No Barriers: Recent Episodes
No Barriers USA
The No Barriers Podcast is an exploration of the gritty reality of the struggles we all face, with the detailed stories of those that have persevered to find amazing outcomes on the other side. - The No Barriers Podcast is a production of No Barriers USA, a not-for profit corporation as designated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible. - No Barriers empowers people to break through barriers, find their inner purpose and contribute their best to the world. To learn more about No Barriers, visit nobarriersusa.org and find out how you can get involved in our programs. - Podcast producer contact: podcast@nobarriersusa.org
Sisters Leah and Grace, the creative duo behind Tiny and Snail, a greeting card and stationery business with a powerful story. Together, they share how their love of art, resilience in the face of life-altering adversity, and unwavering sisterly bond have shaped their company and lives. Leah discusses the impact of a spinal cord injury that changed her life in seconds, how it deepened her art and sense of purpose, and why handwritten notes matter more than ever.
11:07 Getting off the ventilator
14:32 Getting into racing as a kid
21:08 Challenges in rehabilitation care
22:40 Managing life and caretakers
30:52 Perspective on living with limited mobility
33:51 Staying productive after hardship
43:18 The SAM car. Evolving control systems
46:41 New camera tech in AV cars
53:44 Acknowledging the team and supporters
54:34 Starting out as a race owner
01:02:03 Reflections on Personal Growth
01:05:00 Praising an organization's impact
0:00 Learning to Tie Shoes Differently
03:44 Neuroplasticity and enhanced senses
09:06 Childhood daredevil antics
14:10 Joining the pageant group
18:40 Innovative clothing solution for amputees
21:13 Adults embracing childlike creativity
24:25 Experiencing societal pressure and prosthetics
29:40 Revealing my disability over phone
32:20 Meeting a young girl at air show
34:45 Choosing the right plane for training
37:36 Promoting disability awareness through aviation
43:15 Discussing social awareness and bias
00:00 Port Gibson boycotts in the 60s
06:28 Supportive judge during court case
12:55 Switching majors for civil rights
16:56 Product of the 1960s values
23:04 Struggling with vision in eighth grade
29:49 Discovering the benefits of the cane
33:51 Revealing a visual impairment
39:22 Discussing the reality of blindness
48:57 Facing discrimination with a guide dog
55:28 Discussing accessibility in healthcare
01:03:51 Supreme Court expanding its power
01:06:14 Teaching kids about the Constitution
00:00 Cortina festivals and accessibility initiative
05:54 Handling pressure in competitive sports
06:49 Injury impacting competition preparation
11:05 Discovering a passion for skiing
15:34 Discovering the flow state
18:22 Training at Adaptive Sports Center
22:32 Returning to the sport with purpose
24:18 Parental support and encouragement
28:38 Breaking stereotypes in sports
34:07 Coming out with the alchemy stick
38:23 Facing bullying after coming out
40:59 Discovering alchemy in Nepal
44:31 Overcoming adversity and personal growth
48:39 Pursuing international ski racing goals
00:00 Strategic Planning and Leadership Development
05:01 "Hero's Journey Call Explained"
08:42 "Lessons from the Hero’s Journey"
12:32 "Balancing Guidance and Control"
15:06 "Discovering the Heroic Journey"
17:23 Turning Pain Into Strength
19:26 "Heroic Journey Through Adversity"
23:49 "Risk, Survival, and Growth"
28:12 From Bullied to Empowering Youth
29:48 "Redefining Heroism and Self-Worth"
35:51 "Personal Life Rumble Strips"
36:44 "Rumble Strips for Emotional Survival"
40:41 Blind Traveler's Reframing Journey
44:05 Overcoming Challenges with Pride
47:46 Navigating Reentry After Transformative Experiences
50:21 "Heartfelt Conversations Over Arguments"
53:36 "Erik’s Inspiring Leadership Tribute"
Erik Weihenmayer sits down with inspirational speaker, author, and survivor John O'Leary. Their conversation dives deep into John's incredible journey of surviving a catastrophic childhood burn, his family's support, and the grit it took to reclaim his life — from agonizing hospital stays, relentless physical therapy, and powerful moments with his burn tech, Roy, to navigating guilt, loss, faith, and ultimately, finding purpose.
Two of the world’s most accomplished blind climbers, Erik Weihenmayer and Andy Holzer share their story, from the serendipitous first meeting on a high ledge in the Dolomites to climbing Everest from opposite sides. It's a testament to human connection, resilience, and the art of overcoming “impossible” challenges.
Erik Weihenmayer has a lot in common with our guest today John Bramblitt. Both are blind. Both are trailblazing adventurers. One’s summited Everest, the other’s become a world-recognized painter. Whether you’re facing a giant mountain or a blank canvas, it’s NOT magic—it’s sweat, perseverance, and innovation. You’ll fail a lot.
John’s failures and the innovation that resulted from those, led the creation a unique way of painting. What if you could feel color? John does. His artistic and accurate rendering of people with vivid colors and textures is remarkable. He paints both small and large. Including murals that sweep across buildings and one of his works was even wrapped onto the entirety of a Boeing 737. Curious how you paint without sight, or how John turned visions of the world into incredible works of art—using his sense of touch and innovative painting techniques?
- Adapted website: https://adaptedthefilm.com/
- Adapted Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adaptedthefilm/
- Paul Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pbikis/
- Josh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livin_wheel_life/
This isn’t just another story about overcoming obstacles—it’s a firsthand look at how technology, advocacy, and good old adventure can transform lives. Cody, a recent high school grad shares how technology like her communication device—affectionately called her “talker”—has been a literal game-changer in giving her a vibrant, independent voice. She brings a refreshing perspective on independence, friendship, and living life to the fullest. Jen, her equally unstoppable mom, shares a wealth of wisdom on building support systems and making the outdoors accessible for all.
TAKEAWAYS
Assistive Technology Transforms Lives: Codi’s journey with communication devices, starting from simple recorded-message tools to advanced iPad-based apps, demonstrates how accessible technology can open new pathways for self-expression, connection, and independence.
Outdoor Adventure Is for Everyone: Jen and Codi shared how their family makes recreation accessible—from camping in yurts and adaptive skiing to river rafting and biking. With teamwork and ingenuity, they’re redefining what’s possible, not just for Codi, but for others in their community.
Advocacy & Community Matter: The Mendenhalls’ commitment to advocacy—through speaking, volunteering, and building “Team Codi”—shows the profound impact of finding (and creating!) supportive networks. Their advice? Advocate fiercely and help others navigate the journey.
The conversation explores not only the grit and technology behind adaptive sports and modern prosthetics, but also the emotional landscape of recovery, mentorship, and finding purpose after trauma. From the details behind a touching tribute film to Terry Fox—where Adam had to painstakingly reenact Fox’s signature running gait—to lessons learned in coaching, mental performance, and helping others move from surviving to thriving, this episode is packed with authentic, heartfelt insights.
Julie and Kyle Taulman—a powerhouse mother-son duo whose story is full of courage, humor, and straight-up innovation in the world of adaptive sports. Together, they open up about resilience, family, and the innovative world of adaptive sports—from NSCD’s wild west beginnings on the slopes of Winter Park to the cutting edge of inclusive technology and advocacy today This episode is packed with honest anecdotes, practical advice for families navigating disability, and a celebration of what’s possible when you approach life with a “no barriers” mindset.
You’ll hear about the the complex nature of moral injury, and how service, faith, and a sense of purpose healed him—and helped him pay it forward in extraordinary ways. Whether you’re a veteran, someone facing an invisible challenge, or just looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place.
Connect with Eric Donoho
Canyon of Hope book: https://www.amazon.com/Canyon-Hope-Darkness-Embracing-Within/dp/1962956253
Eric's website: https://ericdonoho.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebdonoho
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebdonoho/
An unprecedented unit of World War Two climbers and skiers, the 10th was dispatched to fight axis powers in extreme cold and mountainous terrain. Not only were their efforts critical to Germany’s surrender, these veterans returned home to develop ski areas across the country, and start companies like Nike and National Outdoor Leadership School.
Erik and Christian are about to blast open some history, challenge your assumptions, and remind us all what it means to build something extraordinary when the world needs it most.
This episode dives into the raw, messy, and ultimately transformative terrain between suffering and awakening—a journey that’s anything but straightforward. Traver Boehm. His story is wild—think: MMA fighter by day, acupuncturist by night, and years later, a man who spent a month alone in complete darkness to confront the deepest parts of himself. In between he navigated professional heartbreak, devastating personal loss, and a year devoted to living as if it were his last. If you’re ready to challenge your own assumptions about pain, healing, and the human spirit—or searching for a map to navigate your own tough terrain—this episode promises insight, inspiration, and true no-barriers wisdom.
Let's go to the Appalachian Trail. The AT as it’s called. Here’s some stats. At just under 2200 miles It’s longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Each year roughly 3 million people visit a segment of it. Of that, about 3000 people attempt to hike the whole thing… with only fraction finishing. Last year 1 of those finishers did it faster than anyone else. Thru-hiking the AT typically takes about 4-7 months, Tara Dower did in just 40 days.
Tara shares the highs and lows of her journey. She opens up about what drives her to keep moving forward, the importance of curiosity and confidence, and the value of learning to suffer with purpose.
This is part 2 of No Barriers Live featuring Kara Star of the World, with Kara Brouhard. Part 1 of No Barriers Live is the previous episode and features From My Window, with Melissa Simpson. Afterwards, Erik talks with the stars of these films and their family caregivers. He explores the challenges and rewards of adopting a “No Barriers Mindset,” and how this mindset and these experiences have affected the lives of not only Kara and Melissa, but everyone around them as well.
We couldn’t do this by ourselves. Brewability is an inclusive brewery and pizzeria that employs people living with disabilities in Englewood, Colorado. The venue and vibe were perfect for this live event. Check it if you’re in the area. PASCO joined us as well. They are Colorado based company dedicated to families with special needs, providing care, support, guidance and resources.
This is part 1 of No Barriers Live featuring From My Window, with Melissa Simpson. Part 2 of No Barriers Live is the next episode and features and Kara Star of the World, with Kara Brouhard. Afterwards, Erik talks with the stars of these films and their family caregivers. He explores the challenges and rewards of adopting a “No Barriers Mindset,” and how this mindset and these experiences have affected the lives of not only Kara and Melissa, but everyone around them as well.
We couldn’t do this by ourselves. Brewability is an inclusive brewery and pizzeria that employs people living with disabilities in Englewood, Colorado. The venue and vibe were perfect for this live event. Check it if you’re in the area. PASCO joined us as well. They are Colorado based company dedicated to families with special needs, providing care, support, guidance and resources.
A self-promoting egomaniac known mostly for his catastrophic failures. No, not our guest today. But there’s definitely something for us to learn from this individual who leads the cast of characters in The Realm of Ice & Sky. It’s the latest historical work of author Buddy Levy, where he takes on a gripping journey through the attempts to conquer the North Pole, which — spoiler alert — was not achieved not by dogsled or airplane, but by airship.
Why do we care? Well, this accidental historian, as Buddy describes himself says… "That these historical models provide a sort of connective tissue for today’s innovators and thought leaders who will show us the way to do the things we need to do in the future to survive on this big rock.”
By request from our listeners! To kick off 2025 we want to take a trip down memory lane from 2024. This episode showcases some of our favorite highlights from guests we spoke to in 2024. Enjoy!
You can’t hear. You can’t speak. How do you function in this world? Oh you want to climb mountains? The biggest ones in the planet? You rely on sign language, how ya gonna sign with oversized mittens or in a white out with snow coming at ya sideways? Oh you’re not sure? Ah… too risky for you. Better find something else to do….
Our guests heard these questions and concerns over and over again… and you know, they didn’t have the answers. What Scott & Shayna did have was a curiosity and drive to figure it out along the way. And indeed they did, right to the top of the highest mountain in the world, Everest.
In this interview you’ll hear their story, from being born profoundly deaf, meeting each other in school, the romance that followed, becoming educators, then mountaineers, and now advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing. They’re especially passionate about making the outdoors more accessible.
Get ready for tales of courage, adaptability, and the collaborative spirit that defines the No Barriers mindset.
Connect with Scott & Shayna
- Scott & Shayna on Instagram
- Scott & Shayna website
Erik’s goal with these interviews is to shine light into that obscure terrain between the struggle and the success. It’s dark there with plenty of barriers; metaphorically speaking certainly, but also many times literally…. as is the case with Sarah; she stared into the darkness of English Channel waters crossing it back and forth twice. Oh yeah, she was swimming. And she was battling breast cancer too.
Sarah’s journey is both surreal and inspiring. Her feats of sheer endurance go beyond the English Channel, across the world. 104 miles across on Lake Champlain, 80 miles across Lake Powell.. a short 22 miles across the Loch Ness (no monster sightings) and many, many more.
She’s on a mission to complete the Ocean's Seven marathon swims.Erik digs into it all, from her motivations, breathtaking encounters with marine life and how she’s thriving post-breast cancer.
Sarah's website: https://sarahthomasswims.com/
Sarah on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sarahswims04
There’s much to be said about the effect of wild places on the human psyche…. therapeutic, healing, transformative … a place to experience mindfulness…. Even scary for some, however, our guest Katelyn McKinney simply sums it up like this: “When our bodies are in a wild space we are simply more at ease.”
She’s been busy testing that idea by bringing groups of people into wild settings, creating supportive environments, and encouraging shifts in mindsets. Veterans of the military dealing with post-service challenges related to trauma are a focus for her. She is one herself. .
In this episode Katelyn shares her journey helping people navigate difficult life experiences, including complexities of identity, particularly for veterans transitioning to civilian life, the scientific and indigenous wisdom behind connecting with nature, and the overall philosophy of turning personal challenges into sources of strength and purpose—what we call 'alchemy.'
www.mountainsandmedicine.com
Instagram: @Mountains_and_Medicine_LLC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainsandmedicine
- https://www.zachanner.com/
- https://ifatbirthyoudontsucceed.com/
- Instagram: @zach.anner
- Youtube
Zach Anner is a unique personality, writer, comedian, and media influencer born in America in 1984. He is also a YouTube star who motivates people to make daily positive changes. From an early age, he advocated for positive thinking and self-realization no matter what.
He became popular after emerging as the winner of the Oprah Winfrey Show's "Search for the Next TV Star" in 2010, which saw him hosting his travel show, "Rollin' with Zach," on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). His story is remarkable for his endless optimism, thirst for self-knowledge, and creativity that breaks through even physiological barriers.
“You can’t make dreams come true if the only thing you’re doing is dreaming.” This is from a guy who was counted out on Day 1. What does that mean? It means not being included in an activity. In this case, that activity was life itself. The doctors told his parents he would’t live more than a few months. He was born without arms, almost no legs, and given up for adoption. Now, decades later, he’s an accomplished musician and world traveller.
Growing up in Nashville was part of his musical trajectory… eventually leading to a moment in front of 20,000 people, performing his soulful style of music where Jeffrey Marshall, that’s our guest today, became known as “the guy who plays bass guitar with his feet."
- LISTEN & WATCH. 3 minute video. Solo performance singing, playing bass guitar, and harmonica.
- Jeffrey's Website
- Jeffrey on Instagram
Jenna's Website: https://www.jennabainbridge.com/
Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bainbridgejenna/
Episode Highlights
🔸 A Blank Slate for Auditions
Jenna shares her unique approach to auditions, using a nondescript wheelchair to present herself as a "blank slate" for casting directors, allowing her talent to shine first and foremost.
🔸 Fashion Forward Mobility
She’s on the hunt for a vibrant new wheelchair! Jenna gets candid about how wheelchairs can be more than just functional, discussing exciting customization options like light-up wheels and personalized patches that make powerful statements—both fashion and functional.
🔸 Overcoming Barriers in Theater
Jenna recounts her journey facing discrimination in both sports and theater due to her disability. With the unwavering support of her parents and sheer determination, she found her place in theater companies that celebrated disability and diversity, leading her to a historic role on Broadway.
🔸 A Voice for Change
Her consulting business, Consultability, champions the mantra that access needs are human needs. Jenna is pioneering a shift in the theater world by advocating for more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone.
🔸 Representation Matters
From her major break at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to performing on Broadway, Jenna underscores the importance of casting actors with disabilities in diverse roles—more than checkbox diversity but genuine inclusion based on talent and capability.
🔸 The Power of Community Support
Erik and Jenna reflect on the crucial role of community and support systems in their respective journeys, highlighting how encouragement and advocacy from loved ones and mentors open doors and create lasting impacts.
Shawn reached out to the pod recently looking for a little insight from Erik on a project. It’s called the Shine Music festival. She founded it in 2019, formed a non-profit, assembled a team, and next month will be their 4th annual event.
With that in mind, we put Erik in the hot seat for a bit, and Shawn asks some pressing questions about his experience growing the No Barriers organization. You’ll hear his ideas and advice on running a nonprofit, leadership, and sustaining a mission-driven organization.
So what is this music festival all about? It’s a visionary project that will make you rethink how we approach inclusivity in our communities. Every sensory experience is accessible to all. From colorblind glasses and braille t-shirts to acoustic performances and adaptive technologies, Shawn is revolutionizing how we experience and connect through music.
Shine Music Festival promo video
Shine Music Website
Shawn Satterfield LinkedIn
Episode Rundown
- 00:00 Navy choice surprising, personal agency, self-assessment.
- 10:07 Routine of deployment, planning missions, intense focus.
- 15:36 Be vigilant for potential IED hazards.
- 16:35 Struggle to stay focused in combat heat.
- 25:33 Grateful for life after near-death experience.
- 29:57 Realized blindness after combat, surgery wasn't successful.
- 34:45 Frustration over unique challenges and solutions.
- 41:27 Supporting network enabled veteran to succeed athletically.
- 43:21 Fear turned to opportunity, life changed completely.
- 51:46 Doubt about value of congratulations for disability.
- 53:33 Paralympics transformed mindset, athletes are incredibly inspirational.
- 01:00:30 Passionate about academia and influencing others positively.
- 01:04:44 Sharing combat and sports experiences to inspire.
Brad's Website: https://www.bradsnyder.us/
Brad on Instgram. https://www.instagram.com/bradsnyderusa/
Ben's Website: www.jetbutterflies.com
Ben's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetbutterflies/
This duo took the Grand Canyon head-on, from one side to the other and back again, with nothing but their grit and trusty hand cycles — or "trikes" as they like to call them. Why trikes? Because they are both paralyzed from the waist down. Jason was injured in a rollover vehicle crash. Quinn, from a fall while climbing a giant wall of granite, the famed El Capitan in California.
Their journey, marked by both physical, mental, and bureaucratic challenges, sheds light on wider issues faced by individuals with disabilities, offering insights that are as instructive as they are inspiring.
00:25 Adventures and Challenges: Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Experience
02:17 Meeting at Craig Hospital: A Bond Formed Through Rehabilitation
02:26 Exploring the Differences in Spinal Cord Injuries and Mobility
05:25 The Technicalities and Thrills of Hand Cycling and Trikes
11:19 The Grand Canyon Adventure: Planning, Teamwork, and Execution
17:12 Navigating the Technical Challenges of the Grand Canyon Trails
24:14 The Technicalities and Public Reactions to Adaptive Mobility Devices
24:46 Understanding and Educating on Accessibility in Nature
28:04 The Complexities of Adaptive Equipment and Accessibility Rights
33:02 Reflecting on Past Adventures and the Impact of Injuries
35:24 The Journey of Recovery and Advocacy for Spinal Cord Injuries
43:24 The Role of Unite to Fight Paralysis in Advancing Research and Advocacy
Tanja, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, shares her personal journey as an athlete, the changing significance of her victories, and her involvement advancing adaptive sports. Her dedication to the community and the memories she's cherished are an integral part of this conversation.
Ross, an engineer, takes us through the technical strides and the human stories behind the development of the Tetraski. It’s possibly the most advanced ski we’ve ever seen for sure. Is designed for people with complex physical injuries or illness. Don’t have use of your hands or legs? You can control this through your breath, independently. Whatever you’re doing, the ski is responding, you are in command, you’re shredding again or maybe for the first time.
TRAILS adaptive
TetraSki website (Tetradapt)
Gabriel Rodreick website: https://gabrielrodreick.com/
LISTEN: Freaque https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xmxsU99bvYcGrvdsw3pFk
WATCH: 16 min interview covering the basics of his story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7lH6xeWghs
Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode.Episode 178 - Rob Cahill and 4DWNEpisode 177 - Nic NovickiEpisode 173 - Dr. Diva Amon, Behind the BubbleEpisode 172 - Kathy Eldon, the active soul in all of usEpisode 150 - Chasing Dreams with Diana Nyad
You've arrived at the intersection of human willpower and biomechanics. After this episode you’ll be wondering, “is the term ‘disability’ about to be dismantled and and reshaped by pioneers using the power of technology?” Our guests are Keenon Werling and Russel Martin, two pHd students from the Stanford Biomechatronics lab. The topic. Wearable Robots. Exoskeletons.
Maybe the first image that comes to mind are futuristic versions of these creations. They are all over Hollywood in blockbuster movies like Avatar, Black Panther, Spider man, Iron Man. But here in the real world, innovations in exoskeletons have the potential to truly change lives. Can they give someone confined to a wheelchair the option of walking down the street? ….or what about an exoskeleton that gives them the freedom to go for a run…garage along the beach.
One thing about Keenon. He can’t go for that run on the beach, give his wife a piggy back, or hike with his dog… Why? He has an incurable degenerative neuropathy, which has been slowly paralyzing him from the feet up. Life in a wheelchair could be right around the corner for him. Is restoring mobility for people with disabilities like Keenon’s really possible? Stick around and find out.
The Lab: https://biomechatronics.stanford.edu/
Keenon Werling: https://keenon.github.io/
Russell Martin https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-m-martin/
Lab overview video. https://youtu.be/SiHyoOhCnag?si=3L1FYjWpvh0RlDM0
WEBSITE: The Davis Phinney Foundation
WATCH: 8 minutes. Davis Phinney Moment of Victory.
Today, we’re talking augmented reality with audio and ultimately sensory substitution. Our guest is Tim Devine. He and his team at Action Audio have developed a product that translates the spatial data from live sports into sound, allowing blind and low vision audiences to follow the action in real time. It’s not just functional tech though, it’s emotional. He wants to bring the tension, the anticipation… the core of what makes live sports amazing to watch, to this audience. Tim shares his journey into the world of sound design, starting with a focus on tennis and eventually collaborating with the NBA, transforming data into an immersive 3D spatial audio experience. You'll hear Tim's passion for music, emotion, and sound come to life as we discuss everything from enhancing the broadcast experience to the future expansions in sports like soccer and football.Tim's story isn't just about technological breakthroughs; it's about persistence, responsibility, and the drive to make ideas accessible to those who will most benefit from them.
Today we meet Alice Brouhard and her daughter Kara. When Kara was 5 she was struck by an out of control skier. The accident caused a traumatic brain injury, left Kara legally blind and mostly paralyzed on one side of her body. Kara's parents helped her relearn as much as they could and raised Kara to live as independently as possible, patiently pushing her to chase her dreams. Alice took finding assistive technology into her own hands and in the process became a champion of the use of technology to support people with memory and cognitive challenges. She has worked tirelessly to set up a system that allows Kara to live independently.What keeps Alice going? How does Kara navigate life with such spirit, and what does it tell us about accessibility and resilience? We’ll hear about Kara's incredible journey and her dedication to living independently, even amidst challenges like vision loss, paralysis, and seizures. Today, she manages her life with the help of wonderful technology but more than anything, her fiery spirit.
What would you with an extra tank of gas? It’s a metaphor for living that we had not heard, until now, when we interviewed Nick Martinez. He’s a true adventurer and survivor of life's highest peaks and deepest valleys. And to complete the metaphor, yes, the fuel indeed ran out and not just once. His narratives provide insight into his world of BASE jumping and climbing as well as his life-altering experiences that have shaped his unique perspective on life, death, and everything in-between. He’s lost loved ones in tragic accidents and survived near-death experience himself. You’ll hear how he emerged with a view of life with "extra mode" activate - an extra tank of gas, something to be cherished and refueled every day, with the good things.
Book Link. RESILIENCE: THE SCIENCE OF MASTERING LIFE’S GREATEST CHALLENGES
Dr. Dennis Charney on LinkedIn
4DWN Film Trailer
https://4dwn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/4dwn_org/
https://www.facebook.com/4DWNskateboarding
https://www.youtube.com/@4dwnproject197
https://www.nicnovicki.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nicnovicki/
https://www.instagram.com/disabilityfilmchallenge/
https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com/
The Disability Challenge video. https://youtu.be/FISwEhPXWzQ
Kyle Maynard is no stranger to pushing the limits, overcoming obstacles, and inspiring others to live a no barriers life. That’s why he’s our guest today AND in a few weeks when we see him on stage at the No Barriers Summit. His first No Barriers Summit was 12 years ago and a pivotal moment in his life, because soon thereafter he bear crawled to the top the highest mountain in Africa. Bearcrawled? He’s got a rare condition known as congenital amputation, that left him with arms that end at his elbows and legs that end near his knees.
Today Kyle shares stories of his transformation, but we go beyond physical feats and explore the deeper motivations that drive him. Like the importance of connection and the power of using climbing as a vehicle to foster relationships, AND his upcoming project aimed at creating a long-lasting impact in the world.
Join us as for stories of triumph, growth, and the relentless pursuit of a life without barriers. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to embrace your own journey.
In anticipation of the No Barriers annual 3-day festival we call the Summit (starts on Aug 25th), we’re re-releasing an episode that was recorded live at a previous Summit in Lake Tahoe. The guest? JR Martinez. His journey is filled with ups and downs. While on patrol with his Army unit in Iraq, his vehicle was hit with a roadside bomb. He was trapped inside as the explosives his vehicle was carrying detonated around him. During his recovery with over 30 surgeries and skin grafts, he found solace in helping other wounded veterans. 8 years later, an opportunity to join Dancing with the Stars arrived… you’ve heard of the show maybe?? …. and he (with his dancing partner) won the whole thing! He was in the spotlight now. Writing a book came soon after, the title: Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit. In this episode JR shares these experiences with us in an engaging way. And through out it his message of resilience and optimism rings true.
Follow Diva on Twitter @divaamon and Instagram @diva_amon, or visit her website https://divaamon.com/.
https://www.instagram.com/jake.skis/
VIDEO: Invisible Mountains: Jacob Smith, Blind Skier (Skiing the Big Couloir)
Many entrepreneurs say that starting a business is something they always felt destined to do. Then there are people who never in a million years thought they’d be running their own business, but, lo and behold, somehow the opportunity found them. The ‘accidental’ entrepreneur some might call themselves. Meet Tiffany Fixter. She founded The Brewability Lab, and what’s interesting is not only her path there, but the entrepreneurial journey, filled with challenges and adversity, that she is still smack in the middle of right now. Unique to this business are its employees. Disabled, abled, neurodiverse, you name it… bottom line, great beer and food create by people who’ve traditionally seen very limited career options. This inclusive workplace Tiffany is creating is prepping its employees for more opportunities beyond. How does she do that? How does she handle the skeptics? Was she destined for this journey or was it an accident? Hang around and find out.
Penny Melville Brown's passion is cooking. However, for a career she chose the Royal Navy. Yes she’s British. During her service in the Royal Navy she became the first female barrister there; it’s a type of lawyer, the ones that wear those wigs. Then as it happened to all of our guests on this podcast, she had a life altering moment. In Penny’s case, she lost her sight and had to leave her 20-year career with the Navy.The next chapter of her life get’s real interesting. With an eye towards her cooking roots, she sets her mind on a culinary focused worldwide journey to learn and teach the concepts of baking blind. In the process she’s shattered assumptions about the capabilities of blind chefs. In this episode we jump from the Australian outback, to the streets of Paris, to a small Malawian village, and more.
SAM'S SOCIALS: Instagram - BionicKick
VIDEO: Muay Thai and Me
WEBSITE: https://www.samanthatokita.com/
Polar adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher and educator, Eric Larsen has spent the past 15 years of his life traveling in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth. He traversed 550 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean to get to the North Pole. That wasn’t enough, so off he went to the South Pole. 600 frozen miles and 41 days later he made it. Then back to the North Pole in winter, then up to the top of Mt. Everest… shall I go on? The curveball arrived. Did these journeys of isolation and endurance prepare him for the ultimate battle; one for survival in the face of an unexpected cancer diagnosis? In this episode Larsen's shares his honest and thoughtful insights; honed from the mental gymnastics practiced during the the isolation experienced in expanses of snow and ice.
To kick off 2023 we want to take a trip down memory lane from 2022. This episode showcases some of our favorite highlights from guests we spoke to in 2022. Enjoy!Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode.EPISODE 136: 500 MPH WITH FORMER BLUE ANGELS PILOT JOHN FOLEYEPISODE 148: OVERCOMING TRAGEDY WITH SEBASTIAN “ZUKO” CARRASCOEPISODE 152: MINDSETS WITH MATT LEWIS, NAVY SEAL AND COOEPISODE 159: LONNIE BEDWELL FEAR SLAYEREPISODE 161: DR> HOBY WEDLER AND HIS SUPER SENSESEPISODE 162: SEEING SILENCE WITH PETER MCBRIDE
A long or arduous search for something. The act of seeking. The idea of a quest is littered throughout history with 1000s of famous examples. Right now? humans want to go to mars AND return to the moon. The quest to solve climate or energy crisis is happening in real time. What do these have to do with the… Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition…. the life of the famous Apache leader Geron-imo…a 16th century explorer’s death defying navigation of the Amazon… or the The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett.In the words of our guest today, Buddy Leavy, who’s authored books with those titles, he says, “Humankind’s quest for knowledge and understanding has set many a historical precedent. And these historical models provide a sort of connective tissue for today’s innovators and thought leaders who will show us the way to do the things we need to do in the future to survive on this big rock.”
Patrick Kane needed a prothetic arm. Would he rather have one that looked quite natural, with real looking skin or one that was ‘machine beautiful’ with exposed titanium, carbon fiber, alloys, and the like.. Prosthetics have been around for 1000s of years. They’ve been found in Egyptian tombs. There’s a story about a German soldier who lost his arm in war, but that didn’t stop him from returning to the battlefield. He had a suit of armor made with a metal hand on it and he was known to be brutal. The phrase Ruling with an Iron Fist is sometimes attributed to that story. What about the ethics of prosthetics? Here’s simple question. Just because someone is missing an arm do they need to wear a prothesis. Do athletes with prosthetic limbs have an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes? Patrick Kane was once known as the bionic teenager. He was one of the youngest people to ever be fitted with an artificial limb. He joins our host Erik Weihenmayer and guest host Billy Lister and they tackle these ideas and more.
Born without legs, one would think Jen Bricker would be destined for a life of hardship. However, the hand of destiny brought her an amazing adoptive family, who gave her one simple rule, “Never say can’t” and helped her forge a life of triumph, not tragedy. As a child, Jen was obsessed with gymnastics, and her idol was Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Moceanu. Seemingly against all odds, Jen went on to compete against able-bodied athletes, and became a State Champion in power tumbling—only later to discover Moceanu was actually her biological sister.
TED TALK: Is the Grand Canyon for Sale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71jvm2Pq0Us
WATCH: Peter’s 750-mile trek across Grand Canyon National Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLDc1Ib1acg
LISTEN: NPR 1A podcast with Erik & Peter
https://www.npr.org/2021/10/03/1042831854/seeing-silence-one-photographers-mission-to-find-the-worlds-quietest-places
READ: Seeing the Silence book excerpt in Nature magazine.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/magazine/magazine-articles/book-excerpt-search-for-silence/
As Dr, Hoby Wedler puts it, wine is just two ingredients, yeast and grapes. Yet when people talk about how wine tastes it’s more complex and described through the lens of fruit flavors or perfumes or other plants and trees. As a food and beverage sensory expert Dr. Wedler's clients rely his abilities to translate those complexities into products that you and I enjoy. There is a twist though. Dr. Wedler is blind.
Hoby earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of California, Davis, and is the founder and director of the nonprofit organization, Accessible Science. In our conversation Hoby was a fountain of so many ideas that, we ran out of time during the original recording and resumed the next day. I guarantee a few of these you can put into action as you look towards a goal for today or a year from now.
One thought I had, that probably you do to… Is it true that when people who lose one sense can gain super abilities in another? Or maybe “super-abilities” are through plain hard work? Stick around.
Our guest usually finds himself speaking in front of large audiences motivating them through topics like the power of change or embracing the struggle, but today… we get him all to ourselves.
Chris Waddell is a Hall of Fame Paralympic skier and wheelchair track athlete. A college skiing accident paralyzed him waist down. Yet he went to the highest levels of competition in the Paralympics winning medal after medal for a decade. The adventure continued with his unassisted ascent of the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro at over 19,000 (the first paraplegic to do so). Authoring a few books came next, founding a non-profit, delivering commencement speeches, and the list goes on… ’m glad you’re joining us for this conversation between host Erik Weihemayer and guest Chris Waddell.
In 2013 Erik Weihenmayer picked up the phone with an idea and a pitch. After 6 years of training, he was ready to throw himself into some of the biggest whitewater in the country... in a kayak. Where? That stretch of the Colorado River flowing through Grand Canyon. Who did he call? Lonnie Bedwell; today’s guest.
Erik’s journey learning to kayak was a bit lonely at times. Where were the other blind kayakers? Eventually he found Lonnie, blind, who had thrown himself into the sport, and with rapid speed, into that big water in Grand Canyon as well. Erik wanted Lonnie to join him on this epic river adventure. His pitch, “One blind descent is an anomaly, but two would be a statement”)
Erik and Lonnie indeed tag teamed that descent through the Grand Canyon and inspired others who followed years later. Let’s get into Lonnie’ story. We’ll cover how he lost his sight in a hunting accident, kayaking the Zambezi in Africa, how his experiences in the military on submarines taught him about managing fear, adaptations he’s made working in construction whether roofing a house or running electrical, and how he re-learned to mow a lawn, with his daughter, who was 5 at the time, … and much more…
Our guest today grew up in rural Mongolia; hundreds of miles from anything resembling an advanced health care facility. So when his legs stopped working as a young boy; finding out the reason would not be easy. The family began their quest by traversing over 400 miles across Mongolia without a paved road in sight making their way to the capital city. They found new jobs and connected their son with the best health care available at the time. 3 years later they still had no answer. In fact in took 7 years until our guest, Bayar Damdinjav, received his diagnosis of an incurable auto-immune disease.
The pivotal moment in Bayar’s life was when he decided to move back home to eastern Mongolia and attempt to be a normal teenager, which at that point involved going to high school. Nothing in his town was built for someone in a wheelchair. No sidewalks, no paved roads, no ramps, or elevators. Academically, there would be a lot of catching up to do, as he hadn’t attended school in 3 years. The odds were stacked against him. What he’s accomplished since then, might surprise you.
A couple days ago myself, our host Erik Weihenmayer, and maybe 50 others were sitting in an auditorium with our eyes closed. My knees were pressed up against the seat back in front of me. My arms were pinned between the hard wooden armrests. I was not comfortable. However… and I know this may sound a bit out there… buts… minutes later I found myself floating in space. I could no longer feel the pressure points in my knees and arms. I was on my way to a state of hypnosis. I was about to have a conscious conversation with my subconscious mind. That’s the way our guest today describes it. Dr. Vidor Freidman.
Dr. Freidman was leading a group hypnosis experience, at the No Barriers Summit, intended to give us a small glimpse into the process. That day was about reprogramming our response to stress or anxiety. However, the potential here runs so much deeper as you hear today. Pain management without narcotics. Surgery without anesthesia (yes, as a matter of fact, there’s been successful implementations of hypnosis in lieu of anesthesia during surgery). And much more….
Some might imagine our guest today as the superhero on the cover a graphic novel. The headline would read… mild mannered kindergarten teacher by day and single handed slayer of ice creatures by night (or weekends more accurately).
Kimber Cross was born with one hand. The nutshell version of her journey to where she finds herself today started with pushing her parents outside of their comfort zones, navigating her passions with insecurities, and flipping adversity into ultimately transformative moments in her life.
Prior to climbing Everest or kayaking through the Grand Canyon, blind of course, our host, Erik Weihenmayer, was a middle school teacher for many years. He and Kimber compare classroom challenges to mountaineering challenges (subjective vs. objective hazards), they get into the latest in hand prosthetics, the realities of adaptive devices like Erik’s brain port that projects images onto his tongue and the process of figuring out how to connect Kimber’s ice tool to an arm with no hand… Also the relationship between sponsors and their athletes, and ideas around the meaning and role of adaptive athletes in todays world and beyond.
If you provide care for an aging parent, spouse, relative or for an ill or disabled person, according to the AARP you are one of 53 million Americans in that same boat. That’s nearly one in every 5 people. Our guest today is Bianca Padilla. She also found herself in that position, however, it was at a time this Millenial’s life, when most of her peers were starting careers and stepping out on their own. Her grandmother’s health was declining and she needed daily care to recover from a surgery. Bianca had a decision to make.
We all get thrown these curveballs in life. It’s when the unexpected comes hurtling at you and fast… Bianca swung and knocked it out of the park. She turned the lessons and experience she gained by caring for her grandma and used it to start a company with the goal of simplifying the lives of caregivers. Investors thought she had a good idea and put 5 million towards the effort. Now that number is up to 30 million. Let’s face it, as we age we’re gonna need help at some point, could be a little or a lot.
We’ve all got that in common and honestly it’s probably something we avoid talking about. So step out of your zone for a moment and get into this conversation between Erik Weihemanyer and Bianca Padilla..
The most recent census reported 7% of the US population are veterans. That’s about 18 million people who served in the active military, naval, or air service at some point and have since been discharged. “transitioning to civilian life” is a common topic for veterans when leaving the military. We get into that with our guest today, Matt Lewis. Matt is the chief operating officer of a spatial data company valued at almost a half a billion dollars. Matt is also a Navy Seal with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan under his belt. . Matt changed his entire mindset as part of his transition to civilian life. We’ll hear about this journey and the importance of seeking challenges in life; including some of his own. Along the way he’s discovered that happiness comes through experiencing discomfort; that juxtaposition is key he says. Matt’s a deep thinker and the insights he shared are applicable to not only veterans, but people from all walks of life.
