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Related: Interview with Alice Kina Diehl
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TONIA SAYS: What have you been up to since we last spoke three years ago?
ALICE KINA DIEHL: Hi gang! So great to be able to write to you again. The last three years have been rather busy for me.
My wife and I started a platform for people with disabilities primarily who use medical cannabis. It was originally just a few episodes for YouTube, and it spawned a whole Instagram community @rollin.__.stoned and website, Rollin Stoned.
Essentially we are our own healing justice movement for cannabis and marginalized communities. I’m pretty proud of our journey so far.
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| [Image: Alice and her wife, Amanda, on the set of the Rollin' Stoned YouTube series] |
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TS: How are you doing with pandemic life?
AKD: Oy! Haha!
First off, as a person born with a disability I have a lot of medical trauma.
From going to therapy weekly for 20 years, to major surgeries when I was young. I have also experienced a lot of family death.
So when the pandemic hit, it was like every fear I’ve ever had coming to a point. I was absolutely terrified at the beginning and I wasn’t coping well at all.
Luckily, I was able to find a therapist and up my anxiety medication which really did help. Since then I’ve gotten vaccinated. I still plan to wear my mask in crowded places or whenever I see fit.
Almost two years and I have a lot less anxiety about it and I consider that a victory.
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TS: Have you noticed the world becoming more accessible to disabled people throughout this time? If so, how?
AKD: In its own strange way I think it made the world a lot more accessible. Just simply by allowing people to work at home is huge. And Zoom is an absolute game changer for those with disabilities that aren’t able to drive in for the common meeting.
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TS: What’s one thing that’s bringing you peace and / or joy right now?
AKD: It’s hard for me to pick just one. I love my VHS collection. It has always brought me joy in the hardest of times. My wife and family bring me joy as well as my animals. Cannabis also brings me great joy.
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TS: What is your favorite way to cope with stress of the unknown?
AKD: Movies, music, meditation and cannabis.
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TS: How has your work life changed since the pandemic?
AKD: Absolutely. It’s definitely slower. I only did one gig during the pandemic. Lots of callbacks but nothing definitive. The industry is still coping with all the changes. It’s only been recently that It’s been full force.
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TS: How do you feel about regulations being lifted -- people being maskless -- and gathering in large groups again?
AKD: I still think a lot of it’s too soon. You can still get [COVID-19] even if you’re vaccinated. So I just wear my mask and wash my hands. It doesn’t bother me and I don’t think it’s that hard.
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TS: What is one of your favorite pieces of media you’ve seen in the last three years? Does it have any disabled representation? What do you love about it?
AKD: Special. I think it was amazingly well done and truthful.
That was the gig that I got to do during the pandemic. The crip prom scene an episode six, season 2! It was like the prom that we all deserved. We all got tested multiple times and then filmed it for two days. We all had to trust each other immediately otherwise it wasn’t going to work. Thankfully no one got sick in the making of it. It was a true blessing to be a part of.
We made gay/disabled history!
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TS: What’s coming up for you? Any new roles or projects?
AKD: For the last couple of months I’ve been working with the Maysoon Zayid on some table reads.
It feels wonderful to be able to read multiple characters and know that somebody sees my range and my capabilities. I know in my heart that it is leading somewhere bigger I’m just not sure what yet. Time will tell.
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