Adaptdefy

Andrew Slorance is the CEO and founder of Phoenix Instinct. In 2020 they won a million dollars in the Toyota Mobility Foundation Mobility Unlimited Challenge to revolutionize the manual wheelchair. 

Andrew grew up in the North East of Scotland and became a T4/5 paraplegic wheelchair user as a 14 year old after falling from a tree.  Over the last 30 years he has learnt a thing or two about navigating life and has taken it upon himself to solve some of the frustrations that he's encountered along the way. 

A successful photographer, designer and entrepreneur, we discuss the ups and downs and how he has ultimately risen like the Phoenix! 

I first met Alex while he was flying a plane around New Zealand. The more I got chatting the more I was in awe of the balance he has in his life. A paraplegic of over 20 years, Alex is an accomplished wheelchair tennis player, sit skier, peer mentor and family man. In this episode we discuss his philosophy on life and gain an insight into how he has managed to create such a well rounded life. 

Born with a rare disorder that affects her mobility, Jackie Silver rocks a wheelchair and is on a mission to empower people with disabilities and/or chronic diseases to live healthier lifestyles. 

Jackie is a registered dietitian with a Masters of Health Science (MHSc) who takes a weight-inclusive approach to nutrition and focuses on health behaviour change rather than weight. She also takes a mindful eating approach believing it to be one of the most effective ways of sustaining long-term health behaviour change. 

Shaun Gash is a paraplegic amputee who loves adventure and physical activity. Whether it is scaling mountains, scuba diving, boxing, or obstacle racing through mud, Shaun does it with a smile on his face and a determination to improve the lives of others in the process. In this episode we really connect and go deep into what it means to live life to the fullest and do good in the process. A must listen and the longest episode to date.

Maria Rabaino is a founding member of the phenomenally successful Rollettes Wheelchair Dance Team, and a certified personal trainer who creates workout videos for wheelchair users to increase their mental and physical wellbeing. 

In this episode we talk about:

Hannah Gavios was backpacking in Asia solo when an attempted sexual assault forced her to run for her life. Things went from bad to worse when she fell down a cliff and was paralyzed, only to be confronted by her attacker as she lay there in the dark unable to move. Her physical and mental recovery and strength is phenomenal.  Hannah now runs marathons and teaches Yoga even though she suffers the lasting effects of a spinal cord injury. There is much wisdom to soak up in this interview. Hang on for a wild ride.

Andrea Dalzell was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis at the age of 5, but growing up using a wheelchair didn’t stop her from pursuing a career in healthcare! Today, she is the first registered nurse who uses a wheelchair in NYC.

Ivan Pizzaro was shot by a gunman when he was 19 while attending a Halloween party. A fit an active sportsman he was left paralyzed from the waist down. In this episode we talk about his recovery and how he manages to stay fit and healthy in both mind and body. 

If you're a wheelchair user or you know someone who is, checkout the LapStacker to increase freedom and remove frustration from your life.

In this episode, Cambry Nelson, a champion equestrian vaulter, describes what happened the day she broke her back.  “I decided to do my aerial dismount off the horse, but didn’t communicate it to my teammate still on the horse. I flipped, hit him with my leg, changed my rotation in the air and landed on my back. I severed my spinal cord and became permanently paralyzed from the waist down.” 

In this podcast we talk about her recovery, (which she describes as ongoing), why it took her so long to feel comfortable on a horse again, dating and marriage as a paraplegic, identity and self worth, occupational therapy, and developing a new product to increase freedom for wheelchair users. 

This is a goodie! Check it out.

Gem Hubbard is arguably one of the top Disability Lifestyle Creators in the UK with an international following for her “Wheels No Heels” channels. A medical mishap while a young girl left Gem fighting for her life in ICU. Waking from the induced coma, she was told that she was now paralyzed from the waist down. 

The transition to being a wheelchair user was rough physically and mentally and at one point Gem wanted to end it all. Lucky she didn't because her Youtube videos educate and entertain millions on how to life a fulfilling life as a wheelchair user. More importantly perhaps, her content highlights important changes needed to make our world more inclusive and accessible. 

In the podcast we discuss:

 To learn more and for links to Gem's content go to https://adaptdefy.com/gem-hubbard-podcast