Podcasts about paralympics

Getting you caught up with all the latest pop culture headlines. Also, sitting down with actress, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling cookbook author Ayesha Curry to discuss her lifestyle brand Sweet July. Plus, ‘Love Island' star and Paralympic Track and Field athlete, Beatriz Hatz, stops by to talk about her story, her disability advocacy, and her time on the show. And, which trending beauty hacks are worth the hype. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this "Community Spotlight Edition" of "Ask the Expert," Landy Thomas of SRNA spoke with Cindy Ranii about living with transverse myelitis (TM). Cindy described her diagnostic journey, rehabilitation, accessibility, and financial challenges [00:53]. She discussed returning to work briefly before retiring, emphasizing the importance of support, love, and community [08:51]. Cindy shared her path from wheelchair tennis to international wheelchair table tennis, and her pursuit of Paralympic qualification through point-based global competition [13:17]. She also discussed writing and self-publishing her book, Parakeet Races and Other Stories, inspired by family memories and her experience with TM [31:58].Cindy Ranii is a 79-year-old retired educator who lives with her wife Shelly and service dog Hollis in Santa Cruz, California. In 2005, her life changed drastically when she was diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM). Within four days, she went from golfing, playing tennis, and working vigorously as the Superintendent of a local high school district to being a paraplegic (T-3 complete).Six months after her diagnosis she was back at work, using a wheelchair fulltime. Eighteen months later she decided to retire to have enough energy to enjoy her family (four children and 13 grandchildren) and to rebuild an active lifestyle. She competed in wheelchair tennis and then pursued table tennis with her eyes on the Paralympics. Currently she is training to compete in the 2028 LA Paralympics in wheelchair table tennis, saying, “My quest is to be the oldest Paralympian in history. It's a long shot; but why not!”Cindy has written numerous articles regarding living with a disability for New Mobility Magazine and authored a memoir, Parakeet Races and Other Stories, which is available through Amazon: https://rebrand.ly/cindy-ranii 00:00 Welcome00:53 Cindy's Diagnosis Overview01:37 Early Symptoms and ER Rush06:07 Hospital Transfer and TM Diagnosis08:51 Rehab Reality and New Life11:27 Accessibility Costs and Support13:17 Paralympic Table Tennis Quest17:52 Disability Community and Pride20:25 Finding Resilience Through Sport22:34 Mentors and New Athletic Path28:27 Work Return Then Retirement31:58 Writing Her Memoir37:09 Closing Reflections

From a Ukrainian orphanage to the top of the global podium, 24-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters defines raw resilience. Born with severe radiation-induced birth defects and surviving early childhood trauma, Oksana reveals how a mother's love and the power of sport transformed her pain into an unparalleled athletic drive. She shares how shifting her perspective allowed her to find light in the darkest hardships, proving that your past doesn't have to define your potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode of The Quiz, we're testing your knowledge on everything from the icy rinks of hockey history to the golden eras of baseball, basketball, football, and boxing. Can you answer these? Hardwood Legends: Over in the NBA, a legendary Boston Celtics center and multi-time champion was affectionately known by a stoic, commanding title. Can you name this Hall of Famer's nickname? Gridiron Icons: We shift to the football field, where a beloved Pittsburgh Steelers running back mowed down defenders like a heavy transit vehicle. What was his classic nickname? Boxing History: We wrap up in the ring with a legendary turn-of-the-century bantamweight fighter known for his remarkably slender build and unique nickname. Can you name this boxing pioneer? Play. Share Listen, with 24-time Paralympic medalist and author, Oksana Masters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up on this episode of The Neutral Zone, we will be joined by multi-para sport athlete Martha Gustafson.  Martha will join us to talk about her wonderful career. Plus, we discuss a tragic accident involving a Paralympic athlete from the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah Hayayei, and how everything could have been avoided.

In two years, the LA 2028 Olympics will get underway, and we're looking ahead to those Games and what they'll have to offer. Superfan Sarah, officially recognized as Team USA's #1 fan, joins us to talk about how to prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics and what sports we're looking forward to seeing. We also discuss the many American comebacks that are happening in light of a home Games, and we start speculating on who could light the cauldron. Who do you think will be involved? Let us know!  Volunteer applications are open for LA28. They're looking for Games-time volunteers in all of the host cities, but if you're local to the Los Angeles area, there are ongoing opportunities to help out with monthly beautification and restoration projects. Find more info and apply here: https://volunteer.la28.org/en In other LA 2028 news: We're closer to seeing Major League Baseball players participate in the Olympics On Location has announced hospitality packages for more sports and competition zones, plus a "follow my team" option for basketball ("climate control" and "shade" are big catchphrases with hospitality options) More hospitality houses are coming, including ones for Africa, Cabo Verde, Germany and Romania.   SUMMER OF NOSTALGIA We're having a Summer of Nostalgia at our Patreon site where we're sharing never-before-seen photos and videos from our escapades at Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, and Milano Cortina 2026. Relive those memories with us by becoming a patron or purchasing the Summer of Nostalgia collection at patreon.com/flamealivepod.   For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!     *** Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT. ***     Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348      

Karen Stanley, founder of Mabel and Stanley Publishing, joins Sian Murphy and Adelle Martin to talk about what actually happens when you decide to write a book, and why it rarely goes the way you expect. Karen is a fifteen times published author who has been through traditional publishing, self publishing, a horrible run in with a vanity press, and finally built her own hybrid publishing house after mentoring over eighty new authors.In this episode she breaks down the difference between traditional, self, hybrid and vanity publishing, explains the red flags that show a publisher is preying on new writers, and shares why marketing, not writing, is where most authors get stuck. She also talks through real client examples, including a mindset coach for professional footballers, a Paralympic gold medallist, and a sleep coach who quit her day job after her book took off.If you have ever thought about writing a book for your business, or wondered whether the publishing deal you have been offered is too good to be true, this one is for you.Follow the show so you never miss an episode. ★ Support this podcast ★

Evan, Michelle, and Courtney Cronin welcome Harper Harrell and Heather Hindin to the show to tell 12-year-old Harper's cancer survival story. Oksana Masters joins us to talk about being up for an award at tonight's ESPYs in the Paralympics category. Donate at v.org/donate! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Evan, Michelle, and Courtney Cronin welcome Harper Harrell and Heather Hindin to the show to tell 12-year-old Harper's cancer survival story. Oksana Masters joins us to talk about being up for an award at tonight's ESPYs in the Paralympics category. Donate at v.org/donate! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It all began with the Showdown!  The first Showdown was held in the summer of 2021 after USA Hockey had cancelled the only event our community participated in annually, the Disabled Festival for two years running due to COVID.  The Podcast led to the SHowdown, the Showdown  led to the Foundation, and the rest is history.   Every game has been livestreamed since DAY ONE!  Catch every game here this weekend:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWKs1P5mQgpR8YaEQZ0rNzg   Support The Dented Puck & The Growth of Blind Hockey!

Thinking about a big hair change? Try it with AI first. Plus, Stacey, a Paralympic chaplain and wheelchair athlete, spent 7 hours manually entering financial reports every year. We got the fix to save her time and money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Johnnie Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving two years and one tour in Iraq. He would sustain an injury as the result of a Humvee accident in 2003 and would be introduced to adaptive sports as part of his recovery. He would make his way to a Paralympic Sport Camp hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma, a Move United member organization and take up the field sports of javelin and discuss. After medaling at the 2015 Parapan American Games, Johnnie would go on to compete at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Now he is a coach with Oklahoma Youth Parasports.

