Explore every episode of the podcast The Unexpected Journey
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| Geoff Krill on Acceptance and the Adaptive Outdoors | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:56:55 | |
Geoff Krill is a self-described adventure athlete, competitor, innovator, and motivator. He is also a national team member of PSIA, the Professional Ski Instructors of America. Since acquiring a spinal cord injury in his 20s he has competed in downhill mountain biking and skiing races both nationally and internationally, and continues to push boundaries as a wheelchair user. He is passionate about the impact of outdoor recreation and has dedicated his life to teaching others how to ski both disabled and non-disabled and creating greater access to the outdoors for everyone. He lives an outdoors life with his wife and two kids in New Hampshire. Guest info:
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| Anna Soens Returns to Talk About Skiing and Pursuit of the Paralympics | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:36:03 | |
Anna Soens was the first guest on The Unexpected Journey. In episode one she shared the story of her pioneering para-mountaineering ascents of Mount Hood and Mount Baker in the Pacific Northwest. If you haven't listened yet, go check it out. In this conversation, the first in a short series of episodes on adaptive skiing, Anna returns to talk about her freeskiing career, her rapid rise as an adaptive downhill ski racer and her current pursuit of a spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Paralympics, and her major life updates in the past five years since she came on the podcast. Guest info:
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| JoMarie Lawrence in Pursuit of Acting and Acceptance | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:40:35 | |
JoMarie Lawrence lives in Los Angeles where she is pursuing an acting and modeling career. She is a member of a cohort of disabled actors who are breaking barriers and bringing authentic representation to a wider variety of roles in media and entertainment. JoMarie has appeared in many television commercials, TV shows, and has written and starred in her own short films that explore her experience as a disabled woman with a spinal cord injury. With some big projects on the horizon, hers is definitely a name to remember! Guest info:
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| Joe Stone on Paragliding and Pushing Toward Goals | 07 Feb 2025 | 00:40:51 | |
Joe Stone is a disability activist, public speaker, and an adventure athlete. He is a partner and a dog dad, a team rider for Bowhead Corp, a Stio ambassador, a Project Airtime Pilot, and a co-owner of Dovetail Trail Consulting with two time previous Unexpected Journey guest Quinn Brett. Joe sets ambitious goals, pursues them with doggedly, and lives a fully adventure filled life. Guest info:
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| Murray Siple on Filmmaking and Moving Fast | 23 Jan 2025 | 01:01:25 | |
Murray Siple is an award-winning filmmaker and accessible home designer, a former snowboarder and skateboarder, a world traveler, an artist, and recently added adaptive surfer to his resume. He lives in British Columbia, Canada. Murray and I met in San Diego this past September where he surfed for the first time. Murray has always lived a wild and adventurous life, both before he was paralyzed at the age of 26 and in the 27 years since as a quadriplegic. As a quick disclaimer, given that he has spent much of his time in, what one might call, the fast lane, some of Murray’s stories are colorful and may not be appropriate for all audiences.
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| Billy Price on Building a Brand and Being a Dad | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:56:18 | |
Billy Price is an entrepreneur and the CEO and Cofounder, with Darin Donaldson, of Billy Footwear, a Seattle based footwear brand they have built from the ground up over the past seven years. Billy Footwear utilizes the concept of universal design to make shoes that are functional and fashionable for everyone, including the disability community. Billy and I initially connected professionally and chatted about our shared experience living with a spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. He is also an engineer, a husband, and a father.
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| Nitra Turner on Adaptive Archery and Allowing Grace | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:43:17 | |
Nitra Turner and I met at the EmpowerSCI summer intensive program at Stony Brook University this past summer where Nitra was a participant and I work as the Director of Strategic Development. Nitra led an adaptive archery clinic. For the annual adaptive surf day, she showed up to the beach in a mermaid outfit and then charged in challenging waves for her first time ever surfing. At home in Las Vegas, Nitra works in a banking career as she pursues her passion for competitive para archery. She's also a caring and thoughtful person who is dedicated to uplifting others, which she will most certainly continue to do as she becomes a leader in the disability community.
