Pathways to Zero Barriers Podcast

Telling the Scaling Story

When we launched the Pathways to Zero Barriers podcast, our goal was simple: to create space for real conversations about what it means to scale inclusive solutions, and to let the innovators behind the work tell that story in their own words.

The podcast became a natural extension of the Scaling Solutions Programme. While the programme focuses on building strategies, partnerships, and actionable routes for disability-inclusive innovations, we knew that some of the most valuable insights would come through reflection, through stories shared, not just the strategies that were designed.

Each episode paired a Scaling Fellow with either an Advisor or a Funding Partner from the programme (Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India). The conversations were honest, unscripted, and rooted in experience. We heard about the moments that moved things forward, the ones that didn’t go to plan, and the ones that changed how people thought about impact altogether.

Above all, Season One was about visibility. It was about making space for nuance, for perspective, and for the people who are quietly and consistently breaking down barriers around the world.

What the Fellows Taught Us About Scaling

Across 17 episodes, one thing became clear: scaling inclusion doesn’t follow a single path. Each Fellow and guest brought forward a different context, strategy, and rhythm. So, certain themes kept surfacing.

Scaling is rarely linear. Some Fellows expanded through partnerships. Others licensed their work, tested pilots, or refined their model in-country before going anywhere else. Growth often came through iteration, not replication. As our fellow guest put it:

“We started small, tested, failed, and tested again. It wasn’t about scaling fast, it was about scaling wisely.” – Hugo Esteban Rojas Munoz, Humanos 3D

Local adaptation matters. From Chile to India to Ghana, Fellows talked about adapting not just language or materials, but the very structure of their solution to fit the legal, social, and cultural landscape of a new place. As one Advisor guest put it:

“What works at home, is only the starting point.” – Bernard Chiira, Programme Advisor from Innovate Now.

Partnerships were essential. Many Fellows spoke about advisors, funders, and community members as both supporters and co-creators. A pattern emerged: when partnerships were based on trust and shared goals, the results were stronger and more sustainable. As we noted in episode 7:

“The right partner didn’t just help us enter a new market; they changed how we thought about our work.” – Pawel Potakowski (MIGAM) x Rafi Alam (Programme Advisor from Genweb2 Limited)

Visibility opened doors. Several guests mentioned how being part of the Scaling Solutions Programme (and platforms like this podcast) gave them new confidence and credibility. That visibility helped spark conversations with government ministries, private-sector partners, and new funders.

And underneath it all, there was a shared understanding: scaling disability inclusion is deeply human work. It’s about moving faster or growing bigger. But also, it’s about staying grounded in purpose while navigating the real-world complexities of change.

Shaping Stories That Scale

Behind each episode was a process of careful listening, preparation, and trust-building. While the podcast offered public-facing stories, much of the work happened quietly, during pre-interviews, and conversations with Fellows about what they wanted to share and how they wanted to share it.

We approached this podcast the same way we approach our strategy work: with care, clarity, and a commitment to amplifying the voice of the innovator. Some Fellows had never been on a podcast before. Some weren’t used to talking about their work in English. And some brought heavy stories of personal experience and structural exclusion. One fellow guest reflected:

“Sharing my story wasn’t easy, but it reminded me why I do what I do.” – Prachi Deo, Nayi Disha

Our role was to create a space where all of that could be held and shared with respect.

The episodes were structured deliberately: a short introduction from the host, a few thoughtful questions, and space for guests to reflect. In almost all episodes, we brought in Advisors or Partners to complement the Fellow’s perspective, to add insights on funding, policy, ecosystem building and the Scaling Solutions Programme as a whole.

What we found was that storytelling was an output of the programme. Furthermore, it became a tool for learning: for surfacing tensions, clarifying ambitions, and sometimes even shifting direction. When Fellows heard themselves reflected back, through their own words, it helped make their journey more tangible. As one fellow guest said:

“Because with creating content that reflects real issues is the only way to find the real solution to address the issues that we are currently facing within our community.” – Debora Maboya, Tai Tanzania

From Season One to What Comes After

While this marks the end of Season One, the conversations are far from over.

The podcast was designed as one part of a broader mission: to strengthen visibility, connection, and momentum for disability-inclusive innovation. And as the Scaling Fellows continue their journeys, entering new markets, building new partnerships, and refining their models, the themes explored in these episodes will continue to evolve with them.

Season Two is already taking shape. We’ll return with new voices, deeper dives, and more stories from the field. Until then, we invite you to revisit the first season, share the episodes with your networks, and stay connected by subscribing on your preferred platform.

Because scaling solutions isn’t a moment. It’s a process. And this podcast is just one way we make that process visible.

Zero Barriers Is a Journey

If there’s one thing this season confirmed, it’s that inclusion is built, not just imagined. It’s built through trial and error, through shared learning, and through the persistence of people who choose to keep going, even when the path isn’t clear.

That’s what we heard in every episode. Not just ambition, but endurance. Not just innovation, but care.

We’re grateful to the Fellows, Advisors, and Partners who joined us, and to the Zero Project and the Essl Foundation for supporting the creation of this platform. We also thank Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ, EnAble India, and ATOS, whose partnership made this possible.

We hope these conversations continue to resonate, with practitioners, funders, policymakers, and communities. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned:

“Inclusion only takes root when people stay in the work, together.” – Dr. Anthony Giannoumis, Podcast Host and Motivational Leader on Inclusive Leadership.

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Zero Project Scaling Solutions is the joint initative of Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India and the programme's facilitator, Inclusive Creation.