The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast

What does freedom look like when you redefine what is possible after spinal cord injury? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving, Sophie Elwes is joined by Nathalie McGloin, the first female tetraplegic racing driver in the world and President of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission. Nathalie shares her journey from sustaining a complete C6–7 spinal cord injury at 16 to becoming a licen...

How do you rebuild your life after a career-ending accident — and find joy again in travel, creativity and independence? In this powerful episode of Back Up and Thriving , host Sophie Elwes speaks with David Holmes, a former British gymnast and stuntman whose career on the Harry Potter films changed forever after a devastating on-set accident left him a tetraplegic. David opens up about his incred...

What does it take to rebuild your life after a spinal cord injury while pursuing a career in medicine? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving , Sophie Elwes speaks with junior doctor and disability advocate Grace Spence Green, who sustained a spinal injury in 2018 while at medical school. Grace shares her remarkable journey of returning to medical studies as a wheelchair user, becoming a trustee...

What happens when you refuse the story you are told about disability and choose to write your own? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving , Sophie Elwes speaks with Kyla Harris, actor, producer, writer and co creator of the BBC series We Might Regret This. Kyla shares her experience of sustaining a spinal cord injury at 15 and the long process of rebuilding identity in a world with limited disabl...

What helps you rebuild confidence, identity and freedom after a spinal cord injury? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving , Sophie Elwes is joined by Clair Pollard, who’s a Clinical Psychologist and paraplegic who sustained her spinal injury in 1999 while travelling in Africa. Clair shares how discovering Back Up shortly after leaving hospital changed the direction of her life and reshaped her b...

What happens when a life-changing crash leads to a world-class comeback? In this inspiring episode of Back Up and Thriving , host Sophie Elwes speaks with Benjamin Pritchard, a Paralympic, World, and European rowing champion whose story proves that strength comes from adaptability. After a cycling accident in 2016 left him with a spinal cord injury, Benjamin faced one of life’s toughest challenges...

Welcome to the pilot episode of Back Up & Thriving , a podcast exploring accessible travel, real experiences, and practical support for people navigating life after spinal cord injury. In this short introduction, we share what this podcast is all about, who it’s for, and how Back Up supports people to travel with more confidence, independence, and clarity. Whether you’re thinking about your ne...

In this episode of the Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, host Sophie Elwes interviews TV presenter, disability advocate, and artist Sophie Morgan about her journey and experiences travelling with a T5-6 complete spinal cord injury.   The discussion covers the challenges and tips for flying with a disability, the importance of self-advocacy, and the impact of travel on a person's...

In this episode of the Backup and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, host Sophie Elwes interviews Hannah, who sustained a C5 incomplete spinal cord injury in 2018, and her father, Darren. They share their experiences and insights into navigating life and travel with a spinal cord injury.  Hannah discusses her journey from sustaining her injury as a trampoline gymnast to becoming a physiotherapist...

In this episode of the Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, host Sophie Elwes interviews Pete Donnelly, who has lived with a T6 spinal cord injury for 18 years. They discuss Pete's journey with Back Up, his rehabilitation, mastering wheelchair skills, and his exceptional travel experiences globally. Pete shares valuable insights into overcoming internalized ableism and the societal...

In this episode of The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, host Sophie Elwes interviews Merryn Thomas about her journey with a spinal cord injury sustained in 2009. The discussion touches on various travel experiences, focusing on public transport, living abroad, and the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world as a wheelchair user. Merryn shares valuable tips for newly injured...

In this episode of the The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, actor George Robinson discusses his journey following a spinal cord injury sustained during a rugby trip in South Africa. He shares his experiences in the hospital and his involvement with Back Up, a pivotal support system during his recovery. George details his acting career, including his role as Isaac in 'Sex Educat...

The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast is hosted by Sophie Elwes, Head of Services at Back Up. She sustained a T4 spinal cord injury back in 2011. Over this series she'll be interviewing a range of guests who are all affected by spinal cord injury and each episode will look at a different mode of transport. Guests to come include George Robinson who stars in Netflix's Sex Edu...