AwesomeCast 787 gets practical, futuristic and increasingly strange as Sorg, Katie Dudas and Dave Podnar explore family-safe phones, connected health gadgets, USB-C mysteries, robotic limbs, Instagram's latest AI privacy controversy and Fortnite's revealing new take on the DC Universe. Sorg also begins downloading the iOS 27 public beta during the show, despite Katie's warnings and a few concerns being saved for the Patreon aftertalk. Stories and Gadgets Discussed A wireless microphone saves the podcast: When Dave's regular microphone setup breaks, he switches to a compact dual wireless microphone system that connects through USB-C. The plug-and-play backup works with phones and laptops without a complicated setup. Omron 7 Series Bluetooth blood pressure monitor: Dave reviews a new connected blood pressure monitor after getting inconsistent readings from an older device. He highlights its larger arm cuff, support for two users, storage for multiple readings, three-reading averages, Apple Health integration and the ability to export results for a doctor. https://amzn.to/4yncwxY Pinwheel phones, watches and home phones for kids: Katie introduces Pinwheel's managed technology ecosystem for children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers can control approved contacts, monitor texts, restrict social media, set bedtime schedules, review locations and gradually unlock features as a child gets older. The company also offers a standalone smartwatch and a Wi-Fi-powered corded home phone that brings back the satisfaction of dramatically hanging up. https://www.pinwheel.com Kennywood's reopening and the mystery bag gamble: Sorg recounts a delayed visit to Kennywood after a water-main break interrupted opening day. His $5 mystery merchandise bag produced a Kennywood gaiter, a vintage postcard and a Jack Rabbit 100th-anniversary pin. Awesome Person of the Week — Rory Cooper: For Disability Pride Month, Dave profiles inventor, engineer and Paralympic medalist Rory Cooper. After becoming paralyzed while serving in the military, Cooper designed a lighter wheelchair and built a career improving mobility technology. His Pittsburgh work includes the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, a collaboration involving the University of Pittsburgh and the Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.invent.org/inductees/rory-cooper WhatCable diagnoses confusing USB-C connections: Sorg tests a free Mac utility that reveals what connected USB-C cables, chargers, docks and ports can actually do. The app displays negotiated speeds, charging details, supported USB standards and potential bottlenecks—useful for anyone wondering why a drive, monitor or video device is underperforming. https://www.whatcable.uk/ LEGO's Fast & Furious Toyota Supra MK4: Katie finds a new LEGO Speed Champions version of Brian O'Conner's Toyota Supra from The Fast and the Furious. The set includes the bright orange movie car and a Brian O'Conner minifigure in his signature T-shirt and jeans. https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/the-fast-and-the-furious-toyota-supra-mk4-77260 Speed and racing technology at the Carnegie Science Center: The hosts preview an upcoming speed-focused exhibit featuring an interactive track and specialized vehicles connected to the Petersen Automotive Museum. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1PZqTmHP4J/?mibextid=wwXIfr Using AI to teach respectful sports camera work: The team examines guidelines designed to prevent women athletes from being sexualized through revealing angles and unnecessary slow-motion replays. Sorg discusses turning the concept into an AI-generated pro wrestling camera guide that can help videographers recognize respectful framing, understand consent and avoid exploitative shots. https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1uwaxzx/some_of_the_new_guidelines_that_have_been/ Instagram reverses its public-profile AI remix feature: Dave explains the backlash surrounding a Meta AI feature that could use images from public Instagram profiles in AI creations without first requiring users to opt in. The hosts discuss predictable abuse, privacy risks and why technology companies need more diverse voices involved before launching features like this. Meta subsequently disabled the feature. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/07/13/meta-disables-ai-feature-instagram-backlash/90899917007/ Jizai Arms bring Doctor Octopus technology closer to reality: A Japanese research project demonstrates wearable robotic arms that can be attached, removed and exchanged between users. The hosts debate whether the project represents meaningful cyborg research, performance art or technology created without enough consideration for how the public will interpret it. https://jizai-arms.com/ Additional commentary: https://www.instagram.com/refashionedhippie/ Fortnite launches “Hot Bat Summer”: Batman, Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Poison Ivy receive beach-ready DC skins in Fortnite. The discussion naturally turns toward the absurdity of a game where swimsuit Batman can share a battlefield with Bugs Bunny, Homer Simpson and an armed dog in a bee costume. https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-hot-bat-summer-skins-dc-batman-harley-quinn-catwoman-poison-ivy/ A shirtless protester attacks a Waymo vehicle: Video of a man climbing onto and damaging a Waymo in East Hollywood launches a wider conversation about autonomous vehicles, public surveillance, camera networks and the lack of privacy in modern public spaces. The hosts also discuss how easily hacked or deleted accounts can remove years of digital purchases. https://kotaku.com/shirtless-man-starts-butlerian-jihad-against-waymo-in-east-hollywood-2000715911 Support AwesomeCast and receive the Patreon aftertalk at: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast AwesomeCast is part of the Sorgatron Media Podcast Network: https://www.sorgatronmedia.com Production services provided by Sidekick Media Services: https://www.sidekickmediaservices.com Supporting Pittsburgh podcasting with the perfect pepperoni pizza: https://www.sliceonbroadway.com

AwesomeCast 787 gets practical, futuristic and increasingly strange as Sorg, Katie Dudas and Dave Podnar explore family-safe phones, connected health gadgets, USB-C mysteries, robotic limbs, Instagram's latest AI privacy controversy and Fortnite's revealing new take on the DC Universe. Sorg also begins downloading the iOS 27 public beta during the show, despite Katie's warnings and a few concerns being saved for the Patreon aftertalk. Stories and Gadgets Discussed A wireless microphone saves the podcast: When Dave's regular microphone setup breaks, he switches to a compact dual wireless microphone system that connects through USB-C. The plug-and-play backup works with phones and laptops without a complicated setup. Omron 7 Series Bluetooth blood pressure monitor: Dave reviews a new connected blood pressure monitor after getting inconsistent readings from an older device. He highlights its larger arm cuff, support for two users, storage for multiple readings, three-reading averages, Apple Health integration and the ability to export results for a doctor. https://amzn.to/4yncwxY Pinwheel phones, watches and home phones for kids: Katie introduces Pinwheel's managed technology ecosystem for children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers can control approved contacts, monitor texts, restrict social media, set bedtime schedules, review locations and gradually unlock features as a child gets older. The company also offers a standalone smartwatch and a Wi-Fi-powered corded home phone that brings back the satisfaction of dramatically hanging up. https://www.pinwheel.com Kennywood's reopening and the mystery bag gamble: Sorg recounts a delayed visit to Kennywood after a water-main break interrupted opening day. His $5 mystery merchandise bag produced a Kennywood gaiter, a vintage postcard and a Jack Rabbit 100th-anniversary pin. Awesome Person of the Week — Rory Cooper: For Disability Pride Month, Dave profiles inventor, engineer and Paralympic medalist Rory Cooper. After becoming paralyzed while serving in the military, Cooper designed a lighter wheelchair and built a career improving mobility technology. His Pittsburgh work includes the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, a collaboration involving the University of Pittsburgh and the Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.invent.org/inductees/rory-cooper WhatCable diagnoses confusing USB-C connections: Sorg tests a free Mac utility that reveals what connected USB-C cables, chargers, docks and ports can actually do. The app displays negotiated speeds, charging details, supported USB standards and potential bottlenecks—useful for anyone wondering why a drive, monitor or video device is underperforming. https://www.whatcable.uk/ LEGO's Fast & Furious Toyota Supra MK4: Katie finds a new LEGO Speed Champions version of Brian O'Conner's Toyota Supra from The Fast and the Furious. The set includes the bright orange movie car and a Brian O'Conner minifigure in his signature T-shirt and jeans. https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/the-fast-and-the-furious-toyota-supra-mk4-77260 Speed and racing technology at the Carnegie Science Center: The hosts preview an upcoming speed-focused exhibit featuring an interactive track and specialized vehicles connected to the Petersen Automotive Museum. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1PZqTmHP4J/?mibextid=wwXIfr Using AI to teach respectful sports camera work: The team examines guidelines designed to prevent women athletes from being sexualized through revealing angles and unnecessary slow-motion replays. Sorg discusses turning the concept into an AI-generated pro wrestling camera guide that can help videographers recognize respectful framing, understand consent and avoid exploitative shots. https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1uwaxzx/some_of_the_new_guidelines_that_have_been/ Instagram reverses its public-profile AI remix feature: Dave explains the backlash surrounding a Meta AI feature that could use images from public Instagram profiles in AI creations without first requiring users to opt in. The hosts discuss predictable abuse, privacy risks and why technology companies need more diverse voices involved before launching features like this. Meta subsequently disabled the feature. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/07/13/meta-disables-ai-feature-instagram-backlash/90899917007/ Jizai Arms bring Doctor Octopus technology closer to reality: A Japanese research project demonstrates wearable robotic arms that can be attached, removed and exchanged between users. The hosts debate whether the project represents meaningful cyborg research, performance art or technology created without enough consideration for how the public will interpret it. https://jizai-arms.com/ Additional commentary: https://www.instagram.com/refashionedhippie/ Fortnite launches “Hot Bat Summer”: Batman, Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Poison Ivy receive beach-ready DC skins in Fortnite. The discussion naturally turns toward the absurdity of a game where swimsuit Batman can share a battlefield with Bugs Bunny, Homer Simpson and an armed dog in a bee costume. https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-hot-bat-summer-skins-dc-batman-harley-quinn-catwoman-poison-ivy/ A shirtless protester attacks a Waymo vehicle: Video of a man climbing onto and damaging a Waymo in East Hollywood launches a wider conversation about autonomous vehicles, public surveillance, camera networks and the lack of privacy in modern public spaces. The hosts also discuss how easily hacked or deleted accounts can remove years of digital purchases. https://kotaku.com/shirtless-man-starts-butlerian-jihad-against-waymo-in-east-hollywood-2000715911 Support AwesomeCast and receive the Patreon aftertalk at: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast AwesomeCast is part of the Sorgatron Media Podcast Network: https://www.sorgatronmedia.com Production services provided by Sidekick Media Services: https://www.sidekickmediaservices.com Supporting Pittsburgh podcasting with the perfect pepperoni pizza: https://www.sliceonbroadway.com

