Seize Your Adventure

Jake Quigley is the executive director of the non profit Outdoor Mindset. The organisation’s mission is to unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion of the outdoors. It is a free membership-based community. When he is not working, Jake can be found adventuring outdoors with his wife, Jeanie, by foot, bike, or ski.

If you haven’t listen to Jake’s story, be sure to head back to Part One so that you make the most of our conversation!

We talked about:

His epilepsy diagnosis at 11 years old

How adventure can increase confidence, positivity and the ability to deal with challenge

The path to brain surgery

How to dispel the fear and stigma around epilepsy

What is telemark skiing?

How altitude might affect epilepsy

What he could teach me in mountain biking!

Getting support from Diane Van Deren

What you CAN control when you are diagnosed

How exercise can help your brain

The influence of the outdoors on depression and anxiety

The changes in attitude towards epilepsy

His next big adventure

Terminology:

Grand mal: a generalised seizure where a person loses consciousness and convulses. Also known as a tonic-clonic (more modern term).

Aura: a change in brain activity that causes some strange sensations. Often a warning of a seizure.

More about Outdoor Mindset:

https://www.outdoormindset.org/

Follow Outdoor Mindset:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorMindset/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoormindset/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OutdoorMindset

Music:

Lonely Lake by Kev Rowe | License: Creative Commons

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

Follow Seize Your Adventure:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadve

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

This podcast takes you to one of the most remote parts of the UK, an area renowned as the last wilderness of Britain. Even the most touristic areas take some effort to get to. Welcome to the Scottish highlands.

Joe Stevenson tells us about a charity hike he did a couple of years ago. Charity events are a great way of becoming a little bit more adventurous. The challenges are organised for you, the group leaders have plenty of experience with people of all finesses and of course, you can raise some money for a good cause at the same time. The hike that Joe decided to do was the Ben Nevis Challenge for Epilepsy Action.

Joe hadn’t climbed a mountain before his trip to Scotland, but he decided to take on the highest peak in the UK.

Epilepsy Action is a charity that provides support and expert advice, raises awareness and advocates for people with epilepsy. You can speak to them about all elements of living with epilepsy or if you are interested in taking on a challenge for Epilepsy Action. If you have depression, or would like some help with your mental health, you can contact Mind for information and support.

Find out more about Joe: https://epilepticman.com/

Music:

GuitarDandCWithLONGERFade.wav by Kevin Boucher

Folk Guitar Music Track by Dvideoguy

Tick Tick Tick by k2tr

Head to seizeyouradventure.com for the full story.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure.

READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT AT seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Let me take you on a very intimate journey from my first seizure to walking the Norte and Primitivo Caminos. With music recorded whilst I was walking, this will give you an insight into my experience of The Way. On a post-referendum quest to discover more of Europe, I decided to take a five-hundred mile walk across Spain. In the summer of 2017, I set out to walk the Camino de Santiago. I expected sore feet, time to think and intimate talks with strangers (mainly about blisters). I didn’t expect my epilepsy to be such a focus of conversation and source of admiration.

As you listen to my story, I hope that fellow pilgrims recognise themselves. It might push aspiring pilgrims to buy a guidebook. And if you want to know more about me and my epilepsy, this is your chance.

And you get to hear me sing...

Related articles:

https://seizeyouradventure.com/2018/02/14/the-camino-diaries/

https://seizeyouradventure.com/2018/07/08/hiking-snowdon-now-and-then/

Music:

Fiesta recorded on the Camino

Acoustic Venezuelan Cuatro by iluppai | License: Creative Commons 0 via Freesound.org

Didgeridoo recorded on the Camino

Buskers in Bilbao recorded on the Camino

Tom Paget recorded and sung by me on a path in Surrey

Fiesta in Santiago recorded on the Camino

Buen Camino!

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Adventurer. Soldier. Author. Jordan Wylie is known for his challenges at the extreme end of the adventure spectrum. Described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as “A determined, fearless adventurer and an inspiring man”, Jordan has run races in Iraq, Afghansistan and Somalia, he has written a book about his time tackling pirates off the coast of Africa, and he has hiked Kilimajaro... barefoot. But Jordan is also known for his passion for helping others in his role as an ambassador, trustee and campaigner for various international charities, including Frontline Children and Epilepsy Action. He was diagnosed with epilepsy himself after he contracted dengue fever whilst in Djibouti. But rather than letting it slow him down, Jordan took on the role of an epilepsy ambassador, and continues to push the boundaries of extreme adventure. We talked about:

• His most difficult challenge so far
• How he was diagnosed with epilepsy
• What an Extreme Adventurer does when they’re not adventuring -
• Who makes him starstruck
• His must-visit travel destinations
• How to limit epilepsy risk
• Swimming with crocodiles!
• And more...

Donate to Rowing Dangerously: https://www.givepenny.com/rowingdangerously

Follow the Rowing Dangerously Challenge on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RowDangerously

Find out more about Jordan: https://www.jordanwylie.org/

Jordan’s Recommendations:

Declassified Podcast

Citadel by Jordan Wylie

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network

Today’s story is a small epic of a tale. It starts on the other side of the world, it includes some dramatic moments, some aspirations achieved. I also had to download a beep sound to censor some swear words in this episode - and you’ll soon understand why. This is the story of my first #30at30forEpilepsy challenge. This is my ice climbing adventure. Why Ice Climbing? Well one reason is that I am trying out some of the sports that contributors to Seize Your Adventure already do. Some of you out there will be familiar with a gentleman called Alex Staniforth. Alex was plagued by adversity and epilepsy as a child, and has gone on to do some extraordinary things, including attempting to climb Everest on two occasions. The first time he tried was when he was eighteen, which is quite incredible. So ice climbing is partly inspired by Alex. I figured, this might be one of the harder challenges to arrange. I live near London, a place that’s not really known for its glaciers or icy mountains. I thought I’d have to jet off to another country, brave the cold on the remote side of a mountain, and contend with all the extra risks there might be from having epilepsy in that environment. But I did some research and I learned that there are actually a few indoor icewalls in the UK and the team at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports invited me along to an session at their indoor wall, called Vertical Chill. So suddenly, from being one of the harder challenges to arrange it became the easiest. I was so excited I made it the 1st challenge and spent some time on MY ACTUAL 30th BIRTHDAY climbing a wall of ice, in the middle of London which is just... so cool. (I’m sorry for the pun.)

TRY ICE CLIMBING:

You can experience the thrill of real ice climbing in the city at the Vertical Chill Ice walls London and Manchester (located within Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports) Vertical-chill.com

MUSIC:

Cinematic Trailer - Epic Emotional Background Music / Action Orchestral Music by AShamaluevMusic | License: Creative Commons

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Become a patron to support the podcast and continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure. Find out more and sign up at patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. You can also make a one-off donation at https://www.paypal.me/seizeyouradventure.

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE at seizeyouradventure.com/transcripts

FOLLOW SEIZE YOUR ADVENTURE:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SYAdventurers/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/syadventurers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syadventurers/

And tag when you listen, share, subscribe!

See acast.com/privacy fo

This podcast is an independent production - costs of the show are covered by me (Fran) with the support of patrons. If you want to help support the show financially, head to patreon.com/seizeyouradventure. This will help me to continue telling stories of epilepsy in adventure.
Or, support the show for free by sharing it on socials! Find us on Instagram @seizeyouradventurepod.
Seize Your Adventure is part of the Tremula Network - adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network