Christian Bagg has a fearless appetite for outdoor sports. He is the founder and CTO of Bowhead Corp and the revolutionary adaptive bikes like the Bowhead Reach. 

In 1996, a snowboarding accident in his native Calgary left Christian paralyzed at the age of 20. “I’ve experienced loss for sure,” says Christian, “But maybe not in a conventional way. I’m super pragmatic.”

Christian didn’t just adapt to his new reality; he redefined it. In this inspiring conversation, Christian talks about how his work as a machinist led to the creation of bikes that have revolutionized adaptive sports and made them highly fun and competitive. He discusses the importance of innovation, the need for advancement in wheelchair design, and his vision for a future where adaptive equipment is more personalized, adaptable, and representative of its users. He also reveals his latest design challenge, which he says may be his greatest one yet.

Through Bowhead Corp, Christian has created an adventure-filled community that transcends physical limitations and inspires people of all ages and abilities.

Explore More:

• Website: Bowhead Corp
• Facebook: bowheadcorporation
• Instagram: @bowheadcorp

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

Discover more about this interview series, sign up for the newsletter, and read transcripts at thelossencounters.com.

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How do refugees plant roots in unfamiliar ground to mark new beginnings? This question drives the work of Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, Founder and CEO of the Tiyya Foundation and a beacon of hope for the displaced. 

Born in an Ethiopian refugee camp in Somalia, Meymuna moved to America when she was three years old. Challenges and resilience marked her early years. Yet, she emerged as a force for change, helping others rebuild their lives upended by displacement and loss.

Meymuna offers vital support to refugees and immigrant households in Orange County, California. Through the Tiyya Foundation and her social enterprise restaurant, Flavors From Afar, Meymuna empowers people to celebrate their heritage and forge a successful path forward. In 2022, she was named a Top 10 CNN Hero.

In this conversation, Meymuna discusses the social isolation she experienced as a child, the decisions that led her to become a leader and entrepreneur, and how she builds trust and fosters community among diverse immigrant populations. She also reflects on the complexities of her work in light of the prevailing challenges around immigration.

Explore More:

• Website: Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, Tiyya Foundation, and Flavors From Afar

• Instagram: @meymunacattan, @tiyyafoundation, and @flavorsfromafar.co

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

Discover more about this interview series, sign up for the monthly newsletter, and read transcripts at thelossencounters.com.

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Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of the World Monuments Fund, discusses the urgent need to preserve cultural heritage in the face of conflict, climate change, and urbanization. She describes the impact of destruction on identity and belonging, and the importance of storytelling and community involvement in the preservation process. 

From the corridors of French diplomacy to her current role, Bénédicte shares the pivotal experiences that have shaped her appreciation for cultures. We travel around the world discussing the restoration of the Mosul Cultural Museum in Iraq and Notre-Dame Cathedral in France, and the rehabilitation of traditional water management systems in India. Bénédicte gives us a global overview of the role of preservation in promoting intercultural understanding and healing after loss. 

Explore more:

• Website: World Monument Fund
• Instagram: @worldmonumentsfund and @benedictedemontlaur

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series, sign up for the newsletter, and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

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Joyal Mulheron never set out to become an activist for the bereaved. After experiencing the loss of her infant daughter, she left her career in public policy under the former First Lady Michelle Obama and embarked on a door-to-door mission to understand and reshape bereavement support in America.

Through her nonprofit, Evermore, Joyal champions legislative efforts to overcome the hidden challenges and systemic injustices faced by grieving families in the U.S. She gives us a close-up view of the mounting difficulties communities face in accessing support, from the financial burdens of funeral expenses and therapy to the lack of standardized bereavement leave policies. Most alarming is the rise in childhood bereavement and the myriad risks faced by children who lose a parent.

In this profoundly insightful conversation, Joyal advocates for a more compassionate approach to grief and support for the bereaved across our country.

Explore More:

• Website: Evermore
• Instagram: @joyalmulheron and @evermoreforall

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series, sign up for the newsletter, and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

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Dancer Zazel-Chavah O'Garra has leveraged her loss of mobility and radiant optimism to push creative boundaries for dancers of all abilities. A New Yorker with Caribbean roots, her talent as a dancer took her from Broadway to stages across Europe. She graced the cover of Essence magazine twice during her career as a professional model.

However, her journey took a challenging turn when severe fatigue unveiled a benign brain tumor in 2003, leaving her partially paralyzed after surgery. Undeterred, she decided to explore movement within her physical range. In 2014, Zazel founded the ZCO/DANCEPROJECT, an inclusive dance company that celebrates the abilities of all individuals. Her innovative approach has garnered recognition from the Kennedy Center's Very Special Arts Program, underlying her belief that we must expand the boundaries of creative expression.

“I tell the dancers, there are no limits," says Zazel. "If you have mobility issues, just let it come from your heart and your soul.” In this interview, Zazel delves into the evolution of her creative process and her bold ambition to produce a groundbreaking musical for people with disabilities, aiming to challenge societal norms.

