Seize Your Adventure

Celebrate good times! December 5th 2023 marks five years since Seize Your Adventure - the podcast sharing stories of adventure and outdoor living with a focus on epilepsy - was launched. After a hiatus, to mark the show's fifth anniversary Fran is revisiting five monumental episodes. Fran reflects on her interview with Becky Samson, who cycled across Australia while managing her epilepsy. She also recalls the episode where she handed over the reins to listener Frankie, who shared her own story about surfing with epilepsy. Fran also highlights the episode featuring Amanda Plomp, a long-distance runner with epilepsy, and her conversation with Jade Nelson, the show's first guest. Lastly, Fran revisits the episode about the Outdoor Mindset Adventure Scholarship programme, which allowed her to travel to Colorado for their Summer Summit. While the podcast's release schedule may be irregular, there are plans to continue producing episodes and sharing other relevant content. Find the transcript of this episode here:https://www.seizeyouradventure.com/post/transcript-seize-your-adventure-epilepsy-podcast-5th-birthdayMake sure you are subscribed and following on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode, and follow @seizeyouradventurepod on Instagram to get all the updates! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seizeyouradventure.substack.com

I'v delved deep into the archives for this one! Back 2019, I had a taster session with Archery Fit as part of my 30 at 30 challenge. During the session, I learned the basics of using a bow, and afterwards I sat down with the co-owner, Roman. We had a little chat about archery, and in particular how it's a very accessible sport for people with conditions such as epilepsy.FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ARCHERY FIThttps://archeryfit.com/SUPPORT SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE:Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Sign up for £5 a month to help fuel me with a bit of coffee! Find out more at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

26th March is Purple Day! The international day of epilpesy awareness when people raise awareness of what it's like to live with epilepsy.Seize Your Adventure is already dedicated to raising awareness of how peole live iwth epilepsy and enjoy adventures and outdoor living. A lot of work goes into the podcast - and a lot gets taken out! Here's your chance to hear a few outtakes from the show.First published on Patreon in July 2020.Contains a few beeped expletives. Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hello Adventurers! And I can't quite believe it but it has been 3 years since I launched the Seize Your Adventure podcast. Who knew that a podcast about epilepsy in adventure sports would have such longevity? And whilst I have been abandoning you all ever so slightly, I wanted to mark this 3-year anniversary with something a little bit special. And so, I have decided to start releasing the Patreon episodes to the public.Over the next few weeks, you'll be getting new episodes on this feed only heard by a select few until now.We're starting with Outdoor Mindset Conversations.When I created the Outdoor Mindset episode of Season 1, I conducted several interviews and had many conversations. As always, they were fascinating and we could have talked for days. But I only had a half hour episode to tell that story, and many conversations were edited to short soundbites.This bonus episode brings you some of those conversations. Only lightly edited, you get to hear the interviews with Kalyn Lepre, Kyle Martin, and Jeanie Ringelberg-Quigley. Plus, the full audio that OM Ambassador Jeanie Sroka sent me.And after listening, you can head back and re-listen to the Outdoor Mindset episode, to see if you can spot what made it into the final piece!Head to https://www.outdoormindset.org/ to learn more about the organisation.Thank you for you continued support.Safe Adventures x Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hello Adventurers! Seize Your Adventure has been quite, I know. But there is a good reason for that...Introducing, my new podcast: On The Outside.We need to talk about the outdoors. Not just the epic stories, but the important news, the big events and the social issues that permeate the whole of the outdoors. This show is for anyone who spends their time outdoors in the UK and wants to engage in the wider outdoor community. Each episode, a diverse panel of enthusiasts and experts from a range of outdoors sports discuss the news stories that matter to them. We'll look at everything from specific sports news, to headline stories about our countryside and environment, and the viral posts that capture outdoors culture - all in a jargon and judgement free way! If you want to talk about what's going on outside, search On The Outside now wherever you're listening to this, and make sure you sign up to the newsletter ontheoutsidepodcast.co.uk/newsletterSafe adventures x Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Back in June, I had the honour of being invited on to PODCASTER for a slightly different type of interview... Hosted by V, the Voice of Pod, podcast hosts take a seat in the Podcaster chair, to answer random questions about life and the podcast they have created.I've done a few interviews now - this was one of the most fun and soul-searching! Do go check them out:Follow Podcaster:Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcasterPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcasterpod/Produced by The Chancer Collectivehttp://thechancercollective.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_chancer_collective/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChancerCollect Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over the years I have written many articles about adventuring with epilepsy. I wanted to share this one with you because it does not focus on the epilepsy side of things, but rather it was a nice reminder of what adventure can bring to you. How do you have small adventures? Can you have an adventure close to home? And after years of asking other people what adventure means to them, I try to answer the questions 'what is adventure?' in this article.Do you agree? How do you have an adventure? Do adventures have to be big? These are the types of questions I have tried to answer!Frankie and I discuss the story from 5:20mins:- Where the idea for this article can from- The writing and (lack of) editing process- How the small adventure mindset prepared me for lockdown adventures- Interestingly found new places during lockdown!- Reframing what adventure means- Shared family experiences in Wales- The privilege of being introduced to the outdoors as a child- Frankie's small Ikea adventure!- Adventures with dogs- Plans for a return to Wales this month...Disclaimer: All stories on Seize Your Adventure 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:Kev Rowe on Soundcloud| Creative Commons Attribution LicenseAdditional sounds from Zapsplat Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This short Q&A with Martin follows on from the Article he read for us at the start of the month. We talked about the types of adventurous activities Martin likes to do, what he would say to someone else who has an epilepsy diagnosis, and - of course - what adventure means to him! Listen to Martin's Article:https://www.seizeyouradventure.com/post/s3-e3-martin-venturing-out-alone Find out more about Martin:https://epilepsytraveller.home.blog/ Follow Martin on Instagram @EpilepsyTravellerhttps://www.instagram.com/epilepsytraveller/ Disclaimer: All stories on Seize Your Adventure 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.READ THE Q&A WRITE-UP ON THE WEBSITEhttps://www.seizeyouradventure.com/post/a-q-a-with-martin-hossell Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the second Articles episode! Martin had his first tonic-clonic seizure when he was 10 years old, whilst playing a recorder in a music lesson. Since then, he has lived with epilepsy and seizures. In secondary school, he was told he could not go on a ski-trip because of this epilepsy - not once but twice.But when Martin left school, a friend at work suggested that they should start travelling together. Now he had a travel-buddy, Martin could travel safely with epilepsy, and they went to Australia, Iceland and more. And Martin was excited to book a trip together to his dream destination - America!But when his travel companion had to drop out of the trip, Martin had to decide - could he travel alone with epilepsy?This article first appeared on Martin's blog:https://epilepsytraveller.home.blog/ Frankie and I discuss the story from 9:25mins:- Fran and Frankie catch up and discuss the article- What they loved about the article- Admitting when something is difficult- Martin's great advice for travelling with epilepsy- How lovely Martin's friendship with his colleague was - Why encouragement from others makes all the difference- Why it's nice to hear a longer story from an Instagram persona!- How Fran has improved her epilepsy routine over the yearsI had also had a short chat with Martin about his adventures with epilepsy, and travelling to American alone . The Q&A will be out in 2 week's time. But if you're a $10 Patron, you can listen early over on the Patron-only feed!Follow Martin on Instagram @EpilepsyTravellerhttps://www.instagram.com/epilepsytraveller/ Disclaimer: All stories on Seize Your Adventure 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:Kev Rowe on Soundcloud| Creative Commons Attribution LicenseAdditional sounds from Zapsplat THE FULL TRANSCRIPT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE:https://www.seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hello Patrons! Your episode for April follows on from Cameron's Article - Learning from Surfing with Epilepsy. Here is a Q&A that I had with Cameron back in December 2020. We talked about surfing, snowboarding, holding on to hope in tough times, and how adventure can be having the confidence to stay safe. Enjoy! Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.I had also had a short chat with Cameron about his adventures with epilepsy. There will be a blog post of my Q&A on the website next week, but If you're a $10 Patron, you can listen to Cameron himself over on the Patron-only feed now!The full transcript of this episode is available now:https://www.seizeyouradventure.com/post/the-articles-learning-from-surfing-with-epilepsy-full-transcript Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Introducing: The ArticlesFRAN: 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 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.

