January 16, 2024 • 43 mins
This is an encore episode while I focus on my teaching.
This week's guest is Shuan Butcher.
Having been an able-bodied athlete before I became a quad amputee, I went into this interview with Shuan already having an understanding of the importance of sport. To me, soccer was my art and I assume that the same love for one's sport is in every adaptive athlete.
Discussing Shuan's work with Move United, Move United Magazine, and the Redefining Disability Podcast, solidified my belief that an athlete is an athlete, whether he or she is 'whole' or has a disability.
Shuan is a rare individual in that he 'fits' his various roles -- or perhaps they fit him. After learning about his experiences as a background actor in such hit shows as Netflix’s House of Cards and AMC’s Making the Mob, I'll be watching for him on my television screen in the future.
For more about Shuan, visit his website.
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Being disabled or having a chronic illness can feel like you're moving forward in reverse.
(00:21):
I'm your host Scott Martin.
Join me and my new friends in this underrepresented community as we talk about disrupting the
status quo and creating change within the world and within ourselves.
A life's a road trip.
Hop in.
Let's turn on some tunes and go.
(00:56):
The passenger seat in managing the radio for our road trip today is Sean Butcher.
Sean is the editor of the award winning challenge magazine, a columnist for the Frederick News
Post communications manager and editorial director of Move United magazine and he hosts
the Move United podcast called Redefining Disability.
Wait I'm not done.
(01:18):
Sean has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit sector in various capacities and leadership
positions.
He has written for various publications including the Frederick News Post, Eastern Home and
Travel Magazine and is a member of the National Press Club.
Okay.
Hi Sean, how you doing man?
(01:39):
Thanks I appreciate that Scott.
That was a lot a lot more than I anticipated.
You've got a lot going on and I really appreciate you taking the time to do a podcast with a
little old me who's just getting things trying to get off the map here.
Now one of the things that I found out when I was reading into you is you are a quote
(02:01):
occasional actor and have appeared on Netflix's House of Cards HBO's Veep.
AMC's Making of the Bob and as well as several voice and stage performances.
Please fill us in on what all this is and including some of the behind the scene stuff.
How did you get into this and how do you get these gigs?
(02:22):
I think I can speak equally about arts and sports.
I think arts and sports have such an impactful part of our lives and I was fortunate to be
involved with both early on growing up.
A creative part of me wanted to participate in the arts and then just the competition part
(02:44):
of me wanted to participate in sports.
So I did a lot of acting and singing just growing up in general and then and so some
you know obviously like stage plays and musicals and things and then you know living where
I live in Maryland have had the opportunity to occasionally get notices that folks were
(03:07):
looking for background actors and background work.
So I thought you know this would be fun.
This would be something that I'd like to just again kind of draw from my creative side.
So House of Cards was actually my first that I submitted for and was in you know obviously
background is just that right.
You're in the background.
You don't have a major role.
(03:28):
I have never had a speaking role in anything that I've done but for at least two seasons
or parts of two seasons of House of Cards I played an FBI agent.
It was a recurring role right because it was the same kind of storyline that they were
wanting to tell that they kept a few of us that were you know originally started out
(03:51):
as on that particular scene and then just kept us you know kind of coming back a couple
of times.
So I was on seasons four and five again background you know if you blink you miss me.
So I always do that.
I tell folks that all the time but.
Exactly exactly you got to pause and hit pause so that you can actually see that.
(04:12):
Oh that is you know that is you.
But it's just a lot of fun.
It's just a lot of fun that kind of again happened to create a side play you know play
a different role and just kind of be part of you know part of that industry if you will
and it's exciting and fun.
So that was my first House of Cards I had I was in a scene on HBO's VEEP but literally
(04:35):
you would have to squint to look for me out.
It was a big kind of campaign rally you know for Julia Louis Dreyfuss you know running
for reelection and and so I'm like in the crowd like a hundreds literally.
