July 2, 2025 • 19 mins
"Travel isn't meant to be easy—it's meant to be worth it." These words could easily be the mantra of Cory Lee, an extraordinary traveler who has visited 52 countries and all seven continents while navigating the world in a power wheelchair. In this intimate conversation recorded at the 2025 Abilities Expo in Chicago, Cory shares his remarkable journey with spinal muscular atrophy and how it became his motivation rather than limitation.
When Cory launched his blog "Curb Free with Cory Lee" in 2013, accessible travel resources were virtually non-existent online. What began as a modest attempt to fill this gap has evolved into a movement reshaping how the travel industry approaches accessibility. From humble beginnings where attraction passes felt like golden tickets to now being paid by destinations worldwide to showcase their accessibility features, Cory's trajectory mirrors the growing recognition of travelers with disabilities as a vital market segment.
The conversation takes us through the very real challenges of wheelchair travel—particularly the anxiety-inducing experience of air travel, where the fear of wheelchair damage looms large with every flight. Yet despite these obstacles, Cory's adventures span from feeding elephants in Thailand to receiving traditional tattoos from monks by riverside temples. His children's book series featuring "CorCor," a wheelchair-using explorer, is educating the next generation about both the possibilities and practicalities of accessible travel. Whether you're a wheelchair user seeking travel inspiration or simply someone who believes in exploring beyond perceived limitations, this conversation will transform how you view travel, accessibility, and human potential.
Ready to see the world from a new perspective? Follow Cory's adventures on Instagram @curbfreecorylee or visit his award-winning blog at curbfreewithcorylee.com to discover how accessible the world can truly be when we refuse to accept barriers.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, guys?
As you can see, we're not inthe studio at home.
We're actually at the AbilitiesExpo in Chicago, and this
podcast is going to be a littledifferent.
It's going to be like aspeedcast.
The sound is not going to be asgreat because of how wide open
this space is, but I hope youguys enjoy it.
(00:22):
Please enjoy this.
Life to the Max speedcast.
What's up, everybody.
(00:43):
It's Life to the Max podcast.
We are at the abilities expo inschaumburg, lmr.
It is june 21st 2025 and todayI have a very special guest with
me kurt brie, cory lee yeah,thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I really appreciate the opportunity to be on your
podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Dude, I thank you so much for coming.
I know you've been so busy atthe expo.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, of course I'm happy to be here.
It's been a fun weekend so far.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
We were talking earlier.
You have muscular dystrophy,yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, I have a form of muscular dystrophy called
spinal muscular atrophy, whichbasically means that my muscles,
like are very weak and they dodegenerate over time.
So I like probably won't havethe same abilities 10 years from
now that I do today.
So that really kind of serveslike, I think, as a constant
(01:39):
motivator for me to travel likenow, while I'm undoubtedly more
able than I will be in thefuture.
So I'm like on a mission tolike do as much as I can now
while you know I'm the most ableI'll probably ever be.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Do you think you are?
Do you think there's researchout there that could help you
out?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I mean there are new medications that are coming out.
We actually just got like thefirst medication just a few
years ago for SMA and I meanthey're constantly like new
advancements being made.
So I mean I don't really knowwhat the future may hold Like.
I mean, the research is lookingpromising but it could be like
(02:21):
a decade away, you know, beforewe see real change, or more than
that.
How old are you, corey?
I'm 35.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Promising, but it could be like a decade away, you
know, before we see real change, or more than that.
I am 35, I'm 29, about to nice,almost 30, and I don't know if
it all goes downhill at 30.
Well, let's, let's talk aboutsomething good.
So you started curve free withcory lee in 2013.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, I started in 2013 and I I really started just
from realizing that there was alack of accessible travel
resources on the internet, andso I wanted to create a website
where other wheelchair userscould go to and hopefully, you
know find out what's accessiblearound the world.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
How did you like reinvent the wheel?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I mean honestly, like when I started, there weren't
really a lot of accessibletravel blogs, even Like there
were only two or three out thereand they were mostly focused on
traveling in the US or so likenational parks within the US,
and so there wasn't really aspace where people were, you
know, covering internationaltravel or travel really even
(03:28):
that frequently, like the onesthat existed weren't just like
weren't publishing frequentlyenough, I guess, and I just
wanted, like there was really anopportunity there that I saw
that just wasn't being takenback in 2013.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Okay, so explain the progression from 2013 to 2025.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Oh, it's been a wild ride.