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

"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.

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 episodeThank 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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.MUSIC:NEW HAPPY BIRTHDAY by Steven Mon | Creative Commons Attribution LicensePoignant 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.

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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/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.

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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/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.

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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/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.

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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License

In this bonus episode we get to hear some more of my chat with mom, wife, teacher and blogger, Jewel Gibson. I asked Jewel to tell me a bit more about the specifics of have a baby when you have epilepsy. Last time, we heard about Jewel’s path to an epilepsy diagnosis, and her personal challenge of running the New York Half Marathon to raise epilepsy awareness. We also heard that Jewel is diagnosed with ‘catamenial seizures’ - seizures that are affected or triggered by changes in hormones. But I was also really interested to learn more from Jewel as a mom. As well as her blog, Jewel has also done a short podcast series called Well Fit Mama. So what does it take to be a Well Fit Mama? And how did epilepsy affect her pregnancy? I asked her about what steps she had to take to make sure both she and the baby were safe, and whether there was anything she wanted to say to other women with epilepsy who want to have children. Jewel was already a Mom, but she didn’t have epilepsy when she was pregnant the first time. A QUICK WARNING: Jewel does talk about the later stages of childbirth and aspects such as epidurals in semi-graphic detail around 7.30 minutes after the start of the actual conversation. Disclaimer: Jewel does talk about specifics with medication and birth choices. She is talking about her personal experience with pregnancy and childbirth whilst living with epilepsy. Other’s experiences and situation may vary. VISIT JEWEL'S BLOG: https://lifesajewel.com/ WELL FIT MAMA PODCAST: https://thewellfitmama.com/ 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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. 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.

Jewel Gibson is a mom, a wife, a teacher, and a blogger from Brooklyn, New York. Her Instagram and blog, Life's A Jewel, focuses on motherhood and encouraging women to live healthier lives, experience fulfilling relationships and conquer parenthood fashionably. She also uses her platform to talk about the day-to-day challenges navigating a seizure disorder. Jewel was an athlete and runner in highschool, so when she saw an advert from The Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan New York about running the United Airlines Half Marathon, she figured it would be fun to try. She wanted to run to help eliminate the stigma about epilepsy and seizures, as well as raise awareness within the community. But when Jewel started training, she realised that her seizures and epilepsy were going to make running more difficult than she remembered! Jewel couldn't find any information on running with epilepsy, and how this might affect the way you train. She had to figure it out on her own and learn how to run without aggravating the condition. In today's episode Jewel talks about: Her first seizures and difficult EMT experience The confusion between pseudo/non-epileptic seizures and epileptic ones The difficulty getting to her diagnosis of 'catamenial' seizures How her family supported her through her diagnosis Learning to accept help when her seizures were bad Hiding her epilepsy at work Starting a blog because she didn't see other Black people talking about epilepsy Why she decided to do the NY Half The COLD New York weather during training! How running makes her feel free The anxiety around seizures and when they might happen Deciding what to tell her students when she has a 72 hour EEG Balancing being a mom/wife/woman/teacher How the 'adventure' question made her realise how adventurous her life is! And more... DEFINITIONS: Catamenial seizures - seizures that are affected or triggered by changes in hormones Pseudoseizures - Now more commonly known as psychogenic seizures, which are not caused by electrical activity in the brain. Also called Non-epileptic seizures (NES), dissociative seizures, non-epileptic attacks. The name 'pseudoseizure' is an older term. In the UK it is not used because it suggests the person is not having 'real' seizures. VISIT JEWEL'S BLOG: https://lifesajewel.com/ WELL FIT MAMA PODCAST: https://thewellfitmama.com/ 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. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License TRANSCRIPT ON ITS WAY. In the meantime, autotranscripts are on YouTube.