And then some of the other kind of more exciting House Cards was definitely exciting but but
the one that I particularly enjoyed was AAMC is making in the mob it was kind of a mini
(05:01):
series that was obviously you know kind of what they call you know like part documentary
part kind of acting.
So I played a number of little roles in that again you could see me in a and then you could
see me as a kind of a juror in a legal scene you could see me walk in the halls with Thomas
Dewey you know who's the governor of New York kind of trying to put a stop to organize crime.
(05:27):
A number of little fun scenes and all of those were fun because you know it's different it's
you know different attires and different wardrobes and different you know background you know
kind of background environmental scenes so it's like a lot of fun.
So I've done a couple things since the pandemic I actually have been kind of getting having
an itch to try to do something again never something I wanted to do full time but it's
(05:49):
kind of a nice quote unquote hobby if you will.
So yeah when you when you want to get your foot in the door probably people you know
might be able to come around and grab you again that sounds fantastic.
Yeah absolutely.
Let's talk about movie United and I've been looking forward to this interview for a while
you're our fifth guest and my background is in it in the sport athletics in soccer and
(06:15):
being able to well being an amputee I when I realized that I was no longer going to be
playing it hurt.
And so therefore I have a major soft spot in my heart for anyone that's into athletics
and movie night it uses sport to push what's possible so everyone regardless of ability
(06:37):
has equal access to sports and recreation in their community.
I also found out that movie night is affiliated with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee
and I remember back late 60s unis Kennedy Shriver was the founder of US Olympic and
Paralympic Committee.
(06:59):
So tell us about movie night it just go ahead and dig into that force please some of the
history what you do anything.
Yeah absolutely and hopefully I won't bore you.
I'll try to be brief so I mean folks don't realize that this movement's been around a
while and that we were very involved from the very beginning.
(07:21):
Most folks think of adaptive sports starting with wounded world two veterans and the sport
of wheelchair basketball you know was kind of started to just get wounded were were two
veterans and you know active and staying active and healthy and fit and just benefiting from
everything that sport can provide you know both physically and mentally and emotionally
(07:46):
and socially.
And so you know that's kind of where folks think it's kind of started from an adaptive
perspective but then there were folks that were like well what about other populations
besides you know veterans and what about other sports.
And so you know moving right now is the compilation of a couple of different organizations that
it went through a couple different name changes over the over the years but essentially we've
(08:09):
been around for over over sixty five years and you know started again with just a couple
of sports in a couple of places and have grown to really this national movement we have
we have two hundred ten member organizations and these are local organizations where people
(08:30):
can actually participate so kind of our model is as the unburial organization or as the
national you know leader in this space is to support.
So we play a kind of a capacity building and support role to these two hundred ten member
organizations.
Excuse me.
They all go by different names and right now we're in forty five different states serving
(08:54):
about a hundred twenty thousand hundred twenty thousand people both youth and adults because
I often get that question to Scott is is it just for kids or is it just for adults and
most of our programs serve both.
Now I've been receiving the magazine in the mail for years now and it's free correct.
Yes it is a place where we provide it's part of the part of our interest and desire to
(09:19):
get you know the spread the word that you can participate in sport and how basically how
to do it where to do it.
The fact that of course it you know like I just mentioned I received the magazine in
the mail quarterly I believe it is and you also of course are online and I would just
want to mention the listeners that on the lives of road tip website of course is going
(09:40):
to be a link to the movie night and people can go in there and start reading about it.
How did you get started with movie night when did you first approach them or get picked
up by them.