I mean, it really took a coupleof years for me to like kind of
get my foot in the door andhave any kind of an audience at
all on social media.
So for those first couple ofyears, I mean I was trying to
publish content every single day, build up my audience on
Facebook, to publish contentevery single day, build up my
(04:08):
audience on Facebook, instagram,the blog, and then, after a
couple years, like I startedreaching out to destinations and
to different travel companiesand asking if they would be open
to collaborating or partneringand luckily, a few of them like
said yes and like I remember oneof the first destinations I
ever worked with was PigeonForge, tennessee, and they were
like we'll give you anattractions pass and you can go
(04:28):
to these.
like, like, I remember one ofthe first destinations I ever
worked with was Pigeon Forge,tennessee, and they were like
we'll give you an attractionspass and you can go to these
like attractions for free Ifyou'll route like two blog posts
and do social media content,and I just thought that was like
the best thing in the worldLike to get to go to a free
attraction.
You know Now, though, likedestinations are like covering
hotels flights.
Well, they're paying me to comeout and create content and work
with them to really showcaseaccessibility.
(04:49):
So I mean, it's grown beyond mywildest dreams, honestly.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
How does it feel like from your first flight?
So like, can you explain yourfirst flight to me?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, my first ever flight.
Well, I did my first flightwhen I was 13 years old, and it
was a Make-A-Wish trip actually,and I went to Los Angeles and I
was a presenter on the TeenChoice Awards.
Really, yeah, at the age of 13.
I mean that was like thegreatest thing in the world To
get to be a presenter on theTeen Choice Awards, and I
(05:22):
presented an award to KellyClarkson on TV and it was like
the most epic make-a-wish of alltime, I think.
But you know, I had so much fundoing that, but I mean it was
definitely scary, like to takethat first flight, you know, but
I was so young that it justdidn't really bother me, like I
had no fear about anything atthat point.
And, uh, sadly, though, likeair travel hasn't really gotten
(05:43):
much better in the past 22 years.
Can you explain?
Speaker 1 (05:47):
that Well, the air travel.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, I mean air travel.
I mean it's by far the part oftraveling that I dread the most.
I mean undoubtedly.
But I mean there are thingsthat you know I do to help
prevent any damages, like abubble wrap, the wheelchair.
I take parts of the wheelchairoff and put them in a carry-on
bag to take on the plane with me.
But I'm really hopeful that myultimate dream would be that one
(06:11):
day I can just roll on theplane and stay in my wheelchair.
I mean, that would be a gamechanger.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
So you've traveled to over 100 countries is that
correct?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, I wish I'm trying to get there, but I've
been to 52 countries so far andall seven continents.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Wow.
So what was it like actuallygoing overseas for the first
time?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, the first overseas trip that I took was a
cruise to the Bahamas.
Actually.
So not like anything toodaunting, but, um, that trip, I
mean it really like it was onlylike a three night cruise to the
Bahamas, but it was the firsttime that I was able to
experience a different cultureand like try new foods and meet
(06:55):
new people, and I mean it reallysparked something inside of me.
I did that when I was 15 yearsold, um, and it sparked
something inside of me.
I did that when I was 15 yearsold and it sparked something
inside of me that just made methink, you know, like if the
Bahamas can be this close andthis easy to get to, then what
would somewhere like India belike, or Australia, or South
Africa or all of these far flungplaces around the globe?
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And so that really motivated me to see more of the
world the globe, and so thatreally motivated me to see more
of the world.
Dude, that's absolutelybeautiful because so many people
are so for me like I want tofly, but I'm terrified that my
wheelchair is gonna get messedup.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
and trust me, I completely get it.
I mean, every single time thatI fly, I mean I'm like stressing
myself out so much, like Likeeven the day before the flight,
then I'm like maybe I shouldn'teven go on this trip, like is it
even worth it to go, you know?
