Two Disabled Dudes

Finding the strength to keep moving after a heart wrenching loss is a prime example of living life beyond circumstances. Chris Doveton and Anne are enjoying a loving marriage in the prime of their lives when Anne is diagnosed with a rare and fatal genetic disease. For ten years, Chris and Anne endure this terrible secret alone. After Anne's death, Chris, ravaged by crippling grief, realises that h...

Sean tells yet another story of someone thinking he is drunk, but this time the guy gets a little aggressive.  Listen to hear the whole story and Sean's interactions with the landscaping company that the guy works for.

Cystinosis is a rare disease that causes life altering damage to the kidneys, eyes, muscles, pancreas, and brain.  Clint Moore's son, Chandler liver with the rare disease.  That's why Clint walks 57 miles on 5/7 to raise funds and awareness.  Listen as the dudes discuss some life principles and talk about Clint's moving documentary that tells his family's story.   Visit the Cystinosis Research Net...

Anyone who has listened to this podcast before has heard The Dudes go on and on about the power of community and the importance of connecting to others.  So why is our first reaction to pull away when things get hard?  Denial?  Pride?  Self-preservation?  Fear?  Listen as the dudes try to break down this complex topic.  They probably need some professional help... This topic all started with a lit...

Government programs such as Social Security provide essential services for people with disabilities.  But navigating through the bureaucracy can be a nightmare. That's why there are companies such as Allsup Disability Insurance Services and people like Mary Dale Walters - to help us make sense of it all!  Listen as she gives us a great start to the conversation and provides resources for where to...

Using our collective effort. participants in the rideATAXIA Global Challenge will power the team around the globe in 30 days.  During this time the team will be introducing all of us to the brilliant minds behind the effort to treat and cure Friedreich's Ataxia. Get more info and register at rideataxia.org/globalchallenge or join Team #CrankinWithKyle HERE. Join us on Strava to contribute to the g...

In 2012, at the age of 26, Kevin Schnurr was unexpectedly diagnosed with Alport syndrome after being rushed to the hospital with high blood pressure. After two years on peritoneal dialysis, he received a living donor kidney transplant from a close friend in May 2014. Kevin’s desire to help others in the rare disease community led to him volunteering at Alport Syndrome Foundation (ASF) in 2012. He...

Sean and Kyle are polar opposites in so many different ways.  But this is a strength rather than a weakness.  This week the Dudes discuss their differences and why they work well together.  

Like it or not, communicating with smart devices has become a huge part of our lives.  For people with disabilities, this communication can be an essential part of making it through the day.  However these devices have a hard time understanding speech that is outside what they've heard before. Google has launched an effort called Project Euphonia to retrain our devices to understand people who hav...

Blair Casey is the Assistant Executive Director of Team Gleason - an organization founded by former NFL player Steve Gleason. The organization is committed to providing for and finding solutions for persons living with ALS. Team Gleason’s staff and volunteers work tirelessly every day to empower those living with ALS to live with continued purpose and as productively and independently as possible....

BONUS episode! We received a lot of comments about Episode 114 (the encounter with Debora) so we invited a few friends to join us to talk about the sometimes awkward interactions with strangers who may be uncomfortable with disability. Friends who joined us are Shandra and Christian from Florida, Leona from Colorado, and Effie Parks (host of the Once Upon a Gene Podcast) from Seattle.   This bonus...

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?  In this episode, the dudes tackle this question as it relates to disability or as it relates to life in general. Listen and reach out if you have thoughts about this subject.

Where do we start after a life threatening diagnosis.  Start a YouTube Channel of course!  That's what Katie did.  She started connecting with the Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) community and now she leads the VEDS Movement for the The Marfan Foundation. Find out more at thevedsmovement.org. And find out more about the people behind the movement at translucentone.blog

Curiosity about someone's disability often comes from a good place but depending on how it is delivered, it can create awkward or even offensive situations.  This week the dudes struggle with how to react in these awkward situations.  It's good for someone to ask questions but there is a line somewhere.  Listen for real life stories and honest conversation.

In the opening episode of Season 4, Sean and Kyle admit to being a little lazy lately and then commit to getting back on the wagon.  That's the power of accountability!  And it's the power of their commitment to their listeners - one insightful episode per week for the next 4 months! The meat of the episode is all about how we tend to define ourselves and each other by the immediate circumstances....

Why do we all react differently to a situation - especially when the stakes are high, such as the current situation with Coronavirus?  Sean and Kyle have a few thoughts to share but first we must hear about Sean's recent cluster at physical therapy, and Kyle explains how it is possible to lock yourself out of your own bathroom.  Season 4 starts in August but there are 111 other episodes to enjoy s...

We’ve had the privilege to work with Amicus Therapeutics on multiple occasions and each time we are moved by their commitment and consistent execution of their corporate mission. This virtual patient panel they facilitated is no exception! Three weeks into the company’s work-from-home arrangements due to COVID-19, Amicus wanted to continue connecting their team members with each other and the pati...

After a brave fight, Taylor Kane lost her Dad to a rare disease called Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) when she was 3 years old.  She subsequently found out that she was a carrier of this X-linked disease. For a long time it was believed that "carriers don't get symptoms."  However, that myth has been busted and Taylor Kane has a clear mission in life.  She started a non-profit called Remember the Girl...

Hawken Miller is an accomplished young writer with a clear purpose in life.  He is an incredible representative for the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Community and he has a passion for the work of CureDuchenne. Writing is his chosen medium and he has a keen interest in the e-sports world.  He uses video games to connect with others in the Duchenne Community and he uses writing to explain video games...

As everyday life continues to be dominated by coronavirus Quarantine, The Dudes discuss the pros and cons of the situation.  They prognosticate about how things might change because of this pandemic.  Tune in and play along with the thought experiment.

A brief summary of this episode

Gabe Adams was born without arms or legs due to HanHart Syndrome. He joins us and shares so much about being "different" from other kids, finding his independence, dating, his upbringing in the Mormon-Christian church and so much more. Gabe is no stranger to people pointing, staring or talking negatively in extreme and cruel ways. Still, he has defined and recognizes his own value and has built a...

Sometimes frustrations get the better of us.  And in quarantine, we are all on edge a little more than usual.  In this episode, the dudes put their focused conversation aside for a bit to vent a few frustrations and ramble aimlessly. Enjoy :-)

Jason Levy was a well-paid Silicon Valley executive when multiple accidents caused severe Traumatic Brain Injury.  His whole life changed and he found himself in much different circumstances than he had envisioned for his life.   Through his struggles, Jason realized that he must let go of the old Jason and embrace the new one.  Once he realized this, he started to build a satisfying life on his n...

Beth Kolbe was injured in a car accident and lost the use of her lower body.  Subsequently she went to Harvard, swam in the paralympics, received a law degree from Stanford, practices healthcare law in Washington DC, and gives back to the disability community through pro-bono work.  She's kind of a big deal - listen to hear her perspective.