On Tuesday 19th May, I handed over the Seize Your Adventure Instagram account to Cath Shanks, a skate coach who was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy in 2010. In this bonus episode, you get to hear how it went, and listen to the Instagram Live interview we had afterwards. I've only discovered Cath recently, and her account @specialeptic is still new. But the account is a mix of great fun and heart-breakingly honest: "SOME DAYS.... some days are harder than others. some days are that little bit darker. some days it’s not even the seizures that are the problem. some days I think I’d rather have seizures than take meds. some days it’s just a little bit too much to cope with. some days I can pull myself out of the rut, some days I can’t. some days Epilepsy sucks WAY MORE than others. some days I just wish I had a different brain. some days, like today." Cath has also been learning to slackline during lockdown. Which is just so cool. You can see some of her progress on her YouTube channel. Cath talks about: Her cocktail of epileptic seizures Learning to skateboard as an adult Why an all-woman skateboarding lesson was perfect for her Having a seizure whilst teaching at summer camp How she got a job teaching skateboarding The comfort she has found in the epilepsy community Doing jigsaws in lockdown And more... Find Cath on Instagram as @specialeptic SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License This interview will have an auto transcript on YouTube soon!

For Jared Muscat, surfing has been a passion, an obsession, and in his own words an addiction, since he was a teenager. Surfing was part of what led Jared to his current job working for the outdoor clothing company Patagonia. And it was on Patagonia’s blog that I first read some of Jared’s story about surfing with epilepsy, his hard epilepsy diagnosis and journey, and a paddleboarding challenge he did to raise awareness for the condition. It slightly surprised me to realise that I haven’t had any sea-based adventurers on the podcast yet. The ocean has often offered ‘adventure’ in the traditional sense - the swashbuckling, finding new lands kind of adventure. But whilst the heyday of adventure on the high seas is over, in today’s conversation, we talk about how the power and unpredictability of the sea can still offer adventure of the everyday kind. In today's episode Jared talks about: Having brain surgery to stop seizures Not being allowed to surf post-surgery How yoga helped him with his recovery Whether removing his amygdala has affected his fear levels! How he got into surfing as a teenager His path to working for Patagonia How encouraging his Patagonia team have been Previous employer's discrimination because of epilepsy Paddleboarding when you can't surf 'Paddling Towards a Cure' - paddleboarding 17 miles for epilepsy awareness His reaction when doctors told him to stop surfing because of epilepsy What is Epileptic Opportunity? The importance of a good support network with epilepsy What 'adventure' means to him And more! READ JARED'S BLOG POST: Paddling Towards a Cure CONNECT WITH JARED: Instagram: @jaredamuscat SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Instagram: @SYAdventurers Facebook: @SYAdventurers Twitter: @SYAdventurers MUSIC: Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License I AM STRIVING TO MAKE SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE ACCESSIBLE. TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.

Annie Brooks, is a blogger and Youtuber from the award-winning blog Tales of Annie Bean, a website and video channel that covers fitness, travel, lifestyle and (of course) adventure! Annie was diagnosed with epilepsy in the form of complex partial seizures back in 2012, so a lot of her blog journey has been about learning to be active with the condition. She recently took on 12 in 12 challenges to raise awareness to the condition, and hopefully inspire fellow sufferers to keep healthy and active. Beyond her condition Annie covers a lot of travel and takes herself on a variety of adventures with her husband Nick and dog Winnie. In today's episode we talk about: How a blog about fashion became something very different The best things to do in California Camping in the Lake District Running a 10K at the Keswick Mountain Festival Annie's epilepsy diagnosis Learning to live with partial seizures How Annie started triathlons Doing 12 challenges in 12 months for epilepsy awareness Safely doing open water swimming with epilepsy (and why she loves it!) Training for an Ironman How having a seizure during a half marathon stuck with her Running the Brighton Half in a storm! Keeping fit in lockdown And much, much more! LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON PATREON SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons Attribution License

Enjoy this quick bonus episode from Jamie Wissinger, host of the epilepsy podcast '1 in 26' . I thought it was about time to share some official Seizure First Aid , and asked Jamie to share her knowledge as an official trainer. Be Calm Remove Dangerous Objects Always Time the Seizure If the person falls, turn them on their side Never put anything in their mouth As well as hosting 1 in 26, Jamie is a wife and a mama to three children and owns her own business. She has always had seizures, from being born two months early, to not having a breakthrough seizure until age 5, then a hiatus until age 21. After having multiple seizures, in 2011, she decided to make a change. She was unhappy with the way she looked, felt, and acted. One day she decided she was no longer accepting that unhappiness and did everything she could to change her life. And it did. Since then, she has grown mentally in ways that are amazing. Just a few years ago she was filled with self doubt, couldn’t stick up for herself, lacked confidence and was surrounded by negativity. Now, she refuses to let that negativity bother her. It will always be there, the stress and the negativity but it is not about that, it’s about how YOU react to it. It is her mission to support women who are affected by epilepsy and mentor them to pursue whatever they desire. Taking everything with one step at a time, it is her passion to inspire women and not let their disability define who they are. LISTEN TO THE 1 in 26 Podcast ABOUT JAMIE: http://jamiewissinger.com/ ABOUT THE ANITA KAUFMANN FOUNDATION: http://www.akfus.org/ SUPPORT ME with SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.