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| Rachel Zoeller: A Meditation on Life, Relationships, and Disability | 06 Dec 2024 | 00:58:50 | |
Rachel Zoeller is a person who is very engaged with life. They are an entrepreneur, outdoor enthusiast, endurance athlete, yoga practitioner, former pediatric physical therapist, writer, occasional model, partner, and highly intelligent individual. Following an accident resulting in a spinal cord injury and paralysis a few years ago, they are now moving through space and life in a different way. Our conversation was a meditation on many things more than a telling of any one aspect of Rachel's story. After we spoke, I found myself intentionally slowing down and sitting with more uncomfortable emotions. It was not easy at first, then it was deeply cathartic. I hope you may feel moved to do the same.
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| Jason Stoffer on Quality Living first, then Cure | 15 Nov 2024 | 00:51:34 | |
Jason Stoffer is an outdoor enthusiast, musician, and a former wildland fire fighter, EMT, search and rescue volunteer, and federal law enforcement officer. He lives with his wife and teenage kids in Montana and now works for Unite 2 Fight Paralysis alongside two time Unexpected Journey guest, Quinn Brett. Jason and Quinn met in the hospital after their accidents resulting in spinal cord injuries. They have also embarked on many impressive adventures together. Jason shares his story and more about the very impactful work he is doing with Unite 2 Fight Paralysis.
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| Quinn Brett on Cure Vs. Quality of Life and an Update On Her Adventures | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:29:07 | |
Quinn Brett first came on The Unexpected Journey in Season 1, Episode 7. She was four years out from her climbing accident resulting in paralysis and shared her story in a profoundly beautiful, honest, and raw manner. Three years later, we reconnected to learn about her advocacy work, get an update on her recent adventures, and hear how life is treating her. Louis Arevalo, our editor, coproducer, and previous cast - and I were both struck with the calm and contentedness in Quinn's voice. From this place of greater peace, she continues to push the envelope as an advocate and adventurer, always true to herself.
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| Chris Waker on Floating Face Down and Facing Fears | 17 Oct 2024 | 00:50:51 | |
Chris Waker is a former professional snowboarder and snowboard coach. He was paralyzed in a snowboarding accident in Colorado nearly 4 years ago. Chris's accident and spinal cord injury are very similar to my own, and he is a fellow board sport enthusiast. He now lives in San Diego county where he focuses on adaptive surfing, public speaking, and his physical health and recovery. We met up in his accessible apartment for a conversation that explores fear, vulnerability, and moving forward.
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| Fellipe Kizu Lima on Returning to the Ocean | 04 Oct 2024 | 00:23:38 | |
Fellipe Kizu Lima is a waterman in the truest sense of the word. His life, both professionally and personally, is closely tied to the ocean. At home, in Brazil, he works on the water. Abroad, he travels the world as a professional adaptive surfer and is a 6X ISA World Adaptive Surfing Champion, 3X Professional World Tour Champion, 3X Brazil National Champion, and 5X Hawaii Adaptive Surf Champion. Felipe is also a kind and reflective person who is greatly admired and respected in the adaptive surf community.
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| Tim Brown on Creating The Unexpected Journey Podcast | 30 Oct 2025 | 00:36:50 | |
For this episode, we decided to switch things up. Louis Arevalo, Unexpected Journey editor and sound designer, gets behind the mic to interview Tim Brown, Unexpected Journey founder and host. We talk about Tim's Journey, the origins of the The Unexpected Journey, what goes into creating the podcast, connecting with listeners, and the future of the pod!! Guest info:
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| Tara Shetterly on Leading with Influence | 19 Sep 2024 | 00:47:59 | |
Tara Shetterly is certifiably famous in our community. She has over 200,000 followers on Instagram, a YouTube page, and she uses her influencer status to combat ignorance by educating about spinal cord injury and wheelchair use and advocating for more inclusivity – all with her signature, intelligence, sass, and irreverence. She also makes spoke covers for wheelchairs, is in school to be an occupational therapy assistant, plays adaptive sports, travels, and is increasingly involved with spinal cord injury and disability events.