But I try to just likeconstantly remind myself, like
you know, there are people outthere that need to see
(07:53):
wheelchair users and unfamiliarterritory and then new places
around the world, and we're sooften seen as like not being
able to travel, like that's theperception, so why not travel
internationally?
And I just want to like shatterthat sometimes we're seeing us
like, not people oh, absolutely,which I hate?
yeah, for sure I mean even herein like our own country, I feel,
(08:15):
like you know, and when wetravel internationally, like a
lot of times I remember when Iwas in India, I mean, people
rushed up to me and said it wasthe first time they had ever
seen a power wheelchair, and sothey were like crying and could
not believe that a powerwheelchair even existed.
And one guy told me so mybrother is at home and he's
(08:38):
never left the house in like 20years because we don't know how
to get him out like how much isthis power chair?
And he like wanted to get one.
And when I told him the pricewhich, as you know, like they're
stupid expenses yeah, um, helike started crying again
because he was so discouragedand like it shouldn't be that
case like around the world to beso difficult to be able to move
(08:59):
it's all bureaucracy here, it'sit's a really really that
really sucks.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Can you recommend like a airline, like the best
airline?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
yeah, so for me.
I mean, I usually fly withdelta, uh, but I'm based near
atlanta, which is delta's homebase, uh, so they have more
non-stop flights out of out ofAtlanta than any other airline.
But statistically, deltaactually damages the least
amount of wheelchairs comparedto every other airline.
So Delta is statistically thebest.
(09:30):
And then the worst airline isSpirit Spirit, yeah, spirit
damages the most.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
So my sister's a flight attendant.
She works for Frontier.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
She absolutely hates how they treat disabled people
I've never flown with frontierbut they are like one of the
lowest, like statistically aswell, with like damaging the
most wheelchairs 100 percent,dude, uh.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So what was your favorite vacation?
I know you you've been to abunch of places, but what place
really lit you up?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
I mean it's hard for me to choose one, so I'll give a
top three.
Top three, I would say Thailand.
I mean I went just a couplemonths ago to Bangkok and Khmer,
thani, bari and Wuhan.
I mean it's such an amazingcountry and the people are like
the friendliest in the world.
I was able to go to an elephantsanctuary and feed elephants.
(10:27):
I got a tattoo from a monk inthailand, which was pretty
awesome and I know you have alot of tattoos, uh and like, and
you would probably love thisstory.
But in exchange for the tattoo,they gave me the tattoo outside
by a river, um, at us, at um, atemple actually, and a monk did
it, and in exchange for thetattoo, all I had to give them
(10:50):
was a pack of cigarettes andsome flowers.
So it was a wild experience,but definitely one of the most
memorable.
And then, for the other twodestinations that I really love,
I would also say India andMorocco, and I think I would
choose them just because they'reunlike anywhere else in the
world.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
That is amazing man.
And what places would you notrecommend for people in
wheelchairs?
Like you know, like the, youknow, progressed with wheelchair
accessibility.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Because I think you know, I mean, obviously there
are places that it's notpossible to travel with a power
wheelchair Like, because I needadapted transportation and
things like that, and that justdoesn't exist in some places,
but in the majority ofdestinations that I've even,
like, researched or beeninterested in visiting, there is
a way to go there.
There are companies thatspecialize in accessible travel.
There is a way to go there.
There are companies thatspecialize in accessible travel.
(11:57):
So I mean, but I personally hadthe worst experience in Paris,
perhaps and I went back in 2011,and it was just incredibly
difficult to get around the city, but I've heard that it has
gotten much better since then.
So I mean, I would like to goback one day and hopefully, you
know, see, it has improved I canimagine the eu has a proof and
(12:20):
my brother told me like he went.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
He went to germany a few times he told me that um
that it's.
It is not eda accessible yeah.
But there are places that areaccessible.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
You put the name of accessible in a lot of places
because you're reinventing thewheel, yeah well, thank you.
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing.
So you said that you wrote achildren's book.
Can you explain that?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, back in 2020, my mom and I co-wr wrote a
children's book.
