#209 Thad Spencer- the Comeback

Thad Spencer returns to the Mayhem to discuss a very different topic than we did in our previous chat. A little over 18 months ago Thad went out with his friend Alex Peterson for what looked like a pretty good day to go big in western Minnesota. Alex towed up first without incident, then Thad hooked in and began to tow up and things went pretty quickly from good day to lights out. Thad discusses the selfish nature of paragliding and its impact on relationships. He also talks about his experience with the Zeno 2 glider and launching in challenging conditions. He shares his experience with emergency response and the hospital, as well as his injuries and recovery process. In this conversation we discuss various aspects of overcoming fear, taking risks, and embracing challenges as we age. We also delve into the topic of retirement and the process of redefining self-identity and finding purpose in this new phase of life. Thad shares his personal experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of confidence and the journey of releasing and rediscovering one’s identity. The conversation concludes with a humorous story about Bill Belcourt’s halo and a reflection on their shared love for flying. This is a humble and at times very funny story about bad luck, good luck, fear injury, family, pain, laughter, and returning to flying. Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

Takeaways

* Overcoming fear and taking risks can lead to personal growth and new experiences.

* Injuries can have long-lasting consequences and make individuals more cautious in certain activities.

* Confidence is crucial in extreme sports, but it’s important to find a balance between confidence and caution.

* Retirement can be a challenging transition, but it also offers an opportunity to redefine self-identity and find new passions and purpose.

* Creating and making things can bring fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment in retirement.

* Releasing and rediscovering one’s identity is a journey that takes time and self-reflection.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 The Importance of Communication and Emergency Contacts

06:00 The Selfish Nature of Paragliding and Its Impact on Relationships

09:00 The Zeno 2 and Launching in Challenging Conditions

18:00 The Accident: A Big Frontal on Tow

26:00 Emergency Response and Hospital Experience

32:00 Injuries and Recovery

01:08:30 Overcoming Fear and Taking Risks

01:09:22 The Consequences of Injury

01:10:18 The Importance of Confidence

01:11:07 Embracing Challenges as You Age

01:11:37 Retirement and Self-Identity

01:12:31 Finding Purpose in Retirement

01:13:55 The Transition to Retirement

01:14:49 Accepting Aging and Redefining Self-Worth

01:16:14 The Process of Retirement

01:17:43 Creating and Making Things

01:19:01 Releasing and Rediscovering Identity

01:20:33 The Journey of Retirement

01:21:17 Walking and Reflecting