Seize Your Adventure

Welcome to the first The Articles episode!

Is surfing with epilepsy dangerous? What happens if you have a seizure in the water? This is something we hear about in Cameron's story. 

CW: Cameron goes into detail on the consequences of having a seizure in water whilst he's surfing. So please bear in mind that some of the content and descriptions might be upsetting. 

Frankie and I discuss the story from 9:30mins.

-Fran and Frankie catch up and discuss the article

-The article resonates with and is very important to Frankie due to her background surfing with epilepsy and similar experiences of dealing with seizures in the water

-Fran and Frankie discuss the slightly traumatic nature of the article and how Cameron acknowledges any mistakes he made leading up to the incident

-Frankie comments that she would have liked more detail on how Cameron mitigates the risk and impact of this reoccurring

-Fran discusses the importance of handling this article delicately due to its intensity.

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Introducing: The Articles

FRAN: You’re listening to The Articles from Seize Your Adventure.

[Sound of waves breaking]

Season 3 of SYA is going to sound a little bit different. The articles are simple stories taken from across the internet and read by the person that wrote them.

[Wave sound increases]

CAMERON: I remember the first time the instructor said I was ready to paddle into a wave unassisted. I’ll be honest, it took a while to get into one. But when I did, I realised I was partnering with the power of Mother Nature. I was drawing lines in the waves, creating new feelings, It was beautiful.

[Waves end]

FRAN: ...and then after you’ve heard the story, Frankie and I will discuss it, talking about what we liked, what we learned and what we take away from each article.

FRANKIE: I think this article is beautifully written. But I think it resonates a lot with me because he manages to vocalise a very similar experience to myself in a way that I never could…

FRAN: For Patrons there’s going to be some bonus content every month, and you’ll get to hear a Q&A with the writer of the story.

CAMERON: I mean of course getting outside is what we really like to do, but we all know that that’s not everything that life holds.

FRAN: This is our way of sharing some more stories with you. Hopefully, this new way will still encourage you to go and seize your adventure. So make sure you are subscribed or you are following the podcast. And until next time, safe adventures everyone.

Wave sound from Zapsplat.com

Get bonus content on Patreon

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Hello Adventure Advocates and Adventurers. This is your final Patron episode before Season 3, and I want to introduce you to a new Patron-only mini-series!

From next month, there will be at least one public episode each month, released in the second week of the month. Adventurer level Patrons will also get a bonus released on the last week of the month.

But for Adventure Advocates and above, there are going to be some ad-hoc episodes in my new Race To The Stones mini-series! These episodes will be something of a work in progress, slightly rough and ready (and likely very ad-hoc). They will eventually be a full mini-series for the public. But you will finally get to hear more about my Race To The Stones before everyone else...

Keep an ear out for the season 3 trailer dropping in a week. Until then, head over to YouTube to support Frankie and see what she's been up to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0SisJZAlZ8oBBvdKiVrmyg

Safe Adventures x

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Here is your bonus episode for February. This is delving deep into the Seize Your Adventure archives, when I went to Archery Fit in May 2019, when I was attempting my 30 at 30 challenge.

This episode gives you a little bit of story about my archery session, and a little bit of conversation with Roman, the owner of Archery Fit. We talk about how archery is a very accessible sport, and how they have helped customers with epilepsy.

This is a great reminder to try things that make you nervous, and has made me look forward to doing fun things when COVID allows again!

Thank you all for continuing to be a Patron.

Safe adventures. x

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Surprise episode for your audio feed! This bonus episode has come from the Patreon feed. I wanted you all to listen to this one today, not only as a bit of encouragement to head over to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure if you are missing the podcast... but also because it shares some information on what Season 3 of the podcast is going to sound like.

For December's Patron episode, I waited until January so that I could share my New Year's Day walk. Listen to me ramble as I ramble about the year just gone - the 30 at 30 challenge, the type of lockdown adventures I will remember, and how my listeners and Patrons have helped me this year.

If you can't support the show financially, I understand! Please do support it by sharing it, subscribing and reviewing the podcast. It really helps to boost the show in podcast apps, and get stories of epilepsy in adventure into the mainstream.

Thank you for continuing to support the podcast in any way you can (and apologies for the slightly bad audio!).

Safe adventures x

Get bonus content on Patreon

 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

"How would you feel if you had a seizure again? Could you emotionally and mentally handle it? Would it feel like everything was falling apart? Would epilepsy have control?”

