Two Disabled Dudes Podcast

Beth Kolbe was injured in a car accident and lost the use of her lower body.  Subsequently she went to Harvard, swam in the paralympics, received a law degree from Stanford, practices healthcare law in Washington DC, and gives back to the disability community through pro-bono work.  She's kind of a big deal - listen to hear her perspective.

We encounter decisions constantly.  Some are simple with clear answers like "Should I do the dishes today?" but some are complex and consequential like "Should I cancel upcoming travel due to coronavirus?".  The Two Disabled Dudes believe that Life is about How We React.  How we think when we are faced with decisions and how we weigh out the potential consequences can have an impact on how we react.  In this episode, the dudes discuss 4 simple tips to help us think about the decisions in our lives: Remove the emotion from the equation - Many tough decisions in our lives evoke abundant emotion which can often cloud our reasoning.  If we can temporarily remove emotion from the situation as we are thinking about the decision, it will help us focus on the facts and make an objective decision. Ask yourself "How does this affect the outcome?" - Sean and Kyle use the example of making the decision to sit down in a wheelchair or purchase an adaptive van.  They talk about the face that these decisions do not change h

Cookies 4 Cures bakes and sells cookies to fund research for rare pediatric diseases. 

A brief summary of this episode

Find out how the scarcity mindset can limit your thinking. John Maxwell on the scarcity mindset: https://www.success.com/john-c-maxwell-6-tips-to-develop-and-model-an-abundance-mindset/

Andra Stratton was diagnosed with a rare disease called Lipodystrophy that makes her look very athletic and fit due to her lack of adipose tissue. Appearance is deceiving in this case because Lipodystrophy often causes organ failure and sudden death.

We are often surprised by the twists and turns of life - especially when confronted with disability.   Lara Bloom was surprised when she was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.  She was even more surprised to meet a man who helped her find her purpose - launching The Ehlers Danlos Society. Lara is president and CEO of The Ehlers Danlos Society and she is a global leader in the rare disease community. Lara has taken life's twists and surprises and turned them into a beautiful life of service to others. Join us for laughter and a conversation about what it means to build and sustain a life of advocacy.

Welcome back! This Season 3! When we get annoyed or mad at others it is important to do a little self-assessment to let the situation teach us how not to act in the future.  If someone is doing something you don't like, perhaps it is important to avoid doing that same thing to others. With a few real-life examples, Sean and Kyle explore this topic in the hopes of improving themselves an giving the listeners (you!) something to think about.

We are closing out this season with a deep conversation about purpose and commitment and how we reconcile our efforts if we do not quite reach our our goals. We had fun with this one. Enjoy!

Kyle and Sean invent a new game with news headlines and then catch up on their 2019 goals.  Also, the two dudes circle back on a conversation from a previous episode about "hidden cities" on flight itineraries.

Bumble is not specifically a disability dating website/app, but it worked for Sam and Emily. Sam lives with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and he uses a wheelchair but they matched, connected, and the rest is history. Listen to this episode to learn their tips and experience for online dating for people with a disability.

First, Sean shares the grim story about fracturing his hip. If you'd like details about the incident and the prognosis for the future, have a listen. Then Dr. Fajgenbaum shares his perspective on why humor is important while facing challenges in life. Listen up!

Dr. David Fajgenbaum has a rare disease called Castleman's Disease which put him on his death bed 5 times as he was in medical school and earning his MBA. He repurposed a drug to treat himself and is now the world's leading researcher in Castleman's Disease. He is now helping other rare disease groups by training them to use his collaborative approach to research. He also just published a book called Chasing My Cure. Please enjoy our conversation with our friend Dr. David Fajgenbaum. @DavidFajgenbaum

A brief summary of this episode

Our Odyssey is a nonprofit organization designed to provide support for young adults living with rare and chronic diseases. Listen to learn more from the founders Seth, Kristina, and Anna.

Transitions are difficult no matter what your challenges are in life. If your challenges include a progressive neurodegenerative disease, your transitions will probably include mobility devices including walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters. In these transitions it is important to see these devices as tools to accomplish the things you want to get out of life.

In August, we joined team de:terminence for an off-road adventure! White Mountain is one of California's highest peaks, reaching over 14,240' in elevation. Recognized as one of the easiest 14'ers and probably the most bike-able, we called our friends at Catrike and went for a ride. Listen to find out what happened!

Kipp Wesslen was diagnosed with an unknown type of Ataxia and he has become an amazing adaptive athlete. He has learned to fight back against his disease and gain control over his life through adaptive sports.

Kyle and Brent Pease are amazing athletes, period.  They support each other and push each other to amazing heights including an official finish at Ironman Kona, the most prestigious finish line in Ironman.  Kyle happens to have Cerebral Palsy and they compete as a team.  Listen to this episode to hear a shining example of living beyond circumstances.   

We can stop limiting ourselves by changing our perception of how others view us.