The Adaptable Octopus

Welcome back to The Adaptable Octopus ! Today, Blair talks with guest Cathy Garland about how to tell if a dream or vision is from God. How to know if a dream is from God or something else The story of Joseph and trusting God through hard times Setting boundaries and knowing when God is leading you Why God uses challenges to shape us Learning to surrender your dreams to Him Stay anchored in who Go...

In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of The Adaptable Octopus , Blair sits down with wrestler, storyteller, and Dj  Jeremy Huggins for a conversation that’s equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply human. Jeremy and Blair open up about their shared experience navigating the world with Cerebral Palsy , offering a candid look at what it’s really like to build a career in media while...

The Adaptable Octopus Episode: The Secret of Life with Robert Toler What if the secret to life isn’t control — but peace? In this powerful episode, Blair Riggs and Robert Toler get real about finding faith, confidence, and calm when life gets messy. Their honest stories and hard-earned wisdom will remind you that you can rise, rebuild, and thrive — no matter what. Listen if you want to: 🌊 Find pe...

n this episode of "The Adaptable Octopus," Blair Riggs discusses domestic violence awareness with Magnolia, who shares her harrowing experience of abuse and manipulation from her husband Magnolia details the escalatinger. Despite multiple attempts at reconciliation, Magnolia eventually left, facing further threats and needing police intervention. She emphasizes the importance of creating...

In this soul-shifting episode, we welcome therapist and speaker Rachal Sietzema all the way from Australia to unravel the deep (and often sneaky) patterns of people pleasing , unconscious beliefs , and inner dialogue that hold us back from true emotional freedom. From the four hidden types of people pleasers to why your thoughts today are mostly the same as yesterday—and what to do about it—this c...

 🎙️ The Adaptable Octopus - “Healing Through the Chaos” ft. Carmen Haskins In this powerful and deeply personal episode, host Blair reconnects with childhood friend Carmen Haskins —a licensed trauma therapist, author of Secrets Kill: Come Out of the Darkness , and the resilient force behind Pink Solutions. Together, they explore Carmen’s journey from silent suffering to empowered healing, the impo...

 "Faith, Ashes & the God Who Sees Us"  In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode of The Adaptable Octopus , host Blair Riggs opens up about her relationship with Jesus and how it has shaped her journey living with cerebral palsy. Joined by special guest Cathy Clover Garland—author, speaker, and woman of unshakable faith—they explore what it really means to walk with God through p...

Welcome back to The Adaptable Octopus ! In this heartfelt episode, Blair Riggs opens up about her journey to understanding cerebral palsy and how something as simple as breathing helped her manage pain and stress. She’s joined by special guest and fellow podcaster Amanda Russo, who shares her powerful story of transformation through breathwork, movement, and mindset. From Bali retreats to virtual...

What do hot wings, weird hypotheticals, and deep truths have in common? This week, Blair welcomes Houston, host of A Thousand Crazy Questions , for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about asking the unexpected—and what happens when people answer honestly. From wild “Would You Rather” scenarios to real-life resilience, they dive into vulnerability, pets, Proverbs, and the true meaning of adapt...

 This week on The Adaptable Octopus , Blair invites her favorite partner in chaos — her sister Mandy — for a heartfelt, hilarious dive into what really matters: your heart (and apparently your dishwashing attitude). From biblical wisdom to donkey jokes (yes, there's a donkey), we unpack how intention matters more than perfection, why forgiveness keeps your heart light, and what it’s like being...

🎙️ The Adaptable Octopus – Episode: “Waves, Music, and Moving Forward” Welcome back to The Adaptable Octopus ! 🐙 In this heartfelt episode, Blair is joined by her longtime friend Edd—someone who’s weathered life’s storms right alongside her. Together, they open up about navigating mental health, grief, and the daily effort it takes to stay afloat. 💬 Topics include: Turning tough months into bett...

🐙 The Adaptable Octopus 🎙️ "Hijacked by Friends" — Special Takeover Episode feat. J.R. & Stacy This episode is not your usual octopus adventure. Blair hands the mic to friends J.R. and Stacy from Sparrow’s Under Reveiw and WV Uncommonplace—and they go full takeover mode. It’s heartfelt. It’s hilarious. It’s chaos with purpose. Blair’s Origin Story – From birth complications to launc...

🎙️ The Adaptable Octopus – Featuring Zachary Weeks In this powerful episode, we're joined by the amazing Zachary Weeks — advocate, accessibility consultant, and founder of the Cerebral Palsy Worldwide Facebook group. Zachary shares his journey of embracing his disability, building community, and pushing for change in Alberta, Canada, where he’s advocating for accessibility legislation. Host Bl...

