Nomination: [: 00:00:00

Aransas: Hey, uplifters. I'm Miranda Savas, the host of the Uplifters podcast, and I spend a lot of time. Thinking about how we tell our stories and what we believe about [00:00:30] ourselves based on our stories. Today's guest is a 13 time Emmy award winner for her work as a TV producer. She spent 25 years Working in film and TV, producing and editing, and [00:00:45] telling other people's stories.

rodivergent and has anxiety. [: 00:01:00

Through her own experience of coming to understand herself, she's shifted her understanding of others. And now she's on a mission to share the stories of diverse, compassionate, compelling folks [00:01:30] with disabilities to not only honor their stories, maybe to shift the way we all think about our differences.

Imagine that you, yeah. He's [: 00:01:45

Aransas: from? I am from Mexico City. I love Mexico City.

college and didn't get back [: 00:02:15

No, we tried Bacalar every [00:02:30] year.

Gisela: We're from Michoacán too. Oh, wow. Yeah, it looks like you were maybe in the coast, right?

Aransas: Yeah, I was in Rio Ticla. My Mexico geography is even worse than my U. S. geography.

aphy after all. I am as well [: 00:02:45

Yeah. I have to be humble and be like, you teach me. Because I have no idea about many things here in the U. S. The same. It goes for [00:03:00] history. A lot of like the way we learn history is very different from how history is taught in here. You know, there are things that people take for granted and like, Oh, didn't you learn that?

around. It's just the nature [: 00:03:15

Aransas: important that we tell our stories, isn't it? [00:03:30] Absolutely.

Gisela: I am a big believer in storytelling and I deeply feel that storytelling is healing, specifically personal storytelling.

y film and I made a personal [: 00:03:45

Of course we're individuals, but we are part of a Something. How do you introduce yourself? He, [00:04:15] it's funny that you're asking me that because I am right now in a transition period. So I am asking exactly that question, who am I? And I can tell you like my, I don't know, cocktail. Intro that is, you know, that in a way you, you build [00:04:30] it over the years.

nd, you know, et cetera. And [: 00:04:45

There's the disabled community and the non disabled community. [00:05:00] And I personally feel that we all have the potential of disability and I use potential because it is a potential. I think disability is not only this dark space. Disability is a journey. It [00:05:15] has many faces. There are moments where you're actually really suffering.

forgot the word in English. [: 00:05:30

So that's the lasting truth as Octavia Butler would say, you [00:05:45] know, Like,

Aransas: ongoing change. This is a new identity for you.

y crazy, slightly forgetful, [: 00:06:00

I am always late to everything. So yeah, I was born with that. But I acquired this identity recently [00:06:15] because We are grown up in a society that tells you that being disabled is not right, or is something that you really don't wish that would happen to you. Mm hmm. And as well, that disabled people are really dependent on others, right?[00:06:30]

you know, certain diagnosis [: 00:06:45

Part of the neurodivergence is like some mental health issues. I went through periods of anxiety that was, I mean, I still [00:07:00] experience anxiety, right? And all my life I did it. I just didn't know it was anxiety. when they arrived to the hospital thinking I was having a stroke and they were like, actually no, what you're having is an anxiety attack.

I was like, Oh wow. I never [: 00:07:15

And appear like, Oh yes, I am like this relaxed person. It gave me a great deal of anxiety being late, for instance, yet, even though I was late, I was very anxious about that because my sense of time is [00:07:45] impossible. You know, like five minutes and 30 minutes, you tell me I'll see you in 30 minutes. And to me, it's like meaningless.

am anxious, I have anxiety. [: 00:08:00

Aransas: shift topic. Can I ask how old you are?

Gisela: Yeah, I'm 52. 52.

Aransas: And so where did this big shift in how you saw yourself and how you tell your story

a: begin? My story with this [: 00:08:15

I had so many doubts of like, well, yes, I mean, I, I have all this, but I am functional. I [00:08:30] can hold a job, but then there are so many, so, so, so many disabled people. that are functional and can hold the job.