Can you explain that?
Yeah, back in 2020, my mom andI co-wrote a children's book
called let's Explore with Corkor, and it's all about a kid in a
wheelchair that travels theworld, and every destination
that is featured in the book isone that I've actually been to.
So they are accessibledestinations and I really just
hope that the book is showing,like kids with disabilities
(13:15):
what's possible, but I also hopethat it's showing, like kids
that are able-bodied, thatwheelchair users can get out
there and have these reallyincredible experiences around
the world.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
How's that like uh come about?
Like since, like uh, like how'suh the people the validation
been?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
yeah, I mean it's been incredible just to like see
the response and I mean meetthe kids that have like read the
book and see their reactions toit, and it's uh definitely like
heartwarming.
Whenever I meet a kid that'slike, oh, like I love corcor and
I want to go these placesbecause corcor went.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
You know, like it's a really special thing to hear so
, dude, that you're gonna makeme feel like I'm like that is so
.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That's so gruffly sweet, but now you're making it
in your book as well yeah, yeah,we're working on the second
book and we are almost done withit and it's going to be called
let's soar with core core andit's all about core core's first
flight.
So I mean, as we were talkingabout, yeah yeah, just like we
were talking about.
Like I mean, I know there's somany fears about flying as a
(14:26):
wheelchair user and I mean Iwant, like in the in, let's soar
with core core.
It's going to really walkthrough the entire flying
experience for Corcor and so Ihope that you know it'll help
eliminate some of those fearsbut also answer questions about
how can travel be easier if youuse the wheelchair.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
So for a first-time traveler, what would you
recommend for someone in awheelchair to go to?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Like a destination.
No just any trip, Just a tip.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Like a cruise.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I mean, I definitely think cruises are probably the
easiest way to travel if you'rea wheelchair user, because
everything that you need isright there on the ship, so you
don't have to worry aboutfinding an accessible taxi just
to go to dinner or just to gosee a broadway quality show, or
the pools are accessible on manyships, like they have a pool
(15:24):
lift, so there's so much thatyou can enjoy right there on the
ship without having to worryabout finding accessible
transportation, which is alwayslike.
My biggest worry whenever I getto a destination is well, now
I'm here, like how am I going toget around?
And is it actually going toshow up and get me?
You know?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
That terrifies me because I'm on a flight of Uber.
So I'm like crap man, like whatam I going to do, like, if
there's no like accessible, likeyou know, like taxis or ubers.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
It is scary yeah, it's definitely a concern for me
as well, yeah how do you likeyour life?
Speaker 1 (16:05):
your life's kind of an enigma man, like you uh
started 2013.
Now you're making books andyou're uh changing the world.
That's something I'm trying todo.
What advice would you give me?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I mean I think just keep pushing forward, like I
mean, there in this journey, Imean in my journey, I there have
been many, many days when I'vebeen like is it even worth it?
Like should I give up?
Is anybody listening?
Like is the industry ever goingto change and become more
accessible?
But I mean I think the longerthat we keep at it and we keep
(16:38):
fighting and like pushingforward, like the more change
that we can create.
And I know, like in the past 12years since I started, like I
have seen a change within thetravel industry and there are
now more destinations that arecaring about accessibility and
focusing on it than there everhave been before.
And I mean just here atAbilities Expo, like I see the
(17:00):
impact that, you know, peoplewith disabilities are having
within the world.
I mean it's really incredibleto see.
And I mean if we're not outthere trying to do this and
create change, then nobody'sgoing to.
So I mean I think it's reallyup to people like us to get the
word out and just, you know,make a change.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Corey, what are you most grateful for?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Ah, I mean I am I would say I'm most grateful
that's a good question, for Imean just for the ability to be
able to travel, I mean despitehaving a disability, like yeah,
yeah, it's hard, like it'stremendously difficult, but the
fact that I can do that and havesome kind of an impact within
(17:44):
this, within the travel industry, I mean it's something that I'm
thankful for every single dayand it never gets old.
