It Wasn't My Condition, It Was the Conditioning | Lachi's Raw Road to Grammy Fame

Summary

BILFPOD EPISODE SUMMARY
"It Wasn't My Condition, It Was the Conditioning: Lachi's Raw Road to Grammy Fame"
Host: Mara Dorne | Guest: Lachi
Date: March 26, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of BILFPOD features Grammy-nominated artist, CEO, and advocate Lachi, in a raw and exuberant conversation with host Mara Dorne. Together, they unpack Lachi's journey as a blind, neurodivergent, Nigerian-American woman at the forefront of the music industry. The discussion centers on not letting conditions define you, embracing authenticity, and the importance of "unmasking" both as individuals and within the broader culture of business and entertainment. Highlights include Lachi's unique approach to fashion and advocacy, her work with RAMPD, her creative process, and the vital power of community.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Breaking Free: Condition vs. Conditioning

• Embracing Difference Early:
  Lachi recalls her childhood as the sixth of seven children in a bustling Nigerian-American family where there was no room for coddling.

  "Because I was different. I didn't really have that many friends growing up, so I turned to music. I turned to the piano...It really was like a cultivator for my love for music." – Lachi [01:39]

• Internalized Shame and Unmasking:
  She details the difference between her actual blindness and the shame instilled by societal attitudes—her "conditioning."

  "I kind of rejected...the blindness of it all. I felt a lot of shame and I was super shy...So the blindness and neurodivergence obviously wasn't the issue. So I say it wasn't the condition, but the conditioning." – Lachi [02:47]

• Acceptance, Embrace, Celebration:
  Lachi’s message is that acceptance evolves into embrace, which can become celebration—and, through that, serve as a beacon to others.

  "Once you accept it, then you can eventually begin to embrace it. Once you embrace it, then you can eventually begin to celebrate it. And once you start celebrating it...that is when you are now a beacon for someone else." – Lachi [00:12]

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Navigating Fashion & the Visual World

• Authenticity and Image in Music:
  Fashion is a key part of Lachi’s advocacy—challenging perceptions of blindness with bold, stylish self-presentation.

  "Part of my advocacy is the fashion, is the look...even if I don't say a word, they can look at me and go, like, oh, wow. The idea of blindness is already being destigmatized for me." – Lachi [05:03]

• The Story Behind Glam Canes:
  Lachi customizes her white cane to match her outfits, turning it into an accessory that sparks visibility and pride.

  "If this is going to be an extension of me, then I am going to have to have it literally...be me. Now we sell them. GlamCanes.com." – Lachi [10:00]

• Collaborations in Beauty:
  Fun moments when Lachi explains her makeup is done by her partner Arthur, leading to viral posts online.

  "We go viral for the makeup on Reddit...and when people see us walking down the street, they’ll chase us and be like, Lachi...I just know you from the makeup." – Lachi [06:42]

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Career Milestones: From Music to Advocacy

• Grammy-Nominated Work:
  Lachi explains how her advocacy led to real industry change, forging collaborations that resulted in a Grammy-nominated album featuring neurodivergent artists.

  "Never had anybody on the top of my vision board that matched my trifecta...My goal in life [became] to really get folks that look like me or have my story into those rooms and onto those stages." – Lachi [12:12]

• Ensuring Talent is Center Stage:
  Her projects center artistry and skill, not pity or charity.

  "I can't do the Pity stuff, the charity stuff. No, keep your money to yourself unless you're buying a ticket, baby." – Lachi [13:05]

• Accessible Creativity:
  Lachi describes using technology like screen readers, keyboard shortcuts, and magnifiers to produce and execute music at a professional level.

  "When there is a will, there is a way. There's a really robust blind production...community giving each other tips and shortcuts." – Lachi [14:23]

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Industry Real Talk: Representation, Masking, and Inclusion

• Challenging "Inspiration Porn":
  Lachi dislikes being seen as "inspiring" for succeeding with a disability—she wants respect for her talent, not her story.

  "I very, truly, deeply dislike what I call inspiration porn. Because at the end of the day, everybody has something...Who wants to be, like, pitted as an object of pity?" – Lachi [15:31]

• The Work of RAMPD:
  Lachi describes RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) as both a consultancy for inclusive industry practices and a global creative network.

  "We want to create a music industry where no one has to mask...Disability is a super large umbrella..." – Lachi [16:09]

• Masking Defined:
  Masking is the pressure to hide a disability or difference in order to fit in, which ultimately hinders authenticity and growth—especially in leadership.

  "Masking is when you hide, camouflage, or downplay...in order to either fit in or for the comfort of others...I called myself sighted passing." – Lachi [24:13]

• Leadership & Vulnerability:
  Both Mara and Lachi reflect on the importance of executive vulnerability in creating better teams.