Winner of two Paralympic gold medals and one silver medal in Paris 2024, Alexa Leary OAM, is known for her extraordinary resilience. She's today's guest on our radio show Brainwaves, and will discuss Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), mental health challenges and disability. After a life-threatening cycling accident in 2021 left Alexa with a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), she undertook a remarkable rehabilitation journey, relearning to walk, talk, and rebuild her independence. Alexa's book 'Sink or Swim': Defying the Odds tells her story.

What does success really look like? For Jude Hamer, it's not just the medals she's won or the Paralympic Games she's competed in—it's using her platform to make sport a more inclusive place for everyone. This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're joined by Jude Hamer – a three-time Paralympian, multiple World and European medallist, wheelchair basketball star, Rainbow Laces ambassador and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Across a career spanning more than 15 years, Jude has represented Great Britain on the biggest stages in world sport, collecting medals across Europe and beyond while becoming one of the most respected figures in wheelchair basketball. Away from the court, she's equally proud of life as a wife to fellow Paralympian Lauren Rowles and as a parent, while continuing to champion inclusion through her advocacy for LGBTQ+ people in sport. In this episode, we discuss:

⚠️ Content WarningThis episode contains discussions about a near-fatal accident, traumatic brain injury and the challenges of recovery. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready.If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.auThis week I sat down with Alexa Leary, and honestly this one gave me chills.At 19 years old, Alexa was a champion triathlete heading downhill at 70km an hour when she clipped the wheel in front of her. She says she died that day. She wasn't expected to survive. She spent 111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk again, living with the impacts of a severe traumatic brain injury that changed the course of her life forever.What followed is one of the most extraordinary second acts in Australian sporting history. After re-learning to walk and talk, Alexa jumped back in the pool and found a new purpose — and within two years was representing Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won two gold medals and a silver, breaking the world record in the 100m freestyle. She then went on to repeat that same medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. She has since been awarded an OAM for her extraordinary achievements in sport. We also get into the sides of Alexa that don't always make the headlines — her deep love for house music and Fisher, her journey into DJing and music, and what swimming really means to her beyond the medals. And we talk about her brand new memoir Sink or Swim, where she tells the full truth of her two lives for the very first time.This is a conversation about resilience, identity and what it really means to rebuild yourself from zero. Alexa is joyful, honest and completely magnetic. This one will leave you fired up.In this episode we cover:The bike crash that should have killed her and how she survived111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk againLiving with a traumatic brain injury and what that looks like every dayFinding swimming and making the Australian Paralympic teamTwo gold medals and a silver at the 2024 Paris ParalympicsBreaking the world record in the 100m freestyleRepeating the medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in SingaporeHer love for house music and Fisher and her journey into DJingWhat swimming means to her beyond sportHer new memoir Sink or Swim and why she wanted to tell her full storyAlexa's Book - Sink or Swimhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/sink-or-swim-9781761354601Follow AlexaInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alexa_leary/?hl=enFollow Cooper and TGHF1% Good Club Book https://www.amazon.com.au/1-Good-Club-Transform-Minutes/dp/1394332823Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/Workshop and Speaking Enquirieshttps://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEHThe Good Human Factory Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/The Good Human Factoryhttps://www.thegoodhumanfactory.comTHE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

⚠️ Content WarningThis episode contains discussions about a near-fatal accident, traumatic brain injury and the challenges of recovery. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready.If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.auThis week I sat down with Alexa Leary, and honestly this one gave me chills.At 19 years old, Alexa was a champion triathlete heading downhill at 70km an hour when she clipped the wheel in front of her. She says she died that day. She wasn't expected to survive. She spent 111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk again, living with the impacts of a severe traumatic brain injury that changed the course of her life forever.What followed is one of the most extraordinary second acts in Australian sporting history. After re-learning to walk and talk, Alexa jumped back in the pool and found a new purpose — and within two years was representing Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won two gold medals and a silver, breaking the world record in the 100m freestyle. She then went on to repeat that same medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. She has since been awarded an OAM for her extraordinary achievements in sport. We also get into the sides of Alexa that don't always make the headlines — her deep love for house music and Fisher, her journey into DJing and music, and what swimming really means to her beyond the medals. And we talk about her brand new memoir Sink or Swim, where she tells the full truth of her two lives for the very first time.This is a conversation about resilience, identity and what it really means to rebuild yourself from zero. Alexa is joyful, honest and completely magnetic. This one will leave you fired up.In this episode we cover:The bike crash that should have killed her and how she survived111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk againLiving with a traumatic brain injury and what that looks like every dayFinding swimming and making the Australian Paralympic teamTwo gold medals and a silver at the 2024 Paris ParalympicsBreaking the world record in the 100m freestyleRepeating the medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in SingaporeHer love for house music and Fisher and her journey into DJingWhat swimming means to her beyond sportHer new memoir Sink or Swim and why she wanted to tell her full storyAlexa's Book - Sink or Swimhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/sink-or-swim-9781761354601Follow AlexaInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alexa_leary/?hl=enFollow Cooper and TGHF1% Good Club Book https://www.amazon.com.au/1-Good-Club-Transform-Minutes/dp/1394332823Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/Workshop and Speaking Enquirieshttps://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEHThe Good Human Factory Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/The Good Human Factoryhttps://www.thegoodhumanfactory.comTHE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

