The Shared Experience

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host Zorth and Gary interview 2-time Pi Alpha, Chad Coltrane from Epsilon Iota (University of North Carolina – Greensboro). Chad completed Journey of Hope (JOH) South Route as a cyclist in 1991 and as Project Manager in 1992. Chad was the CEO of The Ability Experience (formerly known as PUSH America) from July 1997 to January 2015. In this...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host, Zorth, interviews Pi Alpha, Nolan Carpenter, Kappa Omega (University of Utah). Nolan completed Journey of Hope (JOH) North Route as a cyclist in 2023 . Nolan is currently a Senior and has served his chapter as Philanthropy Chair, Archon, and Warden. Nolan is the first Pi Alpha and Leadership Consultant from Kappa Omega. In this episod...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host Zorth interviews Pi Alpha, Richard Pierce, Alpha (College of Charleston). Richard completed Gear Up Florida (GUF) as a cyclist in 2023. He is currently the Chapter Advisor for the Alpha chapter and serves on the standing committee of the Ritual and Insignia Committee of Pi Kappa Phi. In this episode, you'll learn how Richard completed...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host, Zorth, interviews 2-time Pi Alpha and the 2024 "Thomas Sayre Philanthropist of the Year Award" recipient, Chase DuMond, Alpha Iota (Auburn University). Chase completed Gear Up Florida (GUF) as cyclist in 2022 and Journey of Hope (JOH) TransAmerica Route as a cyclists in 2024. Chase joined the fraternity staff as a Leadership Consultan...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host Zorth and Gary interview 2-time Pi Alpha, Ethan Norman Delta Lambda (University of North Carolina - Charlotte). Ethan completed Journey of Hope (JOH) North Route as a cyclist in 2018 and Gear Up Florida (GUF) as a cyclist in 2024. Ethan joined the Fraternity staff after 3+ years working at Lowe's corporate, a top-50 Fortune 500 company...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host Zorth and Gary interview Pi Alpha, Evan Austin, Eta Beta (Indiana State University). Evan completed Gear Up Florida (GUF) as a cyclist in 2023. Evan is a keynote speaker for ForCollegeForLife, and a team member of Team USA. He is a 4-time Paralympian in swimming (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and earned bronze and g...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” host Zorth interviews two-time Pi Alpha, Michael Harvey, Kappa Eta (SUNY Geneseo). Michael completed Build America (BAM) as a foreman in 2019 and project managed in 2020. In this episode, you'll learn how Michael incorporates the values he learned as a Pi Alpha into his career as a high school teacher. Michael teaches Living Environment (Bi...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview three-time Pi Alpha, Drake Lloyd, Eta Psi (University of Central Florida). Drake completed Gear Up Florida as a cyclist in 2021, project managed in 2024 and Journey of Hope as a cyclist in 2023 on the North Route. In this episode, you'll learn how Drake stays connected with The Ability Experience through C...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview 7-time Pi Alpha and 3-time Bruce Rodgers Award winner, Andre Arman (Zeta Epsilon, George Mason University), who completed his first Pi Alpha event at the age of 35. Within a 10 year span, Andre completed 7 summer events including Journey of Hope in 2002, Gear Up Florida in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, Virtual...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview four-time Pi Alpha and current Ability Experience staff member, Patrick Carlson, Iota Kappa (Greeley). Carlson completed Journey of Hope in 2017 and 2018 as crew member and project manager and then Gear Up Florida in 2019 and 2022 as project manager and cyclist. Patrick is the first Pi Alpha from the Iota Kapp...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview 7-time Pi Alpha and Nu Phi Society member, Ruben Talavera, Eta Omega (New Mexico State University), who completed Journey of Hope in 2006 as a crew member and then cycled Gear Up Florida in 2007, 2009, 2019, 2020 and 2022. Since his retirement of summer events (unless his fellow Glo Bros ask him to run it back...

On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview Pi Alpha Austin Gothard (Iota Nu, Mississippi State University), who completed Gear Up Florida as a cyclist in 2022, led the TransAmerica team as Project Manager in 2023 and will be cycling Gear Up Florida a second time in 2024. Austin will also be a Leadership Consultant for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity in 2024.  ...