"Having a chronic condition such as epilepsy consistently prevents individuals from participating in sport. For someone with epilepsy the fear of making the condition worse, sustaining injury or even dying (Kale, 1997) are regularly quoted as reasons for very low participation levels, known to be as low as half that of the general population (Han, Choi-Kwon and Lee, 2011).” Ian Johnston was a very active football coach and runner before he started having seizures. Then, he became one of the 80% of people with epilepsy who are sedentary. But such a dramatic change in lifestyle prompted Ian to go to university. He wanted to study the reasons why he, and others like him, stop doing exercise when they start having seizures. We spoke about his path towards a Master in Clinical Exercise Physiology, his research and findings and how study the psychology of epilepsy and exercise helped him get back to exercise himself. In today's episode we talk about: Ian's life-long love of football Doing the Great North Run when he was 12 years old Being a football coach Having his first seizure when his was 48 The physical effects of epilepsy and medication The psychological problems returning to sports after seizures Deciding to do a Clinical Sports Physiology Masters when he was 49 years old The difficulties doing a clinical course with a sports background How his degree helped him understand his own epilepsy Learning to take blood samples and EEGs Why 80% of people with epilepsy are sedentary Developing an exercise programme for someone with epilepsy The results of his dissertation: "CAN A COACH INFLUENCE A RETURN TO EXERCISE FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS?" Plus, the footballer Leon Legge, Daniel Bedeau and more! LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON PATREON SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Tick Tick Tick by Logic Moon| Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License READ IAN'S FULL DISSERTATION on the website GET IN TOUCH WITH IAN by email READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

In this bonus episode, I catch-up with Becky Sampson. Four months after our initial conversation, coronavirus has changed plans for many. Becky tells me how it affected her round-the-world trip. In today's episode we talk about: Walking the Coast to Coast Track in Australia - in 9 days! Taking epilepsy medication across international borders The limits on anti-seizure medication for long journeys The unwanted side-effects of Sodium Valporate Seeing orangutans in Sumatra Being surrounded by monkeys in Angkor Wat without tourists Deciding whether to come back to the UK because of coronavirus Struggling to be repatriated Flying over the mountains in Cambodia Planning hikes in the UK Plus, what does 'adventure' mean to Becky? FIND BECKY: https://www.facebook.com/misadventuremagnet/photos SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Moon Fire by Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons License

Welcome to Season Two of Seize Your Adventure! This season, I will be speaking to even more people about a wider range of sports, and the conversations coming up in Season Two feel even more relevant in the current climate. Today’s chat is with a lady called Becky Sampson. Becky is from the UK, but she hasn’t been based there for over three years now. She got in touch with me over a year ago when she was halfway through riding a bike across New Zealand. I was already pretty impressed and jealous of this fact, but she went on to tell me that she had already been riding in Canada and some of the US. And after New Zealand she was heading on to Australia and then planning to cycle the long way home through Asia and Europe.I really think the guests talking about accepting and adapting to limits. In today's episode we talk about: Cycling around the world Adapting her bike to her own needs Travel insurance for long-term trips The extra costs on travel insurance for having epilepsy Which epilepsy medications is available around the world Which epilepsy medication is difficult at border crossings Changing medications and the side effects Having a seizure in a forest How travel partners have reacted to seizures The cost of an ambulance, a sandwich and a drink... Nearly running over a bear on her bike in Canada! FIND BECKY: https://www.facebook.com/misadventuremagnet/photos SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. MUSIC: Moon Fire by Kev Rowe on Soundcloud | Creative Commons License

So this is actually a sneaky extra episode of Season Two because I wanted to add a little prologue before we get into the season. Most of the interviews in the first part of this season were recorded in a very different world to one in which they are being released. The UK and a lot of the world are on lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. And like many in the outdoor community, in some ways seems odd to be releasing a podcast about getting outside, adventuring, not washing for days in some cases, when at the moment I am advocating for the opposite - stay close to home, stay inside. But I do feel that this is what makes Seize Your Adventure is more relevant than ever. The podcast has always toed that narrative between access to the outdoors, and being cut off from it. In many of the stories and interviews in Season Two, we talk about losing the ability to drive to our favourite places, or being stuck in hospital when mother ocean is calling. This series dives even deeper in the ways epilepsy has limited adventurous people, and how more importantly how they have either adapted to these limits. A lot of my guests talk about the long path to acceptance of living with the condition - including the fluctuations in amounts of seizures and way what we are capable of can change so quickly. And we also talk about the mental health difficulties that can spring upon us even when seizure-free - things such as anxiety and depression that are difficult to attribute to either physiology of our brains, or the psychology. BECOME A PATRON! I have - finally, after much prompting - set up a new Patreon account! If you appreciate the work I do, you can support me with monthly payments of as little as $3, less than the cost of a drink! You can sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure Patrons get unique benefits and get to see some of the inner-workings of the podcasting life - from Outtakes episodes, to a Patron-only newsletter. It is a strange time in the world, and I think we can all do with a bit of good storytelling, adventure and heart-to-heart conversations in our lives. If you are in a position to support, I can continue doing this thing! READ BLOGS seizeyouradventure.com/blog