Hans' website. http://www.hansflorine.com
On Insta. https://www.instagram.com/hansflorine/
Han's author page on Amazon.
http://diananyad.com/
https://everwalk.com/
Diana's blog: https://medium.com/@diananyad
Diana on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/diananyad/
Diana's memoir: Finding a Way
Sebastian on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/zuko_carrasco/
Libre film. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/zukolibre
Abby on Insta. https://www.instagram.com/adventurous.miss/
Abby's website. https://www.abbyholcombe.com/
USA Freestyle fundraiser for World Championships. https://www.gofundme.com/f/usa-freestyle-fundraiser-for-world-championships
Steve's Book: You D.E.C.I.D.E.: A 6-step action plan to becoming the hero of your own life
Steve on Team USA: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-curling/athletes/Stephen-Emt
Steve's Website: https://www.steveemt.com/
Steve on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephen.emt/
https://educatingoutsidethelines.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/educatingoutsidethelines/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/educatingoutsidethelines
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-omachel/
Move United Organization https://www.moveunitedsport.org/
Ajmal Subat is an artist, activist, and creative consultant who helped coordinate the evacuation of some of Afghanistan’s most visible female leaders. He is trained in classic Indian and Afghan music and toured Afghanistan with one of the nation’s leading musicians. Ajmal coaches Afghan artists pro bono, composes music for television and film, and is currently producing his second album.
https://restorehervoice.org/
https://www.instagram.com/restorehervoice/
https://www.instagram.com/subatmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/caseyharris_xa/ - Casey on Insta.
https://www.xambassadors.com/ - Official website. Check out their latest album, Beautiful Liars
https://www.instagram.com/xambassadors/ - X Ambassadors on Insta
Dr. Zach Skiles on Linkedin
Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program at University of California San Francisco
The Mission Within
Heroic Hearts Project
National Center for PTSD
Fantastic Fungi Film
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
It’s safe to say Caitlin has gone through the lowest of lows… how does one rise from those ashes and overcome incredible adversity. What did that process look like; that mental and physical journey to becoming an endurance athlete competing in triathlons, a boxer, a runway model, the founder of a non-profit aiming to build the largest database of adaptive resources in the world, and most recently building the sport of para-speed skating. It’s all about human potential she says.
https://www.ccadaptive.com/
https://www.instagram.com/caitlin.andherlegnamed.rex/
It all started with Sabriye Tenberken, who is blind, embarking on horseback ride through Tibet as an extension of her studies of Tibetology and Central Asian Sciences. There she met eventual co-founder Paul Kronenberg and together they started the first school the the blind in Tibet’s capital city of Lhasa. This school formed the foundation of Braille Without Borders, an organization that empowers blind people to take their lives in their own hands.
Kanthari Website
KanthariTV (YouTube)
This episode is about biking blind. No, this is not a metaphor. Even Helen Keller, the famous disability rights activist, who happened to be deaf and blind, enjoyed a spin on her bike as a teenager in the late 1800’s.
“Next to a leisurely walk I enjoy a spin on my tandem bicycle. It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in my face and the springy motion of my iron steed. The rapid rush through the air gives me a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulse dance and my heart sing.” Her words.
She was, in modern terms, a stoker. The person who sits behind the captain on a tandem bike.
Blind Stokers Club website
Facebook page
Dr. Lin's website: https://www.exploreralbert.com/
Social Media
https://www.instagram.com/exploreralbert/
https://twitter.com/exploreralbert
https://www.facebook.com/exploreralbert/
Welcome to Earth Interview
https://screenrant.com/welcome-earth-albert-lin-interview/
Nat Geo Explorer Profile Page
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/albert-yu-min-lin
Thurgood Marshall College Commencement 2018 - from UC San Diego Commencement Ceremonies - https://youtu.be/GaFIqfJvMXM
What is Transhumanism? From Nat Geo 2019 Story Tellers Summit
https://youtu.be/ZB6IJgnKwpY
https://www.dwayne-fields.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dwaynefields/
https://twitter.com/DwayneFields
https://www.facebook.com/DwayneFieldsAdventurer/
John’s Social Links
YouTube
VIDEO: Ted talk on what separates the best from the best.
BOOK - Fearless Success - The quest for perfection is not only possible--it's actually our natural state, says author and former Blue Angel pilot, John Foley. Imagine what the same preparation and mindset that allowed him to fly in formation mere inches apart from another jet can do for you, your teams, and any organization. In, Fearless Success, John Foley gives us the secrets that elite performers know and practice on a daily basis.
Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode.
Episode 110: Determination and Faith with Chris NortonEpisode 113: Embracing Vision with Kyle CoonEpisode 119: Equity in Entertainment with Keely Cat-WellsEpisode 132: Restoring Vision with Geoff TabinEpisode 133: Rebuilding Community & Purpose with Cpt. Dave Inbody, US Army, Ret.
To introduce our guest this week, read you a passage from a recent essay he wrote: “I gaze at her straight charcoal hair, serious blinking eyes and flawless skin. She is only a day old, but already her muscles are tight and when she cries it is high-pitched and she is difficult to console. Her urine is positive for benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, and opioid derivatives.” These are the words of Benjamin Rattray. He takes care of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. He walks the path where life and death are regularly held in his hands. He balances clinical science and compassionate care, with the goal infusing his medical practice with empathy and humanism. What does this all mean for us? Have a listen and discover for yourself. NOTE: This is our final episode of the year and our production team is taking a break for the holidays.
David Inbody is the father of three children, two sons and a daughter, and has been married to his wife Tiffany for nineteen years.
David was medically retired from the U.S. Army in 2012, after eight years of service. He attained the rank of Captain. He enlisted in 2004 and attended officer candidate school and was commissioned in 2008. He was assigned to Bravo Co, 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regt as a scout platoon leader. He later served as a plans officer and supply officer for the squadron before deploying as a member of an Agricultural Development Team in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
David was injured by an improvised explosive device while on a patrol on 15 July, 2010. As a result of injuries sustained from the blast he lost his right foot and sustained various other injuries. After two years of rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, David medically retired and returned home to College Station, Tx.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals as well as the Combat Action Badge and multiple other awards and decorations.
Imagine life if you were unable to see. Could you find the toilet, or leave in an emergency? Now imagine you lived in a place where there are no paved roads, no clean water. In our world, 14 million people, more than the entire population of Canada, are blind, unable to perform the daily tasks of living. Ninety percent of the world's visually impaired live in low-income settings. Eighty-five percent of the blindness on our planet could be cured, or could have been prevented. 20 million people are needlessly blind from treatable cataracts.
Now imagine: There exists a surgery that can restore perfect sight to these people in five minutes, for the cost of $25 per surgery. Imagine: We can overcome all the needless blindness in the world. People say it's impossible.
Some of Dr. Tabin’s Highlights:
- Dr. Tabin was also the fourth person to climb the Seven Summits
- In 1994, Dr. Tabin established the Himalayan Cataract Project with his colleague Dr. Sanduk Rui
- On an 8-day expedition to Ethiopia covered by National Geographic in 2009, Dr. Tabin and his team completed over 900 surgeries in just eight days
- In 2009, Dr. Tabin was presented with Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award by Dalai Lama
- He pioneered the first ascent of the final unclimbed face of Mount Everest, the challenging East Face, and also became the first ophthalmologist to summit Mount Everest.
LINKS
Recent Project in Ethiopia
Cure Blindness & Himalayan Cataract Project Website
Video - Ted Talk - Eradicating World Blindness - 16 minutes
Blind Corners Book
This much is true... no one gets outta here alive.
If you had the option of knowing the day you would die and how it would happen, would you want to know?
This is Jim.
Jim was very much alive when this episode was recorded.
Jim was dead 2 months later..
Jim has a Stage 4, terminal cancer diagnosis and has ceased all treatment. Two weeks before this episode was recorded he was told he had roughly a month to live.
Since his diagnosis, Jim has endured countless rounds of chemo, multiple surgeries and a brief ‘remission’. He has accepted his fate and has made it his mission to squeeze as much life out of the short time he has left. And along with that, has committed himself to encouraging people to wake the hell up with regards to valuing this one precious life that we each have. To not forget how fleeting and finite it all is. To love those around you and live the best version of your life.
We’re grateful to him for that critical reminder that our walk on this planet is brief and that every minute counts. It’s easy to get caught up in the circus that surrounds us. Instead, let’s step outside, breathe, hug, share, appreciate, love. --- Jeff Evans, No Barriers Podcast Host
Joe Strechay is a Producer and Consultant for film, television, theatre, and literary works. He consults on accessibility, disability, and blindness to assure respectful and accessible work environments and portrayals. He has worked on AppleTV+’s SEE, Netflix’s The OA, and Marvel’s Daredevil.
Joe has supervised services for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; managed a web program; instructed in services for individuals who are blind or have low vision; advised states and countries on services, and mentored numerous people with disabilities. He has consulted for the American Printing House for the Blind specific to CareerConnect and their National Transition Conversation.
Joe did his graduate work at Florida State University and his undergraduate at East Carolina University. He speaks around the United States about employment, transition, accessibility, and inclusion in entertainment, and his experiences. He and his wife, Jen, live in Pennsylvania.
LINKS
Joe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL3qga2wIqrtstBLMXQAwag/videos
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joestrechay/
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-strechay-67724243/
In this episode get up close and personal as this Olympian shares her triumphs, challenges (physical & mental), blunders here and there, and where her life is headed now. Growing up in Vermont, Sarah Will was a natural on the slopes. She competed on the nationally-ranked ski team at Green Mountain College. Her skiing career took an unexpected turn in 1988, when a skiing accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. She did not give up. 4 years later she went to the 1992 Paralympic Winter Games winning gold medals in the downhill and super-G. 10 years after, and back to back appearances at every winter olympics she had racked up 12 golds and 1 silver. Will is one of the most decorated athletes in U.S. ski team history.
16-year-old Alex Knoll is a tech founder and international speaker with a passion for helping others. He has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, BBC, Irish Times, NBC Nightly News, Sky News & many more.
Alex developed Ability App, a global crowd-sourced web app that helps people with cognitive, hearing, vision, and/or mobility disabilities and caregivers search for specific accessible and inclusive features at locations around the world.
Ability App launched globally on May 1, 2020. Please visit the Ability App website for more information at TheAbilityApp.com.
Most recently, Alex was awarded The Diana Award, given out by the charity of the same name with the support of The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex, and was created to honor Princess Diana’s work while inspiring others to action.
Special thanks to Wells Fargo for their sponsorship of today’s podcast in a series featuring folks who are breaking barriers in the business and the workplace.
Resources:
Visit the Ability App Website: https://theabilityapp.com/
Watch Alex on Ellen
How Ability App Works
Faith Malton is a natural-born engineer. She was born missing her right arm and thus, grew up problem-solving and adapting to her environment through innovation. More importantly, she engineered her mental aptitude and psyche to be rooted in a growth mindset. A student ambassador, she found herself inquisitive on how other cultures worked and how culture determines the perception of disability. Her curiosity led her to places like Antarctica, India, and Tanzania. Every trip was an awakening and revealed to her how the built environment shapes the way in which humans experience the world.
She now works at Walter P. Moore, an international civil engineering firm, doing site design. She believes design teams have a responsibility for their designs to be universally accessible, inspire the human spirit, and nurture a connection to the natural world.
Malton also works to help others break through mental barriers and navigate the world with limb differences through her YouTube channel, One Arm Wonder.
Resources:
YouTube: One Arm Wonder
Instagram: @theonearmwonderrr
TEDx Talk: From Victim to Creator
Amy Rusiecki is the owner of Beast Coast Trail Running and the Race Director for the Vermont 100 mile race, Seven Sisters Trail Race, Chesterfield Gorge Ultra Event, and Mount Tobey 50k, as well as a winning endurance athlete herself.
Amy is a true barrier-breaker in the ultra community. She successfully petitioned for the Vermont 100 to be the first ultra race in the country to recognize AWDs (athletes with disabilities) in their own division and has taken the Vermont 100 partnership with Vermont Adaptive to new heights. Since becoming the race director seven years ago she has helped raise close to $1M for the adaptive sports organization.
She has made bold moves to push past gender barriers, creating non-binary divisions in all of her events and she has led conversations nationwide about how to better manage gender equality within the race industry. Amy has been coaching for 18 years, working with High School and College running and XC ski teams, named ‘Coach of the Year’ three times.
Amy herself fell in love with trail running and ultras. She has three times represented the USA at World Trail Championships, her best finish was at the 2013 World Trail Champs, where she was the top American and 15th female. Amy has raced up and down the East Coast and ultimately enjoys running regardless of distance, terrain, or location.
Special thanks to the Winnebago Industries Foundation for their support of this podcast and their advocacy for accessibility in outdoor spaces.
Resources:
Vermont 100: https://vermont100.com/
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Beast Coast Trail Running: https://www.facebook.com/beastcoasttrails/
Vermont Adaptive: https://www.vermontadaptive.org/
Mark served in the United States Air Force for ten years, starting out as an aircraft mechanic. He loved his job but was looking for more challenges, so he switched to air traffic control for the remainder of his time in service. During a deployment in Kuwait, he sustained injuries resulting in his right leg needing to be amputated above the knee. He went into a deep depression and lost all hope and was very inactive.
Eventually, he found outdoor therapy programs like No Barriers and regained purpose and meaning in his life. Now he is the Founder and Executive Director of Outdoor Salute to Veterans. There are 22 veterans that commit suicide every day and OSTV strives to reduce these numbers by taking disabled veterans on outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, rafting, rock climbing, and camping.
Mark has also been married to his wife for 34 years and has three wonderful and successful children and five beautiful grandchildren.
Special thanks to CoBank for sponsoring today's episode in a series highlighting Veterans.
Resources:
Outdoor Salute to Veterans: https://outdoorsalutetoveterans.com/
Comedian, Josh Blue, sat down with Erik and Jeff at our studio in Golden, CO to discuss his career as a comic who happens to have cerebral palsy.
Following his groundbreaking win on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues throughout the world. His story has been featured on Fox, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, and CNN. He was the first comedian to perform stand-up on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, was named Best Winning Reality Show Guest on Live with Regis and Kelly, and made standout appearances on Comics Unleashed.
Recently, Josh crushed his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. He also just recorded his fifth-hour special at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver, CO.
Josh does over 200 shows a year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike.
Critics have said Josh is not a cerebral palsy comic; he’s a comic who happens to have cerebral palsy. However, his closest friends describe him as “a d-bag.
Resources:
Cast your vote for Josh on America’s Got Talent “AGT” app on your phone or head to NBC.com/AGTVote.
Check out more on Josh's website: https://www.joshblue.com/
Follow Josh on FB and Instagram
Colleen Rose is a military caregiver for her husband, John, an active duty Marine. While on his 2nd tour in Afghanistan, John was wounded by an IED blast sustaining vision loss and extensive injuries.
Colleen acted as his caregiver, and then, in 2016, the roles were reversed when Colleen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Several years later, Colleen has helped her husband retain his active duty status, and Colleen is cancer-free and in remission, and they are proud parents to their baby, Declan.
Colleen now serves as a Dole Caregiver Fellow, placing her in a great position to advocate and provide encouragement for all caregivers, sharing her experiences as a caregiver and care recipient.
Thank you to our sponsor, Prudential, for sponsoring this episode and more featuring alchemists like Colleen.
Resources:
For Military and Veteran Caregiver resources as part of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation: https://hiddenheroes.org/
Elizabeth Dole Foundation FB group: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethDoleFoundation/
Watch more about Colleen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D546jZFsCVE
Sean Passmore served 22 1/2 years in the Army before retiring in 2014.
Today, he leads the Military Talent Strategic Outsourcing (MTSS) team and oversees enterprise military and veteran initiatives at Wells Fargo, supporting the military community with housing affordability, financial wellness, small business support, and career transition assistance programs.
The MTSS team is 100% dedicated to attracting, recruiting, coaching, and advocating for veterans seeking career opportunities at Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo is a longtime supporter and partner of No Barriers. We are grateful for their ongoing support and their sponsorship of this episode - the first in a series highlighting folks who are working to increase inclusion and representation in career mobility.
Resources:
Sign up for the No Barriers Summit 8/28-8/29 (both in-person and virtual options): https://www.nobarriers.live/ Make sure to check out Wells Fargo’s career panel on 8/29 at 1 PM Mountain.
Wells Fargo Military Resource Page: https://www.wellsfargo.com/military
Wells Fargo Military Jobs: https://www.wellsfargojobs.com/military
Reach out directly to Wells Fargo Careers: militaryrecruiting@wellsfargo.com
Check out America’s Mentoring Network for the Military: https://www.veterati.com/
Read: What Color is Your Parachute?
Antoinette, an 11-year United States Army Veteran, is an American Adult Cross-Cultural Kid (ACCK) and Third Culture Adult (TCA) with family ancestry in Nigeria, Ireland, China, and Jamaica.
Antoinette is a former IT executive, a blogger at the New Normal Big Life blog, Producer of New Normal Big LifeTV for Culturs Global Multicultural TV, Contributing Writer at Paddling Magazine and Culturs, global, multicultural magazine.
Antoinette is also a transformational public speaker and an advocate for people living with traumatic brain injury, health challenges, and those diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
She is also the Producer of WhitewaterTV, a Kokatat National Brand Ambassador, and co-founder— Diversify Whitewater to name a few of her many accomplishments.
Thank you to our sponsor, Prudential, for sponsoring this episode and more featuring alchemists like Antoinette.
Resources:
https://antoinettetoscano.com/about-me/
https://www.instagram.com/antoinetteleetoscano/
www.linkedin.com/in/antoinettetoscano
https://xotv.me/channels/359-whitewatertv
https://www.instagram.com/whitewatertv_xotv
https://cultursmag.com/author/atoscano/
https://twitter.com/AntoinettesPen
Sean Entin was a successful entrepreneur who suddenly had a stroke at 39 years old. After many surgeries, doctors told him he would never walk, talk, drive or be independent again.
It has been 10 years since he had his stroke and he has not only regained his independence — in his recovery process —Sean became the StrokeHacker; learning how the brain works and what it takes to make it better.
His mantra “I can, I shall, I will” helped him through the most
difficult times in his life. That knowledge allowed him to teach thousands of people how to do the same.
He is currently a survivor coach, podcast host, and founder of the StrokeHacker Community.
Resources:
Learn more: https://strokehacker.com/
Watch Sean on ABC: https://abc7.com/curt-sandoval-mma-training-sean-entin/1101903/
Keely Cat-Wells is an Entrepreneur and Disability Activist dedicated to making social, systematic, and economical change.
Keely is the Founder/CEO of C Talent, Zetta Studios, and Zetta Finance. She founded her first company at a very early age while in the hospital, which eventually evolved into C Talent. C Talent represents Deaf and Disabled artists, athletes, and influencers globally to normalize disabled people being experts in subjects beyond disability.
After noticing the lack of access in the entertainment industry, Keely formed Zetta Studios, which is the world’s first-ever studio to be fully accessible, designed with disabled people in mind.
Keely is a Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Entertainment 2021 honoree, an Aerie Change-Maker, Advisory Board Member at Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, a Disability Subject Matter Expert at Google and The Lego Group name a few of her awards and recognitions.
Special thanks to Wells Fargo for their sponsorship of today's podcast in a series featuring leaders who are facilitating a cultural transformation in the workplace.
Resources:
Follow C Talent on IG
Follow Keely on IG
Check out the C Talent website: https://ctalent.org
Check out Keely's website: https://keelycatwells.com
DisabilityInMedia #DisabledAndProud #DisabilityAdvocate #DisabilityInclusion #InclusionMatters #DisabilityAwareness #Disability #InvisibleDisability #RepresentationMatters
Chris Prange-Morgan has worked extensively in the field of mental health and is familiar with the topics of trauma and resilience, grief and loss, adoption, and adapting and overcoming obstacles. Today, Chris and her husband, Scott, host a podcast and website, Full Catastrophe Parenting, which is dedicated to helping parents and professionals in the trenches of working with challenging family/life circumstances.
Over the past several years she has provided clinical pastoral care to hospitalized patients, created an adaptive rock climbing program, taken second in the para-climbing nationals (2015 female leg amputee division), and summited her first Colorado 14’er with her family.
Chris’ book, Full Catastrophe Parenting: Adoption, Disability, Trauma and Other Joys of Motherhood, is forthcoming.
Resources:
WEBSITE: https://www.fullcatastropheparenting.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/full_catastrophe_parenting/
FACEBOOK: https://m.facebook.com/cprangemorgan
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/chris-prange-morgan-ma-msw
Judaline Cassidy hails from the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Having experienced, first-hand, the challenges and injustices women working in male-dominated fields face, Judaline has devoted her life and work to being a force of change.
By day, she’s a history-making plumber in NYC, where she’s mastered her trade over the last two decades while fighting for equality in the construction industry. She dedicates every other waking second to her trademarked "Jobs Don’t Have Genders" activism, and to Tools & Tiaras Inc., the pioneering nonprofit she founded in 2017.
Through hands-on, mentoring workshops and summer camps led by tradeswomen leaders, her organization introduces girls and young women to skilled trades jobs like electrician, carpenter, plumber, and auto mechanic. Girls gain awareness of these rewarding and lucrative career options, along with invaluable life skills. Ultimately, Judaline is empowering girls with the grit, moxie, and self-confidence needed to succeed in whatever professional path they choose. A powerhouse role model, captivating speaker, founder of Lean In: Women In Trades, and recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, Judaline’s ability to inspire crosses generations and genders, and the impact she makes extends to her industry and beyond. Judaline was recently featured as one of CNN's 2020 'Champions For Change'.
Thank you to our sponsor, Prudential, for sponsoring this episode and more featuring alchemists like Judaline.
Resources:
Watch Judaline on CNN’s 2020 ‘Champions For Change.’
Watch Tools & Tiaras 2018 Girls Camp video
Judaline’s website: https://www.judaline.com/
Follow Judaline on IG, FB, and Twitter
Mark Wellman is a nationally acclaimed author, filmmaker, and motivational speaker.
Despite being paralyzed in a mountain climbing accident, Mark has inspired millions to meet their problems head-on and reach for their full potential. A two-time Paralympian and former Yosemite Park Ranger, Mark's NO LIMITS philosophy encourages individuals to adventure into new horizons; to go beyond the seemingly unreachable.
An accomplished wheelchair athlete, Mark is best known for the first historic paraplegic ascents of the sheer granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome, in Yosemite National Park.
His notoriety has been acclaimed on national television, by congressional commendation and meetings with two United States Presidents. The first paraplegic to sit-ski unassisted across the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Mark has also carried the flaming torch up the 120-foot rope, shocked by thousands of spectators, and lit the cauldron for the opening of the Paralympic Games in Atlanta.
Mark shares his story in the autobiography Climbing Back.
Resources:
Learn more about Mark: https://www.nolimitstahoe.com/
Order a copy of Mark's autobiography: Climbing Back.
Check out our No Barriers Summit page!
Sign up for our No Barriers newsletter to get news about our upcoming No Barriers Summit and other events.
We are honored that Prudential is sponsoring today's podcast highlighting people who are alchemists.
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time.
To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness.
Their condition inspired special attention to detail, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line.
Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch."
Thank you again to Prudential for supporting our podcast today and for allowing us to elevate these diverse and unique voices.
Resources:
Shop: https://twoblindbrothers.com/
Shop Blind: https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/shop-blind-monthly-challenge
Watch Bryan and Bradford on
Ellen
At 14, Reggie had a tragic electrical accident that left him a double amputee. But, his “never-say-die” attitude has propelled him to also become an accomplished pilot, inspirational speaker, certified snowboard instructor, and marathoner.
In 2017, he was part of ROMP, the Range Of Motion Project’s elite team of amputee & able-bodied climbers that climbed Cayambe, an 18000’ stratovolcano in Ecuador as part of a fundraising effort that benefitted amputees in third world countries.
Reggie continues to inspire folks around the world with his speaking career, athletic accomplishments, and mentorship programs.
Special thanks to the Winnebago Industries Foundation for their support of this podcast and their advocacy for accessibility in outdoor spaces.
Resources:
Check out Reggie’s website: https://lifewithreggie.com/
Follow Reggie on Facebook and Instagram
Introducing Reggie Showers on
National Geographic’s Mygrations
Kyle Coon lost his sight at the age of six after a battle with Retinoblastoma—cancer of the eye. However, not having sight has not stopped him from pursuing his vision. Since then he has become a competitive rock climber, downhill skier, runner, and triathlete.
After summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro at the age of 15, Kyle knew he needed to live a life filled with adventure. After getting his college degree and trying the working world for a bit, he decided to pursue his dream of becoming an endurance athlete, competing in numerous marathons and triathlons.
In 2018, he was a member of the first team of tandem cyclists with all blind or visually impaired stokers to complete Race Across America—the world’s toughest bicycle race—racing from Oceanside, Calif to Annapolis, Md in seven days 15 hours. Later in 2018, at Ironman Arizona, Kyle became the first totally blind person to complete an Ironman branded Triathlon (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run) in under 11 hours. He continues to push himself physically and mentally as he now pursues his goal of representing the USA at the 2020 Paralympics in the sport of Triathlon.
eyeronvision
Resources:
Purchase Kyle’s book, Discovering A Life Without Limits: How Cancer Took My Sight, Blindness Gave Me Vision and the Mountains Let Me Live
Code: NOBARRIERS to donate $1.00 to No Barriers with each purchase
Learn more about Kyle: https://kylecoon.com/
Watch Erik and Kyle on Oprah
Follow Kyle on Facebook and Instagram
Mountaineers and others scoffed at the notion that Erik Weihenmayer, blind since 14, could climb Mt. Everest. They thought he would be a danger to himself and his team. But, on that day in 2001 Erik and his team, through preparation, personal sacrifice, and the belief that they would succeed, stood together on the top of the world.
To celebrate this milestone Erik and members of their record-holding team reunited virtually and shared fond memories and recounted their struggles. Most importantly, they reflected on the advice their team leader, PV Scaturro, gave them on their descent: “Don’t make Everest the greatest thing you ever do.”
Resources:
Watch Michael Brown’s documentary film, Farther Than the Eye Can Seeon Amazon
Outside Magazine
Luis Benitez
PV Scaturro
Brad Bull (and his father, Sherman Bull)
Kami Tenzing Sherpa
Kevin Cherilla & K2 Adventure Travel
Jeff Evans
Parker (she/her) aka KWEEN WERK is an outspoken social media diva who focuses on environmental justice and social justice matters. Parker tackles these complex, interconnected issues by addressing them through head-on activism and education. She is the founder of a DEI Consulting Firm called Ecoinclusive, the creator of KWEEN WERK, and the co-founder of Inclusive Journeys.
As a leader at the intersection of culture and justice, Parker believes in using social media as a tool for social change. As a woman, as a Black person, as a curvy hiker, as a mother, as a Black business owner, she stands at the intersection of multiple identities. Her work shines a light on racism, ageism, sexism, heterosexism, and ableism; and aims to also give people tools for change.
KWEEN Werk is dedicated to disrupting the narrative that only white able-bodied people care about the environment and participate in outdoor recreation activities. KWEEN stands for Keep Widening Environmental Engagement Narratives.
Special thanks to the Winnebago Industries Foundation for their support of this podcast and their advocacy for accessibility in outdoor spaces.
Resources:
Inclusive Journeys - Sign up today!
KWEEN Werk
Ecoinclusive
Follow Parker on Tik Tok and Instagram
As an 18-year-old freshman at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Chris Norton suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a college football game.
Told by doctors that he had only a 3 percent chance of regaining movement below the neck, Chris has continually defied medical odds and, in 2015, successfully accomplished his goal of walking across his college graduation stage with the help of his then-fiancee, Emily.
Video from the event went viral, inspiring millions worldwide. Most recently, he walked Emily 7 yards down the aisle of their wedding - documented in his film “7 Yards” now available on Netflix.
Chris believes that our lives aren’t shaped by circumstance. They’re shaped by us. Perseverance isn’t about the physical act of standing: it’s about attitude, and the ability to shape yourself in the face of adversity.
Resources:
Read more about Chris and book him for your next speaking gig
Watch 7 Yards on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or AppleTV
Follow Chris on Facebook, Instagram,and LinkedIn
Lisa Lewis began her career with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She earned a master’s degree in Clown/Circus History from NYU. During the same period, she co-founded the Super Scientific Circus, a STEAM-based series of 6 shows which tour the country using Circus Skills to make science fun and accessible for all learning styles.
Lisa received her certification from Marquis Studios as a teaching artist for District 75 specializing in Autism and at-risk youth in NYC where she taught for four years. Lisa performed with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit and inspired by the efforts to serve new audiences, she became project coordinator for Circus of the Senses, a performance adapted for blind, visually impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, and those who are neuro-diverse.
Lisa doubled the reach of the program and seeing a need in the community, she created the Embracing Autism performances. Lisa expanded both offerings and audiences, created an inclusive training program for staff, and supported organization-wide inclusive hiring practices.
Now, Lisa is the founder and mastermind behind A Bold New Circus: Omnium.
A special thanks to Arrow Electronics for sponsoring this episode as part of their series highlighting people pioneering inclusive technology.
Resources:
Learn more about Omnium Circus: https://omniumcircus.org/
Follow Omnium on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Dr. Doug Jackson serves as the President and CEO of Project CURE. Since 1987, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics in over 135 countries and was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 charities in America.
In addition to delivering approximately five semi-truck-sized containers of medical relief each week, teams of medical professionals travel abroad to provide hundreds of hours of hands-on medical care and training through the C.U.R.E. Clinics program.
Doug is a frequent motivational speaker to civic, corporate, and community organizations.
Resources:
https://projectcure.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCURE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectcure
Kristan Seaford was a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom with five young children when a catastrophic illness struck. What began as the flu and strep throat turned into pneumonia and a life-threatening condition called septic shock. After 100 days, a medically-induced coma, six hospitals, and a miracle, she survived. She lives as a triple amputee, with her remaining foot missing the toes and heel. Today, Kristan is as busy as ever working as a motivational and faith-building speaker, a personal counselor, blogger, and writer.
Resources:
http://www.kristanseaford.com/
Watch Kristan’s journey here:
No Barriers Summit Story
Anthony Ferraro was born blind. Today Anthony is 25 years old and refers to himself as a professional athlete, musician, and motivational speaker. Flashing back to his High School career, Anthony was the only blind wrestler on his team. With the goal of winning a New Jersey state championship his senior year, his older brother Oliver followed him around and collected hundreds of hours of live footage. His film, “A Shot in the Dark” is now available on Amazon Prime.
When the United States Paralympic committee came across a viral trailer of the film they asked him if he would train in Judo to represent his country at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. COVID derailed Anthony’s training temporarily and he pivoted to music as his main outlet. Taking his musical talents on the road, Anthony branded a live stream music tour he called, "Anthony Ferraro's Blind Busking Live Stream Music Tour 2020.” Along with his fiance, they traveled through 23 states and over 9,800 miles of American highways and backroads.
Anthony continues to train for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Judo. His head is down and his focus is on continuing to get his message of peace and positivity to the world.
Resources:
- Watch the film "A Shot In The Dark" on Amazon Prime
- Follow Anthony on his TikTok page
- Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/asfvision/
Website -- https://asfvision.com
As President of The Prouty Project, Peter Bailey develops creative experience-based leadership development programs for companies and people to expand their life skills, belief systems, and communication processes. In his free time he roasts his own coffee beans, writes, sails, surfs, rock climbs, and enjoys time with his wife, kids, and two cats.
Resources:
Peter’s TEDx talk: “Developing The Heroic Journey Mindset”
To learn more visit:
www.proutyproject.com
Gerry Leary is the founder of the coffee shop, Unseen Bean in Boulder, CO. Gerry has been blind since he was born but his lack of vision does not stop him from roasting coffee. You don’t need sight to roast coffee, you need a heart, and Gerry has a huge one. Before coffee, Gerry was an auto mechanic for 40+ years. He loved working with his dad in their garage growing up and was told he couldn’t work on cars as a blind person - which only made him determined to do so.
Gerry Leary's passion for coffee began in 1994 when visiting a San Francisco cafe. He heard what sounded like a rock tumbler and discovered it was a coffee roaster. He realized then that coffee didn’t have to be flat and bitter, as coffee roasting was a true art form. Gerry's visual impairment kept him from finding an apprenticeship in the coffee business. So he attended the San Francisco Coffee Training Institute and began a journey into the land of gourmet coffee roasting.
Resources:
Visit Gerry’s website to purchase coffee: https://www.theunseenbean.com/
Check out his short film - a Vimeo Staff Pick - Roasting Coffee in the Dark
Listen to Gerry’s Filter Stories Episode here.
In 2017, Hadeel Ayoub founded BrightSign, a wearable technology start-up. BrightSign develops technology pieces that employ AI to facilitate communication for individuals who need it, such as people with hearing or speech disabilities or children with non-verbal autism.
Hadeel’s BrightSign Glove innovation has gained international recognition and has won global awards in Innovation and Artificial Intelligence.
A special thanks to Arrow Electronics for sponsoring this episode as part of their series highlighting people pioneering inclusive technology.
Resources:
Twitter: @hadeelayoub
Site: brightsignglove.com
From Sign to Speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qDUK1xOY8o
Nicole Kelly proudly identifies as a person living with a disability and spends much of her time advocating for it! Nicole stepped into the role of a public figure in 2013 when she won the title of Miss Iowa, making her one of very few to compete at Miss America with a physical disability.
Nicole is the co-creator and co-host of the podcast, Disarming Disability, which aims to break down the stigma surrounding disability by engaging disability experts in conversation. Nicole has proudly spoken at schools, universities, and corporations across the country about disability equity and inclusion.
This episode is sponsored by Wells Fargo, CoBank, Prudential, Arrow Electronics, and Winnebago Industries Foundation.
Resources:
www.missnicolegkelly.com
Follow Nicole on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
Subscribe & watch Nicole's videos on Youtube
Subhasis has spent about 20 years developing cutting-edge technology, 5 years of practicing therapy, and 10 years in clinical research with varying degrees of success and failure. His diverse background led him to invent and commercialize the world’s first fully wearable, connected brain plasticity training tool that trains brain and body in one system.
SynPhNe is the outcome of his Ph.D. (Biomechatronics) study which he completed after recovering from a brain injury himself. He is passionate about neuroplasticity, movement analysis, learning mechanisms, and aging.
He has been a yoga and martial arts practitioner for the past 40 years and is currently living in Singapore. He makes friends easily with those who love food, traveling, and adventure.
This episode was made possible by the support of Arrow Electronics.
Resources:
Visit SynPhNe’s Website: www.synphne.com
Additional reading: The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
Ann Curry is an award-winning journalist and photojournalist. She is a former NBC News Network anchor and international correspondent and has reported on conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Darfur, Congo, the Central African Republic, Serbia, Lebanon, and Israel; on nuclear tensions from North Korea and Iran and on numerous humanitarian disasters, including the tsunamis in Southeast Asia and Japan, and the massive 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Her awards for journalism include 7 Emmys. She has also been given numerous humanitarian awards, including from Refugees International, Americares, and Save the Children. One award she especially prizes is a Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, for her dedication to reporting about genocide.
She has also reported and executive produced a documentary series about people caught in transformative world events entitled “We’ll Meet Again,” anchored and executive produced a live series about medical care in America entitled “Chasing the Cure,” and is a contributing writer for National Geographic Magazine and will be a Fellow at American University spring semester 2021, where she will be teaching seminars on Journalism, including about credibility, ethics, frontline reporting and interviewing.
Resources:
Ann’s TedTalk on Restoring Journalism
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Michael Brown has excelled as both an adventure athlete and as a filmmaker. He has been to the summit of Mount Everest five times, each time with cameras rolling. His work as a director and cinematographer spans all seven continents and has won many film festivals and industry awards, including three national Emmy Awards. Michael is also a recipient of the International Alliance For Mountain Film's 'Grand Prix' awards at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the Explorers Festival’s Camera Extreme,' and the Giant Screen Cinema Association (IMAX) 'Outstanding Cinematography' Award.
Michael's lens has captured ice caves for NOVA, tornadoes for Discovery, science at the South Pole for National Geographic, avalanches for the BBC, and mountain climbing for four giant screen IMAX movies. Michael has made a habit of going to the world's harshest, most dangerous environments and always comes back with incredible footage and compelling stories. Outside Magazine describes the cerebral filmmaker as a "swashbuckling librarian," and Men's Journal calls him "a master of gut-dropping action."
Resources:
Follow Michael and his work on Facebook
Check out Serac Films and Michael’s impressive filmography
Adventure Film School
Sam Morris is the founder of Zen Warrior Training®, an enlightened leadership and embodied wisdom coaching program.
In 1999, Sam endured a spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the waist down. This incident catalyzed a deep dive into somatic healing arts, depth psychology, wisdom traditions, and the innate intelligence of the body.
Sam trains his clients in how to master the inner workings of the mind, body, and spirit and live from an enlightened state of presence in their businesses and in their personal lives.
Thank you to our No Barriers Podcast sponsors: Wells Fargo, Prudential, CoBank, Winnebago Industries Foundation, and Arrow Electronics.
Resources:
Zen Warrior Training Website
Watch Sam Morris speak at the 2020 No Barriers Summit
Sam’s email: Sam@zenwarriortraining.com
Follow Sam on Instagram at @zenwarriortraining
Books:
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Breath by James Nestor
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
Michael May was blinded by a chemical explosion at the age of three, but regained partial vision, at the age of 46, after cornea transplants and a pioneering stem cell procedure.
He has raised millions of dollars to develop four companies and has changed the landscape of how blind people get around independently. Mike’s start-up ventures have included developing the world’s first and only Laser Turntable, inventing a portable heating cushion for sports and medical applications, and starting 2 companies in adaptive technology including Sendero Group in 1999, which released the first-ever accessible GPS for the blind.
Currently, he is Chief Evangelist for Good Maps, Inc., a pedestrian navigation company with an emphasis on accessible navigation for people who are blind or visually impaired. Mike also holds the record for downhill skiing by a person who is completely blind -racing at 65 mph-and is the subject of the best-selling book Crashing Through by, Robert Kurson.
Huge thanks to Arrow Electronics for sponsoring this episode - the first in a series highlighting folks who are pioneering and innovating in the field of inclusive technology.
Resources:
For more information about Mike May, go to http://www.GoodMaps.com or http://www.CrashingThrough.com
Having Minnesota roots, Quinn’s parents were committed to taking their children to national parks all over the country, gradually traveling further and further west. With her first look at El Capitan, Quinn knew that she’d climb it one day; ten years later, she did. Since that first climb, Quinn has amassed an impressive list of big wall ascents, speed records, and difficult free climbs, first in places like Yosemite and Zion and then in the larger mountains of Patagonia, Greenland, and India.
But everything changed in 2017 when Quinn took a one-hundred-foot fall while climbing the Nose of El Cap, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Today, Quinn lives in her beloved Estes Park, Colorado where she works for the National Park Service, using her background as an environmental advocate to speak up for increased accessibility on public lands.
Special thanks to the Winnebago Industries Foundation for their support of this podcast and their advocacy for accessibility in outdoor spaces.
Resources:
Book recommendation: Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig
Follow Quinn on IG: @quinndalina
Visit Quinn’s website: https://www.quinnbrett.com/
Victor Mifsud is a citizen scientist, biohacker, natural vision educator, psychedelic advocate, and filmmaker. He has recently completed a very personal feature-length documentary called “My Neuroplastic Adventure”. His journeys take him from the cutting edge of neuroscience to the most ancient forms of tribal healing.
He has interviewed doctors and scientists who are using technology and wisdom in equal measure. He has worked with renowned National best-selling author & physician Dr. Gabor Maté; Canada Research Chair in Neurobiology of Motor Learning Director, Dr. Lara Boyd, and NY Times best-selling author Dr. Norman Doidge to name a few. He also happens to be blind.
Resources:
IG @blindbiohacker
Victor’s Documentary: www.myneuroplasticadventure.com
Documentary trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aKKP477-MA&t=6s
Read Breath by James Nestor
Read The Brain that Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge
Read It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn
Explore Dr. Gabor Maté’s work
Watch the 2011 Film, The Jungle Prescription
Watch Dr. Lara Boyd discuss neuroplasticity
Read Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind
Learn about Dave Asprey
An overview: What is Biohacking?
Dr. Kurt Papenfus works in family practice and emergency medicine in the rural communities of Colorado. Kurt attended school at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine where he graduated in 1986 and began to complete his internship and residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, CO. Kurt has been involved in the Center for Disease Control, National Occupational Research Agenda, Oil and Gas Sector Council, and was an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Advisory Council member. Kurt was also the doctor for the USA Climbing Team on Mt. Everest with the USA-Soviet-Chinese in 1990 and 1992 and can be remembered as the doctor on staff for the movie “Cliffhanger” in which Sylvester Stallone played an important role.