WARNING: This episode contains a graphic descriptions and creative depiction of what it feels like to Jade when she has a seizure.

For 2 years, this podcast has been sharing stories from adventurous people with epilepsy. And making this podcast has taken my life in a direction I never thought about. I have learned to make a number of different types of episode on this show. This series, we’ve had a lot more chats with new adventurers - and these chats are so much fun to have. But, my favourite episodes to make, have to be the storytelling episodes. They are very labour intensive, they can take months to write, record and edit together, pick the right music and making sure the narration fits into the rhythm of that music.

So, we haven’t had a storytelling episode in Season 2. But, I’m very happy to be able to bring you this bonus by Jade Nelson.

Jade approached me with this story at the end of 2019… so for one reason and another, it has taken a year to pull it together. But this story is meaningful now as it was when it was written. And at a time when many are confined by circumstance to adventures closer to home, there are some great lessons for us to hear as well.

Disclaimer: All stories are personal experience. We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s  less than the price of a coffee!!). All Patrons will get extra content every month, even between seasons, and Patrons at $5 and above get bonus episodes. Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.

MUSIC:

-Guitar Drone by Toilet Roll Tube | Attribution non-commercial license.

-Groovy Guitar – LOOP by joshuaempyre | License: Attribution

-Dandelion.mp3 by TexasMusicForge | Attribution non-commercial license.

-Train sound recorded by Fran.

-Additional sounds from freesound.org.

TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY.

I am working to try and get accurate transcripts for all the Seize Your Adventure episodes. In the meantime, you can find most episodes on YouTube for auto transcription.

Get bonus content on Patr

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

The Seize Your Adventure podcast is 2 years old! Join me in the celebrations with a Happy Birthday, some facts and stats about the last 2 years, and a return to where it all started in West Texas with Jade Nelson...

The facts and stats:

-The first episode of the podcast went live on 3rd December 2018

-But the trailer launched on November 5th 2018

-There are 32 episodes in the back-catalogue

-Including 6 story episodes, 13 chats, 3 trailers, 3 journalistic episodes, 2 times I had to make 2 episodes with 1 chat, and 5 times you have listened to my monologues...

-We have featured 14 adventurers with epilepsy

-Adventurous activities mentioned so far include hiking, running, camping, ultimate Frisbee, paddleboarding and stand-up paddleboarding, skiing, mountain biking, bike-packing, swimming, surfing, karate, ice climbing, trail running, ultra marathons, archery, freediving, wild swimming, canoeing, snowboarding, ballroom dancing, yoga, and swimming with crocodiles!

-The podcast has had over 5000 downloads

-Which works out at about 160 of you listening per episode

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Disclaimer: All stories are personal experience. We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s less than the price of a coffee!!). All Patrons will get extra content every month, even between seasons, and Patrons at $5 and above get bonus episodes. Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. 

MUSIC:

NEW HAPPY BIRTHDAY by Steven Mon | Creative Commons Attribution License

Poignant Texas by Mark T | Attribution non-commercial license.

Dandelion.mp3 by TexasMusicForge | Attribution non-commercial license.

acoustic guitar interlude by graham_makes | Attribution non-commercial license.

Additional sounds from freesound.org.

Get bonus content on Patreon

 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Is it safe to surf with epilepsy? How can you support somebody who has seizures  in the water?  And do surfing instructors know how to help someone with epilepsy? In this episode, Frankie York takes us through some of her own experiences surfing with epilepsy, and how having epilepsy affects her relationships with other surfers.

Surfing is classified as a top tier extreme sport, with inherent danger and a need to be aware and alert at all times. But it is also a sport recognised for the therapeutic benefits, and the sense of escapism being in the water can provide. Frankie found a passion for surfing when she was travelling in Ecuador. Over the last 2 years, she has had to explore her relationship with the sport, and examine how to stay safe.

And she has also had to explore and examine the relationships she has with her fellow surfers, who have supported her through her epilepsy journey.

In this episode, Frankie talks to three surfers: Simon, who runs her local surf school; Jessie, who was the former Vice President at their University surf society; and Zim, a good friend who supported Frankie with surfing, and with her seizures.

They talked about:

• The requirements for becoming a International Surfing Association (ISA) qualified instructor
• How much responsibility should friends of surfers with epilepsy take?
• Responsibility in a more formal organisational manner
• What goes into planning a surf trip
• The accessibility of surfing when you have additional needs or safety concerns 
• The type of emergency training surf instructors undertake
• Risk assessments from a professional point of view
• What organisers do to help 'high risk' people and what worst case scenario plans are
• How it feels to support a friend with epilepsy
• What Frankie's surfer friends would like people with epilepsy to know

Plus we hear a bit more about Frankie's backstory and when she started having seizures, and balancing her passion for surfing.

