01

58:01

This is part two of my conversation with Jon Michael Ogletree. He defies the norm of what disability looks like for someone with SED. Jon Michael is an extremely gifted musician, which is a rarity among people with his type of dwarfism. In a body that should be wrought with hearing and vision problems, his senses are ironically heightened. Though, …

1
88 Degree Spinal Surgery for CFO: Jon Michael Ogletree Part 1 53:55

4y ago53:55

53:55

This is the first part of my conversation with Jon Michael Ogletree. Jon Michael has endured multiple surgeries, one to correct a spinal curvature of 88 degrees, which if not corrected would have caused his torso to collapse. Though he needed much medical attention, this was a mere speed bump in his path, as he was never coddled as a child or an ad…

1
Viva La Dating! Or Not: Lorren Cackowski Part 3 22:05

4y ago22:05

22:05

This is the final part of my conversation with four-foot-tall Lorren Cackowski. Lorren lives in Las Vegas. In this episode, we delve into what it’s like to date as a little person. Turns out, it’s the easiest thing ever! … Just kidding. We, as little people, experience the normal pitfalls of any dating scenario. Plus add in a solid helping of being…

1
The Great and Powerful Little Person: Lorren Cackowski Part 2 42:39

4y ago42:39

42:39

This episode is Part 2 of my chat with my friend Lorren Cackowski. Lorren is a four-foot-tall sexy nurse server at a popular restaurant in Las Vegas. We talk about her experience acting on a major film: Disney’s OZ: The Great And Powerful and also how she handles being in a position where she is constantly around different people. Her encounters ru…

1
From Prom Queen to Bikini Bartender to Sexy-Nurse Server: Lorren Cackowski Part 1 40:37

4y ago40:37

40:37

In this episode, I chat with my friend Lorren Cackowski. I met Lorren in Michigan when we were both hired to play munchkins on the Disney film Oz: The Great And Powerful. She’s an incredibly strong-willed individual who doesn’t let any obstacle stand in her way. At 4 feet tall, she received a lot of attention from being prom queen to working as a b…

1
Average Height Asshole Turned Advocate David Lyons 51:21

4y ago51:21

51:21

In this episode, I chat with my good friend David Lyons. David is an average height friend of mine from college. We were in the same program at Michigan State and bonded over a mutual love of punk rock. In this episode, Dave shares the story of how his view of little people has significantly changed over the years. We talk about how he went from ma…

1
TikTok Stardom From Learning to Love Herself: Jonna Ross Part 3 35:29

4y ago35:29

35:29

I'm wrapping up my conversation with Jonna Ross. She’s a 3’ tall dancer with a huge following on TikTok. After Jonna conquered her vices and learned to love herself, doors just began to open up for her. She focused on dance, her sobriety, and her self esteem. In this episode, we discuss how things in life can really align when you are in the right …

1
Addiction, Sobriety And The Bumps Along The Way: Jonna Ross Part 2 37:08

4y ago37:08

37:08

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Jonna Ross. She’s a 3’ tall dancer with a huge following on TikTok. Growing up, Jonna experienced lots of setbacks and battled multiple forms of addiction, even as a kid. We talk about Jonna’s road to sobriety and the bumps and cracks along the way. We also hear about how she found the strength to st…

1
The Heartbreaking And Incredible Life Of A 3’ Powerhouse: Jonna Ross Part 1 39:26

4y ago39:26

39:26

In this episode, I am talking with Jonna Ross. She’s a 3’ tall dancer with a huge following on TikTok. Growing up, Jonna experienced lots of setbacks and battled multiple forms of addiction, even as a kid. She shares some of the dark and difficult times with us. Her stories are incredible and heartbreaking, but she’s been a fighter through it all a…

1
Reality TV, Anxiety And Our Friendship: Vinnie Rupolo Part 3 34:00

4y ago34:00

34:00

This episode is Part 3 of my chat with my friend Vinnie Rupolo. In this final part, we relive the day we first met on a reality TV show and how being a cast member on the show changed Vinnie’s outlook on many things in his life. He also is very honest and open about how anxiety is still a big part of his daily experience. Vinnie shares ways that he…

