Live to Walk Again

Episode 228 Trish Brookes

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Trish Brookes who is a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor and Disability Advocate. We chatted about the sequence of events that led to her spinal cord injury, Trish's work fundraising for the Spinal Injuries Association, and the impact the SIA has on the spinal cord injury community in the UK. We also talked about some of the fundraising adventures she's had up to this point, including diving with sharks, rifle shooting competitions, reppelling down a 100 foot building, and this year's upcoming challenge of competing in a Marvel Superhero themed triathlon. Connect with Trish and the Spinal Injuries Association at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Trish Brookes:
IG: @trish.brookes.3
      @spinal_injuries

FB: @trish.brookes.3
      @spinalinjuriesassociation

https://www.justgiving.com/page/trish-brookes-7?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=IG

 

Episode 227 Torsten Gross

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we were lucky enough to visit with Disability Advocate, Racecar Driver, and Spinal Cord Injury Survivor; Torsten Gross. I spoke to Torsten about the diving accident in The Bahamas that left him paralyzed more than 30 years ago, how he became the world's first paralyzed rescue diver, and the unique story of how he became a racecar driver and the fire that lived under him to start the Just Hands Foundation to bring that experience to other people battling with mobility issues. We also talked about the new Amazon documentary series releasing on 7/31, Just Hands: For the Love of Racing. We also discussed the just hands foundation venturing into mountain bike riding, and the amazing bikes and wheelchairs that Bowhead Reach is making Connect with Torsten and the Just Hands Foundation at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!


Torsten Gross/Just Hands Foundation:
https://www.torstengross.com/

https://www.justhands.org/

IG: @torstenfgross

     @justhandsfoundation

FB:  @torstenfgross

       @justhandsfoundation

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@justhands

 

Episode 226 Michelle Keshk

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Keshk who is a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, Disability Advocate, Artist, and Ambassador Coordinator at the Triumph Foundation. We talked to Michelle about the freak accident that left her paralyzed, documenting her journey through this injury on social media, and how she doesn't let the injury get in the way of living her best life. We also chatted about how she connected with the Triumph Foundation, using her artwork as therapy, and the importance of the art she makes through her business Begin Within Creations. Connect with Michelle at her social media links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!


Michelle Keshk/Begin Within Creations:
IG:  @meesh.peace
      @beginwithincreations
      @beginwithinbodyart

www.etsy.com/shop/BeginWithinCreations

 

FB: @michellekeshk

TikTok: @meeshpeace

Episode 225 Tyler Dunham 3.0

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the opportunity to visit with friend of the podcast, Tyler Dunham. Tyler is a Wheelchair Bodybuilder, Disability Advocate, Stem Cell Recipient, and a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor. I spoke with Tyler about taking part in the 2025 NPC Wheelchair Nationals Bodybuilding competition, how he's been feeling a year or so after receiving stem cells, his continuing goal of checking out wheelchair accommodations that NFL and NBA arenas, and his future plans and bodybuilding and in life. Connect with Tyler at his Instagram link below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Tyler Dunham:

IG: @tyler_duhman90

Episode 224 Brandon Parkes

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Brandon Parkes who is a Disability Advocate, Digital Creator, Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, and a Twitch Streamer. We talked to Brandon about the rare infection that caused damage to his spinal cord and left him paralyzed at the T5/6 level, his love of wheelchair basketball, and the content he's putting out from gaming to comedy to motivation for other people dealing with an SCI. Connect with Brandon at his social media links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

 

Brandon Parkes:

IG: @professorparkes
Twitter: @professorparkes
Twitch: @professorparkes12
Tik-Tok: @professorparkes_
              @professorparkesclips

 

Episode 223 Jerod Nieder

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Jerod Nieder who is a Disability Advocate, a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, and a Disability Consultant among many other titles you could put on him. We spoke to Jerod about the diving accident that left him paralyzed in Mexico, immersing himself in SCI research and the subsequent trials he participated in after his injury, and starting his consulting company Positively Paralyzed. We also chatted about his relationship with his beautiful wife Hanna and having their wedding documented on the Love Stories TV Youtube channel, competing in the 2021 and 2022 New York City marathons using his hand cycle, and the PositivelyFit Wheelchair Guided Workouts he does on his YouTube channel. Connect with Jerod on his social media channels!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Jerod Nieder/Positively Paralyzed:

IG: @positivelyparalyzed 

https://positivelyparalyzed.org/

Twitter: @PstvlyPrlyzd

FB: @positivelyparalyzed 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@positivelyparalyzed

Jerod & Hanna's Wedding Story: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv1RWOkPzXQ&list=PLCcjPP2aelyMWaLU0YeA1kfQoqJknVx6Y

Episode 222 Martin Quinn

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Quinn who is a Disability Advocate, Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, and a Defier of Odds. We caught up with Martin just after he completed the Boston Marathon working with the Christopher and Dana Reeve's Foundation to raise money for spinal cord injury research. We talked about the illness that left him temporarily paralyzed from the waist down 25 years ago, still dealing with some issues from the SCI while outwardly looking completely healed, and the thrill of being able to raise money for SCI research and the perspective that gives him having dealt with the injury. Connect with Martin at the Instagram link below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Martin Quinn:
@martinquinn2207

https://www.givengain.com/project/martin-raising-funds-for-christopher-and-dana-reeve-foundation-89096

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hIv464E8hGI

Episode 221 Crista Jo Cairus

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the honor of speaking with Christa Jo Cairus ( @roll_andsparkle ) who is a Disability Advocate, Author, Mother, Wife, Spinal Cord Injury Survivor among so many other titles. We talk about how Christa suffered a spinal cord injury, the abuse she dealt with four and after the injury at the hands of her former fiancé, and how she was able to finally escape that abuse. We also discussed the two books she's written; Beautiful Survivor: Escaping the Statistics and Turning Adversity into Glitter and the inspiration behind writing them and getting her story out there, and discussed her weight loss journey. Connect with Christa at her social media links below and check out the two books she's written at the Amazon links. Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Christa Jo Cairus:
IG: @roll_andsparkle

FB: https://www.facebook.com/christa.j.sexton

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEh6n4Dowa0/

 

Books:

Beautiful Survivor: Escaping the Statistics
https://a.co/d/dq8BIx1

 

Turning Adversity into Glitter

https://a.co/d/iWFBHvt

 

Episode 220 Jason Stoffer

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Stroffer who is the host of the CureCast Podcast, the Cure Advocacy Network Manager for Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, and a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor. We spoke with Jason about the car accident that left him paralyzed, 7 1/2 years ago, the process of getting accepted into Craig Hospital for his rehabilitation, and how he got into SCI advocacy so early on after his injury. We then chat about the elephant in the room regarding the elimination of funding for SCIRP which is about 1/3 of SCI research funding and arguably the most important 1/3. Jason lays out what SCIRP does, why it's so important, and some ways that we can fight to get this funding reinstated. Connect with Jason and Unite 2 Fight Paralysis at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Jason Stoffer:
IG: @js_rolling
FB: @jasonstoffer
      @stomebody

Jason's Article:

https://u2fp.org/get-educated/article/collateral-damage-how-the-wrong-program-got-shot-down-in-the-hunt-for-government-waste.html

 

Unite 2 Fight Paralysis:

IG:  @u2fp

FB: @unite2fightparalysis

Twitter: @U2FP_CureSCI

YouTube: @unite2fightparalysis

Episode 219 Annabelle Moult

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Annabelle Moult who is a Blogger, SCI Advocate, Disabled Travel Expert, and a Spinal Cord Injury and Neuromyselitis Optica Survivor. We talked about Neuromyselitis Optica and how this illness quickly caused a spinal cord injury and for her to go blind in a very short amount of time, the doctors struggling to realize what was going on, and the eventual partial restoration of her eyesight. We also chatted about her travels since being paralyzed and some of her favorite and least favorite places to visit, some funny stories and things to watch out for while traveling with a physical disability, and her website that provides amazing resources for exercise, nutrition, and connecting with your mind, body and soul. Connect with Annabelle at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Annabelle Moult:

https://annabellemoult.com/

IG: @annabellemoult

     @annabellemoulttravels

FB: @annabellemoult