Ellen Keane’s new podcast “The D-Word” launches today with the first in a six-part series talking to people about disability.

The first episode features an interview with fellow Paralympian James Scully and the last one, to be released on the International Day of People with a Disability, is with her parents on what it is like to rear a child with a disability.

The aim is to change perceptions, something Ellen has been doing since she first appeared swimming for Ireland as a young teen in Beijing 14 years ago.

The podcast is supported by Allianz, our own partners in the area of Sport for Social Good and is another example of how they have used the power of their own influence and channels to tell stories that will make a real difference.

“These are conversations for the most part of me as a person with a disability, interviewing others in the same position,” said Keane speaking to us earlier in the week.

“Each episode will feature a person with a different disability.is a different disability. It’s so important for me to put it out there and normalise the conversation.”

“The reason there’s a taboo about disability, a fear of saying the wrong thing and so saying nothing is because we’re not exposed to it enough so it’s just about getting the exposure.”

“There are a lot of things that people with disabilities deal with in silence that generally able-bodied people in their everyday lives don’t know about.”

“My hope is that if more people realise what we go through it will become easier to think a bit more about the supports that are out there or just the decisions that disabled people have to make every day.”

“It might just make everyone’s lives a bit easier just by knowing these things.”

The podcast is also another way for Keane to prepare for a life after sport, which will happen after Paris 2024.

“I’m really enjoying the podcast and I’m really enjoying MCing and I really love interviewing people and getting lost in that world.”

“Even if I make a balls of this podcast and it doesn’t go to plan, I’ll have a backup plan though. I did Culinary Entrepreneurship so I have a background in food. I would probably do a Masters in Nutrition because I still love food but that is the backup. Media is number one.”

The D-World is available from today wherever you get your podcasts.