Listen Now

TAA 029: Meet Enock Glidden: Developing  a can-do attitude and achieving your goalsToday I am talking with the always amazing Enock Glidden. Born with Spina Bifida, Enock is no one to shy away from a challenge. This lead him to climb big wall mountains volunteer as an ambassador for Paradox Sports, and make outdoor activities more accessible through his collaboration with Maine Trail Finder.Watch bis video on YouTube.Visit the Maine Trail Finder.Visit Paradox Sports.Learn more about Enock on his homepage. --------For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 027: Hiking in the HimalayasAfter a week in Kathmandu, mostly in meetings and with little to no exercise, I decided to use my day off to walk up to Shivapuri Peak, a few kilometers north of Nepal’s capital. With 2,725 meters the peak offers amazing views over the Kathmandu valley and - if you are lucky and you have a clear day - over the Langtang mountains, a range of 6,000 and 7,000 meters peaks towards the Tibetan border. but even if the Langtang range is covered in clouds, the walk through the Shivapuri national park is always a nice change to the hullaballoo of Kathmandu. And a treat for your lungs as Nepal’s capital is known for its bad air quality. As my prosthesis had been playing up in recent months, I took plenty of repair kit with me. The obligatory Allen key, ducked tape, additional seal tape normally used around windows, udder cream, blister patches, and the like. I wanted to make sure I can get myself safely off the mountain if the need arises. But as it turned out, it wasn’t the prosthesis that needed attention, but my other knee. And that was something I was not prepared for. This knee has been with me through the good times and the bad times. It sometimes complained and screamed abuse, when we returned from a long day out in the hills. But so far it had never given up, no matter what I threw at it. So when severe pain set in only minutes after starting my descent, I knew I was in trouble and needed to come up with a creative solution that gets me back to the valley safely and before nightfall. And I did. Here is the full storyFor more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 026: Four seasons - four regions - four hikes as an amputeeHere is an update on a project of mine that has been in the making for long. Far too long actually, if you ask me. I am talking about this year's walking project. A project I have been playing around with for some time. A project I have been changing over and over again until it finally felt right. A project that might take up to two years to complete.As many of you know, I love walking. Just love it. Full stop. For me walking is the perfect mode of getting from one place to another. I enjoy the slow pace that allows me to fully immerse myself in whatever region I find myself in. Being out on foot provides plenty of opportunities to observe all the wonders nature has to offer; the big and obvious ones that stand out and catch your attention as well as the small and easy-to-miss ones along the untrodden path. I love the fact that I have everything a need with me, stacked away in my backpack, without depending on anyone else. And I adore the freedom it gives me to move independently and set up camp where it feels right. So it comes as no surprise that I have been dreaming about longer hikes for some time. Something special. Something I haven’t done before. And something that would take me to new places. After countless hours of playing around with a wide range of more or less convincing ideas, after burying myself in guidebooks, after chatting with friends and other outdoor enthusiasts, and after putting wild ideas through a bit of a reality check I finally found my new project. One that looked like it's offering the right balance between a good challenge on the one hand while being possible and enjoyable on the other hand. In short: One that felt right.For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 025: Review of the 3R80 from OttoBockLooking through my analytics from the blog I noticed that a review I did of OttoBock's 3R80 some time back still attracts loads of interest from the audience. So I thought I re-publish this article as a podcast, make it easier to find, and thus bring it back to people's attention.For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 024: Meet Josephine Bridges, the chair and trustee of Positive BonesJosephine just completed the three peaks challenge - that is summitting the three highest peaks in England, Wales, and Scotland - to raise money for her charity Positive Bones. She tells us about this adventure, the motivation that drove her to set up her own charity, and other issues of the wider limb difference community. To learn more about the organization, check out the Positive Bones homepage.For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 023: Meet Hope Gordon, who crowdfunded the costs of her amputationHope was suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrom for years when she decided to have her leg amputated. As an amputation was against the guidelines of the National Health System, she needed to cover the costs by herself. That's when she decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign. Five years later, Hope is a happy young woman living a life free from pain. She is a member of the British National Canoe Team and has her eyes on this years' world championship.For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 022: The START Foundation - Empowering amputees in life through sportsThe START Foundation empowers amputees in life through sports, by providing grants to purchase sports prostheses or adaptive equipment to help people with a limb difference achieve their sporting dreams and live a rewarding, active, and fulfilled life.Learn more about the START Foundation, support their work, or apply for grants under https://www.startfoundation.org.auFor more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 021: Recycle for mobility  - ROMP's components for a cause initiative There is great inequality in the worldwide distribution of prosthetic components: The supply is worst in populations with the highest need. It’s tragic that so many components are oversupplied in higher-income countries while countless people in lower- and middle-income countries remain immobilized by the lack of components. The solution to improving supply doesn’t lie in catchy ‘appropriate technology for the poor’. Instead it lies in improved access to components that already exist. To achieve this we must all be part of the solution: We must all choose to recycle for mobility. For more information, visit The Active Amputee.For more information about ROMP and the Component for a Cause initiative, visit ROMP Global.