But when someone reaches out tome and they're like hey, I
traveled to Iceland because Isaw that you went there, like
just meeting people that have,like you know that I've
influenced to travel for thefirst time, like there's nothing
(18:04):
better than that.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
That is absolutely beautiful man.
I want to thank you so much fortaking the time to come on my
show.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Yeah, of course.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I know you're like like super busy.
You've got to go in likeseveral minutes.
I really appreciate it and I'msure do you have anything you
would want to say to the peopleout there.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Yeah, I mean.
If anybody is watching orlistening and has any questions
about traveling as a WorldTouruser, feel free to reach out to
me on instagram at curb freecory lee, or you can read along
on my blog at curb free withcory leecom all right.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Thank you so much, man.
For everybody who likes thiscontent, please like, comment
and subscribe and, as always,take a breath for me.
Thank you so much.
Currently, I really appreciateyou making the time yeah, thanks
for having me max.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I really appreciate it.
What's up, guys?
As you can see, we're not inthe studio at home.
We're actually at the AbilitiesExpo in Chicago, and this
podcast is going to be a littledifferent.
It's going to be like aspeedcast.
The sound is not going to be asgreat because of how wide open
this space is, but I hope youguys enjoy it.
(00:22):
Please enjoy this.
Life to the Max speedcast.
What's up, everybody.
(00:43):
It's Life to the Max podcast.
We are at the abilities expo inschaumburg, lmr.
It is june 21st 2025 and todayI have a very special guest with
me kurt brie, cory lee yeah,thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I really appreciate the opportunity to be on your
podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Dude, I thank you so much for coming.
I know you've been so busy atthe expo.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, of course I'm happy to be here.
It's been a fun weekend so far.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
We were talking earlier.
You have muscular dystrophy,yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, I have a form of muscular dystrophy called
spinal muscular atrophy, whichbasically means that my muscles,
like are very weak and they dodegenerate over time.
So I like probably won't havethe same abilities 10 years from
now that I do today.
So that really kind of serveslike, I think, as a constant
(01:39):
motivator for me to travel likenow, while I'm undoubtedly more
able than I will be in thefuture.
So I'm like on a mission tolike do as much as I can now
while you know I'm the most ableI'll probably ever be.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Do you think you are?
Do you think there's researchout there that could help you
out?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I mean there are new medications that are coming out.
We actually just got like thefirst medication just a few
years ago for SMA and I meanthey're constantly like new
advancements being made.
So I mean I don't really knowwhat the future may hold Like.
I mean, the research is lookingpromising but it could be like
(02:21):
a decade away, you know, beforewe see real change, or more than
that.
How old are you, corey?
I'm 35.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Promising, but it could be like a decade away, you
know, before we see real change, or more than that.
I am 35, I'm 29, about to nice,almost 30, and I don't know if
it all goes downhill at 30.
Well, let's, let's talk aboutsomething good.
So you started curve free withcory lee in 2013.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, I started in 2013 and I I really started just
from realizing that there was alack of accessible travel
resources on the internet, andso I wanted to create a website
where other wheelchair userscould go to and hopefully, you
know find out what's accessiblearound the world.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
How did you like reinvent the wheel?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I mean honestly, like when I started, there weren't
really a lot of accessibletravel blogs, even Like there
were only two or three out thereand they were mostly focused on
traveling in the US or so likenational parks within the US,
and so there wasn't really aspace where people were, you
know, covering internationaltravel or travel really even
(03:28):
that frequently, like the onesthat existed weren't just like
weren't publishing frequentlyenough, I guess, and I just
wanted, like there was really anopportunity there that I saw
that just wasn't being takenback in 2013.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Okay, so explain the progression from 2013 to 2025.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Oh, it's been a wild ride.
I mean, it really took a coupleof years for me to like kind of
get my foot in the door andhave any kind of an audience at
all on social media.