Resources:
Dr. Papenfus featured on CPR
Read Breath by James Nestor
To many, Heather Thomson is an adored reality star from the hit Bravo reality television series, The Real Housewives of New York City, but what many don’t know is that she also is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and recently launched beyond fresh organicnutrition brand and Heather Thomson superfood shows, developed to educate and support people making positive and sustainable changes impactful to their health and well-being.
The real Heather wears many hats as a married mother of two, successful entrepreneur, celebrated designer and inventor, philanthropist, speaker, avid adventurer, and her latest undertaking as host of her new podcast, in MY heart - with new episodes, every Tuesday.
Resources:
For more information go to Heatherthomson.com
Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @iamheathert and find Heather A. Thomson on Facebook.
Heather Thomson: No Barriers Ambassador
Check out Beyond Fresh & https://www.shophq.com/
Listen to in MY heart Podcast
When Joanna Sprtel Walters graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1994, she was among the first group of women out of the Academy to have selected warfare specialties.
She served aboard the USS PAUL F FOSTER (DD964) and the USS LA MOURE COUNTY (LST 1194) and finished her career in the Navy at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes while getting her MBA from DePaul University. Since graduating with her MBA in 2001, she has enjoyed a very diverse career ranging from Procter & Gamble, Real Estate Investing, REI Course writing, Casino owner/COO and eventually CEO, Principal of a Private Equity Firm, author of Girl At Sea, Motivational Speaker and e-commerce entrepreneur/owner of Wish Rock Relaxation.
Joanna spends her downtime enjoying the mountains with her family and can often be found climbing the cliffs of North Table Mountain, running or riding the trails, hiking to the top of 14ers, and playing in the snow. What she treasures most are the adventures she shares with her family as a single mom of two teenaged girls! She is a master at reinventing herself, overcoming challenges with grace, and tapping into the warrior within.
Resources:
Purchase Joanna’s book, Girl At Sea here
Author website
Wish Rock Relaxation: Joanna’s e-commerce company. Wish Rock focuses on high-end relaxation equipment such as massage chairs, zero gravity recliners, NIR saunas, lift chairs, ergonomic office chairs, and water features. Joanna is extending a 10% off for all of our listeners with the code: WISH10. https://www.wishrockrelaxation.com/discount/WISH10
Courthney Russell is a creator, activist, and social entrepreneur.
At one time on a collision course with incarceration or death, Courthney turned his life around after high school when he applied and was accepted to a pre-med program. Though he found his calling in med school, he continued to struggle with homelessness until graduating in 2011.
Courthney’s resolve to overcome his difficult life experiences propelled him to be the authentic, determined, and humble leader he is today.
Courthney is the co-founder of A2H2, a non-profit focused on meeting the health needs of those experiencing homelessness in Atlanta; he co-runs WeUp, a company built on the idea of uplifting community through hope and empowerment; and he co-hosts the podcast, Humanize, which broaches uncomfortable topics with the goal of disrupting social order and creating a more just and equitable society.
Resources:
Visit A2H2 and follow on Instagram: Changing Healthcare & Facebook: Changing Healthcare - A2H2
WeUp.org & on Instagram
Humanize Podcast on Instagram & Facebook
Maureen Beck was born without her left hand, but that didn’t stop her from picking up the sport of climbing at the age of 12. Now based in Colorado’s Front Range, Mo spends her nights training at the gym and her days climbing all over the American southwest. She works closely with the adaptive climbing community as an instructor with Paradox Sports and is the Chair of the USAC Paraclimbing Committee.
As a competitive climber, she has won 6 national titles, a gold medal at the 2014 Paraclimbing World Championships in Spain, and defended that title with a gold medal at the 2016 World Championships in Paris. In 2018, she went on her first alpine expedition to the Northwest Territories in Canada’s Nahanni National Park where she and fellow adaptive climber Jim Ewing attempted the legendary Lotus Flower Tower. Maureen starred in the 2017 Film Stumped which has won numerous awards and toured hundreds of cities all over the world, and in the 2019 film Adaptive. Mo is an athlete for The North Face, Petzl, Sterling Rope, TRUBLUE Climbing, Gnarly Nutrition, and Scarpa.
In addition to climbing, Mo loves gardening, her chickens and dogs, sleeping in cars, and fine Scotch whiskey.
Resources:
Watch Stumpedon Amazon Prime
Learn more about the film Adaptive
Watch Adaptive on Vimeo
Mo in the Mountains
A Guide to Rock Climbing terminology
Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode:
- Episode 57 - Cultivating Compassion with Physician, Dr. Rana Awdish
- Episode 78 - Serendipity with Jill Wheatley
- Episode 54 - Thinking Through Uncertainty: Neuroscientist, Beau Lotto
- Episode 53 - Examining Collective Grief with Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber
- Episode 64 - Exploring Vision with Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib
- Episode 41 - Harnessing Adversity with Dr. Paul Stoltz
- Episode 58 - Harnessing Positivity with Jim Kwok
Eduardo Garcia is a professional Chef who owns retail food brand Montana Mex, a Mexican inspired line of Organic, NON-GMO condiment sauces, seasonings, and Avocado oil.
He is known as the "bionic chef" because he cooks with a prosthetic left arm, the result of an accident while hunting in 2011. His story is the subject of the feature-length documentary Charged. Eduardo is an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, hunter, triathlete, and motivational speaker.
After becoming the first blind climber to summit Mt. Everest, Erik Weihenmayer turned his focus to an entirely different kind of challenge: He learned to kayak and decided to attempt to paddle the length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It was the next chapter in Weihenmayer’s quest for presence, independence, and self-agency — things hard to achieve without sight. As The Weight of Water chronicles, the trip was much more than an adventure athlete notching another accomplishment in his belt. Weihenmayer joins a team of guides and new friends — including fellow blind kayaker Lonnie Bedwell, an absolute inspiration in his own right — on an emotionally weighted journey down one of America’s most iconic canyons.
As they paddle, they confront loss, fear, and anxiety. They exemplify what people can achieve — and overcome — through selflessness, teamwork, and courage. And they let the river unlock its priceless lessons. The result is a triumph.
Together, Erik and Eduardo discuss their adversities and what they have learned along the way.
Resources:
Read more about Eduardo and pick up some Montana Mex goods
Watch Charged on Amazon, iTunes, or Vimeo
Watch Weight of Water on Amazon Prime or iTunes
Read Jeff Evan’s book:
Climbing Through Storms
Mike SavickiIn November 1990., while training to become a U.S. Navy F-14 fighter pilot, Mike Savicki sustained a severe spinal cord injury after diving into the ocean. In an instant, he went from being a fit, active, promising Naval officer – commissioned as the top-flight candidate in the nation’s number one ROTC college graduating class – to a quadriplegic who was challenged with learning to live life again using a wheelchair.
As he regained his independence, Mike earned an MBA, delivered the commencement address, and became involved in wheelchair sports. He is a 22-time finisher (and five-time division winner) of the prestigious BAA Boston Marathon (making him the only person to have completed the marathon on foot and subsequently in a wheelchair) and has earned more than 100 gold medals in the National Wheelchair Veterans Games. In 2009, he became the first quadriplegic to finish the 70.3-mile Beach to Battleship Half Ironman Triathlon.
From there he became deputy director of World T.E.A.M. Sports, a non-profit for people with and without disabilities, served on numerous non-profit boards, and started his own communications company. He is also a high school teacher, a husband, a father, an advocate for disabled veterans, and a proponent of getting those with disabilities back on the road in adapted vehicles.
Savicki married in 2010, and he and his wife, Sarah, welcomed a baby girl, Caroline, into their lives shortly thereafter. Overcoming adversity, marathons, triathlons, degrees, companies, teams, books, magazines, speeches, advocacy efforts in DC, and fighter jets? That's nothing, he says. The real challenge? Keeping up with a kiddo whose life is unfolding each and every day.
Resources:
Check out Mike’s website
Follow Mike on Facebook
Follow Mike on Instagram
Kate Merrill is a Registered Nurse who worked in a Trauma Intensive Care Unit for 22 years before taking the plunge to open her own bakery in Chicago.
Edge of Sweetness was off to a strong start in 2020, hitting its sales targets and becoming a neighborhood favorite. Then, COVID-19 hit, and after months of adjusting and taking the necessary precautions, Kate and her staff made the choice to temporarily close.
Kate then answered the call from the Governor for nurse support and return to work at the hospital she had worked in previously, to treat patients with COVID. Since she has been laying the groundwork for her bakery to make a triumphant return.
Resources:
Visit Kate's bakery: https://www.edgeofsweetness.com/
Check out “What’s Within You” to read more of Kate’s story
Dr. Perea-Henze is a global health physician, government official, and corporate executive who served most recently as Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services for the City of New York since 2019. He was responsible for the citywide response for COVID19 from the start of the pandemic, preparedness for recurrences, and recovery efforts.
He was the Chair of the NYC Health and Social Services Sector Advisory Councils and Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Racial Inclusiveness and Equity Task Force. He also provided oversight for 14 agencies, including the departments of health & mental hygiene, social and homeless services, children, aging, the public hospital system, domestic violence, LGBTQ, data informatics, and food policy.
Nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Raul served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2010-2013.
Currently, he serves as a member of the Advisory Board to the Comptroller General of The United States. His former affiliations include being a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative, a board member for President George HW Bush Points of Light Foundation, and an advisor on global poverty and Veteran affairs for President Jimmy Carter Center and President George W. Bush Institute respectively. He’s been committed to philanthropic causes volunteering in over 30 non-profit boards in health, mental health, AIDS, and Latino affairs over the past three decades.
Dr. Perea-Henze graduated magna cum laude as a Medical Doctor in Mexico at age 21 and obtained a Master's degree in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Policy and Management, from Yale University, School of Medicine. He has also completed Executive Leadership Programs at Harvard Business School and JFK School of Government and INSEAD, France. He has worked or traveled to 145 countries and is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Prior to her combat injury and subsequent retirement from service, Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans served 27 years in the US Army and was responsible for more than 30,000 ground troops in Afghanistan. She is one of the most decorated female veterans in U.S. history.
During her service, Gretchen survived a rocket blast which left her with hearing loss and a traumatic brain injury. While struggling with depression after her injury, she relied on a new rope team to bring her back into the world and show her she still had the ability to find purpose by serving and leading again. Despite her injuries, Gretchen serves others as a passionate volunteer. She also achieved her No Barriers goal by finishing her book, “Leading from the Front.”
Last year, Gretchen assembled Team Unbroken - the first-ever team whose members all had disabilities - to compete in the World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, hosted by Bear Grylls. Watch now on Amazon Prime!
Now, Gretchen is scheduled to be inducted into the U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame for her outstanding and meritorious service within the United States Army and in her community.
Resources:
Read the No Barriers Warriors blog on Gretchen
Read more about Team Unbroken in Runner’s World
Watch Team Unbroken on Amazon Prime
Follow Gretchen on Facebook: @AdventurousAura
Richard Casper is a United States Marine Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Artist, and Entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of CreatiVets, a non-profit that provides art, music, and writing programs for wounded veterans with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.
Richard was named one of TIME magazine’s Next Generation Leaders, is the feature of TIME’s documentary Evidence of Things Unseen, and recognized by President George W. Bush and The Bush Institute for his passion and work helping combat veterans. He was one of the thirty-three scholars chosen to be in President Bush’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program.
Richard served in the USMC from 2003-2007. During the first portion of his enlistment, Casper served as Presidential guard at Camp David. Later in 2006-2007 during his tour in Iraq, Richard survived four IED blasts which left him with a left-traumatic brain injury and witnessed the death of his friend which caused his post-traumatic stress. After nearly giving up, he discovered art and song-writing as therapeutic forms of expression and went on to attend and graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. From his experiences, he later created art and songwriting programs for CreatiVets to help other combat wounded veterans heal.
Richard has taught art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Southern California. He is a keynote speaker, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He resides in Nashville TN with his wife Ashley and son Barrett.
Resources:
Visit CreatiVets Website
Read about CreatiVets in Forbes
Learn more about CreatiVets partnership with Amazon
Follow CreatiVets on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter
After serving 14 years in both the Navy as a chef to the Commander of the US 6th Fleet and then transitioning on to becoming an Army team leader in one of the military’s most dangerous jobs, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale was blinded by an IED. Not letting his injuries hold him back, Aaron became an EOD instructor, motivational speaker, mountain climber, white water kayaker, and marathon runner. Four years later tragedy struck again when Aaron contracted bacterial meningitis which robbed him of his hearing leaving him not just 100% blind but completely deaf as well.
Again, Aaron picked himself up, dusted off, and continued to chase the best of what life has to offer. Today, he’s back speaking and sharing his story, running marathons, he’s a proud husband and father of a 9-year-old son and the recent addition of identical twins, runs a thriving chocolate company with his wife, and recently completed his first 100-mile ultramarathon.
Resources:
Purchase Aaron's Extraordinary Delights here.
Follow Aaron and his Extraordinary Delights on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@EODConfections)
The Boston Herald covers Aaron's journey to the Boston Marathon
Aaron Hale featured on ESPN
Watch Aaron's story on Fox News
Watch Aaron's story on VIMEO
Debbie Fisher was a physical therapist for over 20 years and is now a full-time caretaker for her daughter, Grace.
In 2014 during her senior year of High School, Grace Fisher’s spine was ravaged by a virus leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. She was diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis and sent to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver, CO.
At Craig Hospital, she was introduced to music therapy and adaptive art. This not only helped strengthen her neck but also helped heal her mind and soul. She worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill her desire to help other children with disabilities through art and music, by starting The Grace Foundation, which brings the healing touch of art therapy to other children living with a disability.
Debbie resides in Santa Barbara alongside her husband, Bill, and their daughters, Grace, and Emily.
Resources:
Visit the Grace Foundation
Watch the Trailer for Amazing Grace
Check out Grace’s Blog
“Embracing New Possibilities”
Melissa Comeau is honored to serve as the Director of the American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network.
Her book Sleeping with the War was published in 2015 and has brought the family and caregiver perspective to life after combat. Melissa served as a Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. She has a long history of providing peer support to military families and is supporting efforts at Blue Star Families, Psych Armor, and the Military Family Advisory Network.
Melissa was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee for Veterans’ Family, Caregivers and Survivors at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. She is a recognized advocate for the military and veteran community with a career supported by an MSM in Information Technology and Project Management.
Her education and background have made her a valuable resource and a pioneer in the development of technology to support caregivers. Melissa is invested in the long-term care of our Nation’s heroes as well as their families, children, caregivers, and survivors. She is also the spouse and caregiver of a combat-wounded United States Marine.
Resources:
American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
Visit the MVCN Website to log in to the Online Community, use the Hero Care Resource Library, or find upcoming events on the Caregiver Calendar.
Who are Youth Caregivers? Caregiving youths are children and adolescents who are 18 years of age or younger and who provide significant or substantial assistance, often on a regular basis, to relatives or household members who need help because of physical or mental illness, disability, frailty associated with aging, substance misuse, or other condition.
Connie Siskowski’s broad background in healthcare and dedication to diminishing caregiver struggles led to the establishment of the American Association for Caregiving Youth (AACY), headquartered in Boca Raton, FL. AACY integrates healthcare, education, and the community to provide a strong foundation for the youth and their families.
Connie authored the book, I’m a Teen Caregiver. Now What? She has received many awards including the lifetime Ashoka Fellowship, Purpose Prize, Distinguished Alumna Award from Johns Hopkins University, and Top Ten CNN Hero for 2012. Connie is now on the faculty of the national Family RAISE Caregiving Council to give caregiving youth a voice.
Resources:
NY Time Article: Supporting Children who Serve as Caregivers
American Association of Caregiving Youth
AACY Videos
CNN Hero: Connie Siskowski
In 2014, Jill was a Phys Ed teacher in Europe when she was hit in the head by a rogue baseball during class.
The severity of the blow resulted in a traumatic brain injury and a 70% vision loss. In addition to the physical wounds, it left Jill in a deep state of despair. After 26 months in 7 hospitals in 3 countries, she was finally on the road to physically recover but still felt emotionally lost.
Inspired by the mountain view from her hospital bed, she formed a goal: to run trails on mountains all around the world - a challenge to her broken body and the return to independence that she craved.
An educator for over twenty years, Lisa Yokana is the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) coordinator at Scarsdale High School, where she designed and teaches a three-level STEAM course sequence for Scarsdale’s Design Lab.
In 2019, the program won the gold medal in the STEAMEX international contest for innovative curriculum design. Lisa works with teachers across the disciplines to integrate Design Thinking and Making into their curriculum.
She was a Coach for IDEO’s Teachers Guild, is an author of curriculum for outside organizations including the U.S. History Advanced Placement course, and co-instructs Project Zero/Harvard Graduate School of Education’s online class: Thinking and Learning in the Maker Centered Classroom. She leads Innovation Education, Design Thinking and Maker workshops and presents at conferences, encouraging educators to shift their practice.
Lisa earned her BA in Studio Art and French Literature from Williams College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and her Master's Degree in Art History from Columbia University. She also has a degree in building and district level administration from Stony Brook University.
Resources:
Follow Lisa on Twitter: @lyokana59
Check out her Blog: http://innovated2x.blogspot.com/
How I Built This Podcast
The No Barriers Global Impact Challenge Winners: Scarsdale High School
No Barriers Education Resources
Michael O'Toole has been immersed in education and coaching for more than three decades.
His work in the classroom focuses on the areas of both physical and cultural geography as well as Earth system science. Throughout his career as an educator and curriculum developer, he has had the opportunity to work with students and teachers around the world and with such organizations as National Geographic, NASA, UCAR, the National Science Foundation, The GLOBE Program, Discovery Education, and the University of Colorado.
Michael spent 2 years as the STEM Coordinator for St. Vrain Valley Schools before moving to his current position as Coordinator of Science Curriculum for St. Vrain Valley Schools.
He is very interested in increasing geographic and scientific knowledge as well as promoting STEM education and the use of technology in the classroom.
Michael is an avid outdoorsman and can be found regularly on the trails and frequently summits Mount Kilimanjaro.
Resources:
How St. Vrain Valley Schools Started a STEM Revolution
NPR Article: How 3 Countries are Educating Their Kids During Their Pandemic
St. Vrain Valley Schools
No Barriers for Educators
Dr. Michael Kuchar is the Superintendent of the South Bergen Jointure Commission, a New Jersey public school district whose mission is to dramatically increase the independence of individuals with extraordinary challenges.
With a combined twenty-five years of experience as a school district administrator, Dr. Kuchar has served as the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Bergenfield School District; the Superintendent of the Bergenfield Public School District for 11 years; the Bergenfield High School Principal; Bergenfield Director of Guidance/Testing; and the High School Principal at Dobbs Ferry in Westchester County, an International Baccalaureate School. He was an associate professor of education at Seton Hall University in the doctoral program of Education, Leadership, Management, and Policy and still serves as a doctoral mentor/lecturer.
He is the immediate past-president of the New Jersey Association of Superintendents (NJASA) and the Chair of the Middle States Association of Secondary Schools. In 2017, the College Board recognized his commitment to education with the Bernard P. Ireland Recognition Award. And in 2020, the NJASA recognized his administrative achievements with the 2020 Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Kuchar holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching from Fordham University, an Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. from Seton Hall University.
Resources:
Learn more about SBJC
The SBJC Restart & Recovery Plan
In his quest for contentment, Christian Leeby dedicated his life to yoga. After studying with the world’s greatest masters and teaching full time for over 25 years, he finally attained the lofty goal of “stilling the mind”. But it didn’t work. When life got hard, as it does for everyone, and he couldn’t escape to practice the yoga he loved, he fell apart.
For two years all he focused on was trying to stay above water in an ocean of anxiety. Then everything changed when he found ancient knowledge from the Vedas that explained his exact situation. Contentment doesn’t come from making the mind still and feeling good for short moments. It comes from using the mind to transform its negative habits and empower our positive life vision.
He created a Mindset practice that he did every day, and saw his whole life transform. Christian currently guides others in creating their own Mindset practices in his immersion course Calm To The Core.
Resources:
To get more information about how you can create your own Mindset Mastery Practice, visit Christian’s website at https://www.christianleeby.com/
Join his private Facebook™ group
Download his free PDF here.
Check out Christian's eBook: Own Your Mind, Love Your Life
What is Iyengar Yoga?
An Introduction to The Vedas
Christine Ha lost her vision over the course of a few years in her early twenties due to a neurological condition called neuromyelitis optica, which affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. Hosts, Jeff and Erik, speak with Christine about the challenges she faces as a blind Chef, and through their conversation, they discover that her tenacity and strength has been a mainstay of her personality since childhood.
Christine’s resume is impressive: she is the first-ever blind contestant and season 3 winner of the competitive amateur cooking television show “MasterChef” with Gordon Ramsay. She defeated over 30,000 home cooks across America to secure the coveted MasterChef title, a $250,000 cash prize, and a cookbook deal.
She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the nationally acclaimed Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston, where she served as Fiction Editor for Gulf Coast literary journal, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. She is currently working on hermemoir and second cookbook.
Christine’s first cookbook, Recipes From My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food, was a New York Times best-seller. She has been featured on NPR, the BBC, and CNN International, and travels around the globe to give keynote addresses and TEDx talks. Christine has also spoken about disability advocacy at the United Nations and served as a culinary envoy overseas for the American Embassy as part of cultural diplomacy programs in Jordan, Serbia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, and Croatia. She was a co-host on the Canadian cooking show “Four Senses” and a judge on “MasterChef” Vietnam.
Christine received the 2014 Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind, a recognition formerly bestowed upon Ray Charles, Patty Duke, and Stevie Wonder among others. Christine’s first restaurant, The Blind Goat, is now open in Houston.
Resources:
theblindcook.com
Facebook: facebook.com/theblindcook
Twitter: @theblindcook
Instagram: @theblindcook
Youtube: YouTube.com/ChristineHaTube
Greg Brenneman speaks to Erik and Dave about balancing work and life in the time of COVID on this latest episode. His lengthy business resume and acumen have positioned Greg as an authority on how to succeed in the corporate world, but he is also a believer in spending equal time investing in family and giving back to the community. With his unique lens, Greg offers wisdom in the form of what he calls "the five F's" and other strategies to prosper in both life and the workplace.
Greg is Executive Chairman of CCMP and a member of the Firm’s Investment Committee. Greg plays an active leadership role in executing the Firm’s overall strategy while remaining actively engaged in completing transactions, developing strategies, and coaching the senior management of CCMP’s portfolio companies.
Prior to joining CCMP in October 2008, he served as Chairman, CEO, President, and/or COO of Quiznos Sub, Burger King, PwC Consulting, and Continental Airlines. In 1994 Greg founded Turnworks, Inc. (“Turnworks”), his personal investment firm that focuses on corporate turnarounds. Prior to founding Turnworks, Greg was a Vice President for Bain & Company. Greg currently serves on the board of directors of Eating Recovery Center, Hayward, PQ Corporation, BGIS, Baker Hughes, Baylor College of Medicine, and The Home Depot, Inc.
Greg is also an Emmy Award winner and the author of Right Away & All At Once, Five Steps To Transform Your Business and Enrich Your Life. He holds a B.B.A. in Accounting/Finance, summa cum laude, from Washburn University of Topeka, Kansas, and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree from Washburn University.
Resources:
Download or Purchase Greg's book Today: Right Away & All At Once, Five Steps to Transform Your Business and Enrich Your Life
Explore the No Barriers Leadership Program
A continuation of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, we speak to Heather Zoccali. Heather hails from Kentucky and has made Colorado her home since 2002. Heather taught dance in public schools but personal tragedies in her life led her in a new direction. Heather found that caregivers were often a forgotten part of the rehabilitation and recovery process and needed opportunities to practice self-care. With that in mind, she founded The Arch Foundation in 2017, to help bridge that gap and provide caregivers with resources.
She has since been honored as a Colorado State University Hometown Hero, as Rookie of the Year for Volunteer Disaster Aid Work with The American Red Cross, and received a Tribute from the State of CO for her pioneering work for Family Caregivers. Heather firmly believes in the notion that a broken spirit grows back stronger in the face of tremendous life challenges and lives her life accordingly.
Heather’s core beliefs are rooted in choices we are all capable of making: the choice to forgive; the choice to find magic in the world, especially at times when it seems near-impossible; and last but surely not least, the choice to be happy and find within yourself a resilience that we all possess.
She continues to live in Fort Collins, CO with her husband Matt and her two sons, Connor & Max as well and now her mother ‘Nana.’
Additional Resources:
https://themighty.com/2020/01/becoming-caregiver-after-spinal-cord-injury/
No Barriers Caregiver Program
No Barriers Caregiver Resources
No Barriers Caregivers Facebook Group (Private)
AARP
Elizabeth Dole Foundation
National Caregiver Alliance
Aging and Disability Resources Centers
When Dr. Andres Maldonado started experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, he resisted heading to the hospital. As his condition worsened, his friends and family urged him to seek help. So, after 9 days he was tested and it was positive. He was rushed to the ER and soon, the ICU.
His stoicism quickly diminished when he was bed-bound and was placed on a high-flow nasal cannula to force oxygen into his lungs. For days, he struggled to breathe and was close to intubation. For a week Andres was helped by nurses and doctors (normally his coworkers) and was forced to adjust from the role of caregiver to being a patient. He fought to stay alive and was buoyed by the support of his parents, his brother, his girlfriend, and his large network of friends; many of whom sent him messages via social media.
Finally, with new medication and all treatment options deployed, his lungs cleared enough to be discharged. We speak with Andres about his commitment to medicine, the strength of his Rope Team, and the importance of empathy for his patients his experience has brought him.
Resources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/opinion/sunday/young-doctor-coronavirus.html
Visit our Show Page at https://nobarriersusa.org/podcast/
Learn more about No Barriers: https://nobarriersusa.org/
Continuing with our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, we interview Sofija Korać, a senior human rights adviser at the United States Mission to the UN covering a range of issues including the human rights of persons with disabilities.
She previously worked on human rights issues for the bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor at the State Department. Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, Sofija and her family immigrated to the United States in the mid-1990s. Sofija started her career off working on disability rights in the Balkans both with the United Nations and civil society during the time when Serbia and others in the region ratified the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD). Sofija is fluent in five languages including her native Serbian and English, an avid theatre-goer, and theatre director on the side.
Sofija also grew up playing a variety of adaptive sports including wheelchair basketball, track and field, swimming, weightlifting, and currently does adaptive rowing. Sofija has a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and Spanish from the Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts in international law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Resources:
Learn more about the ADA
Learn more about No Barriers
Sofija Korac's Article on Removing Barriers: https://statemag.state.gov/2020/07/0720feat02/
Around the time when lockdowns were becoming a reality for most of the U.S., our hosts had the opportunity to slow down and catch up with world-renowned athlete and long-distance runner, Joseph Gray. Living in Colorado, Joseph was enjoying time with his family and took some time out of his training schedule to chat with our No Barriers Team. As part of our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential), we are excited to share his episode and story. It is definitely one to inspire.
Joseph Gray is a 36-year-old American world champion runner who competes mostly in trail, mountain, and snowshoe races. The 31-time USA National team member hails from the Pacific Northwest and now splits his time training in Colorado Springs, CO, and Tacoma, WA. His achievements are far too numerous to list out but to name a few: he is a 2-time World Mountain Running Champion (most recently won in 2019), he is the first African American to win the USA Mountain Running National Championship and also the first African American to make the USA World Mountain Running Team. Additionally, he is the first athlete to win the North American, Central American,and Caribbean Championships in Cross Country and Mountain Running.
A few notable Colorado achievements include completing the Manitou Incline in 17 mins and 45 seconds. and is a three-time winner of the Pike’s Peak Ascent. Joseph continues to be a mainstay atop the podium worldwide and strives to see and inspire more diversity in the running world and actively mentors young Black runners in his community.
From Joseph: “I try my hardest to do my part by being an example of what hard work can do in terms of the opportunities this sport has given me and the notion that no matter your upbringing you too can be a National or even World Champion if you work for it.”
Follow Joseph:
Twitter and IG @joegeezi
Facebook.com/journeyofjoegeezi
ProjectInspireDiversity #journeyofjoegeezi
Check out more No Barriers Stories on our show page: https://nobarriersusa.org/podcast/
Check out this other interview with Joseph: https://www.5280.com/2019/10/joseph-gray-wants-to-see-more-diversity-in-the-mountains/
Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, she has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award and secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016.
Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and travels the world teaching the benefits of choosing inclusion. Her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, is a captivating read. A review from O Magazine states "This autobiography by a millennial Helen Keller teems with grace and grit.”
Learn more about Haben here: https://habengirma.com/
Watch her TED Talk
Check out her appearance on the Today Show
Purchase or learn more about her book
Follow Haben on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
Visit our No Barriers Show Page for Transcripts and more
Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, she has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award and secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016.
Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and travels the world teaching the benefits of choosing inclusion. Her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, is a captivating read. A review from O Magazine states "This autobiography by a millennial Helen Keller teems with grace and grit.”
Learn more about Haben here: https://habengirma.com/
Watch her TED Talk
Check out her appearance on the Today Show
Purchase or learn more about her book
Follow Haben on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
Visit our No Barriers Show Page for Transcripts and more
In the latest installment of our No Barriers Alchemy Series, sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo, Jeff and Erik speak with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib. Cyrus was elected Washington State’s 16th Lieutenant Governor in November 2016 at the age of 35. He had previously been elected to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and the State Senate in 2014, where he was Democratic Whip and a member of the Democratic leadership team. As Lt. Governor, he is President of the State Senate, serves as Acting Governor whenever Governor Inslee leaves the state, and oversees an agency whose key issues include economic development, trade, and higher education.
A three-time cancer survivor, Lt. Governor Habib has been fully blind since age eight. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Iran before he was born, and he is the first and only Iranian-American to hold statewide elected office in the United States.
He is a graduate of Columbia University summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and Yale Law School, where he was Editor of the Yale Law Journal. Lt. Governor Habib practiced law at Perkins Coie, and served as Distinguished Lawmaker in Residence at Seattle University Law School. He is a Truman Scholar, a Soros Fellow, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
From his Director of External Affairs: "In terms of anything we’d like to promote other than Boundless Washington, the Lt. Governor recently launched the Washington Mask Challenge to promote the making and wearing of cloth face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can find more info here. That may be something at the end to remind people to wear masks in public places and to encourage them to participate if they can."
Boundless Washington: https://www.boundlesswa.org/
A Climb for a Cause: https://www.boundlesswa.org/climb
The Washington Mask Challenge:
In the latest installment of our No Barriers Alchemy Series, sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo, Jeff and Erik speak with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib. Cyrus was elected Washington State’s 16th Lieutenant Governor in November 2016 at the age of 35. He had previously been elected to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and the State Senate in 2014, where he was Democratic Whip and a member of the Democratic leadership team. As Lt. Governor, he is President of the State Senate, serves as Acting Governor whenever Governor Inslee leaves the state and oversees an agency whose key issues include economic development, trade, and higher education.
A three-time cancer survivor, Lt. Governor Habib has been fully blind since age eight. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Iran before he was born, and he is the first and only Iranian-American to hold statewide elected office in the United States.
He is a graduate of Columbia University summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and Yale Law School, where he was Editor of the Yale Law Journal. Lt. Governor Habib practiced law at Perkins Coie, and served as Distinguished Lawmaker in Residence at Seattle University Law School. He is a Truman Scholar, a Soros Fellow, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
From his Director of External Affairs: "In terms of anything we’d like to promote other than Boundless Washington, the Lt. Governor recently launched the Washington Mask Challenge to promote the making and wearing of cloth face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can find more info here. That may be something at the end to remind people to wear masks in public places and to encourage them to participate if they can."
Boundless Washington: https://www.boundlesswa.org/
A Climb for a Cause: https://www.boundlesswa.org/climb
The Washington Mask Challenge: https://vimeo.com/413000725
Our Alchemy series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, continues on with Erik and Dave speaking to Dr. Carrie Hauser, an academic leader in Colorado.
Serving as President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public two- and four-year degree-granting institution with eleven campuses serving 12,000 square miles of the central Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hauser explains how this pandemic has been affecting the academic sphere.
Hauser’s background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver, and Colorado State University. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.
She is currently a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado and Glenwood Springs Chamber boards of directors, and a member of El Pomar Foundation’s Northwest Regional Council. At the national level, Hauser is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, serves on the board of American Rivers, serves on the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, and is past president of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).
Resources:
More information on CMC Responds
Dr. Hauser's Statement Regarding COVID-19
Inside Higher Ed Article by Jamie Merisotis and Carrie Besnette Hauser
Follow Dr. Hauser on Twitter: @CMCPresident
Our Alchemy series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, continues on with Erik and Dave speaking to Dr. Carrie Hauser, an academic leader in Colorado.
Serving as President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public two- and four-year degree-granting institution with eleven campuses serving 12,000 square miles of the central Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hauser explains how this pandemic has been affecting the academic sphere.
Hauser’s background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver, and Colorado State University. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.
She is currently a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado and Glenwood Springs Chamber boards of directors, and a member of El Pomar Foundation’s Northwest Regional Council. At the national level, Hauser is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, serves on the board of American Rivers, serves on the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, and is past president of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).
Resources:
More information on CMC Responds
Dr. Hauser's Statement Regarding COVID-19
Inside Higher Ed Article by Jamie Merisotis and Carrie Besnette Hauser
Follow Dr. Hauser on Twitter: @CMCPresident
Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic & inspirational innovation. Ebeling is a film, television, and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, and entrepreneur.
Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of "commit, then figure it out" allows him to convene a disparate team of hackers, doers, makers, and thinkers to create devices that better the world by bringing about accessibility for all. This unconventional approach brought to life highly-acclaimed initiatives - The Eyewriter, Project Daniel, Don's Voice, and most recently Music: Not Impossible - that brought the ability to draw back to a paraplegic street artist, 3D printed arms to Sudanese amputees, a 'voice' to an ALS patient who hasn't spoken in 15 years, and wearables that let deaf and hearing people alike feel music in a "surround body" experience.
Ebeling's book, Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done, recounts his life experiences and projects.
Named one of Wired's 'Agents of Change,' a two-time SXSW innovation of the year award winner, a two-timeTribeca Disruptor innovation winner, a fellow with The Nantucket Project, and recipient of every major creative and advertising award, Ebeling is on a mission to provide "Technology for the Sake of Humanity." By tapping into a community of passionate and talented engineers, makers, idea generators, and storytellers, Ebeling is making the inconceivable, the unbelievable and the impossible, Not Impossible.
Check out Not Impossible's latest initiative - Hunger Not Impossible - as part of their response to COVID-19.
Learn more about Not Impossible and follow Not Impossible on social:
Visit our No Barriers Show Page for additional info and episodes.
Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic & inspirational innovation. Ebeling is a film, television, and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, and entrepreneur.
Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of "commit, then figure it out" allows him to convene a disparate team of hackers, doers, makers, and thinkers to create devices that better the world by bringing about accessibility for all. This unconventional approach brought to life highly-acclaimed initiatives - The Eyewriter, Project Daniel, Don's Voice, and most recently Music: Not Impossible - that brought the ability to draw back to a paraplegic street artist, 3D printed arms to Sudanese amputees, a 'voice' to an ALS patient who hasn't spoken in 15 years, and wearables that let deaf and hearing people alike feel music in a "surround body" experience.
Ebeling's book, Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done, recounts his life experiences and projects.
Named one of Wired's 'Agents of Change,' a two-time SXSW innovation of the year award winner, a two-timeTribeca Disruptor innovation winner, a fellow with The Nantucket Project, and recipient of every major creative and advertising award, Ebeling is on a mission to provide "Technology for the Sake of Humanity." By tapping into a community of passionate and talented engineers, makers, idea generators, and storytellers, Ebeling is making the inconceivable, the unbelievable and the impossible, Not Impossible.
Check out Not Impossible's latest initiative - Hunger Not Impossible - as part of their response to COVID-19.
Learn more about Not Impossible and follow Not Impossible on social:
Visit our No Barriers Show Page for additional info and episodes.
Sign up for our No Barriers Summit for the chance to meet more innovators like Mick.
What does it mean to live a good life? Jim Kwok has been reflecting on this simple but important question since his colorectal cancer diagnosis 3 years ago. After 41 rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, and 28 rounds of radiation, Jim is stage 4 and is told it is non-curable. He has recently ceased all treatment and now focuses his energy on making the most of his remaining time.
He has had a largely successful career and is still actively working as a Managing Director at JP Morgan. He lives with his loving wife of 28 years, spends time with his two children, and remains active in his local running and tennis community.
Jim now says “I am determined to live out my time a certain way - resolute that cancer doesn’t get more than its fair share.”
The Alchemy series is generously sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential.
What does it mean to live a good life? Jim Kwok has been reflecting on this simple but important question since his colorectal cancer diagnosis 3 years ago. After 41 rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, and 28 rounds of radiation, Jim is stage 4 and is told it is non-curable. He has recently ceased all treatment and now focuses his energy on making the most of his remaining time.
He has had a largely successful career and is still actively working as a Managing Director at JP Morgan. He lives with his loving wife of 28 years, spends time with his two children, and remains active in his local running and tennis community.
Jim now says:
“I am determined to live out my time a certain way - resolute that cancer doesn’t get more than its fair share.”
The Alchemy series is generously sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential.
For part nine of our No Barriers Alchemy Series our host Dave Shurna and guest host, Tom Lilig, interview Dr. Rana Awdish. Rana is a critical care physician operating on the front lines during COVID-19 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Her own serious illness in 2008 has informed her belief in the power of compassion, sacred listening, and community. As medical director of the Care Experience for the Henry Ford Healthcare System, she is training staff to practice empathy in critical care.
She completed her medical degree at Wayne State in 2002 where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society, her residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, and her fellowship training at Henry Ford Hospital where she serves as the current Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and The American College of Chest Physicians and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Society in 2019.
She was named Henry Ford Hospital’s Critical Care Teacher of the Year in 2016, and the National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year by The Schwartz Center as well as Physician of the Year by Press Ganey in 2017. Her articles have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Harvard Business Review, and the Proceedings of the Mayo Clinic.
A New York Times book review called Awdish’s book, In Shock, based on her own critical illness. “the one I wish we were given our first year of medical school, alongside our white coats and stethoscopes.” Her book has since been integrated into the curriculum of medical schools and universities across the U.S. and Europe.
Resources:
https://www.ranaawdishmd.com/
Sign up for our No Barriers Summit
For part nine of our No Barriers Alchemy Series hosts Erik and Dave interview Dr. Rana Awdish. Rana is a critical care physician operating on the front lines during COVID-19 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Her own serious illness in 2008 has informed her belief in the power of compassion, sacred listening, and community. As medical director of the Care Experience for the Henry Ford Healthcare System, she is training staff to practice empathy in critical care.
She completed her medical degree at Wayne State in 2002 where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society, her residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, and her fellowship training at Henry Ford Hospital where she serves as the current Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and The American College of Chest Physicians and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Society in 2019.
She was named Henry Ford Hospital’s Critical Care Teacher of the Year in 2016, and the National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year by The Schwartz Center as well as Physician of the Year by Press Ganey in 2017. Her articles have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Harvard Business Review, and the Proceedings of the Mayo Clinic.
