Documenting Failure - Episode 1 - Key References
Key references:
In order of hearing the reference in the podcast.
Usain Bolt- is a Jamaican retired sprinter. He is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay.
Selina Thompson Ltd- Internationally-acclaimed, Brummie, Black & disabled-led performance company.
Matilda Feyisayo Ibini- Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini is a Nigerian-British playwright and screenwriter.
Selina Thompson- Selina Thompson is a performance artist based in the United Kingdom. Her work is focused on the way that identity shapes our lives and intersects with politics.
Ableism- Ableism is a word for unfairly favouring non-disabled people. Ableism is discrimination and social prejudice against physically or mentally disabled people.
Care Package- often includes a combination of social services support, health funding, and financial assistance.
PA- Personal Assistant
Epilepsy- Epilepsy is a condition that affects your brain and causes seizures (sometimes called fits).
Alchemy- Alchemy was a form of speculative thought that, among other aims, tried to transform base metals such as lead or copper into silver or gold.
Access to Work- Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support programme that aims to help more disabled people start or stay in work.
Carer- A carer is a person of any age who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older.
Freelancer- someone who is not employed by any one organisation but does particular pieces of work for different organisations.
The Grand Canyon- Grand Canyon National Park is a national park of the United States located in northwestern Arizona. Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—a mile deep canyon unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors from both north and south rims.
The Day After Tomorrow- a 2004 American science fiction disaster film. It depicts catastrophic climatic effects following the disruption of the North Atlantic Ocean circulation, in which a series of extreme weather events usher in climate change and lead to a new ice age.
Access Rider- a document outlining their specific access needs to ensure they can do their best work.
Antidote- a chemical, especially a drug, that limits the effects of a poison
Alice Wong- Alice Wong (March 27, 1974 – November 14, 2025) was an American disability rights activist and writer based in San Francisco, California. Dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of the disabled community, her career focused on challenging systemic ableism through storytelling, advocacy, and community organizing.
Disabled Oracles- A "disabled oracle" refers primarily to a metaphorical concept used by activists, notably Alice Wong, to describe disabled people as prescient, insightful figures who foresee the future of society, particularly regarding crises, technology, and health.
Capitalism- Capitalism is an economic system where productive goods are owned by individuals or companies and used to earn a profit, while workers earn only wages.
Adult Social Care- Adult social care supports people transitioning into adulthood and those over 18's who need help because of age, disability, illness or other circumstances.
Chronic- is continuing or occurring again and again for a long time. Chronic condition, a condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects.
Twine- A new touring production from Selina Thompson Ltd, Twine is about adoption, families and the state.
A Show for Rachel- A show called Perfect Show for Rachel. Rachel is an enigmatic, learning-disabled 35 year-old who loves Kylie and seeing people fall over. So they decided to create Rachel’s perfect show: fast paced, funny, and different every night. As Rachel creates the show on her own terms every night, the cast have to be ready for anything. Perfect Show for Rachel was developed with Rachel, to create a show on her own terms. It explores who defines artistic taste, and questions who that currently excludes.
Accessible- able to be used by everyone, including people who have a disability.
Burnout- Burnout is the physical or emotional exhaustion resulting from chronic workplace stress. It can have symptoms from generalised fatigue to depression and insomnia.
Debt- something (usually money) that has to be repaid to the person/organisation that loaned it to you in the first place, normally with some additional cost for the privilege.
Connoisseur- especially : one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge.
Scooby Doo- Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is an American animated comedy television series created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. The show follows the adventures of teenagers Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and their dog Scooby-Doo. They travel in a van known as the Mystery Machine, encountering and solving mysteries. Once solved, the group typically discovers that the perpetrator of the mystery is a disguised person who seeks to exploit a local legend or myth for personal gain.
Fan Fiction- Fan fiction (commonly abbreviated to "fanfic") is fiction written by people who enjoy a film, novel, television show or other dramatic or literary work, using the characters and situations developed in it and developing new plots in which to use these characters.
Dover- Dover is a coastal town in England’s southeastern county of Kent. It’s a major port for ferries to Calais, in France.
Castle- A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders.
Primary School- A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand,Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school (in North America and the Philippines), or grade school (in North America), is a school for primary education of children who are usually 4 to 11 years of age (preschool to fifth grade).
Limb- Girdle Muscular Dystrophy- Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD) cause progressive proximal weakness, meaning weakness of the muscles on or close to the torso that worsens over time.
Nigerian- belonging to or relating to Nigeria or its people.
Psychology- Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both conscious and unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feelings, and motives.
A Level- A-levels, which stands for Advanced Levels, are subject-based qualifications usually taken by students between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, during what is commonly known as sixth form in the UK. They are typically studied over two academic years and play a central role in university admissions.
Degree- An academic degree is a qualification awarded to a student upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education.
Benjamin Zephaniah- Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (15 April 1958 – 7 December 2023) was a British writer, dub poet, actor, musician and professor of poetry and creative writing. Over his lifetime, he was awarded 20 honorary doctorates in recognition of his contributions to literature, education, and the arts. He was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008. In his work, Zephaniah drew on his lived experiences of incarceration, racism and his Jamaican heritage.