⚠️ Content WarningThis episode contains discussions about a near-fatal accident, traumatic brain injury and the challenges of recovery. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready.If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.auThis week I sat down with Alexa Leary, and honestly this one gave me chills.At 19 years old, Alexa was a champion triathlete heading downhill at 70km an hour when she clipped the wheel in front of her. She says she died that day. She wasn't expected to survive. She spent 111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk again, living with the impacts of a severe traumatic brain injury that changed the course of her life forever.What followed is one of the most extraordinary second acts in Australian sporting history. After re-learning to walk and talk, Alexa jumped back in the pool and found a new purpose — and within two years was representing Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won two gold medals and a silver, breaking the world record in the 100m freestyle. She then went on to repeat that same medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. She has since been awarded an OAM for her extraordinary achievements in sport. We also get into the sides of Alexa that don't always make the headlines — her deep love for house music and Fisher, her journey into DJing and music, and what swimming really means to her beyond the medals. And we talk about her brand new memoir Sink or Swim, where she tells the full truth of her two lives for the very first time.This is a conversation about resilience, identity and what it really means to rebuild yourself from zero. Alexa is joyful, honest and completely magnetic. This one will leave you fired up.In this episode we cover:The bike crash that should have killed her and how she survived111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk againLiving with a traumatic brain injury and what that looks like every dayFinding swimming and making the Australian Paralympic teamTwo gold medals and a silver at the 2024 Paris ParalympicsBreaking the world record in the 100m freestyleRepeating the medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in SingaporeHer love for house music and Fisher and her journey into DJingWhat swimming means to her beyond sportHer new memoir Sink or Swim and why she wanted to tell her full storyAlexa's Book - Sink or Swimhttps://www.penguin.com.au/books/sink-or-swim-9781761354601Follow AlexaInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alexa_leary/?hl=enFollow Cooper and TGHF1% Good Club Book https://www.amazon.com.au/1-Good-Club-Transform-Minutes/dp/1394332823Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/Workshop and Speaking Enquirieshttps://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEHThe Good Human Factory Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/The Good Human Factoryhttps://www.thegoodhumanfactory.comTHE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Death is going to have to fence me” — Stephenie Rodriguez Tech entrepreneur, global health ambassador, and wheelchair fencer Stephenie Rodriguez lost her feet to a near-fatal battle with malaria, but that is just a fraction of her story. Guided by unwavering purpose, she champions disabled individuals globally and develops technology to protect vulnerable women. Stephenie shares how she made sporting history as the first Australian female para-fencer to compete internationally since 1968. Now training with Team USA for the 2028 Paralympics, she continues to prove that absolutely nothing can slow her down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us Fan MailBenita Fitzgerald MosleyOlympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is the CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. An established international leader in nonprofit, sports, and business, Benita has served as CEO of Multiplying Good, a nonprofit committed to cultivating greatness through service to others. She has also served as the President of FundPlay Foundation, the VP of Community & Impact for LeagueApps, and the CEO of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA, where she helped leverage the power of sport to build thriving kids and communities across the nation.A world-class athlete, Benita won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, making her the first American woman to accomplish this feat. She was a member of the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic Teams, an alternate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, and a gold medalist in the 1983 Pan American Games. She is an inductee into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.Committed to furthering athlete well-being, Benita serves on several committees and boards, including the International Olympic Committee Commission, and the Boards of Special Olympics International and Athletes for Hope. She also served on the Senate Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics.Benita graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, where she competed on the track and field team, becoming an eight-time national champion and a 14-time NCAA All-American. She lives in Virginia with her husband and they have two kids in college.theplaidhorse.comThank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

We're back from a recording hiatus, and boy, do we have a lot of Olympics news to catch up on!  First, Milano Cortina 2026 released its final report, and we go between the lines to suss out its venue delivery expectations, celebrity initiative, and a major issue they should have figured out earlier--as in, during the bid process.   LA28 has made a ton of announcements over the last few weeks, so we have the latest on: The Paralympic schedule Ticket drop #2 Cycling routes Volunteer applications Modern pentathlon's new obstacle course licensing Hospitality house updates And more! We also say au revoir to French Alpes 2030 and bonjour to Alpes 2030 (which we most certainly will mangle), along with its new logo and venue plan (to each Games its own Tahiti). Alpes 2030 finalized its sport program, and the changes have been shocking. Great new events come onto the Olympic program, and an OG Winter Olympic discipline gets the boot. In Doping News, we're still talking about medal reallocations from London 2012. International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry's Fit for the Future platform is creating big change, including: Olympic Charter changes that affect political neutrality (hello, Russia) and make it easier to change the entire sports program  Defining the differences of "sport," "discipline" and "event" when it comes to the Olympic program Paying athletes - a new Olympic grant program makes waves after Coventry's first big press gaffe And more! We also have an announcement about our 2026 Book Club selections, which you can get at our bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link) Summer of Nostalgia: We've been cleaning out the files and found a treasure trove of never-before-seen photos and videos! All summer long we're sharing them on our Patreon platform. Relive great moments from the last three Olympics and Paralympics in Keep the Flame Alive style (and you know that means we focus on the weird stuff)! Join as a patron or buy the collection outright - check out patreon.com/flamealivepod today! For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!     *** Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT. ***     Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348        

Anja Wicker gehört zu den erfolgreichsten deutschen Parasportlerinnen. Die Stuttgarterin gewann bei den Paralympics Medaillen in Gold, Silber und Bronze und zählt seit Jahren zur Weltspitze im Para-Biathlon und Para-Langlauf. Im Gespräch erzählt sie von ihrem Weg in den Wintersport, ihrem Training auf den Feldern von Stuttgart-Stammheim und den besonderen Herausforderungen des Biathlons. Sie erklärt, wie sich ihre Behinderung auf den Sport auswirkt, warum ihr Vater bis heute ihr wichtigster Trainingspartner ist und weshalb ihr erster Paralympics-Sieg in Sotschi ein unvergesslicher Moment bleibt. Außerdem sprechen wir über die finanzielle Situation im Parasport, die mediale Aufmerksamkeit für die Paralympics und darüber, was echte Inklusion im Alltag bedeutet. Es geht um Freundschaft, Heimat und die Frage, warum Stuttgart noch lange nicht barrierefrei ist. Hosts dieser Folge sind der SWR-Journalist Manuel Hollenweger, Teilnehmer des Qualifikationsprogramms Moderation am Institut für Moderation (imo) an der Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart und Institutsdirektor Prof. Stephan Ferdinand. SPRICH:STUTTGART – der Podcast für und über Stuttgart:⁠ www.sprichstuttgart.de⁠ und auf Instagram @sprichstuttgart_podcast (aufgezeichnet am 26.05.26, online ab 10.07.26).

We knew it would happen - Russia is returning to the Olympics. We hear from IOC president Kirsty Coventry on importance of neutrality. Nordic Combined - a Winter Olympic event since the start - has been removed from the Alpes 2030. Can you imagine if swimming was scrapped from the summer games?  We maybe gearing up for Glasgow but we talk about the Olympics and Paralympics all the time so the latest episode is here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"No matter what happens in your life... you're still the same person and everybody still loves you and you're worthy of being loved."In this powerful episode of Your Next Mission®, SMA (R) Tilley sits down with U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, two-time world champion, and Paralympic silver medalist, Dennis Connors. Dennis opens up about his nine years of service as a cryptologic linguist and counter-intelligence Marine, enduring three combat tours in Iraq, and the hidden struggles of severe PTSD and TBIs.The conversation chronicles Dennis's incredible path to the world stage, detailing how he survived a severe second stroke in 2020 that left his left side paralyzed, only to fight through nine months of physical therapy and learn to race on a tricycle. Dennis also breaks down his "Four Pillars of Perseverance"—Vulnerability, Self-Love, Disciplined Action, and Community—a framework he uses to conquer adversity and set his sights on a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.How do Military Veterans overcome undiagnosed PTSD and TBI?Who is Paralympic silver medalist Dennis Connors?What are the Four Pillars of Perseverance by Dennis Connors?How can Disabled Veterans transition into competitive adaptive sports?What is the process for a Disabled Veteran to join the Paralympics?How does endurance cycling help stroke survivors recover mobility?What is it like racing a tricycle in the Paralympic games?How did Marine Veteran Dennis Connors win a silver medal in Paris?What resources are available for Veterans struggling with mental health crises?How to qualify for Team USA adaptive sports programs?Support Your Next Mission® & The American Freedom Foundation: Website: yournextmission.org Explore our Job Board in partnership with  ⁨  @recruitmilitary   and OPLIGN to build your profile and match with careers in real-time.Follow SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Don't forget to click the SUBSCRIBE button and hit the BELL icon to receive notifications for all upcoming video podcasts, #1 Video Podcast for Military Transition and Leadership.#YourNextMission #DennisConnors #TeamUSA #Paralympics #MarineCorps #StrokeSurvivor #AdaptiveCycling #Perseverance 