I've been with movie night for six years and I was drawn to the organization one basically
again because I knew how sports was how sports impacted my life you know gave me an outlet
(10:07):
to you know work out you know any frustrations or aggressions or to become physically active
to be social with peers to you know challenge me you know even mentally in terms of sports
that we were involved in strategy so growing up you know I played baseball I played football
(10:30):
and played basketball I switched you know from basketball once I realized I was not going
to make the high school team to wrestling so I even did some high school wrestling and
so all along you know sport was always important part of my life and I took that you know desire
and interest and joined the Army National Guard right out of high school and so because
(10:53):
movie nighted also has a huge program to work with wounded veterans that also kind of picked
my interest because again it was just a way for me to give back to fellow veterans and
so that was kind of a dreamy to the organization as you mentioned in the intro my official title
is communications manager and we've grown you know so that we can even segment a little
(11:17):
bit of some of the work so I you know I was able to hand off some things when we hired
a marketing manager and then take on new things like the podcast that we developed that you
mentioned as well that you're also doing so you know that so the big responsibility I have
is the magazine it is it is published and printed three times a year it's our largest communication
(11:42):
piece it's our way to reach people you know to the largest population because we have about
40,000 subscribers and as you mentioned it's free so it's a just a free resource to encourage
people to find what sport they're interested in because I always say that you know try
as many sports as you can because sometimes you might not you're there's a sport that
(12:05):
may not work for you or you're not interested in and and but there is a sport that will
and that's what I always and so that's I think that the magazine plays that kind of a resource
for folks is in every issue we we have two feature stories on different sports and we
walk the reader through we take the reader through one how to get started in this sport
(12:28):
if you've never thought about it and then and then ultimately like the equipment that
you need and not really great detail about the rules and regulations because that kind
of stuff you'll figure out once you once you decide you want to like it but why you'd
want to play that sport and why it's fun and exciting and then at the end we always kind
of lead the reader to like do you want to do this recreationally just for fun you know
(12:53):
just stay active and socialize or do you do you want to try to you know just take a stab
at competing at you know at a you know at a whatever level regional level or national
level or international level and that's where you know kind of we always we do always try
to engage the national governing bodies you mentioned we were an affiliate of the US OPC
the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee so we try to always engage the the the national
(13:17):
governing body of that sport to also give them insights about or an or an
apparent Olympian to give some insights about what it takes if you would want to want to
compete at the at the at the high level now I I was reading the last edition the winter
2022 edition three stories in their adaptive crossfit functional fitness for your life
(13:39):
everybody dance now and Paris snowboarding with Rebecca Johnson very much to the point
very much providing information for folks and again I really like your aspect of giving
people a taste so maybe they'll reach out and move forward in contact someone or spur
them on to try something new or especially for folks that are with limb loss maybe get
(14:05):
back into the swing of things and find something that they can do physically indeed and that's
you know I when I met as communications manager I sometimes like we'll exhibit at you know
trade shows or events and and every now and now I'll run across well not every now and
probably pretty frequently I run across folks who you know question whether they can play
(14:29):
sport and you know this day and age you know there's no you know if you want to play sport
or sports if you want to be involved in sport there's there's definitely an opportunity
there and you've got to find that opportunity and again it may be that it's not one sport
but it's another sport so it's not a question of if you know just a question of how and
(14:52):
and that's what the adaptive sports movement is really all about I mean the technology
and the equipment has has advanced significantly and even just the last 10 maybe even if you
really want to go out 20 years but particularly in the last decade or so the equipment has
just advanced significantly you can you know you can go skiing down a mountain you know 60
(15:15):
70 miles an hour you can swim without limbs and there's just so many so many adaptations
available and that's you know that's what adaptive sports is all about is that adaptation
and so whatever works whatever may not work for you there's a way to try to figure out
how to adapt it so that it does work for you.
To talk about activities I notice in the winter edition there are 23 different activities
(15:42):
across the country and you guys listen provide information for that's that's fantastic.
Yeah and that's through our member network so we we want people I mean obviously we live
we're all local right I mean everything happens locally and so we want to connect people with
the program that's closest to them.
(16:03):
In some cases there are still adaptive sports deserts you know there are still places where
you know the program that at least offers you know frequent activity or regular activity
for you you know you still may have to drive an hour or two and our we have a strategic
plan called Vision 2028 Scott that you know we want to get within 90 percent of the population
(16:26):
within one hours drive or within a 50 minute drive of the of the 90 percent of the US population.