So for those first couple ofyears, I mean I was trying to
publish content every single day, build up my audience on
Facebook, to publish contentevery single day, build up my
(04:08):
audience on Facebook, instagram,the blog, and then, after a
couple years, like I startedreaching out to destinations and
to different travel companiesand asking if they would be open
to collaborating or partneringand luckily, a few of them like
said yes and like I remember oneof the first destinations I
ever worked with was PigeonForge, tennessee, and they were
like we'll give you anattractions pass and you can go
(04:28):
to these.
like, like, I remember one ofthe first destinations I ever
worked with was Pigeon Forge,tennessee, and they were like
we'll give you an attractionspass and you can go to these
like attractions for free Ifyou'll route like two blog posts
and do social media content,and I just thought that was like
the best thing in the worldLike to get to go to a free
attraction.
You know Now, though, likedestinations are like covering
hotels flights.
Well, they're paying me to comeout and create content and work
with them to really showcaseaccessibility.
(04:49):
So I mean, it's grown beyond mywildest dreams, honestly.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
How does it feel like from your first flight?
So like, can you explain yourfirst flight to me?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, my first ever flight.
Well, I did my first flightwhen I was 13 years old, and it
was a Make-A-Wish trip actually,and I went to Los Angeles and I
was a presenter on the TeenChoice Awards.
Really, yeah, at the age of 13.
I mean that was like thegreatest thing in the world To
get to be a presenter on theTeen Choice Awards, and I
(05:22):
presented an award to KellyClarkson on TV and it was like
the most epic make-a-wish of alltime, I think.
But you know, I had so much fundoing that, but I mean it was
definitely scary, like to takethat first flight, you know, but
I was so young that it justdidn't really bother me, like I
had no fear about anything atthat point.
And, uh, sadly, though, likeair travel hasn't really gotten
(05:43):
much better in the past 22 years.
Can you explain?
Speaker 1 (05:47):
that Well, the air travel.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, I mean air travel.
I mean it's by far the part oftraveling that I dread the most.
I mean undoubtedly.
But I mean there are thingsthat you know I do to help
prevent any damages, like abubble wrap, the wheelchair.
I take parts of the wheelchairoff and put them in a carry-on
bag to take on the plane with me.
But I'm really hopeful that myultimate dream would be that one
(06:11):
day I can just roll on theplane and stay in my wheelchair.
I mean, that would be a gamechanger.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
So you've traveled to over 100 countries is that
correct?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, I wish I'm trying to get there, but I've
been to 52 countries so far andall seven continents.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Wow.
So what was it like actuallygoing overseas for the first
time?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, the first overseas trip that I took was a
cruise to the Bahamas.
Actually.
So not like anything toodaunting, but, um, that trip, I
mean it really like it was onlylike a three night cruise to the
Bahamas, but it was the firsttime that I was able to
experience a different cultureand like try new foods and meet
(06:55):
new people, and I mean it reallysparked something inside of me.
I did that when I was 15 yearsold, um, and it sparked
something inside of me.
I did that when I was 15 yearsold and it sparked something
inside of me that just made methink, you know, like if the
Bahamas can be this close andthis easy to get to, then what
would somewhere like India belike, or Australia, or South
Africa or all of these far flungplaces around the globe?
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And so that really motivated me to see more of the
world the globe, and so thatreally motivated me to see more
of the world.
Dude, that's absolutelybeautiful because so many people
are so for me like I want tofly, but I'm terrified that my
wheelchair is gonna get messedup.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
and trust me, I completely get it.
I mean, every single time thatI fly, I mean I'm like stressing
myself out so much, like Likeeven the day before the flight,
then I'm like maybe I shouldn'teven go on this trip, like is it
even worth it to go, you know?
But I try to just likeconstantly remind myself, like
you know, there are people outthere that need to see
(07:53):
wheelchair users and unfamiliarterritory and then new places
around the world, and we're sooften seen as like not being
able to travel, like that's theperception, so why not travel
internationally?
And I just want to like shatterthat sometimes we're seeing us
like, not people oh, absolutely,which I hate?
yeah, for sure I mean even herein like our own country, I feel,
(08:15):
like you know, and when wetravel internationally, like a
lot of times I remember when Iwas in India, I mean, people
rushed up to me and said it wasthe first time they had ever
seen a power wheelchair, and sothey were like crying and could
not believe that a powerwheelchair even existed.
And one guy told me so mybrother is at home and he's
(08:38):
never left the house in like 20years because we don't know how
to get him out like how much isthis power chair?
