We can't control what happens to us in life but we can control how we respond to things beyond our control. Marie Pontini was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2016, has had multiple operations and gone through a lot of pain. On this episode Marie shares how instead of letting the pain from MS define her she choose to embrace the pain of exercise though bodybuilding, working to become the first Canadian female wheelchair competitor on an international stage, at the ...

Having children is a challenge from pregnancy to birth and beyond. Every birth is a unique experience for Katie Spinks the birth of her fourth child changed her life forever as she and her daughter nearly passed away from Uterine rupture after being ignored by doctors for an hour. On this episode I discuss with Katie how this event transformed her life as she now educates parents as a Doula and childbirth educator. The complex relationship people need to develop with medical professionals as tre...

Music is something that connects people together from all parts of the word. Clint Warren was born in South Africa and always had a passion for music from playing guitar to singing. On this episode join us as Clint shares his journey moving from South Africa to US, working as a lawyer to help provide for his family serving in the peace core and the US Marines after the events of 911 to traveling around the world to discover the roots of Reggae, To check out Clints music click the links below. ht...

In our twenties we all deal with a level of uncertainty about the future for Vahen King her future was forever changed when she became disabled after contracting Transverse Myelitis, a virus that left her physically disabled and dependent on the use of a wheelchair. On This episode follow along on we go on Vahen's journey from learning to accept this new version of herself, how through the love of family and her faith helped her become the woman she is today. A Wife, the First ever Miss Wheelcha...

Relationships can be complicated especially without patience, communication, and understanding. On this week's episode join me and medical mom Michelle Fruhschien as we discuss her journey from teaching English, switching to Special Education, to finding out her daughter was diagnosed with Jordan's Syndrome an incredibly rare genetic disability. We also discuss the importance of encouraging children to ask questions, to include, and respect members of the disability community at a young age, the...

Spreading happiness to everyone might sound like a huge and complicated task but its just another day at the office for John and Mark X. Cronin the creators and owners of John's Crazy Socks the world's largest sock store. On this episode John and Mark share their journey from John competing in the Special Olympics at the age of five to the creation of John's Crazy Socks to the importance of providing opportunities for other disabled individuals to work as Sock Wranglers, the creation of the firs...

No matter how old people get, no matter what we experience we all have made mistakes hopefully learned from them and become better people along the way. On this week's episode I sit down with Adam Gunton as he shares his journey of drug addiction and homelessness to his meeting with Jesus Christ and IHOP, to the creation of Recovered On Purpose his non profit organization, his best selling novel From Chains to Saved, and his helping other treatment centres through Behavioural Health Partners. If...

The lessons taught to us by are parents and our relationship with them helps us form the choices we make later on. Monica Patrice Wallace spent two decades as a middle school guidance councillor helping students develop a healthy thought process in class think well work well so to speak. On This episode Monica Patrice Wallace shares her story as a councillor, her healing journey recovering from a family death, the recognition of toxic behaviours in her own relationship, and what you should and s...

Growing up the farmers daughter Kate Kelly enjoyed many tasty home cooked meals. Due to a lack portion control and unfortunate school bullying Kate developed a negative image of herself and became bulimic and would later on be diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. On this episode Kate Kelly takes us on her two decades long journey of self discovery while working as a functional nutritionist, we discuss the different between self loving and self loathing through what we eat, how everyone's body respond...

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders that can cause seizures and other health issues. David Jensen struggled in school as a result of seizures and was later diagnosed with ADHD. On this episode find out how David despite his heath issues has gone on to start multiple ventures from his own clothing brand, ground coffee, the Buds and Brews Podcast and more all with help of his strong work ethic inspired by his mom and different strains of cannabis one to relax and one to enhance the effec...

Major life changes such as the passing of a loved one, moving, or receiving a major diagnosis can be difficult to process. To deal with major change you may need to find an outlet or, coping strategy, on this episode join us for a conversation with art therapist Jackie Schuld as she shares her journey from becoming a therapist to her late in life diagnosis of Autism/ADHD her written and illustrative works and the messy but necessary parts of art, phycology and processing emotions. To check out J...

Despite loosing his sight at a young age Kyle Coon has always had a desire to test the limits of adventure and athletics from running, to rock climbing and amateur wrestling. On this episode Kyle Coon shares his story of meeting Erik Weihenmayer the first blind person to climb mount Everest, being inspired him to compete as a Para Triathlete, becoming a two time Paralympian placing 8th in the 2024 games. The process behind writing his book Discovering A Life Without Limits and so much more. T...