Aransas: So it was like a bias to assume that. Yes,

eople look at me and they're [: 00:08:45

How can you claim, you know, an identity when you don't look disabled or your needs are like you're somewhat independent, you know what I'm saying? So I had all these questions. And so I was like, well, once you realize that disability is not a black and white, [00:09:00] you know, thing, That, as I said, there's a huge spectrum of grace.

y need help and support. And [: 00:09:15

It's like, Oh yeah, I, I don't know, I have pain or I have, you know, constant, you know, fatigue, right. And they're like, Oh, okay. Right. [00:09:45] Yeah, so then kind of like we create an image of the disabled person is that one that is on a wheelchair, right? And so then we have to really understand that accessibility, it's much more larger and vast than just ramps.

And the [: 00:10:00

Right. And yeah, kind of like bringing to the forefront, this multi sensory presentation, right.

of just coming from our own [: 00:10:30

Gisela: Oh yeah. Absolutely. Yeah.

Aransas: Yeah. It's like parenting the child you have. It's communicating with the person you're talking to in a way that they can hear it.

Gisela: Yes. Absolutely. And [: 00:10:45

Aransas: Mhm. Yeah.

nd then they ask, okay, what [: 00:11:00

Yeah. Do you need, like, for instance, in our case, a quiet room, a breakup room where you can go if you're overwhelmed, you know, that is, I mean, people, again, think of, think of [00:11:15] Rams or think of, you know, like that kind of thing, but you know, like, uh, something sensory like, um, a fidget. That's as well, maybe something that you need in your access list, right?

t's more and more, you know, [: 00:11:30

Right. And I mean, quite honestly, I feel proud to be one of them. Disability is a potential, right, for every human. And if all of us live long enough, you're going to have [00:12:00] needs, you're going to have needs and you're going to depend on others and you're going to lose the skills, right, that you had before.

know what I'm saying? Yeah, [: 00:12:15

Aransas: And so it seems like baked into this is the notion [00:12:30] that naming our needs allows us to advocate for them.

things are deeply confusing. [: 00:12:45

Gisela: Yeah. And you know, I'm so happy that you bring that up because I guess as well, the suffering in my case, for instance, I think, um, I get triggered when people say like, Oh yeah, such and such, like the suffering from [00:13:15] autism and I get triggered. My son is not suffering from autism. How do you know they're suffering?

ret, you know, because I was [: 00:13:30

The pressure that we feel about showing up [00:13:45] as this quote unquote normal individual, right? That doesn't have needs, right? Right. That can be superhuman, superhuman, right? Yeah. So then other people have needs and I serve them. I don't get to [00:14:00] have needs. That's right. And then that's the suffering. And I think that's why, I mean, I am convinced that our, society, our culture, it's in this breaking point where there's so much incidence of [00:14:15] mental health because of the pressure of showing up to what society is expecting from you.

ht? You have, All the mental [: 00:14:30

Aransas: I don't think I'd ever thought of it this way before he said that, that this is very, this type of self advocacy for our special [00:14:45] needs is a matter of self expression.

being symptomatic of a named [: 00:15:00

It [00:15:15] gave me the freedom to say, Hey, this is what's going on with me. And it, I hadn't like paralleled it back to my own paramenopausal state right now, where I can definitely feel once a month for about two days, feel this [00:15:30] like really intense anxiety. And day one, it's like, I just have to like, I have to get away for five minutes and then I'm okay again.

s, breathe and I can kind of [: 00:15:45

Gisela: That's right. Very much so. Yeah. You know, I am practicing more and more being honest. Yeah. First with myself about how I feel and then being honest with people around me. Because yes, I [00:16:15] mean like, I don't know, I have the visit of such and such. I want the house to be perfect, but my house is a mess. And so then they arrive and, and I'm like.

This is who I am. You know what I'm saying? Well, and that's such a

they arrive and you're like [: 00:16:30

So I'm going to point that shame and that resentment at them rather than simply acknowledge that I wished my house were clean and I wanted to get it clean and it just didn't happen. So I'm going to be honest [00:17:00] with you and honest with me and let's have tea.

Gisela: Yes, exactly. In the mess. Right? In the mess. I hope you love each other all the more.

right? Because we're humans

Aransas: together.

