Sit Down With Us

Welcome to week three of Spina Bifida Awareness Month!

In this episode, Faith and Zara dive deep into the unfiltered day-to-day experiences of living with a disability. From unpacking the stigma of using a wheelchair to navigating corporate office environments; Zara keeps it completely real. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and follow us on Instagram!

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#DisabilityAwareness #Alopecia #ZaraAndFaith #WheelchairLife #Inclusion #RepresentationMatters #Podcast #ZebedeeModels

Welcome back to Sit Down With Us!

In part two of our Spina Bifida Awareness Month series, Zara shares the unfiltered details of her personal medical journey. Born unexpectedly with Spina Bifida, Zara underwent 10 to 15 surgeries before she was three months old, was given an 18-year life expectancy, and proved medical predictions wrong at every turn.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and follow us on Instagram!

Resources & Charities Mentioned
Shine Charity UK

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Welcome to October and the start of Spina Bifida Awareness Month! 🎙️✨

In this kickoff episode, Zara takes center stage to explain Spina Bifida in everyday terms. From her diagnosis at birth at the L5 vertebra to living with a VP shunt and driving with hand controls, Zara breaks down what the condition actually means in day-to-day life.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and follow us on Instagram!

Resources & Charities Mentioned:
Shine Charity UK

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📸 Instagram: @sitdownwithuspod @faith_hiles @zaraborji
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It’s the final day of September, and we are wrapping up our Alopecia Awareness Month series! 🎙️✨

In this episode, Faith and Zara reflect on the journey of finding support, navigating wig options, and building community. Faith breaks down how salon experiences have evolved through organizations like Novo Cabello, why Little Lady Locks is every 10-year-old girl's dream, and the surprising sensory reality of living without hair.

Stay tuned as we transition into October for Spina Bifida Awareness Month with Zara!

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🔗 Resources & Charities Mentioned:
Alopecia UK
Little Lady Locks
Little P...

Welcome to week four of Alopecia Awareness Month! 🎙️✨

In this episode, Faith and Zara explore the reality of navigating life fully bald. Faith breaks down why she gave up wigs cold turkey, how she stopped fearing public stares, and why confidence isn't about being 100% happy every day, but about training yourself to set strong boundaries.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and follow us on Instagram!

Resources & Charities Mentioned:
Alopecia UK
Little Lady Locks
Little Princess Trust

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Welcome to week three of Alopecia Awareness Month! 

In this episode, Faith opens up about her complete shift from hiding her hair loss to shaving her head and learning to love her alopecia. 

From school uniform headband hacks to handling high school rumours and facing a dancer's worst nightmare during rehearsal, Faith shares the raw, emotional, and empowering moments that led her to take control of her identity. 

If you have questions or want to share your own story, leave a review or message us on Instagram! 

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...

Welcome to week two of Alopecia Awareness Month!

This week, Faith is sharing the full story behind her diagnosis—including the shocking way a doctor broke the news to her when she was just 10 years old. We're discussing medical trauma, unhelpful GP appointments, navigating treatments like steroid creams, and the reality of being discharged from NHS dermatology while still living with active hair loss. 

If you have questions or want to share your own experience, leave us a review or DM us on Instagram!

Resources & Charities Mentioned

Alopecia UK<...

Welcome to September, Alopecia Awareness Month! 🎙️✨

To kick off our 5-Wednesday theme, Faith is taking us back to the basics with Alopecia 101. We're opening up about what alopecia actually is, debunking big myths (like the idea that hair loss is always down to stress), and sharing the realities of navigating childhood hair loss, wigs, and autoimmune conditions.

In this episode, we discuss:
• The textbook definition and different types of hair loss (Areata, Totalis, Universalis, Androgenic)
• Faith's personal story of discovering her first patch at 10 years old
• UK & global hair loss statistics
• The impact of s...

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#DisabilityAwareness #Alopecia #ZaraAndFaith #WheelchairLife #Inclusion #RepresentationMatters #Podcast #ZebedeeModels

In this episode, we're diving deep into the fine line between genuine curiosity and outright bullying.

Is it okay for strangers to ask personal questions about a disability or visible difference?

How do we handle innocent questions from kids versus invasive or harmful behaviour from adults?

We share our personal experiences with, navigating childhood vs. adult curiosity, confronting staring, unsolicited advice, and gaslighting.