Hello everyone, I am Fran Turauskis and I’m happy to introduce you to Season 2 of Seize Your Adventure. This season continues to explore the concept of adventure on a spectrum. Over the past few months, I’ve been hunting down even more people living with epilepsy who enjoy the adventure lifestyle.  This season will have more ‘chats’ with guests. We talked about how the smaller adventures can help maintain a sense of self after a diagnosis, and how it has helped some people change their path in life. We’ll be hearing about even more sports, from cycling to surfing, and we’ll continue to shed a light on some of the hidden aspects of taking on adventures with epilepsy. The guests acknowledge the limitations of living with epilepsy everyday and also go into some of the consequences and risks of having seizures at the wrong time. Whatever your knowledge level of adventure or epilepsy, Season Two of Seize Your Adventure will help you explore what adventure means to you. Episode 0 is out on 30th March, hit the subscribe button now so you don’t miss it. In the meantime, you can head to seizeyouradventure.com for some blog posts, and follow @SYAdventurers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for listening, and safe adventures! BECOME A PATRON TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST! You can now support Seize Your Adventure on Patreon. Patreon is a monthly donation platform to support creatives you believe in. You can pledge as little as $3 a month to help me run Seize Your Adventure. Head to https://patreon.com/seizeyouradventure to learn more. You can also make a one-off donation on Paypal at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure

In 2010, thirteen individuals got together in a hut in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The group shared a passion for the outdoors, an unyielding enthusiasm for life… and they also shared a link to different neurological challenges. These hardships could easily have led to a more subdued mindset. The thirteen people could have opted for a quieter, indoor life. But instead, they were inspired by one of the friends, whose diagnosis of a brain tumour encouraged him to use the outdoors as a way to cope, and a way to connect with others. That friend was Kyle Martin, and this meeting was the start of the organisation Outdoor Mindset (OM). Learn more about the Founders and members of the Outdoor Mindset community, and listen to how and why they chose to get outdoors and do adventure sports with conditions such as Parkinsons, MS, epilepsy and brain tumour. ABOUT OUTDOOR MINDSET: https://www.outdoormindset.org/ JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://www.outdoormindset.org/get-involved Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorMindset/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoormindset/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OutdoorMindset DONATE TO OUTDOOR MINDSET: https://www.outdoormindset.org/donate SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts MUSIC: Groovy Guitar - LOOP by joshuaempyre | License: Attribution Groovy Guitar 2 - LOOP.wav by joshuaempyre | License: Attribution Lonely Lake by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons

This is not quite Seize Your Adventure, but rather a short trailer episode to send you off to another podcast. Over the past few months I’ve been working on an episode for another independent podcast called Out There. It looks at the big questions in life through our relationship with the outdoors, using storytelling. So it is with huge pride that I can say my episode was released last week. It’s called “The ‘Privilege’ to Choose” and I thought I’d give you a little taster: “In this episode, we’re going to be listening to a story about choice. Having the ability to choose can be something of a privilege. For some people, the choices they are able to make can become limited by factors such as income, responsibilities or health. But can having limited choice sometimes make things easier?” Head over to http://www.outtherepodcast.com/episodes to listen to the full story. FOLLOW OUT THERE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outtherepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutTherePodcast/ SUPPORT SYA! BUY MUGS, JOURNALS, & DONATE: https://seizeyouradventure.com/shop/ FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ And please listen, share, subscribe, rate… and don’t forget to tag when you do!

I get a lot of people contacting me. People who have adventurous souls and lived and breathed their sports before they started having seizures and were diagnosed with epilepsy. And the question I get asked most by people in this situation is “can I do this sport with epilepsy?”. And no matter what the sport is, my answer always has to be the same: “I cannot say”. I talk about a very valuable resource from the International League Against Epilepsy or ILAE that was recently shared with with. And I wish that I’d known about this sooner because it’s two tables that clearly lay out some guidelines for taking part in sports with epilepsy. One table is labelled ‘Seizure risk level in sport’ The second table is labelled ‘Recommended sport participation by seizure’. Listen to me talk about some of the sports on these tables, and advice on doing sports with epilepsy by the ILAE. You can find the tables by ILAE here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/epi.13261 DISCLAIMER: All information presented in this podcast is for your information. I have not contributed to the classing of sports. I take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions. Risks will be different based on the sport and individual. Always speak to your neurology team. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ And tag when you listen, share, subscribe!

Three months in and seven challenges down, I am right on track with my #30at30forEpilepsy. In this bonus episode, you get to hear the seven lessons I have learned so far from ice climbing, archery, axe throwing, trail running, mountain biking, hiking at altitude and wild swimming. This is how I have safe adventures with epilepsy :) MENTIONS: Archery Fit Vertical Chill Sally Orange SayYesMore and the Yes Tribe Tough Girl Podcast and the Tough Girl Tribe Outdoor Mindset SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

Amanda Plomp is a runner with epilepsy based in Victoria in Canada. As we heard in the last episode, discovering running in her twenties helped Amanda to feel strong and connected to her body, a feeling she had missed since her seizures started when she was a teenager. Running helps with her epilepsy. And epilepsy helps with her running. In my conversation with Amanda, I was able to delve into this a bit more. I asked for her tips for me, as a new runner with epilepsy, and asked her to talk me through the different types of running terrain she enjoys. WE TALK ABOUT: How different seizures affect her running How running helps with epilepsy Hiking and camping in Canada Why Amanda chooses not to wear a medical alert bracelet Which is better: backwoods running, beach running or trail running? Running solo vs running races The difference between ‘active’ and ‘athletic’ The dangers of running solo in bear country Her advice for me running my first race with epilepsy How important it is to tell adventure buddies about your epilepsy Why we should teach raccoons seize first aid... Please remember all stories presented here reflect the personal experiences of contributors . Neither myself or contributors can advise or take responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions. TERMINOLOGY: Myoclonic seizures/jerks: partial seizures that cause isolated jerks or twitches, for example in the arms or legs Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy of Janz: epilepsy with various seizures, including myoclonic, diagnosed before adulthood (read more) Tonic clonic: a seizure with loss of consciousness and convulsions Packed trail: maintained dirt path or trail, usually marked MORE ABOUT AMANDA: https://tremorsofmyworld.blog/ JOIN ME IN AN ADVENTURE: https://www.francescaturauskis.co.uk/30-at-30 MUSIC: Where the Wild Things Grow by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons SUPPORT SYA! BUY MUGS, JOURNALS AND POSTCARDS: https://seizeyouradventure.com/shop/ FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ And tag us when you listen, share, subscribe!