Explore

• Website: Zazel-Chavah O'Garra
• Instagram: @zazelchavah
• ZCO/DANCEPROJECT

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

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In this episode, Colin Campbell, a writer and director, discusses the importance of articulating our grief and grief needs. In June 2019, Colin and his wife Gail's lives were forever changed when a drunk driver crashed into their car, tragically taking the lives of their two children, Ruby and Hart. In the aftermath, Colin turned to writing to process his tremendous loss and honor the memory of his children. Through his award-winning show, GRIEF: A One Man ShitShow, and his book, Finding the Words, Colin articulates his sorrow and guides others through the complexities of mourning. "Grief is so misunderstood in our society," he says. Colin talks about the importance of community and how to support the grieving. He shares his approach to confronting pain in order to find joy and live fully. Finally, he urges us to harness the therapeutic powers of storytelling and to preserve the memories of loved ones.

Explore:

• Website: Colin Campbell
• Instagram: @colincampbellwriter
• The Ruby and Hart Foundation
• Show: GRIEF: A One Man ShitShow
• Book: Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

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In this episode, we delve into the loss of animal sounds in our natural environment with Bernie Krause, a pioneer in the field of sound ecology. For over five decades, Bernie has traveled to the farthest reaches of our planet, capturing the symphony of nature's voices. His mission: To raise awareness about the urgent need to preserve these precious sonic environments. Bernie's work explores the beauty of the natural world and the impact of climate change and human activities on animals and their habitats. His work is a clarion call for us to recognize and address this growing environmental threat.

Bernie's journey as a bioacoustician started on a different note. Originally a musician, he's worked with artists such as The Doors and Stevie Wonder, and his recordings have graced countless documentaries, exhibitions, and film scores, including Apocalypse Now and Rosemary's Baby. His touring sound exhibit, "The Great Animal Orchestra," offers a breathtaking journey into a digital soundscape that captures the vastness and vulnerability of the natural world. He invites us to ponder an important question: Could the secrets hidden within soundscapes hold the keys to solving some of life's greatest mysteries?

Join us as we discuss the beauty and fragility of our planet's natural soundscapes and the urgent need to protect and preserve them for future generations.

Websites to Visit:

• Wild Sanctuary
• The Great Animal Orchestra - Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain

Books by Bernie Krause 

• The Great Animal Orchestra: Finding the Origins of Music in the World's Wild Places
• The Power of Tranquility in a Very Noisy World
• Voices of the Wild: Animal Songs, Human Din, and the Call to Save Natural Soundscapes (The Future Series)
• Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of the Natural World
• Bernie Krause: The Great Animal Orchestra

Connect with Melissa Ceria and watch video clips of the interviews on Instagram @thelossencounters.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com.

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How do relationships evolve and strengthen after one partner undergoes a significant change? This question has shaped the life of author Lee Woodruff. In 2006, Lee's life took an abrupt turn when her husband, renowned journalist Bob Woodruff, was gravely injured by a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq. Overnight, Lee was thrust into the role of caregiver. "When the bad thing happens, you can get bitter or you can get better," she says. Today, Lee and Bob are co-founders of The Bob Woodruff Foundation for Veterans and Military Families. In this conversation, Lee discusses the importance of self-care in times of difficulty, growing together through significant change, and our duty to support veterans and caregivers.

Learn more about Lee Woodruff at:

• leewoodruff.com
• Instagram: @leewoodruff
• The Bob Woodruff Foundation

Books by Lee Woodruff:

• In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing
• Perfectly Imperfect
• Those We Love Most

Lee's articles on caregiving in AARP

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com. Connect with Melissa at @thelossencounters.

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Brad Rouse, a Harvard graduate, was a successful New York theater director when he fell into a spiral of addiction. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and served a year at The Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. Today, Brad assists defendants as they face sentencing. “Jail is a penalty box, it’s not a coffin,” he says. “And if you think that jail is the end of your life, that doesn’t get you moving through that chapter of your story.” Brad discusses his journey from addiction to advocacy, what it takes to move through the justice system, and coming to terms with the shame and secrets we can hold in our stories.

Learn more about Brad Rouse at bradrouse.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.

To discover more about this interview series and read transcripts, visit thelossencounters.com. Connect with Melissa at @thelossencounters.

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The Loss Encounters is an interview series that explores what we create from loss. Each week, journalist Melissa Ceria talks with a changemaker – an artist, activist, athlete, or business leader – who has harnessed their creativity in the face of adversity to drive innovation, improve lives, and empower others. In this podcast, we discuss many forms of loss and how it impacts our thinking. What do we make from what is disappearing or gone? And how does it shape the course of our lives? Hear the vital voices of people who show us that loss isn't just an ending; it also signifies a beginning, and it plays a pivotal role in shaping our world today. Their stories are as remarkable as they are.

Join us on Instagram @thelossencounters for exclusive content and learn more about this interview series at thelossencounters.com.

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