  "I always encourage folks at the top to take the mask off for their team so that team feels comfortable taking their mask off as well." – Lachi [26:01]

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The Power of Community and Authenticity

• The Path to Unmasking:
  Lachi underscores the necessity of community as the first step to self-acceptance, especially for those still masking.

  "My answer is always going to be community...Get yourself comfortable with watching other people, seeing the lingo, seeing the culture, so that you can start to feel an empowerment, so you can start to feel an acceptance for you...Once you accept it, then you can eventually begin to embrace it...celebrate it...now you are a beacon for someone else." – Lachi [33:18–34:06]

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Memorable Quotes

• "It wasn't the condition, but the conditioning." – Lachi [00:09/02:47]
• "Once you accept it, then you can begin to embrace it...celebrate it...now you are a beacon for someone else." – Lachi [00:12/34:06]
• "I'm a social butterfly, super successful—but I'm still blind and neurodivergent, right? ...So the blindness and neurodivergence obviously wasn't the issue." – Lachi [01:39/02:47]
• "Who wants to be pitted as an object of pity?" – Lachi [15:55]
• "We want to create a music industry where no one has to mask." – Lachi [16:09]
• "If you got a problem with it, bring your bling your thing out." – Lachi [10:57]
• "In fact, the disability community prefers [disability] over like 'differently abled' or 'handicapable' or 'special needs.' I like to say I have special needs, but they're in the bedroom." – Lachi [28:57]

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Notable Segments & Timestamps

• The Root of Shame and Turning to Music [01:39–02:47]
• Fashion, Glam Canes & Visibility [05:03–10:11]
• Grammy-Nominated Project & Music Production with Blindness [12:12–14:50]
• Industry True/False Lightning Round [17:17–18:53]
• RAMPD: Advocating for Industry Inclusion [19:39–21:35]
• Masking & Leadership Vulnerability [24:13–26:59]
• Empowering Through Community [33:17–34:06]
• Final Advice: Acceptance, Community & Becoming a Beacon [33:17–34:06]

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Episode Takeaways

• Authentic success comes from embracing—not masking—your difference.
• True inclusion means celebrating talent first, not difference as spectacle.
• Community is the foundation for self-discovery and empowerment.
• Advocacy can be glamorous, fun, and disruptive.
• Vulnerability in leadership fosters stronger, more authentic teams.

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For more on Lachi’s work, music, and advocacy:

• Website: lachimusic.com
• RAMPD: rampd.org
• Glam Canes: glamcanes.com
• Social: @lachimusic

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To those still hiding parts of themselves, Lachi’s message is clear:
"Once you accept it...embrace it...and celebrate it, you become the beacon for someone else." [34:06]

Transcript

[A]

Like, I feel like nothing's off limits.

[B]

I say whatever.

[A]

So let's go back to the beginning.

[B]

Kind of rejected the blindness of it all. I felt a lot of shame.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I say it wasn't the condition, but the conditioning because I was different. I didn't really have that many friends growing up, so I turned to music. Once you accept it, then you can eventually begin to embrace it. Once you embrace it, then you can eventually begin to celebrate it. And once you start celebrating celebrating it, that is when you are now a beacon for someone else.

[A]

Welcome back to the Bill fodd where authenticity trumps authority. I am here with a Grammy nominated best selling blind Nigerian American, a CEO twice. Like, what is going on in my life right now? Who is this lady? I am so excited to welcome Lachi to the Bilfpod. Come on, girl. Give it up for her. I'm so excited. Well, welcome.

[B]

Hey. I'm so excited to be here. This is gonna be a blast. Let's go.

[A]

I love. I already love you already. Your energy is infectious. I love it. I'm so. I'm just gonna do. I'm just gonna. Let's go.

[B]

Let's do it.

[A]

I feel like nothing's off limits.

[B]

I could say whatever. We can throw it on the table.

[A]

Just be like Ryan answering.

[B]

Look, this New York.

[A]

I got you. I got you. I got you. I know my mom's from New York, My whole family. I got you. All right, so let's go back to the beginning. Now. You were born in Nigeria.

[B]

My parents were born in Nigeria. I was Bo.

[A]

So what was that like growing up as a. A blind woman? Like, what is that like?

[B]

So first of all, I was the sixth of seven kids, so my parents were Catholic. You know how it is. And so we had a big household and my parents just didn't have time for all that. So I definitely was not coddled. And I think that that was a really good thing. Yeah, I was just out there messing around with other kids and stuff like that now, because I was different. I didn't really have that many friends growing up. So I turned to music. I turned to the piano. I'd play songs, I'd write poems and stuff like that. And it would help me understand the world around me and really the world understand me. And so it really was like a cultivator for my love for music. But yeah, I mean, I kind of rejected sort of the blindness of it all. I mean, I felt a lot of shame and I was super shy because I was blind. And I also had neurodivergences. But then today, I'm not shy at all, right? I'm super butterfly, social butterfly, super successful, but I'm still blind and neurodivergent, right? So the blindness and neurodivergence obviously wasn't the issue. So I say it wasn't the condition, but the conditioning.

