No Barriers No Barriers USA

The story you’ll hear today is about giving away what you have and the unexpected journey that results. Join us for a conversation with Rob Cahill, one of the co-founders of the 4DWN (four down) project and the Hayley Nenadal, Executive Producer of the recently released 4DWN film. The film tells the unconventional, and deeply personal story of a South Dallas skatepark whose mission is to change the lives of everyone that walks through the gate. The 4DWN skatepark is a resilience hub rooted in skate culture tackling head on the challenges of food insecurity and social justice in one of the city’s poorest communities.

Nic is a comedian, actor, and the founder of the Disability Film Challenge, a competition that provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to showcase their talents in filmmaking. Nic shares the story of how the challenge started as a way to help his friends with disabilities, and how it has now grown into a platform sponsored by major studios, networks, and Fortune 500 companies. We also dive into Nic's journey as a comedian, his experiences as a little person, and how he uses comedy to break barriers and advocate for disability representation. Nic's enthusiasm and passion for empowering others is truly inspiring. Let's dive into this laughter-filled and transformative conversation.

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.

In anticipation of the No Barriers annual 3-day festival we call the Summit (starts on Aug 25th), we’re re-releasing an episode that was recorded live at a previous Summit in Lake Tahoe. The guest? JR Martinez. His journey is filled with ups and downs. While on patrol with his Army unit in Iraq, his vehicle was hit with a roadside bomb. He was trapped inside as the explosives his vehicle was carrying detonated around him. During his recovery with over 30 surgeries and skin grafts, he found solace in helping other wounded veterans. 8 years later, an opportunity to join Dancing with the Stars arrived… you’ve heard of the show maybe?? …. and he (with his dancing partner) won the whole thing! He was in the spotlight now. Writing a book came soon after, the title: Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit. In this episode JR shares these experiences with us in an engaging way. And through out it his message of resilience and optimism rings true.

This episode is about ripple effects, specifically, the one that happened to our guest Brad Ludden when experienced cancer through the eyes of a close family member, his aunt, when he was barely a teenager.

At the time he kayaked, so intently in fact, it led him to the World Championships of Freestyle Kayaking. Soon there after into an into a side of the sport that involved going where no one has gone before. Expeditions to far away places and descending a river for the first time. First Descents. “There are fewer places on the world that, that people don't know about or haven't been, and it's harder to find yourself alone.” He says.

Cancer touched his life early on and the ripple effect of that experience merging with his passion for kayaking, finally came to a head when he discovered as he says, “gifting a sport you love to someone else” can be transformational. He founded an organization that provides life-changing, outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. It’s called First Descents. That was 20 years ago.

Dr. Diva Amon, along with our host Erik Weihenmayer, and a handful of additional explorers were tapped to guide actor Will Smith through some of earths greatest wonders and hidden secrets. This was for National Geographic’s series, Welcome to Earth. Diva is a marine biologist focused on the little-known habitats and animals of the deep ocean. She regularly ventures down into the depths in submersibles, with her deepest dive to the Cayman Trench. That’s about 8 thousand five hundred feet below the surface

In this episode, Erik and Diva compare a few notes on things like being an unlikely hero, establishing routines in the middle of chaos, dancing with feelings of fear, confidence (or lack of), especially when you’re at the forefront of something new for which no guidebook exists. Why hope is so important in the face of a plastic bag floating past the window of your submersible 3000 down in the ocean. What’s it’s really like in those teeny underwater vessels called submersibles?

Diva is working to make positive changes in the way the ocean is used and managed. On that point she shared, “all of humankind, not just an elite few should know enough to inform the decisions that we are making, because ultimately that's the way that we're gonna preserve it for generations to come. We all have a stake, but we all don't have a seat at the table right now, and we need to work to change that.”