No Barriers

This episode is about biking blind. No, this is not a metaphor. Even Helen Keller, the famous disability rights activist, who happened to be deaf and blind, enjoyed a spin on her bike as a teenager in the late 1800’s.“Next to a leisurely walk I enjoy a spin on my tandem bicycle. It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in my face and the springy motion of my iron steed. The rapid rush through the air gives me a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulse dance and my heart sing.”  Her words.She was, in modern terms, a stoker. The person who sits behind the captain on a tandem bike.-----Blind Stokers Club websiteFacebook page

Dr. Lin's website: https://www.exploreralbert.com/Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/exploreralbert/https://twitter.com/exploreralberthttps://www.facebook.com/exploreralbert/Welcome to Earth Interviewhttps://screenrant.com/welcome-earth-albert-lin-interview/Nat Geo Explorer Profile Pagehttps://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/albert-yu-min-linThurgood Marshall College Commencement 2018 - from UC San Diego Commencement Ceremonies  - https://youtu.be/GaFIqfJvMXMWhat is Transhumanism? From Nat Geo 2019 Story Tellers Summithttps://youtu.be/ZB6IJgnKwpY

https://www.dwayne-fields.com/https://www.instagram.com/dwaynefields/https://twitter.com/DwayneFieldshttps://www.facebook.com/DwayneFieldsAdventurer/

John’s Social LinksYouTubeTwitterLinkedInVIDEO: Ted talk on what separates the best from the best.BOOK - Fearless Success - The quest for perfection is not only possible--it's actually our natural state, says author and former Blue Angel pilot, John Foley. Imagine what the same preparation and mindset that allowed him to fly in formation mere inches apart from another jet can do for you, your teams, and any organization. In, Fearless Success, John Foley gives us the secrets that elite performers know and practice on a daily basis.

Listen to the full episodes referenced in this episode.Episode 110: Determination and Faith with Chris NortonEpisode 113: Embracing Vision with Kyle CoonEpisode 119: Equity in Entertainment with Keely Cat-WellsEpisode 132: Restoring Vision with Geoff TabinEpisode 133: Rebuilding Community & Purpose with Cpt. Dave Inbody, US Army, Ret.

To introduce our guest this week, read you a passage from a recent essay he wrote: “I gaze at her straight charcoal hair, serious blinking eyes and flawless skin. She is only a day old, but already her muscles are tight and when she cries it is high-pitched and she is difficult to console. Her urine is positive for benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, and opioid derivatives.” These are the words of Benjamin Rattray. He takes care of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. He walks the path where life and death are regularly held in his hands. He balances clinical science and compassionate care, with the goal infusing his medical practice with empathy and humanism. What does this all mean for us? Have a listen and discover for yourself. NOTE: This is our final episode of the year and our production team is taking a break for the holidays.

David Inbody is the father of three children, two sons and a daughter, and has been married to his wife Tiffany for nineteen years.David was medically retired from the U.S. Army in 2012, after eight years of service. He attained the rank of Captain. He enlisted in 2004 and attended officer candidate school and was commissioned in 2008. He was assigned to Bravo Co, 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regt as a scout platoon leader. He later served as a plans officer and supply officer for the squadron before deploying as a member of an Agricultural Development Team in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.David was injured by an improvised explosive device while on a patrol on 15 July, 2010. As a result of injuries sustained from the blast he lost his right foot and sustained various other injuries. After two years of rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, David medically retired and returned home to College Station, Tx.He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals as well as the Combat Action Badge and multiple other awards and decorations.

Imagine life if you were unable to see. Could you find the toilet, or leave in an emergency? Now imagine you lived in a place where there are no paved roads, no clean water. In our world, 14 million people, more than the entire population of Canada, are blind, unable to perform the daily tasks of living. Ninety percent of the world's visually impaired live in low-income settings. Eighty-five percent of the blindness on our planet could be cured, or could have been prevented. 20 million people are needlessly blind from treatable cataracts.Now imagine: There exists a surgery that can restore perfect sight to these people in five minutes, for the cost of $25 per surgery. Imagine: We can overcome all the needless blindness in the world. People say it's impossible.Some of Dr. Tabin’s Highlights:Dr. Tabin was also the fourth person to climb the Seven SummitsIn 1994, Dr. Tabin established the Himalayan Cataract Project with his colleague Dr. Sanduk RuiOn an 8-day expedition to Ethiopia covered by National Geographic in 2009, Dr. Tabin and his team completed over 900 surgeries in just eight daysIn 2009, Dr. Tabin was presented with Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award by Dalai LamaHe pioneered the first ascent of the final unclimbed face of Mount Everest, the challenging East Face, and also became the first ophthalmologist to summit Mount Everest.LINKSRecent Project  in EthiopiaCure Blindness  & Himalayan Cataract Project WebsiteVideo - Ted Talk - Eradicating World Blindness - 16 minutes Blind Corners Book

This much is true... no one gets outta here alive.If you had the option of knowing the day you would die and how it would happen, would you want to know?This is Jim.Jim was very much alive when this episode was recorded.Jim was dead 2 months later..Jim has a Stage 4, terminal cancer diagnosis and has ceased all treatment. Two weeks before this episode was recorded he was told he had roughly a month to live.Since his diagnosis, Jim has endured countless rounds of chemo, multiple surgeries and a brief ‘remission’.  He has accepted his fate and has made it his mission to squeeze as much life out of the short time he has left. And along with that, has committed himself to encouraging people to wake the hell up with regards to valuing this one precious life that we each have. To not forget how fleeting and finite it all is. To love those around you and live the best version of your life.We’re grateful to him for that critical reminder that our walk on this planet is brief and that every minute counts. It’s easy to get caught up in the circus that surrounds us. Instead, let’s step outside, breathe, hug, share, appreciate, love. --- Jeff Evans, No Barriers Podcast Host

Joe Strechay is a Producer and Consultant for film, television, theatre, and literary works. He consults on accessibility, disability, and blindness to assure respectful and accessible work environments and portrayals. He has worked on AppleTV+’s SEE, Netflix’s The OA, and Marvel’s Daredevil. Joe has supervised services for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; managed a web program; instructed in services for individuals who are blind or have low vision; advised states and countries on services, and mentored numerous people with disabilities. He has consulted for the American Printing House for the Blind specific to CareerConnect and their National Transition Conversation. Joe did his graduate work at Florida State University and his undergraduate at East Carolina University. He speaks around the United States about employment, transition, accessibility, and inclusion in entertainment, and his experiences. He and his wife, Jen, live in Pennsylvania.  LINKSJoe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL3qga2wIqrtstBLMXQAwag/videosInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joestrechay/Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-strechay-67724243/