🎙️ Episode Title : Mental Health, Stigma & Support: A Conversation with Dr. Clarence McCray 👋 Welcome to The Adaptable Octopus! In this heartfelt episode, host Blair sits down with Dr. Clarence McCray to have an open and important conversation about mental health, stigma, parenting through crisis, and how our systems treat physical vs. mental health differently. 🧠 Topics We Cover : Real-life...

🎙️ The Adaptable Octopus Episode Title : Lighthouse in the Storm: A Conversation with Catrina Wright Description : Welcome to another episode of The Adaptable Octopus ! Today’s episode is deeply personal. I sit down with someone who entered my life as a teacher but became a lighthouse—my safe place, my guide, my friend. Catrina Wright isn't just an educator—she's a life-changer. We dive in...

Welcome back to The Adaptable Octopus — I’m your host, Blair Riggs. In this powerful episode, Jamie Johnson shares his journey from a devastating car accident that left him a quadriplegic and claimed his wife’s life, to finding strength, purpose, and a new way forward. We talk about: 💥 The crash that changed everything 🧠 Facing grief, paralysis, and survival 🦽 Life in a wheelchair and what it r...

🎙️ EPISODE: My Dad, My Story 🦑 The Adaptable Octopus with Blair Riggs This Father’s Day, I sit down with my dad, Bryant—for a raw and honest conversation about my cerebral palsy, our relationship, and the moments that shaped us. We don’t see everything the same way—and that’s okay. I wouldn’t change who I am. God makes no mistakes. You’ll hear: A father’s perspective on disability Deep reflection...

🎙 Episode Summary: “Validation, Confidence & the Messy Middle” On this heartfelt episode of The Adaptable Octopus, host Blair Riggs welcomes her lifelong best friend, Ryan Caldwell, for a candid conversation about the messy, beautiful process of personal growth. Together, they explore the need for validation, the fear behind big decisions, and the weight of unresolved trauma. Through stories,...

🚨 Content Note: This episode contains discussions of suicide. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 for support. What do BMX racing, sixth-grade homework, and platinum-level self-worth have in common? This week, Dr. Clarence McCray II joins us to talk about living—and thriving—with an invisible disability, staring down self-doubt, and why sometimes l...

🦑 Welcome to The Adaptable Octopus! In this episode, we're diving deep with my amazing friend Katie Shaff, a powerhouse with a bright spirit and a sharp sense of humor. Katie has Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, which affects both her arms and legs, and she’s never let that stop her from living life on her own terms. 👶 Born three months early at just 1 lb 11 oz (yes, you read that right), Katie shar...

Welcome back to The Adaptable Octopus — I’m your host, Blair Riggs. In this powerful episode, Jamie Johnson shares his journey from a devastating car accident that left him a quadriplegic and claimed his wife’s life, to finding strength, purpose, and a new way forward. We talk about: 💥 The crash that changed everything 🧠 Facing grief, paralysis, and survival 🦽 Life in a wheelchair and what it r...

🎙️ Episode Title : "Ink and Insight: A Son's Perspective" 🧠 Podcast : The Adaptable Octopus 👤 Guest : Lucas, Host’s Son This heartfelt Mother’s Day episode features a special guest — the host’s son, Lucas. Together, they reflect on what it was like for him growing up with a mom who has cerebral palsy. Lucas shares his honest thoughts on how it shaped his awareness, compassion, and...

Show Notes: Last week was full of intense emotions, difficult decisions, and deep reflection. In this episode, I open up about some very personal parts of my journey—especially around my daughter, Anna, and everything we’re navigating together as a family. ✨ What We Talk About Today: How my daughter made me mad—and what it taught me about accountability and tough love Finally getting her a 504 pl...

💬 Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode, we’re taking a moment to celebrate The Adaptable Octopus winning its first award 🐙🏆—and it’s all thanks to YOU. We reflect on the amazing community we've built, the messages that keep us going, and how embracing cerebral palsy in later life has shaped this journey. I also answer your burning questions—from the gear I use (spoiler: it’s a borrowe...

Episode Title: Still Swimming Podcast: The Adaptable Octopus Show Notes: When life pulls you to the ocean floor, how do you keep swimming? In this episode, Blair Riggs shares the powerful story of an octopus who lost everything—family, health, wealth—but never gave up. Through grief, questions, and faith, he finds his way back. 💧 Feel your pain ❓ Ask the hard questions 🙏 Hold on to faith A stor...