Welcome back to the Contacts Coaching Podcast. Today, we have the honor of speaking with Robert Paylor, an inspirational speaker and author. In this episode, Robert shares his incredible journey of overcoming a traumatic spinal cord injury during a national championship rugby game in 2017. He discusses his initial prognosis, the monumental challenges he faced, and the relentless effort that has brought him to where he is today. Robert also talks about the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, the invaluable support of his family, friends, and the rugby community, and his new book, 'Paralyzed to Powerful,' set to release on May 6th. Don't miss this poignant and uplifting story of resilience and hope.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:50 Early Life and Athletic Background
02:29 Transition to Rugby and High School Achievements
04:04 College Rugby and the Life-Changing Injury
09:26 Hospitalization and Initial Recovery
11:30 Rehabilitation Journey and Return to Berkeley
14:42 Support System and Overcoming Challenges
17:31 Mindset and Positivity in Recovery
21:38 Maintaining Perspective and Empathy
24:36 Mental Diet and Surrounding Yourself with Positivity
26:53 Navigating Information Overload
27:05 Balancing Big Goals with Reality
28:05 The Daily Grind of Recovery
32:07 Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
38:41 The Power of Relationships in Sports
42:47 The Unique Community of Rugby
45:45 Finding Purpose Through Adversity
49:17 Advice for Athletes and Coaches
52:38 Upcoming Book and Final Thoughts
Website: https://www.robertpaylor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob.paylor/
X: https://x.com/RobertPaylor5
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertpaylor5
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/robert-paylor
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!