. And I think the disability [: 00:17:15

There is this amazing author that I love. Her name is Leah Lakshmi Piepzna [00:17:45] Samarasinha and she says the future is disabled and how much we can really learn from our disabled peers, especially during COVID. She spoke about how much we could learn from people that had been, you know, going through respiratory issues [00:18:00] or, you know, issues that are like COVID.

kind of like, listen, okay, [: 00:18:15

Aransas: And I love, it is not a negative or a limitation. but it is a way forward.

h, I truly believe so. There [: 00:18:30

You tell people, Oh, I, I am anxious or I have ADHD and people. Yeah. But the truth, ultimately, you know, I mean, the [00:19:00] disorder is something that comes from science that they're really saying like, okay, this is the normal and you are out of the normal, you know, you are, you need to be fixed because what you have is a disorder, right?

Aransas: Right.

Gisela: But need to be

Aransas: fixed, I [: 00:19:15

Gisela: Yeah, absolutely. Because anxiety could be very, very helpful if you know how to right it. Mm hmm. I think before you get to that. Uncontrollable, uh, loop that is out of [00:19:30] control, right? My English sometimes, you know, It's amazing.

can you do and how to solve [: 00:19:45

I was with my daughter, which as well, she has, I mean, it [00:20:00] runs in the family, it's genetic. And besides being genetic, it's as well the spiritual, because, you know, you're getting like so much from your parents, from your, you know, ancestors, you know, like from traumas to as well, very amazing gifts. And I truly believe that.

[: 00:20:15

It just feels so good to chant and to just feel the vibration in the body. And then, I mean, [00:20:45] That's number one, the body, sort of like in this terrain, in this physical body. But then like the chanting feels very spiritual to me. Tell us about the chanting meditation. That is a whole thing. It's beautiful.

It's [: 00:21:00

Aransas: Sort

Gisela: of like, it's something very subtle, but it's kind of like when you're chanting, it's like you can really connect with people.

language for that, but it's [: 00:21:30

There's so much violence and everybody needs to heal. And a lot of those emotions that are bubbling up, they need to be dealt with [00:22:00] rather than avoided because it's a difficult subject. So chanting really allows us to express, not bottle up, but rather the opposite, like really kind of like. Well, first, you know, there's actually science talking about how good it is [00:22:15] to sing and how good it is to listen to music.

aught me ancient techniques, [: 00:22:30

And it's really getting in touch with like, what feels right for me. You can have the technique, but [00:22:45] maybe the technique is not for you. So then you just kind of like adjust it to whatever feels right for you. So that's the chanting that I do. I really want to emphasize that We all as individuals find healing in many ways.

ld be breathing, it could be [: 00:23:00

To tell your truth. you know, whatever that is in the moment. And of course, it's going to change right later on. It's so beautiful when you accept the mystery of life. It's so magical.

as: I'm reading a book right [: 00:23:30

and is alive today because he had a tracheotomy which [00:23:45] has kept him alive. But over the last four years he's written two full books with his eyes mostly about his spiritual journey with ALS.

Gisela: Yeah.

messages. Acceptance of what [: 00:24:00

Gisela: Yes.

Aransas: And then [: 00:24:15

Yeah.

to let go of my expectations [: 00:24:30

And the more we practice it, it [00:24:45] comes to us faster and easier. It's so funny. My son, he's autistic and we were having dinner with friends and it was kind of like different, my son's friend and his family's religious. And then the mother's like, okay, let's do [00:25:00] grace. And I, I was raised Catholic. I immediately, okay, yes, let's do grace, but I didn't raise my kids Catholic.

raight. And I was so nervous [: 00:25:15

I wish like. Actually, he's saying [00:25:30] no. And we need to be respectful.

Aransas: Yeah.

Gisela: And because it's always like the adult as well.

Aransas: This is just his perspective and his Oh, that's so good. That's right. And he's not being

Gisela: disrespectful.

h of my parenting has really [: 00:25:45

Gisela: Yeah, all the time. And then when you're thinking about, okay, what's more important, the institution or your kid? It's like, no, no, my kid. And so then why are you [00:26:00] neglecting your kid because of the institution is asking something. It was so surprising to me that he said like subliminally no. And then eventually the other kid that as well was very much feeling on the spot.

like, Mom, let's just not do [: 00:26:15

Aransas: Right. Cause then we can talk about like, yeah, this is great for this person and it's okay if it's not great for you. That's [00:26:30] right. Yeah. So many of our messages to ourselves and our kids are out of alignment.

