Harold Russell, First Disabled Oscar Winner, and The Best Years of Our Lives (Ticklish Business)
Author Alison Macor joins me to celebrate the 80th anniversary of this patriotic classic.
In my free time I host a classic film podcast called Ticklish Business and, in the interest of spreading my love of classic film, I’m including episodes here for your listening enjoyment. You can listen to Ticklish Business via Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe to our Patreon where we have bonus episodes and more.
This post is free to enjoy but it's worth it to become part of my exclusive Gold Star Crew of Silver and Gold Film Mavens.
🌟Supporters like: Debann, Matthew Jackson, Gregory Ayers, Linoleum Podcast, Valerie Kalfrin, Devin Meenan, Alan Katz, Psychological Poet, Rhelm, and Freejena💫
Paid subscribers are the backbone of The Film Maven who support independent journalism, as well as female- and disabled-created content. Paid Film Mavens get access to shout-outs, exclusive articles and series, Zoom mixers, and The Film Maven Discord server.
Consider becoming a paid subscriber and joining the community that invests in independent journalism free of AI and influencer opinions!
The TCM Classic Film Festival is upon us and we're honoring both a movie playing at the festival and one celebrating its 80th (!) anniversary: 1946's The Best Years of Our Lives. Giving insight alongside Kristen is author Alison Macor, author of Making the Best Years of Our Livesand who will be introducing the movie at the festival. Kristen and Alison talk about the movie's legacy, including its dual Oscar-winner, and disabled actor, Harold Russell.
Buy Alison's book Making the Best Years of Our Lives at this link.
Buy Kristen's book Popcorn Disabilities here.
You can now watch episodes of Ticklish Business over on our YouTube channel! Be sure to like and subscribe to stay in the know on our latest videos.
Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review.
Find Kristen books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, Popcorn Disabilities, is available to buy now! Preorder But Have You Read the Book: Romance Edition here.
• Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? The merch shop is live!
• ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to become a Patron:
• Follow Kristen's Instagram
This episode was created thanks to our Patrons:
Ali Moore
Danny
David Floyd
Gates
mcf
Shawn Goodreau
Richard Silver
A Button Called Smalls
Chris McKay
Jacob Haller
Peter Blitstein
Debbie Lynne
Peter Bryant
Reyna Moya-James
Linda Lindley
Erin
Bridget M. Hester
Cat Cooper
Daniel Tafoya
David Baxter
Diana Madden
Harry Holland
Lucy Soles
Nick Weerts
Kate G
You just read this for free! Here's what you missed by not becoming a Gold Star paid subscriber starting at just $4 a month or $30 a year:
- Access to all my paid content and exclusive series like:


- Shout outs on my newsletter when you join and whenever you have something you're launching.
- Included on my Gold Star Crew list
- Bi-Monthly Zoom Mixers where we can talk entertainment, get advice on journalism, and generally discuss the world.
- Access to our Discord server where we can chat about movies and entertainment. It's also where I host my yearly Golden Globes and Oscar watches.
- Participation in my new Film Maven Secret Santa Gift Exchange (launching November 2026), book clubs, and film discussion groups (launching later this year)
I have a new book dropping on July 28th! It's But Have You Read the Book: Romance Edition! I look at 40 of the most iconic romance novels and their filmic counterparts to show you the changes in between. Preorder your copy now!

Want to Work Together? Improve Your Disability Representation? Book a Consult With Me.
