Podcast Summary

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me?

Episode: Jason Moyle: Tuning into Triumph and his journey with Cerebral Palsy in the U.K.
Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Tony Mantor
Guest: Jason Moyle

Main Theme

This episode shines a compassionate and illuminating spotlight on Jason Moyle’s journey living with cerebral palsy in the UK. Jason—an accomplished community radio presenter, civil servant, and aspiring comedy writer—shares candid stories about growing up with a disability, pushing through medical, social, and emotional obstacles, and ultimately embracing a life of resilience, self-acceptance, and advocacy. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, representation, and challenging “normal” stereotypes about disability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction and Jason's Current Work

• Jason outlines his three main roles: civil servant, radio presenter at CHBN in Truro (broadcasting from within a hospital), and a comedy master’s student/writer.
  [02:21] B: “I work… mainly at Red Roof, but I also do a community radio station in Truro called CHBN… also help out with Steve Osborne and Livewire. I write comedy as well. Now I’m doing a comedy master’s degree.”

Early Diagnosis & Childhood Experiences

• Premature Birth and Diagnosis: Born 8–12 weeks premature in the 1970s, diagnosis of cerebral palsy was not immediate—it became evident when he couldn't walk as a toddler.
  [03:23] B: “I was premature… I nearly didn’t survive it… The diagnosis of cerebral palsy wasn’t straight away. They… realized something was wrong when I wasn’t starting to walk when I should be.”

• Surgery & Early Medical Challenges: Underwent ground-breaking tendon surgery as a child; parents advocated strongly, seeking out new treatments despite medical skepticism.
  [04:28] B: “There was one consultant who said, 'He can’t walk,' and my mum wouldn’t take that as an answer… Another consultant said, 'There’s a new operation.'”

School Years: Bullying, Social Struggles, and Identity

• Isolation & Bullying: Felt isolated during early schooling; severe bullying throughout much of his school life, including being physically and verbally targeted. [05:34] B: “I did get picked on a bit… children did not easily accept someone who’s different. Maybe that’s changing... But back in the ’70s and early ’80s… the acceptance was not there.”

• Private Education: Parents intervened, moved him to private schools after mainstream educators struggled to accommodate him.
  [06:13] B: “My parents… called for a meeting… They wanted to put me in a class with people less well-educated… My parents said, 'No…' They moved me to a private school.”

• Personality Changes: Bullying led to withdrawal and increased aggression during his teens, despite an inherently outgoing personality.
  [07:42] B: “My personality is… outgoing, bubbly… But… bullying made me more insular and probably more aggressive too. It made me more short-tempered.”

Living with Cerebral Palsy: Physical & Social Dimensions

• Unique Individual Impacts: Jason’s case primarily affected his body’s left side, but he acknowledges the spectrum of CP, and feels “lucky” not to have cognitive impairments.
  [09:12] B: “It’s mainly my body and my left side, left weakness… I count myself very lucky compared to other people with cerebral palsy…”

• Community Connections: He supports charities like Scope financially but hasn’t yet become directly involved due to other commitments. [10:04] B: “I support Scope, but that’s more a money kind of thing… I’d like to get more involved… Maybe next year…”

• Peer Support & Shared Wisdom: Connects with others with cerebral palsy regularly but emphasizes each journey is unique—advice must be individualized.
  [10:55] B: “Each person with cerebral palsy has their own things to deal with… It’s like two or three different jigsaw puzzles…”

Adult Life: Perspective Shifts & Self-Acceptance

• Earning Respect: Receives positive feedback from his community and coworkers, but sees his achievements as an ordinary outcome of “just living life.”
  [12:05] B: “People respect what I do… but I don’t look at it that way. I just do what I do… I always push myself.”

• Calmer Outlook: Reflects on moving from bitterness and frustration (“Why me?”) to acceptance and a balanced appreciation for his capabilities.
  [13:04] B: “I think at my age now, I’ve come to terms with my situation… I’m happy in my own body… I can push myself to a certain level, but I know not to push it too hard.”