Meet Hayley Conway, marketing, partnerships and fan experience consultant, and the co-founder of Principal the Label.Hayley's career began on the agency side, spending five years in media, buying TV ads for household brands (yes, including Red Rooster during the footy), before making the jump to client work, where recruiters kept telling her the skills weren't transferable. So she went contract-to-contract for two years, a self-imposed MBA in events, brand activation and PR and built the exact toolkit that now sees her working across Formula 1, the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the AFL and AFLW, the Australian Open, Fox Sports and ESPN.Then in 2024, she backed herself even further, co-founding a racing-inspired fashion label that's just landed a NASCAR collaboration in the US.In this episode, Hayley shares how she turned a career working in corporate into a freelance career across F1, the Olympics and the AFL, why two years of contracting built a network no full-time role could, and the moment she moved away from agency work to choose the work she loved, over the corporate climb.We cover:(03:07) - Interview begins(05:21) - Quick Fire Questions(14:51) - Hayley's career in corporate before transitioning to sport(35:02) - How Hayley's business, Principal the Label, came to life(50:54) - What does the design process for a new drop look like(55:12) - Other labels or brands Hayley draws inspiration from(56:24) - Hayley's vision for Principal the Label in the futureIf you liked this ep, give these a go next:#265: From Westpac to the Adelaide Crows FC in 29 days with Community Engagement Manager, Parth Suri#302: Paris 2024, Content Creator | Stella Barry #325: How to build a career in sports media from scratch with Brody BurrowsWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokFollow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokThanks for listening, much love! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’ll hear from Victoria Arlen, a former Paralympic swimmer and ESPN personality, who shares her harrowing journey of surviving a rare autoimmune condition that left her in a “locked-in” vegetative state for four years beginning at age eleven. Beyond her physical recovery, she faced the intense emotional pressure of being labeled a “miracle,” while silently struggling with trauma and mental health. She eventually found peace by learning to embrace vulnerability, a transformation she details here. Later in the episode, we hear from author and actress Hillary Phillips as she bravely shares about transforming a broken view of God—seeing Him as angry and tallying mistakes—into an authentic relationship. After a complicated childhood turned into years of internalizing pain, Hillary recounts the raw moment she cried out to God in anger, only to be met with a supernatural love she never knew was possible. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Chris & Lindsey Wheeler Upcoming interview: Jameson and Mary Reeder Victoria Arlen Victoria’s Victory Foundation Dancing with The Stars Hillary Phillips My Brain While Reading the Bible - Book by Hillary Phillips The Big Blue Book - Show ft. Hillary Phillips The Greatest Thing Ever! - Movie ft. Hillary Phillips Interview Quotes: “What the doctors failed to realize was I could hear everything that they were saying, and I could see, but nobody knew that I could. So I was literally locked inside my own body.” - Victoria Arlen “..You really have a choice—you fight or you give in. I saw how my family refused to give up on me.. They set up a hospital room in our living room and basically brought the world to me, because in their eyes, if they had a month with me, or a couple years, or the rest of my life, they wanted to take care of me.” - Victoria Arlen “I had this peace that surpassed understanding, and this journey as my mom calls it—our tragic, beautiful journey—is where we found God. It’s where we found our family, on a whole different level, and it really set my life in a whole different direction.” - Victoria Arlen “When I broke down, that was the beginning of that breakthrough in which God orchestrated so many things, to essentially help me get to that path where, Oh, I get that peace that surpasses understanding.” - Victoria Arlen “It was the first time the Gospel really sunk in for me—You don’t just love me because of how I perform or because of all these outward things, You love me [through] all of that stuff that I’m seeing.” - Hillary Phillips “Learning to be still with God and realize, Oh wait, you don’t actually expect me to be anything other than who I am. You don’t call me to wear a mask. You call me just to be. And learning how to do that is such a liberating thing, but also it’s just ongoing.” - Hillary Phillips “I was angry and felt wronged, and God really started to challenge me on how I was showing up in love. One of the things I realized was that I was not accepting my parents as they were [or] where they were. I was holding them to this idea of who they needed to be and who they weren’t.. God really helped me realize that’s not actually walking in love. I am rejecting who they are and only holding them to this idea or their past.” - Hillary Phillips “God didn’t promise us an easy life, He didn’t promise us a life free of suffering, but He did promise us hope and a future. He promised us that whenever we are struggling, He’ll be there with us through it. He’ll never leave us or forsake us.” - Hillary Phillips “I think that God used that experience to really show me His love is because I had to learn to sit and see trauma up close, but also recognize it’s not my job to fix.” - Hillary Phillips ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host and Paralympian Manasi Joshi sits down with Paralympic trailblazer, mentor, and foundation founder Scout Basset and rising collegiate para-track star and world championship medalist Annie Carey for an illuminating conversation honoring Disability Pride Month. Annie and Scout explore the complex realities of navigating elite sport as para athletes, from Annie's experiences as a young girl competing against adults to discovering a radically freeing community where she could finally step onto the track without needing to hide or explain her disability. They share the vulnerability of navigating the invisible, lonely, and expensive barriers to reaching the Paralympic stage, as well as the unique psychological transition of moving between a deeply accepting athletic inner circle and everyday college life. Together, they redefine the strict binary of winning and losing, while directly challenging the media to look past an athlete's disability backstory. Scout and Annie call on the fashion, beauty, and marketing industries to normalize representation and embrace women with disabilities as trendy, beautiful, and aspirational icons, reminding us all that we always have the power to take life's imperfect moments and choose exactly what to make of them.

Today's episode is a belter for two reasons! Firstly, because our guest, Abbie Breakwell, has already had an amazing tennis journey although she's only 23 years old! Abbie is one of the UK's leading wheelchair tennis players who competed for Team GB in the 2024 Paralympic Games. The second reason is it a belter is because this episode is hosted by a special guest called Charlie. Charlie is 15 years old and was one of the very first pupils I coached when I became a full time coach. Charlie has always had a flair on the court and as you'll hear he also has a flair for interviewing!We hear from Abbie about what it was like to compete in the Paralympics and what life inside the Olympic village was like. We hear about what it's like to be a player on tour and what Abbie's hopes and dreams for the future are. I hope you'll enjoy listening to the episode as much I did!FOLLOW ABBIE ON INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/abbiebreakwellMusic CreditsEarth by MusicbyAden https://soundcloud.com/musicbyadenCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

McKay demonstrates that life's greatest victories are achieved through steady, everyday efforts rather than sudden breakthroughs through his exploration of the "go the distance" mindset. While our world celebrates quick finishes, real resilience is forged in the quiet, ongoing dedication that persists long after the initial excitement fades.Alongside his friend Austin's adaptation to a paralyzing injury, McKay shares stories of deep perseverance. He explores Stallone's true vision for Rocky and W.P. Kinsella's pursuit of redemption in Shoeless Joe. He then traces Katalin Karikó's long mRNA research and José Hernández's twelve attempts to join NASA. These examples, including Jessica Long's Paralympic path, show that success lies in the quiet, daily struggle.Main Themes:Why the "go the distance" mindset serves as the foundation of long-term success and personal transformationHow Austin redefined his daily reality and found purpose through handcycling after a life-altering accidentRealizing that extraordinary results come from continuing to make ordinary efforts long after excitement fadesRocky Balboa's definition of going the distance as a quest to discover identity rather than simply winning a championshipW.P. Kinsella's Shoeless Joe and the journey of reconciliation and healing at the heart of Field of DreamsWhy the greatest rewards in life arrive when we choose to push past the point where quitting would be reasonableJosé Hernández's journey from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut through twelve years of persistent applicationsHow Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman's decades of unrecognized mRNA research paved the way for the rapid COVID-19 vaccine responseUnderstanding the industrial history of "losing steam" and the vital importance of refueling our minds and emotions dailyJessica Long's athletic legacy and how true greatness is forged in the invisible, uncelebrated moments of practiceTop 10 Quotes:"Real life is not built around breakthroughs; it is built around continuation.""Real wins in life happen to those who stay the course, who go the distance.""Often, the greatest victory is becoming the kind of person who can stay in the arena long enough to get there.""The greatest rewards in life often come only after we continue beyond the point where quitting would have been reasonable, when we go the distance.""The question is never whether discouragement will arrive; it is rather what will happen after it arrives.""We don't know when the breakthrough will arrive... What we do know is that continuing creates possibilities that quitting never can."Show Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