DISCLAIMER: Please remember all stories presented reflect the personal experiences of contributors . We take no responsibility for individual decisions made with regards to adventure sports or medical conditions. For most people, the teenage years are a crucial period in finding out who we are. We try out lots of new things, we meet new people, we’re growing into new bodies and we’re starting to figure out the adult we will become. It is a period in our lives when we begin to define ourselves. So it’s a horrible irony that the teenage years are also a time that a lot of people start experiencing seizures. Today’s story comes from Amanda Plomp. Nowadays, Amanda defines herself as a runner, an athlete… and as an epileptic. But that wasn’t always the case. When Amanda started having seizures in her teens, it made her feel lost in her own body. Both the seizures and the medication she was prescribed to help stop them impacted on the activities that she enjoyed, and she hid her seizures from everyone, worried it would change what people thought of her. In the end, it was running that helped Amanda reconnect with her body, and redefine her sense of self. TERMINOLOGY: Myoclonic seizures/jerks: partial seizures that cause isolated jerks or twitches, for example in the arms or legs Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy of Janz: epilepsy with various seizures, including myoclonic, diagnosed before adulthood (read more) Tonic clonic: a seizure with loss of consciousness and convulsions Packed trail: maintained dirt path or trail, usually marked MORE ABOUT AMANDA: https://tremorsofmyworld.blog/ MUSIC: Where the Wild Things Grow by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons Bubblegum by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons E I - 5.mp3 by cunningGnome | License: Attribution Noncommercial SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ And tag us when you listen, share, subscribe!

Today’s story is a small epic of a tale. It starts on the other side of the world, it includes some dramatic moments, some aspirations achieved. I also had to download a beep sound to censor some swear words in this episode - and you’ll soon understand why. This is the story of my first #30at30forEpilepsy challenge. This is my ice climbing adventure. Why Ice Climbing? Well one reason is that I am trying out some of the sports that contributors to Seize Your Adventure already do. Some of you out there will be familiar with a gentleman called Alex Staniforth. Alex was plagued by adversity and epilepsy as a child, and has gone on to do some extraordinary things, including attempting to climb Everest on two occasions. The first time he tried was when he was eighteen, which is quite incredible. So ice climbing is partly inspired by Alex. I figured, this might be one of the harder challenges to arrange. I live near London, a place that’s not really known for its glaciers or icy mountains. I thought I’d have to jet off to another country, brave the cold on the remote side of a mountain, and contend with all the extra risks there might be from having epilepsy in that environment. But I did some research and I learned that there are actually a few indoor icewalls in the UK and the team at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports invited me along to an session at their indoor wall, called Vertical Chill. So suddenly, from being one of the harder challenges to arrange it became the easiest. I was so excited I made it the 1st challenge and spent some time on MY ACTUAL 30th BIRTHDAY climbing a wall of ice, in the middle of London which is just... so cool. (I’m sorry for the pun.) TRY ICE CLIMBING: You can experience the thrill of real ice climbing in the city at the Vertical Chill Ice walls London and Manchester (located within Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports) Vertical-chill.com MUSIC: Cinematic Trailer - Epic Emotional Background Music / Action Orchestral Music by AShamaluevMusic | License: Creative Commons SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ And tag when you listen, share, subscribe!

We’ve heard from people with epilepsy how they seize adventure. Now it’s time to put some adventurers on the spot. I talk to three people who work within the adventure field to find out what they know about epilepsy, what they don’t, and how we can get more people with epilepsy in adventure. We mention: -These three adventure professionals’ first aid and epilepsy experience -How they handle risk assessments -The different types of seizure -Basic epilepsy first aid -How to encourage people with epilepsy to take part in adventure -What adventure means to them -Where to go to learn more about epilepsy THE ADVENTURERS: Jago Hartland (Outdoor Pursuits Guide, and fellow SayYesMore Ambassador) Find out more about Jago: https://sayyesmore.com/ambassador-jagohartland David Willis (Bushcraft Instructor) Find out more about David: http://www.davidwillis.info/ Nicki Bass (Resilience Consultant) Find out more about Nicki: https://www.resiliencework.co.uk/about LEARN ABOUT EPILEPSY: https://seizeyouradventure.com/learn-about-epilepsy/ DONATE TO YOUNG EPILEPSY: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/epilepsy-adventure JOIN THE YESTRIBE: https://www.facebook.com/SayYesMore/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://seizeyouradventure.com/shop/

Jake Quigley is the executive director of the non profit Outdoor Mindset. The organisation’s mission is to unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion of the outdoors. It is a free membership-based community. When he is not working, Jake can be found adventuring outdoors with his wife, Jeanie, by foot, bike, or ski. If you haven’t listen to Jake’s story, be sure to head back to Part One so that you make the most of our conversation! We talked about: - His epilepsy diagnosis at 11 years old - How adventure can increase confidence, positivity and the ability to deal with challenge - The path to brain surgery - How to dispel the fear and stigma around epilepsy - What is telemark skiing? - How altitude might affect epilepsy - What he could teach me in mountain biking! - Getting support from Diane Van Deren - What you CAN control when you are diagnosed - How exercise can help your brain - The influence of the outdoors on depression and anxiety - The changes in attitude towards epilepsy - His next big adventure Terminology: Grand mal: a generalised seizure where a person loses consciousness and convulses. Also known as a tonic-clonic (more modern term). Aura: a change in brain activity that causes some strange sensations. Often a warning of a seizure. More about Outdoor Mindset: https://www.outdoormindset.org/ Follow Outdoor Mindset: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorMindset/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoormindset/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OutdoorMindset Music: Lonely Lake by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts Follow Seize Your Adventure: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ And tag us when you listen, share, subscribe!