And he like wanted to get one.
And when I told him the pricewhich, as you know, like they're
stupid expenses yeah, um, helike started crying again
because he was so discouragedand like it shouldn't be that
case like around the world to beso difficult to be able to move
(08:59):
it's all bureaucracy here, it'sit's a really really that
really sucks.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Can you recommend like a airline, like the best
airline?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
yeah, so for me.
I mean, I usually fly withdelta, uh, but I'm based near
atlanta, which is delta's homebase, uh, so they have more
non-stop flights out of out ofAtlanta than any other airline.
But statistically, deltaactually damages the least
amount of wheelchairs comparedto every other airline.
So Delta is statistically thebest.
(09:30):
And then the worst airline isSpirit Spirit, yeah, spirit
damages the most.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
So my sister's a flight attendant.
She works for Frontier.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
She absolutely hates how they treat disabled people
I've never flown with frontierbut they are like one of the
lowest, like statistically aswell, with like damaging the
most wheelchairs 100 percent,dude, uh.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So what was your favorite vacation?
I know you you've been to abunch of places, but what place
really lit you up?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
I mean it's hard for me to choose one, so I'll give a
top three.
Top three, I would say Thailand.
I mean I went just a couplemonths ago to Bangkok and Khmer,
thani, bari and Wuhan.
I mean it's such an amazingcountry and the people are like
the friendliest in the world.
I was able to go to an elephantsanctuary and feed elephants.
(10:27):
I got a tattoo from a monk inthailand, which was pretty
awesome and I know you have alot of tattoos, uh and like, and
you would probably love thisstory.
But in exchange for the tattoo,they gave me the tattoo outside
by a river, um, at us, at um, atemple actually, and a monk did
it, and in exchange for thetattoo, all I had to give them
(10:50):
was a pack of cigarettes andsome flowers.
So it was a wild experience,but definitely one of the most
memorable.
And then, for the other twodestinations that I really love,
I would also say India andMorocco, and I think I would
choose them just because they'reunlike anywhere else in the
world.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
That is amazing man.
And what places would you notrecommend for people in
wheelchairs?
Like you know, like the, youknow, progressed with wheelchair
accessibility.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Because I think you know, I mean, obviously there
are places that it's notpossible to travel with a power
wheelchair Like, because I needadapted transportation and
things like that, and that justdoesn't exist in some places,
but in the majority ofdestinations that I've even,
like, researched or beeninterested in visiting, there is
a way to go there.
There are companies thatspecialize in accessible travel.
There is a way to go there.
There are companies thatspecialize in accessible travel.
(11:57):
So I mean, but I personally hadthe worst experience in Paris,
perhaps and I went back in 2011,and it was just incredibly
difficult to get around the city, but I've heard that it has
gotten much better since then.
So I mean, I would like to goback one day and hopefully, you
know, see, it has improved I canimagine the eu has a proof and
(12:20):
my brother told me like he went.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
He went to germany a few times he told me that um
that it's.
It is not eda accessible yeah.
But there are places that areaccessible.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
You put the name of accessible in a lot of places
because you're reinventing thewheel, yeah well, thank you.
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing.
So you said that you wrote achildren's book.
Can you explain that?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, back in 2020, my mom and I co-wr wrote a
children's book.
Can you explain that?
Yeah, back in 2020, my mom andI co-wrote a children's book
called let's Explore with Corkor, and it's all about a kid in a
wheelchair that travels theworld, and every destination
that is featured in the book isone that I've actually been to.
So they are accessibledestinations and I really just
hope that the book is showing,like kids with disabilities
(13:15):
what's possible, but I also hopethat it's showing, like kids
that are able-bodied, thatwheelchair users can get out
there and have these reallyincredible experiences around
the world.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
How's that like uh come about?
Like since, like uh, like how'suh the people the validation
been?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
yeah, I mean it's been incredible just to like see
the response and I mean meetthe kids that have like read the
book and see their reactions toit, and it's uh definitely like
heartwarming.
