No Barriers

Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode.Episode 178 - Rob Cahill and 4DWNEpisode 177 - Nic NovickiEpisode 173 - Dr. Diva Amon, Behind the BubbleEpisode 172 - Kathy Eldon, the active soul in all of usEpisode 150 - Chasing Dreams with Diana Nyad

You've arrived at the intersection of human willpower and biomechanics. After this episode you’ll be wondering, “is the term ‘disability’ about to be dismantled and  and reshaped by pioneers using the power of technology?”  Our guests are Keenon Werling and Russel Martin, two pHd students from the Stanford Biomechatronics lab. The topic. Wearable Robots. Exoskeletons.Maybe the first image that comes to mind are futuristic versions of these creations. They are all over Hollywood in blockbuster movies like Avatar, Black Panther, Spider man, Iron Man.  But here in the real world, innovations in exoskeletons have the potential to truly change lives. Can they give someone confined to a wheelchair the option of walking down the street? ….or what about an exoskeleton that gives them the freedom to go for a run…garage along the beach.One thing about Keenon. He can’t go for that run on the beach, give his wife a piggy back, or hike with his dog…   Why? He has an incurable degenerative neuropathy, which has been slowly paralyzing him from the feet up. Life in a wheelchair could be right around the corner for him.  Is restoring mobility for people with disabilities like Keenon’s really possible? Stick around and find out. The Lab: https://biomechatronics.stanford.edu/Keenon Werling: https://keenon.github.io/Russell Martin https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-m-martin/Lab overview video. https://youtu.be/SiHyoOhCnag?si=3L1FYjWpvh0RlDM0

WEBSITE: The Davis Phinney FoundationWATCH: 8 minutes. Davis Phinney Moment of Victory. 

Today, we’re talking augmented reality with audio and ultimately sensory substitution. Our guest is Tim Devine. He and his team at Action Audio have developed a product that translates the spatial data from live sports into sound, allowing blind and low vision audiences to follow the action in real time. It’s not just functional tech though, it’s emotional. He wants to bring the tension, the anticipation… the core of what makes live sports amazing to watch, to this audience. Tim shares his journey into the world of sound design, starting with a focus on tennis and eventually collaborating with the NBA, transforming data into an immersive 3D spatial audio experience. You'll hear Tim's passion for music, emotion, and sound come to life as we discuss everything from enhancing the broadcast experience to the future expansions in sports like soccer and football. Tim's story isn't just about technological breakthroughs; it's about persistence, responsibility, and the drive to make ideas accessible to those who will most benefit from them.

Today we meet Alice Brouhard and her daughter Kara. When Kara was 5 she was struck by an out of control skier. The accident caused a traumatic brain injury, left Kara legally blind and mostly paralyzed on one side of her body. Kara's parents helped her relearn as much as they could and raised Kara to live as independently as possible, patiently pushing her to chase her dreams. Alice took finding assistive technology into her own hands and in the process became a champion of the use of technology to support people with memory and cognitive challenges. She has worked tirelessly to set up a system that allows Kara to live independently. What keeps Alice going? How does Kara navigate life with such spirit, and what does it tell us about accessibility and resilience? We’ll hear about Kara's incredible journey and her dedication to living independently, even amidst challenges like vision loss, paralysis, and seizures. Today, she manages her life with the help of wonderful technology but more than anything, her fiery spirit.

What would you with an extra tank of gas? It’s a metaphor for living that we had not heard, until now, when we interviewed Nick Martinez. He’s a true adventurer and survivor of life's highest peaks and deepest valleys. And to complete the metaphor, yes, the fuel indeed ran out and not just once. His narratives provide insight into his world of BASE jumping and climbing as well as his life-altering experiences that have shaped his unique perspective on life, death, and everything in-between. He’s lost loved ones in tragic accidents and survived near-death experience himself. You’ll hear how he emerged with a view of life with "extra mode" activate - an extra tank of gas, something to be cherished and refueled every day, with the good things.

Book Link. RESILIENCE: THE SCIENCE OF MASTERING LIFE’S GREATEST CHALLENGESDr. Dennis Charney on LinkedIn

4DWN Film Trailerhttps://4dwn.org/https://www.instagram.com/4dwn_org/https://www.facebook.com/4DWNskateboardinghttps://www.youtube.com/@4dwnproject197

https://www.nicnovicki.com/https://www.instagram.com/nicnovicki/https://www.instagram.com/disabilityfilmchallenge/https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com/The Disability Challenge video. https://youtu.be/FISwEhPXWzQ

Kyle Maynard is no stranger to pushing the limits, overcoming obstacles, and inspiring others to live a no barriers life. That’s why he’s our guest today AND in a few weeks when we see him on stage at the No Barriers Summit. His first No Barriers Summit was 12 years ago and a pivotal moment in his life, because soon thereafter he bear crawled to the top the highest mountain in Africa. Bearcrawled? He’s got a rare condition known as congenital amputation, that left him with arms that end at his elbows and legs that end near his knees. Today Kyle shares stories of his transformation, but we go beyond physical feats and explore the deeper motivations that drive him. Like the importance of connection and the power of using climbing as a vehicle to foster relationships, AND his upcoming project aimed at creating a long-lasting impact in the world. Join us as for stories of triumph, growth, and the relentless pursuit of a life without barriers. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to embrace your own journey.