Chris Waddell's Nametags Chat Podcast
124 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago -Those who face the greatest adversity tell the most enlightening stories. Hall of Fame Paralympic athlete, the first “nearly unassisted” paraplegic to summit Mt Kilimanjaro and the founder of One Revolution Foundation Chris Waddell chats with members of the adaptive community regarding some of life’s most enduring questions: am I a victim or a survivor, is the situation overwhelming or a challenge, am I alone or part of a team and do I have one strategy or many? One Revolution’s Nametags Educational Program provides a jumping off point for people who live a life of courage, fulfilment and purpose that defies many.
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Episodes
Dana Lawson - A true survivor and educator!
October 13, 2022 15:52 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBDana lost her leg to cancer, but leaving her abusive marriage was more difficult than cancer recovery and amputation. An educator at heart, she’s shifted to empower others to extract themselves from abusive relationships. Those efforts go well beyond words as she recently finished her first marathon.
Kendall Gretsch - An historic triathlon finish in Tokyo and so much more...
September 23, 2022 18:36 - 1 hour - 56 MBKendall Gretsch is not one to go to sleep without solving the problem. In Tokyo, she solved a math problem of epic proportions to make up four minutes and four seconds to win by a half a chair length. That she won shouldn’t be surprising, she’s already won numerous gold medals in her second sport of cross-country skiing because originally her class couldn’t compete in the triathlon.
Bobby McMullen - The incomparable, legendary Bobby McMullen returns to Nametags!
September 14, 2022 16:56 - 1 hour - 74.5 MBHave you ever heard of a blind downhill mountain bike racer? Bobby has raced every major downhill mountain bike race, broken more bones than Evil Knievel, battled cancer multiple times, kidney transplants and still rides on like a legend.
Raymond Martin - Wheelchair Racing Champion... with one eye closed!
September 01, 2022 20:24 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBRay is the kind of guy who solves problems. In his first Paralympic Games, he lined up next to the fastest starter in the world for the 100 meters. Not wanting the other guy’s start to affect his race, he closed his right eye so he couldn’t see him. It ended in his first gold medal.
Rob Balucas - From ‘every-man joe’ to extraordinary paratriathlete!
August 25, 2022 20:17 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBRob Balucas is an ‘every-man joe’ who was thrust into extraordinary circumstances in 2015 when a cycling accident rendered him paraplegic. At the time he was training for his first half IRONMAN triathlon the very next weekend. He vowed to return and raced in 3 sprint-distance triathlons as a paratriathlete that following year. Since then he’s competed in 6 half IRONMANs, including the 2019 half IRONMAN World Championships in France. After qualifying, but delayed by 2 years of COVID, ...
Dave Kiley - Wheelchair Basketball Legend & 9 Paralympic Gold Medals, 2 Silvers and 2 Bronze
August 23, 2022 16:11 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBDavid Kiley, aka DK, began his love affair with basketball straight out of the womb. Raised in Costa Mesa in SoCal, DK played the sport from morning to evening on the hoop his dad hung from the garage roof or on any outdoor court that he could walk or ride his bike to. Playing and practicing solo and alone was a habit he enjoyed and while dreaming of the time he'd possibly be playing at UCLA or being a pro with the Lakers. However, spinal cord injury rocked his world at this time whi...
Marlon Shirley - Gold Medalist, ESPY Winner & UN named “The Role Model for the 21st Century"
August 16, 2022 20:28 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBMarlon Shirley was the first amputee sprinter under 11 seconds for the hundred meters. He stood on top of the world with gold in 2000 and 2004, but his story of being the son of a prostitute and a pimp, of running with gangs, of adoptinon, of breaking the Paralympic high jump record before he even knew what the Paralympics were and the story of redemption through sport and the love of his family.
Nick Catanzarite - 2 x Paralympian Ski Racing is now a Grand County Judge!
August 10, 2022 18:06 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBTwo-time Paralympian Nick Catanzarite took the 2007-2008 season off to do something that he would consider to be harder than ski racing - his first year of law school. But, Catanzarite got right back on the ski circuit in spring 2009 and competed at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Shams Aalem - World record holder for longest open sea swimming by paraplegic person!