Whenever I meet a kid that'slike, oh, like I love corcor and
I want to go these placesbecause corcor went.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
You know, like it's a really special thing to hear so
, dude, that you're gonna makeme feel like I'm like that is so
.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That's so gruffly sweet, but now you're making it
in your book as well yeah, yeah,we're working on the second
book and we are almost done withit and it's going to be called
let's soar with core core andit's all about core core's first
flight.
So I mean, as we were talkingabout, yeah yeah, just like we
were talking about.
Like I mean, I know there's somany fears about flying as a
(14:26):
wheelchair user and I mean Iwant, like in the in, let's soar
with core core.
It's going to really walkthrough the entire flying
experience for Corcor and so Ihope that you know it'll help
eliminate some of those fearsbut also answer questions about
how can travel be easier if youuse the wheelchair.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
So for a first-time traveler, what would you
recommend for someone in awheelchair to go to?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Like a destination.
No just any trip, Just a tip.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Like a cruise.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I mean, I definitely think cruises are probably the
easiest way to travel if you'rea wheelchair user, because
everything that you need isright there on the ship, so you
don't have to worry aboutfinding an accessible taxi just
to go to dinner or just to gosee a broadway quality show, or
the pools are accessible on manyships, like they have a pool
(15:24):
lift, so there's so much thatyou can enjoy right there on the
ship without having to worryabout finding accessible
transportation, which is alwayslike.
My biggest worry whenever I getto a destination is well, now
I'm here, like how am I going toget around?
And is it actually going toshow up and get me?
You know?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
That terrifies me because I'm on a flight of Uber.
So I'm like crap man, like whatam I going to do, like, if
there's no like accessible, likeyou know, like taxis or ubers.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
It is scary yeah, it's definitely a concern for me
as well, yeah how do you likeyour life?
Speaker 1 (16:05):
your life's kind of an enigma man, like you uh
started 2013.
Now you're making books andyou're uh changing the world.
That's something I'm trying todo.
What advice would you give me?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I mean I think just keep pushing forward, like I
mean, there in this journey, Imean in my journey, I there have
been many, many days when I'vebeen like is it even worth it?
Like should I give up?
Is anybody listening?
Like is the industry ever goingto change and become more
accessible?
But I mean I think the longerthat we keep at it and we keep
(16:38):
fighting and like pushingforward, like the more change
that we can create.
And I know, like in the past 12years since I started, like I
have seen a change within thetravel industry and there are
now more destinations that arecaring about accessibility and
focusing on it than there everhave been before.
And I mean just here atAbilities Expo, like I see the
(17:00):
impact that, you know, peoplewith disabilities are having
within the world.
I mean it's really incredibleto see.
And I mean if we're not outthere trying to do this and
create change, then nobody'sgoing to.
So I mean I think it's reallyup to people like us to get the
word out and just, you know,make a change.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Corey, what are you most grateful for?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Ah, I mean I am I would say I'm most grateful
that's a good question, for Imean just for the ability to be
able to travel, I mean despitehaving a disability, like yeah,
yeah, it's hard, like it'stremendously difficult, but the
fact that I can do that and havesome kind of an impact within
(17:44):
this, within the travel industry, I mean it's something that I'm
thankful for every single dayand it never gets old.
But when someone reaches out tome and they're like hey, I
traveled to Iceland because Isaw that you went there, like
just meeting people that have,like you know that I've
influenced to travel for thefirst time, like there's nothing
(18:04):
better than that.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
That is absolutely beautiful man.
I want to thank you so much fortaking the time to come on my
show.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Yeah, of course.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I know you're like like super busy.
You've got to go in likeseveral minutes.
I really appreciate it and I'msure do you have anything you
would want to say to the peopleout there.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Yeah, I mean.
If anybody is watching orlistening and has any questions
about traveling as a WorldTouruser, feel free to reach out to
me on instagram at curb freecory lee, or you can read along
on my blog at curb free withcory leecom all right.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Thank you so much, man.
For everybody who likes thiscontent, please like, comment
and subscribe and, as always,take a breath for me.
Thank you so much.
Currently, I really appreciateyou making the time yeah, thanks
for having me max.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I really appreciate it.
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