Welcome to episode 14! On the newest episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview Pi Alpha and Team AbEx Ambassador, Jeremy Jones (Alpha Gamma, University of Oklahoma), who completed Journey of Hope as a cyclist in 1998, 2001 and as project manager in 2009.    Jeremy has walked across Spain, biked around New Zealand, was a semi-finalist for the show "Survivor,&qu...

Welcome to episode 13! On this episode of “The Shared Experience Podcast,” hosts Zorth and Gary interview 1997 Journey of Hope North Route cyclist, managing director at Merrill Lynch and current AbEx board member, Michael Davis.  Learn how Michael’s Journey of Hope experience led to him hosting the Inaugural Empire State Ride in New York, and saying YES to more adventures like hiking Mount Kiliman...

Welcome to episode 12, featuring Rob Raesemann from the Zeta Zeta chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. In this episode, hosts Zorth and Gary talk with Rob about being a 6x Pi Alpha, his involvement for the AbEx Challenge: Gate River Run and the future of the Zeta Zeta Chapter. A snippet about Rob: "Rob's initiation into Pi Kappa Phi over 35 years ago set him on a path he could never have imagined. He...

Welcome back! It's been a while. On this return episode, Zorth and Gary talk with Jim Karlovec, cofounder of the Journey of Hope. This is the first episode of a longer series discussing how "A" journey of hope became THE Journey of Hope.

As a Pi Alpha, Cycling Coach and Board Member, it's fair to say that Corey Dillon has impacted the The Ability Experience's cycling events more than just about anyone. Over the years, Corey has dedicated himself to the evolution of our events - particularly in the interest of safety. Join us and we uncover what Corey has added to the Journey of Hope and Gear Up Florida experiences since is 1991 cr...

Paul Drake has done it all. As a seven time Pi Alpha, Paul has cycled all three routes of Journey of Hope and Gear Up Florida. Join us as Paul compares and contrasts his experiences depicting the evolution of our programs over the years. Paul's involvement: Journey of Hope (1989, 1991, 1998, 2003, 2005), Gear Up Florida (2004), Pi Alpha Ride Along (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017), Cycling Events Cyc...

Twin brothers, Josh and Will Ingram have a lot to unpack when it comes to Ability Experience involvement. Join us as we compare and contrast two unique experiences including the 2019 Journey of Hope.

As a result of a traumatic motorcycle accident, Brent Freeman is a Pi Alpha who is now blind. While injuries have effected his memory, Journey of Hope will never be forgotten. Join us as he shares how his perspective of his 2010 experience has evolved and what he cherishes most about that summer.  (Recorded LIVE as a part of 2021 Pi Kapp College for Chapter Officers)

3x Pi Alpha and past-staff member, Mike McBride, Omega (Purdue), is an adventurer. From leading The Ability Experience's only event in Europe, to most recently riding the Blue Ridge Parkway in just five days, Mike reflects on what it truly means to be a Pi Alpha and how your first event shouldn't be the end.

Since 2003, our flagship construction program has been building more than just accessible facilities at our partner camps. Join us as our inaugural Build America Project Manager Jenkins Chan discusses the program and the reasons why many view it as the most impactful program The Ability Experience has to offer.

On this episode of #TheSharedExperience, our host Zorth Pilonieta sits down with Ryan Thibodaux, Gamma Iota (LSU). Learn how Ryan is balancing family, his dental practice, and playing in one of New Orleans' top bands all while taking on the challenge of riding segments of the Journey of Hope South Route in the wake of COVID-19. Journey of Hope Ride Along Challenge: https://www.classy.org/event/jou...

Gear Up Florida 2020 team member and now five-time Pi Alpha, David Dalton, Beta Nu (Houston), reflects on his time with the organization. Find out where this year’s virtual event stacks up against his previous cycling event experiences on this episode of The Shared Experience. (Dalton participated in Gear Up Florida 2001 and 2020 as a cyclist, 2003 and 2004 as a crew member, as well as a cyclist o...

"Living in a wheelchair is never easy, but no one said life was easy." Kyle Pease, Eta Delta (Kennesaw State) is a four-time Iron Man and co-founder of the Kyle Pease Foundation. Listen in as Kyle sheds light on his journey as a competitive athlete and how he continues to push the envelope to inspire and motivate us all. Referenced Links: https://www.kylepeasefoundation.org/ https://abilityexperie...