So we have a we have a growth model and a strategy and an intent to try to grow more
programs so that those barriers of transportation or or you know opportunities to get somewhere
or at least reduce as much as possible and but but saying that I also we created a whole
(16:52):
online platform so that even if for whatever reason if it's a transportation issue it might
even be a mobility issue some folks may not be able to get out of their house as much
as they would like they can go online and through our you know movie night online platform
they can find a number of different Franklin conditioning classes yoga programs you know
(17:17):
you name it there's a there's a whole program that that's available then that's why we created
we created that ultimately originally out of the pandemic and the fact that many of our
programs nationally were closed down and so now what but then we also realized okay the
pandemic was the reason that we created it but it's provided such a additional value above
(17:39):
and beyond that more that I'm doing this show when I'm running into people and we're we're
talking about things that the pandemic comes up but there were a lot of good things that
came from it and some things that we learned from each other and to be able to provide
opportunities for people yeah absolutely absolutely I want to change gears now we let's get into
(18:03):
the podcast redefining disability and again that sort of thing there will be a link to
that on the life's a road trip website to prepare for this show I listen to a few different
episodes but to in particular I want to talk about January night titled choreography equals
strategy it's about Connor Landes or Lundes excuse me Lundes she was a dancer since age
(18:28):
five she danced competitively for almost a decade and continue to dance through college
at the age of 22 she was injured in a car crash and sustained a L2 spinal cord injury
it's been it was then that she was for found the Rolex dance team and decided to keep dancing
to speak and her that's fantastic since 2019 Connor's been dancing and choreography for
(18:55):
the Rolex who were where she also serves as a team captain how did you come across her
story you know I get one this is a sometimes a small space in small world as you probably
know and and so there's always connections or links or opportunities to to find people
(19:18):
or reach people or meet people and so Connor specifically I knew of the Rolex through
the abilities expo and if you're not familiar with the abilities expo there's about six
to eight of them that are held across the country and they are essentially trade shows
there it's a big convention hall full of resources for people with varying abilities and disabilities
(19:43):
and so if you're if you're just looking for you know maybe the right chair or you know
you're looking for ways to get you know connected to other organizations or other people with
disabilities to just you know be able to network and and and learn from and it's just
the great event so we're active partners with with the abilities expo and and so we exhibit
(20:10):
at most of them not all of them but and so I knew of the real that's a met the role that's
and connected with the role that's there and and and then Connor and I connected about
just hey would you love to talk about a performance of dance and you know people talk about you
know even just you mentioned it's it's also happens to be a topic in our most recent issue
(20:32):
of our magazine you know people question you know is dance a sport or dance an art right
so I even had a question I it's dance a sport and is dance an art and and that's where the
title or of the of the podcast episode came about because you know in every sport you
have strategy so you know you you call it in basketball your team comes together and
(20:54):
figures out a play that will get you know your team to be able to get as close to the
basket as possible in football their strategy I mean every sport their strategy and so in
dance you know their choreography is their strategy they it's it's planned it's organized
but you know and so and but it's also it's so there's an artistic component to it but
(21:15):
also very physical component to it if you've ever seen them them dance it will definitely
you know result in any of the benefits of sport will like in terms of you know getting
your heart rate up and and exerting you know you know burning calories or or exerting you
know yourself a little bit and so and this and even some also from a strength and conditioning
(21:36):
perspective so that was a great conversation and I should back up probably a little bit