[A]

I love that. You know, the way that you put it just. It's so eloquent because, you know, recently I. I started talking about my father dying when I was really little. I was six years old, my father died. Okay, so immediately that makes you different. Immediately. And I don't think that I really ever realized how different I was because my mom was the same as your family. We ain't got time for this. Like, it happened. Like, I'm sorry that your dad died. I'm really sorry, Mara, but, like, we need to move forward, and this could never be a crutch in your life. You can never use it as, you know, a reason why you can't do something, but in fact, you use it as your superpower to become who you want to be.

[B]

Right. I feel like we all have to navigate the world differently, right? And we all have things that we're born with or that come into our lives that make us unique, but also that make us, you know, have to build our own problem solving skills, our own shortcuts, our own ways that we have to do things. Sometimes we have to overcompensate for things and we don't realize it, and then once we accommodate for those things, then we're just on top. And so I think a lot of these differences that we have, these uniquenesses that make, you know, life more difficult, that make barriers more prominent, are actually what help us be the best thing we are.

[A]

I love that I always say it's my imperfections that make me perfect. That my, you know, imperfections are perfect. Perfect. Literally, though, imperfect.

[B]

But. But that's so literal because, like, if you were, quote, unquote, perfect, then you would have nothing to improve. Absolutely. You'd have no drive, you'd have no determination. And so it is those things that make us. Oops.

[A]

I love that word.

[B]

What do you mean?

[A]

That's my favorite. I already. I love you. Done. I already love you. I'm so glad that you.

[B]

But your kid is in the audience here.

[A]

He has. He has an airpod, and he hears it all the time.

[B]

Okay, got.

[A]

You're good. You're good, you're good. He's used to it, but, you know, it's funny because with all of that being said, you're in a visual industry.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

So how does that, like, circumvent? You're in a music industry. You know, and I know you're. You do stuff with Afrobeats as well. Right. And you're doing like, how does that even, like, go together?

[B]

Yeah. So the entertainment industry and I, I focus primarily on entertainment, whether it's music, fashion, storytelling, et cetera, et cetera. Because I feel like that is the quickest way to people's hearts.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If you want to showcase to them, hey, let's break down the stigmas of blindness. Let's break down the stigmas of disability. Well, if you sit there and teach someone, they get bored. If you slap someone's hand, they get like, who are you? Right. And so why don't we have some jokes, why don't we do some dances, why don't we sing some songs and get people feeling good after they leave? And that's going to be entertainment. And so in entertainment, you want to be the most entertained. Like, I just love commanding a room. I love walking into a room and just being the it. Right. And so, yeah, I do that. Part of my advocacy is the fashion is the look is like the whole kind of get up so that people can just. Even if I don't say a word, they can look at me and go like, oh, wow. The. The idea of blindness is already being destigmatized for me.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. Because, I mean, I'm looking at you and I'm thinking, well, if she's blind, how does she know that her gold sho shoes go with her gold? You have gold jewelry on. I'm thinking the same thing.

[B]

And the belt girl, we got the whole thing.

[A]

I mean, no, you're a force as soon as you walk in. Not to mention your braids have, like, spots of, like, golden. You know, it's golden. Which goes with your gold. This is insane to me. But how do you, like, as far as being blind, navigate fashion? Because you look amazing.

[B]

Thank you. Well, I can't take the fullest of credit. So first of all, the beat face is actually my partner who's back there somewhere. Shout out to Arthur. So Arthur beats my face to all hell. And actually we go viral for the makeup on Reddit. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

I mean, you're beautiful. I don't think you really need makeup, honestly. You're beautiful. You are beautiful.

[B]

I wouldn't say that. It's actually not a lot. It's not a lot of makeup. So we kind of just do a very light face. This is the day face. But we go. And Arthur learned how to do my makeup off of Reddit, and so now we kind of blow up on Reddit, and when people see us walking down the street, they'll chase us and be like, lachi. And I'm like, do you know me from my music? And they're like, you do music? I just know you from the makeup. Oh, that's like, here's my card.

[A]

That's so funny.

[B]

But, yeah, no, we. So that. And then, of course, you know, I always want to look good. I work with different stylists and different designers and this and that. Shout out to Afua, who's one of my main designers, and we just make sure that I stay top to bottom. And then if I have something that I like. So, like these shoes, or I have my seven inches, if I like a heel, I'll buy, like, 10 of them.

[A]

Yeah. Because it's so important. I like a platform.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

A big. Yeah. I can't do, like, the, you know, flat. It has to be a platform. Otherwise, I'm uncomfortable. Especially in New York. Forget it.

