How do you find the courage to be visible when the world expects you to stay hidden? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Spencer West, a world-renowned speaker, author, and content creator who has redefined what is possible for the disabled community and beyond.

Spencer shares the raw details of his journey, from being born with a rare genetic disorder and losing his legs at a young age to climbing the 19,340-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands. We dive deep into his new book, Breaking Free: Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself, exploring how he navigated the challenges of bullying, coming out as gay, and finding his authentic voice in a world that often focuses only on his physical appearance.

Throughout the conversation, Spencer offers profound insights on setting boundaries, the importance of humor, and how to transition from living a life based on others' expectations to one filled with joy and purpose. Whether you feel stuck in your career, your relationships, or your personal growth, Spencer’s story is a masterclass in resilience and the power of simply trying.

📘 Get the book here: https://www.spencer2thewest.com/books

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro and meeting Spencer West

3:15 Spencer’s childhood and medical journey

7:40 The power of parental mindset and independence

10:20 Overcoming bullying and finding community

13:50 The intersection of disability and identity

17:15 Coming out and finding confidence

21:00 Using humor to break the tension

24:45 Going viral on TikTok and social media growth

28:30 Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands

32:50 Lessons learned on the mountain

36:15 Dealing with public perception and boundaries

40:00 Opening for Demi Lovato and career highlights

43:30 How to break free and find your joy

46:58 Conclusion and where to buy the book

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

🚀 Why visibility can feel powerful and exhausting at the same time

🧠 How Spencer West turned judgment into purpose without pretending it was easy

⚡ Why being “inspiring” can become its own kind of pressure

🔓 The mindset shift that helped him stop living by other people’s expectations

😂 How humor helped him take control of uncomfortable moments

🛑 Why boundaries matter when strangers feel entitled to your story

⛰️ What climbing Mount Kilimanjaro taught him about help, pride, and purpose

📱 How one viral TikTok came after 10 years of real work

✨ Why finding joy might be the first step to finding yourself

📘 The hidden lesson behind Spencer’s book Breaking Free

👤 GUEST

Spencer West: https://www.instagram.com/spencer2thewest/

📸 Follow the Host

Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello/

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

🍏 Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/visibility-with-lauren-cobello/id1896846267

🎵 Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/033pkSbweTnun0mAfwDemS?si=c183d4f69dec402b

#SpencerWest #BreakingFree #DisabilityAwareness #SelfAcceptance #Mindset #MentalHealth #LGBTQ #Inspiration #MtKilimanjaro #PersonalGrowth

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