Accessibility Episodes

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today’s episode, host Howard Fox sits down with Dr. Matt Harmody, a retired ER physician, mountaineer, endurance athlete, and author of Ascending America. Together, they delve into Dr. Harmody’s extraordinary journey—from long-distance running and adventure racing to the deeply personal experience of becoming a living kidney donor.

Volunteer-Driven Success: How Freedom Waters Foundation Changes Lives On the Water. Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today’s episode, we're chatting with Debra Frenkel, founder and chief operating officer of the Freedom Waters Foundation, live from beautiful Naples, Florida. Debra shares the inspiring journey that led her from working as a clinical social worker in Chicago to establishing a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the well-being of children and adults with disabilities—inc...

Creating Inclusive Spaces: Disability Advocacy, Outdoor Access, and Inclusion in Your Community Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series. In today's episode, we sit down with Jenna Udenberg, an inspiring disability advocate, accessibility educator, and author of the book Within My Spokes. Growing up in the rugged beauty of northern Minnesota, Jenna’s journey has been shaped by her early diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and a lifetime of navigating—and working to improve—ac...

The Outdoor Adventure Series chats with Chad Waligura about Hunting and Fishing Innovations to Empower Disabled Adventurers. Chad is the founder of Able Outdoors. He is a quadriplegic who has been involved in disabled hunting and fishing for nearly four decades and shares his journey since the accident at 17 that changed his life. Chad and his friend have pioneered adaptive equipment for outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities. His passion extends to co-hosting a video podcast with Ashley, where...

Chandra Wright is the Director of Environmental & Educational Initiatives at the Lodge at Gulf State Park, A Hilton Hotel. She works on sustainability initiatives at the Lodge and our other facilities in the park and curates and creates educational opportunities for guests of all ages. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED How does the Gulf State Park interpretive center exemplify environmentally friendly building practices? What are some of the specific features of the interpretive center that contribute to...

Syren Nagakyrie is our guest on the Outdoor Adventure Series Podcast. Syren is an Outdoor Enthusiast, Author, Blogger, and Founder of Disabled Hikers, a 501 (c)(3) building a disability community and justice in the outdoors through resources, training, and advocacy. Syren is the author of numerous trail guides and travel itineraries for people with disabilities, and author of, The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon, published in September 2022 by Falcon Books. Link: https...

Our guest today on the Outdoor Adventure Series is Ian Mackay, Executive Director of Ian’s Ride. Ian is an outdoor enthusiast and accessibility advocate. He believes nature is the best medicine, and community is instrumental to an individual's success. Ian’s Ride is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization that advocates for a more accessible outdoors by offering annual events for people with mobility impairments, demonstrating what's possible for people of all abilities. Topics Discussed How...

Hello everyone, and welcome back for another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series Podcast. The Outdoor Adventure Series celebrates individuals & families, businesses, and organizations that seek out and promote the exploration of the great outdoors. Our guest today is Bridget Butler. Bridget is the Bird Diva and the owner of Bird Diva Consulting. Bridget is a naturalist that helps people connect with the place that they live through building a relationship with birds and the land - nature ...