Latest news with #MadelineStewart
SBS Australia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast about love, intimacy and disability
Disability advocates and comedians Madeline Stewart and Alistair Baldwin are here to challenge tired narratives that define love, sex and disability as mutually exclusive. They pull back the curtain on the real-life experiences of dating and intimacy for disabled people in a new hilarious and heartful SBS Audio podcast – Love Without Limits . This Disability Pride month no topic is off limits in this six-part podcast series featuring candid conversations with guests who share personal tales of love, sex, dating and relationships – from burgeoning romances and long-term partnerships to flings, friendships, self-love and everything in between. In light of this year's Disability Pride theme ' No Shame. No Apologies', discussions spare no detail as the six-episode podcast examines the barriers to intimacy that people with disability can face. The series explores questions like 'how does a person who has lost both their hands and feet adapt their sex life?' and 'why do we never see people with dwarfism having sex on our screens?'. Hosts Madeline Stewart and Alistair Baldwin said: 'We're excited to be bringing Love Without Limits to life and to hold a space for conversations about the real-life reflections and experiences of dating and intimacy as a disabled person.' 'The series tackles the stereotypes of sex and disability that exist both on screen and off. The conversations we have are cheeky and heartfelt, and while they might sometimes be seen as risky, risqué or controversial, they're necessary – because it's important to hear from those who've been unfairly boxed-in by the same tired narratives.' Creator and producer of the series Eliza Hull said: 'Disabled people are so often desexualised, infantilised, or viewed through a medical lens that ignores our identities as sexual beings. I wanted to create a space where disabled people could share their own stories, in their own words, to challenge these stereotypes.' Joining the series are: Carly Findlay OAM, renowned writer, speaker and appearance activist; Australia's first actor with a cochlear implant, Nathan Borg, who played Curtis Perkins in Neighbours ; Lisa Prowd, dancer, performance artist and life model, who has an incredible range of work exploring the normality and uniqueness of her own body; and Hannah Diviney, Australian actress, activist and author, who was part of the first Australian sex scene featuring a disabled actor (in Latecomers on SBS in 2022). Love Without Limits is an unapologetically funny, modern, and fearlesspodcast series that platforms the voices of disabled people and their experiences to challenge stereotypes and how we talk about love, sex and disability. Listen to all of SBS Audio's podcasts on the SBS Audio App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LiSTNR or wherever you stream podcasts. Episodes launching weekly. Love Without Limits is the latest offering from SBS, recently named the Australian Podcaster of the Year for the third year in a row. For a pdf copy of this media release, click here.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fire officials warn of consequences for ignoring South Carolina burn ban
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF)- A burn ban is still in effect for the entire Palmetto State as firefighters continue to battle brush fires. South Carolina issued two separate burn bans in March, something the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) said is rare. The second one went into effect March 21st until further notice, and they say it's imperative that people comply with the ban. 'Even something very small, like an ember can travel so far and spread very, very quickly in these conditions. So we're urging people to really stick with this statewide burning ban and abide by it and respect it as well,' Madeline Stewart, a Public Information Officer at the SCFC. Conditions across South Carolina are ripe for wildfires. Large brush fires popping up in Myrtle Beach and Table Rock. And several smaller fires in our local area. Seniors rise to huge challenge at one ACPSD high school 'We're looking at very low relative humidity, so dry conditions. We're also looking at high, gusty winds. But in addition, we're also looking at dry fuels. We mean vegetative material. So, that's trees, limbs, branches, leaves, pine straw, any kind of vegetative material that a fire will consume, that is fuel,' explained Stewart. The massive amount of storm debris left by hurricane Helene is not only fuel but creates a barrier making it hard to contain wildfires. 'Hurricane debris is an obstacle that we may have to overcome. But we're fortunate that our partners have helped us with our recovery and our cleanup to the extent that they have. So we do have some relief there. But certainly in the wooded areas, it could pose a problem and create a much larger brushfire,' said Sergeant Daniel Smith with North Augusta Public Safety. Smith wants you to know that there are consequences if you burn illegally. Hometown History: The Boyhood Homes of a President and Supreme Court Justice 'You can be cited and even jailed for violating a burn ban. And if the fire were to get out of control as quickly as it absolutely can right now, and you damage other people's property, harm someone else, or forbid someone else loses their life, you also have to deal with the penalties that are the result of that, including civil penalty.' The burning ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state. It does not apply to fires used to cook food or fires used in appropriate enclosures, like portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material. Go to the South Carolina Forestry Commission's website for more in depth information on the state's burn ban laws. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Extreme wildfire behavior:' Crews continue battling northern Greenville Co. fire as conditions worsen
CLEVELAND, S.C. (WSPA) – Emergency evacuation orders remained in effect Wednesday for hundreds of northern Greenville County residents as the Persimmon Ridge fire expanded. 'The wind picked up and moved the fire to areas that we didn't expect them to move,' said Madeline Stewart, a spokesperson with the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Wednesday afternoon, new infrared data obtained during a surveillance flight showed the growth of the Persimmon Ridge fire. It's estimated to have scorched more than 1,500 acres, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Crews said the fire expanded around all four sides of its perimeter, jumped over US 276 to the west, and pushed further down Persimmon Ridge Road. Additional resources from across the Carolina's were funneled toward the growing plumes of smoke blanketing the region. 'What we're seeing is extreme wildfire behavior,' said Stewart. Stewart was closely connected to fire operations and management for the state's Forestry Commission alongside Greenville County Emergency Management and other agencies. 'In this very rough terrain here in the Upstate. A lot of times heavy equipment cannot get into the remote areas that we need to get to. So, we bring in hand crews,' said Stewart. According to SCFC, an abundance of downed timber from Hurricane Helene contributed to the extreme fire behavior. 'Our crews are dealing with trying to get all of that debris out of the way to build those containment lines and also those contingency lines which is basically a backup plan if those containment lines don't work,' Stewart said. As the smoke billowed over the Upstate, dozens of crews continued battling the fires on the ground and worked on containment efforts by air. The weather conditions didn't work in crews' favor either. The Persimmon Ridge fire was fueled by ongoing dry conditions and gusty winds, which forced the SCFC to shift their plan of attack. 'For the first time, we had planes dropping fire retardant,' Stewart said. 'So what we're trying to do is put the fire in a box, which is what we mean when we say contain a fire but now we're going it with fire retardant. We're having two planes drop it around the fire to contain it within that box,' said Stewart. The days prior, several aircraft worked to drop water on the rapidly spreading fire using a SLED helicopter, two SCFC single-engine air tankers, two South Carolina National Guard Black Hawks, and two South Carolina National Guard Chinooks. Two additional aircraft, including a 'Super Scooter' and large air tanker (LAT), were requested to help fight the fire. Due to lack of visibility caused by smoke, the SCFC said the request was not fulfilled. A complex incident management team (CIMT) arrived in the Upstate Wednesday. The group is expected to help transition to a larger response to help fight the fires. Plans to combat the fire continue to develop each day, according to Greenville County Emergency Management. Crews focused their operations on protecting people and structures in the area. As of Wednesday evening, the SCFC said the Persimmon Ridge fire was 0% contained. 'We really need people to stop burning and abide by that burn ban, which we don't know at this time when that will be lifted,' said Stewart. An evacuation shelter is open at the Marietta First Baptist Church located at 2936 Geer Highway in Marietta. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