[B]

Yes. I can't do. First of all, I can't do, like a. Well, I like a stiletto.

[A]

I do like a stiletto. As long as there's a platform.

[B]

As long as there's a little right at the bottom. Right.

[A]

And I'm short, so I need the lift, but it's uncomfortable for me if not. So, yeah, I have platform everything. Every shoe I own as far as, like, nice ones or platforms. Yes.

[B]

Period, though. Because. Hello.

[A]

I. I already love you already. I can't.

[B]

Oh, well, while we're still talking about fashion, let me grab this little guy right here.

[A]

Oh, yes, let's add. Oh, yes, let's. Okay, you already. I think you should just take over the show. You could be the host. Today I'm just. Sit back and you listen.

[B]

You want a boss you'd like to follow?

[A]

Yeah. I was like this all the time. You are hilarious.

[B]

Because I'm like, okay, Bill. Okay. Somebody had to come at y' all and f. To follow.

[A]

That is exactly what happened. It came from my girlfriends, actually.

[B]

They were like, really?

[A]

They call me Mara because, you know, from New York. They're like, mara, you're like a milf. And my other girlfriend's like, no, she's like a Bill boss. I'd like to, you know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then my other girlfriend was like, come on, she has to be a little bit more professional. Boss, I'd like to follow.

[B]

Okay, sure, sure. But we know what it really is. Anyway.

[A]

This is fierce.

[B]

I mean, yes.

[A]

So fierce thing you got.

[B]

These are the glam canes. And I have, like, a million of these. I have one for, like, every color in the Alphabet. I have a red in blue one. I have, like, a pride. One that has all sorts of colors. And I mean, come on, look. So when I was really young, my mom got me a cane at, like, I was like, eight or nine or whatever. And she was like, you know, it was the plain Jane white cane, right? And I did not want to use it. I had much better vision then. And so I was like, no, I'm not using a cane. I already have to wear these, like, goggle glasses. I already have to sit in the front. Like, I don't want all this other stuff. So I threw my cane away and my mom. But then I needed a cane, though. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm just like, let me just accessorize. Yeah, exactly. Because, like, I'm not trying to walk into lockers and think they're a classroom. So I need to get this figured out. So later in life, as I really started to find success in the music industry and get confident, I started using my cane just so I could do my job better, just so I could navigate better. Right? And then my personality built up. I'm wearing these gala gowns, and I was like, well, if this is going to be an extension of me, then I am going to have to have it literally be like, you know what I mean? Like, be me.

[A]

This is, like, my style. I love bling. The blingy or the bling.

[B]

Right? Like, hello.

[A]

Absolutely stunning.

[B]

Isn't it cute? And then. What was the last thing I was going to say? Now we sell them.

[A]

Oh, you do?

[B]

Yeah. Glam canes dot com. And listen, we have young girls, young guy swifties out here with these canes. We have bay hivers out here with these canes. People going on first dates, going to graduations. We've even expanded from blind canes to, like, walkers and quad canes. So we have, like, old ladies that are older, late, older season debutante. Yes, exactly. Out here looking gorgeous and feeling really good and really combating their own erasure. Like, standing in front of and celebrating all parts of themselves and not wanting to not be seen, but actually wanting to be seen.

[A]

I love that. So they don't have. No one has to feel the need to shrink themselves if they have a disability. But now you. I love that. I love the whole concept. You embrace it, you bling it out and you call it a day. And if anyone has something to say, whatever.

[B]

And then whatever. It's like, if you got a problem with it, bring your bling your thing out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Whatever it is.

[A]

But let's talk about this Grammy. I mean, that's not a little thing. Like, I kind of just perused over it. Grammy nominated. That's a big, big, big deal. Talk about it. Tell me a little bit about it.

[B]

So. So as CEO of Ramped, which I know we're going to touch on, we do a lot of work with the Recording Academy, who runs the Grammys. And so one of the big things that I. Because, you know, as a young musician, I had always looked at the TV and said, I want to be up there. I want to do that. That. That should be us on that. Never had anybody on the top of my vision board that matched my trifecta, Right? Like, woman of color with a disability. And so it was like, my goal in life to really get folks that look like me or have my story into those rooms and onto those stages. So through Ramped, we really partnered with the Grammys and started doing things. And through that partnership, I started meeting some really amazing people with and without neurodivergences and disabilities and stuff. And so I was like, I want to get on all of your projects. I want to produce them, I want to write with you folks all these new friends I was making. So I came together with this artist named Chris Redding, who is neurodivergent and celebrates his son's autism and things like that. And so we came together and we created this very beautiful new age, sort of new wave beautiful music that celebrated just the journey through neurodivergence and the different ways we think, love and heal. And, you know, he's a black dude, right? So he's bringing some soul to it. And you don't really see some soul in New Age, right? And so people really resonated with it. I got a bunch of different artists and musicians with autism onto the album. And so it was this really big, beautiful project of a bunch of different artists with different neurodivergences celebrating ourselves.