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 020: Why it's cool to have an amputee dadYes, there are times when I think that it just sucks being an above-knee amputee. Obviously. And often this feeling creeps up on me when I am around my kids. When I want to do things with them and have the feeling that my amputation sets unwanted limitations. When the fact that I have an artificial leg seems to dictate what I can and cannot do with them. And when the socket once again - as so often in the last 10 years - just doesn’t fit and is putting up additional challenges.But while some of this has been annoying for me, it‘s not really an issue for the kids. It never has been. And now, as I am looking back at the last few years and how they have been growing up, I actually think it‘s been good for them to have an amputee dad. Honestly, I think it‘s an advantage. Collateral good, so to speak. Why? Well...For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 019: My new hiking projectFour seasons, four regions of Germany, four long distance hikes. This new project of mine has been in the making for long. Far too long actually, if you ask me. But it looks as if I can soon move from thinking about it to actually getting started with it. Finally. And more than a year behind schedule. Honestly, I can’t wait to get going. But wait a minute; what am I actually talking about? Well…. I am talking about a new walking project of mine. A project I have been playing around with for some time. A project I changed over and over again until it finally felt right. A project that might take up to two years to complete. For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 018:  Pimp my prosthesisI guess most of you still remember the days when artificial limbs - generally speaking - were ugly. Designed for function, not for style. They were off the shelf models with a standard look. While many prosthetists offered some sort of cover or another, more often than not they tried to imitate the look of the remaining limb. And often, very often, it wasn‘t even a good imitation.  But luckily the days of ugly artificial limbs are over. Especially 3-D printing was a breakthrough. And small companies are sensing a market, talking to amputees and what they want and then having the guts to give it a go. For more information, visit The Active Amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 017:  Travel advice for people with a limb differenceTraveling is great fun. But from my own experience I also know that traveling as a person with a limb difference can be scary. You are leaving an environment you know, an environment which often has been adapted to your needs and your level of mobility, an environment which is accessible. And instead you are heading for the unknown. That is why The Active Amputee kicks off the new year with a new service: Hands-on travel advice, making it easier for people with a limb difference to travel far and wide and with confidence.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 016:  Welcome back for another year of mind-boggling adventuresHappy new year to you all. I hope you had a nice and peaceful Christmas break and a good start into the new year. I hope 2021 will be a good year for all of you. Today I would like to give you a quick overview of what I have been up to, what is on my list for the coming weeks, and where I would love to get you involved. So.... drum roll please!The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA 015: Christmas Special: Five amazing books about living with a limb differenceIn this special Christmas episode, we hear from five authors presenting their books about living a life with a limb difference. Books we talk about are:Kendra Herber: Whole: A Leg up on Life - Buy her book here.Linda K. Olson: Gone: A Memoir of Love, Body, and Taking back my Life - Buy her book here.Marsha T. Danzig: Yoga for Amputees and Back from the Roots - Buy her Yoga for Amputees book here. And her Back from the Roots book here.Katie Kolberg Memmel: Five Fingers, Ten Toes: A Mother's Story of Raising a Child Born with a Limb Difference - Buy her book here.Stephen Mackelprang: The Hob About: Right Back to Where I Belong - Buy his book here.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA #014: Kayaking as an amputeeWhile water sports are generally great fun, they are especially well suited for lower limb amputees: They offer the added advantage of the water carrying most of our weight. An advantage not to be underestimated for many amputees.  Swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, surfing - no matter which one of these activities you fancy, they are all great fun and well worth a try. Even more so as they often allow you a completely new perspective on this beautiful planet of ours. There is a whole new world often just a few feet below the surface of the ocean. Feeling the force of a wave carrying you back to shore is a humbling experience. And any coast looks completely different when seen from a kayak.In this episode I talk about my experiences and provide some hands-on tips to get into kayaking as an amputee.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA #013: Meet Adenike Oyetunde from Lagos/NigeriaAdenike Oyetunde is a lawyer and radio presenter from Nigeria‘s economic and cultural powerhouse Lagos. She lost one of her legs due to bone cancer when she was in her early twenties. Adenike, always full of ideas, founded Amputees United, an initiative to assist cancer patients and amputees. "I want to help them wade through the storm, because honestly, I went through this, that I may help them on their journey. We at the Amputees United Initiative would love to help them come to terms with their new reality."  To learn more about Adenike, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or buy her book on Amazon.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA #012: Meet Emelie Stroemshed from Anatomic StudiosThe age of the off-the-shelf look for artificial limbs is slowly coming to an end. With significant advancements in 3D printing technology in recent years a number of companies are now offering stylish prosthetic covers. Emelie from Anatomic Studios in Malmö/Sweden tells us more about the company and their approach to assisting amputees to find their personal style through stunning prosthetic covers.The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA #011: Michael-Robbert Brans: Don't hide your obstaclesMichael-Robbert Brans is an accomplished adaptive athlete, world record holder, public speaker, and OCR runner. In recent years he set out to encourage others to be open about their obstacles and struggles. “I have conquered many things in my life, including invisible things that ultimately turned out to be the biggest obstacles in my life, and no one really knows about them. I would like to tell you to not hide your obstacles. Share your whole story with people around you and not just small parts of it. Only then you will be able to grow as a person and become the best version of yourself.”Here is the link to Michael-Robbert's TEDx Talk he mentioned during the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPA3erpX_80The music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest

TAA #010: Walking - The ideal entry-level activity for amputeesFellow lower-limb amputees often ask me how they can increase their activity level. And if you ask me, I think walking is one of the best entry-level activities any lower-limb amputee can get into. For a variety of reasons. In this episode, I share some tips and tricks about how to get started. Nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary, just some ideas to identify an entry point for a more active lifestyle. I talk about the benefits of a regular walking routine. And I walk you through key aspects when choosing trekking poles.Here is the link to Outdoorgearlab: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-trekking-polesThe music - as always - is Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/33345 Ft: Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex BerozaTo learn more about The Active Amputee, check out the following linksThe Active Amputee BlogThe Active Amputee on InstagramThe Active Amputee on YouTubeThe Active Amputee on TwitterThe Active Amputee on LinkedInThe Active Amputee on Pinterest