On Bullying, Patronization & Daily Realities

• Emotional and Physical Bullying: Recounts persistent school bullying, both physical and verbal. As an adult, finds patronizing attitudes to be more challenging than name-calling.
  [14:21] B: “I got physically bullied a lot… The mental side… the name calling, that kind of hurt more. But now it doesn’t… What I find now… is people patronizing. That’s my trigger now.”

• Mobility & Adapting to Changing Needs:

  • At home, "wall walks" and manages without aids; after COVID, mobility worsened, leading to more reliance on a wheelchair.
  • Back surgery and arthritis are both consequences of a life spent with CP.
    [15:15] B: “At home, I walk around… After COVID… my mobility was getting worse… the arthritis and everything else is part of the cerebral palsy.”

Navigating the World: Accessibility, Barriers & Attitudes

• Transport Challenges:

  • Taxis often refuse service despite his chair’s portability.
  • Some drivers try to enforce rules that don’t fit his circumstances, reflecting a wider lack of practical understanding in society.
    [19:52] B: “I went to the taxi rank… My wheelchair folds and sits in the back… No, I can’t do that… People just don’t understand… and don’t want to accept…”

• Wider Public Perceptions: Sometimes people mistake his walk for drunkenness, or treat him differently in public; microaggressions and assumptions persist.
  [24:54] B: “People saw me and thought I was drunk because the way I walked… They need to think twice… is someone actually drunk or do they have a health condition?”

The Physical Side: Therapy & Adaptation

• Arm & Leg Impairment: Left side is weaker; left hand functions like a claw, limited grip. Physical therapy was inconsistent—he reflects on some regret.
  [21:37] B: “My left arm, my left hand is like a claw… I couldn’t carry a cup of coffee… I could have done more…”

• Long-Term Effects: Falling is common, though he’s learned to fall "safely." As his body ages, musculoskeletal impacts of lifelong disability become more pronounced. [23:06] B: “I’m in my 50s now, but my body probably is in its 70s… Been through a lot of falling over…”

The Takeaway: Empathy, Understanding, and “Normality”

• Emphasizes that everyone’s "normal" is different; society should offer empathy and awareness, avoiding assumptions and unnecessary interventions. [24:54] B: “Most people deal with their own difficulties and what they want is a bit more empathy… Do your research… Everyone’s normal is different.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On individual experience:
  “It’s kind of unique. It’s like two or three different jigsaw puzzles… the pieces don’t always fit the same way.” — Jason, [10:55]
• On bullying and acceptance:
  “The mental side of bullying… that kind of hurt more. But now it doesn’t. What I find now is I find people patronizing. That’s my trigger now.” — Jason, [14:21]
• On growth:
  “At my age now, I’ve actually come to terms with my situation… I’m happy in my own body.” — Jason, [13:04]
• On public assumptions:
  “People saw me and thought I was drunk because the way I walked… but they need to think twice about whether someone’s actually drunk or whether someone’s actually got a disability…” — Jason, [24:54]
• On “normal”:
  “Everyone’s normal is different… If everyone has the impression that everyone is normal, that’s where your benchmark is… Treat people as normal and as what they need to have.” — Jason, [25:40]

Important Timestamps

• 02:21: Jason’s current work and roles
• 03:23: Birth story and diagnosis details
• 04:28: Childhood surgery and parental advocacy
• 05:34: Bullying experiences in school
• 07:42: Personality impacts from bullying
• 10:55: Connections with other people with cerebral palsy
• 13:04: Transition to acceptance and self-peace
• 14:21: Patronizing attitudes and adult challenges
• 15:15: Current mobility status
• 19:52: Transport barriers and public perceptions
• 24:54: Advice to listeners about cerebral palsy and “normality”

Conclusion

This moving episode offers an intimate and nuanced look at living with cerebral palsy—balancing honesty about isolation, frustration, and society’s blind spots with humor, optimism, and valuable life lessons. Jason Moyle’s journey is a testament to perseverance, advocacy, and the ever-changing process of self-acceptance. Listeners are left with a deeper understanding that every journey (disability or not) is truly unique, and that greater empathy and open-mindedness can help build a more inclusive world.