Since 2009 Tiffany Yu has been working towards creating opportunities and growing the disabled community through events and employment opportunities. On this our 100 episode we hear Tiffany's story from becoming disabled at age 9, her career in investment banking, how her community and organization Diversability grew four times its original size during the Covid-19 Pandemic and the creation of her new book The Anti-Ableist Manifesto Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability...

Trigger Warning: September is Suicide Prevention month Despite working for large organizations such as Warner Bros, Walt Disney at the age of 19 Gina Cavalier struggled with Suicidal ideation or, thoughts of taking her own life on and off since childhood. On this episode we discuss how the modern convenances of wealthy countries may be the reason for high numbers of mental health issues. We also discuss the importance of remembering those whom have already passed away, why they took their own li...

We all have goals, dreams, and ambitions that we want to achieve in life for Bean Gill her goals were to make positive changes health wise in the lives of others and to have her own tv show, Both of these goals came true but, not in the way anyone expected, on this episode Bean shares her journey of becoming paralyzed from the waist down due to Epstein Barr Virus her emotional and physical recovery, to the development of the ReYu Paralysis Recovery Center, and the creation of the CBC documentary...

Ray Charles, Steve Wonder and Deshaymond all of these individuals are musicians whom have had to overcome adversity to achieve there dreams in music. On this episode Deshaymond shares his journey from growing up in Growing up in Coonville, a rural, impoverished, neighbourhood that sits on the outskirts of Lafayette,Louisiana, studying music since the age of 5, to loosing his sight in 2015 do to Optic Atrophy and almost giving up on life itself to creating his first album "I Am its a true story o...

Life is full of interesting relationships some are strictly business between your boss and your coworkers others are more personal like the relationship parents and their children have. For Danny West over the last 3 decades as a physical therapist working with patience who have suffered spinal or traumatic brain injuries the relationship he has with his patients depends on how much effort the patients are willing to put into the journey. On this episode join us for Danny's journey from working ...

Ever since she was a little girl growing up in Glasgow Scotland Katie Anna McConnell has had two main passions classic Disney films and preforming in musical theatre. Life has a strange way of putting barriers in front of us for Katie that barrier came in the form of a genetic condition that left Physically disabled, Chronically ill and Neurodivergent. On this episode Katie shares how she continues to preform in musical theatre despite these challenges, how she met and fell in love with her assi...

The music business is a difficult industry to enter regardless of age, ethnicity, or background now imagine putting a mental health challenge or disability on top of it. I sit down with Arthur Gwynne the operations manager for an organization called RAMPD or Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities as we discuss how the origination has grown over the last three years from an idea by Preforming artist Lachi to an organization that continues create accessible events, work with a...

The phrase Don't Think it ink it was coined by Mark Victor Hansen the founder and co creator for the Chicken Soup for The Soul book series. Our guest Caitie Brianna has used her love of drawing and tattooing as the chicken soup for her soul for the last 15 years and is now opening up her first shop Bone and Lilly Tattoo in Knoxville, Tennessee in July. Hear Caitie's unique journey growing up in Virginia, living with undiagnosed Autism and ADHD for years, her influences in the industry such as he...

Pride month is a time where members of the LGBTQ+ community celebrate who they are but what if you don't know what community you identify with or are uncertain about having a safe and loving relationship? Courtney Boyer Relationship and sexuality expert offers her opinion on how you can safely explore what brings you the most pleasure, what's involved in a sexual wellness retreat, how relationships can be brought closer together or driven further away by using technology and adult entertainment ...

The average career length in emergency medical services or EMS is 5 years. Colton Petry worked in EMS for 11 years training for the job at just 16 and working through countless experiences that many people can't imagine, join us as we discuss his career, recognizing his symptoms of PTS, the differences between medical cues and medical dramas, the creation of the Just Dumb Enough Podcast and so much more. To follow Colton Petry and his journey as a podcaster, writer and producer click the links b...

Running! an exercise that not everyone enjoys a series of moments that can leave you out of breath if overdone but for Aaron Burros running has been a lifesaver from helping him loose weight, to regaining his life back after being shot five times at a workplace shooting. Despite living everyday with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and bullet fragments still in his body to this day Aaron Burros uses his love of marathons, trail running, and hid incredible survival stories to help other people liv...

How many times has someone in your life told you need to have a backup plan for when things don't work out? Steven Burke has spent a large portion of his life learning how to organize and adapt to situation from dealing with undiagnosed ADHD growing up, working around both his parents's mental health issues, his two decade long career in law as a Civil Trial attorney, to working as a History and Social Studies Teacher. We discuss many things from adaptation to trying to show students multiple si...