[A]

I love that.

[B]

And. But the music was also very good. Like, it wasn't like, oh, come check us out. I got it. You know what I mean?

[A]

Oh, yeah. Like, I get it. It's not.

[B]

It was.

[A]

It was skill first. This is really people with talent. This is like talent first.

[B]

Everything else, like, I can't do the Pity stuff, the charity stuff. No, keep your money to yourself unless you buying a ticket, baby. So we put it out there, I produced it. So I was kind of the producer on it and sort of the executive producers.

[A]

Like how, how is that something that you can do? Honest question.

[B]

Oh, oh, you mean like as a person who's blind?

[A]

Yeah. How are you like the different. Because. Right. And I don't know because I'm not a recording artist, but I see them and I see people in there and they're moving like, like the, the equalizer, they're moving this button, they're moving that. Like how, how is that a challenge? Or you just kind of know your way or you probably just know.

[B]

I just know how to navigate around. I have like a very teeny minuscule bit of vision if needed, but I don't really. It's not enough to really be competitive so we can use everything from magnifiers to screen readers to keyboard shortcuts, everything to be able to navigate the screen without having to use your eyeballs to navigate the screen. It does take a little longer for, to get some things done, which is something that we're working on with different audio technology designers. But like let's say for instance, if you have something that is at 2db and you want it to be at 4db, if you have vision, sure, you can take the slider.

[A]

Right, Right.

[B]

But if, but if for whatever reason you don't have vision, you can navigate using your screen reader to that area and, and it'll tell you it's two and then you just hit the up arrow key two times or whatever and now you're at four. So there's always. When there is a will, there is a way. And so there's a really robust like blind production DJs etc, community that give each other tips and shortcuts how to make some of these things.

[A]

And I'm sure with like technology everything is kind of, you know, everything is always changing. Technology AI. I'm sure everything will start to evolve to where it is a lot more user friendly too.

[B]

Yes. And, and we're partnering with some of these folks on, you know, doing a lot of user testing and doing some of the co design that.

[A]

No, that's amazing. So here's what I really want to push you on. When a blind artist succeeds, the industry tends to fame it as inspiring rather than talented. And you kind of touched on it. I mean not kind of, you have touched on it. I mean do you think that the industry is more accepting and Becoming more diverse as far as, like, people with disabilities, or do you think they're showcasing disability first and then now?

[B]

So I hate or hate's a strong word. We don't hate in here. But I very, truly, deeply dislike what I call inspiration porn. Right? Inspiration porn, trauma porn, all of that kind of stuff. Because at the end of the day, everybody has something I love.

[A]

I already. I just love you. Everything you're saying resonates. No, I'm not even getting, like. I'm just putting my cards down. I'm. Because it, like, what you're saying is so true. I resonate with everything you're saying.

[B]

Well, who wants to be, like, pitted as an object of pity?

[A]

Nobody.

[B]

Right? So I know that through our work with Ramped, we're doing a lot of. One of our big slogans is we want to create a music industry where no one has to mask.

[A]

Right?

[B]

And we want to let folks know that, like, disability is not just wheelchairs and walkers and canes. Right? Disability is super large umbrella. It can be everything from tinnitus to anxiety to ADHD to, you know, having a temporary situation. So everybody has some form of disability identity and, like, understands what disability is, is. And so when we really kind of tap into what that identity is, when we see it out on the street, we recognize, oh, that's a human. I'm a human. They're navigating differently than I am. But that doesn't mean that they are an object to make me feel better about myself. And so that's one of the big things Ramped is trying to do. We're trying to go, hey, artists or producers or agents or managers or like A and rs, anywhere you work in the industry, if you have some kind of neurodivergence difference, chronic condition, you are welcome here at Ramped. But honestly, in the music industry, period, without having to feel othered, without having to feel pitied, without having to feel pathologized and being celebrated for your work.

[A]

I love that. I love. All right, so I'm gonna have a little fun with you. So you're gonna be true or false.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

The music industry is more accessible today than it was 10 years ago.

[B]

True or false?

[A]

False.

[B]

I believe it's true. I believe it's true.

[A]

Disabled artists have to be twice as good to get half the recognition.

[B]

We got to be 10 times as good to get to be there for percent pity.

[A]

Pity plays a bigger role in disability representation than people really want to admit.

[B]

Pity plays a huge role, and it really, really shouldn't. It's kind of nasty. Y' all get over it. Nobody wants to be pitied. Duh.

[A]

Yeah, nobody does. Nobody. Nobody.

[B]

Nobody.

[A]

You can separate an artist's disability from their art.

