Two Disabled Dudes Podcast

Nic Novicki is an actor, comedian and producer who has performed on six continents.  He is founder and director of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge which gives filmmakers – with and without disabilities – the opportunity to collaborate and tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms and support Easterseals’ goal to change the way the world defines and views disability, so everyone can reach his or her potential.

Les is a past recipient of the Ataxian Athlete Initiative (AAI) - curefa.org/aai

**CHECK OUT OUR NEW ONLINE STORE AT: twodisableddudes.com/shop** It's time to clean out our heads.  So in this episode we cover multiple topics including Kyle's recent interview on the Know Ataxia Podcast (https://apple.co/2HTFWy7), clinical trials, goals for the year (including today's release of our NEW ONLINE STORE! twodisableddudes.com/shop), #DontForgetTheCrew dontforgetthecrew.com), and Friedreich's ataxia awareness.  It's a lot in only 40 min.  Enjoy! 

We are joined in this episode by Arash Bayatmakou, author of the new memoir  Little Big Steps. Arash talks to us about his sudden transition to the world of disability, after a spinal injury when he was 30 years old left him nearly paralyzed. He was shocked to discover that medical treatment of spinal injuries hadn’t changed in twenty years. Rather than succumb to the paradigm that the medical field sentenced him to, Arash decided to fight for hope. He defines acceptance as the ability to cope with your life in the present moment, but not being complacent and nodding along when you are told what to expect in the future.   “Be okay with ambiguity.” -Arash   Arash started a nonprofit called No Limits Collaborative, which seeks to help people with spinal disorders pursue activities that they didn’t think was possible.   If you are in the area, please join Arash on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at 7pm, at the Blue Stockings bookstore in New York City for a book signing. Tell him The Dudes sent you.   Check out Arash Bayat

Aimee Lyons of CrossFit KOP

Surviving & Thriving with an Invisible Chronic Illness.

Q & A sessions following a screening of The Ataxian at RDW in Washington, DC.

With Kara Eichelkraut

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DCO

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Interview featuring Jake & Matt.

We began this project a year ago, hoping to give a voice to those who choose their own attitudes in the face of challenges that life serves up. So here we are, 30+ episodes later, and the 2 Dudes have come to realize how the podcast is kept alive and strong by the group of people it brings together! In this, our one year anniversary episode, we focus on the fact that the podcast is held up by you as a listener. And you are the reason why we can’t wait to continue this next year! In this episode, we interview four of our listeners from different areas of the country: Dan Parker-King; Heidi Behr, Nygel Lenz, Tyler Porter, and Mary Nadon Scott. We ask our guests for their favorite moments and interviews from the show-what keeps them coming back, and we have a few flashbac

One of our past favorites as we prepare the 1yr anniversary episode!

“It’s a wonderful life; it’s just a different life.” We interview Paul Avery, CEO of World of Beer; former COO of the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, father of two daughters diagnosed with FA; and a member of the board of directors at FARA. The transition from being in the business of running successful restaurants to becoming forefront in the research and treatment of a rare disease was a sudden and unexpected change: but not a shift Paul hesitated to make. For him, his love for and concern of the well-being of his daughters, diagnosed with FA, made his decision to join the research and development of a treatment of FA a natural fit. And in Paul’s willingness lies a lesson for all of us. We ourselves may not have a background in medicine, biology, or genetics. We may get overwhelmed at becoming part of whatever team is calling to us. Paul was able to use his economic and negotiating skills to become a powerful voice in FARA. Not to mention the unbelievable benefits Outback Steakhouse and other companie

Kyle & Sean's progress on their 30-day challenges.

This Episode features Kyle & Sean facilitating a panel of three others living with FA, Kate (14), Michael (17) and Jean (54). This live recording took place in Tampa, Florida in September 2017, leading up to the FARA Energy Ball.

In this episode, we get back to the basics. No guest, just the 2 Dudes hanging out and talking about a topic very important to us: self-discipline. Living with a disability is often frustrating. Maybe that’s an understatement. When so many normal daily activities are impossible, or at least difficult, to do independently, we are tempted to develop a victim’s mindset. But that’s not who we are, and that’s not who you are. The key to unlocking your own greatness is self-discipline. Sean has a great way of visualizing self-discipline. He imagines that our ideal self asks us if doing whatever we are doing at the moment, helps us advance to where we want to be. An example he uses is if we want to look great for the summer, will eating whatever we’re going to eat or skipping the next workout or going to the gym right now help us get there? Kyle talks about a great book he recently read called Living with a SEAL. In it, an ordinary man trains with a Navy SEAL for a month, after seeing the SEAL compete in an ultra-m

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Tom Hamilton spent 25 years on Wall Street and when his daughter was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia (FA), he started using all his knowledge and expertise to fight Rare Disease.  Tom is on the Board of Directors for the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), he is a founding Board Member for Chondrial Therapeutics, he is Executive Producer of The Ataxian, and co-founder of the CureFA Foundation.