Gisela: Yeah. Absolutely.

Aransas: They're not matched up well with our values.

Gisela: Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.

Aransas: Because we feel like we're trying to do the good thing.

that what is the good thing? [: 00:26:45

Aransas: making thing.

the word normal is, is very [: 00:27:00

And of course, who is the normal? The European white that went [00:27:30] around the world conquering places. Telling people they were abnormal. That's right. Exactly. That they were other, that they were off the range of what they were. Normal should be. Yes, exactly.

the power of owning stories. [: 00:27:45

Gisela: I discovered that in my disability studies class.

Normal. I was completely shocked. I was like, yeah.

Aransas: Incredible.

y normal. And I realized how [: 00:28:00

On the, kind of like pulling the humanity to experience a wider range of emotions, [00:28:15] of, of lives, of, of situations that are going, that really are really propelling us forward, you know? Or not forward, to different places, you know, around. Right.

row line and feeling all the [: 00:28:30

That's right. Every time we veer slightly off course or into another lane.

Exactly. Yeah. But it's, it [: 00:28:45

Aransas: And when you're open enough that, I think it's so beautiful when we are open enough about what we want and need and experience that we invite others in.

es for, we create space then [: 00:29:00

Gisela: And the good thing is that we have kids.

ecause I feel that our kids. [: 00:29:30

You know, earth is changing. And I, quite honestly, I feel that the intelligence of earth is asking us to change. As humanity, you know, I mean, I deeply believe that earth is alive and we belong to the [00:30:00] earth. It's not like the earth has resources for us humans so we can exploit them. So we can continue with our capitalist, you know, mind.

Like the giving

Aransas: tree, right? That's totally the giving tree mentality.

Gisela: [: 00:30:15

Aransas: Yeah. I think many of us in midlife, wherever we are in that really wide band, work to understand ourselves better and to know ourselves better so that we can embrace more of [00:30:30] ourselves. We can live with less fear and shame, more acceptance and peace.

of us, as we embark on that [: 00:30:45

Gisela: I would say to not be afraid of the truth, as ugly as it might seem. Important to just not be afraid of the truth and just, you know, stay with it, as maybe [00:31:00] it feels uncomfortable, but just stay with it. And trust that whatever happens is the process that must happen.

Aransas: It was such a joy to meet you.

Gisela: Yeah, thank you very much.

chain because each woman is [: 00:31:15

That every single one of them heal through community.

Gisela: Yes, so important.

common. We find other women [: 00:31:45

Gisela: Yeah.

It's so pure and so ancient [: 00:32:00

Gisela: Yeah, there is actually evidence, archaeological evidence of mutual care that contradicts the narrative that the mosfet survives. And we've been telling us that narrative, [00:32:15] that the strong one is the one that survives. The strong one is the one that is leading forward. It's probably

Aransas: the

Gisela: most

Aransas: connected, the most

Gisela: supported.

Yeah, the most connected, the most supported, the one that is in community.

Aransas: [: 00:32:30

Gisela: two. Oh, wow. Congratulations. That's awesome.

You're a March [: 00:32:45

Aransas: I am. I'm a total Pisces. Can we do a chanting meditation there? That would be awesome. Yes. That would be absolutely

Gisela: awesome. Yes. Yes.

Aransas: Okay. Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's plan on it.

Gisela: Is it in [: 00:33:00

Aransas: Oh, I'm so excited.

That'll be amazing. Okay.

r listening to the Uplifters [: 00:33:15

It'll really help us connect with more uplifters and it'll ensure you never miss one of these beautiful stories. Mm, [00:33:45]

. Toss a star in half for be [: 00:34:00

With that all hindsight, bring the sun to twilight. Lift you up, oh, [00:34:15] lift you up, oh, lift you up, oh,

lift you up.[: 00:34:30

Lift you up.

Lift you[: 00:34:45

lift.

t, in the pre chorus, right? [: 00:35:00