[B]

You can. But I have to say, it all depends. Like, I feel like if you have a disability, whether it's depression, whether it's anxiety that comes into your music, like, you don't necessarily have to be like, I have anxiety. Like, that's also kind of cool. I mean, dochi, let's go. But I'm also saying, like, if you have anxiety or if you have to navigate the world differently, that's gonna. Your lived experience is gonna come through in your art. And these days, artists are very four dimens conventional. Like, you don't just listen to an artist for their song. You listen to an artist and then you watch their tick tock. And then you're like, who are they dating? And stuff like that. And so their lived experience becomes part of their art. And if disability is part of your lived experience, I don't know that you should have to divorce it. We only divorce it because we're so forced to mask and forced to pretend to be, quote, normal. Yeah. But if we didn't have to do that and people got to live freely in their lived experience, I think we would get so, so much more art, so much deeper stories, and so much more beautiful authenticity in this world.

[A]

I would agree with that. So I'm going to switch gears for a second and talk about your CEO mindset.

[B]

Let's go.

[A]

I mean, because you're a CEO, you're running. I mean, you're making music, running companies. This is like. I mean, you're a bill.

[B]

You're a real bill.

[A]

You're writing books. I mean, how about your books? Let's talk a little bit about your advocating publicly. I mean, there is nothing you don't do.

[B]

There is nothing I don't do except for sleep. So I had forgot to bring my. Because I wanted to show it off. Yeah, but humble brag. We stopped by Barnes and Nobles, which is down the street, and so we picked one up.

[A]

I love it. I love. Say this where this is. It's in Barnes and Noble.

[B]

It's in Barnes and Nobles, y'.

[A]

All.

[B]

It was so fun because we go in, we go into a Barnes and Nobles. We're kind of wandering around and we're like, where is the social section? And we go and we see this, and it was just so beautiful. And it was like, prominently, like just out there. And the beauty of this is you can Actually, I don't know if you can touch this. This. You can. There's braille on the letters, so it's very fun. But yeah, I mean, I wanted to a write. So like I said before, everybody's masking and we're masking because we don't know how to talk about stuff. Right. Because we're afraid of being pathologized. And so I wanted to really write it in a way that people would want to hear it. Right. So this book, I identify as blind. It takes my story and the stories of other sort of celebrities, public figures, politicians, anyone who would say yes to me interviewing them and celebrates our stories. Just navigating success in different industries, entertainment, music, etc, Also, it's a very humorous book. We get into the, you know, artistic past, we talk about pop culture, and it's just a really fun way for people to be introduced to disability identity, neurodivergence, how to take your chronic condition and feel empowered. Right. And. And this is not really meant to be like, educational. It's meant to be just a fun pop culture book for you to figure out how to talk about it and for you to learn some really, really cool stories along the way.

[A]

So that is, you can't have fun while doing it. I mean, if you can't have some kind of sense of humor, then what are we doing?

[B]

Then what are we doing? Like what? I mean, we got invited to this banquet called Life. Let's have Fun.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, I agree with you. And we spend so much time focusing on the negative and focusing on being politically correct and all the things that don't matter when in reality. I mean, if you're not laughing and smiling, what are we doing?

[B]

Yeah. I feel like the best way people learn stuff is when they learn them in a good mood.

[A]

Absolutely. Yeah. Of course. Because you retain it better.

[B]

Because you retain it better and you want to feel good and then you recall things that made you feel good. Yeah. And so hence the humor, hence the fashion, hence the music.

[A]

Tell me about your. Your CEO mindset and what you're doing, because I know you're running companies.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Well, we talked a little bit about glam canes. And then of course, I run Team Lachi, which is my team of. I think there's about five of us on our team. Everyone has disabilities on my team as part of the disability community, so we run a tight ship. But if you're going to say, what is your CEO job? It is with ramped. So RAMP stands for recording artists and music professionals with Disabilities. We're a consultancy and training firm on disability culture and inclusion within the music industry. We do partnerships with some of the biggest music firms in the world, everywhere from again, the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys Live Nation. You know, we've done some consultancies with like CMAs, Spotify, like Tidal, you name it. But on the flip side, we're also a global network of creatives, executives and entertainers, et cetera, who identify with disability, neurodivergence, chronic conditions, et cetera. We come together for networking, other opportunities, and we just make sure that, that the integration of disability is real so that folks who are professionals with disabilities recognize that they are music industry professionals and that music industry professionals recognize that they also have disability identity and that this is one whole big soup so that we can all really just stop masking. One of the big things that ramped one of our big accomplishments is that we're the ones that bring the ASL to the red carpet for the Grammys to really showcase a that disability culture. You know, tens of millions of people tune in to the Grammys every year. So we really want to have that sign language front and center to showcase that access. But we make sure that on the flip side and in the background that we're also getting folks with who are deaf or with disabilities onto these music industry boards into these music industry jobs. So everywhere from the mail room to the boardroom to the green room, right? So like right before they perform, we want them on stages as well. This is the work we're doing in the industry and we're seeing results. We're seeing folks get onto these industry boards, whether it's from the Folk alliance, whether it's women in music, whether it's this and that. And we're global, so we've got members in Europe and we've got members in the, in mena, like in the Middle East. And so we are really expanding this idea and meeting folks in the industry and in a very superficial industry, right, meeting folks in that industry where they are at. Because. Because it is run by professionals, for professionals.