August 02, 2022 20:17 - 59 minutes - 55.2 MBShams Aalam has a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering & MBA in HR & Operations. Shams is a world record holder for longest open sea swimming by paraplegic person, an international gold medalist para swimmer & was awarded best emerging leader in disability sports & sports diplomacy by U.S. department of state global sports mentoring program 2018. Shams has been interviewed by Kiran Rai " 300 most influential people in Asia 2020" published by the New York press news agency & Role Model Awar...
Roy Tuscany - Founder of High Fives Foundation. Over 500 athletes served!
July 22, 2022 18:11 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBRoy Tuscany is the co-founder of High Fives Foundation which has helped over 150 athletes recover from paralyzing injuries. In 2006, he suffered a devastating spinal cord injury while skiing that left his lower body paralyzed. Instead of realizing his dream of becoming a world-class pro skier, he had to relearn how to walk. But two years later, he was able to step into skis equipped with outriggers.
Roderick Sewell - The first bilateral above-the-knee amputee to finish the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona on prosthetic legs.
July 07, 2022 21:55 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBRoderick has seen a lot in his young life. He has the wisdom of someone far older, but he also has the little kid enthusiasm as he tells the story of how his good bud and roommate Rudy Garcia-Tolson hooked him on swimming when he let Roderick ride on his back as Rudy swam in a hotel pool. Fear of the water soon became a desire to faster and empower others the way that Rudy had empowered him.
Cheri Blauwet - Wheelchair Racer & Boston Marathon Winner!
June 30, 2022 17:23 - 50 minutes - 47 MBCheri Blauwet is an American physician and Paralympic wheelchair racer. She is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, is Assistant Professor of PM&R at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Ted Fay - Ever wonder how the timing "factor system" works at the Paralympics?
June 27, 2022 20:53 - 1 hour - 68 MBTed Fay joins us to explain the often misunderstood "Factor System". A former Paralympic (1980 – 1991) and Olympic (1988) coach and international cross country ski official (1988 – 2010), Dr. Fay has an extensive background in international sport including being active in the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Fay is recognized as an international expert on issues related to the integration and inclusion of athletes with a disability in mainstream sport
Bob Vogel - Ever watch Hot Dog The Movie?
June 22, 2022 18:20 - 1 hour - 68 MBBob started skiing in Wisconsin in 1968 after watching Jean Claude Killy win all three gold medals in the Grenoble Olympics. “He was so cool, I have to try that”. Skied pro moguls and performed in ski shows, both indoors, and outdoors... Became a stuntman for Hot Dog The Movie.
Ryan Baker - Co-founder Wheelchair Lacrosse USA, Ski Racer & Wheelchair Designer
June 14, 2022 17:25 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBRyan Baker is a former Paralympic Ski Racer and current Lacrosse player. As founder of Wheelchair LaCrosse USA Ryan is pioneering the game and spreading awareness for spinal cord injury survivors through his work at Twisted Spine. Check it out!
Brandon Farbstein - Inspiring millions of people as a Speaker, Activist and Author!
June 08, 2022 17:50 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBHe inspires millions of people across the globe with his universal message of living life on your own terms and building the framework for self-acceptance. Born with an extremely rare form of dwarfism (metatropic dysplasia), Brandon has turned his life experience of suffering, isolation, and victimhood into empowerment, impact and influence.
Artemis Joukowsky - Director, Author, Producer and Disabilities Activist!
May 23, 2022 00:36 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBArtemis Joukowsky III is an American director, author, producer and disabilities activist. He is best known for his work on the documentary films Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War, Carbon Nation and more. Artemis is also an aspiring paralympian!
Dianne Vitkus - Former Brown University Lacrosse player, spinal cord injury survivor.
May 18, 2022 20:45 - 1 hour - 72 MBWhat's next for Dianne Vitkus? After an unfortunate accident Dianne is determined to rehab and is hopeful for the future.
Thomas Walsh - 2 x Paralympian US Alpine Skiing
May 10, 2022 15:34 - 1 hour - 56 MBAs a cancer survivor, he races for all those who cannot...His credits his mother as the most influential person in his life and career.