so we we just by telling you know how we started the podcast and why we started the podcast
the podcast was basically in part because we were doing all these interviews for this
magazine this print magazine that's been around almost 30 years now so this magazine has been
(21:59):
around a while too and you know as anything if you're like if you're a filmmaker there's
so much film that's just left on the cutting you know left on their cut and left on the
cutting floor right right and and never used the same way with the magazine you know we
had these wonderful conversations and only a snippet you know could all of that conversation
(22:23):
could end up in a two or three page article particularly when you're interviewing maybe
three four people for that article so the podcast came as a result of you know let there's so
much more here that doesn't just because it doesn't make it in the magazine doesn't make
me make it less valuable or less insightful it just didn't fit the flow or the the way
(22:45):
the article was structured and so that's number one reason why we started the podcast the other
reason we started the podcast was because the magazine is essentially in my voice I'm the
editor I write you know essentially all of them all the all the articles except for the
the the around the country section that you you talked about that other organizations
(23:09):
can consume it contact for but the the feature pieces I typically write so it's in my voice
even though it might have a quotation around somebody so the opportunity for us to be able
to have a platform or a way for anyone else you know for an athlete to be able to tell
their story and their voice I thought I mean that's just a such a powerful means and so
(23:31):
those were the the reasons why you know we started the podcast and and so we have we have
all these art interviews that are intended for the magazine and then we've been able to
add you know people that may not again because magazines are constricted by page count and
and and in costs and stuff we're able to interview so many other people that you know may not
(23:54):
be able to fit in the magazine but still have something to share and so the the redefining
disability podcast is is really just I always say it's just a one-on-one conversation with
me and and either an athlete a coach a program leader you know someone that's in the field
of the adaptive sports maybe it's a technology an inventor or a creator of a piece of technology
(24:16):
and then we just talk about you know that their journey their story and I think it's
just a wonderful means and and as you and I are talking we're actually celebrating our
hundredth podcast episode so you was wondering when I was going to go.
That's fantastic.
I've now been able to do a hundred and I'm I'm in and they're they're just a hundred
wonderful stories that have been able to be shared and I'm hoping for a hundred more.
(24:41):
Well I have to tell you there was another one that stood out and it it's it was perfect
for podcasts rather than written word and that it's from May 31st of 22 trekking 2,653
miles with a guy named Sam Mattis.
It was a graduated US Naval Academy two years in Naval San Diego he had a motorcycle accident
(25:05):
and lost some of his limbs.
He had a BK blowing the amputation it was in rehab for a month he was worried you know
I'm not gonna be snowboarding again but it wasn't all that long he was back up on
Vale on a board but you interviewed him I thought this was really interesting he was
(25:26):
on his track and he must have stopped off and and you guys got together and did an interview
when he probably called in you know was using his phone but he was on the Pacific Crest
Trail which goes from the southern border of the United States up to the north border
with Canada.
Do you remember that I mean it's been a little bit anything you could fill us in on on Sam
(25:49):
a little bit he was a really tough guy and he was very open with you you're able to
get him to really express his thoughts and his feelings.
You know there's a lot of people with that toughness right one because you have to go
you go you endorse so much that you have to develop a toughness and then you know my
(26:10):
any fellow military veteran you know there's always a little bit of toughness or edge there
that you know nut that you're trying to crack but Sam was a wonderful conversation and you're
right he was probably I mean I'm trying to remember he was probably one third the way
in on that track and you know like anytime you're doing like the Appalachian Trail which
is where I know that trail pretty well because I actually live probably 15 miles from at least
(26:34):
part of it.