1
Music, Metal, And World Travel: Vinnie Rupolo Part 2 27:33

4y ago27:33

27:33

This episode is Part 2 of my chat with my friend Vinnie Rupolo, a 4’7” musician who has toured the world playing guitar in a metal band. He grew up in a household filled where he was exposed to all types of music. Vinnie picked up drums and guitar at a young age, which led to him starting a band, and then he carved out a spot for himself in the tig…

1
Skull, Neck, Ears And Back: All Problems Vinnie Rupolo Part 1 32:34

4y ago32:34

32:34

In this episode, I chat with my friend Vinnie Rupolo. He’s a 4’7” musician who has toured the world as a guitar player in a rock band. Growing up, Vinnie was met with quite a few physical struggles. He needed to have his first operation when he was a baby, and over the years he received many medical treatments on his skull, neck, ears, and back. He…

1
4' Paralympic Medal Winner: Sophia Herzog Part 2 31:28

4y ago31:28

31:28

This episode continues the interview with Sophia Herzog. She is a 4’0” Paralympic swimmer and silver medalist. We hear about Sophia’s medal win at the Summer Games in Rio in 2016. She also tells us how she met her boyfriend at the Olympic Training Center and how she operates really well under a lot of pressure in the water. Feel free to drop us a l…

1
Kick-Ass Swimmer And All Around Winner: Sophia Herzog Part 1 33:02

4y ago33:02

33:02

In this episode, I chat with my friend Sophie Herzog. She is a 4’0” Paralympic swimmer and competed in the Summer Games in Rio in 2016. In her early years, Sophia had to deal with a lot of loneliness and isolation from her classmates. Sophia’s experience influenced her to get focused, making her a tenacious and driven individual. Instead of dwellin…

1
Kindness Rules: Joseph Griffo Part 2 28:04

4+ y ago28:04

28:04

This episode picks up the second half of our conversation with Joseph Griffo. Joseph is a 4’4” actor and stuntman who often doubles Peter Dinklage. Growing up, he had to endure some pretty rough times because of his physical appearance. In Part 2 of our conversation, we delve more into the struggles Joseph has encountered with people reacting to th…

1
Peter Dinklage's Stunt Double Working With Fires And Being Dropped On Wires: Joseph Griffo Part 1 38:24

4+ y ago38:24

38:24

Episodes 4 and 5 feature Joseph Griffo. Joseph is a 4’4” actor and stuntman who frequently doubles Peter Dinklage in movies. He had to endure some pretty rough times growing up in the 1950s and 1960s because of his dwarfism. Joseph talks about the path to finally accepting himself and also describes some of the dangerous ways he’s made a living in …

1
My Mom! We Interview The Person Who's Always Been There For Me - Chris Zajac 43:20

4+ y ago43:20

43:20

She gave birth to me not knowing that I had dwarfism. She and my dad had to navigate some uncharted waters with trying to figure out the best way to find the proper treatment for my skeletal deformities and had to deal with unwanted criticism from onlookers in society. Turns out my mom is incredibly strong, very compassionate, and really carried me…

1
My Dwarfism, Surgeries, Work, And Relationships 39:17

4+ y ago39:17

39:17

In this episode, we delve into what it was like for me to grow up having to regularly see doctors, undergo major surgeries, and deal with a childhood that was not regular or normal. I’m grateful for everything the doctors were able to do for me. Facing all of the medical issues I’ve had to endure head-on has made me a stronger individual. Even thou…

1
Welcome To My Life With Dwarfism 35:02

4+ y ago35:02

35:02

Welcome to the intro! The beginning. The overview. In this episode, Jenny and I have a general discussion about my life with dwarfism. We talk about my having to see doctors, getting surgeries in my youth, work I've done, relationships I've had, and how I'd rather talk on the phone with people instead of text. Thank you for listening! We're so exci…

1
Introduction To Why I’m Kind Of A Big Deal 3:14

5y ago3:14

3:14

Christophe Zajac-Denek - short-statured actor/stuntman, musician, surfer, and producer, interviews people affected by dwarfism. He discusses the successes, the struggles, the funny, and the real day-to-day experiences little people face. The goal is to create a bridge between the average height world and people with dwarfism. Tune in for eye-openin…

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