A New York Times book review called Awdish’s book, In Shock, based on her own critical illness. “the one I wish we were given our first year of medical school, alongside our white coats and stethoscopes.” Her book has since been integrated into the curriculum of medical schools and universities across the U.S. and Europe.
Resources:
https://www.ranaawdishmd.com/
Sign up for our No Barriers Summit
Continuing on with our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential) our hosts Erik and Dave speak with a world-renowned expert in perception, Dr. Beau Lotto. Beau's perspective during these particularly uncertain times explains how our brain is built for adaptability and evolution. We've encountered perilous times before and our brain is equipped to handle change and risk.
His research explores the ways in which we experience the world through our own versions of reality. As Beau puts it, "the brain never sees the world as it actually is, only the world that is useful to see." By illuminating these principles of perception he has helped individuals and companies transform their approach to creativity and innovation.
Beau is a three-time main stage TED speaker. He has spoken at the G8, Google’s Zeitgeist, Wired, Oslo Freedom Forum, Big Think, and contributed to the BBC, National Geographic, Netflix and PBS.
Beau is also the founder of the world’s first neuro-design studio, Lab of Misfits. Part lab, part creative studio, Lab of Misfits takes a disruptive approach to research, partnering with brands to blend science, art, and performance to explore pivotal principles in current culture. Their "experiential experiments" invite consumers to engage with brands and offer brands science-backed insights that foster innovation.
Previous and current Lab of Misfits partnerships includes Cirque du Soleil (awe and wonder), L’Oreal (empowerment), The Charles Koch Institute (tolerance), BCW Public Relations (insight), and The London Science Museum (curiosity).
Beau's latest book, Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently, explores the surprising science of creativity and unveils the unexpected relationship between perception, reality, and innovation.
Resources:
Visit Beau's website to learn more
Explore Beau's Lab of Misfits
Learn more about the No Barriers Summit and Register Today
Visit our Show Page for a downloadable tip sheet and transcripts
Continuing on with our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential) our hosts Erik and Dave speak with a world-renowned expert in perception, Dr. Beau Lotto. Beau's perspective during these particularly uncertain times explains how our brain is built for adaptability and evolution. We've encountered perilous times before and our brain is equipped to handle change and risk.
His research explores the ways in which we experience the world through our own versions of reality. As Beau puts it, "the brain never sees the world as it actually is, only the world that is useful to see." By illuminating these principles of perception he has helped individuals and companies transform their approach to creativity and innovation.
Beau is a three-time main stage TED speaker. He has spoken at the G8, Google’s Zeitgeist, Wired, Oslo Freedom Forum, Big Think, and contributed to the BBC, National Geographic, Netflix and PBS.
Beau is also the founder of the world’s first neuro-design studio, Lab of Misfits. Part lab, part creative studio, Lab of Misfits takes a disruptive approach to research, partnering with brands to blend science, art, and performance to explore pivotal principles in current culture. Their "experiential experiments" invite consumers to engage with brands and offer brands science-backed insights that foster innovation.
Previous and current Lab of Misfits partnerships includes Cirque du Soleil (awe and wonder), L’Oreal (empowerment), The Charles Koch Institute (tolerance), BCW Public Relations (insight), and The London Science Museum (curiosity).
Beau's latest book, Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently, explores the surprising science of creativity and unveils the unexpected relationship between perception, reality, and innovation.
Resources:
Visit Beau's website to learn more
Explore Beau's Lab of Misfits
Learn more about the No Barriers Summit and Register Today
Visit our Show Page for a downloadable tip sheet and transcripts
On this episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential we speak with Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber.
Nadia was our most popular guest to date was one of our first when we began our podcast in 2018. We knew we had plenty to catch up on and that Nadia would be a perfect guest to offer guidance during these confusing times of COVID-19. An ordained Lutheran Pastor, Nadia is not your typical faith leader. She often writes and speaks about personal failings, recovery, grace, faith, and really whatever the hell else she wants to. As she puts it, she always “sits in the corner with the other weirdoes.”
She served as the founding pastor of the House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, CO and is the author of three NYT bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint (2013), Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People (2015) and SHAMELESS; A Sexual Reformation (2019). Shameless was written as a challenge to the antiquated ideas our society views sex, gender, and our bodies.
Her latest project is her recently released podcast, The Confessional, presented by PRX and The Moth. As host, she interviews folks about something in their lives that they did or said that they are not proud of - something for which they need grace. In creating this podcast, Nadia aims to normalize conversations about being human and to help people feel less alone in their failings. Rather than confession and absolution, it’s admission and benediction.
Our hosts, Erik and Dave, reconnect with Nadia to hear about her new Podcast and to ask her for advice for those of us struggling (that’s all of us) during this particular time in history.
Resources:
Please revisit Nadia’s original appearance on our show: episode 16: Contemplating Faith & Forgiveness with Pastor and Author, Nadia Bolz-Weber.
Visit her website to listen to the Trailer for the Confessional: https://nadiabolzweber.com/
Subscribe to The Confessional
Follow Nadia on Social (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook): @sarcasticlutheran
More details on the HBO show: The Leftovers
On this episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential we speak with Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber.
Nadia was our most popular guest to date was one of our first when we began our podcast in 2018. We knew we had plenty to catch up on and that Nadia would be a perfect guest to offer guidance during these confusing times of COVID-19. An ordained Lutheran Pastor, Nadia is not your typical faith leader. She often writes and speaks about personal failings, recovery, grace, faith, and really whatever the hell else she wants to. As she puts it, she always “sits in the corner with the other weirdoes.”
She served as the founding pastor of the House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, CO and is the author of three NYT bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint (2013), Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People (2015) and SHAMELESS; A Sexual Reformation (2019). Shameless was written as a challenge to the antiquated ideas our society views sex, gender, and our bodies.
Her latest project is her recently released podcast, The Confessional, presented by PRX and The Moth. As host, she interviews folks about something in their lives that they did or said that they are not proud of - something for which they need grace. In creating this podcast, Nadia aims to normalize conversations about being human and to help people feel less alone in their failings. Rather than confession and absolution, it’s admission and benediction.
Our hosts, Erik and Dave, reconnect with Nadia to hear about her new Podcast and to ask her for advice for those of us struggling (that’s all of us) during this particular time in history.
Resources:
Please revisit Nadia’s original appearance on our show: episode 16: Contemplating Faith & Forgiveness with Pastor and Author, Nadia Bolz-Weber.
Visit her website to listen to the Trailer for the Confessional: https://nadiabolzweber.com/
Subscribe to The Confessional
More details on the HBO show: The Leftovers
Visit our Show Page for a downloadable tip sheet with takeaways
Follow Nadia on Social (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook): @sarcasticlutheran
Part 6 of our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo):
Our hosts, Erik and Jeff, meet with Rebecca Rusch - a familiar face from the adventure scene. Rebecca speaks about her journey "home" and what that means in this pivotal moment in history.
Known as the “Queen of Pain” with a heart of gold, Rebecca Rusch is a multi-decade professional athlete and 7x World Champion. Her career includes numerous adventure sports, and countless wins and accolades including induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
In 2017, Rebecca released an Emmy award-winning feature film, Blood Road, which followed her personal journey along the 1,200 kilometer Ho Chi Minh Trail. Now, as CEO of Rusch Ventures, she hosts her signature gravel bike event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho (RPI), Rusch Academy backcountry gravel camps, and her epic travel adventure MTB-LAO.
She is also the best selling author of Rusch to Glory, a world-renowned motivational speaker, and volunteer firefighter. Finally, her Be Good™ Foundation, a nonprofit organization has raised over $500,000 for bike-centric charities on a local, national, and global level.
Join Rebecca for her Giddy Up for Good Challenge for COVID-19 Relief. Choose from four elevation challenges to complete over Memorial Day Weekend. Proceeds go to CDC, World Bicycle Relief, and People for Bikes.
Follow Rebecca Rusch on Social Media: #JoinTheRusch
Learn more at Rebecca's Website.
Watch Rebecca's TED Talk: Navigating Home
Please visit NoBarriersPodcast.com for our downloadable Tip Sheet for this episode.
Part 6 of our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo):
Our hosts, Erik and Jeff, meet with Rebecca Rusch - a familiar face from the adventure scene. Rebecca speaks about her journey "home" and what that means in this pivotal moment in history.
Known as the “Queen of Pain” with a heart of gold, Rebecca Rusch is a multi-decade professional athlete and 7x World Champion. Her career includes numerous adventure sports, and countless wins and accolades including induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
In 2017, Rebecca released an Emmy award-winning feature film, Blood Road, which followed her personal journey along the 1,200 kilometer Ho Chi Minh Trail. Now, as CEO of Rusch Ventures, she hosts her signature gravel bike event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho (RPI), Rusch Academy backcountry gravel camps, and her epic travel adventure MTB-LAO.
She is also the best selling author of Rusch to Glory, a world-renowned motivational speaker, and volunteer firefighter. Finally, her Be Good™ Foundation, a nonprofit organization has raised over $500,000 for bike-centric charities on a local, national, and global level.
Join Rebecca for her Giddy Up for Good Challenge for COVID-19 Relief. Choose from four elevation challenges to complete over Memorial Day Weekend. Proceeds go to CDC, World Bicycle Relief, and People for Bikes.
Watch Rebecca's TED Talk: Navigating Home
Learn more on Rebecca's Website
Follow Rebecca on Social Media with hashtag: #JoinTheRusch
Download our tip sheet for this episode on NoBarriersPodcast.com
As we continue to speak with thought leaders and experts during this pandemic for our Alchemy Series, it became clear a voice was missing: how are younger people adapting during this time? After all, Gen Z is notably affected: missing graduation ceremonies, virtual learning replacing the classroom entirely, proms, and other milestone moments being called off - we wanted to hear how someone in this demographic was responding to this moment in time.
This past Earth Day, our guest was Maya Penn - a suitable fit as Maya has been working in sustainability for 12 years and she started her eco-fashion company in 2008 at only 8 years old. She has been hand chosen by Oprah Winfrey as her youngest Supersoul 100 changemaker and thought leader and received a commendation from President Barack Obama for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship.
Maya made history in 2016 during the Obama administration when she was commissioned to create an animated film for the opening of the first-ever digital report to congress, which was to have an American museum of Women’s History built in Washington. She also founded a nonprofit organization called Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet and started an ongoing initiative where she designed and has created eco-friendly sanitary pads for women/girls in developing countries and she has shipped pads to healthcare facilities in Haiti, Senegal, Somalia, and more.
Maya is clearly someone who takes action and has never let her young age dictate how she will conquer her goals. Her lessons in this episode are poignant for any time in our lives but she honed in on some of the trauma and despair that is happening now and how to harness this adversity. Her simple advice to take small steps toward any goal, or to look for the many available resources now made easily accessible for all online is helpful for a listener of any page. For more tips and ideas go to NoBarriers.com for a downloadable tip sheet.
A special shout out to Wells Fargo and Prudential: our generous Alchemy Series sponsors.
Additional Resources:
Follow Maya on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @mayasideas
Mayas Ideas 4 The Planet
TEDTalk Women from 2013
Show Page
As we continue to speak with thought leaders and experts during this pandemic for our Alchemy Series, it became clear a voice was missing: how are younger people adapting during this time? After all, Gen Z is notably affected: missing graduation ceremonies, virtual learning replacing the classroom entirely, proms, and other milestone moments being called off - we wanted to hear how someone in this demographic was responding to this moment in time.
This past Earth Day, our guest was Maya Penn - a suitable fit as Maya has been working in sustainability for 12 years and she started her eco-fashion company in 2008 at only 8 years old. She has been hand chosen by Oprah Winfrey as her youngest Supersoul 100 change maker and thought leader and received a commendation from President Barack Obama for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship.
Maya made history in 2016 during the Obama administration when she was commissioned to create an animated film for the opening of the first-ever digital report to congress, which was to have an American museum of Women’s History built in Washington. She also founded a nonprofit organization called Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet and started an ongoing initiative where she designed and has created eco-friendly sanitary pads for women/girls in developing countries and she has shipped pads to healthcare facilities in Haiti, Senegal, Somalia, and more.
Maya is clearly someone who takes action and has never let her young age dictate how she will conquer her goals. Her lessons in this episode are poignant for any time in our lives but she honed in on some of the trauma and despair that is happening now and how to harness this adversity. Her simple advice to take small steps toward any goal, or to look for the many available resources now made easily accessible for all online is helpful for a listener of any page. For more tips and ideas go to NoBarriers.com for a downloadable tip sheet.
A special shout out to Wells Fargo and Prudential: our generous Alchemy Series sponsors.
Additional Resources:
Follow Maya on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @mayasideas
Maya’s Ideas 4 The Planet
TEDWomen talk from 2013
Show Page
For our fourth episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, there is no greater example of harnessing adversity than No Barriers co-founder, Hugh Herr. In his early 20s, Hugh had both of his legs amputated after a tragic mountain climbing accident. An avid rock-climber, he was determined to return to the sport. Hugh created new iterations of prosthetic limbs for legs and feet he could use to climb even better than before. Watch some of his videos in the resources below to see his technology in action. Inspired by his own self-improvement through tech he set out to change the world for others. Now, Hugh heads the Biomechatronics group at the MIT Media Lab, where his team is creating bionic limbs that emulate the function of natural limbs; providing greater mobility and new hope to those with physical disabilities.
He is the author and co-author of more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and patents, chronicling the science and technology behind his many innovations. These publications span the scientific fields of biomechanics and biological motion control, as well as the technological innovations of human rehabilitation and augmentation technologies. As published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation in 2014, Herr’s team advanced the first autonomous exoskeleton to reduce the metabolic cost of human walking, a goal that has eluded scientists for over a century.
Takeaways from Hugh:
Tip 1: Pause to Process this Moment in Time
Recognize the current situation you live in. Embrace what you are feeling and take a moment to understand what others in your life are going through in light of this pandemic.
Examine how you should invest your energy and time now and in the future. If this means not working (if you are able) then take a break. Now is the time to reset.
Tip 2 - Perform Acts of Good Will & Strengthen Human Connection
During these uncertain times, look beyond yourself and your fears. Find ways to help others and demonstrate kindness. For example: reach out to senior citizens, sew masks for first responders, or donate goods or funds to your local food bank.
Right now there is a lack of human connections which can cause a lack of empathy. By performing small acts of kindness, you are reminding others of the goodness and love in the world.
Tip 3 - Rethink Failure
When testing new ideas in his lab, Hugh emphasizes that failure is common. Reframing those failures as explorations that help bring them closer to their goal. Each new failed experiment is not a waste of time but rather provides new knowledge and information to bring them one step closer to their vision and desired outcome.
What perceived “failure” in your own life can you reassess with this mindset? For example, maybe a job loss due to the pandemic, make you reevaluate your future career aspirations.
Tip 4 - “Believe Without Seeing”
In order to achieve a goal that others might see as impossible, you must have faith in yourself, your vision, and be emotionally committed. Hugh’s work has often been considered groundbreaking and unthinkable before he demonstrated it was possible. When faced with a difficult or daunting goal ignore the naysayers, and have faith in yourself.
What audacious goals can you set for yourself? After you’ve had time to process and reflect, what are some takeaways you’ve learned about yourself over these last few weeks? Perhaps the current situation makes you realize the importance of family or finding a new career path. Use this time to put a plan in place for refocusing your attention on what matters most to you in the upcoming year.
Develop your No Barriers Mindset! Enroll now: www.nobarriersleadership.com/join
Resources:
NoBarriersPodcast.com for a downloadable Tip Sheet
Check out Hugh’s Vineyard: Mermaid Hill
Hugh Herr's story has been told in a National Geographic film, “Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr”
Hugh Herr's page at MIT
TED talk 2014
No Barriers Leading Beyond Barriers video: Pioneer
Further Reading on Hugh Herr
For our fourth episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, there is no greater example of harnessing adversity than No Barriers co-founder, Hugh Herr. In his early 20s, Hugh had both of his legs amputated after a tragic mountain climbing accident. An avid rock-climber, he was determined to return to the sport. Hugh created new iterations of prosthetic limbs for legs and feet he could use to climb even better than before. Watch some of his videos in the resources below to see his technology in action. Inspired by his own self-improvement through tech he set out to change the world for others. Now, Hugh heads the Biomechatronics group at the MIT Media Lab, where his team is creating bionic limbs that emulate the function of natural limbs; providing greater mobility and new hope to those with physical disabilities.
He is the author and co-author of more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and patents, chronicling the science and technology behind his many innovations. These publications span the scientific fields of biomechanics and biological motion control, as well as the technological innovations of human rehabilitation and augmentation technologies. As published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation in 2014, Herr’s team advanced the first autonomous exoskeleton to reduce the metabolic cost of human walking, a goal that has eluded scientists for over a century.
Takeaways from Hugh:
Tip 1: Pause to Process this Moment in Time
Recognize the current situation you live in. Embrace what you are feeling and take a moment to understand what others in your life are going through in light of this pandemic.
Examine how you should invest your energy and time now and in the future. If this means not working (if you are able) then take a break. Now is the time to reset.
Tip 2 - Perform Acts of Good Will & Strengthen Human Connection
During these uncertain times, look beyond yourself and your fears. Find ways to help others and demonstrate kindness. For example: reach out to senior citizens, sew masks for first responders, or donate goods or funds to your local food bank.
Right now there is a lack of human connections which can cause a lack of empathy. By performing small acts of kindness, you are reminding others of the goodness and love in the world.
Tip 3 - Rethink Failure
When testing new ideas in his lab, Hugh emphasizes that failure is common. Reframing those failures as explorations that help bring them closer to their goal. Each new failed experiment is not a waste of time but rather provides new knowledge and information to bring them one step closer to their vision and desired outcome.
What perceived “failure” in your own life can you reassess with this mindset? For example, maybe a job loss due to the pandemic, make you reevaluate your future career aspirations.
Tip 4 - “Believe Without Seeing”
In order to achieve a goal that others might see as impossible, you must have faith in yourself, your vision, and be emotionally committed. Hugh’s work has often been considered groundbreaking and unthinkable before he demonstrated it was possible. When faced with a difficult or daunting goal ignore the naysayers, and have faith in yourself.
What audacious goals can you set for yourself? After you’ve had time to process and reflect, what are some takeaways you’ve learned about yourself over these last few weeks? Perhaps the current situation makes you realize the importance of family or finding a new career path. Use this time to put a plan in place for refocusing your attention on what matters most to you in the upcoming year.
Develop your No Barriers Mindset! Enroll now: www.nobarriersleadership.com/join
Resources:
NoBarriersPodcast.com for a downloadable Tip Sheet
Check out Hugh’s Vineyard: Mermaid Hill
Hugh Herr's story has been told in a National Geographic film, “Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr”
Hugh Herr's page at MIT
TED talk 2014
No Barriers Leading Beyond Barriers video: Pioneer
Further Reading on Hugh Herr
Welcome to part three of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain advice and practical strategies to harness the adversity of COVID-19 and not just cope, but possibly thrive. Our guest today, Dan Thurmon, advocates for always being a bit “off-balance” in order to achieve greatness and expand our potential. Now, more than ever, as we are all forced out of balance in our daily and professional lives, his philosophy takes on even more importance.
Erik and Dave chat with Dan, to hear how he is dealing during this time while isolating with his family in Georgia, and what his life’s work can offer our listeners. Seeing Dan perform and speak on stage is an experience in itself but today we strip those elements away and hear what Dan has to say.
Dan Thurmon is the president of Motivation Works, Inc., where he has helped hundreds of organizations and individuals implement action plans and move confidently through transitions. He is a renowned speaker, author, entrepreneur, workplace performance expert, fitness advocate, acrobat, and unicyclist. Dan’s book, Off Balance On Purpose explains his philosophy that we’ll never achieve “perfect balance”. Instead of chasing this impossible dream, we should learn to embrace uncertainty and initiate positive changes that lead to personal and professional growth. Dan’s multi-dimensional view of success incorporates quality health, strong relationships, and meaningful contributions. His programs have educated and uplifted Fortune 500 companies, educators, and even troops on the front lines of battle in Afghanistan.
Top Takeaway (check our No Barriers Podcast page for a downloadable version):
H- Helping Others - Focus on helping others. By getting out of your head and turning your attention to others.
Ideas: Volunteer to deliver groceries to elderly individuals or those that are immunocompromised, pass out food at a food bank, tutor a child struggling with distance learning. The more you give, the more you get.
O- Open your mind to other possibilities. Imagine the opportunities that are presented during this unique time.
P - Perspective - Distance yourself from the immediacy of what’s happening. Imagine your circumstances from a distance and on a wider timeline. Ideas: Read about past epidemics from history or other historical events.
E - Enjoyment - Enjoy the moments. Look for laughter and joy. Hold on to something you love & appreciate.
Resources:
Visit Dan’s official website
Watch Dan's TED Talk
Watch Dan with his daughter, Maggie on Tik Tok
Additional videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ubJKI6h7pY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2oY-dR8zzk
Welcome to part three of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain advice and practical strategies to harness the adversity of COVID-19 and not just cope, but possibly thrive. Our guest today, Dan Thurmon, advocates for always being a bit “off-balance” in order to achieve greatness and expand our potential. Now, more than ever, as we are all forced out of balance in our daily and professional lives, his philosophy takes on even more importance.
Erik and Dave chat with Dan to hear how he is dealing during this time while isolating with his family in Georgia, and what his life’s work can offer our listeners. Seeing Dan perform and speak on stage is an experience in itself but today we strip those elements away and hear what Dan has to say.
If you limit yourself to what’s comfortable, you deny yourself what’s possible - Dan Thurmon
Dan Thurmon is the president of Motivation Works, Inc., where he has helped hundreds of organizations and individuals implement action plans and move confidently through transitions. He is a renowned speaker, author, entrepreneur, workplace performance expert, fitness advocate, acrobat, and unicyclist. Dan’s book, Off Balance On Purpose, explains his philosophy that we’ll never achieve “perfect balance”. Instead of chasing this impossible dream, we should learn to embrace uncertainty and initiate positive changes that lead to personal and professional growth. Dan’s multi-dimensional view of success incorporates quality health, strong relationships, and meaningful contributions. His programs have educated and uplifted Fortune 500 companies, educators, and even troops on the front lines of battle in Afghanistan.
Takeaway (visit our show's website to download a full one pager with tips and highlights):
H- Helping Others - Focus on helping others. By getting out of your head and turning your attention to others.
Ideas: Volunteer to deliver groceries to elderly people or those that are immunocompromised, pass out food at a food bank, tutor a child struggling with distance learning. The more you give, the more you get.
O- Open your mind to other possibilities. Imagine the opportunities presented in this particular moment in time.
P - Perspective - Distance yourself from the immediacy of what’s happening. Imagine your circumstances from a distance and on a wider timeline.
E - Enjoyment - Enjoy the moments. Look for laughter and joy. Hold on to something you love & appreciate.
Resources:
Visit Dan’s official website
Watch Dan's TED Talk
Watch Dan with his daughter, Maggie, on Tik Tok
Additional Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ubJKI6h7pY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2oY-dR8zzk
Welcome to part two of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain nuggets of wisdom during COVID-19. The arts have played a critical role in everyone's lives during this trying time. When crisis occurs, art and music take on a new role in our lives. Whether that is escape, relief, or outlets of creativity, the importance of the arts becomes clear.
Dave and Erik speak to two of our No Barriers Ambassadors, Mandy Harvey and Adrian Anantawan, each talented and resilient musical artists to shed some light on the role of art during this pandemic.
Born without a right hand, Adrian Anantawan began the violin at nine and has since established himself as a rising star in classical music. Memorable moments include performances at the White House, the Opening Ceremonies of the Athens and Vancouver Olympic Games and the United Nations. He has played for the late Christopher Reeve, Pope John Paul II, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has also helped establish the Virtual Chamber Music Initiative at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Centre — a cross-collaborative project that develops adaptive musical instruments for use by young persons with disabilities within a chamber music setting. Throughout the year, Adrian continues to perform, speak and teach around the world as an advocate for disability and the arts.
Mandy Harvey is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and motivational speaker who lost her residual hearing at the age of nineteen while a freshman vocal major at Colorado State University. She pursued multiple career options, but returned to music, her true passion. She quickly became an in-demand performer and has released four albums. In 2017 she appeared on America’s Got Talent and earned a Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell for performing her original song “Try.” In addition to performing and speaking, Mandy has become an ambassador for No Barriers USA, with a mission to encourage, inspire, and assist others to break through their personal barriers. Sensing the Rhythm is her first book.
Resources:
Learn more about Mandy on her website: https://mandyharveymusic.com/
Watch Mandy receive the Golden Buzzer on America's Got Talent
Visit Adrian's website: https://www.adriananantawan.com/
Watch Adrian give a TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm8gXG3hc5c
Below are practical tips from this broadcast that you can apply to your own life today.
- “Art and Music are the most human things we can do.”- Adrian
During this time, art and music are a form of resistance to this inhuman virus. Use music and art as a way to fight against the virus, let it be an outlet to express your emotions and to heal. Learn a new art or craft, play the guitar, or sing out loud to your favorite album. Let this be a time of creativity and innovation.
- “People are understanding the benefit and the power behind having a Rope Team to encourage you and push you forward.” - Mandy
Now more than ever is a time to reach out to your community. We are going through the same painful and challenging situation, use this commonality as a tool to support one another and lift each other up in positivity and hope.
- “A single note can look insignificant on paper but have the emotional impact and resonance that can change a life.” - Adrian
We all have a role to play during this pandemic whether we are on the frontlines or at home practicing social distancing. Think about how you can help others during this Pandemic. Can you sew masks, pass out food at the food bank, run essential errands for an elderly person? There are so many little activities we can do that can make a world of difference for our family and our community.
4. What music would you pick to listen to during this time?
Adrian, Rotterdam Philharmonic’s “Ode to Joy” (Beethoven)- https://youtu.be/3eXT60rbBVk-
Mandy, Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” - https://youtu.be/WM7-PYtXtJM
Listen to your favorite song, reflect on it, and think about how it may help you and inspire you during this time of uncertainty and fear.
Welcome to part two of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain nuggets of wisdom during COVID-19. The arts have played a critical role in everyone's lives during this trying time. When crisis occurs, art and music take on a new role in our lives. Whether that is escape, relief, or outlets of creativity, the importance of the arts becomes clear.
Dave and Erik speak to two of our No Barriers Ambassadors, Mandy Harvey and Adrian Anantawan, each talented and resilient musical artists to shed some light on the role of art during this pandemic.
Born without a right hand, Adrian Anantawan began the violin at nine and has since established himself as a rising star in classical music. Memorable moments include performances at the White House, the Opening Ceremonies of the Athens and Vancouver Olympic Games and the United Nations. He has played for the late Christopher Reeve, Pope John Paul II, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has also helped establish the Virtual Chamber Music Initiative at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Centre — a cross-collaborative project that develops adaptive musical instruments for use by young persons with disabilities within a chamber music setting. Throughout the year, Adrian continues to perform, speak and teach around the world as an advocate for disability and the arts.
Mandy Harvey is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and motivational speaker who lost her residual hearing at the age of nineteen while a freshman vocal major at Colorado State University. She pursued multiple career options, but returned to music, her true passion. She quickly became an in-demand performer and has released four albums. In 2017 she appeared on America’s Got Talent and earned a Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell for performing her original song “Try.” In addition to performing and speaking, Mandy has become an ambassador for No Barriers USA, with a mission to encourage, inspire, and assist others to break through their personal barriers. Sensing the Rhythm is her first book.
Resources:
Learn more about Mandy on her website: https://mandyharveymusic.com/
Watch Mandy receive the Golden Buzzer on America's Got Talent
Visit Adrian's website: https://www.adriananantawan.com/
Watch Adrian give a TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm8gXG3hc5c
Below are practical tips from this broadcast that you can apply to your own life today.
- “Art and Music are the most human things we can do.”- Adrian
During this time, art and music are a form of resistance to this inhuman virus. Use music and art as a way to fight against the virus, let it be an outlet to express your emotions and to heal. Learn a new art or craft, play the guitar, or sing out loud to your favorite album. Let this be a time of creativity and innovation.
- “People are understanding the benefit and the power behind having a Rope Team to encourage you and push you forward.” - Mandy
Now more than ever is a time to reach out to your community. We are going through the same painful and challenging situation, use this commonality as a tool to support one another and lift each other up in positivity and hope.
- “A single note can look insignificant on paper but have the emotional impact and resonance that can change a life.” - Adrian
We all have a role to play during this pandemic whether we are on the frontlines or at home practicing social distancing. Think about how you can help others during this Pandemic. Can you sew masks, pass out food at the food bank, run essential errands for an elderly person? There are so many little activities we can do that can make a world of difference for our family and our community.
- What music would you pick to listen to during this time?
Adrian, Rotterdam Philharmonic’s “Ode to Joy” (Beethoven)- https://youtu.be/3eXT60rbBVk-
Mandy, Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” - https://youtu.be/WM7-PYtXtJM
Listen to your favorite song, reflect on it, and think about how it may help you and inspire you during this time of uncertainty and fear.
This is our condensed version of this interview. Please tune into episode 40 for the full extended version.
Welcome to the first episode for our new weekly Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential. Our No Barriers motto, "What’s Within You is Stronger Than What’s in Your Way”is more relevant now than ever before.
We’ll be featuring thought leaders and experts in harnessing adversity. They’ll provide practical guidance, hope, and optimism during these uncertain times.
Our hosts, Erik Weihenmayer and Dave Shurna speak with the leading expert in the field of handling adversity: Dr. Paul Stoltz.
DR. PAUL G. STOLTZ is considered the world’s leading authority on the integration and application of grit and resilience. He is author of five international bestselling books on the subject and was voted by
HR Magazine as “One of the Top 10 most influential global thinkers.” Dr. Stoltz has served as faculty for MIT’s acclaimed entrepreneurship program and for Carnegie Mellon’s distinguished Global Leaders Program, where his AQ and GRIT- related methods and assessments have been used to equip tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs.
Erik, Dave, and Dr. Stoltz discuss his many scientifically backed methods for approaching and harnessing adverse circumstances, including the concept of "Engaging Your Core."
C.O.R.E.
Control - What is beyond my control in my situation? What facets can I potentially influence?
Ownership - What can I personally do to affect this situation immediately and positively?
Reach - How can I contain this adversity? How can I minimize the downside or optimize the upside?
Endure - How do I break this down and manage it, so that I can hang in for the long term?
Listen to hear and learn more.
Continue listening each week and together, we will power through this pandemic and come out stronger.
Additional Information:
Watch Dr. Stoltz's TED Talk.
Learn more about Dr. Stoltz's principles at PEAK Learning.
Continue to develop your No Barriers Mindset.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, Wells Fargo and Prudential!
Welcome to the first episode for our new weekly Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential. Our No Barriers motto, "What’s Within You is Stronger Than What’s in Your Way”is more relevant now than ever before.
We’ll be featuring thought leaders and experts in harnessing adversity. They’ll provide practical guidance, hope, and optimism during these uncertain times.
Our hosts, Erik Weihenmayer and Dave Shurna speak with the leading expert in the field of handling adversity: Dr. Paul Stoltz.
DR. PAUL G. STOLTZ is considered the world’s leading authority on the integration and application of grit and resilience. He is author of five international bestselling books on the subject and was voted by
HR Magazine as “One of the Top 10 most influential global thinkers.” Dr. Stoltz has served as faculty for MIT’s acclaimed entrepreneurship program and for Carnegie Mellon’s distinguished Global Leaders Program, where his AQ and GRIT- related methods and assessments have been used to equip tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs.
Erik, Dave, and Dr. Stoltz discuss his many scientifically backed methods for approaching and harnessing adverse circumstances, or honing your "AQ (Adversity Quotient)." One example is this concept of "Engaging Your Core."
C.O.R.E.
Control - What is beyond my control in my situation? What facets can I potentially influence?
Ownership - What can I personally do to affect this situation immediately and positively?
Reach - How can I contain this adversity? How can I minimize the downside or optimize the upside?
Endure - How do I break this down and manage it, so that I can hang in for the long term?
Listen to hear and learn more.
Continue listening each week and together, we will power through this pandemic and come out stronger.
Supplemental Information:
Watch Dr. Stoltz's TED Talk.
Visit Dr. Stoltz's website and learn more about his principles: Peak Learning.
Continue to develop your No Barriers Mindset.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, Wells Fargo and Prudential!
Content Warning: Profanity and Adult Content
Visit Josh's Website to learn more.
Following his groundbreaking win on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues throughout the world. In 2018, Josh crushed his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.In the same year, he was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. He wrapped up 2018 by recording his fifth hour special at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver, CO. Josh does over 200 shows a year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike.
Critics have said Josh is not a cerebral palsy comic; he’s a comic who happens to have cerebral palsy. However, his closest friends describe him as “a d-bag.”
Josh made his television debut on Comedy Central’s Mind of Mencia. His story has been featured on Fox, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, and CNN. He was the first comedian to perform stand-up on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,was named Best Winning Reality Show Guest on Live with Regis and Kelly,and made standout appearances on Comics Unleashed. He has appeared twice on Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops on CMT and made his late night television debut on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He became the first comic to premiere a stand-up special on the big screen when 7 More Days in the Tankwas shown in movie theaters across the country. It also aired on Bravo Network. Josh starred in Comedy Central Presents: Josh Blue in 2011. His third one-hour special Sticky Changeaired on Showtime and Netflix.In 2016, Josh released his fourth one-hour special, DELETEon HULU and Amazon. Josh dropped a music CD Josh Blue and the Hooligan Stew Review with some original songs. It has been described as “Tom Waits meets the Muppets.”
Josh is a repeat guest on such nationally syndicated radio programs as NPR’s Talk of the Nation, The Mancow Show,and numerous podcasts includingGetting Doug with High,andWTF with Mark Maron. He has been featured in numerous print publications including People Magazineand The New York Times.Josh is all over social media with over 1 million views on his YouTube clips and almost one million followers on Facebook.
Josh represented the United States in 8 countries as a member of the US Paralympic Soccer Team. Josh and his team were thoroughly disgraced in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece by not scoring a single goal.He is a single father living in Denver, CO with his son, Simon and his daughter, Seika. He also boasts a girlfriend.
Follow Josh on Facebook: @officialjoshblue
Follow Josh on Instagram: @joshbluecomedy
Subscribe and follow Josh on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/joshbluetube
Laura DeMaio Roy has been training pet and service dogs for 10 years with a specialization in guide dog training and instruction. She has run successful dog training businesses in Connecticut and Colorado and currently owns DoggyU LLC where she runs a popular YouTube channel and helps owners train their own service dogs. Her YouTube channel, DoggyU, brings practical, positive reinforcement-based step-by-step training instruction to those who may not otherwise have access to it. Her channel also covers product reviews, dog lifestyle videos, service dog training, and dog and van travel videos. Laura has performed with her dogs all over the country, spoken at national and state conferences, and her dogs have appeared in print media ads.
Laura is a certified guide dog instructor and placement specialist for Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation where she trains and places German Shepherd Guide Dogs with clients throughout the US and Canada. She holds a BA in Business and Entrepreneurship and a Masters degree in Public Administration with a certification in Public and Non-Profit Management from the University of Connecticut.
Outside of her career, Laura enjoys traveling in her van with her two dogs, Jake and CoolWhip, visiting national parks, hiking solo or with her husband, playing disc, training tricks, herding, bikejoring and jogging with her dogs, and generally exploring everything the US has to offer. She has officially visited all 50 states!
Fun Facts about Laura:
-
she placed her first guide dog she ever trained with her father (his first guide dog)
-
she gave up a corporate internship to shovel poop at White Oak Conservation Center where she worked with hoof stock (zebra, bongo, giraffe etc.), cheetahs and more
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she didn’t own a dog until she was hired at Fidelco at age 22
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She loves to take extended trips living in her van up to 2 months at a time exploring the US with one or both dogs
Subscribe to Laura's YouTube Channel for the latest dog training tips, enrichment and travel advice.
Follow Laura and DoggyU on Facebook
Visit Laura's website for more.
Learn more about Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
TAPOOZ TRAVEL
Laurent Roffé and Aïcha Nyström are the husband-and-wife team behind Tapooz Travel.
Prior to founding their accessible travel company in 2012, their diverse professional backgrounds included architecture, technology, business consulting, design and photography.
Aïcha and Laurent have lived, worked and traveled across Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East and the United States.
They have been involved with the disability community for many years, including volunteering as accessible outdoors expeditions trip leaders.
Since the inception of Tapooz Travel in 2012, Aïcha and Laurent have organized accessible trips for hundreds of clients, from individuals and families, to small group travel.
Today, the company operates in over 27 (and growing) carefully selected destinations in the US, Canada and worldwide.
Their deep experience and hands-on expertise translate into the ability to customize accessible trips to the specific requirements and budget of their travelers.
Tapooz Travel is a member of ENAT, the European Network for Accessible Tourism.
Learn more and book a trip with Tapooz.
Follow Tapooz on Facebook here.
Sign up for updates on the No Barriers Summit and join us in September.
Ryan spoke to our hosts, Erik, Dave, and Jeff, about his own personal journey that has inspired his following his life's passion to bring recognition, agency, and awareness to the stories of migrants and refugees around the world.
Born in Kuwait to refugee parents, Ryan Letada was raised in the Philippines before his family immigrated to the Bronx. His journey from failing student to CEO of his own organization has taught him a thing or two about luck, grit, and survival.
While living and going to school in the Bronx, Ryan was awarded the Posse Foundation Scholarship. This recognition paved the way for a Fulbright, which he then used to launch the One Laptop Per Child program in the Philippines. His team launched and piloted the country’s first one-to-one digital learning program in rural communities.
Today, as the founder and CEO of NextDayBetter, a media company that exists to humanize the migrant experience. With the goal of creating the world’s largest library of migrant stories, the company seeks to reimagine migrants, immigrants, and refugees as a benefit to humanity. Its agency arm, NextDayBetter Studios, partners with mission-aligned brands (such as AARP and Mailchimp) to launch award-winning campaigns that engage multicultural, immigrant communities.
Continuing his work as an entrepreneur and storyteller, Ryan also serves as a Google Next Gen Policy Fellow focused on advocating for inclusive tech policies. He is a Fulbright Scholar, Posse Foundation Alumnus, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Wheaton College Massachusetts.
Follow Ryan and NextDayBetter here:
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/rletada
On Instagram: www.instagram.com/rletada & www.instagram.com/nextdaybetter
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/nextdaybetter
Check out the Website: www.nextdaybetter.com
Additional Reading:
Check out Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Our hosts, Erik, Jeff, and Dave, spoke with André, the other week during his training for his newest endeavor: to explore human potential as him and his team cross continents - from the lowest point to highest summit, starting with South America.
But André's story began in 2003 when, as a 23 year old student in Prague, he wound up on the tracks in front of an oncoming subway train.
His injuries required both of his legs to be amputated above the knee. After his recovery he still returned to Prague to resume his studies, but it was a long road to recovery - both physically and emotionally. He wrestled with his inner demons and the choices he made that had led him to be in this situation.
He speaks in depth about the mindset and steps it took to bring him to where is today in his athletic achievements.
André’s journey taught him that he is always capable of more. In 2010 he became an ultra endurance pioneer, a Team USA Paratriethlete, an Ironman World Champion, and the only wheelchair athlete to finish an Ultraman Triathlon.