Maybe even less and then and then the Pacific Coastal Trail is a big one obviously on the
west coast you know you always are finding either little places to stop off and you know
maybe you're camping or tenting off you know sometimes but every now and then you want
to go into like a little bit of a town that might be on the trail and you know wash up
(26:55):
or get you know maybe some some warm food or whatever and that's what that's the that's
the case is we strategize about when he would be in a safe in a decent place for us to have
that conversation and yeah he's part of what we call our Moving Out of Warfighters program
you know and it's and it's our program that serves wounded veterans and and so that's
(27:18):
how we connected originally is just through that program and then he alerted us to the
fact that he was embarking on this track and and I think was supposed to you know be one
of the first to amputees to complete it yeah and so that's you know again you know if someone
asked me and I hope you don't you know someone asked me what my favorite is I can't there's
(27:41):
new way I wouldn't yeah there's no way I could say that there is a favorite but because they're
all just wonderful and the other thing I always get you know particularly even from some of
my interviewees is you know do you have you know do you have this like very you know specific
or prescribed script that you follow and and you know I do have some questions you know
(28:04):
kind of in my mind but it's really about the conversation so it's wherever that conversation
you know our lives are a journey and so aren't our conversations and so that's kind of how
I how I lead most of those podcast interviews so you we're starting to get into it about
for example Sam's toughness but maybe more than just toughness I was gonna ask you what's
(28:29):
the thread that ties these episodes together what is it that makes you reach out and ask
person to do an episode with you yeah that's you know that's a good question there are a
couple things at least come in a mind I'm hoping it at least addresses the question a
little bit but you know one I think it's it's so therapeutic for anyone to tell their story
(28:57):
you know and reflect on good point reflect on their life a little bit and their challenges
and you know they're they're up in their downs we all have ups we all have downs sometimes
you know when any when I get this every now and then that sometimes people think that you
know a Paralympic athlete you know like a like a Jessica Long who's you know got you know
(29:18):
20 some you know medals you know that it's all gravy right and and so you don't always
hear about you don't always hear about the challenges you know just the daily challenges
or the or the struggles you know you know that she had overcome or anyone had to overcome
you know early on but you also don't hear about you know what it takes to get to that
(29:40):
point you know the the defeats and the and the you know struggles and the frustrations
and all of that that's you know I mean we just we just hear or see hey this is a twenty
some twenty some time gold medalist you know medalist Paralympic medalist so those are those
are always important and then for so from a from the interviewee side I always think
(30:05):
that there's value and just someone telling their story but from the listener side I think
there's always value in in listening to someone else's story and figuring out how it applies
to your life so again I've interacted with lots of people who don't think sports are
in their cards if you will but if they listen to Sam or if they listen to Connor and they
(30:30):
say you know what you know maybe I will give it a try maybe maybe I can maybe I can give
this a try or do this you know it doesn't have to be sport you know I mean that's obviously
what we focus on you know sport as a means but also as the end but and so that's that's
what I hope the podcast and that's where the first person narrative comes into play like
(30:51):
you can read that but be able to hear me and you know Sam or Connor or anyone else that
I've had the privilege to interview just hear that conversation and hear it in their voice
and their inflection and their emotion is you know there's something that hopefully will
resonate with every listener and hopefully there's something in every podcast that will
(31:13):
will but you know will resonate with with every listener and and hopefully there's a resource
in there so like you know they learned it all he he learned about this program because
that's the challenge you know with with this when we're all saturated with so much out
there but yet we can't find what we're looking for it that's the that's the value I think
just the adaptive sports movement provides and and the resources and connections and so
(31:39):
sometimes people just don't know where to start and if they can hear someone's story
and follow that path or try that approach that's a that's a plus and then that you know the
only other thing I'll say is I think the real thread is really about how resilient we all
are every you know and I mentioned adaptive sport you know says it all when because it's
(32:00):
about adaptation you know every individual I've interacted with has had had to adapt you
know you either have to adapt to your new normal or have to adapt to a new challenge
or adapt to a new piece of equipment and so so it's all about resilience and adaptation
I think that between the magazine both in paper form and online plus what you do with
(32:27):
the podcast is a great way of introducing and providing knowledge to people about adaptive
sports so bravo I want to shift gears now and we're gonna wrap up the show with the
road trip roundup so these are five questions I'm gonna throw at you just talking to you
about your experiences with road trips so number one what's your go too fast food?