It’s a candid, honest conversation about setting boundaries, respecting individual differences, and understanding that disability and visible differences aren't open for unsolicited fixes. Next week, we'll be di...

Welcome back to the podcast!

As August rolls in, we’re talking all about high school "firsts" and no, not that kind of first.

From navigating school in a wheelchair and fighting for inclusion, to the chaotic, nerve-wracking first day wearing a wig to class, we’re sharing our unfiltered memories of trying to fit in when you naturally stand out. We break down the difference between innocent curiosity and actual bullying, navigating school rules, and why September always feels like the ultimate reset.

Grab a cup of tea (or a really strong blac...

Welcome back! 

This week, we're continuing our conversation from last episode and opening up about the things that caught us off guard as adults living with a difference and physical disability. 

We get real about public perceptions, low days, navigating relationships, and the daily frustration of an inaccessible world. 

If you haven't listened to last week's episode on childhood yet, we recommend catching up on that one first!

Follow us for more:
📸 Instagram: @sitdownwithuspod @faith_hiles @zaraborji
🎵 TikTok: @sitdownwithuspod

#DisabilityAwareness #Alopecia #ZaraAndFaith #WheelchairLife #Inclusion #RepresentationMatters #Podcast #ZebedeeModels

In this episode, we’re looking back at our childhoods and diving into everything we weren't prepared for while growing up with alopecia and spina bifida. 

From doctors giving us false hope with phrases like "just stop stressing" to hiding wheelchairs in Instagram photos just to fit in, we unpack the reality of navigating childhood with a physical difference. We chat about the lack of representation on TV, the awkwardness of being called "inspiring" when you just want a wig, and how "tough love" shaped who we are today. 

Grab a comfy drink, sit down with...

 Have you ever had an airline literally lose your legs? ✈️👩‍🦽 

This week, Zara and Faith are diving into the unglamorous, frustrating, and downright chaotic reality of traveling with a disability and hair loss. 

From British Airways leaving a full-time wheelchair at Heathrow on a 13-hour flight to Japan, to the sheer audacity of airport staff telling a passenger to "use the stairs," we’re calling out the lack of common sense, care, and basic accessibility in 2026. 

We also chat about the anxiety of traveling with hair loss, dealing with intense stares at Spanish resort buffets, th...

"If you want a healthy lifestyle, you need to learn how to live in it—not just jump on a trend drug." 

This week on Sit Down With Us, Faith and Zara take on the toxic return of the "thigh gap" era and the rise of Ozempic trends. We talk about the pressure to be skin and bones, fake fitness narratives online, and why the number on the scale doesn't define your strength or fitness. 

With the summer months here, we also reveal the raw, funny, and essential tips we use to stay confident and comf...

"We are 27, not 75—but we are so glad we aren't growing up in today's generation." 

This week on Sit Down With Us, Faith and Zara tackle the emotional weight of missing out. 

Faith opens up about the deep childhood alopecia anxiety that kept her out of a stylist's chair for 13 years; while, Zara shares the unique challenges of navigating style trends as a wheelchair user.

With prom season in full swing, the girls look back at the intense peer pressure they felt to look perfect while managing physical differences and the blunt truth of b...

"You can't judge someone’s highlight reel because you don’t know the struggle it took to make it." 

This week, Faith and Zara are giving social media culture a massive reality check. They also take aim at toxic productivity "gurus," calling out that viral Stephen Bartlett clip claiming a single glass of wine "ruined three days of his life."

Finally, the girls get completely transparent about their own private lives. Faith opens up about burnout and why she recently wore her wig to the cinema just to escape public staring and blend in, while Zara...

 "Society, more often than not, makes me feel more disabled than my actual disability does." 

In this episode, Zara and Faith are breaking down the highs and lows of navigating live music in 2026. First up, they are giving a massive, well-deserved shoutout to Manchester’s Co-op Live arena. But it’s not all standing ovations. The girls dive into the absolute chaos of buying accessible tickets, only to find a complete lack of system support for disabled fans. 

Plus, Zara shares the shocking, blunt rejection she faced where customer service told her: "It’s in the middl...

 If the entrance of a club was broken and no one could get in, you’d close the establishment. But because it’s a ramp, it’s a side issue. 

Summer is officially here, the colleges and unis are breaking up, and the bars are packed! But as the nightlife heats up, Zara and Faith are sitting down to talk about what going out on the town actually looks like when you have a physical disability or a visible difference.

In this episode, we are diving deep into the complete lack of logic behind "accessible" nightclu...

