Walls Down: Mila on Vulnerability, Family, and Courage E211

What happens when hiding becomes second nature? For author and firefighter Mila Maxwell, growing up with a sister with disabilities meant learning to keep her own needs quiet — to not disrupt, to not add to the weight her parents already carried. But those hidden parts of herself came at a cost. In this heartfelt conversation, Mila shares how writing her debut novel Finding Lady Baltimore helped her begin dismantling those walls and step into vulnerability with courage and honesty.

Mila’s story is one of transformation — from sibling caretaker, to wife and mother confronting old patterns, to firefighter answering literal calls for help in her community. Along the way, she’s discovered that anger isn’t always bad, boundaries are vital, and vulnerability is the bridge that allows real connection to flow.

In this episode of Moped Outlaws, we dive into:

The hidden struggles of siblings of people with disabilities.
The cathartic process of writing Finding Lady Baltimore.
Firefighting, fear, and the courage to show up for others.
Learning to see beyond categories — disability, gender, labels — to the individual human story.

“If the wall is here, it doesn’t allow the judgment and the hate in — but it also doesn’t allow the good things to come through either.” — Mila Maxwell

🎧 Listen in as Mila reminds us that walls don’t just keep out pain — they also block love, joy, and belonging.

Guest Links:
📖 Finding Lady Baltimore – Amazon

🌐 Mila’s Website – milamaxwell.my.canva.site

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:00 — 54.0MB) | Embed