For Jake Quigley, adventure is more than just a past time, or even a passion. Adventure is a lifestyle, and one he built up around his epilepsy. Jake was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was eleven years old. Rather than being scared by the condition, those around him encouraged and supported Jake to try adventurous things. But having carved out his adventure lifestyle, Jake’s seizures began to evolve when he was an adult, and they started to impact on his quality of life. Eventually, medication wasn’t working, and Jake was left with one last option. Brain surgery. TERMINOLOGY Medically refractory epilepsy: Epilepsy that is never fully controlled by medication. Generalised seizure: a seizure that affects the entire brain Focal point: A place in the brain the seizure starts Grand mal: a generalised seizure where a person loses consciousness and convulses. Also known as a tonic-clonic (more modern term). More about Outdoor Mindset: https://www.outdoormindset.org/ MUSIC: Groovy Guitar - LOOP by joshuaempyre | License: Attribution Extract of "wrapped in dreams" by Frankum & Frankumjay | License: Creative Commons. Lonely Lake by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons git2016_4.WAV by Hoerspielwerkstatt_HEF | License: Attribution BR_094_Himalaya_Buddhistmonks.mp3 by kevp888 | License: Attribution Groovy Guitar 2 - LOOP.wav by joshuaempyre | License: Attribution Explosion and Ski sound effects from Zapsplat | License: Creative Commons SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

Adventurer. Soldier. Author. Jordan Wylie is known for his challenges at the extreme end of the adventure spectrum. Described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as “A determined, fearless adventurer and an inspiring man”, Jordan has run races in Iraq, Afghansistan and Somalia, he has written a book about his time tackling pirates off the coast of Africa, and he has hiked Kilimajaro... barefoot. But Jordan is also known for his passion for helping others in his role as an ambassador, trustee and campaigner for various international charities, including Frontline Children and Epilepsy Action. He was diagnosed with epilepsy himself after he contracted dengue fever whilst in Djibouti. But rather than letting it slow him down, Jordan took on the role of an epilepsy ambassador, and continues to push the boundaries of extreme adventure. We talked about: His most difficult challenge so far How he was diagnosed with epilepsy What an Extreme Adventurer does when they’re not adventuring - Who makes him starstruck His must-visit travel destinations How to limit epilepsy risk Swimming with crocodiles! And more... Donate to Rowing Dangerously: https://www.givepenny.com/rowingdangerously Follow the Rowing Dangerously Challenge on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RowDangerously Find out more about Jordan: https://www.jordanwylie.org/ Jordan’s Recommendations: Declassified Podcast Citadel by Jordan Wylie SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.

Advocate for adventure and epilepsy awareness. Writer. Editor. Podcaster. Public Speaker. In this interview (of sorts) you get to hear more from me, Fran Turauskis. To celebrate the one-year anniversary for seizeyouradventure.com you asked me about my adventures, epilepsy, and more. I talk about: Finding the way when you’re lost Adapting adventures to your ability What having epilepsy has taught me The highs and lows of starting Seize Your Adventure Hiking the Camino Family hiking holidays What I say to those that tell me not to do something My next challenge - 30 Adventures in 1 year! And yes, I do say ‘three pikes’ instead of ‘three peaks’... I don’t know why. Questions: Dave Cornthwaite of Say Yes More Jade Nelson Christalle Bodiford Tiffany Webb Kathi Kamlietner Jordan Wylie SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts MUSIC: Buskers in Bilbao recorded on the Camino

Let me take you on a very intimate journey from my first seizure to walking the Norte and Primitivo Caminos. With music recorded whilst I was walking, this will give you an insight into my experience of The Way. On a post-referendum quest to discover more of Europe, I decided to take a five-hundred mile walk across Spain. In the summer of 2017, I set out to walk the Camino de Santiago. I expected sore feet, time to think and intimate talks with strangers (mainly about blisters). I didn’t expect my epilepsy to be such a focus of conversation and source of admiration. As you listen to my story, I hope that fellow pilgrims recognise themselves. It might push aspiring pilgrims to buy a guidebook. And if you want to know more about me and my epilepsy, this is your chance. And you get to hear me sing... More about me: https://francescaturauskis.co.uk Related articles: https://seizeyouradventure.com/2018/02/14/the-camino-diaries/ https://seizeyouradventure.com/2018/07/08/hiking-snowdon-now-and-then/ Buy merchandise or donate to the podcast: https://seizeyouradventure.com/shop Music: Fiesta recorded on the Camino Acoustic Venezuelan Cuatro by iluppai | License: Creative Commons 0 via Freesound.org Didgeridoo recorded on the Camino Buskers in Bilbao recorded on the Camino Tom Paget recorded and sung by me on a path in Surrey Fiesta in Santiago recorded on the Camino Follow Seize Your Adventure: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/ Buen Camino!

It is important to acknowledge when we do impressive things. Not just because a sense of pride won’t do us any harm. But because it makes our stories more realistic to that person who is scared that it’s too hard for them. In a strange way, if we acknowledge that something is hard for us, it makes it more attainable to everyone else. Joe Stevenson reached a personal peak when he reached the top of Ben Nevis. In episode 3, he told us how this adventure came about. The conversation in this episode lets you hear a little bit more about: Joe’s everyday life as a hiker with epilepsy How Joe was diagnosed with epilepsy His 7 year period of depression and how he overcame it The side effects of the medication His difficulty finding work due to epilepsy And we find out where he’s aiming his sights next, now he knows what he is capable of... I’d like to thank Joe for speaking to me so honestly. Some of the subjects he mentioned aren’t easy, but my hope it that us talking about it makes it better. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed, Epilepsy Action is a charity that provides support and expert advice for people with epilepsy. You can speak to them about all elements of living with epilepsy or if you are interested in taking on your own challenge for Epilepsy Action. If you have depression, or would like to talk to someone about your mental health and how you feel, you can contact Mind for information and support. Find out more about Joe: https://epilepticman.com/ Related articles: https://seizeyouradventure.com/2018/06/03/charity-hiking-101-raising-money/ https://seizeyouradventure.com/2018/07/08/hiking-snowdon-now-and-then/ Donate to support the podcast: https://seizeyouradventure.com/shop Music: From Folk Guitar Music Track by Dvideoguy under the Creative Commons License.

This podcast takes you to one of the most remote parts of the UK, an area renowned as the last wilderness of Britain. Even the most touristic areas take some effort to get to. Welcome to the Scottish highlands. Joe Stevenson tells us about a charity hike he did a couple of years ago. Charity events are a great way of becoming a little bit more adventurous. The challenges are organised for you, the group leaders have plenty of experience with people of all finesses and of course, you can raise some money for a good cause at the same time. The hike that Joe decided to do was the Ben Nevis Challenge for Epilepsy Action. Joe hadn’t climbed a mountain before his trip to Scotland, but he decided to take on the highest peak in the UK. Epilepsy Action is a charity that provides support and expert advice, raises awareness and advocates for people with epilepsy. You can speak to them about all elements of living with epilepsy or if you are interested in taking on a challenge for Epilepsy Action. If you have depression, or would like some help with your mental health, you can contact Mind for information and support. Find out more about Joe: https://epilepticman.com/ Music: GuitarDandCWithLONGERFade.wav by Kevin Boucher Folk Guitar Music Track by Dvideoguy Tick Tick Tick by k2tr Head to seizeyouradventure.com for the full story. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

In this Q&A, we’ll learn a bit more about Jade Nelson, who wrote and read the Episode 1 story, “Peace in West Texas”. Jade is a licensed Massage Therapist, Epilepsy Advocate, Public Speaker and Writer based in Austin, Texas. Her focus is helping spread awareness of epilepsy and the ketogenic diet (a high fat, low carb diet that was invented in the 1920s to help control seizures) via her talks and writing. Her website, jadenelson.net, is packed with recipes and information on the ketogenic diet and learning to live the ketogenic lifestyle. Jade and I have been talking via Instagram and email for over a year now, but this was the first time we had actually spoken to each other, so it was great to have a talk. There’s about a 6 hour time difference between us, and Jade kindly got up before sunrise to speak to me. It was a pretty intense conversation for that time in the morning, but it was so good to learn more about Jade! We talked about some of the activities Jade’s been involved in over the years, including karate, stand up paddleboarding, and ultimate frisbee. We talked about some of her bigger adventures, and the small routines she does to keep her active. And we talked about Jade’s epilepsy, the various medications and treatments for epilepsy over the years, including the ketogenic diet. I’d also like to pre-emptively correct my ignorance. At one point during the conversation, I say that stand up paddleboarding is a new sport. I have since researched, and it’s not new at all. It’s been practiced in Hawaii since about the 16th Century. DISCLAIMER: The discussion in this episode relates to Jade’s personal experience, and it is important to discuss with your doctors and professional team whether the ketogenic diet will be suitable for you. If you take AEDs or medication, do not stop them except on doctors advice. The ketogenic diet should only be attempted with the knowledge and advice of your neurology team and a nutritionist. If you would like to learn more about epilepsy, or have been affected by this episode, you can phone the epilepsy society (UK) on 01494 601 400 Music: acoustic guitar interlude by graham_makes SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

Camping is one of the simplest ways to spend some time outdoors, so when Jade was determined to get back out into nature, a short camping trip seemed like the obvious choice. When she and her husband Eric set out with their dogs, she had specific expectations. Fond memories of camping trips in the Pacific Northwest and New England meant she hoped to find comfort in the beauty of her surroundings. But camping in West Texas was a new experience. And when a small mistake threatened to upset the whole trip, Jade discovered that the Lone Star State had an emotional lesson to teach her... Find out more about Jade: https://www.jadenelson.net/ https://www.instagram.com/thetraininsideme/ Stuff to buy: https://seizeyouradventure.com/shop Work with Seize Your Adventure: https://seizeyouradventure.com/work-with-us/ Music: Poignant Texas by Mark T Dandelion.mp3 by TexasMusicForge acoustic guitar interlude by graham_makes Head to seizeyouradventure.com for the full story. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

Start gearing up for the Seize Your Adventure podcast: this is where the adventure community and the epilepsy community meet. This podcast will share intimate stories and conversations from people with epilepsy who enjoy the adventure lifestyle. For those of you who have no contact with epilepsy, these stories will let you connect with the people behind the diagnosis and will give you an idea of how the condition fits into our lives. For those with epilepsy, I hope it will encourage you and give you confidence to get out there at bit more. For all of us, it will bring a little bit more adventure and inspiration into our lives. Head to seizeyouradventure.com for the full story. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure. READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts