Sullivan's Unheard Voices

05/23/2026

Live from the Salem Autism Walk, hosted by the Autism Society of Oregon, this special episode of Sullivan’s Unheard Voices brings community, advocacy, and lived experience to the forefront. Recorded on-site, the episode captures the energy of the event while sharing meaningful conversations about acceptance, support, and the diverse realities of autism.

As an autistic host, Sullivan offers a deeply personal perspective that connects the mission of Unheard Voices with the work of the Autism Society of Oregon. Both are rooted in amplifying autistic voices, promoting understanding, and building spaces where individuals feel seen and valued. This episode highlights not just the walk itself, but the power of community when autistic individuals lead the conversation about their own experiences.

05/04/2026

Sullivan's Unheard Voices: Eddie Wang
Eddie Wang joined Sullivan’s Backstage Pass for a conversation about what makes a guitar amp truly special. Drawing from his background as a musician, physicist, and teacher, Eddie shared how his early experiences with piano, cello, and guitar shaped his belief that instruments should inspire creativity, not limit it. That mindset eventually led him from tinkering with amps for himself to building a business around gear that feels musical, responsive, and made for real players.
During the episode, Eddie talked about how his amps are designed for today’s musicians rather than being copies of old models from the 1950s and 60s. He explained that modern players use pedals, want more flexibility, and need amps that can work at home, in the studio, or on stage. His approach focuses on expressiveness, dynamics, and tone — with cabinets, components, and construction chosen carefully so the amp sounds bigger, feels better, and lasts longer.
Eddie also shared how craftsmanship and local service are central to his philosophy. His amps are built to be durable, repairable, and easy to maintain, with attention paid to every detail from the wood selection to the glue used in assembly. The result is a product designed to be a long-term investment for musicians who care about sound, portability, and quality.

04/13/2026

Sullivan's Unheard Voices 141: From Trauma to Acceptance — My Autism Story

In this episode of Sullivan’s Unheard Voices, host Shawn Sullivan opens up about his personal journey with autism — exploring the path from childhood trauma and confusion to self-discovery, diagnosis, and ultimately, acceptance. Through raw honesty and reflection, Shawn sheds light on the challenges and breakthroughs that shaped his sense of identity. This conversation emphasizes the vital need for understanding, empathy, and representation within the neurodiverse community, reminding listeners that every voice deserves to be heard and understood.

03/31/2026

Sullivan's Unheard Voices 140: Shawn Sullivan and a Healthcare Horror Story 🚨
Host Shawn Sullivan shares his raw battle with a lawnmower accident (TBI, hernias, more) ignored by private insurance & ERs for YEARS. One issue per visit? Months of waits? No holistic care? That's the "Cadillac" plan reality.
VA finally delivered: quick appts, full chart reviews, real tests. But why must vets suffer first? Disabled folks face denials, no ADA fixes, "free" physicals that bill you for honesty.
Profit > people = late cancers & deaths. Shawn's fighting on—stay tuned. Be kind. ❤️

03/22/2026

Our newest podcast description. Thoughts? Am I missing anything?

Sullivan’s Unheard Voices is where kindness meets unfiltered truth. Host Shawn Sullivan sits down with people who have survived trauma, those who have been marginalized, and those who are silenced or ignored in mainstream media — and gives their stories the space and respect they deserve.

Instead of dwelling on pain for shock value, each episode focuses on how guests found their strength, reclaimed their narrative, and turned hardship into purpose, offering listeners hopeful, practical insight for their own journey. The conversations are raw but never cruel, honest but never exploitative — driven by compassion, curiosity, and a deep belief that every unheard voice matters.

If you’ve ever felt othered, misunderstood, or written off, this podcast is your reminder that you are seen, valued, and not alone. Tune in, listen with an open heart, and discover how authenticity can change lives — one story at a time.

03/20/2026

My birthday is coming up on March 22! 🎂
This year, instead of gifts, I’m asking friends and supporters to help keep my local podcasts — Sullivan’s Backstage Pass and Sullivan’s Unheard Voices — going strong. These shows help amplify local musicians, disabled voices, and community stories that rarely get space in mainstream media, and your support helps keep that work independent and accessible.
If you’d like to celebrate with me, you can send a birthday donation here: https://gofund.me/af39c17f1 — every bit goes toward production costs, equipment, and platform fees. Thank you for helping keep local storytelling alive. 🎙️❤️

Sullivan’s Unheard Voices is a podcast dedicated to people who rarel… Shawn Sullivan needs your support for Support Sullivan’s Unheard Voices & Backstage Pass

03/16/2026

Sullivan's Unheard Voices 140: Cathy Zheutlin
On this episode of Sullivan’s Unheard Voices, Shawn Sullivan sits down with filmmaker Cathy Zheutlin to explore what it really means to live fully while knowing we are going to die. Drawing on her documentary “Living While Dying,” Cathy reflects on how facing mortality with honesty can actually deepen our capacity for joy, connection, and authenticity in everyday life.
Throughout the conversation, Cathy shares stories from the film—four people living with terminal illness, her own family’s experience, and the cultures she visited—that reveal death as a natural, relational part of life rather than a medical failure or a taboo subject. Together, Shawn and Cathy talk about how open conversations, clear choices about care, and simple human presence can transform the end of life from an experience of isolation into one of community, dignity, and even moments of humor and grace.
The interview also delves into Cathy’s long history in women’s and le***an rights and how that activism shapes her approach to end-of-life storytelling. She recalls her work on le***an motherhood and custody in “In the Best Interests of the Children,” as well as her involvement in peace marches and women’s media collectives, and connects those movements to today’s struggles for bodily autonomy, q***r visibility, and the right to define one’s own death with support and respect.
Shawn and Cathy weave together themes of social justice and mortality, noting that supporting people at the end of life is inseparable from supporting their identities, relationships, and hard-won rights. They highlight how kindness, caregiving, and community rituals can be acts of resistance against systems that devalue vulnerable people, especially women, LGBTQ+ folks, elders, and the seriously ill.
By the end of the episode, the conversation becomes an invitation: to speak more openly about death, to stand up for women’s and q***r lives and loves, and to practice everyday acts of care so that no one has to approach their dying alone. In centering Cathy’s voice and experience, Sullivan’s Unheard Voices continues its mission of lifting up people and stories that are too often left out of the mainstream, especially at the most tender thresholds of life.

03/09/2026

Sullivan's Unheard Voices 139: Greg Bawden

In this powerful episode, Greg opens up about his journey from hazardous material response to firefighting—and the harsh realities he faced when his government employer failed to honor workplace accommodations. Despite his disability affecting only a small portion of his duties, Greg was forced to take a 30% pay cut, highlighting the persistent discrimination that employees with disabilities can encounter. Through his story, listeners gain valuable insight into the importance of self-advocacy, inclusive workplaces, and how small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference in ensuring fairness and accessibility for all.

According to recent data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), thousands of employers nationwide are still facing active or pending lawsuits related to violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In 2025 alone, over 24% of all discrimination charges filed with the EEOC involved disability-related claims—showing that, despite decades of progress, barriers to equality and accommodation in the workplace remain a pressing issue across both public and private sectors.

03/02/2026

Sullivan's Unheard Voices Episode 138: Kerry Lengel and trust in the news

On this episode of Sullivan’s Unheard Voices, host Shawn Sullivan sits down with Kerry Lengel, creator of the KBOO radio program Neuro Emergent, for a raw, no-holding-back conversation about the state of the news and the world. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by the journalism industry, the evolving landscape of news reporting, the role of an editor, monopolistic practices, and the importance of journalistic integrity in the digital age, as well as confirmation bias and other cognitive biases, openness to change, the importance of protecting sources, the decline of emphasis on the arts in journalism, the role of NPR and public access television, the value of skepticism in journalism, and the impact of digital platforms on media and culture. Shawn and Kerry speak candidly about media fatigue, outrage, and cynicism, while also exploring how honest, unfiltered dialogue can cut through the noise and reconnect us with our own values and sense of agency.

Neuro Emergent is Kerry’s radio show explores the emerging science and culture of neurodiversity with award-winning journalist and critic Kerry Stewart Lengel, who was diagnosed with autism in 2022 at age 49. The show uses long-form, thoughtful conversations to question dominant narratives, explore complexity, and invite listeners to engage more deeply with culture, politics, and community.

Send a message to learn more

02/24/2026

What a treat to be behind the scenes with Nikki Jones and the Nikki Jones Band at PNC last night! What a show! 

02/24/2026

Sullivan's Backstage Pass: PDX Preachers

The conversation traces the story of the PDX Preachers, from their early musical influences and paths to becoming musicians to the evolution of their collaborative songwriting. It highlights how Brian Batchley (harmonica, vocals), Chuck Carey (bass), and Joey Sullivan (drums) each share personal experiences and insights that illuminate the band’s creative journey. John Wesson is on guitar and vocals joined our podcast in spirit.

The discussion explores the serious side of their writing, including the inspiration behind the song “9-11” and how they balance heavy themes with moments of levity. It then moves into how the band prepares for the stage, their experiences in the local music scene, and the changing landscape of venues. Finally, the conversation examines the art of performance, the importance of audience engagement, and the pursuit of musical perfection, capturing the emotional power of the blues, the band’s shared love of the genre, and the chemistry that fuels the PDX Preachers’ live shows.