CONTENT WARNING: We talk about some close calls with surfing, and the potential consequences of having a seizure in water.

CONTENT WARING 2: There is a small swearword.

Disclaimer: Please remember this is Frankie' personal experience. We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s  less than the price of a coffee!!). All Patrons will get extra content every month, even between seasons, and Patrons at $5 and above get bonus episodes. Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. 

MUSIC:

Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License

TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY.

I am working to try and get accurate transcripts for all the Seize Your Adventure episodes. In the meantime, you can find most episodes on YouTube for auto transcript

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Back in July, Seize Your Adventure grew a little bit bigger. Francesca York (who luckily goes by Frankie to stop any confusion!) has volunteered her help over the next few months as an SYA Intern and it will be great to get her fresh eyes/ears on things.

This episode shares the Instagram LIVE conversation me and Frankie had back in August, where we got to learn a little bit more about her, and how she seizes her adventure.

We talked about:

• Learning to surf (because of a boy...)
• The dangers of surfing with epilepsy, and some close calls
• How your choices regarding risk can affect others
• The best way to learn to surf as a beginner
• How surfing can be addictive and becomes a lifestyle
• Learning to listen to your body when you have epilepsy
• Speaking to lifeguards about your epilepsy
• Basic safety in the water when surfing
• Plans for Frankie's study abroad year in Spain...

Frankie is hard at work on her own episode about her relationship with surfing, and how people have helped her through her diagnosis., so make sure you are subscribed to hear that episode later in the year.

CONTENT WARNING: We talk about some close calls with surfing, and the potential consequences of having a seizure in water.

Disclaimer: Please remember this is Frankie' personal experience. We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s  less than the price of a coffee!!). All Patrons will get extra content every month, even between seasons, and Patrons at $5 and above get bonus episodes. Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. 

MUSIC:

Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License

TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY.

I am working to try and get accurate transcripts for all the Seize Your Adventure episodes. In the meantime, you can find most episodes on YouTube for auto transcription.

Get bonus content on Patreon

 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Chris is an Epilepsy Education & Outreach Worker for the British Columbia Epilepsy Society and in summer last year Chris also raised money for BCES by cycling from Prince George to Jasper - a distance of 375KM - in just two days.

(N.B. I can't add up and in the podcast I say 275KM... Sorry Chris!)

Chris is a hardcore adventurer. I was introduced to Chris about a year ago, via the British Columbia Epilepsy Society. Chris is an Epilepsy Education & Outreach Worker for the BCES.

As well as his work for BCES, he’s also a ski instructor, and he did a BA in Nature Based Tourism at university. His Facebook page always shows beautiful pine forest, trees and rocks and rocks and trees and the odd lake.

Chris' lifestyle, his career and his independence really relies on being healthy and able drive.

We talked about:

-His first seizure when he was 21 years old

-Having to give up driving

-Depression due to epilepsy

-Reaching a moment of crisis due to depression

-How his friends, family and colleagues supported him (and how some didn't...)

-Laughing about his own condition

-Working for British Columbia Epilepsy Society

-His Facebook videos talking about epilepsy

-Mitigating epilepsy risks in the backcountry

-Leaving a trip line when going on solo adventures

-Finding good friends to adventure with

-Hiking the Chilkoot Trail in the Yukon

-Turning to road cycling because he couldn't drive

-His 375km cycling challenge...

-And (of course) bears!!

CONTENT WARNING: Chris talks about depression due to epilepsy, misuse of alcohol and a moment of crisis in this episode. If you want to skip that part of the chat, the conversation about his adventure life starts at 20 minutes.

CONTENT WARNING 2: There is the smallest swearword in there.

Disclaimer: Please remember this is Chris' personal experience. We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions.

If you have depression, or would like to talk to someone about your mental health and how you feel, if you are in the UK you can contact Mind for information and support or contact the Samaritans if you are in crisis. Those in Canada can contact Crisis Services Canada. 

VISIT CHRIS' FACEBOOK PAGE:

The Diaries of an Epileptic Dirtbag Otaku

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for as little as $3 a month (that’s $1.50 per episode - less than the price of a coffee!!). Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. 

MUSIC:

Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.

Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.

Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network