When Josh Feldman was growing up in a small town in Maryland, he never saw himself represented on TV. And yet, it never stopped him from following his dream of working in Hollywood and reaching the heights of success. And that’s exactly what he’s accomplished. Deaf since birth, he is co-creator of This Close, the first major television show to be made by deaf people about deaf people. And, most recently, serving as co-producer for the upcoming Marvel series ECHO. In this inspiring talk, Josh shares his story, from growing up in an all-deaf community to being the only deaf person in the room and how he learned to be a member of two very different worlds. He also discusses navigating not only issues of ableism but also homophobia. For anyone who needs to believe in themselves and their dreams and to know that anything is possible, this talk is for you.

Until he was 24, Josh Feldman, a writer, producer and actor, did not write about deaf or gay people—two very important parts of his identity. It wasn’t until he finally wrote about a deaf, gay man (much like himself) that he sold his first TV project. In this highly inspirational keynote, Josh shares his story and how staying true to himself led to success. Even though Josh was fully out to his family and friends, he wasn’t out to himself as a writer because of the framework in his head from a lifetime spent reading and watching films and books in a heterosexual, patriarchal society. Once he started writing about himself—all the good and bad parts—the floodgates cracked open and he got to know himself both as a writer and a human in a brand new way. This speech is a shot of inspiration for anyone who needs hope or who wants to do the impossible and win.