[A]

I love that. When you say masking, will you just go a little bit deeper?

[B]

So masking is when you hide, camouflage, or downplay either your neurodivergence, disability or your condition in order to either fit in or for the comfort of others, etc, essentially passing. So when I had better sight, I called myself sighted passing because I was doing everything I could to not appear to have vision loss. A lot of folks with neurodivergence, everything from ADHD or, you know, autism or anything like that do everything they can to blend in, mask and hide it. A lot of people with chronic conditions who are like in their 9 to 5 workplace will do everything to hide their condition and they won't ask for accommodation. They'll do this. And, you know, if you have a non apparent condition and you're doing this to maybe like get ahead, get a raise, not be seen as a burden. Right. But then when you get ahead and you get that raise now you're kind of screwed because now you have more responsibility, more pressure, more work. And at what point are you going to have to say, guys, yeah, let's have a, let's have a discussion. And one of the things I love to do because, you know, we have our, our, we have our different like power groups and all that. And I love to express to my other leader friends, like, don't be afraid to openly talk to your teams about what you're going through, whether you have OCD or whatever. Allow them to feel comfortable potentially opening themselves up as well. Because you will get a better team. You will get somebody who's not afraid to share ideas that would have never come into that room and part of that melting pot pot to make the even bigger and better idea if everyone is so afraid to step forward. So I always encourage folks at the top to take the mask off for their team so that that team feel comfortable taking their mask off as well.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, that's what leadership is all about, is showing vulnerability. You know, for a very long time, I battle anxiety, like really bad panic, full, you know, and for a long time, you're absolutely right, I'd mask it or overcompensate. And then the minute I finally started to publicly speak about my battle with anxiety, all of a sudden, you know, you start to realize that it's not just you in the room, number one. A lot of people are dealing with it in the room. Maybe, you know, maybe not as chronic, but it opens up a whole world. And you're right, once you start letting those guards down, your team performs better.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Vulnerability shows through, authenticity comes to the surface and you have more cohesive environment. So period. Absolutely. I'm so happy that you brought that up. Like it does exist. And I think now more than ever people are starting to realize, like, let's stop. And I love how you call it masking. Like, let's stop faking it. Let's just, let's come to who we are, our authentic self and not lightly authentic. Like I want to Be this. But really be this person.

[B]

Be the person. Just take and take all this stuff off.

[A]

Like, I don't give a shit. I do have anxiety. I talk about it all the time. I have it. I don't let it control me.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But it doesn't control me. I'll still get on the. I hate flying and other things, but, you know, it's learning how to deal with it and not letting the disability or are, you know.

[B]

Well, it's a lifelong lived experience. It's just part of who you are. It's a natural part of your body and mind as you try to navigate society.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And there's nothing wrong with it. And I even wanted to offer you take it or leave it, but I would. Would want to offer you to maybe not see it as a battle.

[A]

I don't think it's a battle. I think it's a superpower for me.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I really do. I think having anxiety has really. First of all, I think most people that have anxiety, they have this like super heightened awareness, you know, and the way someone once explained it to me is like the most intelligent people have anxiety and it's okay to embrace it.

[B]

It's okay to embrace. I have, I have diagnosed general anxiety disorder. And it really. It gives me compassion.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

It gives me. And half the time it's social awareness.

[A]

Yeah. Excitement and social awareness.

[B]

Social awareness. And just a bite. Like, I don't necessarily. I don't need coffee. I got. But me.

[A]

Yeah. It's so true. I don't drink. It's so true. I don't drink coffee. I'm enough.

[B]

I'm enough. Right? Yeah, I, Yeah, I do drink coffee, though.

[A]

I don't drink coffee. I don't really like the taste, but I, Yeah, I agree. I mean, I, I, yes, it's. It's a battle, I think an internal battle more than a battle itself. You know that battle when I'm getting on the plane and I'm like, oh, I don't want to do it, or something like that. More than I, I think more now than ever before. People are more open to talking about it. For so long we lived taboo about it. And I remember, like, I've always had anxiety as long as I can remember. We just didn't label it that.

[B]

Right. We didn't. Now we have the words. Now we have so many words, which is so, like, I think neurodivergent. That's why I love to say it, because we didn't have that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like the, the, the idea of being neurodiverse. We also like the word disability was like so frowned on. You can't say it.

[A]

Never.

[B]

Now we're all just saying it. And in fact the disability community prefers it over like differently abled or like handicapable or special needs. I like to say I have special needs, but they're in the bedroom.