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| Short: David McCauley on Gratitude and G Wagons | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:20:31 | |
David McCauley is an internationally renowned artist, a sailor and board member of The Impossible Dream organization, a traveler, a partner, an activist, and many other things. He is also one of my first friends also living as a quadriplegic with spinal cord injury. We met sailing from Boston to Newburyport, Massachusetts on The Impossible Dream several years ago. David came on The Unexpected Journey for back-to-back episodes in season one. This past winter I visited him and his partner, Lily, in their bohemian bungalow in St. Petersburg, Florida and we caught up on life.
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| Sierra and Chris Rehrer on Their Family's Disability Journey | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:56:55 | |
Sierra, Chris, Jack, and Arlo Rehrer live in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. Sierra is a physical therapist and Chris is a physician assistant. When Chris and Sierra met and fell in love, they dreamt of traveling the world and using their medical skills to serve rural communities. That changed when their first child, Jack, was diagnosed with spina bifida and hydrocephalus while Sierra was pregnant. Although their family life is different than they initially imagined, they travel the world, and they continually learn how to be the best parents they can for their son Jack, and their daughter Arlo.
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| Sam Bloom on Struggle and Salvation with a Special Bird | 08 Aug 2024 | 00:45:43 | |
Sam Bloom is a world champion adaptive surfer, a competitive kayak racer, a public speaker, world traveler, and a wife and a mother to three boys. The story of her accident resulting in spinal cord injury and the recovery process for Sam and her family is the inspiration for the feature film Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln. Sam is fortunate to have many opportunities in her life, and for that she is grateful. She also refreshingly candid and unafraid to share the challenges she experiences and the duality of living with a spinal cord injury.
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| Season 4 Trailer | 25 Jul 2024 | 00:01:29 | |
First episode of Season 4 dropping Thursday, August 8! | |||
| Louis Arevalo on Relationships and Representation | 22 Dec 2023 | 00:44:15 | |
Louis Arevalo is a writer, photographer, filmmaker, outdoor adventurer, husband, and father who grew up and currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was paralyzed in a backcountry skiing accident in 2020. In the nearly 3 years since, he has been on a journey recovering his career, his ability to experience the outdoors, and finding renewed focus and commitment in his relationships and in his ability to elevate underrepresented individuals through storytelling.
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| Indiana Porta on Finding Community in NYC | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:46:08 | |
Indiana Porta was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease, her senior year in high school. While it has always presented challenges, she pursued her dreams - traveling abroad, graduating from law school, and landing a job as an attorney in New York City. In 2021, an incident related to her lupus resulted in paralysis, paraplegia, and full-time wheelchair use. She shares her story of recovery during Covid in Manhattan, finding community and navigating NYC in a wheelchair, and looking toward the future.
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| Jack Trottier on Making the Next Checkpoint | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:45:27 | |
Jack Trottier grew up in Northern Massachusetts an athlete and a hometown kid. When he was 17 years old, he was paralyzed in a backyard snowboarding accident resulting in quadriplegia. In the years since, Jack has built a purposeful life for himself, recently riding his handcycle from Massachusetts to Atlanta to raise awareness and funds for the Shepherd Center, a spinal cord injury rehab hospital. Now, he is putting his energy toward growing his foundation to support others with spinal cord injuries.
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| Trevor Kennison on Backflips and Being Vulnerable | 03 Nov 2023 | 00:31:39 | |
Trevor Kennison is one of the best adaptive skiers in the world and now a household name in the ski community. He is continually pushing the limits of what is possible as a sit-skier, and goes by the moniker #sitskiboss social media. He is currently on a film tour for his full length documentary "Full Circle" that follows the story of his accident, the life of a kindred soul Barry Corbett, and the realities of living with a spinal cord injury. It is a moving and eye-opening film. But Trevor was not always on top of the world. In our conversation, he vulnerably shares the challenges as well as the triumphs of his journey.