Have you ever been told to "just think positively", "stop stressing", or "have you tried yoga?"

In this episode of Sit Down With Us, Faith and Zara discuss the comments, advice, and so-called "helpful" suggestions they've received while living with alopecia and disability.

From miracle cures and herbal remedies to toxic positivity and assumptions about wanting to be "fixed", we explore why these comments can be frustrating, hurtful, and sometimes completely miss the point.

We also discuss:

Have you ever given a compliment that completely backfired? 

Or wondered what you "should" say when asking about someone's visible difference? 

In today’s episode, we sit down to unpack the everyday phrases, questions, and "well-meaning" comments that actually carry incredibly heavy emotional weight. 

From being called "brave" just for buying a latte, to the deeply frustrating "at least it's not cancer," we’re clearing the air on what it's really like navigating the world with alopecia and a physical disability. 

There's no official rulebook, but our golden rule is simple: read the...

From the highest peaks of fashion to major media slip-ups, we are looking at the state of representation right now.

In this episode, Zara and Faith break down the massive historic shift at the 2026 Met Gala. From fully accessible layouts to the incredible Sinead Burke and Aariana Rose Philip taking over the carpet. But it wasn’t all wins. 

We are diving deep into why Germany’s Next Top Model completely missed the mark with a highly controversial bald cap runway challenge, and why Faith feels it was a total cop-out.

Plus, we addre...

Is "Reality TV" ever actually real? 📺

This week, Zara and Faith are diving into the addictive, dramatic, and often scripted world of reality television.

We’re sharing the behind-the-scenes stories we’ve never told before, including why Faith turned down Britain’s Got Talent after they asked her to use her alopecia as a "sob story," and why Zara declined an offer for Married at First Sight.

We also tackle the "dating rejection" that left us with our jaws on the floor, the 3 AM thoughts about the Love Island villa’s accessibility, and why we’re s...

Happy May! We are kicking off a brand new month by diving into the complex world of body positivity, fitness, and diet culture.

Faith shares a massive personal update: she’s running a half-marathon for Little Lady Locks! We discuss why she’s doing it "bald and brave" (no wig, no lashes, no brows) to support children with hair loss. 

Meanwhile, Zara gets real about the "gym-timidation" of being a wheelchair user, from inaccessible changing rooms to the "inspiring" comments that actually aren't that inspiring.

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Foll...

 "It’s not really a job, it’s a vocation."

This week on Sit Down with Us, we’re getting up close and personal with Angela. As a nurse specializing in brains and spines, she’s seen it all and busts a few myths along the way.

Angela opens up about the "heartstrings" that get pulled when a patient’s life changes forever and how she uses her daughter’s experience to comfort women facing hair loss before/after brain surgery. 

We talk about resilience, the power of a cup of tea in the middle of...

We’re back with Part Two! If you haven't seen Part One, go back—we talk about everything from career hurdles to... well, our personal lives.

In this week’s sit-down, Zara and Faith continue their deep dive into your DMs, tackling the questions that most people are too polite (or too nosy) to ask. We’re breaking down the "Inspiration Trap," the reality of being "helpless" in public, and the specific etiquette of staring.

In this episode, we discuss:

Join us for a co...

"We’ve made it to double digits! Blood, sweat, tears, and a lot of miles driven."

To celebrate our 10th episode, Zara and Faith are diving into the DMs to answer your most requested (and occasionally unhinged) questions. 

This week, we’re getting real about the "hidden" side of living with a disability and a visible difference.

In this episode, we discuss:
• The "Quota" Trap
• Job Application Fails
• The "Can You Walk?" Question
• Alopecia Myths
• The "Cure" Conversation

Join us every Wednesday as we sit down to bri...

What happens after you achieve your lifelong dream? 

This week, we are joined by a true sporting icon: Amy Truesdale, the reigning Paralympic, World, and European Para Taekwondo Champion.

Fresh off her Gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Games, Amy gets honest about the "rollercoaster of emotions" that follows a major victory. 

We explore her 29-year journey in martial arts, the discipline required to stay at the top, and why she’s on a mission to educate the world on what "Paralympic" truly means.

Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or just l...

Join hosts Zara and Faith in this powerful episode of Sit Down With Us as they chat with the incredibly charismatic Kai D Costa. 