Dani Aravich - 2 x Paralympian and Dual-Sport Standout!
April 28, 2022 16:31 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBWas born without her left hand and forearm...After her time as a DI cross country and track and field athlete, she quickly became involved in the adaptive sports community where she not only volunteered as a limb-different coach, but also began training in track and field for the Paralympic Games...Aravich caught the attention of a U.S. Paralympic Nordic Ski coach who invited her to a training camp in 2019, which sparked her training for the Paralympic Winter Games.
Lera Doederlein - Sled Hockey player turned Paralympic XC Skier
April 27, 2022 01:07 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBLera was born in Saratov, Russia with a congenital condition called Arthrogryposis of the lower extremities. Lera was adopted and came to the U.S. in 2005. In addition to Para Nordic Skiing and Biathlon, Lera has been actively training and competing in sled hockey as a member of USA Hockey Women’s Sled Development Team and San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey team.
Jasmin Bambur - 4 x Paralympian and first ever Serbian Paralympian.
April 25, 2022 14:24 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBHe competed at the Paralympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 for Serbia, to become the first ever winter Paralympian in Serbian history...In 2010 he was granted his U.S. citizenship, and he was named a member of the U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Team beginning in 2012...He competed at the Paralympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 for Team USA.
Chris Peterson - Founder of Carbon Bike USA the market leader in custom Handcycle Bikes.
April 15, 2022 13:57 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBA Fascinating look into the evolution of Wheelchair racing technology. Chris Peterson is President/Co-Owner of Carbonbike USA Founder of Top End Wheelchair Sports 1987. Market leader in product design for challenged athletes dedicated handcyclists.
Jay Rawe - Extreme sit-skier joins us to talk backflips and big lines!
April 12, 2022 22:11 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBAfter a base jumping accident Jay Rawe picked up sit skiing. Now he's skiing big lines, doing back flips and even ripping the terrain park. This is his incredible story.
Jen Lee - US Sled Hockey Goalie, 3 x Paralympian, 3 x Gold Medalist!
April 05, 2022 17:20 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBAs Jen Lee says, he was "Made in Taiwan" but his family emigrated to the US at 8 years old. Jen joined the United States Army at 18 yrs old, then lost his left leg above the knee after injuring it in a motorcycle accident in 2009 He was introduced to sled hockey by “Operation Comfort,” an organization dedicated to assisting injured U.S. service personnel at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas .
Danelle and Rob Umstead - The Visually Impaired Skiing Duo and Beijing Paralympian's!
April 01, 2022 17:54 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBDanelle and Rob joined us prior to Beijing. Turns out Danelle became a flag bearer for the US Team.
Jesper Pedersen - Norwegian Paralympic gold Medalist!
March 26, 2022 14:25 - 57 minutes - 53.3 MBJesper Pedersen won 4 gold medals in Beijing. Before he departed, we had him on the show to share his story and his approach to the Beijing 2022 Paralympics.
Dan Cnossen - 3 X Paralympian and former platoon commander for SEAL Team One!
March 23, 2022 16:50 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBLt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen was serving as the platoon commander for SEAL Team One in Afghanistan in September 2009 when he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) and was wounded in the explosion. Dan was awarded both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Valor from the Secretary of the Navy for his service in combat.
Tyler Walker - 4 x Paralympian and X-Games Gold Medalist!
February 24, 2022 17:26 - 1 hour - 73.3 MB4-Time Paralympian, 2 x Silver Paralympic Silver Medalist, and 3 x Gold Medalist X-Games Tyler Walker joins us on Nametags Chat! Walker was born with lumbar sacral agenesis, a condition that resulted in his spine missing after the first vertebra; he had both legs amputated at the knee at age four...He grew up skiing in adaptive programs at Waterville Valley and Loon Mountain, eventually joining the New England Disabled Ski Team. At just 19, he was the world cup overall runner-up for ...
Tyler Carter - Paralympian Alpine Skiing, nicknamed "Captain America"
January 19, 2022 18:01 - 1 hour - 61.2 MBTyler Carter aka "Captain America" talks about his role at the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum, his Paralympic Journey in Alpine Skiing.