Then, in 2017, he finished the Race Across America, hand-cycling 3,100 miles in just 12 days, sleeping 90 minutes a night to make it from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, Maryland. Now, despite his tragic accident, André is a renowned speaker and incredible athlete breaking world records.
Now, along with his teammates, he is setting off for Southern Patagonia at Laguna del Carbón, the lowest point in the western and southern hemispheres to ride 1,800 miles over gravel, road, and mountain passes to Aconcagua National park. They will trek in and climb up the 22,841 ft. peak, the highest summit outside of the Himalaya.
Follow his South American journey on Instagram: @LowestHighest
Learn more about André and his past and current adventures here.
Check out the trailer for his upcoming film, Joyrider, here.
Our hosts, Erik and Jeff, sit down with our first No Barriers Podcast guest of 2020, Anne Lorimor. Erik and Jeff had just both returned from their own adventures in Nepal and were fighting jet lag and the come down of an epic trip but as Jeff puts it: Anne was the cup of coffee they needed.
Anne is a goal setting achiever at heart. She holds numerous degrees, including an RN, "as a backup career choice," and never stops pushing her limits to achieve what others see as impossible.
Anne keeps up her fitness with hiking around her hometown and around the world; all with the goal of not just aging gracefully but to break records. At age 85, she broke the record for being the oldest woman to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Her record was soon broken, so at age 89, she returned to the mountain to reclaim the record. In July of 2019, she became the oldest person to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, giving her a place in the 2020 Guinness Book of World Records.
But Anne doesn't just shatter records for her own ego. She comes from a childhood of poverty and homelessness, and because of her background she has motivation to give back to children who are in similar circumstances. With her deep desire to give youth the tools to reach their full potential and encourage them to pay it forward, she founded Lorimor Child Empowerment Foundation dba Creating Exciting Futures in 2016. Her charity works to provide opportunities for education and better options for children in underserved areas.
During their conversation, Jeff and Erik, discover how Anne's purpose to help others drives her forward, but also about the rope team, the educators and mentors, she credits for helping her in her youth to overcome her barriers.
Listen to learn more about Anne and Creating Exciting Futures at her website.
See Anne being interviewed on ABC News.
Follow Anne on social:
Gena Harper works as a Certified Investment Management Analyst, Senior Vice President and Senior Investment Management Consultant at Morgan Stanley and provides her clients with custom financial planning that delves into and simplifies even the most complex situations.
Gena also happens to be blind and has spent her entire adult life proving that limitations are simply hurdles to be cleared. She made the US National Para cycling Team in 2012 and won a bronze medal in the National Disabled Ski Championships. She cycles, bikes, whitewater rafts, rock climbs, skateboards, practices yoga and has even tried cliff diving. She has won numerous awards including being the first recipient of The Glaucoma Foundation Award of Merit, the Women of Vision Award, the American Foundation for the Blind Kay Gallagher Award, and was recognized by Morgan Stanley as one of the 15 outstanding women professionals in 2015.
She is passionate about empowering others, and improving the lives of people with many kinds of disabilities, not just the blind. She helps employers to understand that by hiring people with disabilities they will acquire hardworking, willing employees. Every day, she proves that having vision for herself and for others doesn’t require being able to see.
Gena’s energies and passions focus first and foremost on her family and my career, but they also extend into community involvement and motivational speaking. She is passionate about empowering others, and improving the lives of people with many kinds of disabilities, not just the blind. She helps employers to understand that by hiring people with disabilities they will acquire hardworking, willing employees. Some of her outreach activities have included:
- Current Board Member, Lighthouse for the Blind
- Downtown Berkeley YMCA; Past President
- Volunteer, Girls Inc. of Alameda County
- Past Board Member, Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Past Board Member, The Glaucoma Foundation
- Member, The California Governor's Committee for the Employment of Disabled Persons
- Motivational Speaker, Smith Barney Training on Business Practice Management
- Keynote Speaker, Guide Dogs for the Blind annual luncheon
- Keynote Speaker, Women of Vision Event
- Keynote Speaker, Munich Reinsurance of America, Inc.
- Speaker, International Foundation for Employee Benefit Plans
Gena Harper’s commitment to meeting life head-on extends to everything she does. Every day, she proves that having vision for herself and for others doesn’t require being able to see.
Article about Gena for more information: https://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/for-gena-harper-its-more-than-meets-the-eye/
Hosts, Dave Shurna and Jeff Evans, speak with School Leader's, Jan Harrison and Jason Malone of the Compass Community Collaborative School. The Compass School is a tuition-free charter school located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Students learn through active and engaging real-world projects — and graduate with a plan, a portfolio, and the tools to make a positive impact.
Today we are speaking with school leader, Jan Harrison, and assistant school lead, Jason Malone.
Jan has an extensive background in education with three master’s degrees, two in science and one in Educational Leadership, as well as a principal’s license and served for 15 years as a public education as a high school classroom teacher, a department leader, a Dean of Students, and as a district-wide high school interventions facilitator. She is highly qualified and committed to facilitate the work of a team of creative thoughtful, and energetic change agents who are committed to writing the next chapter in public education.
Jason also has two decades of experience in public education in Fort Collins. He also worked as an International Baccalaureate Program Coordinator for 10 years and an IB Workshop Leader, Consultant and Program Evaluator working with schools all over North America. He believes teachers are lifelong learners and was drawn to the collaborative and innovative aspects of the Compass School. He says “the process of honoring of identity and the power of each individual student is at the center of my teaching philosophy and our work at Compass.”
The Compass School was one of the first No Barriers partnered schools based on their mission-driven curriculum and emphasis on student-focused, individualistic, purposeful learning that extends beyond the classroom.
To learn more beyond the conversation today please visit the Compass website at:
https://compassfortcollins.org/
Today we have a special episode for you. We are sharing some one on one interviews with No Barriers Summit participants from this past June at Lake Tahoe. Our host, Jeff Evans, took a “man on the street” approach and got firsthand accounts from various folks to talk about their personal experiences. He spoke with Veterans, teachers, coaches, parents and many more people who were taking part in different activities to get their feedback and their personal takeaways.
Jeff meets up with Lanelle, a participant who just took part in the No Barriers activity: The Amazing Race. Like the show on TV teams move through various obstacles and work together to complete the challenges. The No Barriers version is all accessible and you might be paired up with a blind person, someone who is using a wheelchair, or a family of 4! The half day event proves that these physical differences aren't important when you unite around a common Vision. Lanelle is taking part in the No Barriers Warriors (she's a special educator) and hopes to bring back the lessons she learns here at the Summit and during Warriors expeditions to bring back to her students.
Next, Jeff connects with a trio of Warriors who also just wrapped up at the Amazing Race. One participant speaks about starting her own Non profit dedicated to encouraging Veterans to choose meditation over medication. Having previously completed a Warriors program she had taken a hiatus but speaks to the importance of coming to the Summit to reconnect with her teammates:
"It gets lonely out there and coming to events like this it reminds you of why you're doing it, but it also helps you find your battle buddies. We look out for each other, we keep each other going and it's good to come back together and reengage - to link arms and go back out in the world."
The trio is headed together to Mt. Baker and then Mt. Rainier following the Summit. Jeff wishes them the best and heads to his next activity: Improv.
After Improv wraps, Jeff meets Dan and gets his thoughts. Dan is a football and baseball Coach in his home life and he appreciated the way the facilitators broke down the process and got the group to be open, receptive, and ignore their fear - much like he does as a Coach.
Following Improv, Jeff heads to a workshop with Mandy Harvey, a jazz singer who happens to be deaf and 3rd place winner on America's Got Talent. He meets with Andrew H. who was blown away by the different tactics Mandy introduced the group to in order to experience music in different ways. By being more grounded and tuning in with more focus it leads to a deeper experience. He likens it to his personal meditation practice.
Andrew works with folks with Autism and wants to take back Mandy's tools to bring to his classroom. He is already considering using a drum circle and having his students use a tactile vest or even a balloon to feel the vibrations of the music. Another example of No Barriers activities sparking ideas and creativity for people to not just enjoy in the moment but to introduce lessons back home to enhance their communities.
Jeff then gets the chance to speak to Megan K. a wonderful young woman who came to the Summit on a Reach scholarship. Megan is almost entirely blind and also has a powerful, lovely voice. At the end of the clinic she sang a duet with Mandy that must be heard to truly appreciate the beauty of that moment.
Lastly, Jeff meets with Melissa S., a young woman with cerebral palsy from Leadville, CO, who has also been enjoying her time at the Summit. Melissa and Jeff bond over a love of the band, Journey, and Jeff admits that watching her reaction to Mandy's music brought him to tears.
The Summit is for people from all walks of life with all types of challenges - whether physical, mental or invisible. The Summit experience is as diverse as the people who attend and we wanted to showcase these individual testimonies.
The next No Barriers Summit takes place in San Francisco, September 2020 and we hope to see you there.
Visit NoBarriersUSA.org to sign up for updates.
Dave and Erik interviewed No Barriers supporters, business leaders, and co-founders of AFAR Media, Joe Diaz and Greg Sullivan for this episode’s podcast. AFAR Media is a critically acclaimed, multi-platform media company. Founded by Diaz and co-founder Greg Sullivan in 2009, AFAR inspires, guides, and enables the world’s best travelers to have deeper, richer, and more fulfilling experiences. AFAR’s innovative and award-winning platforms include AFAR Magazine, AFAR.com, AFAR Experiences, AFAR in Residence, and AFAR Conversations. Ten years ago, when they launched AFAR Media, they also joined forces with No Barriers Youth to also launch Learning AFAR, which provides travel experiences to high school students from low income families. Over 1,500 students have been given life changing experiences through this joint program.
Greg started his career as a corporate securities attorney and later an investment banker before launching a series of successful entrepreneurial ventures, including the world’s largest selling coin-operated basketball game manufacturer and the second largest used car sales and finance company in the USA. He currently also serves on the board of directors of Carvana, the leading online car retailer. For Joe Diaz: in addition to his daily responsibilities at AFAR, Joe is an accomplished speaker and frequently lends his expertise on a variety of topics, including travel trends, startups, brands, entrepreneurship, innovation through digital media, and more.
Starting with a pivotal trip to India in 2009, Joe and Greg were quickly inspired to share their love of travel with the world. They see travel as not just glamorous or escapism but as a way to instead seek and discover meaning, purpose, and connection in their lives.
They realized that there was a lack of resources for global travelers that explored the transformative power of travel. They wanted to start a magazine and literally went on amazon to order books on how to begin that process. Joe and Greg discuss these humble beginnings as well as what “transformative and experiential travel” means to them:
“It starts with a mindset, that travel isn’t something you do two weeks out of the year but an approach you take to life. That you’re curious about the world and want to really get off the tour bus and sit at the kitchen table. It’s a spirit - everytime you walk out your front door you take it with you.” - Joe
They offer planning tips to get out in the world in more meaningful ways and how to take advantage of the resources and mission driven organizations that are out there to assist. It doesn’t always mean following an itinerary - you can volunteer or “spin the globe.”
Greg and Joe speak to the value of guides and trip builders who help craft experiences for clients to get the most impact.
“What does ‘been to’ mean? How many kitchen tables have you set at? Take part in experiential and deep-dive travel.” - Greg
Our guests discuss how to be open and curious during your day to day. How to start conversations with the people you encounter in your everyday experiences like commuting and grabbing coffee.
With the No Barriers program, Learning AFAR, Greg and Joe wanted to expand these amazing opportunities to people that don’t have the financial means. Not everyone has access or funds to hop on a plane and get to another continent. Providing programs that allow underprivileged kids to experience different cultures and languages gives them a new perspective on life. And the most rewarding part is that they return wanting to do more for others.
“How do you put a value on that??” - Greg
“And now they can pay that forward.” - Joe
Joe did a TEDx Talk where he talks about this: After years of traveling, Joe found that the most dangerous worldview is that of those who have never viewed the world. The more we travel, the more we learn and the less we fear our world. We can help people to fear less.
Ultimately it is invaluable to know your neighbors and treat our planet with care and that is the message that Greg and Joe are sharing with others with their travel company and No Barriers programming.
AFAR Media
No Barriers Learning AFAR program
Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter: @AFARmedia
Joe’s Ted Talk
Our hosts, Jeff and Erik, sat down with Timmy at our studio in Golden to catch up. He was in town to train with Erik for their upcoming expedition to climb Ama Dablam, a beautiful peak in Nepal. Timmy, Erik, and Jeff have been friends for many years and know Timmy not just as a wild speed climber but as a thoughtful philosopher of sorts who has dedicated a large portion of his life to giving back both through his nonprofit, Paradox Sports, and his work with Cure Blindness in Africa.
Timmy talks about his quest to live in the now and to find meaning in all of his pursuits. He works with folks who are in the midst of challenge; whether they are physically disabled and part of Paradox Sports, or are taking part in one of his leadership seminars, and he has learned many lessons along the way. A brief background on Timmy:
Hailing from Philadelphia, Timmy O’Neill left after one semester of college to head out and design a life for himself. He quickly became known as the “Urban Ape," scaling buildings around the country, like the Chicago Tribune Tower, without any ropes. Now, he’s a seasoned Patagonia-sponsored climber with a lengthy and impressive resume that includes setting world speed climbing records in Yosemite, and first ascents around the world in Venezuela, Patagonia, Pakistan and Greenland. Timmy is also a world class slack liner, mountain biker and kayaker and recently guided completely blind kayaker, Lonnie Bedwell, down the Zambezi, a class V River.
Outside of his athletic achievements, Timmy is always giving back. He co-founded Paradox Sports, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing inspiration, opportunities and adaptive equipment to the disabled community and provides ophthalmic surgical care in Africa as part of the organization, Cure Blindness, along with Dr. Geoff Tabin. Timmy's vitality and zest for life continues to inspire others as he pushes on to live a life of meaning.
Follow Timmy on Instagram
Check out his Facebook and give him a like.
Read more about Paradox Sports and Cure Blindness
Our hosts, Jeff Evans and Erik Weihenmayer, had the opportunity to catch Charlie for an hour during his extremely busy schedule. Charlie was in the midst of training to head off on his latest pursuit: to run from the lowest point on earth; the Dead Sea to the tallest; the summit of Mt. Everest. Jeff and Erik wanted to hear more about not only his athletic accomplishments (too many for one podcast!) but to hear about how he got to this place of focus in his life.
Charlie Engle is many things: a writer, runner, recovering addict and speaker. He’s run across the Sahara Desert, the Amazon, swum with crocodiles and summited ice covered volcanoes, but according to Charlie his greatest challenge has been becoming sober. He has stayed clean since 1992 and has channeled his addictive nature into his passion to run and what he calls “positive, purpose-driven pursuits.”
He discusses the mental clarity and resolve it takes to run such long distances and not avoid pain but to tap into it. He also talks about the sheer logistics and planning that go into endeavors like the ones he takes on and the folks in his life who help make it all possible - like his wife who works tirelessly on logistics behind the scenes.
In 2016, he wrote a memoir titled, “The Running Man” to illuminate the lessons he’s learned in his struggles and his triumphs.
To learn more and keep up to date on Charlie's adventures by signing up for his newsletter go to his website.
Follow Charlie on Facebook: @charlieengleruns, Instagram & Twitter: @charlieengle
Jeff and Erik spoke with our guest, Tish Scolnik, calling in from her Boston headquarters, about her journey to cofounding and running her own company: GRIT that created the Freedom Chair. Tish has been a longtime friend and supporter of No Barriers. Her Freedom Chair, the "mountain bike of wheelchairs" has been used by many folks at our No Barriers events to navigate tough terrain and help wheelchair users climb mountains that would be otherwise completely inaccessible.
While at MIT Tish met her friends and co-founders who came together over their belief that everybody deserves access to the outdoors and adventure. They created a prototype of the Freedom Chair and brought it around the world. Many iterations later, they are still working hard to customize chairs and improve each new version for their many users - all with unique needs.
Learn more about GRIT here.
Call GRIT at 877-345-4748
Message them at Facebook and Instagram @GRITFreedomChair. GRIT is a small team committed to their users and loves hearing their experiences.
Our hosts, Erik and Dave, sat down with J.R. Martinez the night before our No Barriers Summit began in a conference room at Lake Tahoe Squaw Resort to talk about his journey. Background on J.R.:
J.R. Martinez is an actor, best-selling author, motivational speaker, advocate, and wounded U.S. Army veteran. He hails from a small town in Georgia, where he grew up as the son of a single working mother who emigrated from El Salvador.
After high school, he joined the army and in 2003 was deployed to Iraq. One day his humvee hit a roadside bomb, ejecting the three other soldiers and trapping J.R. inside. He suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns to 34 percent of his body. He spent 34 months in recovery and had 34 different surgeries, including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery in the eleven years since his injury. During his recovery, he discovered the power of sharing his experience and listening to others. He now travels the world spreading his message of resilience and optimism.
He has spoken to troops at various bases around the world, universities, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies.He’s starred and co-starred on a number of shows including daytime drama All My Children and in 2013, on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars he and partner, Smirnoff, were named season champions.
Martinez is also the author of the New York Times best-selling book, Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit, a memoir about how he was able to take his own personal tragedy, and turn it into an inspiration for others.
To book J.R. or to learn more go to his website.
Follow J.R. on social media at @iamjrmartinez
Make sure to check out his latest book.
To stay up to date with No Barriers and get updates on our 2020 Summit in San Francisco go here.
At our most recent No Barriers Summit at Lake Tahoe this past June, our three hosts were joined on stage by Mandy Harvey for a special live production of our podcast.
Mandy Harvey is an award-winning singer and songwriter who also happens to be deaf. Mandy was a Vocal Music Education major at Colorado State University, when she lost her residual hearing at age eighteen due to a connective tissue disorder that affected her nerves.
She left the program and pursued several career options, including education, but returned to music in 2008, as her true passion could no longer be denied. She quickly became a successful performer and has released three albums and won numerous awards.
Most notably, in 2017 she was on America’s Got Talent where her performance of her original song “Try” while playing the ukulele, moved Simon Cowell to press his Golden Buzzer to send Mandy straight to the Quarterfinals. She went on to make the Finals and placed 4th overall.
Watch her performance here.
Mandy is also an ambassador to both No Barriers USA and Invisible Disabilities with a mission to encourage, inspire and assist others to break through their personal barriers.
Though her hearing loss is profound, her timing and pitch are perfect and her passion is tremendous. With support from friends, family and her faith, Mandy continues to find joy in music.
Our hosts talk with Mandy about the hard work and dedication that goes into being an award-winning singer and the efforts she puts in to not only keep up the quality of her own work and continue to tour and perform, but how she translates her style to teach others to "find their rhythm."
Mandy recently released her latest single: "Release Me" and the music video is incredible. Watch (and share) it here.
Follow Mandy on Facebook: @mandyharveymusic
Follow Mandy on Instagram & Twitter: @mandyharvey
Visit her website: Mandy Harvey Music to learn more.
Warning: Adult Content, please do not play with children present.
The night before our No Barriers Summit began, our hosts Dave and Erik met with Gabriel Cordell at Squaw Resort at Lake Tahoe to record. Gabriel was scheduled to speak at the No Barriers Summit opening ceremony the next evening but came in early to meet with our podcast crew.
Throughout the hour, Gabriel detailed how he dealt with his car accident at age 22 that left him paralyzed from his mid-chest down. After four months of recovery and physical rehabilitation, Gabriel continued to pursue his dream of being an actor, now as a paraplegic. He established his acting career on stage and screen, with credits including CSI, Dexter, and Numb3rs as well as national ads for IBM, Maxwell House and Pizza Hut.
At the age of 42, Cordell focused on a different kind of role. He became the first person to roll across the United States in a standard, manual wheelchair — a 3,100-mile journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic, the final destination being his hometown of West Hempstead, New York. The inspiring trek is the subject of an award-winning documentary film called, Roll With Me: A Journey Across America. In 2014, Gabriel traveled to Israel and mounted a Roll for Peace between the Palestinians and Israelis, completing that 100km journey from Haifa to Tel Aviv in his wheelchair.
In 2015, he teamed with the North Shore Animal League America and Bianca’s Furry Friends to raise money and awareness, by rolling 123 miles across Long Island, New York. As a motivational speaker, Gabriel Cordell finally gets to share his inspiring story of turning tragedy into triumph.
Gabriel dives deep into the dark places his injury and subsequent anger and frustration led him. His truthfulness is raw and real and Gabriel goes on to talk about what inspired him to stop doing drugs, to reassess his life, and to take on the athletic challenges he pursues. Listen to hear Gabriel’s story along with his new No Barriers Pledge.
Follow Gabriel on Facebook and Twitter at @rollwithmeusa and his website.
Watch his film: Roll With Me on Netflix and for more info on his documentary visit: Roll With Me: The Movie
Hosts Jeff and Erik spoke with Marisa about her trajectory from a dancer to finding her voice and her own company, Infinite Flow.
After 20 years of dancing ballet and contemporary dance in both the US and Japan, Marisa discovered and fell in love with ballroom dancing while recovering from spinal cord infarction, a rare stroke which caused her to be temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. In 2015, Marisa founded Infinite Flow, An Inclusive Dance Company, leading a global movement to make dance accessible to all and use dance to inspire inclusivity.
She has brought Infinite Flow’s professional dancers with and without disabilities to perform at over 100 events, from school assemblies to corporate events with Apple, Red Bull, Porsche, Kaiser Permanente, and others. Infinite Flow’s videos have been viewed by over 50 Million people and she has been featured in over 100 media outlets including NBC Today, Good Morning America, Refinery 29, and others.
Our team was introduced to Marisa when she came to a No Barriers Summit in 2017 and performed onstage with her then dance partner, Adelfo. They made such an impression on the crowd that we invited them back to perform at the NYC Summit in 2018.
Together, Jeff, Erik, and Marisa explore how her own brush with disability informed her mission and how the adversity she experienced in her life has motivated her to find the dancer in everyone she meets.
Check out Infinite Flow
Join us in San Francisco for our 2020 No Barriers Summit.
Follow Marisa on social channels: @infiniteflowdance #infiniteinclusion
Jeff and Dave spoke with Scott Kim a few weeks before he was scheduled to speak at our No Barriers Summit in Tahoe. Scott called in from his hometown of San Francisco (and was appropriately sporting a Warriors jersey) to tell them about his journey to success in creation of the Rapael Smart Glove. As with other innovators and entrepreneurs they have spoken with previously - Scott outlines the difficulties and barriers he faced and how he dealt with them.
Background: Scott is the CEO of NEOFECT USA, and one of the founders of its parent company, NEOFECT, a rehabilitation technology company headquartered in South Korea. He wore several different hats before joining Neofect – a management consultant and a product manager in the software industry. Scott worked for mobile gaming companies such as GREE, Z2Live (which was acquired by King.com, a “Candy Crush” maker) and 505 Games, and founded a couple of startups. Recently, NEOFECT went on an IPO in November 2018, and is currently traded on the KOSDAQ.
A passion project; this innovation was born from personal experience. Scott was born with spinal bifida and has undergone surgery and understands the long process of rehabilitation. His prior experience in the gaming software industry has also contributed to his ability to create the games and software for the Rapael Smart Glove in the US market.
Learn more here: Neofect.com
Erik, Jeff, and Dave connected with Mindy to talk about the leaps and bounds she's made in the field of accessible fashion for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. Although she had been in the fashion world for years she was unaware of the lack of consideration given to those with alternate needs until her son, Oliver, who was born with muscular dystrophy, wanted to fit in with his friends - fashion-wise.
“In my entire career in fashion there was never a thought of the challenges people with disabilities faced.”
Mindy talked about the emotional and personal struggles that came with having a child with a disability that wasn't immediately diagnosable and how ultimately her situation provided inspiration to help others.
“I could help not just Oliver’s life but the millions of people out there who are experiencing the same thing. This gave me a sense of purpose in a situation where I felt helpless.”
Our hosts dive into the Pioneering process Mindy went through from creating jeans in her living room to having an accessible line with Tommy Hilfiger and founding RoDF. Listen and let us know what you think and subscribe to hear more No Barriers stories.
Check out Mindy's Runway of Dreams Foundation and keep up with their latest news!
Our hosts caught up with Natasha Nurse, before they meet her in person at our No Barriers Summit this June 13th-15th.
Natasha spoke with Jeff and Erik about the map to start loving yourself and the road she personally traveled to get to that point herself. Now, a successful business owner and coach who illuminates the path for others, Natasha will be speaking and sharing her pointers with our No Barriers audience this June in Tahoe.
Listen to the episode and let us know what you think in a review. If you haven't signed up for the No Barriers Summit yet go here and Register today
For more about Natasha's company, Dressing Room 8, Check it out here.
Get more fashion tips at Plus Model Magazine.
If you loved the content of Natasha's story, definitely check out her and her husband's podcast: WokeNFree
Jeff and Erik connected with Jamie to hear her story and how her drive and grit has led her to become such an accomplished actress, activist, dancer, and founder of THISAbility, a performing arts conservatory and professional theatre company, cultivating inclusion in the arts.
At age 19, Jamie was given a misdiagnosis and experienced a terrible reaction to medication that led to semi-paralysis and confinement to a wheelchair. After such a devastating blow, Jamie chose to fight back. Listen to Jamie discuss her musical and artistic trajectory and how she became a well known face and name in the performing arts community.
Follow Jamie on social media at: @thisabilityarts
Register for our No Barriers Summit here.
Koichiro Kobayashi, known as “Koba,” is a “paraclimbing legend.” Koba went blind at age 28 from a degenerative eye disease and at age 31 decided to take up climbing. He has since racked up a number of gold medals around the world! Koba envisions a world where various groups of people can live together without being worried about their handicaps. To pursue his vision, he established a Tokyo-based non-profit organization called Monkey Magic that promotes free climbing among those with visual impairments. Koba believes climbing “is a lifetime sport that people with disabilities can enjoy throughout their lives which increases exercise opportunities, promotes self-reliance and social participation by empowering, and improves quality of life.” Koba is joined today by his guide, Naoya Suzuki.
Erik and Skyler speak to Koba and Naoya about their journey into paraclimbing and how they work together in this adaptive sport. They speak about all the different techniques they use together on a technical level to communicate and get Koba up the rock face. One example is that Naoya uses the “clock method,” and explains which hold to grab by saying 1 o’clock or half past 2 etc. They have traveled the world together and discuss the challenges of entering the World Championships and what being on that level of competition means to them.
Koba also reflects on how he heard of Erik back when he was beginning to go blind and the inspiration that meeting provided. In Japan, the blind people he had met stayed away from sports and being active. But, Naoya bought Koba Erik’s first book about his ascent of Everest and he was blown away. So, he reached out. Naoya and Koba came to the U.S. and met Erik together and they have all been close ever since.
Trust is an integral part of their relationship. Naoya reflects on times Koba has lost competitions, essentially on bad calls he has made, and how Koba never blames him. They make mistakes together but:
“I trust him. No matter how much he makes mistakes, I feel big passion from him, so I trust him.”
After Koba climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with Erik and other blind people in 2005, he was inspired to start a climbing gym in his home country of Japan for folks with disabilities. The climbing is an essential service he offers but Koba recognizes that the social aspect is almost even more impactful. Going blind can lead people to isolate and stop going out but Koba realizes how important it is to meet new people and be connected with others.
Koba talks about how climbing has become like a friend in his life and his pursuit of the sport has led him to find satisfaction. He does not need his sight to feel fulfillment in his life and to have the love of his community around him. From his climbing community to his wife to Naoya, Koba has met so many supporters in his life since going blind that he has discovered that: “blindness made him big.”
As Erik puts it, “sometimes even hardships end up giving us gifts we might never have gotten otherwise.”
In Koba’s case, going blind led him to tdiscovering the climbing community building and building deeper relationships with the people in his life.
Our three hosts sat down with George Basch in our studio. Repeat episode description.
For Jeff and Erik it was more of a reunion as they have a climbing history together. They reminisce on their first climb in ‘98 up Aconcagua. In fact, George and Erik met in Phoenix during Erik’s previous life as an English teacher (he taught George’s son!) and he essentially became a mentor and an inspiration when he was looking to make his life in the mountains as an adventurer.
Previous to his life as an adventurer, he was a business person. Our hosts dive into George’s past in the business world; including a time when he had to declare bankruptcy. He essentially started over at age 50.
Part of his internal ethos (that he inherited from his family) is to go out and DO. To be part of action and make a difference in folk’s lives. He’s active in the American Alpine Club, the Explorers Club, and other organizations. But one constant has been his desire and drive to give back.
“That was part of the family DNA - there was an aspect of my life in giving back.”
During one of his many expeditions to Nepal he became fixated on the horrible air quality in the homes he visited due to the traditional stoves they used to cook their food that ran on yak dung and polluted their dwellings. George tells the story of how, in 2009, he came upon a company who was designing more fuel efficient stoves. These new stoves solved so many issues, including lessening the insistence of immune sickness, respiratory problems, and blindness/eye issues.
“It transforms the life of a family.”
George created a system where stoves are delivered all-over the countryside and within ten minutes of set up the entire living space is transformed. We were lucky enough to see these in person when George brought one into our studio and set it up within no time.
For George, the difference each stove makes to each family, is what drives him to continue, even despite his age. When the work gets overwhelming he reaches out and gets the help he needs to continue:
“Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.”
By calling it the Himalayan Stove Project, George has created a legacy that will live on when he is gone. The team then discusses a tragedy that occurred in George’s life, and how his philanthropic undertakings have helped him in his emotional recovery.
“Every stove that we deliver honors the legacy of my son.”
Listening to George, it’s clear how he leads a life of purpose and how he seeks meaning. It’s a core component of his identity but it does not mean it’s easy. George discusses how he has gone about facing his own barriers - both in work and in his personal life - but how, ultimately his passion to help others, continues to push him onwards.
“What do I want on my headstone? ‘He made a difference.’”
Register for our No Barriers Summit
To support George's efforts in Nepal visit his website: Himalayan Stove Project
Follow Himalayan Stove Project and stay up to date on Facebook
To purchase a copy of the book George and Jeff reference: Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World
Photos of George's stoves will be shared on the No Barriers Facebook page.
*Please note that this episode explores mature themes and has minor profanity
Dave brought Nadia in as a guest after he heard her speak at the Nantucket Project and was incredibly impressed with her and the parallels of her words and our No Barriers messaging.
All three hosts sat down with Nadia in our studio in Golden to talk about her own journey to become a Pastor for House for All Sinners and Saints, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. From her struggles with alcoholism and feeling lost in the world, Nadia found a community when she entered the world of comedy and became a stand up comedian. Using humor and her faith as therapy, she eventually began to heal and transformed her trauma into a passion for helping others.
Now, she has two best-selling books and most recently released her latest book, Shameless, an examination and take down of the "harmful and antiquated ideas about sex, gender, and our bodies."
The hosts and Nadia discuss the concepts of forgiveness, faith, trust, and spirit in this hour of reflection.
(http://www.nadiabolzweber.com/)
FB: @sarcasticlutheran
Twitter: @Sarcasticluther
Instagram: sarcasticlutheran
Shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday Sean Swarner came to Launchpad studios to meet with Jeff and Erik and speak about his journey beating the odds to become an incredible adventurer and inspiration to so many.
With only one functioning lung, a prognosis of fourteen days to live, and being in a medically-induced coma for a year, Sean Swarner is the first cancer survivor to stand on top of Mt. Everest. Sean has broken through defined human limitation in order to redefine the way the world views success. Diagnosed with two deadly, different, and unrelated forms of cancer, once age thirteen and again at age sixteen. Sean astounded the medical community when he survived both. He realized that after defeating cancer twice, no challenge would ever be too great, no peak too high. He has since topped the “7-Summits”and skied both the South and the North Poles. He continues to test his own endurance and inspire and motivate people around the world with his message of hope. He founded the non-profit organization, The CancerClimber Association, and is now an author, speaker, and most recently the feature of the documentary: True North.
The episode opens with Sean discussing his childhood. He talks about growing up in the Midwest with a rather typical upbringing, including engaging in sports like running cross country, soccer, and swimming. At age 13, a knee injury that led to complications the doctors ended up finding his first cancer-advanced stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He was given 3 months to live. His treatment began immediately and this overtook everything in his life.
“Our entire lives as a family was on hold.”
Coming to terms with his diagnosis was also a challenge. As his hair fell out and he gained weight from the treatments, Sean was suddenly thrust into living a life completely unlike his friends and peers. Constantly in the hospital he was alone and scared. But he had to take stock of his situation:
“I could either fight or die.”
At age 15, while in remission, a second cancer was discovered - totally unrelated to the first. This one was even more rare and the prognosis was a 6% chance of survival.
“The odds are winning the lottery four times in a row with the same numbers.”
At that point it would have been easy for Sean to lose hope but he attributes his fighting spirit and the fact that he survived to a number of factors, including:
“It was a combination of modern medicine, family support, prayer, and an inner will to not give up...to go one day at a time to make those days become a habit, instead of focusing on the negative.”
“I wasn’t focused on not dying, I was focused on living.”
This time around, according to his doctors, Sean had two weeks to live. Treatments included more chemo and a medically induced coma. But once he came out the other side he realized he had learned so much about himself and what drives him. Erik asks if he still feels fear or trauma based on his experiences and Sean responds that at least once a year when he goes in for a yearly check up he feels those sensations but realizes that worrying about it ultimately does not do any good. He makes the decision to think positively. For example, from his time as a cancer patient, Sean still uses the power of positive affirmations. Always believing today will be the best day ever for the mere fact that you are still alive.
After his teen years, and recovering from two cancers, Sean headed to college. He changed his course a few times which he discusses. Realizing he wanted to help others touched by cancer - to provide them hope, he decides to climb Mt. Everest. He knew that if someone who had overcome cancer reached the top of the highest peak in the world it would be a huge beacon of hope for so many people around the world who were struggling with their own illnesses.
So, with one functioning lung, Sean started training. He was living at sea level in Florida but despite his location and the doubts of almost everyone he knew, he poured his heart and soul into his effort. Nine months later he was at Everest basecamp, ready to make his way up the mountain.
Sean treated every step along the way as a new PR (Personal Record) and felt blessed with each passing day. Jeff and Erik discuss the various physical difficulties they personally encountered on Everest and how Sean had similar experiences, but his were only amplified by having just one lung.
Despite it all, Sean reached the summit on a beautiful day, surpassing everyone’s expectations.
Erik and Jeff want to know how Sean builds this positive mindset; how he was able to channel his focus. Sean discusses the significance of having folks who are struggling with cancer cheering him on from all around the world. Cancer patients can't just take a day off. For Sean, that was the ultimate push forward.
When Sean returned he was hoping his message would catch on in the media but he realized he had to do even more. He ended up doing the “Grand Slam” of adventures and then started visiting hospitals around the globe to meet patients with cancer. He formed relationships and kept in contact with so many folks to pass along his message of hope.
Jeff continues to probe into Sean’s psyche. How does he live the way he does? How doesn’t he let his circumstances get him down? Sean talks about making “micro-changes” in his life and also always having gratitude. After all, it was his conditions that led to the trajectory of his career and have enabled him to help so many others.
“So many people are fixated on what’s comfortable. Life begins outside your comfort zone but fear holds them back.”
Sean put together a program that includes micro-changes that was created for cancer patients but is applicable to anyone. The changes help you tap into what is your value system and to stay true to that vision. The link is at the bottom of this show description.
Sean now speaks to groups to spread his message of hope, has authored a book, is starring in a documentary, has created his 7 day (free!) program for cancer patients, and most importantly co-founded his non-profit: The Cancer Climber Association. Sean continues to advocate for others. Please check out his latest cause as part of The Cancer Climber Association in the links below.
Sean's documentary: True North
Help Sean raise funds for The Cancer Climber Association
Download Sean's 7 day guide to jumpstart your own journey.
Learn more about Sean and book him to speak here.
Find Sean on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn: @SeanSwarner
Jeff and Erik met up in Golden following Thanksgiving to hang out with Craig Demartino, a renowned rock climber who is also an amputee. They are missing their “fearless leader,” Dave Shurna.
Craig works with an organization called, Adaptive Adventures, that helps folks of all abilities get out and experience athletic endeavors. Craig works with helping people learn to or get back to rock climbing despite any challenges they are facing. Half the population he works with are Veterans (they are a vetted VA provider) and will come in a few times a week to the rock gym before they venture outside. He talks about the different adaptations and innovations they use to get anyone up the wall.
But before Craig worked with this group he was just a regular climber. Before 2001, he was focused mostly on what he wanted to do and where he wanted to be, along with his wife and two kids. They traveled and climbed as Craig worked as a photographer.
In 2002, Craig was climbing with a partner in Estes Park and has a life changing accident that resulted in the lower part of right leg being amputated, a fused spine, and an array of persistent nerve pain, along with PTS related to climbing again. But even despite this he looks back and think he was lucky considering how much worse it could have gone.
“I had so many things stacked in my favor when it happened.”
The first time Craig went back out climbing he was terrified. The experience had left him unsure and scared with all the fear flooding back when he was ready to rappel down. Unlike the movies - Craig wasn’t ready to rejoin the climbing world after confronting his fear one time. He was still a ball of nerves whenever he tried again for the next few years.
“I was scared on so many levels I can’t even tell you.”
Despite all the fear and uncertainty, Craig was determined to keep climbing. It had always been such a major part of his identity and couldn’t conceive trying any other sports or athletics. But suddenly, Craig’s right leg started to throb with pain. After repeated visits to the Doctor and to a neurosurgeon it was determined that he would need to have his leg amputated. On choosing to go forward with the amputation:
“It was the first thing in the whole accident storyline that I had power over...good or bad at least I’m making this decision.”
“You realize that the chapter is turning. I don’t know what it’s going to look like but at least I get to decide what that becomes.”
4 months after his surgery Craig got back out to climb. He felt more solid; less breakable. He connected with some great folks in the adaptive world, like climber and engineer, Hugh Herr, who helped him move on and figure out what his new life would look like.
“This isn’t the end of the world...I know this sounds really weird, but everything will be fine.”
Craig did the first amputee ascent in a day of El Capitan in Yosemite after meeting with other Veterans and climbers who were also disabled and was swayed to try climbing with them. He talks about how having these commonalities lend a special bond to the group. Finding that community was crucial to Craig’s journey from a solo climber to helping others like him.
“I was blown away by how inspiring they were and how they get after it.”
“We’ve all been through the machine as it were but I’ve come out the other side and am still here.”
Craig had a new role - to help others. He possessed a clarity he had never had prior to his accident. He admits he otherwise never would have followed this path. He would have continued living his life just as he was before - climbing and traveling with his family - with no higher purpose or meaning.
“It took that time to realize this is who I am supposed to be now. It lent clarity in my life I had never had before.”
“I wouldn’t trade any of it, the things I’ve gained from the accident I can’t even count ‘em. I get to give that to other people now, which is amazing.”
Finally, Craig discusses his film, Craig’s Reaction, playing on the film circuit now and available on iTunes and Amazon.
If folks are looking to climb with Craig or his organization visit Adaptive Adventures or find Craig on social media:
Instagram: @craigdem
Twitter: @demartinoclimb
Facebook: @Craig Demartino
Angie Shireman, a jewelry artisan, small business owner, certified yoga instructor, wife, mom, and artist, Angie seemingly has lived a carefree life. But, her smiling personality belies her real story. During this episode, our hosts have Angie recount these dark moments in her life and how she dug deep to find her way to the light and become the shiny person she is today.
