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TAA 016:  Wecome 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

TAA #009: Paradox Sports - Making climbing accessible for people with disabilitiesParadox Sports offers accessible climbing experiences for people with disabilities, defying the perception that people with a disability cannot lead a life of adventure. Challenges include both indoor and outdoor rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering. Paradox Sport is passionate about engaging everyone in climbing and the climbing community because the community is what keeps people coming back.To learn more about Paradox Sports, check out its website and follow them on Youtube and Instagram. To learn more about the book Dom mentioned in the interview, please check out this link.And here is a recent article about Paradox Sports on 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 #008: Making informed decisions as an amputeeHere is a simple guide to making informed decisions as a person affected by limblossMost above-knee amputees know this problem: Finding the right prosthetic knee is not an easy task. For most of us, it means working out the right compromise between our day-to-day needs, our spare time interests, and our ambitions for the next couple of years on the one hand and our health insurance plan or financial means on the other hand. This in itself is already rather complex. Things get even more complicated if we take into account that even the best of knees can only unfold its full potential if mounted under a well-fitting socket, combined with a good foot that suits our activity level.  But what does this actually mean in practice?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 #007: Meet Josh Senior, an adaptive adventure athlete from the UKFollowing a life-changing accident in 2010 resulting in a spinal cord injury and the amputation of his right leg below the knee, Josh has been coming back strongly. Since the very beginning, his aim has been to be rehabbing until he reaches a stage where Josh can do everything he was able to do prior to his injuries. "My goal is to make myself a better, and more capable version of myself every day."Listen to the full interview to learn more about Josh's amazing adventures. And make sure you follow him on Instagram, on Youtube, and on his homepage.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 #006: Malvika Iyer: From bomb blast survivor to disability rights activistDuring a recent visit to India, a friend of mine mentioned Malvika Iyer. A bomb blast survivor in her teens, Malvika is now a well-known motivational speaker and disability rights activist. He offered to introduce me to her and shortly afterward I had the pleasure to get to know her during a phone interview. Right from the moment our Skype connection was live, I felt that Malvika is someone with an immense spirit and an almost unbreakable will. Here is her inspirational story.https://www.theactiveamputee.org/2017/05/17/from-bomb-blast-survivor-to-disability-rights-activist/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 #005: Announcement - The Active Amputee is backAfter a longer break The Active Amputee is now back - both on the blog as well as with the podcast. From next Monday onwards I am back to my regular publishing schedule. One to two articles per week on the blog. One new episode for the podcast. And I start with the story of Malvika Iyer, a bomb-blast survivor from India and award-winning disability rights activist. 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 #004: Climbing as an above knee amputeeClimbing is an amazing sport. Full stop. No matter if you are into bouldering or top-roped routes at a local climbing wall, prefer pre-bolted sport routes outdoors or love the thrill of proper multi-pitch trad climbing or a deep-water solo, the sport has something for everybody. And I mean everybody, no matter if you are able-bodied (what ever that is) or not. Here is a simple guide: Ten easy steps to get into paraclimbing. It’s aimed at lover limb amputees, especially above knee amputees.https://www.theactiveamputee.org/2018/07/25/climbing-as-an-above-knee-amputee/General informationThe British Mountaineering Council is very experienced when it comes to paraclimbing/climbing for people with disabilities. There is a whole range of good information on its homepageSimilarly Climbing USA is a good point to start looking for information if you are living in the USThe German Mountaineering Council also offers information on its homepageParadoxsports is very experienced and is a great first contact to get into climbingOr check out your national climbing body or local climbing club People with a wealth of experience (sorry, all UK based)Robin O’LearyBelinda FullerSteve ThomasIan DunnConsidering buying a special climbing leg/footThe ADK climbing footThe Evolv climbing footThe Biodapt kneeVideos to inspireRonnie Dickson: The V10 Project Jarem Free, Craig DeMartino and Pete Davis: Gimp Monkeys Bjoern Eser: Paraclimb Series 2016 Martin Heald and others: Paraclimb Series 2016 Boulder Problems 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 #003: The journey to losing my leg by Bjoern Eser (part 3)In this final part of our mini-series, Bjoern talks about his amputation, how it was important for him to make all the key decisions based on his idea of how he wanted to live his life and how the loss of a limb pathed the way to a new life bursting with amazing opportunities.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 #001: The journey to losing my leg by Bjoern Eser (part 1)In this first part of our mini-series, Bjoern shares his story of becoming an amputee. This episode covers his cancer year, from the initial diagnose through the chemotherapy to being discharged from hospital.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 #002: The journey to losing my leg by Bjoern Eser (part 2)In this second part of our mini-series, Bjoern shares his story of becoming an amputee. This episode focuses on his recovery after the chemotherapy, how he started to gain confidence in his body again until new leg-related trouble was brewing again.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