Optical Delusion

Today we welcome our first amputee soccer player on the pod, Nico Calabria!! Nico has grown into the position of advocate, captain, and world class athlete as he begun his athletic journey with summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro at 13 years old. Now, he uses his degree in education to grow the sport and educate students about adaptive sports. Nico's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicocalabria/ Our In...

Finally! We are back with tons of stories about our adventures as Paralympic athletes. Between getting drug tested in Mexico ad going out in Paris, let us share with you what really goes on behind the scenes at international competitions. Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OpticalDelusionPod

After missed Instagram messages and World Championship titles won, we are so excited to finally welcome on Paralympic advocate, athlete, and legend, Chuck Aoki! While not a fan of coffee, Chuck's real passions drive his success both on the court as an athlete and on the sidelines as a coach. Eighteen seasons of play means there's a lot of tea to spill and we cannot wait for you to join us in this...

We talk a lot about the intersection between sport and identity… so how do Paralympians and Olympians both relate to that? With lots of sports merging their Olympic and Paralympic programs, we are fascinated in learning about the cultures merging as well and what we can learn from one another! While we still are dedicated to showing you the real side of adaptive sports, let’s take a moment to look...

This week we are welcoming recently retired, Paris Paralympic swimmer, Jack O'Neil. While Jack's jo0urney may have ended a bit sooner than he hoped, he now has walked into new spaces that are just as fulfilling. As an LA28 fellow in broadcasting, Jack gives us the inside scoop we've been looking for! Jack's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackoneil19/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/...

The inaugural Green Sports Month hosted by Eco Athletes is here and we are celebrating with today's special guest, Marie Claude!! One of Canada's best Paralympic cyclists, now retired, Marie Claude chats with us about her experience in sport, the intersection of sport and environmental sustainability, and the work she is doing on researching the environmental impacts of the life cycle of a racing...

We are honored to have 2x National Champion, cancer survivor, advocate, and model on our podcast today, Skylar Scarnecchia! Now an adaptive athlete at Alabama, Skylar walks us through her trials as a kid and her success she's found on the court and beyond! Skylar's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamskylarstrong/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: https://www....

We are so excited to welcome on CP Soccer Paralympian, author, and advocate, Adam Ballou! This conversation covers the journey of Adam Ballou in CP soccer, the impact of word of mouth in finding the team, the role of media and social media in promoting adaptive sports, changes in adaptive sports coverage, the evolution of disability sports programs, the journey of self-acceptance and advocacy, and...

Everyone's new mantra just dropped: "pain is a privilege." And now, we are all taking it inch by inch and day by day with our guest this week who is 2x Fittest Seated Woman in the World in adaptive cross fit!! Please join us in welcoming Hope Kittel. She's grown her platform in hopes of changing the world of adaptive cross fit, and supporting pediatric patients with her non-profit, Baskets Spreadi...

What happens when you focus on a goal for so long and don't reach it? What happens on the other side of a missed medal or opportunity? 2x Paralympian Anastasia Pagonis sits down and chats with us about her experience in the spotlight and why she is glad she didn't win gold in Paris. Tune in to listen to the depth of the stories beyond the medals and the bright lights! Tas' Instagram: https://www.i...

Join us in welcoming Paralympic cyclist, Kate Brim, to the podcast today!! And trust us, you will not want to miss her story! Kate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quadkate/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OpticalDelusionPod

Our very first in person recorded episode is here and live!! While out at training camp prior to the Para Pan Pacs competition here in LA, we sat down with fellow teammates to give you all a sneak peek of what's to come this week! Joined by Julia Gaffney, Gia Pergolini, Katie Kubiak, and Evan Wilkerson, we talk about guide dogs, team culture, LA28, venues, and SO much more! We cannot wait for you...

With Para Dressage World Championships up this week, we are so excited to welcome our first equestrian athlete, Fiona Howard! Not only do we now know a lot about para dressage, but we get to cheer on Fiona and the rest of the team in Germany starting this Wednesday! Fiona's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionahoward.ply/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: htt...

We are excited to host the fist blind hockey player on the podcast, Joe Fornasier. From losing his sight and love of the sport, to being a 10x Canadian national team member, Joe's journey is one for the books and we cannot wait for you to tune in! Joe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joefornasier/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: https://www.etsy.com/shop/O...

We are very excited to welcome Paralympian and author Ashley Dyce onto the pod this week!! If you've ever wanted to know the ins and outs of para powerlifting, and how athletes navigate life through sport, this is the episode for you! Ashley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_dyce/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OpticalDelus...

This episode we are honored to have South African sisters Ivana and Danika! Their story of resilience is INSANE and they made it to the world stage from a backyard pool after going blind at young ages. Ivana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivanavyncke/ Danika's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danikavyncke/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opticaldelusionpod/ MERCH: https://www....

This week we are very excited to welcome on Shea Hammond, founder of CP soccer and advocate in the community! The conversation covers topics such as adaptive soccer, the World Cup and competitive landscape, grassroots nonprofit and of course, personal resilience. Shea's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shea_hammond/ CP Soccer: https://www.instagram.com/cpsoccer.us/ Our Instagram: https://www.i...

In this episode we welcome a visually impaired swimmer from Norway, Thea! Thea is attending the University of Arizona as apart of their adaptive athletics program. How does it work? How do you move across the world for sport? What is it like moving forward when you can't see what's ahead? Tune in to hear her perspective and learn all about her story!! Thea's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/th...

Most athletes have dreams of reaching the top. Yaseen El-Demerdash turned that journey into a movement; creating Ripple Effect Foundation to make sports more accessible, inclusive, and impactful beyond the pool. He reveals how a chance to give back after his Paralympic debut sparked a journey that’s now transforming communities, supporting underserved athletes, and bridging the gap between grassro...

We are thrilled for this week's episode with the newly announced, 2026 USA Powerlifting coach of the year, Abbey Phillipson! From creating the first collegiate adaptive lift program to founding the Collagen Advocacy Network, Abbey's story shows us how important it is to challenge the statues quo and rewrite the rules of strength. (Because fitness is a human right!) Our Instagram: https://www.insta...

In this episode, we bring to you Norwegian para swimmer, Gabriel Steen. Gabriel's journey is unique as he has faced numerous trials and setbacks in his mission to the Paralympic stage. What does it mean to get classed out? How does one even begin to process getting told they're not "disabled enough?" But beyond that, how important is community regardless? Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/o...

We are very excited to have an international swimmer on the podcast today!! Roisin, a fellow S13 swimmer, has made massive waves on the international stage. We have loved getting to know her on the pool deck and are so excited for you to get to know her now! Do you know how Irish para swimming works? Have you ever experienced a science lab as a visually impaired person? Have you ever wondered what...

We are coming at you with a very special one for you this week! In this episode, we take turns interviewing one another with questions you guys submitted on our Instagram. While a lot of the conversation drifted from the original questions, we are excited to bring you really authentic conversations about what is going on in our lives and what the future is looking like! Our Instagram: https://www....

Today we are so excited to share another new and unique perspective from 2012 Paralympic swimmer, Anna Johannes!! The conversation delves into the evolution of Paralympic sports coverage and support as Anna has recently become a co-founder of the media collective, Culxtured. We also explore the nuances of disability and impairment, shedding light on the diverse experiences and challenges faced dur...

This episode includes an interview with Kendall Gretsch, a six-time Paralympian, covering her experiences in both the summer and winter games, as well as her recent achievements at the 2026 Milan Cortina games!! The conversation delves into the complexities of the Paralympic Games, shedding light on the challenges and intricacies involved. It also highlights the diversity of Paralympic athletes an...