Nico Calabria - US Mens Amputee Soccer Team - High School Teacher - Coach
January 10, 2022 16:27 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBNico Calabria is the captain of the U.S. Men's Amputee Soccer Team and a lifelong amputee. Being born with one leg and hip, Nico learned to walk on a prosthetic but soon learned that forearm crutches would offer greater mobility. This turned out to be a lucky coincidence, as amputee soccer is played entirely on forearm crutches. Starting around five years old, Nico began playing soccer and a handful of other sports with his able-bodied peers. Into his high school years, Nico competed...
Mike Shultz - ESPY Winner, Paralympian and 10x X Games Medalist.
January 05, 2022 17:54 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBMike Shultz lost his leg in a Snowmobile SnoCross event. From there he became a 10x X Games Medalist, ESPY Winner, Gold Medalist Paralympian and Flag Bearer in 2018 PeongChang games, and an innovative Prosthetic engineer. Oh yeah he was also voted Top 10 Outstanding People!
Paul Martin - Skiing, Cycling, Triathlon, Hockey, Wild Man World Champion!
December 23, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBPaul's been a success in skiing, cycling, triathlon and hockey, but if he hadn't lost his leg in a car accident he says he probably just would have been a jerk (he might have phrased it differently)
Bert Burns - Wheelchair Racer, Business Man, Storyteller!
December 22, 2021 10:46 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBFor Bert, whether racing wheelchairs or selling medical supplies, it's always been about the story, and he does it as well as anyone.
Sarah Rejman - Founder of The Plaster House in Tanzania, Africa Liaison for climbing Kilimanjaro.
December 16, 2021 16:58 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBSarah Rejman was our liaison when we climbed Kilimanjaro. She taught me almost everything I know about Tanzania and Africa.
Geoff Krill - Adaptive National Teams Coach at PSIA - AASI Professional Ski Instructors of America - American Association of Snowboard Instructors
December 14, 2021 18:20 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBAfter taking a clinic with Geoff, my mother said that she just liked the way that he explained the sport.
Lisa Franks - Paralympic Track Champion - World Record breaker and Canadian National Wheelchair Basketball player
December 09, 2021 19:04 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBWhen you talk with Lisa Franks, you realize that you just want to hang out with her and do what she does. She’s a Paralympic Track Champion, who broke World Records. She’s also played on the Canadian National Wheelchair Basketball Team as a quadraplegic. She’s an engineer. But what I think is most cool is that she will pack up her Honda Element for weeks worth of adventures, new friends and new sports.
Monica Bascio - Paralympian in both Summer and Winter Games!
December 01, 2021 00:24 - 1 hour - 63.3 MB2 x Paralympic Silver Medalist and 5 x World Champion Monica Bascio joins us on Nametags Chat. You think hand cycling is hard ... try Nordic Sit Skiing!
Chelsea McClammer - Car Crash Survivor, Paralympian & Multi-Sport Athlete
November 18, 2021 17:44 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBWith 90,000 people in the stands for the 400 meter Finals in Beijing, Chelsea McClammer’s coach worried about her fourteen year old athlete, but when the camera panned to Chelsea she kissed her gloves and smiled for all to see. She’s always been totally calm until the gun goes off. If it stops being fun, that’s when she’ll stop competing. There’s no moment too big.
Same Grewe - Going to Med School and the Olympics?!
October 06, 2021 18:03 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBSam Grewe just finished his first week of Med School at the University of Michigan and he’s headed to Tokyo to compete for gold in the high jump in two more weeks. He lost his leg above the knee to rare bone cancer when he was twelve and got adopted by the 2012 Notre Dame Football Team that went to the National Championship Game while he was still in treatment. Standing on the sidelines was the only thing that let him forget the difficulty of his situation even if he had to carry ten...
Susannah Scaroni - The Wheelchair racer extraordinaire is Tokyo Paralympics bound!
September 29, 2021 20:48 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBSusannah Scaroni will push a racing wheelchair the rest of her life if she has a choice. Her first two years of college, before she started at the University of Illinois, she’d just go out to look at the scenery and to meditate without regard to speed or distance. One of her professors suggested she use “map my ride,” which revealed she was doing about 22 miles a day. Susannah prefers the purity of pushing herself as hard as she can, but in Tokyo she will pit her strengths against th...