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| Short: Kirk Williams on Baja Overland | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:16:39 | |
In episode 23, we spoke with Kirk Williams about his journeys traveling the Americas in his wheelchair accessible camper vans. At the time of the interview, Kirk was about to head down to Baja, California for some rugged exploration. When he eventually returned stateside, Kirk and I caught up again and he shared some stories from an epic adventure! Guest info:
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| Nate Bibaud on Creating Art and Choosing Compassion | 16 Oct 2025 | 01:03:10 | |
Nate Bibaud was born in 1984 in Amesbury, Massachusetts, where he grew up skateboarding and playing goalie in hockey. After studying architecture, he moved to St. Croix to work in print and graphic design. In 2010, a car accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, with limited arm movement and no hand function. During rehab at MGH and Spaulding, he began drawing with the help of a recreational therapist. Over time, Nate gained enough shoulder strength to paint independently, experimenting with watercolor, acrylic, and oil. Since then, he has battled through paralysis, infections, a blood clot, and cancer—and now works full time as an artist. Not too bad for someone who once had no idea what to do with his life. Guest info:
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| Jacques Matellus on Music and Modeling | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:34:34 | |
Jacques Matellus is a model, actor, and musician. From an early age he was drawn to performing. As an adult, Jacques was paralyzed in a stage accident resulting in a spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. After taking time to focus on physical and mental recovery he returned to his career as an artist. Recently he has modeled for big-name brands like Target and Tommy Hilfiger, and released his first single "Love Me" on Spotify. Jacques speaks about expression, creativity, and exploring new pathways. Guest info:
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| Alana Nichols on Resilience and Racing | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:48:06 | |
Alana Nichols is legendary in the adaptive sports and disability community. She is a three time gold medalist and dual sport athlete in both wheelchair basketball and Alpine skiing. She's also the first female American to win gold in both the summer and the winter Paralympic games. Alaina's been featured on 60 minutes, has big-time corporate sponsors, and is a force in the world of women's sports and now adaptive surfing. She's also raising a son together with high-fives founder, Roy Tuscany. This episode is the third in a series of women who are bad ass athletes and navigating life at different times in their journey post spinal cord injury.
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| Sam Summers on High Sides | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:33:40 | |
Sam Summers is a skier, mountain biker, hockey player, CrossFitter, and surfer. She's also a scientist, traveler, and a partner. Five years ago she was paralyzed and now navigates the world in a wheelchair. In the last half decade she has returned to work, returned to her life as an athlete, discovered new sports, married her longtime boyfriend, and embraced a new community. Sam thoughtfully shares many of the highs and lows from her journey.
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| Annijke Wade on Grace and Gravel Riding | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:37:03 | |
Annijke Wade grew up in Northern California and developed her passion for the outdoors in high school and then college in Oregon. After twists and turns in her professional career she landed in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she discovered and fell in love with mountain biking. Quickly, she was on a fast track to being a sponsored racer. In July 2021 her path averted when she was paralyzed while training on a familiar mountain bike trail. Fortunately, Annijke knew of adaptive athletes who were crushing it and had picked out an adaptive mountain bike within weeks of her accident. Two years later she is racing as an adaptive biker and collecting sponsors. She's also giving herself the time and grace to adjust to life with a spinal cord injury. Guest info:
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| Dr. Gabby Ficchi on Disability Pride | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:36:20 | |
Dr. Gabrielle Ficchi identifies as a disabled woman. She is a licensed therapist as well as a certified rehabilitation counselor. Gabrielle has 10 years of both teaching and counseling experience. She currently works as the CEO & Therapist at her therapy practice, New Perspectives LLC. Working to bring mental health services to the disability community & their families. She also works as a professor in both counseling & disability studies. Her specialty and research areas focus on disability pride both for individuals and families, independent living, resilience, and disability identity. She also works as a consultant and advocate for families on disability issues to help raise awareness around bettering the lives of disabled individuals in our community. Her passion is to advocate for equality and justice for the disability community.
