Chats From A Chair

In this episode I chat with Michelle Massey, owner of a disability travel company called Amplify: Accessible Travel Specialists. We discuss the different range of disabilities that she has worked with to help travel, things you need to plan for when travelling with a disability, some of the more significant problems that they have had to overcome, memorable experiences they have helped create and we chat about some of the more surprising locations around the world that have a high level of accessibility.

In this episode, I speak with Hayley Grantham who sustained a stroke just 12 months ago, 13 years after her husband also had a stroke. Hayley shares the details of the day leading up to her stroke, the difference between watching and helping someone you love go through recovery compared to going through it yourself, the way it has changed the dynamic of their relationship and how her daughter is able to support her and make light of some situations to aid her in her recovery.

In this episode, I chat with Professor James St John who is head of the Clem Jones Centre for neurobiology and stem cell research. His team have developed a world leading stem cell treatment that is hoped to cure or treat spinal cord injuries and in collaboration with others, will be conducting a world first human trial using these cells. I chat with James about what the trial involves, how these nasal cells were discovered to be effective in spinal-cord injury treatment, the science behind how they will help people with spinal injuries and how he came to be head of this research.

In this episode I speak with Jim and Genny, the Directors of a world leading Neuro rehab centre on the Gold Coast called Making Strides. Jim and Genny explain their excitement about being involved in a world first human trial to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, discuss the events that led to them starting the centre despite coming from different sides of the world, share both the tough and rewarding moments in the gym, the unique community that's been built there and what is involved in a typical rehab session.

In this episode I chat with Ryan Wiggins who became a quadriplegic after diving into a friend's pool. We discuss the day leading up to his injury, why he was placed in an induced coma and his family told to say their goodbyes, how he overcame his darkest days in hospital and is now tackling fatherhood as a quadriplegic.

In this episode, I speak with Matt Curran who sustained significant injuries from a motorbike crash in 2020. Matt sustained burns to 20% of his body, acquired a brain injury and had a leg amputated following the incident. We chat about the difficulties he has faced since his crash, the complexities around the different injuries as well as some of the exciting activities he's able to do today in an adaptive way.

In this episode I speak with Avalon, who is a sex worker specialising in servicing people with high care needs and physical disabilities. She tells us how and why she got into the sex work industry, shares some of her experiences of servicing people with physical disabilities and gives her advice for able bodied people and people with disabilities looking to engage in sexual activity.

In this episode, I speak with army veteran Matina Jewell, who shares her experiences from an active war zone. We discuss her rapid rise up through the army ranks, her active service where she completed intense training such as the incredibly demanding Navy divers course, fast roped from helicopters on-board smuggler ships in the Arabian gulf and served as a UN peacekeeper in an active war zone as well as much more.

In this episode I speak with fellow quadriplegic, Tony Pinto who sustained a spinal cord injury whilst on holidays. He shares the details of his injury which he remembers very vividly, the struggles he has with his new identity, he opens up about his decision to engage with a sex worker to explore his new body and his decision to move to Australia to pursue a cure.

In this episode I speak with NRL superstar, Xavier Coates as we discuss how he almost gave up playing rugby league, his unique pathway into the NRL, his decision to move from the Brisbane Broncos down to the Melbourne Storm, backlash he received after deciding to represent Australia rather than Papua New Guinea, as well as other challenges he's experience throughout his career.