Kai shares his unbelievable journey from a life-altering motorbike crash at age 18 to becoming a model, public speaker, and master of health psychology. After waking up paralyzed from the neck down following a spinal surgery, Kai fought back through multiple surgeries and chronic pain. 

Realizing the standard medical approach wasn't giving him the answers he needed, he took his recovery into his own hands by changing his mindset, studying the psychology of...

We’re wrapping up March with our biggest conversation yet, diving deep into what it actually feels like to be behind the scenes of the fashion and cosmetic industry as models with disabilities and differences.

"It shouldn't be a bullet point; it should be the norm."

This week, Zara and Faith are wrapping up their deep dive into perceptions by looking at the world of fashion, beauty, and modeling. Faith shares the surreal (and nearly car-crash-inducing) moment she saw herself on a massive billboard in Manchester, while Zara talks about the "beauty-first" approach of her re...

"Why do you feel entitled to know?"

This week, Zara and Faith are moving away from the media and looking at the people we deal with every single day: the public. From the "hero" who tried to push Faith’s wheelchair without asking to the strangers who assume a bald woman always equals the "C-word," we’re discussing why public perception can be more nerve-wracking than anything else.

We also get heated as we tackle the "Low IQ" podcast and Candace Owens’ controversial take on inclusive fashion. 

Why is it so "tone-deaf" to speak f...

"I flung my bag and went marching after him!" 

In this very special episode, we are celebrating our one-month anniversary and Mother’s Day by welcoming our first-ever guest to the sofa: Faith’s mum, Angela!

We’re taking a deep dive into the family side of living with a difference. Angela shares the "poignant" and hilarious moments of being a protective mother.

We discuss the transition from "trying to fix it" to "just rolling with it," the hidden struggles of a Celiac diagnosis, and why Faith ended up apologizing to a ma...

95% of all disabled TV roles are being played by non-disabled actors.

0.3% of all actors have a visible difference.

So lets talk about it...

"I never saw a single bald person online as a positive representation growing up."

This week, Zara and Faith are knuckling down on perceptions. From the TV shows that shaped our childhoods to the movies winning awards today, how are people with disabilities and differences actually being portrayed?

We’re diving into why that one episode of Friends still "triggers" Faith, th...

"I was raised not to be a quitter, but I might complain along the way!" 

If you don't define yourself, the world will do it for you—and they usually get it wrong. This week, we’re sharing the 7 steps we use to take the pen back. 

We’re wrapping up our Month of Love with the most important relationship of all: the one you have with yourself. Today, Zara and Faith are sharing their personal "Self-Love Toolkit"—from the simple joy of a Sunday bath and cold-water face washes to the deeper work of therapy an...

"I’ll get over it, I just need time."

This week, Zara and Faith get into the gritty reality of rejection. We’ve all felt the sting of a dating knockback, but when you have a visible difference or disability, it often comes with an added layer of "audacity."

Faith shares the story of "Ross"—the guy who loved the research but couldn't handle the reality—and how she learned that a partner should add to your confidence, never take away from it. 

Meanwhile, Zara talks about the "sweet but bittersweet" moment her partner t...

Happy Valentine’s month! 

While the world is busy buying roses and chocolates, we’re pulling back the curtain on a topic that is notoriously under-discussed: dating while disabled/with a difference.

In our debut episode of Sit Down With Us, Zara and Faith get real about why dating looks a little different when you don’t fit the "social norm" of what’s traditionally considered attractive. 

We’re tired of the "picture-perfect" Instagram couple tropes and the weird looks in public, it’s time to normalize the reality.

Follow us for more:
...

Before we dive into the deep end, let’s get personal. In this intro episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on who we are beyond the labels. Faith and Zara share the story of how they met, how their friendship clicked, and why they finally decided to say out loud what everyone else is thinking.

This isn't about suffering; it's about two friends living life, sharing a laugh, and reclaiming the narrative on what it means to be "different." 

Sit down with us and get to know the voices behind the mic.

Follo...

Welcome to the seat you’ve been waiting for. 

Join Faith and Zara for a quick look at Sit Down With Us, a podcast that ditches the "inspirational" filters to talk about disability and difference as they actually are. We’re bringing together healthcare pros, fashion creators, and our own community for honest, funny, and raw conversations about navigating a world that has a lot of opinions but not many answers. 

Hit subscribe, we’re just getting started. 

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📸 Instagram: @sitdownwithuspod @faith_hiles @zaraborji
🎵 TikTok: @sitdownwithuspod

#Disab...