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 if they didn’t have dwarfism.

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.

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.

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.

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 first gigs in Hollywood.

How many times have you seen a little person play just a person in a commercial on TV? 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. Alexia talks about what the commercial means to her and how she is striving to appropriately represent the dwarfism community. Thanks to John Lee Dumas for suggesting my...

Receiving terrible treatment from a certain agent for live events has worn me down. Christophe recently heard from this agent and had a bit of a contentious text conversation with them. Christophe recounts the conversation and talks about the reasons for his reaction to this agent. It’s not okay to treat people in a disrespectful manner and saying no can be one of the most important lessons to learn. Connect w/ Christophe: @bigdealpod Thanks to John Lee Dumas for suggesting my subtitle!

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 feel powerless. Kevin discusses the incident and how this treatment can have lasting effects on one’s self-confidence.

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.

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 to help people across the globe. And in our discussion, Michele shares some incredible stories of life, compassion, and unity.

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 or who we actually are. This is the story of a job that Christophe worked and his experience of a day on set.

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 about why she loves her job as a stripper and how kindness is always at the front of her mind.

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 frankly about shutting the door on his dream career, dealing with substance abuse, and how he transitioned to a new life in the world of acting.  

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 preference and having to have multiple surgeries was difficult to navigate, in the end, she found herself stronger having had those tough experiences.  Thanks, John Lee Dumas!

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 St. Patrick’s Day.  Connect with Christophe: @bigdealpod Thanks to John Lee Dumas for suggesting my subtitle!

One of the biggest struggles for little people is finding clothes that fit and look good. Dru Presta is over what the department stores have to offer. She started creating clothes that specifically little people. Her brand: Short Favor makes clothes with short-statured individuals in mind and caters to their unique body type. Alterations are often needed to shorten sleeves and pant legs. But even after paying high fees at the tailor, the clothes still don’t fit correctly or look respectable.

Limb lengthening is a relatively misunderstood medical procedure. At 12 years old Kristen went through the first lengthening operation. This operation is not only involved, it takes a lot of time and effort to come out of it with the desired result. Even though Kristen gained 10 inches in length, she still received ridicule and offensive comments about her appearance and even for her decision to lengthen her limbs. Kristen wrote a memoir to highlight her experience called Little Legs Big Heart.

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, Chucky, and others. Nic Novicki realized that the best way for little people to have the world see them in a real light was to start the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge....

Some people have likened the act of calling a person with dwarfism a midget to calling an African-American the N-word. Ali Chapman helps navigate this discussion and describes her experience as a 3’8” black woman. Ali outlines important points as to why there is a distinct difference between the two words. She talks about her first-hand encounters with both of these words. Putting yourself in people’s shoes and thinking about their experience before you say something negative is a best practice.

Ali’s life with dwarfism has its challenges. Growing up in Indiana, she often sought protection from offensive comments. Having no ambition to leave high school Ali experienced what it’s like to be the center of negative attention. Ali shares her passion for Black Lives Matter and talks about how she’s come to own her dwarfism, her blackness, and her femininity. Ali supports diversity through advocating for racial, disabled, dwarfism, LGBTQ, and anyone who is perceivably different in society.

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, clothing designers, advocates, and business people about race, disabilities, limb lengthening, sexuality and so much more.

Welcome to Episode 20! 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 and modest mindset about the challenges he faces, Jon Michael has a unique perspective when it comes to dating. I ask him if...

Welcome to Episode 19! 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, Jon Michael would refer to his condition as being God-made instead of being left to chance. Regardless, his notable...

Welcome to Episode 18! 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 adult. Jon Michael has worked hard his entire life and it shows. He’s the CFO of his company and an extremely talented...