[A]

Ah, there you go, there you go.

[B]

But, but really we're just saying disability. We're saying neurodivergence. We're saying all of the different conditions because we're talking about it and we're learning that community is one of the biggest like solutions.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That the biggest issue was the isolation.

[A]

It's so true.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So what's next for you? I mean you're, you've really done so many wonderful things. What's next? What's not next?

[B]

Right. It's so, so with for ramped, you know, we're, we're continuing to build, we're continuing to grow. This year we were able to get a deaf journalist onto the, into the media center for the Grammys. So that deaf journalist was just among all the other journalists being part of that press conference. So we were really, really excited to get Melmyra up there partnering with some big deaf outlets. Lachi Me, myself as an artist, I'm working on this massive children, children's pop album. So kids pop. So kids and family music. And so I've teamed up with some Grammy nominated and Grammy winning producers who also identify as having, with having chronic conditions. And we're bringing on a ton of Grammy winning and you know, Emmy winning and Tony winning and like Brit Award winning artists and musicians with different conditions. So this is turning into this huge project. It's called Magnificent. It's going to come out in July, so y' all should go keep an ear out for that. On the book side, the audiobook, which has become a bestseller on Libro and is just won a Kirkus Award, we are really pushing this book. So please stay tuned for all the tour dates. It's going to [e-mail] and we're just, we're going, we're going, we're going. So definitely stay tuned on all those tour dates. And like I said, glam canes is blowing up. We've expanded to all sorts of canes and, and yeah, I don't know, Arthur, did I miss anything?

[A]

I mean, you're doing. If people want to find you, where would they find you?

[B]

People can find us at L A C H I M U S I C. You'll find our music. We do sort of little viral hits every once in a while of me walking around the streets with a glam cane and stopping traffic, which I really ought to stop doing, but whatever. You can also check us out on. Yeah, the website. You can check ramped [e-mail] glam canes. Glam canes.com we also run a PBS series called a PBS American Master series called Renegades, where we celebrate heroes and American heroes with disabilities who are unsung. And then you can find us on Reddit where we go viral for the makeup. Love it.

[A]

I love that. I love how you just do that in there, too. I mean, leave this audience with something that you probably never told anybody, but you want to share in a positive way to inspire someone that might be listening, that is embarrassed or they don't, or they're still masking. So give me something. Wow. Not to put you on the spot. No pressure, no pressure.

[B]

I'm just. I'm so, like, open about everything. I'm trying to be like, what have I not shared?

[A]

Something you want to say or whatever, even if you shared it, but just something important to you that you want to let the audience know that about masking and being your authentic self. And.

[B]

Yeah, I feel like one of the big things that I want to say is that, you know, when I listen, let me just calm down and stop thinking so hard. I didn't used to always be like this. I didn't used to always be a social butterfly. I was very, very shy, very. There was a lot of shame there, and I had no one to talk to. And I. I often get the question of, well, how did you just pivot? How did you just turn? How? Like, you're telling me that if I have a disability and I don't know how to disclose, or if I'm neurodivergent and I don't know how to get started on this journey. How do I. I do that? And my answer is always going to be community.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So even if that means just going online, finding a few influencers to follow to start being a part of whatever their sort of community is, if it means reading a couple of books and finding a couple of thought leaders, if it means joining a forum and just being a lurker for a while, get yourself comfortable with watching other people, seeing the lingo they use, seeing the culture of it, so that you can start to feel an embry, an empowerment, so you can start to feel an acceptance for you of that thing inside you, because once you accept it, then you can eventually begin to embrace it. Once you embrace it, then you can eventually begin to celebrate it. And once you start celebrating it, that is when you are now a beacon for someone else.

[A]

That was beautiful. That was absolutely beautiful. I mean, today's conversation just reminded me that, you know, you don't need. Need visibility to be seen. In fact, you know, it's about refusing to be invisible as opposed to being visible. And Lachi's journey is absolutely incredible. And if you learn nothing today, I. I mean, hands down, she has shown that it doesn't. Your disabilities don't define you, and you can absolutely do anything in this world that you want as long as you stop masking and be your authentic self. And once you embrace who you are, you know, inward and outward, the world is really unstoppable. Yeah. So my. So my quest today, or what I'd like to throw out there, is that if you are battling or struggling with your inner self and who you want to be, take the mask off, unmask yourself. Nobody is going to judge you. I promise you. Nobody's going to do that. That's the challenge. If you like today's episode, go ahead, click the subscribe. You know what? If you didn't like it, unsubscribe, whatever, do something. All right, I love that. Refer a friend. If you love this conversation, stay tuned. There are more episodes, but thank you, girl. You are amazing. Thank you. Absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing your story, your time with me today, absolutely incredible.

[B]

Thank you, girl.