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| Kirk Williams on Van Life | 06 Jul 2023 | 00:36:06 | |
Kirk Williams is a world traveler. He has driven vans all through the Americas, from Alaska to Chile and Argentina. He's quadriplegic from a mountain biking accident and has become an expert in building out adaptive off-road ready vans. Kirk is also taking his adventuring to another level by joining forces with the Walkabout Foundation to distribute wheelchairs to people with disabilities in South America and Africa who would otherwise not have access life-changing durable medical equipment. And of course, he has a loyal adventure partner service dog! | |||
| Meira Nelson on Love and the Ocean | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:40:55 | |
Meira Nelson is a mother, champion adaptive surfer, former Paralympian, lover of the ocean, and more. She was born in Samoa where she was paralyzed in a car accident as a teenager, and has lived most of her life in Hawaii where she has raised her family, including a disabled daughter, and honed her skills in the waves. Meira speaks beautifully on her experience with trauma, grief, passion, and love, and how she finds joy and levity in life. | |||
| Tim Burr on Gettin Dirty | 08 Jun 2023 | 00:44:04 | |
Tim Burr lived a pretty awesome life as an outdoorsy kid in Colorado. As an adult, he still does. In 2014, Tim was paralyzed in a skiing accident. Now, he runs Return to Dirt an adaptive motor sports organization where he helps people of all disabilities get out in the backcountry. Adaptive off-roading is one of the most accessible adaptive sports which allows Tim to help that many more people get dirty. And he's just getting started! Guest info:
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| Season 3 Trailer | 22 May 2023 | 00:01:31 | |
Welcome back for Season 3 of The Unexpected Journey! This season we talk to an overland adventurer, a nonprofit founder, a model and R&B singer, a highly decorated Paralympian, a peer mentor and disability activist, a champion surfer, and many more. First episode drops June 8! | |||
| Mateo Rodriguez on Disability in Society (and his service dog, Tilly!) | 20 Oct 2022 | 00:44:58 | |
Mateo Rodriguez lives at the intersection of developmental disability with autism and physical disability as a person who uses a wheelchair and has vision loss. He was raised in Southern Massachusetts and is adopted, his biological family is Paraguayan. As a child, he hoped to travel to his birth country and to explore and learn more about South American and Central American cultures. When he had the opportunity to travel to Paraguay after graduating college, he contracted an illness from drinking the water. Upon return to the US, Mateo was prescribed Ciprofloxacin which had devastating side effects resulting in long-term disability. From his lifelong experience with disability in multiple forms, Mateo eloquently shares reflections on his own experience and what it means to be disabled in our society. Guest info:
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| Joel Brown on Dance and Determination | 18 Sep 2025 | 00:51:16 | |
Joel Brown is a paraplegic dancer, choreographer, and musician. He grew up in Salt Lake City in a large creative family and was paralyzed as a boy. Not one to slow down, he pursued many sports living an active life, and eventually found his way to dance. His professional dance career took him to California, then London, and around the world. Now in his 30s and back in California working as a choreographer, Joel has extensive experience with dance, and is reflective about living and aging as a wheelchair user with a spinal cord injury. Guest info:
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| Short: Ty Turner at the US Open Adaptive Surfing Championships | 16 Sep 2022 | 00:18:15 | |
Tyler Turner - a previous guest on The Unexpected Journey - and I recently caught up in Oceanside, California, where we both competed in the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships as members of the High Fives Surf Club. If you haven't already, listen to Season 1 Episode 11 to hear Tyler's full story. Recently, Tyler has been on a wild ride full of triumphs and adventure. This episode was recorded in person just behind the event venue at the Oceanside Pier and includes the full sounds of a SoCal Beach town - Harleys, electric bikes, lifeguard trucks, boom boxes, skateboards, event announcers, and of course, the surf. Guest info:
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| Tony Schmiesing on Seeking Sensation | 01 Sep 2022 | 00:51:30 | |
Tony Schmiesing has been in a wheelchair for nearly 40 years. He grew up in Southern California an athlete and a passionate skateboarder and surfer. In high school, an accident resulting in quadriplegia changed all of that. Following graduation, he enrolled at UC Berkeley and landed in the '80's not long after the '70's disability rights movement. He still lives in Berkeley today and has discovered new ways to experience the active sensations that he came to love so much as a kid - a pursuit that has taken him on barrier shattering adventures. Tony speaks with boundless joy, gratitude, and hard earned wisdom on the experience of finding his center in life. Guest info:
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| Olivia Rey on Quad Life Real Talk | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:42:07 | |
Olivia Rey grew up in Switzerland in a Swiss and French family of big skiers. As soon as Olivia and her siblings could walk they were on the ski slopes. In 1996, when she was 12, her family moved to Whistler, British Columbia. After moving to Canada, Olivia picked up snowboarding and grew to love traveling and outdoor sports, especially in the mountains. When we recorded this interview she was in her cozy and warm home in Whistler which she has modified now that she cruises around in a wheelchair following a car accident in 2015. Olivia participates in many sports as an adaptive athlete and continues to love being outside, but our conversation focused equally on the day-to-day of life as a quadriplegic. All the fun and important stuff like mental health, receiving care, and pooping and peeing! Guest info:
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| Jose Martinez on Surfing and Spreading Love | 05 Aug 2022 | 00:57:04 | |
Jose Martinez is no stranger to adversity. Following a challenging childhood in Los Angeles, Jose enlisted in the US Army and deployed to Afghanistan where he stepped on an IED. During a long and painful recovery, Jose discovered adaptive surfing. Through grit, determination, and passion, as well as much support from his family, friends, therapists, and sponsors, Jose is now one of the top adaptive surfers in the world. From this position, he wants to create opportunities for others, spread the love, and continue to push the limits of what he and other people with disabilities are capable of in the waves. Guest info:
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| Lizzy Ragan on Privilege and Mountain biking | 22 Jul 2022 | 00:44:36 | |
Lizzy Ragan grew up in a small town and went to a small high school in rural Oregon. After graduating from Oregon state, she moved to Boston where she earned a Master's Degree in Epidemiology from Boston University and dedicated her life to studying infectious disease and global health. In her free time, Lizzy would spend as much time as she could outside. As an adult, she became an avid cyclist and a passionate rock climber. In the Fall of 2019 she headed north for a day of climbing on the granite faces of New Hampshire with her friends and suffered a traumatic accident resulting in a spinal cord injury. Lizzy has learned a tremendous amount through her experience and, in many ways, it has given her greater strength personally and professionally. Guest info:
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| Shelby Estocado on Truly Embracing the Moment | 08 Jul 2022 | 00:36:49 | |
Shelby Estocado is the 2021 High Fives Athlete of the Year. This just a couple short years after the snowboarding accident that resulted in paralysis and paraplegia. Her rapid return to living life to the fullest is remarkable. In listening to Shelby share her story, it's clear that tenacity, positivity, presence, and the strength of her family and community have served her well, and will continue to as she charges forward. Guest info:
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| Josh Dueck on Leading Team Canada | 23 Jun 2022 | 00:43:51 | |
Summary: Josh Dueck, is a legendary skier, Paralympic medalist, leader in the adaptive sports community, husband, and father from British Columbia, Canada. He has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows since he was paralyzed 18 years ago, and he generously shared some of the lessons he's learned along the way. He is also a consummate professional, a highly respected public speaker, and recently the Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Guest info:
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| Season 2 Trailer | 16 Jun 2022 | 00:01:21 | |
Welcome back folks for Season 2 of The Unexpected Journey! We are super excited to bring you new stories from adaptive athletes, creators, activists, leaders, and many others sharing their adventures of navigating life with a disability! | |||
| Dani Izzie on Motherhood as a Quadriplegic | 23 Dec 2021 | 00:49:04 | |
Dani Izzie is a disability advocate, partner, and mother of two beautiful twin girls. She courageously shares her story of carrying, birthing, and raising twins as a quadriplegic mother in a society that is often very critical toward and unaccepting of parents with disabilities. In the midst of a pandemic, she allowed a film crew into her family’s home to show the world her experience in the soon to be released film, Dani's Twins.
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| Tyler Turner on Psychological Recovery and Wingsuit Flying | 09 Dec 2021 | 00:54:35 | |
Tyler Turner lives in British Columbia, Canada where he pursues an adventure filled life as a pro snowboarder, surfer, sailor, mountainbiker, skydiver, and wingsuit flyer who is also a bilateral below the knee amputee. Tyler and I met in Oceanside, California where we both competed in the 2021 U.S. Open Adaptive Surf Competition. He was there with a whole crew of competitors and supporters from High-Fives, an awesome organization whose mission is to prevent life-changing injuries and provide resources and hope if they happen. After the final day of competition, Tyler and I hit it off chatting about our respective accidents, surfing, snowboarding, and sailing. He also told me a bit about his wingsuit flying and the many other badass things he gets into. Guest info:
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| Alex Cano Gonzalez on Forgiveness and Photography | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:31:22 | |
Alex Cano Gonzalez is a photographer, videographer, and artist living in Denver Colorado. He was paralyzed at a young age as a result of gun violence. He's currently rebuilding his life with a commitment to physical rehab and exercise, exploring adaptive sports, and hustling to grow his freelance career as an artist. In our conversation, I was struck by Alex's profound gratitude, inner peace, and level of maturity and wisdom at such a young age. Alex is always looking to collaborate with other creators – rappers, artists, musicians. If you're interested in working with him or following his story, you can find him on Instagram @iamalexcano Guest info:
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| Evan Strong on Wellness and Adaptive Big Wave Surfing | 20 Nov 2021 | 00:46:56 | |
Evan Strong is a Paralympian and multiple boardsport athlete, husband, father, and practitioner of wellness. He lives half part-time on Maui, Hawaii and spends the other half of his time on a farm in Northern California, in both places with his wife and two daughters. Two pretty great locales, especially for someone who is as active as Evan and competes at the highest levels of adaptive snowboarding and skateboarding as a single leg amputee below the knee. Evan is also very intentional about how he approaches all elements of his life and places extraordinary emphasis on keeping his mind and body strong and healthy. In this episode, he generously shares his philosophy and strategies for staying focused and engaged. Guest info:
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| Vasu Sojitra on Ninjasticking in the Outdoors | 30 Oct 2021 | 00:43:12 | |
Vasu Sojitra shreds on a ski, skateboard, and on the trails - always, in his words, ninjasticking through the world. He grew up between India and Connecticut where taught himself how to ski and skateboard together with his brothers and friends. He now lives in Bozeman, Montana and with sponsors like Faction Skis, The North Face, Skullcandy, Darn Tough, and others he recently made the transition to full-time sponsored athlete and has been working on several very exciting film projects. Most notably, Vasu uses his platform and privilege as a known outdoor athlete to advocate for the equity and inclusion of marginalized individuals in the outdoor community; work that he approaches authentically from his lived experience as an Indian American and single leg amputee. Vasu and I caught up soon after his pioneering expedition as one of the first disabled athletes to summit and ski Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Guest info:
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| Maureen McKinnon and Dana McKinnon-Tucker on Paralympic Sailing and Family | 08 Oct 2021 | 00:49:16 | |
Maureen McKinnon has been sailor and racer for quite a while, both when she was able bodied and as an adaptive sailor following an accident that resulted in paraplegia. A friend and teammate told her, "Once a sailor, always a sailor." Her groundbreaking sailing career includes being the first woman on the US Paralympic Sailing team and the first woman from any country to win a medal in Paralympic Sailing. To employ another old adage, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree". Maureen's daughter, Dana McKinnon-Tucker, is also a passionate sailor who is just starting her racing career. She and I recently had a blast racing together in the Clagett Regatta in Newport, Rhode Island. Dana and Maureen came on the podcast to share their love for sailing, their Paralympics experience, and many other wonderful aspects of their individual and family life. Guest info:
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| Quinn Brett on Life, Loss, and Legit Offroad Handcycle Trips | 03 Sep 2021 | 00:45:52 | |
Quinn Brett is a badass. A former professional climber, speed ascent athlete, and Rocky Mountain National Park Climbing Ranger, Quinn was paralyzed in a climbing accident in October 2017. On the timescale of adjusting to life after a traumatic accident Quinn is still in the early stages. Yet, the newness of it all has not muted her voice or her continued passion for advocacy. When we chatted, she shared with refreshing candor and vulnerability the peaks, valleys, and myriad emotions of the past four years. She also gives the rundown on a couple very cool off-road handcycle adventures! | |||