Malorie Blackman- Oneta Malorie Blackman OBE, FRSL (born 8 February 1962) is a British writer who held the position of Children's Laureate from 2013 to 2015. She primarily writes literature and television drama for children and young adults. She has used science fiction to explore social and ethical issues, for example, her Noughts and Crosses series uses the setting of a fictional alternative Britain to explore racism. Blackman has been the recipient of many honours for her work, including the 2022 PEN Pinter Prize.
Jacob Sam-La Rose- is a poet, educator and editor. His enthusiasm for using poetry as a tool for education and interaction has made him a renowned and inspirational figure in the poetry and educational communities alike.He has described himself as the product of a post-colonial Caribbean work ethic passed down from his mother, something that has morphed into his own rigorous professional drive.
Wole Soyinka- Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, GCON (born 13 July 1934) is a Nigerian writer, playwright, and poet. He has written three novels, ten collections of short stories, seven poetry collections, twenty-five plays and five memoirs. He also wrote two translated works and many articles and short stories for many newspapers and periodicals. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature for his "wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence".
Government- an organisation that officially manages and controls a country or region, creating laws, collecting taxes, providing public services, etc.
Subsidise- to pay part of the cost of something: eg Taxpayers shouldn't subsidise a golf course.
Soho- Soho is a district of Westminster, in the City of Westminster in the West End of London.
Wizard- Wizard, the wizard, or wizards may refer to a fictional practitioner of magic
T.I.E- Stands for Theatre in Education. Theatre that takes place in an educational setting such as schools, colleges, pupil referral units, and even onsite at museums and exhibitions. The performances are message-focused and educational, offering a different way for students to learn.
Philosophy- Philosophy is a way of thinking about certain subjects such as ethics, thought, existence, time, meaning and value.
Avant Garde- In the arts and literature, the term avant-garde (from French meaning 'advance guard' or 'vanguard') identifies an experimental genre or work of art, and the artist who created it, which usually is aesthetically innovative, whilst initially being ideologically unacceptable to the artistic establishment of the time.
Bryony Kimmings- Bryony Kimmings is a British live artist based in London and Cambridgeshire.
Seven Day Drunk- Bryony Kimmings‘ experiment poses the question - does the devil’s juice aid or hamper creativity? A hit show at Edinburgh Fringe. Part autobiography, part frenetic performance art; monitored by doctors, carer and psychologist, Kimmings wondered to what degree alcohol affected body and mind and so drank vodka and cranberry for one week- the results appearing on a video diary on a big screen.
Colour Blind Casting- Colour-blind casting is the practice of casting roles without regard to the actor's ethnicity or race.
Politicised- to make something or someone political, or more involved in or conscious of political matters.
Feminist- a person who believes in feminism, and tries to achieve change that helps women to get equal opportunities and treatment.
Bobby Baker- (born 1950, Kent) is a multi-disciplinary artist and activist working across performance, drawing and multi-media.
Karen Finley- (born 1956) is an American performance artist, musician, poet, and educator. Her performance art, recordings, and books are used as forms of activism.[3][4] Her work frequently uses nudity and profanity.
Marina Abramović - (born November 30, 1946) is a Serbian conceptual and performance artist. Her work explores body art, endurance art, the relationship between the performer and audience, the limits of the body, and the possibilities of the mind.
Surrealist- Surrealism is an art and cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists aimed to allow the unconscious mind to express itself, often resulting in the depiction of illogical or dreamlike scenes and ideas.
Janelle Monáe- Janelle Monáe Robinson (born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and actor. She has received ten Grammy Award nominations, and is the recipient of a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Children's and Family Emmy Award. Monáe has also been honored with the ASCAP Vanguard Award; as well as the Rising Star Award (2015) and the Trailblazer of the Year Award (2018) from Billboard Women in Music.
Missy Elliott- Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s, who were part of the larger musical collective Swing Mob, led by DeVante Swing of Jodeci.
Afrofuturism- Afrofuturism expresses notions of Black identity, agency and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life.
Disobedient- is refusing or neglecting to obey.
Ben and Jerry’s- Ben & Jerry's is known for their original flavors, many of which incorporate foods and desserts mixed with ice cream.
Seed funding- Seed funding is typically a small amount of money invested in start-ups at the early stages of their business development.
Culture Central- A collective voice for arts & culture in the West Midlands.
Radical Listening Week- Radical Listening Week brings together cultural workers, freelancers, organisations, and communities across the West Midlands to explore what equity looks like in practice.
Arts Council England- They are the national development agency for creativity and culture. We help people in every corner of the country to experience and benefit from creativity.
National Lottery- The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery established in 1994 in the United Kingdom.National Lottery players raise more than £30 million a week for good causes across the UK.
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha- (born April 21, 1975) is a Canadian-American poet, writer, educator, and social activist. Their writing and performance art focuses on documenting the stories of queer and trans people of color, abuse survivors, mixed-race people and diasporic South Asians and Sri Lankans. A central concern of their work is the interconnection of systems of colonialism, abuse and violence. They are also a writer and organizer within the disability justice movement.
Piepzna-Samarasinha is queer, non-binary, and disabled.
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice- Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha is a queer disabled femme writer, organiser, performance artist and educator of Burgher/Tamil Sri Lankan and Irish/Roma ascent. This the fifth book of six, a collection of personal and political essays that examines disability justice and interdependence from a queer POC (person of colour) perspective.
Solidarity- Solidarity or solidarism is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes.