"Beyond The Label" Podcast

"Teaching with "Third Eye Insight" & Changing Lives"

Charlie and JD sit down with Devin Fernandez, founder and program director of Third Eye Insight, a martials academy for the blind and visually impaired on Long Island. Devin has been a practitioner of the Martial Arts specifically Ninpo Ninjutsu for many years, long before he himself was stricken with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2000. Retinitis Pigmentosa a degenerative eye disease that results in blindness, but that hasn't stopped him from training and passing along his knowledge to others.

In this episode, Devin shares his personal story and provide our audience with a better understanding of Retinitis Pigmentosa, provides encouragement and training tips for other adaptive martial artist and their instructors.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"The Real Life Definition of An Adaptive Martial Artist"

JD and Charlie sit down with Philly native, Kenn Perry to learn more about Polio and it lead him to martial arts. Kenn talks about how Kenpo can be modified to fit any practitioners needs and how an Adaptive Martial Artist can, in some ways be more dangerous than their abled body peers.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends" 

JD and Charlie sit down with Nelson "Runaway" Diaz, founder of TeamBelieve923, a group of volunteers who have made it their mission to assist adaptive athletes achieve their dreams of competing in extreme optical races (OCR's) around the world.

In this episode JD talks about what it meant to him, as someone with a disability to have the opportunity to finally compete along side this brother with the help of TeamBelieve as they took on "The Beast Of The East" Killington Mountain in his first every Spartan Race.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"Workin' 9 To 5", With A Disability

JD and Charlie are joined by follow broadcaster and member of "Camp CP", Tom Leypoldt. In this episode Tom sheds light on joining the workforce and climbing "The Corporate Ladder" with a disability to become Executive Direct of PEG-TV, a local public access TV station in the Green Mountains of Vermont.  Tom also talks about how comedy has been an icebreaker for him, the positives and negatives of social security disability benefits and he also  gives JD some advice about CP in terms of longevity and aging.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"You've Got Mail" (and it's a from Cupid)

In this episode JD and his wife Katie sit down with Charlie to chat about how their relationship came to be, the challenges they have overcome to make it last and how living with a disability plays into it. This is a light hearted episode with tons of relationship stories and laughs and an important take home message for everyone.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

In this episode JD and Charlie Murphy sits down with Paul Graber for a follow up to his original episode. Paul is an adaptive martial artist, martial arts instructor, fitness trainer/kettle bell enthusiast and fellow Cerebral Palsy warrior.

This time around they all share their thoughts on inclusion, raising children with and without disabilities. They also talk about the Americans With Disabilities Act, it's original purpose, what it is and what it is not and the disabled community's role and responsibility to future generations. 

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"Martial Arts, The Perfect Prescription For Down Syndrome?"

JD and Charlie sit down with Adaptive Martial Arts Association Executive Director Johnny Bakane and his wife Misty to give a first hand look at raising a daughter with Down Syndrome, being martial arts school owners and joys, fears and challenges they've faced incorporating adaptive program in their martial arts academy.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"Start Your Engines"

In this episode JD and Charlie are joined by Jennifer Getty. Jennifer shares her experiences as an adaptive racecar driver at the world famous Thunder Road Speedway in Barre, Vermont. She also talks about daily life as an amputee and how racing helped her overcome her disability and build confidence. JD also explains how growing in racing was a big driving force that convinced him to have life changing surgery as a child.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

"Making Lemons Into Lemonade"

In this episode JD is joined by a special guest co-host, his long time friend and the person that is partially responsible for the creation of the Adaptive Martial Martial Arts Association, Charile Murphy. They sit down with military veteran and founder of B-Bold Adaptive Boxing and MMA about the organization, overcoming tragedy, life after becoming an above the knee amputee and keeps him going today.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org

In this episode JD is once again joined by a special guest co-host, Charlie Murphy. They sit down with Paul Graber, an adaptive martial artist, martial arts instructor, fitness trainer/kettle bell enthusiast and fellow Cerebral Palsy warrior.

Paul and JD compare stories of life with CP and give the BTL audience advice about how to own a disability, instead of letting it own you! Charlie contemplates taking up kettle bells and learns how to properly meditate.

Note: Music elements in this podcast were open source and downloaded from freemusicarchive.org