***TRIGGER WARNING*** This podcast contains discussion of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.It's a miracle that Victoria Arlen is still here.Before the age of 10, she entered into a vegetative state after getting diagnosed with two rare neurodegenerative diseases. From there, the Exeter, N.H. native lived incapacitated for four years, with doctors and nurses instructing Arlen's parents to accept that their daughter wouldn't live much longer.Then, on a day that continues to baffle medical professionals everywhere, she emerged from this state. And since then, against all odds, she's taken the world by storm in the form of gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games, a run on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, a stellar motivational speaking career, a 10-year tenure as an anchor for ESPN, and now, a two-time author. The 31-year-old's most recent book, The View Is Worth It, published in the spring, and it's her firsthand account of how she's navigated anxiety, depression, and the weight of expectations placed upon her when she was asked to be hero without ever having worn a cape.From The Unmuted Room in Newington, N.H., Arlen joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about Arlen's Seacoast roots, the experience of being "locked in" to her body for four years, the abuse she experienced at the hands of doctors and nurses, and how she miraculously emerged from the state.Plus, how she became the youngest on-air talent in ESPN history, her stint on DWTS, and the lengthy battle with mental health issues that inspired her latest book, and, in 2021, nearly led her to take her own life.CHAPTERS: Victoria's favorite Seacoast hangs (00:00)Spending four years in a vegetative state (10:37)Getting abused by doctors & nurses (31:06)SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (35:25)Learning how to live a normal life again (37:05)Winning gold at the 2012 Paralympics (40:50)The mental health toll of success & suicide attempt (48:53)Victoria's favorite tips & tricks for navigating mental health (01:06:36)SPONSOR: Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (01:19:05)DWTS appearance & becoming an ESPN anchor (01:20:20)SPONSORS: JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026!Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! ⁠Get the deets here⁠.UPCOMING EVENTS:Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17 & Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here before they sell out.⁠AFFILIATE LINKS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!

In our year-long look back at the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics, we head to the cross-country skiing stadium (built with filming in mind) where we're in the early years of the Hakulinen-Jernberg Era. Finland's Veikko Hakulinen and Sweden's Sixten Jergberg were the dominant forces in cross-country skiing, and their performances at Cortina 1956 were no exception! However, the Soviet Union wanted to make a statement during its first appearance at a Winter Olympics, and its athletes found the podium time and time again, ending a Scandinavian hold on the sport in both the men's and women's competitions. Find out who won, who lost, what the press said about the female competitors (it's not pretty, unlike their lipstick), and who was blinded by the light. Plus, we have a report from the snack table!   For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!     Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons via Picryl   Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 1956.  Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics. Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Merch: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod X: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348              

Last fall, I traveled to Oman for the World Inclusive Sailing Championships. It was an incredible experience. The inaugural event brought together many of the best adaptive sailors in the world, all competing to be world champion in one of three different classes – the RS venture connect - a two person boat, the Hansa 303 - a one person boat, and the Far East with three visually impaired sailors and three sighted sailors per boat.  Beyond the racing and crowning world champions, the event had a larger mission: to showcase the skill, passion, and level of competition of the international parasailing community, in an effort to get sailing back into the Paralympics after it was dropped following the 2016 Rio Games. Over 100 sailors from 36 different countries competed. In addition to enjoying the wonderful warmth of the Omani people, culture, landscape and weather, and mixing it up on the racecourse, my highlight was meeting the other sailors from around the world. In the quiet moments in between racing and exploring, I spoke with three of them to hear their stories.Guest info:@pintobp05Additional Resources:https://www.sailing.org/world-sailing-inclusion-championships/Contact us: Instagram: @unexpectedjourneypodEmail: tim@unexpectedjourneypod.com Hosted and produced by Tim BrownEditing and sound design by Louis ArevaloOriginal theme music by Jesse LaFountaineEpisode cover art by Lewis Falconer Cover art and logo design by Anne Holt and Lewis Falconer

It's another installment of our People Who Throw Things series! This time we're talking javelin with 4x Olympian Kara Winger. Kara spent 15 years as a professional athlete, and in that time she competed at Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 (where she was also elected for Closing Ceremony flagbearer). She stays involved with the throws community as a coach, official and ambassador for the sport.   We talk with Kara about how javelin works. Kara breaks down the makeup (and cost) of a javelin, the physics involved with the event, the approach, the throw and follow-through. Plus, we get some insight on her Olympic experiences and what she's up to today!    Everything you want to know about javelin is right here!   Follow Kara on social: @karathrowsjav and check out her website for more.   For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!     *** Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT. ***     Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348      

Last week the folks on Fox News promoted Republican candidates as if they were public relations specialists hired directly by their campaigns to create negative ads about their opponents. As we approach the midterm elections Fox News is ramping up its propaganda to aggressive and unapologetic Agitprop (Agitation and Propaganda Section of the Central Committee of the Communist Party) levels.As they have done in past elections Fox tends to focus on candidates that will get the biggest emotional reaction from its viewers rather than focusing on tight races. The race for the U.S. Senate seat in Iowa could be a nail bitter but the Democratic candidate, Josh Turek, is an incredibly likable Paralympic athlete and former state representative.Fox has put its focus instead on the U.S. Senate race in Maine between popular incumbent Susan Collins and Graham Platner, a deeply flawed man with no governing experience. Although Platner has a devoted following he also has major liabilities which Fox News is happy to exploit.Susan Collins has won her seat multiple times even when polls showed she might lose it. If Fox News really wanted to make sure that the Senate stays in Republican control it would shift its focus to races like Iowa instead of Maine.The network knows segments about Platner, and his troubled past will rev up the base and keep eyes glued the screen.The network also made an abrupt pivot in California as it became more and more obvious that the former reality star and crystal connoisseur Spencer Pratt wasn't going to make it to the general election in the Los Angels mayoral race.Instead of championing Pratt or even tearing down his opponents Mayor Bass or Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, the network attacked California's vote counting process.Pratt, for now, won't become the second coming of their glorious leader Donald J. Trump. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

We're traveling back in time to the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics to hear all about the bobsled (or bobsleigh) competition. These Games saw some big changes: New rules about weight and new types of sleds. Cortina 1956 was the first Olympics for Italian Eugenio Monti, whose results put him on the road to becoming a local hero and one of the best bobsled drivers of all time.    Bobsled also featured some sibling rivalry, royalty and the last American medal before a decades-long dry spell. Weather impacted the bobsledders in a bad way. Did Mother Nature have something against the Swiss? Come along on a wild ride through the icy bobsled track of Cortina.   Thank you to our ongoing contributors and patrons! This show thrives because of our listeners. Want to give back? Learn more here.   For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!   *** Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 1956.  Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics. Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Merch: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod X: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348            

In this episode of Making It To Milan, co-host [co-host name not stated in transcript] sits down with Paralympic gold medalist and world champion Abby Dunkin to discuss her journey in wheelchair basketball representing [country not stated in transcript]. Abby Dunkin shares her complex experiences navigating the coming out process in a small Texas town while simultaneously adjusting to life with a physical disability following a life-altering medical mistake. She opens up about the vulnerability of hitting rock bottom, discovering that her identity is distinct from her athletic achievements, and using sports to find her authentic self. The conversation explores the critical need to prioritize mental health and highlights the difference between sports teams tolerating queer athletes versus truly embracing them. Furthermore, she challenges the global sporting community to break its silence and prioritize education and safety for LGBTQ+ players worldwide.