Host, Erik Weihenmayer has a new film that is making the rounds on the film festival circuit: Weight of Water, about his pursuit of kayaking the Grand Canyon. The film was started in 2014 by director, Michael Brown, and now is winning awards left and right. At the time of this episode it had just taken home the Grand Prize at Banff Mountain Film Festival.
Dave points out that the movie highlights the internal struggles of those folks in Erik’s life and how we are all carrying some sort of mental or emotional burden at any given time. Angie has had her fair share of burdens.
She starts with an overview of her childhood, growing up in Buffalo, NY, as one of 5 children in an Irish Catholic family. Her mom raised Angie without her biological dad present and as a young child, Angie was very aware of his absence. As the years went on Angie’s mom dated other men and ultimately her home was unstable and lacking a feeling of safety.
Her rocky childhood and lack of familial support had Angie seeking a means to escape; whether in her mind by creating an alternate reality for herself or physically escaping and running away as a young teen.
After years of rebellion and denial of her feelings, Angie discusses how important it was to seek forgiveness for the people who had harmed her and to forgive herself.
“This is not going to be the thing that gets me down, I am not going to end my life this way...I would not have the depth of character or the ability to love so freely without these experiences.”
“In some strange way I knew I would always land on my feet. And to do that we all have to do these little forgiveness, every single day.”
From Angie’s experience climbing Kilimanjaro (Jeff was a guide on her expedition) and she used her time on the mountain to continue to rid herself of the burdens she carried. Beyond her childhood, Angie faced health barriers as an adult. She got a voluntary double mastectomy after finding a lump. Her decision was to take action and ensure if it was cancer, it wouldn’t spread. But, despite being at peace with her decision, Angie discusses how hard it was post surgery and the unexpected ways she felt.
“I felt invisible, like a fraud - like another thing you don’t know about me is this..”
Once again, Angie reverted to feeling like she was holding on to even more emotional burdens. And even then her struggles weren’t done. After some odd neurological symptoms popped up, Angie was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder that required not one, but two deep brain surgeries. Between the first and second surgeries Angie was in a dark place with fear and uncertainty creeping in.
“I think it was the fear of not having lived the life that I knew that I wanted. If I don’t wake up from this, what was my biggest accomplishment?”
To get past those feelings, Angie discusses how she recovered and overcame these feelings by discovering what she calls her “spirit.” Understanding that her physical self and the experiences that have happened to her are not what ultimately make her.
“It’s a thirst and a knowledge that I can do this. I can make it. Even if I slip or fall, my real life is in my ability to choose to try.”
She believes everyone has this capability but not everyone has learned to access it.
“You gotta lean into the parts that are scary and terrifying to truly see who you are.”
Now, Angie has recovered physically and devotes her time to her art and helping others. Using her art to channel her voice, Angie continues to face her demons and express herself.
No Barriers Website
Purchase Angie's beautiful jewelry
Follow Angie on social @msyogipants or @goodvibejewelry
Dave, Jeff and Erik welcomed Luis to the No Barriers Podcast studio and it felt initially like a trip down memory lane. Jeff and Erik have known Luis since they were all young mountain climbers in their late 20’s. They have made films, went on great expeditions and shared countless experiences. Since those days all three have been on different trajectories all while still maintaining a connection to the outdoors where it all started. When Luis is asked if he expected to have gone from climbing to being in the world of business and politics he is adamant he never saw this path for himself.
In 2001 the team that would eventually summit Everest together and make history as the team that included the first blind person, Erik Weihenmayer, to ever reach the top. They were brought together, along with our Technical producer and expedition photographer, Didrik Johnck, by their team leader, Pasquale (PV) Scaturro. Luis talks about how people viewed this decision to take a blind guy up Everest as a “career-killer.” They assumed he wouldn’t make it and he’d be known as the guide who was responsible for his death. We know how this turned out though.
“We weren’t just going to climb Everest, we were going to shatter that belief in what we could actually get done.”
When Luis was young he actually was not athletic and was in fact, quite sickly. With severe asthma and allergies he was confined to his house for most of his childhood and led a sedentary lifestyle. He lobbied his dad successfully to take him to Ecuador where he could acclimatize his lungs in the high altitude and help them heal - as he had read in an article about a successful mountaineer who had similar issues.
Luis recalls one of his first meetings with Erik before they climbed Everest on a local ice climbing day in Colorado where he overheard the film crew talking badly of Erik and his abilities and it just reminded him of being a young sickly kid who was also counted out.
“It was at that moment that I knew what we were about to do had very little to do with just climbing and a whole lot to do with breaking that perceived barrier of what you were capable of.”
After Everest was such a success Luis become high in demand. He remained committed to his goal of being a mountain guide and helping others reach their potential. He loved the concept of a Rope Team on a mountain. For him expeditions are not just resume builders.
“For me it wasn’t about returning to Everest or going on these big expeditions but helping other people understand what they were capable of.”
Our hosts reflect that wanting to guide and lead requires a special mentality and being of service. Luis ultimately translated his love of the climbing communities and his desire to recreate that special energy their Everest team had into becoming a professional guide.
When asked about his best moment in his guiding profession Luis surprises the hosts by saying it was their “failed” attempt at Ama Dablam when they were training for Mt. Everest. As a young, hard-charging team it was hard to let go of ego and make the tough decision to turn around when they realized that weather would make it impossible to summit. It’s moments like these that have informed Luis’ sense of right v. wrong on mountains and valuing real human lives over perceived triumphs.
“To make the decision to turn around because of objective hazard when we knew how that would translate and the hardship that would result….being a part of the process to pull the plug...with all that pressure and all that was on the line, to turn around - it didn’t matter, reputation doesn’t matter - I don’t work for you, I work for your family and will not make that phone call home.”
As for the low point in his career it was a defining moment in 2006 on Mount Cho Oyu that changed the course of his life. Luis witnessed what he describes as a crime against humanity and ultimately had to make a hard decision to be truthful and let the world know what he witnessed, even if it cost him his professional goals.
But, from a lost job and even lost friendships, Luis found a new path in the adversity. He is now the first State Director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry office for Colorado. His office is responsible for over 5,000 CO jobs and they work with other governors to not just act as “tree-hugging hippies,” but to bring awareness that this industry makes significant impact to the USA’s GDP and our economy. It seems like Luis has come full circle by doing work that matters and gives voice to the outdoor community.
“I wouldn’t be ready for this position if all of this hadn’t happened in my life.”
Each experience Luis has had has been a catalyst to a future experience that brings him closer to his mission. Turns out the Dalai Lama was right: ‘You don’t always choose your own path - the path chooses you.’
Erik and Jeff begin the session recapping a recent experience helping Nerissa Cannon, a young woman in a wheelchair, climb a Colorado 14er. The discussion revolves around the importance of teamwork which is fitting since our guest is Maj. "Diggs" Brown who, since he left the Army, has worked with teams of Veterans to help them heal.
Diggs has had seemingly many lives. He's a current film actor, served in the Army as an officer in the Special Forces, and even worked as a financial advisor - the position he had when 9/11 happened, which led to his decision to join the Army.
The conversation starts with Diggs describing how he found the organization No Barriers at age 56 after returning from Afghanistan with a TBI and other injuries, including PTS and joined the No Barriers Warriors to take on his first expedition with other Vets.
When he returned home he was lost and it was during his time with these other Vets, in training sessions and during talks around the campfire, that he found his purpose: to help other Veterans come home and live well. But it was a road of discovery on his part to come to this conclusion.
During his first No Barriers expedition his team reached the summit of Mt. Whitney in California the date was September 11th and they were carrying the same American Flag that had been with him at his office when 9/11 occurred. It was the first time he had felt truly connected to others in a long time.
“You make outstanding friendships, get new perspective on your life, and no matter how bad you think your situation is - it really isn’t. There’s nothing you can’t overcome.”
The group returns to discuss Diggs time in Afghanistan. In 2002, they were the second set of special forces to arrive and as a Green Beret his job was to be a “force multiplier,” with a mission to help train their military to fight their own wars.
The Chaplain on site came to Diggs to ask for help rebuilding a school that had been destroyed by the Taliban. So, on his only day off once a week he would go and help them run it, meaning he would teach 6 hours of English to the young boys (no girls) who would show up to school barefoot with no supplies.
“When looking at the accomplishments in my life, that is the big one”
When Diggs noticed a young Afghani girl, maybe 11 years old, who would stare in through the windows to listen he was determined to give her the same opportunity. After negotiating with the village elders who were adamantly against it he got his way and with his persistence they created possibly the first school to allow girls in.
Jeff shifted the conversation to inquire what led Diggs to pursue a military career and he responded with a tale of his dad taking him to see John Wayne in the movies as a young kid and how he was hooked. For Diggs, he was especially keen on being in special forces because it means working with and helping the indigenous people and being enmeshed in their culture.
“My vision of the world is that if we all just took a breath and took a moment to try and help other people, what a wonderful wonderful place it would be.”
Erik asks what Diggs means by a "moral injury” which Diggs describes enduring after his return. Diggs answers that war isn’t what it looks like in Hollywood - you don’t feel the pain that comes along with the suffering and death and in particular describes a traumatic experience he endured that he believes he will carry with him over.
Jeff asks how he relates to this new generation of Veterans?
Diggs dives into the expeditions he's taken with other Veterans and how when they share stories that's when connection happens. He always shares his own first and provides the space to others to open up.
“Everyone’s experience is different, but the, if you want to call it “the punchline,” is always the same. Either you move on past it or you don’t. Either you learn to live with it or you don’t.”
The discussion of PTS deepens and Diggs expands by explaining that emotional injuries or traumas don’t disappear forever - they come and go and we learn how to deal with them or we don't. The importance of a Rope Team is crucial for moments when trauma flares up and Diggs understands this from his time as a part of Special Forces.
Another crucial part of his Rope Team is his service dog. Diggs had him with him in LaunchPad studios and he was an adorable addition to our No Barriers Podcast crew. He received him as a part of the organization: Puppies Behind Bars (link below) where they train the dogs for 2 years and they come out highly qualified to assist in pretty much any imaginable situation.
As for what Diggs is currently up to he recently went back to school for a film degree and is now in to acting part time! Besides a stint on the hit show, Dallas, Diggs has most recently done various gigs including a commercial for Red Bull (link also below). The team wrapped up our convo with thanking Diggs for his "servant heart." He has taken difficult parts of his life and used them to bring light to others.
See Diggs here: Red Bull Commercial
Follow Diggs: MajorDiggsBrown.com
Learn more about No Barriers
Learn more about Puppies Behind Bars
We recorded this episode shortly after Erik had just returned from New York City where he circumnavigated all of Manhattan in a kayak to promote the No Barriers Summit that took place in October 2018. He took interviews along the way as journalists and you can read more and see some photos here.
Erik, Dave, and Jeff dove in with Shannon asking about her and her daughter’s website and how they came up with the name: “endangered activists.”
Shannon shares her love of activism with her daughter and decided to encourage her passion for animals and so, they built a project around this passion.
“Perhaps activism is also an endangered species”
Most of the time, Shannon explains, people find activism overwhelming and, especially in this day and age with all that is going on, it can seem like too much work to be involved. And instead, people become apathetic. But Shannon’s goal is to get people (including her daughter) to blast through this apathy, find their passion, and start working towards a goal or project to bring about change.
When Shannon was college age - she had dreams of being a dancer or a sports therapist and then, at age 18, she had an incredibly traumatic life altering experience when she was raped and nearly killed. This event would shape her trajectory in ways she couldn't foresee at the time.
After living abroad for 10 years, getting married, having a baby, and returning to Colorado, Shannon receives horrible news. Her younger sister was raped while at college. She starts looking into how common this occurrence is and discovers that violence against women is extremely common on college campuses and, spurred by wanting to change this and other alarming gender violence stats, “almost overnight” she became an activist.
She chose to focus on Afghanistan after learning they have some of the worst records of gender violence and human rights violations.
“The activism has always been in me but I wasn’t putting it to use in the world.”
Her first step was learning and collecting data. She made contacts that helped her meet locals from all walks of life in the community - everyone from women in prison, folks in parliament, teachers, and other activists and heard their stories. She chose to travel without security in order to help break down those initial barriers to human connection. Over time she developed a network and decided her next step was to highlight what regular Afghans were doing and in particular, the youth, since they are the future.
Little by little, Shannon was developed her cause by taking on small projects, all of which involved storytelling and evolved into street-art in and sport activism in particular.
“No matter how different my projects have seemed it all comes back to the power of voice and the power of storytelling.”
“One of my better qualities is that I thrive in the deep-end ….I like the puzzle of figuring things out. The idea of becoming an activist was just another puzzle to tackle.”
As she spoke to more individuals and traveled the country she of course experienced dangerous or risky situations but overall she was blown away on the resilience and tenacity of the Afghans she met:
“Just as you’re exposed to the worst of humanity you simultaneously are experiencing the best of humanity.”
She started speaking to women in prisons who were often jailed for so called “morality crimes.” For example: being sexually assaulted or domestically beaten and she reflected upon her own experience and how despite the trauma she endured she was lucky that the USA doesn’t punish victims in the eyes of the law. The women were incredibly open and wanted to share their stories and she began to value the importance of bearing witness even more:
“We look upon “victims” as something less than, people that we have to help, nurture, and hold up and that is demeaning and patronizing. People who are victimized and have to struggle are typically the strongest people that I know, have the most resiliency, and the most capacity to change, if we give them the tools, allow them to own their own voice, their own story and allow them to share that.”
Erik is intrigued by Shannon’s quest to bring riding bikes to the women of Afghanistan and how she pursued this goal. As a mountain bike rider in Colorado, she was blown away that nobody seemed to be taking advantage of the beautiful terrain in Afghanistan and realized that despite other huge leaps forward in the workforce and other areas of society, it was still completely unheard of for women to ride bikes.
She decided to lead by example. She brought her bike overseas and just started riding, striking up conversations everywhere she went which would lead to dinners, and coffee and more conversation, and even other men and boys who would ride with her.
Five years later (after continuing to ride) she met the first generation of women who were riding bikes in Kabul as part of Afghan National Cycling Team. She met with their coach who, it turns out, was training both men and women. And now, despite the persistence of old stereotypes and physical harassment, young women in Afghanistan are taking a stand and riding bikes - changing their culture and making history on two wheels.
This road to activism is not always easy, or instantly rewarding, or lucrative and it takes constant work and grit to succeed. She suggests that for others who are on the sidelines that want to get involved and feel overwhelmed: just start. Pick a passion and see how you can make small changes, even if it’s just locally, to affect change:
“Each action seems insignificant on its own….but when you look back and realize all the people that are putting their drops of water in the bucket: that’s how we’re making change.”
As Shannon progressed in her pursuits in Afghanistan she slowly started to accept what a strong role her own sexual assault played in helping her find this line of work.
“The things that happen to us, that we see as the worst of the worst, are also the catalyst for change in us.”
Her other tips include ignoring other people’s doubts about your choices and your decisions, to stay true to your vision, and to surround yourself with people that know more than you. Start the process, get comfortable feeling vulnerable, and stay strong in your fight to make a difference and overcome apathy.
Visit Shannon's website: endangeredactivism.org
Learn more about her film, Afghan Cycles, now touring the film festival circuit.
Read her book, Mountain to Mountain, about her work in Afghanistan.
After establishing Steve and Dave’s Chicago connection the hosts dive into why he’s been brought on as a guest - after Steve attended a No Barriers Corporate retreat he was able to recognize the core No Barriers elements that he could bring back to his own company to reinvigorate his teams.
Corporations face their own types of barriers but in more “invisible” ways. Steve talks about how employees are not willfully disengaged but they have perhaps lost their connection to the mission or are checked out:
“Something about their environment is disabling for them to give their best and have the fulfillment that comes from work.”
By providing the No Barriers elements to employees Steve feels can reinstall a sense of agency to their job life.
We dive into Steve’s background growing up overseas. His father’s job involved moving the family around quite a bit and exposed him to diverse experiences and cultures; igniting his sense of curiosity and passion for learning and adventure. He tries to carry that over into his style of leadership:
“The most innovative companies, they stimulate a sense of curiosity in their employees and encourage risk taking.”
Jeff asks how difficult it is to “turn the tide” for struggling companies? What causes the shift?
Steve explains that it has to come from leadership and their understanding of the importance of the culture of the company. He talks about the elements and how each of them contribute to the process of confronting these barriers and ultimately leading to positive change over time - it’s not as simple as hearing one speech and walking away ready to change everything.
“Culture trumps strategy.”
Steve’s thoughts on motivation stem from the importance of motivating employees behind a “Vision,” and rallying the troops to see the bigger picture as to why they are showing up for work. By providing leadership that’s respectful and with a focus on mission it enables employees to really engage and come to work ready to take risks and branch out.
“Empowering people to do their best and bringing them a vision they could really relate to and treating everyone with respect.”
Dave, Jeff, and Erik all ponder how No Barriers translates from the mountain experiences that corporate leaders attend or the speakers they hear and how they can bring those types of abstract concepts down to the everyday work environment. Steve muses on a few perspectives: one being that no matter what there are always about 10% of employees who will not engage regardless and to keep that in mind and it is largely about receptiveness. The second is that No Barriers has authenticity and folks like Erik who are living examples of what is possible and therefore this isn’t just about buzzwords and clever marketing but effective principles about:
“These principles that you’re teaching are proven effective ways of sort of rewiring human software to create a belief system of what is possible and arming them to achieve things they never thought were possible.”
And then, to actually experience these transformations in the field - like climbing up a daunting mountain - that experience “creates the permanency” and translates to the workplace.
The concepts of struggle and risk are discussed as positive vehicles for change for businesses and leaders. Steve talks about one of his first international sales jobs that was initially a source of struggle for him and ended up propelling him to success. Another problem he faced was having difficult employees but it drove him to learn how to be nimble, how to motivate others, and how to ultimately be a better leader.
A final discussion point is about “cutting the rope” and figuring out how to retain or not retain employees who are not helping the team. Steve speaks from a place of compassion and how he came to realize that letting go of employees who are not fulfilling their duties was actually an act of kindness to not only that individual to find a better job fit for themselves but it helped the rest of his team to perform better and not drag them down.
Our hosts wrap up some of their thoughts on Steve’s points about bringing change to struggling companies or leadership with values like authenticity, culture, and ownership.
Check out No Barriers website to learn more and participate in a No Barriers Corporate Leadership Program
Jeff, Erik, and Dave speak with Heidi McKenzie who is speaking from her home state of Kentucky. After a car accident left her as a T4 paraplegic in a wheelchair when she was just 21 she not just survived but started a thriving career and has been an outspoken advocate for folks with disabilities.
Heidi talks about what it was like to now live day to day in a power chair and learn her “new normal.” One of the pursuits that helped her find her voice and passion was the founding of her adaptive clothing company, Alter Ur Ego. After she was crowned Ms. Kentucky and went on to Ms. Wheelchair America she networked with other girls in wheelchairs and when they talked about their various struggles one that kept coming up was the difficulty in finding cute but functional clothing! Heidi knew what she had to do.
Her line of clothes include items that fit well, are still easy to get on and off, and have unique aspects like pockets on the thighs and straps on the waistband that work specifically for women in wheelchairs. But equally important, Heidi’s clothes are still cute.
“I’m more of a diva than a fashionista...if you look good you feel good.”
She talks about how, post accident, instead of shrinking she almost became louder and amplified her voice. Now that she found a cause and a passion; for helping people being seen as they are, and not just viewed through the lens of their disability, she continues to be happy and grateful.
“It hasn’t always been easy but I love life and embrace everything that comes with it.”
Heidi’s line of clothing is her creative outlet but she also strives to be a living example to help broaden and educate others about the adaptive needs of people with disabilities. She never turns down a social invite or the chance to take part in a new sport. Heidi’s facebook page is covered with photos of her smiling at the beach, trying out dance classes, surfing, and travel.
“I am who I am, I can still have fun and try different things it’s all just in a different way.”
Creating Alter Ur ego was a crucial part of Heidi’s recovery but she also needed her support system of family and friends. Later in the podcast Heidi discusses being open to help not just from those close to her but from new communities, like the group of friends she made at the 2017 No Barriers Summit:
“They’re my forever friends.”
Before she got to the point of advocating on behalf of others, Heidi first had to find acceptance of her situation. She realized part of being in a power chair was being stared at and even avoided. As a natural social butterfly and wanting to break down social barriers Heidi has infused her clothing with humor. Here are two slogans on her T-shirts:
“I’m in it for the parking.” & “I literally can’t stand it.”
Being independent and having autonomy are huge for Heidi and others in wheelchairs. She now speaks to groups who legislate laws about the importance of including people who are disabled in decisions - such as including adaptive playground equipment or providing adequate parking.
By being part of Ms. Wheelchair America, her own barrier-breaking company, and her attitude in life, Heidi demonstrates the importance of representation and being a strong voice for her community.
Check out Heidi's company: Alter Ur Ego
Like Heidi's company on Facebook: Alter Ur Ego
Find stories like Heidi's on No Barriers website: No Barriers
More No Barriers Podcasts? Go here: No Barriers Podcast
Erik and Jeff speak with Tom Dixon, a young man from Philadelphia and the inventor of a brilliant mobile app called ME.mory. Like most app inventors Tom identified a need that wasn't being met and created software to address that need. His tragic accident and unique story behind his creation is what sparked our hosts interest and what makes Tom a true No Barriers Pioneer.
8 years ago, in what Tom refers to as his "old life," he was on track to being a psychiatrist for children when he was hit by a car while out for a run. When he awoke in the hospital he was made aware he had sustained a traumatic brain injury which caused him to have severe memory loss.
"I tell people it was a day I’ll never remember, and a date I’ll never forget.”
He kept a notepad by his hospital bed to remember details such as what he had eaten that day and names of people that visited him. Without these notes Tom would eat multiple meals and recalled very little of his interactions.
Tom discusses memory and how most people forget the "overwhelming majority of their lives," meaning the day to day tiny details that make up our everyday experiences. He notes:
"It’s really great that we can forget actually, it’s very efficient.”
When asked about the trials and the blessings that have resulted from his injury Tom mentions experiencing higher empathy for other people who have also had trauma. The flip side is convincing others of his capabilities and establishing independence all over again as a young adult.
“Other people will tell you about their own pain, their own struggling. ..You can relate to having fallen, having struggled…”
Tom touches on the difficulties of having what is called "an invisible disability" and some barriers that those with "visible" disabilities might not encounter like being questioned about using ADA resources and having others not immediately understand parts of your experience.
As for blessings, Tom mentions that his injury occurred during a time of tech innovation and the advances in our world of technology have helped him immensely to be independent and succeed.
“I had this injury at the right time, so to speak, because we carry computers around in our pockets in the form of a phone...There are so many workarounds now with modern technology.”
Based on his experiences, Tom created an app called ME.mory that lets him record a "digital memory." It's searchable and accessible. He adds in event details about his life, maybe even attaches an emotion to his experience to help jog his memory and document the occasion.
He talks about searching his app to remind himself about his first experience meeting our host, Erik, at a talk he gave in Philly and his thoughts on their interaction. Later, Tom recalls his time at the No Barriers Summit in Tahoe in 2017, which he attended as a Reach Award winner through Erik's Reach foundation.
When talking about the concept of living in the moment that folks often see in Tom's journey, he reflects:
“Who are we but our past moments? We like to think we are carefree at any given moment but we need a sense of direction, a sense of purpose.”
Tom's app, ME.mory, has applications to many other populations of people around the world; people who are experiencing memory loss as a result of injury or illness, and even, as he recently learned, to parents who like to use it as a tool to record memories of their kids.
Tom's app is helping others around the globe and is full of potential for uses we might not even foresee yet. He’s also finalizing his memoir titled "I'm Sorry... That's Awesome!" It covers his injury, recovery, and his journey in inventing ME.mory.
Check out the website for his app for any updates! (ME.mory is currently off the app store for updates):
ME.mory
George Heinrichs' resume is filled with awards and accomplishments for his aptitude for business as well as social justice. But George would not have gotten where he is today, the CEO of a major company, without facing barriers both professionally and in his personal life.
Our hosts, Jeff, Erik, and Dave, are familiar with George from his role as a Board Member of No Barriers. He helps to extrapolate the No Barriers message to the corporate world and how to use adversity to fuel success.
Before our podcast team had secured a studio space we holed up in a coworker's basement, huddled together around a small table in the corner to hear George tell us about his accomplishments in his typical humble demeanor.
He started by explaining his work at his current company, ANDE and its purpose with decoding DNA at such speed with little equipment needed. ANDE has power to be the ultimate public safety tool. It's used to improve the safety of our world; capturing terrorists, helping children out of child slavery, solving cold cases, and helping end the backlog of rape kits in the U.S.
Before ANDE, George was the CEO and founder at Intrado, an advanced 9-1-1 call services company. After 9/11 George became particularly aware that the infrastructure of 9-1-1 was not keeping up with demand.
But we wanted to know how George ended up in these public safety roles that changed the landscape of response times and rate of captures. So, George went back and told us about his time as a police officer. It was there he learned a lesson that would be the catalyst to founding Intrado and leading the way at ANDE:
“It was the criticality that people’s lives were on the line and if you did things right you could make a difference and those people would be alive...you wouldn't be the cause but you could be the fix."
Between the red tape, the technological barriers, the resources needed to make progress in his career we wanted to know how George tackles these obstacles:
"Showing up and putting your heart in things you can work through almost any problem”
On the importance of failure and refusing to let that define your business:
"Our company probably failed 3 or 4 times but we just weren’t smart enough to know it was time to quit....we'd stick it out, we'd find a way."
George speaks about the lessons of refusing to give up, and to keep everyone on a team accountable and constantly aware of the purpose behind their work. In the case of Intrado, people's lives were on the line with each 9-1-1 call that came through and his team was responsible for keeping their response system working at maximum performance at all times.
Having that purpose behind your work is something George explores further. He talks about his childhood and the impact of growing up in a traumatic environment where his mother was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of his father. His empathy with vulnerable folks who were victims of crimes became the driver in his life and his career.
“I am a believer you have to be doing something you believe in.”
George explains that his technology has the potential to drop the crime rate in the U.S. by 30-50% and how early intervention can help get us there.
He credits the success of his companies to everyone he works with - not just management or higher ups but every single member of a company. It's crucial that everyone on his Rope Team believing and sharing the same value set.
His biggest takeaway when everything seems to be against you:
“I figured out the most important part was dress up and show up.”
And whatever problems arise you have to keep trouble shooting and trying as many alternatives as you can (in true No Barriers fashion):
“Life’s lessons will be repeated until learned.”
George explains why No Barriers is so important for corporations and the business world in addition to the other populations it serves; youth, Veterans, those with physical barriers, and that's because these are universal tools that can be applied to the success in personal and business terms and in turn, that success can help bring good to the world.
Check out George's company at Ande.com
For more info on No Barriers peruse NoBarriersUSA.org
This episode will introduce our listeners to the mission behind the No Barriers Podcast and what we are trying to accomplish with putting this out to our community. To start you will meet our hosts and hear about their background.
Host Erik Weihenmayer discusses his background as a blind climber and being known most widely as being the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest and what got him interested in starting an organization that helps people challenge themselves to break out of the barriers that confront them in their daily lives.
Jeff Evans, who was on Erik's Mt. Everest team, goes through his back story as an adventurer, speaker, and high altitude medical expert. Jeff explains what fascinates him about listening to people share their stories and his experience working with No Barriers.
Dave Shurna introduces himself as the Executive Director of No Barriers and his trajectory with the organization and his desire to learn more from our guests.
Jeff and Erik talk about the seeds of forming the organization, No Barriers, and how it's turned from a small endeavor into a movement that we hope to continue to expand to anyone that can benefit from this message.
No Barriers podcast is about sharing stories of transformation - introducing our community to people who have encountered a barrier and have confronted it and are thriving (or working on thriving). We want to highlight that struggle and maybe unearth some nuggets of wisdom in what was discovered in that process.
We hope you listen to these stories and extract meaning in your own life.
Subscribe, rate, and share with your friends and family.
Learn more about No Barriers
--------------------------- EPISODE TRANSCRIPT -----------------------------
Erik: It's easy to talk about the triumphs, but what doesn't get talked about enough is the struggle.
Erik: My name is Erik Weihenmayer. I'm an adventurer. I've climbed Mount Everest and the Seven Summits, the tallest peak on every continent, and I happen to be blind. And I can tell you it's been a struggle to live what we call a "no barriers" life--to define it, to push the parameters of what it can mean. And part of the equation of this life is understanding this process of growth that we're all striving for--to dive down into that experience and illuminate the elements, those universal elements that we have to harness along the way, like way points on a trail, like holds on a rock face, that lead us forward towards change, towards growth, towards transformation. And that unexplored terrain between those safe dark places that we find ourselves in and the summit, is a map that we can use to navigate our lives. It's a far messier, gritter map than we're led to believe, with more flailing and bleeding along the way, but there is a way forward. That map is what we call "No Barriers".
Erik: This is the No Barriers podcast.
Dave: Hi, this is Dave Shurna, and I am the executive director of No Barriers, sitting here with Jeff Evans and Erik Weihenmayer and, let's get this started, Erik. What are we doing here?
Erik: Our first podcast. This is exciting, guys.
Jeff: Christening room.
Erik: I know, yes. Yeah, so-
Dave: Tell us a little bit about why we're here. What do you want to accomplish here?
Erik: God, where do I start? My name is Erik Weihenmayer, and I am an adventurer and a climber. I happen to be blind, so it's sort of--being a blind climber is sort of like being a Jamaican bobsledder.
Erik: I was a teacher for six years. I had an idea to be a full-time climber and adventurer, which I've been doing the last twenty years. I climbed Mount Everest in 2001, with the guy that's sitting in front of me, Jeff, who we're gonna learn more about later, but that experience was so transformational that that led to this amazing climb that I did with these two guys, Mark Wellman and Hugh Herr.
Erik: Mark Wellman is a paraplegic. He's my hero because he climbed El Capitan, basically seven thousand pull-ups up the rock face. Just amazing. And Hugh Herr is a double leg amputee, and he climbs with these prosthetic legs. And the three of us were like these Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We climbed together. And then, at that experience, I realized that we'd been sold the wrong ideas--that when I looked at people who excelled, like Mark and Hugh, that they didn't do it in the traditional ways that TVs and books always make it look like, that it was much gritter. It was much bloodier. There was much more struggle along the way. And so I thought, "I don't understand what that map looks like." And No Barriers, the podcast and the theme, the message that we're gonna be diving into, all grew from that first experience, because I wanna understand. Like Mark and Hugh and me, we'd all been crushed, and we had to reemerge. What does that process look like?
Erik: I realize that most people in the world aren't physically disabled like the three of us, but they have invisible barriers. And so what is the process look like for people as they go from those places that they don't want to be, and they climb to the summit, whatever that looks like for each person? I wanted to understand what that gritty map is that we build and navigate with our lives. And so I'm here fleshing out this subject with amazing people that we are going to interview, because I've gotten to meet people in our No Barriers programs and experiences that have taught me so much about this topic, and I thought "We gotta highlight these people! We gotta understand what makes them tick."
Erik: So Jeff and Dave and I are gonna be doing that, and Jeff is my good climbing partner, we've been climbing together for 25 years, and we climbed Everest together. And when I met Jeff he was just a dirtbag. Well, he's still kind of a dirtbag, but--
Jeff: I'm still a dirtbag.
Erik: Yeah.
Jeff: You can't really divert too much from that.
Erik: But Jeff, even though you started as a dirtbag, you've done some amazing stuff, and you've really grown and had your own No Barriers story. Tell us a little bit about that.
Jeff: Well, when you and I met, we were both very raw, and I think we met at the right point in our lives where we were just seeking. We were looking for adventure first and foremost, and then looking for allies to share it with. We met at a very fortuitous time, and we've obviously... golly, man, I mean, we've done a lot, you and I. I've had some of the best and worst moments of my life standing right next to you.
Jeff: And I think that in a way, maybe that's sort of the take-home for me personally, while you and I have been such good friends and partners along the way, but also, my understanding of the human condition. I used to not want to admit it to your face, but now that I'm older and more mature and I can pat you on the back, is that you've taught me a lot. You've taught me a lot about life; in a way, you've asked me to ask questions of myself, and that's the extension of why I'm here, is that in turn, by asking questions of myself, I wanna ask questions about other people. I wanna understand who they are. I like that grit that you speak of. I like the determination, and I like how folks deal with adversity in this map that gets laid out in front of them, and all these variables that play into where we are--societally, biologically, emotionally--and I think that honestly, that was sort of the impetus behind you and I starting the Warriors program. Maybe you could tell the listeners just a little bit about that and how it came to be.
Erik: Well, because it's hard to brag on yourself, I'm just gonna brag about you, because even though Jeff did start out as a dirtbag, he was a smart dirtbag and he had a No Barriers Story of his own, and he went on to climb mountains with me and also went back to medical school to get a physician assistant degree, working in emergency rooms all around the country, and then now being one of the foremost high-altitude medical experts in the world. I can't imagine having anyone next to me in the high mountains, Jeff, who I'd want more than you, because I've seen you save people's lives, putting them in hyperbaric chambers and administering IVs on mountains.
Erik: Jeff, you helped us start the No Barriers Warriors program. The tenth-year anniversary of our Everest climb, we decided we're gonna do something really cool. What were we gonna do? Were we gonna do a Disney Cruise reunion? Nah, maybe not; let's do something big. So we decided to climb Labuche, twenty thousand feet, in the Himalayas, and we all got together and then we decided "Well, let's have some other people whose lives have been transformed. Let's see if we can bring together some other people whose lives might be transformed by the mountains, like us." And so we brought together a team of injured soldiers. Talk about the team just a little bit, Jeff, and the culmination of that experience, that first No Barriers Warrior experience.
Jeff: We knew, I think, intrinsically, that the mountains provide this great backdrop. It's got all the ingredients that you need to have an experience that's both rich and transformative. You've got built-in adversity, the potential for a massive shitshow, but you also have this rally point, which is this summit. It can be figurative, it can be literal, but whatever it is, we rally around it, and it creates a sort of call to action. We knew that. We knew that the stage would be there for us, and so we took the chance and gathered up a group of injured veterans, in a way to say thank you to them, but also to give them the tools that we discovered, personally, along the way, and help them regain their momentum.
Jeff: We hand-selected a group of folks, we took of for Nepal, and sort of set the table. We had a fair bit of adversity, but the mountain did what we wanted it to do, which was be sweet and loving and also be angry and mean. And in experiencing that, it gave us the opportunity to talk about these things, sort of distill out the learning points that can come from that, and create a loving atmosphere, create an atmosphere of fellowship. And I think that community that exists in the mountains was a big stepping stone for us, and I think another extension for us going forward. Did you even anticipate then--I mean, this was seven years ago, right?
Erik: Look, let's be honest, we didn't know exactly what we were doing. And that's a good message for our audience here, and that is that a lot of times when you start an idea, it's just a little seed of an idea. That's what we had with our Warriors program, and now it's blossomed into incredible stuff, I mean, hundreds and hundreds of vets that we work with, and getting to know them and getting to know their stories, and we are gonna interview a lot of veterans on this podcast.
Erik: Dave, I wanna introduce you, because you are the executive director of No Barriers. You do the real work. You lead our team and put together all these amazing, transformative expeditions behind the scenes. I met you... you came to me out of the blue and asked me if I'd help you start a program for kids, and we started out with blind kids and deaf kids teaming up with sighted and hearing kids. That's all fallen into the melting pot of No Barriers. Tell us how you got into this club.
Dave: I think that my role from the beginning, as one of the powers of the organization and the executive director, has always been to build the infrastructure around this global movement that we want to create. My role is to create this organization that can take this message that you guys are alluding to here and bring it to as many populations around the world as possible.
Dave: We've been doing that work for nearly fifteen years now, and so as I think about this podcast and what we're here together doing, I was at an event a couple months ago where Richard Saul Wurman was speaking, he's the founder of TED, and he said "Nobody ever writes a book or creates a script for a movie 'cause they know what the heck they're talking about, and if they tell you they do, they're lying. They write the book to learn what it is that they might already know and to discover new things." So when I think about this podcast, I think the same thing; we've been doing this work for fifteen years, with youth, with Warriors, with companies, with women, and this is partly to understand what makes people come to this movement. And as we bring in guests and learn from them, what can we take away from individuals who have overcome great odds, overcome barriers in their lives and achieved that purpose-driven life we all seek? What can we take away from that and learn and apply to our own lives?
Dave: I'm here to create that organizational infrastructure, to do that with as many people as possible, and I can't wait to learn from individuals to help us do that work better.
Erik: We're gonna be bringing a lot of amazing people to the world--a lot of people that haven't been highlighted in traditional podcasts, from business leaders to youth who struggle to veterans to people with physical challenges, all who have had some difficult things happen to them in their lives and have figured out little bits and pieces of that map that we all wanna walk.
Erik: I just wanna lastly say that I think we're gonna try to be different, because when I went blind--it was my freshman year in high school--I remember realizing that when you look out on the world, it can kinda lead you astray. I was blaming and attacking and reacting and responding, and saying "Why me?", and I realized that I was looking in the wrong place--that what I had to do was to turn inward and find out what I could grow inside myself, and how I grew that thing and nurtured that thing and used it to blaze into the world. I think, if we succeed, what we're gonna do is really dive down beneath the surface of people and try to understand what that internal landscape looks like--how they go from those places that they wind up and they don't necessarily wanna be there, to the summit, to that incredible place of purpose and fulfillment that we're all looking for. What are the way points along the way? Let's identify those so that we can dissect this No Barriers life and we can all learn. Dave, what do you say?
Dave: I think that's why we're all here. One of the things I loved about our conversation when we thought about starting this podcast was: We've heard lots of podcasts, we've met lots of people, and one of the things we feel is missing is, no one really dives deep into talking about the struggle. It's often glossed over. I think that this podcast is going to be partly about discovering what we can learn from that struggle we all go through in our lives as we're trying to be purposeful.
Jeff: The reality is it's not pretty. I think that we've all agreed that there's gonna be moments when we want to ask those questions that allow people to dance around that darker space and explain how they got... how they rose from it, and the tools that they used to be able to come out of it, and I think that's an important thing. You're right, the podcasts I listen to, I'm not sure if I hear that very frequently, and I wanna hear that, I wanna know that. I don't wanna get bogged down in the mire, but I wanna know what that mire looks like and how they got out of it, because to me, that's the true definition of transformation.
Erik: And Jeff, you told me something I like. You said, "Growth is volcanic," and I love that. So get ready for some volcanic and explosive storytelling, full of grit, full of flailing, full of some blood, either physical or psychological--
Jeff: Metamorphic, if you will.
Erik: --because that is what it's all about, No Barriers to everyone.
Gretchen Evans served 27 years in the US Army, earning a bronze star, and rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. During her service, Gretchen survived a rocket blast which left her with hearing loss and a traumatic brain injury.
While struggling with depression after her injury, she relied on a new rope team to bring her back into the world and show her she still had the ability to find purpose by serving and leading again. Despite her injuries, Gretchen serves others as a passionate volunteer. She also achieved her No Barriers goal by finishing her book, “Leading from the Front.”
On this episode of our No Barriers Podcast we connected with Gretchen remotely from her home in North Carolina. Showing her Army roots, Gretchen was early to the call and well-prepared, including with adaptive technology to communicate since she is deaf.
The episode begins with Gretchen detailing her time in the Army, her many tours, and her overall love for the service.
“I’ve done 9 Combat tours...I’m like a cat with 9 lives.”
She was a natural leader and despite her very small frame she was a commanding force and was dedicated to her troops. After an unexpected rocket blast, Gretchen was devastated when she woke up in the hospital and learned she would never hear again.
“The thing that really kicked me in the gut wasn’t even my physical injuries, what made me pause, made me afraid, was that I went from zero to hero in one second with no transition and no plan for retirement...that I wasn’t going out on my own terms.”
As she was forced back into civilian life with a disability she struggled to figure out her new role. She describes the hopelessness and despair that can take over your life as a hole:
“I had tried therapy, medication and those things somewhat helped but they weren’t the silver bullet. I wanted out of this hole. I was clinging to the sides to keep from falling in.”
Eventually, Gretchen talks about finding No Barriers Warriors, the No Barriers programs for Veterans and on her first expedition out into the wilderness she discovers that it's not her disability that's been holding her back, it's her disconnection from other people. Being around other Veterans and having a team is what Gretchen was missing.
She talks about how that was the catalyst to rediscovering her purpose - to lead teams and help others. She was still a leader at heart, just in a different capacity.
“First you gotta realize you have a hole, having self awareness, and letting people into your life - realizing that helping other people - and engaging with other people who have their own holes- that’s healing.”
Buy a copy of Gretchen's book: Leading From the Front
Learn more about No Barriers Warriors
TRANSCRIPT
Erik: This is our No Barriers podcast. This is Erik Weihenmayer talking [00:00:30] from Golden, my home. We have my fellow host Jeff Evans. How are you doing today, Jeff?
Jeff: Good, Erik. Good, Erik. It seems to be another shorts and t-shirts day here in the middle of winter in Colorado. Everything is going as not planned for our winter, but it's still a beautiful day here in Colorado.
Erik: Dumped 12 inches yesterday I heard up in the mountains so maybe things are looking up. We're not getting much of a winter. I didn't [00:01:00] get much of a winter these last few days because I was out visiting one of our No Barriers graduates, Matt Burges, who runs this awesome organization, Freedom Fidos, training service dogs for vets. I was checking out his facility. Then I went down to Miami to meet one of our No Barrier sponsors, Tom Sullivan who founded Cabinets To Go. They have 50 something stores and they're gonna have a scholarship for vets, youth, [00:01:30] really anyone in our community to take part in one of our event, one of our programs, one person from each of those Cabinet To Go communities. That's 50 something scholarships of people that are gonna get to participate. It was a really good day connected with Tom and Cabinets. What you been up to, Jeff?
Jeff: This half winter that we got here has been challenging for me, outdoor [00:02:00] perspective. It's like just when you think the ice is good enough to get in, we have a 50 degree day or 60 degree days. It's made for some challenging conditions. Things are going good for our upcoming trip to Nepal. We're gonna climb a mountain called Mera Peak, which is a 21,000 foot peak a little bit off the checking trails up to base camp. Fortunately as it plays out, [00:02:30] we have six former No Barriers participants joining us for this trip. A lot of the No Barriers messages will be percolating throughout the trip and the climb that we do. A lot of the messaging and content that we share and talk about will be centered around that idea of embracing this journey and being together and really soaking up the idea of fellowship. I'm really excited about [00:03:00] that. I know you and I will not see each other in Nepal at least this spring. You're heading back there in June with our guest for the day. Why don't you give us a little bit of a 30,000 foot view of that?
Erik: It's gonna be so fun. I can't wait. I don't get into the field as much as I'd like with our group. We're gonna be leading a youth group to Nepal and we have kids signed up of all abilities, not just kids with [00:03:30] physical disabilities but kids with invisible disabilities. Kids, perhaps, who have been bullied and want to use a trip like this as a platform for social change to bring an experience like this home and create their own No Barriers pledge to elevate their community in some way. We're gonna be heading to [Muston 00:03:50], which is a remote area of Nepal. It's up on the Tibetan Plateau. We're gonna be exchanging with a bunch of villages and schools and [00:04:00] school for the deaf, some disability organizations and really trying to understand, culturally, how issues happen, how people break through barriers in Nepal, what kind of barriers haven't they been able to breakthrough yet. We're gonna be studying some sustainable projects that this great partner organization, the Z Foundation, have created. They get community buy in and then they have the villagers do [00:04:30] sweat labor and build sewage and electric, hydro-electric, all kinds of cool projects to bring modernization to those villages. It's gonna be an amazing trip. We're recruiting right now. Great transition because our next guest is going to be one of the leaders on this trip. I am so thrilled to be speaking with you today. Jeff, why don't you introduce our guest.
Jeff: Gretchen has ... probably within the past [00:05:00] two years, she participated in various warriors female trip down in the Gila wilderness. She's got an amazing story. She served 27 years in the army all the way to, I believe, one of the highest ranks in CO ranks of command sergeant major. During her service, she was involved in a rocket blast, which impacted her [00:05:30] obviously in a lot of different ways. It caused a significant traumatic brain injury as well as significant hearing loss. We get introduced to Gretchen after these life changing episodes and we see them thriving. Of course, I want to hear more about Gretchen's story, about her journey that she's been on [00:06:00] to go to the point to the fact that she just wrote a book called Leading From the Front, which I'm gonna read for sure. The fact that she's now gonna step off with you and go to Nepal. Gretchen, welcome to the podcast. We're excited to hear some of your story.
Erik: Gretchen, you served for 27 years serving our country. That's a long time. [00:06:30] Tell us why you chose to do that.
Gretchen: Initially, honestly, it was just out of survival. I lost both of my parents when I was a teenager. I was attempting to become financially self-supportive. It just became really difficult. The military offered a job and training and income [00:07:00] and all that kind of stuff. I went down and enlisted in the army with the thought that I would stay in for four years and take advantage of their educational benefits, get out and finish college. What I really found was an intense love for what the military did and what it represented and the people that I served with. Four years turned into being 27.
Jeff: You were telling me, Gretchen, you met your husband. I [00:07:30] find it interesting that he's a navy guy and you're an army gal. Can you tell us how that played out.
Gretchen: Yeah, so my husband, Robert, was a navy chaplain in '06. He was sent to Afghanistan to be in charge of all the chaplains in Afghanistan. At the time, I was the senior command sergeant major in Afghanistan of all the installations. Everything good and bad came [00:08:00] across both our desks because the nature of both of our jobs. We really had this intense friendship and respect for each other. It came with the good news, it also came with the bad news when we had casualties and had to notify families and things. Robert left after a seven month tour and went home. I guess about a month later, I get this really lengthy letter full of nonsense until the last paragraph. [00:08:30] Then he said, "Could you ever be romantically interested in me?" Oh my God. I wrote back and said, "Did you forget where you left me? I'm in Afghanistan. I can't be romantic about anything. You must have a plan so indulge me." The plan was we'd write letters like they did in World War II and try to get to know each other that way. Ultimately then I got injured and life changed, but Robert [00:09:00] had proposed two months prior to me getting injured. I really thought that might be a war stopper. He said he didn't care that I was blown up and deaf. That's a great guy, don't you think?.
Jeff: Yeah, yeah.
Erik: I love that.
Jeff: The fact that you feel in love in the sandbox and then developed and cultivated this relationship and it was all prior to your injury, that says a lot about the character of both of you and what you've been through.
Erik: [00:09:30] Gretchen, by the way, I can relate to your story because my wife, when we were dating ... I'm blind and I have prosthetic eyes. It was this big event for me to have the courage to take my eyes out in front of my wife. I don't know if you can relate, but I was terrified because I was thinking, "Oh, I'm imperfect. She's gonna think I'm ugly." I took my eyes out and she said, "I [00:10:00] can live with that." I love that, when you find somebody who understands you're imperfect, you've been hurt and beat up a little bi but you're still lovable.
Gretchen: Absolutely. I agree totally.
Jeff: Tell us a little bit, Gretchen, about the journey that led you to that day and give us a sense of [00:10:30] how that day played out and then the near future as you started to heal, both emotionally and physically.
Erik: And people don't know that you had nine combat tours.
Gretchen: It started in Granada. I jumped into Granada and did Panama and Central America, [inaudible 00:10:59], Bosnia, [00:11:00] Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Over a 27 year period, I had nine combat tours. I felt like I was a cat. I knew it was gonna get me sooner or later.
Jeff: Was it the ninth when the incident took place?
Gretchen: Yeah, the last one. That was that one. What happened that day was I was flying around in my helicopter [00:11:30] to visit troops at a fort operating base, a very remote place. It was pretty exposed. I was just there visiting troops. We were out walking around. I'm just asking troops questions. All of sudden we take rocket fire coming in like rain. It was pounding us. I was telling to [00:12:00] the troops to get in the bunkers, get in the bunkers. We had these concrete bunkers scattered throughout the installation. Before I could even get myself into a bunker, a rocket hit about 10 feet from where I was standing. It threw me into one of the concrete bunker, which then resulted in my brain injury. It blew out my eardrums and took some shrapnel in places that weren't protected by my flight vest. The next thing I know I'm waking [00:12:30] up lying down in the back of a helicopter and I'm thinking to myself, "This is not the way I normally ride in a helicopter." Then I was motored back to [inaudible 00:12:40].
When I got to [inaudible 00:12:44], they put me in a semi-coma just to do an evaluation to see what all ... maybe if I had some internal injuries and just to plug up all the little holes from piece of shrapnel. Those things just make it nasty. [00:13:00] They get in and they fester and things. When I came out of the coma, there was a very young army doctor standing next to me with one of those white dry erase boards and he had a marker. He wrote on the board and then showed it to me. It says, "You're deaf." I took the board from him and I wiped it off with my hands. I wrote on there, "Forever." He goes, "Yes." Of all my injuries, [00:13:30] that was probably the hardest one to overcome because you wake up deaf. You're a hearing person. I was 46 years old, been a hearing person my whole life. All of a sudden, I'm deaf, on top of that with the head injury and all the other things.
Honestly, the thing that really kicked me in the gut wasn't even my physical injuries. What kicked my in the gut and made me pause [00:14:00] and made me afraid was I went from hero to zero in one second. I didn't have a transition plan. It had not even crossed my mind about retirement even though I had 27 years. We were still at war and I wanted to be with my troops. I was just so devastated and probably really angry that I'd didn't get to go out on my terms, that my career was snatched from me [00:14:30] at the hands of the enemy. I think that injury, that devastation was the hardest one for me to overcome.
Erik: What's that like? No Barriers is a lit about understanding these processes that we go through. What is that like being a hero one minute and then a zero in the next? What's going in your brain, all the [00:15:00] uncertainty, all the confusion, all the psychological fear? What is that experience like?
Gretchen: The experience for me was I just didn't have a path any longer. I was just kind of like, "What now?" Toppled with these injuries, I just thought, "Nobody's gonna want me. I'm not ever gonna work again. How am I gonna communicate with people." [00:15:30] I was lost, as lost as lost can be. I hit this really low point and where, as hard as I tried ... and I'm a pretty determined person. I'm a marathoner and I jump out of airplanes and I repel. I do all these things. All of a sudden, I was this hearing and the brain injury were almost prohibitive from doing all the things I knew how to [00:16:00] do. I had these non-marketable skills like taking over small countries. That doesn't really resonate well in the civilian life. I didn't know what I was going to do. Honestly, I was in a black hole for a very long time.
Jeff: I've heard you say as well because remember I heard you speak in Ashville and you talked about losing your family and your fellowship and your mission. When you say [00:16:30] your family, you're talking about your military family, right? Your team, right?
Gretchen: Yeah, my team, my soldiers. I had been with them my whole adult life. If you think about it, I went in right after I turned 19 and I was 46 years old. My entire, almost, adult life had been spent in uniform with troops. I was not prepared for the civilian world. I'm still kind of a little bit of a crappy civilian to be honest. [00:17:00] That was my family. That was what I woke up to everyday for 27 years. These were my battle buddies and I had a mission. I knew what I was supposed to do. It was very well defined. I was good at it. I had honed in on my skills. That's when I said I went from hero to zero. I had no skills that I thought were applicable to life after the military.
Jeff: Do you also think that there are certain people that get [00:17:30] into a routine maybe, they have a direction of serving? You're very good at serving other people. Then you get hurt or something happens and you don't know how to be served. You don't know how to be helped. It's like a totally weird situation that a lot of people get in that situation where they don't know how to handle it, right?
Gretchen: Yeah, very true. Especially as a sergeant major because our rank is very special. We're supposed to be the advocate for the troop. [00:18:00] If you work for a three or four star general, he or she comes to you and usually he defers to you because they're your third or fourth general and you may be their first sergeant major. Anyway, you have the pulse of the unit. Your responsibility are to the troops and to make sure they're taken care of. I wasn't used to anyone taking care of me. I was taking care of other people. All of a sudden, [00:18:30] now I was kind of needy, which is gut wrenching at first because you don't even know how to ask for help nor do you want to. You don't have the words for it and also, it just feels so wrong.
Jeff: It sounds to me like, Gretchen, you went through all of these different phases of emotion following your injury that we always hear so much about all the way from anger to frustration to sadness to [00:19:00] depression and then finally, at some point, you get to reconnect. Can you walk us through that path for you and how you've morphed from that fateful day to where you are now and then maybe give us a sense of your experience in the Gila wilderness and what part that played [00:19:30] in your experience as far as healing.
Gretchen: It was really very a strange thing. I had kept in touch with some of my troops. We don't have to say a lot for people to know that something's not right. It's like a sixth sense almost. One of my guys wrote to me. He says, "You know, sergeant major, [00:20:00] I realize you're in a bad place right now. I just came back from a No Barriers expedition. You really should check this out because I know you like to be outside and you like to hike because you used to march our butts off all the time. This is right up your alley, carrying heavy crap and walking all over the place and not showering." He says, "This has got your name all over it." Initially, I tried everything else. I had tried [00:20:30] therapy and I tried medication. Each of those, at the time, were somewhat helpful but they weren't the silver bullet that I was looking for to get out of this hole. I wanted out of the hole. I was clinging to the very sides to keep from falling in. Just because he asked me and because of our relationship, I got online and filled out an application.
Part of the process is that the physician [00:21:00] that works with No Barriers calls and talks to the warrior and talks about your disabilities. He gets on the phone and he says, "Okay, tell me what's wrong with you." In my mind, I thought, "They're not gonna take me anyways, but I'm gonna be honest." I said, "Okay, I'm deaf as a doornail. I have a traumatic brain injury. I have PTSD. I have little shrapnel pieces still all over me. I have a right side weakness [00:21:30] that can be problematic." I had a litany of things that I said that were wrong with me. He paused for like three seconds, then he says to me-
Erik: You're perfect.
Gretchen: You're exactly what we're looking for.
Erik: You're perfect.
Gretchen: You're perfect.
Erik: That's right. You're perfectly imperfect just like the rest of us. That's beautiful.
Gretchen: It was beautiful.
Erik: Okay, you got accepted into the program. I'm just curious about what it was like to be with some colleagues because, [00:22:00] as you mentioned, the biggest pain you were experiencing was this lost of comradery and fellowship. Take us through that a little bit.
Gretchen: At this point, really my physical injuries were what they were. I made accommodations to all the technology out there to help me with my hearing issue, my brain injury same with that. My real issue was [00:22:30] that I was just disconnected from life and from other people. I go on the expedition and a group of fantastic people, there was one other female and the rest were male warriors from all eras. We had two guys from Vietnam and then the rest of us were mostly post-9/11 veterans. It was in Colorado. The minute we all sat down [00:23:00] for the very first meeting, I felt like I'm back home. I might not be wearing a uniform, but these are my guys. Once we kind of told each other about ourselves and I told them I was a sergeant major, they wouldn't even call me by my first name anymore because that, to them ... Later they told me that made them feel so safe and so connected to because they each had a story about a beloved sergeant major who had made a difference in their life. It was like all [00:23:30] the stars lined up. It was just perfect.
We hiked and we talked and I felt like all of a sudden, that hole started filling up with just good things. The despair that I been feeling and the hopelessness, little by little with each step as I was walking up those mountains started to dissipate. It turned the corner for me. There was some healing afterwards. I still wake up every day and not [00:24:00] everybody's perfect but that one expedition was the turning point in my life.
Erik: I thought that was interesting. This is Erik, Gretchen. You talked about a hole and then you start to fill up that hole. Do you think that's what healing ultimately is? There's a lot of people listening probably that are experiencing a loss or getting stuck somewhere [00:24:30] and they want to heal. What does that look like? What did that process look like for you, filling in that hole of loss?
Gretchen: What it looked like for me is first you gotta realize that you got a hole. The first step in getting better is self-awareness. I knew I had a hole, but it became really obvious to me how deep and wide it was when I got on the expedition. [00:25:00] Letting people into your life and realizing that helping other people, I would say probably other than the guides, I was in the best shape on that hike. I'm very petite. I'm 5'2" and 98 pounds on a good day. I would carry extra stuff for people and hike. That let me help other people, which is really was I felt like destined [00:25:30] to do my whole life. I was just doing it in a different way so that void of losing my troops was replaced by engaging with other people who also were trying to fill a hole. There's like this unity thing like we're gonna heal each other.
Erik: Cool. Where did that lead you after that trip? You graduate and then you make a No Barriers pledge. Tell us about that amazing pledge [00:26:00] that's resulted in your book.
Gretchen: I had to think about this pledge. There's lots of things that I could've pledged but I had been working on this book that really came out of putting down the stories of 27 years of serving with the most heroic men and women I've ever met in my life. It's really about the troops. It's written from my perspective but it's these wonderful stories about them. My pledge was the finish the [00:26:30] book. It probably was honestly about 89% finished already, but for some reason I just couldn't put that last period on the page because I didn't think I was healthy enough to finish it. Maybe I was afraid. I said to my guys and gals that were hiking with me, I said, "I'm gonna finish that book and you're gonna read it some day. Hopefully it will be meaningful for you." I did. I finished [00:27:00] it shortly ago. It's called Leading From the Front. It's lots vignettes about these remarkable things that happened in those 27 years.
Jeff: Do you consider yourself a writer? I think a lot of people ... Erik and I have both written books. I think some people would say, "I'm a writer. I enjoy the process because in a way, it's a little bit therapeutic." Did you find that through the case or was it a struggle or did you despise the process or did [00:27:30] you embrace it at some point?
Gretchen: When I was writing it, I wasn't thinking I was writing it ... I was writing it to help heal myself because I was writing about things that happen. When you put it down on paper, you have to remember better. Sometimes your brain plays tricks on you. When you write it down, I had to explain what it smelled like and what it sounded like and why Sergeant so-and- [00:28:00] so did this and all the little [inaudible 00:28:03] pieces. I don't consider myself a writer. I consider myself a storyteller.
Jeff: Why did you call it Leading From the Front? I've seen books and people talk about leading from behind and leading from every direction. Why did you call it Leading From the Front? Is that an allusion to the frontline? What is that?
Gretchen: In lots of ways, that title resonated with me. One, always try [00:28:30] to be someone that my soldiers could respect and look up to, not physically but somebody to eliminate and to lead with a firm but a kind heart. Also, I did lead from the front as often as I could. I wasn't one to stay back at the headquarters. I wanted to be up there with them. I wasn't a risk taker, I just [00:29:00] felt like if I'm asking them to do that then I aught to be there with them. It's that. That's where that title came from.
Erik: I think that's your wiring, Gretchen. You're just absolutely wired. One takeaway from you is you were born to lead and when that got taken from you, you have to find a different outlet for you. I so applaud the idea of [00:29:30] who you are and what you've become since your injury. It's clear you live for others in a big way. The fact that, fur to your injury, you were put in a situation where you couldn't do this thing that is so you. I can imagine that really hurt and really [00:30:00] struck you right in the gut. After you finished your first No Barriers' experience other than the pledge and the book, what else have you taken on your journey since then and how have you applied it to your life in Ashville as a civilian and doing the things that you do from day to day when you're not in the back country with a warrior's team.
Gretchen: [00:30:30] I went on another expedition after that initial one to the Gila wilderness. Part of the No Barriers program is a phase three where we stay connected with warriors after they finish their expedition and offer them we call it coaching. We offer them assistance and encouragement. You become part of a rope team for them to help [00:31:00] them achieve their goals. I find that incredibly satisfying. I have my little group of warriors that I reach out to and just plot along. Sometimes they need a kick in the butt to say, "Come on, you can do this." Sometimes they need you just to listen and you let them work out the problem for themselves because usually within themselves, they have the answer. You just get blinded by the circumstances. I spend a lot of my time working with my Barriers alum. [00:31:30] Also, I'm working with our development team so we can raise more funds so we can send more warriors and youth on programs. I enjoy that because I love telling the story about No Barriers. To me, it's not hard to sell such a great program. I can speak from experience that had I not taken the chance and filled out the form that day, I feel like I could have very easily become another statistic, which would have been [00:32:00] awful for everybody.
``` Also, I help my husband in his job. His hospital serves 10,000 veterans every week or so. Just advising him sometimes on the way that soldiers think and what's important to them. I'm a good person for him to come home to and say, "I had this situation. What would you suggest would be best way to handle this," and try to [00:32:30] help him so he can make the VA an easy, safe place for veterans to get good healthcare.
```
Erik: A lot of this conversation, Gretchen, has been about leadership and service. You served for 27 years in the military and then this thing happens to you, this thing of great loss. You're still leading. In a way, [00:33:00] what's going through my mind is that there's an ironic thing here. Has this helped you understand leadership or become a better leader than you might have if you hadn't gotten hurt?
Gretchen: Absolutely, I have no regrets. You know what? It made me a better leader, absolutely. I really had to dig deep and I had to understand and try even harder to be empathetic and sympathetic [00:33:30] and be this strong person so that people would ... I used to always say to my people they don't care what you know until they know that you care. Part of it is just letting people know that you care to begin with and then to walk with them. Part of my pledge on my last one was to sit with the broken. I mean that in the sense that I want to be there when people [00:34:00] feel like they don't have any other hope and I can reach out because I've been in that hole. I don't want to get back down in it with you, but I'll certainly give you a hand because I know the way out. Just to help people get out of that hole and fill it with things that are out there. I think that's really. It's made me exponentially a better leader.
Erik: You certainly are.
Jeff: You truly are [00:34:30] the prototype of a No Barriers warrior, Gretchen. You've gone through a transformational experience. You been knocked down, and then you stood back up. Now what you're doing is completing that heroes journey, that whole Joseph Campbell's heroes journey circle. You chose to go into battle. You elected to voluntarily. You went into battle, you got your butt kicked. Now on the return of the completion [00:35:00] of that circle, you are now sharing our experiences to be able to improve the livelihoods of the people that you care the most about. I think that that's ... I know the word hero gets thrown around. You probably don't like it. It's just a little bit I know about you, but that's the true testament to what it means to be an archetype hero within a hero's journey. Really amazing.
Erik: I think it's all of us in the No Barriers community [00:35:30] are honored and fortunate to have you as a colleague.
Jeff: Yeah.
Erik: And it's gonna be fun trekking across the Tibetan Plateau with you in June, Gretchen. Looking forward to that experience. Thanks for being with us today.
Gretchen: That you both for your kind words and for having me on your program and for all that you do. I'm gonna keep plugging along until I get to the finished line and I'm exhausted. Yes, Erik, it will [00:36:00] be fun to be trekking across wherever we're going. I look forward to it. Thank you, gentlemen.
Jeff: Thanks, Gretchen.
Erik: Alright, cool. Hey, Jeff, that was an awesome interview. A lot of takeaways-
Jeff: I just continue to be blown away by how the definition of a No Barriers participant continues to grow in my mind. I've been with you since the beginning [00:36:30] and watched the program evolve. There's some stories that are outstanding, but Gretchen's may be the most because she really exemplifies, embodies what it means to be a warrior and to be a hero. Give me your bullet points of what you take away mostly from that conversation with Gretchen.
Erik: I think it's [00:37:00] just such authentic lessons of leadership, none of this stuff that you hear in Hollywood or fictional books. It's real. It's so real. It's somebody who's bled their message. I love stories like that. That personally inspires me. I like what she talked about it terms of what she talked about, a hole of when she got hurt. A hole being formed and you gotta fill that up. I love that analogy. Yeah, I think even a psychological loss [00:37:30] is like a hole. You gotta fill that up. What do you fill it up with? You fill it up with purpose, with mission, with your team, with service, with love, with empathy. That's powerful for me.
Jeff: And the fact that ... I find it so profound that this woman literally was probably a child and knew she was going to be of service to other people. You can just tell it. It's just in her genetic [00:38:00] code this was going to be her path whether she's gonna embrace it or not. It's just who she is. I find that so fascinating. Then to have it pulled right out from under her, the ability and the venue to be able to engage and inspire and lead from the front for her soldiers. I think she mentioned it, the idea that could've [00:38:30] just sat and spun. She could've just fallen right off the cliff, but she chose not to. You and I have heard it plenty of times in all the warriors that we've done trips with and have gone through the program, I feel like that is the universal core message is my leg is one thing, my PTSD is one thing, my hearing is one thing. Just like Gretchen said, the thing that hurts the most is I'm not with my people. [00:39:00] I lost that purpose and I need to rediscover it. I'm so happy for her that she continues to find that through this program.
Erik: Still building that map. I love it. Anyway, thank you. It was an awesome interview. If people want to learn more about No Barriers, go to nobarriersusa.org. We have a lot of events coming up. We have our What's Your Everest event out here in Colorado. We got a summit coming up in October [00:39:30] in Manhattan down the intrepid aircraft carrier. In Central Park, we're gonna have an amazing line-up where you can come out and celebrate the No Barriers life. Just check us out and we'll keep coming to you with amazing people like Gretchen. Thanks, Jeff. No Barriers.
Mark Wellman is a nationally acclaimed author, filmmaker and motivational speaker. Despite being paralyzed in a mountain climbing accident, Mark has inspired millions to meet their problems head-on and reach for their full potential. A two-time Paralympian and former Yosemite Park Ranger, Mark's NO LIMITS philosophy encourages individuals to adventure into new horizons; to go beyond the seeming unreachable.
Mark is used to being on the road since he travels throughout the year, bringing his adaptive climbing wall to companies, organizations, and schools. We caught him during one of his road trips and he agreed to swing by Golden, Colorado to the No Barriers podcast studio and catch up with his old friends, Jeff, Dave, and Erik.
Mark is unbelievably accomplished but also reserved and humble. He talks about his legendary, groundbreaking athletic achievements with the same tone most use to describe what they had for lunch. But there was a time in Mark's life where he was unsure, depressed, and hopeless with no clear path ahead.
Mark discusses his near-death injury that he sustained on a climb that left his paralyzed from the waist down. He spent months in the hospital unsure of how to go forward and lost. That was, until he received some wisdom.
I had this one physical trainer, she was from Germany, and she said: “You need to train like your training for the Olympics!” And I just really took that to heart.”
Mark first was determined to find employment where he could stay connected to the outdoors. So, he went back to school and got his degree in Park Management. He worked as a Park Ranger in various capacities, already shattering people's ideas of what he was capable of, but that was just the beginning. He soon discovered the world of adaptive sports and threw himself into learning more and designing his own adaptive equipment to get back out into the field.
It was then he came up with the crazy idea of climbing the sheer granite face of El Capitan. He found a partner, built an ascending rope pulley system, and started to train. Now, folks of many different abilities have climbed El Cap, but until Mark, this was unthinkable. He pulled it off and became the first paraplegic to make the ascent.
“Are you crazy to take this paraplegic guy up El Cap? Seems like a really stupid idea. Something could go wrong,’ but fortunately we didn’t really listen to that.”
Mark went on to gain tons of media attention, made national and international news, met the President, lit the flaming torch up a 120-foot rope at the Paralympic games in Atlanta; a fun story he shared with us, and continued on to break even more records of athletic achievement, like being the first paraplegic to sit-ski unassisted across the Sierra Nevadas.
Listening to Mark describe his epic achievements it's easy to forget he has a disability or about all the struggle that led him to this point in his life. But for Mark, it's about mindset.
“I learned my disability wasn’t a death sentence - let’s get on with life, dude!”
But Mark wanted to share what he learned with others. He details the spark of an idea he had with a friend that led to the formation of the nonprofit, No Barriers, and the humble beginnings of an organization that is now becoming a movement. He uses his time to speak to groups and offer inspiration, as well as lead hands-on adaptive activities that get people out of their comfort zones.
“Let’s get out and enjoy life.”
Read Mark's Autobiography Here
Visit Mark's website: No Limits
Learn more about No Barriers
autobiography Climbing Back.
The first paraplegic to sit-ski unassisted across the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range,
--------------- EPISODE TRANSCRIPT -------------------------
Dave: Well welcome to our No Barriers podcast. We are thrilled today to have Mark Wellman with us, who's one of the founders of No Barriers. Can't wait to hear some of his stories about what this organization was founded upon. He's really the heart and soul behind why many of us are here at the organization.
``` Before we get into that conversation, Erik, you just came back from a really interesting experience, why don't share with our listeners a little bit about it?
```
Erik: [00:00:30] Yeah, I was at a conference with all these authors. There were four of us, and the first was a lady, she was the author of Hidden Figures, this great book that was made into a movie, these African American women who were behind getting us to the moon, didn't get any credit at first, but then their stories were really illuminated by her book. And this guy who is falsely sent to death row for 30 years. He was incarcerated-
Dave: Wow.
Erik: In a five by [00:01:00] seven room, had to kind of go into his mind and think about how to expand his mind. He said in his mind he married Halle Berry. They were married for 25 happy years.
Dave: When was this set?
Erik: Recently. Literally just got out of ... he got out of jail, no apology from Alabama. But he wrote this amazing book, so ... And then a lady who wrote a book called Beauty Sick, mostly [00:01:30] about girls who struggle with body image, and how much productivity is lost in the world because girls are having to pay attention to makeup, and weight, and all the things that they worry about. Guys too, but mostly the focus was on girls, and I have a daughter, so I was sitting there just hanging on every word, thinking about my daughter and her struggle, so it was really book because it was four very No Barriers...
Dave: That's a lot of No Barriers.
Erik: ...authors right there. [00:02:00] Maybe we'll get them on the podcast at some point.
Dave: That sounds like perfect fit for the kinds of topics we explore.
Erik: Yeah. And I am totally thrilled... this is great. I'm so psyched to have my friend, all our friends, Mark Wellman on the podcast today.
Dave: The legend.
Erik: The legend, the dirt bag... is that okay to say?
Mark: Yeah, yeah.
Dave: You embrace it, right?
Mark: It's great to be here. I embrace everything.
Erik: Mark almost doesn't need an introduction, but Mark is [00:02:30] a world class adventurer, and an innovator, and is the key founder of No Barriers. Has done amazing things that blow your mind as an adventurer. Has skied across the Ruth Gorge. Has traversed the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Has mountain biked the White Rim Trail. Has climbed El Capitan, Half Dome. We were just talking this morning, your Half [00:03:00] Dome ascent was 13 days?
Mark: Yeah, it was.
Erik: On the wall. Just, Mark, a hero of mine for sure. You're a few years older than me. When I was a teenager and you were just a little bit older climbing El Capitan and doing all these amazing adventures, you were a huge part of my motivation, so I'm psyched right now.
Mark: It's great to be here, thanks a lot Erik. Yeah I guess I could [00:03:30] start off with... 35 years ago I was an able bodied climber and we were climbing a peak called Seven Gables, which is pretty close to the Mount Whitney area. We had a 20 mile backpack to get into the base, and this is back in 1982, I was 22 years old. My good friend Peter Enzinger and I were back there to do this climb. [00:04:00] We set up a base camp about 10,000 feet, and the next morning we got up pretty early, grabbed our technical rock climbing equipment and left most of our provisions at the base camp, our sleeping bags. Sure would have been nice to have that sleeping bag with us but didn't have it. And we climbed Seven Gables.
``` It was sort of technical, kind of a mixed route. There was a little bit of ice, a little bit of rock, and made [00:04:30] the ascent. By the time we topped of it was a little bit late in the afternoon, about five o'clock. We just embraced this beautiful view from the summit. American Alpine Club places sometimes these cairns, or climbing registers, at the top of the mountain. It was kind of cool to see this. In this case it was just a pile of rocks with a Folgers coffee can. And I opened up the Folgers coffee can and dumped out the little pieces of paper, and there's my [00:05:00] hero Royal Robbins had climbed it. "Cool man, I'm gonna put my name next to Royal." Did that, and then we decided we're gonna go down a class four descent on the backside, just scrambling, not roped. We were just kind of walking down a tail of slope.
I'll be the first to kind of admit my guard was down. My partner said, "Hey, maybe we should put a rope on [00:05:30] this one section here." I go, "No, no. I wanna get down to base camp, I'm really hungry. There's some really good freeze-dried food I wanna eat." You know that wonderful Mountain House stuff.
```
Erik: And 35 years ago.
Dave: Delicious. [crosstalk 00:05:44]
Mark: So next thing I knew, I slipped on some scree, and I pitched forward and I started rolling. I made a couple of somersaults and I rolled off about a 100 foot cliff. When I landed I broke my lower back at T 11, T 12. Of course at the time I didn't know it. [00:06:00] I was 22, I didn't even know what a wheelchair was. That happened, and my partner thought I possibly could have been killed. But he heard me yell back at him. He got down to where I was... he said he spent a couple hours with me stopping some bleeding on my legs, and some other stuff.
Jeff: What's your recollection of that period of time...
Mark: He said he was with me for two hours, it felt like ten minutes.
Erik: Right.
Mark: And then he left. [00:06:30] He left an orange, an extra jacket, and some trail mix and said "Man, I gotta get out and get some help." So after 30 hours, the best sound I've ever heard in my whole life was the sound of this... [helicopter sounds] ...coming up the canyon.
Erik: You almost froze to death.
Mark: It was cold that night. Yeah it was real cold. I was laying on some ice. That probably helped because it kept the swelling down in my back. So I'm an incomplete [00:07:00] para. I have a little bit of movement in my legs. They said that might have helped me, the swelling. But the helicopter got up there, it was actually a ship from the Forest Service. They were gonna just go up and see if it was more of a body recovery, but fortunately I waved to them and the helicopter disappeared.
About an hour later, a second helicopter came up and this time was from Lemoore Navy Base, and they did [00:07:30] a technical rescue. Flew in, brought the rotors within several feet of the cliff surface, lowered a navy medic, got me in a stokes litter, got me back up into the ship. I was down at a trauma center, they were cutting my clothes off, and a nurse said, "Who's your insurance company?" And fortunately I did have insurance, I had Kaiser. I went through stabilization of my back with Harrington rods. I was in the hospital in 1982 for seven months.
Dave: [00:08:00] Wow.
Erik: Including rehab?
Mark: Including rehab and the whole nine yards. And nowadays, a paraplegic if you go to Craig Hospital, it's kind of the factory up here in the west. A paraplegic will be in the hospital for about six weeks. It's pretty dramatic... in those days, it was a much longer hospitalization. Learning how to take care of yourself. And then...
Erik: More time is better, right? I mean, [00:08:30] would make sense right? You can develop more time?
Mark: Yeah, a little bit. I think seven months was a little excessive.
Erik: Right.
Mark: But you know, there's a lot to learn. Your life has really changed. Your spinal cord runs your body, and you're paralyzed from your waist down. You have bowel and bladder issues. You have skin issues you have to be careful about. So all those things were really important, and I had this one [00:09:00] physical therapist who was from Germany and she goes, "You need to train like you're training for the Olympics." I just really took that to heart and started lifting weights. Was ambulating with long leg braces. This was sort of the beginning of the wheelchair revolution where wheelchairs weren't a stale piece of medical equipment, they were a lightweight piece of aluminum that was more of an extension of your body. And the wheelchair [00:09:30] could take you from point A to point B. Fortunately, in 1982 was really when these wheelchairs... they started making lightweight chairs. And I was a part of that.
Erik: Not the clunky Vietnam-era things, right?
Mark: Exactly. The old Everest and Jennings chairs were more obsolete, and they were using... well there was a woman who started Quickie wheelchairs, Marilyn Hamilton, she got hurt in a hang gliding accident. They took hang gliding technology, clevis pins, aluminum, powder coat. [00:10:00] And they kind of messier of manufacturing these wheelchairs sort of like... taking the technology from hang gliders and applying it to wheelchairs.
Erik: We're still less than ten podcasts in here, but we've already heard a lot of stories of people... these No Barrier stories of people who go down deep into these dark places. I don't want to bring you down, but you have a lot of experience right now and so you can look back. You went to a dark [00:10:30] place, obviously.
Mark: Yeah. It was close to saying goodbye to this Earth. Fortunately I made it through. I remember getting back into rehab, then I met a state rehab counselor who said, "You know Mark, you have this great love, this great passion for the outdoors, why don't you become a park ranger?" And I'm thinking, "How's somebody in a wheelchair gonna be a park ranger?" I'm thinking [00:11:00] law enforcement, search and rescue, and she goes "No, there's many hats in the National Park Service, or many different jobs."
``` She took me down to Fort Funston where I met a ranger who kind of showed me the ropes and said "Hey, you could maybe do a job, this would be an entry level position, but you could help us plant dune grass and work in the nursery, or you could go to the entrance gate and help out there." [00:11:30] So I did that for a summer and then I went back to school and went to West Valley College and studied park management.
```
Erik: Cool.
Mark: And became a ranger at Yosemite. I remember my first job wasn't exactly my idea being a ranger. There I was sitting in this little kiosk, this little booth, at Big Oak Flat, the entrance to Yosemite. In those days it was a three dollar entrance fee and I'd collect the money and be breathing in auto fumes all day long. That really wasn't [00:12:00] my idea of being a ranger. But it was entry level. The next summer I went down to Yosemite Valley and started working at the visitor's center doing interpretation. Interpreting the natural processes of the park, the public. Bear management, geology, climbing was a big subject too. I'd give programs on climbing, talk about A climbing versus free climbing.
Jeff: Were you transparent with people that would come through the park, with how your injury took place? [00:12:30] When you'd talk about the [crosstalk 00:12:31]
Mark: I was, I was. I would start my climbing program off with my accident, actually. And bring that in, because I think that was a big part of it. They might say, "Well who's this guy in a wheelchair, what does he know about climbing?" I'd kind of bring that in. That was before I climbed El Cap, I was doing those things.
Jeff: Were you percolating on doing something like that when you were there?
Mark: I was. It's kind of an interesting story. There was a magazine called Sports And Spokes, it was a wheelchair [00:13:00] athletic magazine. On the front cover on that magazine was a DSUSA chapter, a woman who was being lowered down a cliff in a wheelchair on a river rafting trip. The river went over a waterfall, and then you did portage all the equipment around the waterfall. They had a swami belt and a climbing rope and they had a helmet, I guess they wanted to put a helmet on her for safety, sounded like a good idea. And they lowered her down this cliff in this wheelchair, [00:13:30] and it was on the front cover of this magazine, Sports And Spokes.
``` I got the magazine at my little cabin in Yosemite and I had it on my lap. I was wheeling over to the visitor center to open it up in the morning, and I bumped into my future climbing partner Mike Corbet. And Mike's nickname was Mr. El Cap back in the 80s, he had climbed El Cap more than anybody else in the world, over 50 times. And Mike had never really talked about climbing to me because he knew that's how I got hurt. But when [00:14:00] I showed him this picture, Mike's eyes got really big, and he got really excited. He goes, "You know what Mark, I wanna start climbing with you, but what I really wanna do is climb El Cap." And we had no idea how we were gonna do it.
```
Dave: That's great.
Mark: That evening, we were sitting at the mountain room bar, we might have had a beer or two.
Dave: Or three.