Brittni Mason - Going for 200m and 300m Gold in Tokyo!
September 17, 2021 16:03 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBBrittni Mason has been fast since she finished fifth in the country as an 11 year old. She was the second fastest sixty meter runner in the MAC Conference and didn’t know anything about the Paralympics. Now the 100 meter World Champion and former Eastern Michigan Scholarship Athlete has her sights on 100 and 200 meter gold in Tokyo.
Brian Siemann - Access Specialist and now 3 x Paralympian in Wheelchair Racing!
September 14, 2021 22:31 - 1 hour - 58 MBBrian Siemann is an Access Specialist. He helps students at the University of Illinois find creative solutions to challenging academic life. He’s also doing whatever it takes to avoid being fourth in the 800 again at the Paralympics. It was a painful .01 seconds in Rio. But no matter how it turns out, he knows his dogs Gambit and Ace Michael will love him when he returns home.
Taleah Williams - 2x Paralympian and World Champion Long Jumper
September 03, 2021 18:14 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBTaleah has jumped further in practice than she ever has in competition. She doesn’t need the fans to push her further. That might be a huge benefit in Tokyo because there won’t be anyone in the stands. And, if all the pieces come together she might just really fly.
Kelsey LaFevour - Going for her PhD and headed for Tokyo!
September 01, 2021 22:48 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBKelsey had no intention of racing wheelchairs and thought it a bit strange that University of Illinois coach Adam Bleakney told her she had long arms. When she started racing she understood that those long arms were an asset--an asset that has taken her to two Paralympic Games. She’ll be looking to put them to good use in Tokyo.
Femita Ayenbeku - Broke records, sprinted on a jogging leg, and almost didn't go to Rio?
September 01, 2021 22:24 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBFemita broke a 15 year old record in the 100 meters at Trails, but she didn’t even want to go to the ones for Rio. It sounded too expensive and she could just run at a local meet instead. Her coach’s urging and her naivety brought her to sixth in 2016--on a jogging leg. She might not be as naive this time--and she’s not running on a jogging leg anymore.
Erik Hightower and Kym Crosby - The Paralympic Power Couple!
September 01, 2021 20:51 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBListen to see if you believe Erik’s story that Kym only dated him because he had a car and she couldn’t drive because she’s visually impaired. They’re husband and wife now and both headed to the Paralympics in Tokyo. This was a funny conversation from their room at the Training Center in Chula Vista.
Beatriz Hatz - Up and coming Team USA Paralympic Track Star. Headed to Tokyo!
August 16, 2021 17:38 - 1 hour - 57 MBThatBeatriz Hatztrains with the Olympic Heptathletes shouldn’t be surprising even though her 100 meter, 200 meter and long jump only comprise three of the heptathlon’s seven events. When you meet and watch her, you can’t help but come away with the feeling that she’s tough and won’t be denied. It’s only fitting that her preparation follows those who will compete in track and field’s most grueling event. She missed the 100 meter win at Trials by .02 and won the 200. I wouldn’t bet aga...
Justin Phongsavanh - World Record Holder, Shooting Survivor - The A Standard in Javelin
August 16, 2021 17:36 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBAt the Track and Field Trials for Tokyo when most athletes were trying to achieve a mark as close to the A-Standard as possible, Justin broke the World Record removing all doubt that he’d be on the team. Becoming a World Record Holder is a long way from getting shot in a McDonald’s parking lot and then having the shooter say at the trial, “Enjoy your wheelchair.” Justin’s enjoying the journey and perfecting his craft. He might soon be able to add Paralympic Champion to the resume of ...
Hunter Woodhall - Double Amputee Paralympic Bronze and Silver Medalist, Division I College All-American. Star on the rise.
August 04, 2021 21:41 - 53 minutes - 49.8 MBHunter was a Paralympic silver and bronze medalist while still in high school. He’s become a full-fledged star on the world stage, forgoing his season with Arkansas because of the NCAA’s rules at the time against athletes making money from their likeness. He’s professional now and has pointed his season toward the Paralympics. It will be exciting to see just how fast he can go.