What happens when an organization says all the right things about culture, puts the values on the wall, launches the initiative, and nothing actually moves? Carlee Wolfe has spent more than two decades inside that gap, and her answers will challenge how you lead. Carlee Wolfe is Associate Vice President of Leader Development and Organizational Effectiveness at Hyatt Hotels, where her work sits at the intersection of global leadership, talent strategy, and culture. Her perspective is shaped not only by the boardroom but by two decades of coaching volleyball and volunteering with the Olympic and Paralympic movement, including adaptive sports. In this episode, we explore: Why the moments before and after a big transformation matter more than the launch itself, and how leaders ride the wave ahead of their teams What organizations consistently get wrong about high performance, and why doing your job well makes you a great performer, not an underperformer Why belonging does not mean comfort, and what happens when belonging becomes a brand promise with no actions, policies, or behaviors behind it How community functions as real organizational capacity, from shared learning in the age of AI to carrying the weight together Why burnout never wins for anyone, and how to lead for sustainable output instead of endless hours Timestamps (estimates, confirm against final edit) 00:00 Cold open: when culture initiatives do not move culture 01:10 Welcome and what this show is about 01:52 Meet Carlee Wolfe 03:05 Carlee joins the conversation 03:55 The arc of transformation: leading the before and after of big moments 07:00 What organizations misunderstand about high performance 10:55 Doing your job well makes you a great performer 11:05 Silicon Valley, global work cultures, and the overwork trap 12:40 Output over hours: burnout, capacity, and decision quality 16:30 Belonging does not mean comfort 20:50 Trust is built when actions match the words on the wall 21:30 Community as capacity: carrying the weight together 24:55 The bar you can raise alone versus the bar you can raise with others 27:55 Where to find Carlee 28:25 Join the Difference Makers on Patreon Connect with Carlee Find Carlee Wolfe at: LinkedIn (search Carlee Wolfe) and https://www.aceandarrowconsulting.com Connect with us Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources. Join the Difference Makers community for the exclusive conversation with Carlee: patreon.com/aworldofdifference Connect with Lori: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriadamsbrown and https://loriadamsbrown.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to become a Paralympic gold medalist? For Team USA Paralympic hand cyclist Kate Brim, the answer goes far beyond training and racing.Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle ResortGuest: Kate Brim, Paralympic hand cyclist for team USAIn this inspiring episode of Pedal The Springs, Kate shares her remarkable journey from a spinal cord injury at age 19 to standing atop the podium at the Paris Paralympics, where she earned gold in the time trial and bronze in the mixed team relay.Kate opens up about the difficult road she faced after Paris, including a kidney infection, ICU hospitalization, months without riding, and the daily realities of living with Type 1 diabetes while relying on TPN nutrition. After more than a year away from international competition, she returned to racing at the Para-cycling World Cup in Chiang Mai, Thailand—the first Para-cycling World Cup ever held in Asia—where she captured victories in all three events she entered.We discuss the physical and mental demands of elite para-sport, traveling internationally with 95 pounds of life-sustaining medical equipment, and the incredible “team behind the team” of coaches, trainers, nutritionists, family, and supporters who make success possible.Kate also shares her favorite rides around Colorado Springs, including Gold Camp Road, Cheyenne Canyon, Fountain, and Garden of the Gods, and discusses road safety for hand cyclists, the high cost of adaptive sports equipment, and the growing visibility of para-cycling in the United States.Before her injury in 2017, Kate was a competitive rower and outdoor enthusiast. Today, she trains full-time as a Paralympic athlete while living and training in Colorado Springs at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. Through every challenge, she continues to embody the grit, determination, and resilience that have defined her journey.Whether you're a cyclist, athlete, caregiver, or simply someone facing challenges of your own, Kate's story is a powerful reminder that setbacks do not define us—how we respond to them does.Follow Kate:Instagram: @QuadKateFacebook: Kate BrimStrava: Kate BrimLearn More:U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center: https://www.usopc.org/training-centers/colorado-springsUSA Cycling Para-cycling: https://usacycling.orgFollow Pedal The Springs for more stories from the people, places, and events that make Colorado Springs one of America's great cycling communities. Post-Episode Update: When this interview was recorded in April, Kate was just days away from receiving her diabetic alert service dog, Sobako. Since then, Sobako has already proven to be an invaluable companion, alerting Kate to low glucose levels during training and helping her safely manage her Type 1 diabetes while pursuing her athletic goals.Kate has also continued her remarkable comeback, winning gold medals in both the road race and time trial at the Para-cycling World Cup in Italy as she prepares for the World Championships in Huntsville, Alabama this September—the first Para-cycling Road World Championships ever held in the United States.Pedal the Springs is produced and presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at https://www.bicycleresort.com for more information.Episodes are recorded in the Studio 809 Podcasts community podcast studio at The Next Us. https://thenextus.spaces.nexudus.com/?public&Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at https://studio809podcasts.comDon't miss an episode of Pedal the Springs. Follow on your favorite podcast app.

Victoria Arlen, Paralympic gold medalist, ESPN host, “Dancing with the Stars” alum, and author of “The View Is Worth It,” joins Sadie to share her unbelievable story of a missed medical diagnosis, being trapped in her own body for years, and learning how to walk, talk, and be whole again. She opens up about the miracle of getting her voice back, the power of her mom's faith, winning a gold medal, walking again, and learning how to fight for joy after trauma. Victoria also gets so honest about anxiety, depression, and the moment she realized it was okay to not be okay — but it was also okay to heal in her own way. This Episode of WHOA That's Good is Sponsored By: Go to https://trymiracle.com/WHOA and use the code WHOA to claim your FREE 3-piece towel set and SAVE over 40% off. Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! http://shop.taylordukeswellness.com/whoa — Get 15% off sitewide anytime + for the next 48 hours, you can also unlock free U.S. shipping on orders over $49! https://drinkag1.com/whoa — Get a free Morning Person Hat and free AG1 Flavor Sampler in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription (an $82 value!) when you use my link! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd Blanche, Josh Turek, Ashley Hinson, Tim McBride, and Spencer Pratt headline today's A.M. Update. Trump tells Miranda Devine at the New York Post he wants acting AG Todd Blanche to stay permanently, and Aaron says the DOJ's activity record makes it hard to argue with. California primary results are still trickling in with Steve Hilton leading the Republican field at 27.8% and Spencer Pratt trailing Karen Bass by only about four points with votes still outstanding, and Aaron breaks down the campaign lessons Pratt's run already offers any candidate willing to learn them. Secretary of State Marco Rubio methodically dismantles Senator Jacky Rosen's gotcha question about the Pakistan negotiations, then tells Congressman Tim McBride that Greenland is part of Denmark "for now" — and Aaron says that was the best line of the week. Iowa's general election matchup is now set: Republican Ashley Hinson faces Paralympic gold medalist and Democrat Josh Turek for Joni Ernst's retiring Senate seat, and Aaron closes with a deep dive on what Zach Lahn's populist anti-big-ag message means for Iowa politics and why it might quietly split the Democratic coalition in November.

Paralympic silver medalist Jenny Sichel joins us to talk all things coxswain: What the position does, how vital they are to the success of the boat, and what they carry in their coxswain bag.   Jenny has competed as a coxswain in both able-bodied and para rowing. We talk with her about how she got into coxing and discovered para rowing. Plus, we talk about her Paralympic experiences at Rio 2016 and the heartbreaking circumstances around the boat's silver medal.   For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thank you to our ongoing contributors and patrons! This show thrives because of our listeners. Want to give back? Learn more here.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!    Photo courtesy of Jenny Sichel.   *** Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT. ***     Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348      

Love Island Daily June 2, 2026 Love Island USA Season 8 kicks off with a premiere packed full of new faces, bold moves, and a villa already stirred by early drama. Kirsten MacInnis delivers the Daily update, walking through the cast's standout introductions, the season's first wild group challenge, and a twist that immediately tests the original couples. The women make their entrance with big personalities and even bigger stories, from Kenzie's dance and nursing background to Beatriz' shiny Paralympic credentials and Trinity's unapologetic “personality hire” vibes. The men follow with connections to track and field, police work, and model bravado, setting the stage for interesting pairings. A rapid-fire kissing challenge quickly makes things awkward and unforgettable, especially for Bryce, whose “turtle tongue” technique is called out by Kenzie. First-day couplings deliver surprises, awkward mismatches, and more than a little anxiety as Islanders pair up or end up chosen by default. Major shakeups arrive fast with a twist-led re-coupling: Islanders must choose whether to stay in their pair or step forward to explore. The drama ramps up as two bombshells, Gabriel and Kayda, crash the villa, promptly splitting couples and turning heads, especially when the newcomers choose who to whisk away for private time, leaving everyone else reeling. Kenzie frets over Zach's lack of blonde dating history, throwing their couple into question Sincere's popularity sparks early competition at the coupling door The kissing challenge exposes both chemistry and cringe, especially with Bryce's infamous approach Trinity and Bryce face off over a seven-year age gap and different priorities Gabriel and Kayda arrive, immediately forcing Islanders to reveal loyalty or intrigue Loyalties get tested just as everyone settles in—who will play it safe, and who's open to fast change? New couples and broken connections hint at more shake-ups to come. Stay tuned for Kirsten's daily updates, and get a taste of the villa's soundtrack with her first picks for the official Season 8 playlist. Listen now for the full rundown and daily scoop from the villa! 00:00 Meet the Islanders: Introductions 03:34 The Men Enter: First Impressions 07:44 Wild Door Challenge Sparks Chaos 10:26 First Coupling: Relationships Form 14:03 Couples' Early Struggles and Connections 17:13 Cocktail Party: The Big Decision 18:17 Bombshells Arrive, Shake Up 21:16 Kirsten's Love Island Playlist Picks 22:31 Strongest and Weakest Couples 23:45 Winners and Losers of Premiere LISTEN: Subscribe to the We Know Love Island podcast feed! WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Check out Kirsten’s curated Love Island USA S8 Bangers playlist:

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Meta AI chatbot enabled hackers to access others Instagram accounts UK Athletics fined 350,000 over death of Paralympic shot putter at training facility Peter Murrell used SNP cards for 400,000 spending spree Heatwave in Banda A day in the hottest place in India Maga influencer Melissa Rein Lively admits Bond Street assault Cara Delevingne on sobriety and mental health inspiring her music Sabrina Carpenter gets restraining order against man who showed up at her home Murdered student Henry Nowak told police I cant breathe while handcuffed Toy Story 5 Tom Hanks says film tackles terror of technology The questions left unanswered by the Mandelson files

Just hours after the US announced a fresh ceasefire in Lebanon, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have started - again. We hear from Lebanon's deputy prime minister, Tarek Mitri. Nearly 250 people in Africa have died of Ebola over the last few weeks. We speak with the regional director of the World Health Organization, who has just visited the epicentre of the outbreak. And a Paralympic athlete who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident may become the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit. What would that look like?(Photo: Smoke billows from southern Lebanon, following Israeli strikes, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 2, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/ Stringer)

Love Island USA Season 8 Cast Intros Love Island USA is back with Season 8, and hosts Kirsten MacInnis and Brian Scally jump straight into the villa action. With a brand new cast of 12 original Islanders, a fresh video podcast location, and expanded coverage, Kirsten and Scally walk through first impressions, social media stats, and all the details fans need to know before the new season launches. From athlete backgrounds to surprising new casting choices, this preview sets the stage for a summer full of drama and strategy. Kirsten and Scally take a closer look at each OG Islander, highlighting standout bios, unique jobs, and the rare appearance of non-influencers in the mix. They share opinions on body diversity, the role of social media followings, and which contestants might shake up the villa. The pair also touch on the importance of positivity in the fan base, reality TV representation, and some early fan sleuthing that reveals more than expected about the cast. Plus, RHAP's Rob Cesternino will be adding his thoughts weekly, adding fuel to the villa fire. Key points include: 12 original Islanders debut, with backgrounds ranging from Paralympic athletics and modeling to police work and nursing school Spotlight on Beatriz, a recent Paralympic bronze medalist Discussion of several Islanders' social media presence, unpacking how aspiring vs. established influencers may change the game Early debates about “Nepo casting” with the inclusion of Zach, brother of former Islander Charlie from Season 7 Hosts reflect on the possible effects of expanded casting, body diversity, and changes to the show's format As Love Island USA Season 8 kicks off, will this batch of OG Islanders bring both the drama and the heart? Which contestants are poised to break out and who might struggle to connect? Tune into the full episode for all the cast breakdowns, social media insights, and pre-season predictions. 0:00 Welcome 11:31 Beatriz: Paralympian Joins Cast 13:01 Bryce Dettloff: DJ and Handyman 14:11 Gabriel Vasconcelos: Miami Model Arrives 15:02 KC Chandler: Nursing Student Enters 16:12 Kenzie Annis: New Nurse's Big Plans 17:31 Melanie Moreno: Bikini Store Manager 19:16 Sean Reifel: Cop and Father Unveiled 20:52 Sincere Rhea: Track Star Chaser 22:17 Trinity Tatum: Makeup Artist's DNA Concerns LISTEN: Subscribe to the We Know Love Island podcast feed! WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

A Marine intelligence collector walked through rocket blasts, absorbed traumatic brain injuries he never reported, and came home to hallucinations so severe he planned to end his own life. Dennis Connors, a Marine Corps veteran, human intelligence operator for a tier-one unit, Paralympic silver medalist, and world champion cyclist, sits down with Joe De Sena to break apart the moment grit stops working and what has to replace it.   Dennis lays out his four pillars of perseverance: vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community. He explains why toughness without honesty becomes a death sentence, why identity tied to achievement collapses under pressure, and how cycling gave him both a recovery tool and a tribe that pushed him toward the help he refused to ask for.   Things You Will Learn: When grit becomes a liability and what structured perseverance looks like before breakdown hits. The four pillars that replaced white-knuckling it and why each one matters in sequence. Why identity tied to achievement collapses under pressure, and what to anchor self-worth to instead.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Four Pillars of Perseverance: Vulnerability, self-love, disciplined action, and community. A structured framework for long-term recovery and sustained performance. Grit vs. Perseverance Distinction: Grit handles short-term strain. Perseverance handles the years. Know which mode you are in before it fails. Identity Separation Protocol: Detach identity from a single role so transitions do not destroy self-worth.   If this episode moved you, do not just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses.   Dennis Connors is a U.S. Marine Corps intelligence veteran whose path changed after traumatic brain injuries and a stroke forced him to rebuild his life through adaptive sport. He went on to become a Paralympic silver medalist and world champion, continuing to chase challenge through paracycling and paraclimbing, embodying resilience, reinvention, and purpose through adversity.   Connect to Dennis:  Website: https://dennisconnorsusa.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dc_rides_trikes/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcridestrikes   We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.  

President Trump is criticised by senior figures in his own Republican Party, as he doubles down on a plan to pull out more than 5000 US troops from Germany. What will a withdrawal mean for global security? Also: Britain's Prime Minister suggests banning some pro-Palestinian protests; JNIM militants launch a large-scale operation in Mali; we meet a former Russian soldier who's fled the fighting in Ukraine; FIFA allows female Afghan footballers to play in international competitions; and the Paralympic gold medalist, Alex Zanardi, dies.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

What if the hardest thing you've ever faced was actually your doorway to miracles, purpose, and a deeper experience of love? Amy Purdy, Paralympic medalist, bestselling author, and speaker opens up about the second life-altering injury that brought years of chronic pain, 10 surgeries during COVID, and a complete breakdown of her identity - plus the astonishing miracle that saved her leg. She reveals how a list of 21 truths turned into her new book Bounce Forward, how she chose love in the midst of a near-death experience, and how presence, surrender, and love can turn our deepest challenges into a truly meaningful, miraculous life.- Apply for Cathy's Mastermind - early bird pricing ends May 15th https://cathyheller.com/mastermind-august-2026-july-2027/- Get Amy's new book, Bounce Forward: 21 Tools to Live a Life Beyond Limits https://amypurdy.com/bounce-forward-book/- Follow Amy on Instagram @amypurdygurl

Amy Purdy walked into an operating room at 19 about to lose both legs, and instead of collapsing into fear, she gave herself three goals before the anesthesia took hold. You know that feeling when life pulls the ground out from under you and every identity you had disappears overnight? Amy has lived that more than once, and what she discovered is that the challenges you most want to escape are actually moving you closer to your purpose, not away from it. The key is learning to lean into problems rather than run, to find the smallest sliver of possibility and let it grow. In this conversation, you will walk away with practical tools for building a new identity after loss, understanding why your struggles are not obstacles but doorways, and discovering how staying present transforms the way you compete, create, and connect. Amy's books: Bounce Forward: 21 Tools to Live a Life Beyond Limits On My Own Two Feet Amy on Instagram In this episode you will: Learn how to set a north star in the middle of crisis so fear does not get to make your decisions Discover why leaning into your problems instead of avoiding them is the only way to find real strength Understand how to step into a new identity after loss without pretending the old one did not matter Recognize the hidden reason so many high achievers crash after reaching their biggest goals Find out how shifting your focus from outcome to contribution changes everything about why you show up For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1918 For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960 Follow The Daily Motivation for essential highlights from The School of Greatness More SOG episodes we think you'll love: Shaun White Mikaela Shiffrin Lindsey Vonn Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.