Jeff: That's where all good decisions are made.
Mark: Where all good decisions are made. So we had a little beer napkin and we started writing down notes. We said, "Okay, [00:14:30] we're gonna take a jumar..." A jumar is a rope ascender, this was back in the day, kind of like what Kleenex is to tissue. So we took a jumar, and we mounted a pull up bar and a jumar, and then we had a second ascender on a chest harness. And we put a rope up right by the Ahwahnee Hotel. Church ball tree. It was an oak tree. We had this rope and we started ascending up into the tree and then he'd lower me back down. So we go, "Okay, [00:15:00] so a paraplegic can ascend a rope using their upper body strength. Now to get on El Capitan, we got to actually protect your lower extremities from the granitic rock."
We knew we were gonna be up there at least a week. I don't have feeling in my legs, so I really needed to protect my legs from any kind of abrasion or any kind of sore that could have occurred up there. We went down to this hardware store in Fresno, California outside [00:15:30] of the park. We bought some leather, a speedy stitcher, some closed cell insulation foam, and we just started making these rock chaps and they sort of evolved over a course of six months. We were climbing Jam Crack, Warner's...
Erik: Weren't they... what was the material of those? I've felt your chaps before. That sound's weird...
Dave: The truth comes out.
Jeff: Hey, we're all friends here.
Mark: The original [00:16:00] rock chaps were made out of leather and canvas. But the pair of rock chaps you felt were actually made out of some kind of silky material. No, no...
Dave: Oh that was lingerie? Not chaps.
Jeff: This was the first No Barriers improv meeting, what you're talking about, with your buddy Mike.
Mark: Absolutely.
Jeff: That was it, that was the genesis of what... fast forward to today, that was the beginning. What [00:16:30] year was that? 1980...
Mark: That was 1988.
Jeff: 88. There you go.
Mark: Yeah 88. I was 28 years old.
Erik: So if you think about it that way, No Barriers began in the Ahwahnee bar.
Jeff: Yeah, on a bar stool. On a bar napkin.
Dave: I know you guys are all dirt bag climbers. I'm not a dirt bag climber. For our listeners who are not dirt bag climbers, someone paint a picture, because we're getting to the El Cap story. Which is a phenomenal story. Paint a picture of El Cap for us, because not everyone knows what that is.
Jeff: Yeah, well. El Cap [00:17:00] is probably the most revered, iconic, monolith in North America if not the world. Uninterrupted, over 3000 feet of granite. It is... when you're in Yosemite, you look up at it and it's got this perfectly symmetrical flank apron on both sides that comes out into this promontory called the nose. And [00:17:30] you can't take your eyes off it. If you look away for a minute, you have to look back at it just cause it's so magnificent and powerful. And it represents so much too. If you want to call yourself a climber, you kind of have to climb El Cap at some point.
Erik: When you stand in the meadows below, which is just clogged with tourists just all driving by gawking. What I've heard, is you have to look up and up and up, way higher than [00:18:00] you think you have to.
Dave: And if you see a person climbing, as a person who's not a technical climber speaking, you think "Those people are crazy. They're insane. What are they doing up there?"
Jeff: Erik and I climbed El Cap. And his dad, Erik's dad, and future wife were down there in the meadow with telescopes watching us. We had one of those little lighty things, little sticks, and we were shining our headlamps down at everybody. It's [00:18:30] a magnificent thing, but it's also very intimidating. It can be very cool when you stand up and look at it, but then the idea of going and climbing it I think is a whole different story.
Erik: And as a quote on quote gimp, and that's a word by the way that Mark taught me. I never even heard that word before. It's one of those words I guess you somehow have the license to use if you are...
Mark: If you are.
Erik: If you are in a chair or you are blind. So what did, when you talked about this out loud, what did people [00:19:00] think? Are people like, "You're nuts."
Mark: Yeah, we had kind of a mixture of both. People that knew us, were "Oh yeah you guys should go do this." Mark's been training, he's always skiing, always riding his bike, hand bike around... well in those days it was more of a row cycle. And then we had people say, mainly not to me so much but more to Mike, "Are you crazy? Take this paraplegic guy up El Cap? Seems like a really stupid [00:19:30] idea. Something could go wrong." But fortunately, we didn't really listen to that. We just started training, we made these rock chaps. Like I said, they kind of just evolved over about a six month period.
We kind of have a little circuit in Yosemite Valley that we climbed together. We did Jam Crack, the Prude, Warner's Crack, The Rostrum, we went over there.
Erik: Oh, wow.
Mark: So we did some stuff in the Valley [00:20:00] just to really warm up. And then I actually went up and spent a night on El Cap. Because we wanted to feel what that was like.
Jeff: Up at sickle?
Mark: We actually went to Heart Ledge.
Erik: Wow.
Jeff: Over on the south.
Mark: Yeah, over on the south. The route we were gonna climb was a shield. So...
Jeff: Cause it's overhanging.
Mark: It was overhanging... once you get over the shield roof it's overhanging. The beginning of it's not. It's pretty low angle.
Jeff: Were you scared at all before you did this or [00:20:30] were you just super fired up and kind of naïve?
Mark: I was scared the night before.
Jeff: You were.
Mark: Yeah.
Jeff: Like really scared?
Mark: Yeah I was... couldn't sleep. This kind of what happened was... really Mike, about two weeks before we're gonna blast off, Mike goes, "Man we've trained so hard for this, I'm gonna write a letter to Tom Brokaw..." who is the national NBC News guy, who is a climber too, a little bit. And, I'm going, "Okay... " so basically [00:21:00] Corbet just wrote out a note with a pencil. He was a janitor at the Yosemite Medical Clinic to support his addiction to climbing. He just wrote a little note to Tom Brokaw, and I think three or four days later he's talking to... Tom Brokaw called the medical clinic and talked to Mike, and said "We want to come out and do this story."
Erik: Gosh.
Mark: And all of a sudden the pressure was on. That's when I really was thinking, "Wow you're telling national news, this is gonna add [00:21:30] a lot more pressure for myself." But as soon as we got to the base of El Cap and I touched that granite, all that training and preparation really got into par, and I got relaxed. I started doing pull up after pull up, dragging myself up the largest unbroken granite cliff in North America, El Capitan, and the first night... we do something called, we fix pitches. So we were fixed [00:22:00] up about 800 feet. So we had... Mike used to say, "It's always nice to kind of have a jumpstart."
Erik: Right.
Mark: You know, fix those lines, get all your water, we had 250 pounds...
Erik: It's like a trail of ropes that go up 800 feet so you can just...
Mark: The next morning...
Erik: Start on the ground and zip up 800 feet and have like a jumpstart on this gigantic monolith.
Mark: Exactly. And have all your water, all your gear up there. So he had to work three or four days to make that happen prior to us [00:22:30] leaving. Once we left Mammoth Terrace, we were on our own. We went through the Gray Ledges, and we went over... the roof was really tremendous. Because Mike is basically climbing upside down, and then gets up onto the pitch above it and fixes a rope. Then I kind of untied myself and I swing underneath that roof, and you can hear the cheers of the people down below. It's like [00:23:00] what Jeff was saying, It's quite a scene at the El Cap meadow. You really have to have binoculars. It's hard to see climbers up there, because they're so tiny, they're like little ants up there. If you don't know what to look for, it's hard to see these people. The crowd was yelling, and the green dragon would come by. It's a tour vehicle that has it's open air shuttle.
Erik: "If you look upright you will see a nutcase [00:23:30] climbing El Capitan."
Mark: We could actually hear them talking about "Mike Corbet, Mark Wellman, first paraplegic..." So that was kind of interesting. Finally when we topped out, it was seven nights, eight days of climbing. This was before digital technology on El Cap, when national news came out. They had a mule train, they brought out a satellite dish that was like five feet wide, and we were live on top of El [00:24:00] Cap talking to Tom Brokaw.
Jeff: Sick.
Mark: And we've got... between the Today Show and NBC News, and in a week we were on TV for like several hours if you took all the time that they played this. There wasn't really much going on in the news, so they really kind of played this story up in a big way. As soon as we got off that climb, about a week later, we're sitting in the Oval [00:24:30] Office talking to President Bush. It was myself, Mike Corbet, "Writtenaur" who was Secretary of the Interior, and Jack Morehead, superintendent of Yosemite. The four of us are in the White House, in the Oval Office, talking about bone fishing because President Bush loved to bone fish and we presented him with a flag that we took with us on the climb, and it changed my life.
Erik: Mark, so you're not that old, but I see [00:25:00] you sort of as the father of adventur
e sports for people with disabilities. I want people to understand that the idea to climb El Cap back in the 80s... nowadays, I think... how many people have climbed El Cap in chairs, paras?
Mark: Oh the chairs?
Erik: Dozens, right?
Mark: Yeah, dozens.
Erik: But you sort of unleashed that. You opened up this door. And now, quote on quote gimps are doing everything, right?
Mark: Every summer there's [00:25:30] a paraplegic.
Erik: But you opened that door for all of us. So, it's sort of a crazy thought to me.
Mark: It is. You can't take the first ascent of El Cap, you can't take that away from me. That's something I'll always remember. It was a huge accomplishment for both Mike and I, and there's been different paraplegics who have gone up it. A gentleman with cerebral palsy, Steve Wampler, was probably the most [00:26:00] disabled person that's been up there. Lots of amputees. I call them amputees, hardly disabled. Paraplegics wanna be amputees.
Erik: Those will be our first complaint letters.
Dave: Exactly. [crosstalk 00:26:15]
Mark: Quadriplegics wanna be paraplegics. Everybody has their differences. There's been a quadriplegic, incomplete
quadriplegic, climbed El Cap with Tommy Thompson, good climber. [00:26:30] Steve Muse.
Erik: There's that kid who climbed The Chief, he was inspired by you.
Mark: Yep.
Erik: He was a quad, and he climbed The Chief. He invented kind of this, almost like a contraption with wheels if I remember right, that kind of rolled up the face.
Mark: Yeah it was... the premise was taking the Dolt cart. A climber by name of Dolt had this cart and he used to use it for a hauling system on El Cap. Brad "Szinski", the Canadian guy you're talking about, he came up with this [00:27:00] cart. His hands didn't really work as well as a paraplegic, he lost some muscle mass in his hands and fingers. So he had a different type of system where he could ascend a rope using a crank, and developed that. So there's been all kinds of different adaptations that allow people that are wheelchair users to go rock climbing.
Jeff: This sort of set you [00:27:30] on this course to being an improvisational pioneer, those are my words. Were you like that always or do you feel like your accident cued you up for this opportunity to then over the past thirty years...
Mark: Thirty five.
Jeff: Yeah thirty five years. Now you've continued this trajectory of being this pioneer when it comes to just making it work. You make it work, right?
Mark: I was so young. When I got hurt [00:28:00] I was 22. I wasn't climbing big walls, I hadn't got to that point yet of climbing El Cap. Finally, when I did have my accident it kind of made sense. The steeper the climb for somebody in a chair the better. Mountaineering is gonna be really tough. There are ways of doing mountaineering. We got four paraplegics on top of Mount Shasta.
Erik: Yep.
Mark: And there was a guy named Pete "Rikee". It's funny... people [00:28:30] come to me if they've got an idea, a lot of times they'll want me to be a part of the project. Least...
Erik: That was a pod that they were in, that had almost like tractor wheels, right?
Mark: Exactly. What we did is we took a snowmobile and cut the snowmobile track in half and made a tractor stance. So you have two tracks and a seat with a bicycle crank, and we actually crank our way up Mount Shasta. We had to get special permit from the Forest [00:29:00] Service. You can only be on Shasta for three days, and we knew we were gonna be up there for a week. So I had to drive up... I was trying to explain to this district ranger on the telephone, he really wasn't getting it.
Erik: Sometimes they don't get it.
Mark: And he wasn't getting it at all. He was thinking mechanical device...
Jeff: Motorized...
Mark: Right. He knew who I was, so he said "Come up and bring the machine with you so I can take a look at it." So I brought one of the snow pods up there and I met with the district ranger [00:29:30] and a couple of his back country rangers, and they got it. They said, "This is cool man, we'd like to let you guys do this." They gave us a special use permit. The big thing about the Forest Service and wilderness, or National Park Service wilderness, you cannot take... supposedly mechanized devices cannot go into the wilderness. But if you have a disability, your bicycle could almost be considered a wheelchair, or your snow pod can be considered [00:30:00] a wheelchair. Long as it doesn't have a Briggs and Stratton engine on it. That was the big thing, it has to be a manual piece of a gear that's human powered. So we got that, and we got four paraplegics on top of Mount Shasta.
Erik: And El Cap really launched you into being able to do all these amazing things, right? You pretty much became a
professional climber, adventurer, doing these things around the world. I know you lit the torch for the Paralympics, right?
Mark: I did, I lit the Paralympic torch in Atlanta in 1996. [00:30:30] Muhammad Ali lit it for the able bodied Olympics. They had this torch, and the night before we're training for it... it's a big surprise, they don't want to see the person light the torch the night before, no media, so we're out there. I was gonna climb an 80 foot rope doing rope ascension, doing pull up after pull up. And North Face made me a little, kind of a... we envisioned this Robin Hood thing with... behind [00:31:00] my shoulders, this arrow quiver where I put the actual torch in. I didn't wanna burn my hair, what's left of it, so...
Erik: You had a lot more hair...
Mark: So I said, "Let's make this torch holder so it comes off your legs." So they made that for me. That night we're training, I get up the 80 foot rope, and I lit the fuse and the fuse blew out.
Erik: Oh no.
Mark: And the pyrotechnics guy goes, it was windy, and the [00:31:30] next day it was gonna be windy too. So the pyrotechnics guy guys... "Okay Mark, I'll make sure this fuse doesn't go out the night you do it." And I go, "Great." So I get up there in front of 80,000 people, I'm climbing up this rope. Liza Minnelli is singing this song and she's going "Go Mark, Go Mark." The whole stadium of 80,000 people is going nuts. So I lit this fuse, and literally the thing blew up. There was fire all over me. And I'm leaning back, hoping I'm not gonna catch [00:32:00] on fire. Then the fuse went up and lit the actual cauldron, and that was the start of the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Jeff: You did not combust.
Mark: I did not combust. I had the best seat in the house.
Erik: You'd be like a Motley Crue drummer.
Mark: Exactly. So that was fun.
Erik: Takes us on a little tour of what you did. All those amazing adventures that you did after that. Takes us on a little tour around the world.
Mark: What a lot of people don't realize, which I think is harder than climbing [00:32:30] El Cap, or spending 13 days on Half Dome was another big ascent we did years ago... but was doing the Trans Sierra ski crossing. I've done it twice now. I did it in 1993, it was a big winner, and I did it in 2011. So we took a cross country Nordic sit ski. You sit low to the ground, you have two skis mounted underneath a frame with a seat, and you're sitting maybe a foot off the snow. And you have two [00:33:00] poles, and you actually double pole. So you're double poling to make this device go down the trail. I was on the US Disabled Nordic Ski Team. Competed in two Paralympics, in France and in Norway. Got beat up by the Finns, the Norwegians, they're so passionate about that sport.
Jeff: And they're vikings.
Mark: And they're vikings, man. They're so tough. My best finish out of 30 guys was of fifth place, that was in France. [00:33:30] In Norway, I got even more beat up. I wanted to actually get into Nordic ski racing because I had other things I wanted to do. I wanted to try to get into the back country in a Nordic ski. Back in 93 a guy named Jeff Pegles and myself was also on the US disabled Nordic team. We took sleds, little polks, behind our rigs. We had our bivy gear. And we skied 55 miles from Snowline [00:34:00] on the east side of the Sierra on Tioga road, we got someone to open up the gate. Guy that worked for the power company opened up the gate. We got up to Snowline and we skied from Snowline to Crane Flat, which is 55 miles.
Jeff: Wow.
Mark: Following the Tioga road.
Jeff: Just the two of you?
Mark: Well we also had Pearlman with us too.
Erik: Filming.
Mark: He was filming, yeah.
Erik: And, you gotta tell the story about the White Rim. So you biked the White Rim, I think you were on one off mountain bikes?
Mark: [00:34:30] Yep.
Erik: Or some kind of devices, hand crank mountain bikes. And it was so sandy, the story I heard, you had to get out and you had to pretty much pull yourself on your arms and pull your chair, did you pull the other guys chairs too? Or were the other guys' bikes...
Mark: It was an epic, groveling adventure. Seems like everything I do turns into that.
Jeff: Yeah. [crosstalk 00:34:50]
Mark: If you're not suffering, you're not having a good time. That's kind of how it is out there. We had these one off mountain bikes and [00:35:00] we actually did a Jeep tour to kind of check it out a couple years prior. We did have it a little easier, we didn't carry all our water and food with us, we had a swag wagon out there. Suburban, follow the four paraplegics. Myself, Bob Vogel, and Steve Ackerman. We rode this, 52 miles is the full circumnav of the White Rim. There was times, [00:35:30] yeah, it was an interesting experience out there because some of these washes were like moon dust. We couldn't get our bikes through it. So I had a pair of rock chaps with me and I threw the rock chaps on and did some crawling. Had an 11 mil static rope and dragged the guys behind me. Did a few epic things like that.
Jeff: I mean, If I'm riding my mountain bike and I come up on that scene in the middle of the White Rim, who knows what to make of that?
Mark: [00:36:00] You can walk man, so best thing to do is just walk your bike.
Jeff: Like, "You guys are good right?" and they'll be like "Yep, we're good man."
Erik: Leave us alone.
Jeff: Leave us alone.
Mark: Don't touch me.
Jeff: There's nothing to see here. Yeah.
Erik: Yeah.
Jeff: Wow, that's rad.
Mark: And then recently, just a couple of years ago... in the winter we had a drought in California and Tahoe, so I circumnaved Lake Tahoe in a kayak in winter. And that was a really amazing adventure. It was 72 [00:36:30] miles, two nights of camping. But the cool thing was, and it was cool at night, it was really cold at night. There was no power boats. In the winter you don't have any power boats on Lake Tahoe, it was kind of like being out there in the 1800s. Seeing bald eagles, none of the tourists were on the water, it was really a fantastic trip.
Dave: So Mark, you are someone who really embodies the spirit of No Barriers and you helped [00:37:00] start the organization. So tell us, all these adventures, all these things you've done to challenge what's possible, what people think is possible. Why No Barriers? Tell us that story.
Mark: You know, No Barriers... I did a movie called No Barriers, and I got a poster out called No Barriers. It was a word that really meant a lot to me. My wife and I, we were down in San Francisco at a fundraiser... in those days it was called Yosemite Fund, now it's called Yosemite [00:37:30] Conservancy. We were at this dinner, and I met this kind of wild old character named Jim Goldsmith. And Jim came up to me, knew who I was... we started talking. He had a cabin in the subdivision I live in called Tahoe Dawner. So Jim and I, and Carol, and his wife Connie would get together, we had a couple of dinners together. And then Jim started talking about the Dolomites, and his [00:38:00] son-in-law and daughter. And he said, "Man, it would be really neat to kind of do something for disabled people and able bodied people if we did something in the Dolomites." And I go, "Man, I know a couple of guys who I've done some stuff with, a guy named Hugh Herr, double amputee who's done some rock climbing with him, and Erik Weihenmayer."
This was probably after your Everest...
Erik: Yeah, after.
Mark: This was after your Everest climb. And I said "Hey, these [00:38:30] guys..." we did a climb out in Moab Utah, the three of us, it was kind of gimp helping gimp, it was this real magical event out there. Which was really cool...
Erik: Climbing the Fisher Tower.
Mark: Yeah. The Fisher Tower. Ancient Ark.
Erik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Mark: And it was this really fantastic climb. I'd like to get these two guys involved with what we're talking about. SO I called Erik, I called Hugh, and we ended up putting our first [00:39:00] little... in those days, it was more of a festival, we called it, instead of a summit. We did it in the Dolomites. It was a very obscure little place up in the mountains, this real beautiful location, but nothing was really accessible. The hotels weren't that accessible, everything was kind of difficult to put this together. But it was this real magical place in the mountains...
Erik: I remember the chair operators didn't even know how to get people with disabilities on the chairs.
Mark: They didn't have [00:39:30] an idea. They didn't... yeah.
Erik: On the ski lifts. Thank you. Yeah.
Mark: They weren't doing adaptive skiing in those days in that little village. It was actually the home of the 1956 Olympics. SO that was kind of my envision was to start this, and who knew it was gonna get into what it is today. It's just amazing what you guys have done, and all the different things No Barriers has to offer people.
Erik: What do you think about when you think about the evolution? You had this little germ [00:40:00] of an idea to go to this town and start talking about accessibility and innovation, and some of your lessons about how you've broken through barriers, or how the three of us had broken through barriers. And now, when you look at it today...
Mark: [sighs] It's kind of mind boggling how it's grown so big and how many different people it affects, it's not just the disabled community, it's able bodied community bringing everyone together. Trying new experiences. The youth programs [00:40:30] that you guys have been doing is tremendous over the years. Soldiers to the summit. We're having all these guys coming back doing ten tours, they're not adjusting back into society very well, and taking them out into the outdoors with Jeff and different mountain guides, it just changes their lives. Brings them more back into a reality where they can really kind of adjust back into society. And then the summit is just... I love [00:41:00] coming to the summits. I've been to every one now, I haven't missed one since the beginning. It's gonna be fantastic in New York, I'm really looking forward to that.
Erik: And you bring your climbing wall, your portable climbing wall.
Mark: I'll have...
Erik: Almost to every summit. So that's your mission now, right? To go around and use your climbing wall as a No Barriers tool to help people break through barriers. Tell us about that.
Mark: Absolutely. Climbing has been such a big part of my life, that I just like to introduce different [00:41:30] people to the sport. A lot of times, somebody that's... we don't say electric chair, electric chair is something you die in. Power chair. A power chair takes you from point A to point B. A power chair user, a lot of times doesn't have all the... there's not as many things out there for a power chair user to participate in. Climbing on my wall, they can. We have these harnessing systems [00:42:00] that support your core. It's almost like a Bosen's chair, pulley system. If you have the desire to get on the climbing wall, we can facilitate that. We don't turn anybody away. We've had people that weigh 500 pounds on my wall before. Very obese wheelchair users... it doesn't matter.
I had a gentleman that had spina bifida and he was unfortunately caught up in the American society of drinking a lot of soda, [00:42:30] and became really big. We got him on the wall, it was really difficult for him. We would talk to him and he wouldn't really look at you eye to eye as we were talking. I saw him a year later, he dropped 150 pounds, quit the soda, got into a training, cut his hair in a mohawk, and it just changed his life. Got out of the power chair and was in a manual chair. So climbing was kind of the responsibility of really changing this guys life, and now I see [00:43:00] him down in Los Angeles. I probably take the wall to Southern California maybe seven or eight times a year, San Francisco, Bay Area. I sort of have different groups hire me year after year, once they experience the wall they really want to have it be part of their event.
We bring in, mini El Cap I call it, and we get people on it and we have a great time.
Erik: And you're traveling around with your wall, full time. People bring you in to create this experience for their [00:43:30] rehab hospital or organization or team, right?
Mark: Exactly. All those venues... I do adaptive climbing seminars. So a gym might call me and wanna know, "how do we get an adaptive climbing program going?" So I do that. And a lot of times I'll do not only a seminar on adaptive climbing, but then maybe that evening do a show and tell about adventure sports and where adventure sports have taken the disabled in the last 35 [00:44:00] years.
Erik: And you are like Kleenex now, because... you talk about the pulley system, it's not a pulley system, pull up system, a lot of people say, "Oh yeah, Mark Wellman system."
Mark: Yeah, it's... yeah it's kind of getting that way.
Jeff: You're like Beyonce now.
Mark: I'm like Beyonce. It's just kind of neat that my passions over the years... everybody should have a passion. And my passion has always been [00:44:30] to be out camping, doing something in the outdoors, coming up with new ideas, new technologies... and some of these technologies are more like a backyard technology. It's not that fancy. Sometimes some of the most simplest things can change something. Like mountain bike tires on a wheelchair can change a chairs getting into the back country tremendously. Mounting a pull up bar in a sender can allow a paraplegic [00:45:00] to do 7000 pull ups in eight days to go up El Cap. Just simple little technologies can really change peoples' lives, and you can take that backyard technology, garage technology, put something together that works for you that can help a whole bunch of people.
Dave: I'd like to go back to that... You've told us a story, sort of the arc of your life, and when I look at you Mark and think about what you've accomplished I think "God, this is incredible. [00:45:30] This is an incredible human being that very few people who had what happened to you would ever have chosen the path that you have chosen." And I think, when I think about our No Barriers community, every so often you get folks who will say "Yeah, that's Mark Wellman but that couldn't have been me. You're putting someone in front of me that's so incredible, how could I possibly do this?"
Erik: Yeah, you're de motivational.
Mark: Right, right. I know, I get it.
Dave: I'd love to hear, what do you think we can... 'cause this is what we do at No Barriers. We... If you're [00:46:00] listening to this, it's not like we take everyone up mountains, but we try to remind them about something in their spiri
t...
Mark: Yeah.
Dave: ...that teaches them anything is possible. So talk to us a little bit about, Mark, how did you get to that point? Is it just sort of who you were from the beginning, was it an evolution? It just seems like everything you encountered, you are like, "I can do more."
Mark: I think it's really important for people to get out of their comfort zone. Nowadays, it's so easy for young people to get... they get into gaming. And they [00:46:30] just, you know... it's stagnant. You're not getting out of your comfort zone. And the outdoors has a way of getting you out of your comfort zone. And you can make it safe... you don't need to think about what I do, it's more about finding, maybe getting some different experiences. And that's what's so cool about the summit. You have all these different activities going on where you just get a little taste of it. And hopefully [00:47:00] that little taste will inspire your imagination to want to try it again.
And that's where I think it's really important if you're facilitating skiing or climbing, or whatever you're facilitating, you have to make sure that these people, their first experience is a good one. If they don't have a good experience, most likely they're not gonna go back to it. And, it's really important that the very first time... One of our board members, Sasha. [00:47:30] He was an academia guy, a professor. He came to the No Barriers event in Squaw Valley, the first one. Never had tried climbing before, and we took him to Donner Summit and got him up on this road cut climb that's 80 feet with big exposure, and it changed the guys life. It was something he was real nervous about, but it was getting him out of his comfort zone, and him [00:48:00] really having, you know... it was exciting for him, it was thrilling, it was challenging not only physically but mentally challenging at the same time. All those things combined. Kind of changed his life. And he became a board member of No Barriers because of that.
Dave: Yeah.
Mark: And there's stories like that all the time. Or Mandy, I remember her... wonderful singer. She got on my wall, it was 25 feet, and she [00:48:30] was really scared. It was a really scary moment for her where she had this big fear of heights. It wasn't like she was on a 1000 foot rope, she was on a 24 foot wall. But she might have well have been.
Jeff: Relative for her.
Mark: Could have been a 1000 foot climb. But she made it through. And came down... I got a guy that helps me, Wes, he's a search and rescue guy, kind of a big guy. He's just magical with [00:49:00] people, and really helped her a lot. So, you have all these different experiences...
Erik: And I think that experience, by the way, gave her the courage to go out and do something completely non-climbing related, which was to write music and to go on to America's Got Talent, and...
Mark: Exactly.
Erik: Get into the finals, and now skyrocket into stardom.
Mark: To fame. Absolutely. Making a better quality life for herself. [00:49:30] A lot of times when you say, somebody that's a wheelchair user... what is it, like 90 percent of the people in wheelchairs don't have jobs. And it's always kind of bummed me out, I'm thinking, "Wow." Why would you wanna be caught in a system like with Social Security and be basically poor your whole life, because "Oh I have Medicare, I have my Social Security disability," So you're trying to live on six to eight hundred dollars a month. And you're caught [00:50:00] in this kind of vicious circle. You've got to get away from that somehow, and get into the workforce, be productive. You're gonna feel better, you're gonna be a more productive citizen in this country, and you're not gonna be wrapped up in this vicious circle of never getting ahead and always having the government thumb you down, so to speak.
Erik: Last question for [00:50:30] you from my end, this is Erik, and I wanna know, I've made it kind of clear that I look up to you. Tell me, who are the people that you look up to? Tell us about that guy Larry, tell us about some people who influenced your life.
Mark: Oh man. There's been a lot for sure. There was a guy named... actually I think you're thinking of a guy named Mark Sutherland. When I first got hurt, Mark was a quadriplegic ten [00:51:00] years post to my injury. And he was back in the hospital. He had a bone spur, the spur was touching his spinal cord, and he was losing some of his action. Some quadriplegic can move their arms and they can push manual chairs, and he was one of those. But he was losing some of his arm strength, so he was in the hospital, and my room was next to his. We would talk at night. 'Cause I was really bummed out when I was first injured. To me, being a paraplegic was a fate [00:51:30] worse than death. I was on the sixth floor, if I could have crawled over to the window and jumped out I would have cause that's how bad I felt.
I was just thinking, "Not having the use of my legs, I'm not gonna ski again, I'm not gonna climb." I was 22, I was just like, "Why didn't the mountain just take me." Those were the kind of thoughts I was having. But then I would go into this guys room, Mark Sutherland, and he would talk about, "Oh I had this milk truck that I converted, and I had a stool. One time I was driving it with my hand controls [00:52:00] and I fell off the stool, and I was on the ground and I had to throw my hand on the brake to stop it so I didn't kill anybody."
Jeff: And you were like, "That's the greatest story ever."
Mark: Yeah. I wanna do that. So I was just hearing this stuff from this guy, and he was talking about girlfriends, and how he was running around doing this and doing that, and I'm going, "Man, this guy has a life." And it was really inspiring to be... so where I was really depressed and laying in the hospital bed, and couldn't feel [00:52:30] my lower extremities, and "What's a catheter?" And I'm just like, "Man, this is horrible, what did I get myself into." And this guy was really upbeat and uplifting...
Jeff: Showed you it wasn't a death sentence.
Mark: Yeah. Showed me it wasn't a death sentence, and let's get on with life, dude. And it was like, boom. That just changed me. Then we went into rehab together, we were more in a hospital setting and then we both went into our physical rehab. That's [00:53:00] when it just started clicking for me, and that was it.
Dave: Well, just to wrap up this excellent conversation that we're having about the history of No Barriers and all that you've done as well just individually, you've seen No Barriers be this thing that started in the Dolomites in 2003, we're 15 years into this. What's your dream for what it becomes?
Mark: Wow. I would just consider it to be... I'd like to see maybe a couple summits a year, possible. [00:53:30] More, smaller clinics would be really cool too. I think you guys are really on a good, good path. But maybe some smaller events too. Just keep growing it. Keep doing more of these kinds of things. More technology. Bringing in more people, better speakers. Better people that are... or people that are doing more things that inspire others that give the ideas [00:54:00] to do more things. I'm amazed in 15 years where it's come to. Who knows where it's gonna go. Another 15 years from now, man this could be a huge, huge organization that could affect a lot of people and bring a lot of people together. This whole family, bringing the tribe together. It's always fun at the summits, and seeing people I haven't seen for a year, [00:54:30] spending time with them. I love getting people out climbing, so that's my passion.
Erik: What if people want to learn how to get in touch with you, how to work with you, how to bring your wall to their organization?
Mark: Yeah. Google Mark Wellman or just go to my website, No Limits Tahoe dot com. Give me a call.
Erik: Although they won't talk to you, 'cause you're never home. You're always out [crosstalk 00:54:55] or something.
Dave: Always on the road, right.
Mark: Well, no, yeah I'm easy to get a hold of. Talk to my wife, Carol, [00:55:00] and I can get back to you.
Erik: Right.
Mark: Send me an email. I'm better on the phone, I don't like to email tons. Love to talk to you, if you have ideas lets talk about, lets see you at the summit. Lets get out and enjoy life.
Erik: Cool. Well thank you so much Mark.
Jeff: Listen Mark, I know you well enough to know you don't need to hear what I'm about to tell you, but, I think it's important for you and the listeners to know [00:55:30] in conversations like this, it becomes so clear how you are sort of the upside down pyramid. And you're the point on the upside down pyramid. And it all sort of funnels up from you, really. And I know there's others, but you're the man. And I know it's important for you, it is important for me to know that you know how many thousands of lives you've impacted.
Erik: Tens of thousands.
Jeff: Thousands of lives dude. You have been the kick starter [00:56:00] and the imputes. And you're just one of the most wonderful pioneers. I know you know it, but you need to hear it more, because you're the man.
Mark: I appreciate it man, it's humbling. And, to take a passion that I had and a dream... and like I said, just simple adaptations, a pull up bar on a jumar. Man, how that changed other people to go climb up El Cap, or do Castleton, or whatever [00:56:30] mountain you want to get up, it's been a pretty cool experience. It's been fun to work with other companies. We're making more adaptive climbing equipment now. It's really kind of evolved from just handmade rock chaps to a real sophisticated pair of rock chaps that allows people to get out there and do a lot of cool stuff.
Dave: Well it's been an honor to have you here Mark, I know many of our listeners are part of that No Barriers tribe. Many of them will know you, but a [00:57:00] lot of them won't. The movement has grown so big that it's well beyond you. But per what Jeff was saying, it's so important I think for the people of our community to know where this began.
Mark: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dave: And you are the point that Jeff mentioned where it began, and so, thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate having you.
Mark: My pleasure.
Erik: What did you guys take away from that? Might take us a while.
Dave: Yeah. Exactly.
Jeff: Might be a lengthy debrief on that one.
Dave: I guess for me, as someone who's helping to build [00:57:30] this movement, like I was ending with there, just to remember the roots of where No Barriers began which is individuals coming together in small communities around creative ideas to do stuff that people didn't think was possible. And as we start to move to tens of thousands, maybe millions over the next ten years of people that we impact, that there's something in that special sauce that's still about the [00:58:00] individuals getting together having a fun, creative idea and going out and pushing their comfort zone.
Erik: Yeah. I think that, No Barriers recipe is sort of hidden right in the story of El Capitan, which is... Mark's a smart guy, but he's not a scientist or anything, he's not Hugh Herr, who's inventing stuff where you go, "I could never do that." What he said is a pull up bar and a jumar. These are commercially available things. I think he had to adapt a few things, but [00:58:30] not all that crazy technology. Pretty simple. You combine that series, that innovation with the human spirit and a great friend or great support system, a great rope team, you do this amazing thing that opens up the door for a lot of people. It's a pretty simple recipe.
Dave: It is.
Jeff: All the big things that have happened with regards to our species all started with this small [00:59:00] germination of somebody sitting in their theoretical garage just being like, "How do I do this? Hmm?" And head scratch, and start piecing these things together, and then, boom, the movement begins. I think Mark embodies that, and what a great cornerstone for this organization.
Dave: Well, and the movement continues. So if you're sitting there listening saying, "I wanna be a part of this organization, I wanna be a [00:59:30] part of No Barriers," please go to our website, No Barriers USA dot org. You can join us at the summit that Mark mentioned that's coming up in October in New York. There are many more ways you can join us but please, No Barriers USA dot org is our website. You can also share our podcast with your friends and colleagues and families, and follow us on our Facebook page. Thank you so much for listening.
Erik: Live No Barriers.
Dave: Thanks.
Billy Lister is a Paralympic cyclist, who most recently represented Team USA in the Rio Olympics, competing in both track and road events. 18 years ago, Billy was diagnosed with a rare and acute brain abnormality which resulted in a loss of mobility due to a stroke.
With 6 million stroke survivors living in the U.S., Billy hopes his aspirations will lend them hope and courage. He has pledged to train for the next three Paralympics in the years 2020, 2024, and 2028.
In this episode, Erik, Jeff, and Dave traveled to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to catch up with Billy between his training sessions and talk about his No Barriers Journey. Billy describes being sidelined from his track in life of finding a job in finance and living a “normal” life to discovering his condition, having a new, experimental brain surgery and his road to not just rehabilitation but a successful career path as a Paralympic athlete.
Billy explains the difficulty he had with acknowledging his disability and the lengths he went to hide it from himself and the world.
“To have that physical ability and capacity, that excellence that I had, just completely taken away from me… that was really difficult and very hard to cope with.”
His disability led to loneliness, isolation, and relying on vices.
“I was living in this negative fantasy world. It was not my life and not something I was happy with, not something I wanted and I was going to push it into the corner and not talk about it as much as humanly possible until it got better - which was never going to happen. “
Then, Billy found himself at a No Barriers Summit and discovered he was not alone. He met others like him, met role models who inspired him. He decided to take on the challenge of re-learning how to ride a bike and that began an unexpected path to becoming a professional athlete and Paralympian.
“Learning how to ride a bike, which is literally one of the greatest most liberating experiences you have as an individual - I got to do that twice!”
During the conversation, Billy offers advice for those who were in his same position and struggling with accepting their disability. He provides a window into the tools and mindset he employs to train at the level he does and to not just live with a disability, but to ultimately, even be grateful for his condition.
“Just say yes. When you’re in those dark moments of your life, those doldrums, those valleys it’s so easy to say no and to take the already beaten path...but saying yes...that’s the hard part and it just gets easier after that.”
Connect with Billy:
Instagram & Twitter: @BillyListerIII
TEAM USA
Learn more about No Barriers
As a young boy, Ethan Johnston was kidnapped from his family in Ethiopia, blinded and used as a beggar. Fortunately, at age 10 he was adopted by a family in the United States.
He faced numerous emotional, physical and cultural barriers, including slowly learning not only English but English Braille. He found sports, including baseball, which became an outlet and passion.
Despite the hardships he faced in his younger years, he is thriving in America.
Always determined, he finished college, found employment, and lives by the motto, “Wanting it won’t get it for you, you have to go get it!”
Ethan (Esubalew) Johnston applied and was chosen for a Reach scholarship in 2017 to come to a No Barriers Summit in Squaw Valley. Over the four days he became well-known to everyone for his huge smile and his enthusiasm. He is a vibrant, funny, outgoing individual. The struggles Ethan has faced seem unbelievable juxtaposed to such a thriving person, but hearing Ethan’s story of resilience it becomes clear that he has worked very hard to get where he is today.
Ethan met with our hosts one evening after work, when he arrived solo after a 40-minute bus trip and Uber ride. It is hard to believe that not that long ago Ethan did not know how to make his own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Over the next hour Ethan talked about being coerced into a life of begging on the streets in Ethiopia, by captors who blinded him and took every penny he earned.
“After begging for over 2 years I thought that would be my entire life. I would beg and then when my time called I would die begging.”
Hungry and alone, Ethan was discovered by a traveling couple who ultimately got him out and flew him to America where he was placed with a family in Missouri. But it wasn’t a simple transition.
“The first five years, I cried like the rainy season in Ethiopia.”
Being blind and having never been outside of Ethiopia, Ethan discusses some of the trials and culture shocks he experienced; from learning English, to different American social customs and even discovering the concept of race.
He discusses how he ended up in Colorado and learned how to be more independent through his experiences at the Colorado Center for the Blind.
“Blind people everywhere. Where have you guys been all my life??”
But ultimately, Ethan’s story is not one of tragedy, it’s one of resilience and determination. His mindset has largely shaped how Ethan has reacted to the events in his life. Now, he is active in the Ethiopian community in Colorado, plays on a blind baseball team, is passionate about food, music, sports and has high hopes for his future. Listen to hear Ethan tell his incredibly story.
“I agree it’s bad, I wish I wasn’t blind, but at the same time everything happens for a reason….I got an education, and ended up in the best country, America, full of opportunities”
Learn more about No Barriers