(32:54):
You know I mean I love pizza so I would say you know when I can get pizza and it didn't
have to be fast food you know like a good a good craft pizza or a brook-oven pizza but
I do like pizza so I would say that's probably my go to so you're one of those that when
(33:16):
you're on a road trip doesn't necessarily mean you have to get from point A to point B
and it's just about the process or how fast you can do it it's let's take our time and
enjoy ourselves and they be pull over and sit down and eat some zah yeah and on a road trip
I'm glad you asked that question because in the context of road trips because I have a very
(33:41):
you know kind of very specific thought when I'm on a road trip one I don't like to do fast food
fast food when I'm in the rush or in a hurry at home you know trying to get again to just
point A to point B locally but when I'm when I'm when I'm traveling when I'm on a road trip I want
to enjoy something local I want to enjoy something unique I don't visit you know the the chains that
(34:04):
you see that are on every sign that you go up and down the highway it's the same sign regardless
of whether it's exit five or exit 50 it's the local stuff so I always look look for I specifically
look for some place unique to eat yeah we all need to be taken our time during road trips and enjoy
listen to some tunes and pulling over and meeting the local folks uh question number two
(34:29):
what's your dream car for road trip could be something you've had something you have or something
you would like oh you know if I could ever afford the rental fee I would love to do a convertible
yeah oh we just uh we just sold our convertible bug you could have bought it
yeah well where do you live again I live in Maryland right outside of Washington
(34:56):
East thing so when you get out into the boonies with a with a convertible uh Sean you would just
love it yeah you got to do it sometime is just go splurge a little bit well when you're renting
out there I'm sure that convertible prices are going to be higher uh but do it sometime it's
it's fantastic make sure you take a baseball cap with you though that's true you always see
(35:19):
those different rental um categories right and then uh one was a convertible or sport or whatever
they you know is always an option but you know I typically go you know go the safer and cheaper
route um let's get the Toyota one day one day maybe one day on the west coast or something there
you go oh oh that on that California coast oh yeah oh yeah bend there mm-hmm down that it's fantastic
(35:46):
um question number three last cassette or CD that played while you're on a road trip
not just tooling around town on a road trip oh my little bit longer
um you know freaking busy you are you probably do want to go on many road all right so if if
you're getting from you know a little bit longer than just bopping from home and work
(36:11):
no you know that's probably pretty easy easy to um so I you know I'm I'm a man of a lot of interest
so I must be the history buff and so I my my easiest answer to that question is the the Hamilton
uh soundtrack because uh from the musical I put that in um one because it's two CDs and I and
(36:34):
I guess I still put that in so it's not my uh two five years ago you know my car my vehicle still
has a CD player in it so yes I have put that in that CD in when I know I'm going to it's two CDs
when I know I'm going to be on a two to three hour road trip were you able to uh see Hamilton in
person I have I've seen it uh I've seen it in New York and I've seen it uh you know on a national
(37:01):
tour it kind of in the DC area as well is it as good as people were saying it was I you know I
again I told you some of my early background and background has been in the arts I yeah I love it
I mean there's oh there's you know if you're a history history aspect yeah history buff like me
you know yes there's there it's it's a creative piece so it's not it's historical fiction it's not
(37:24):
100% accurate but the fact that it is based on history you do learn some things and hopefully
you're learning the accurate most accurate things and just the the music and the beat and um and
the ensemble particularly of the original cast um yeah I put that that that that that would be my
I don't have to think about which CD I'd put in that's the one and I've I've seen the interviews
(37:46):
with the the creators on for example 60 minutes and something on PBS those case care I mean they
really love uh their productions and what they present to the audience so that would be a great
opportunity um coke or Pepsi um now Pepsi but you're years ago it was coke so just kind of I don't
(38:08):
know what happened and when I do it like just switch you know some people say it's one or the other
and that's the end um sometimes you don't have a choice you know I always order a Pepsi outside and
when they you know in a restaurant they say it's coke okay yeah you know it's it's the same kind of
rough rough drink but yeah I did something in something at one point time just triggered a
(38:29):
complete switch so that's Pepsi from me interesting how that can happen oh no okay let's wrap it up
with what's your favorite road trip memory you can go anywhere you want with this Sean you know
whatever you want to spout off about or I've had people that all of a sudden they haven't thought
about it for years and all of a sudden it comes out so go ahead so um I mean there's probably
(38:53):
different a couple different ways that I can answer it so I've got some weird bucket lists
um okay I'll reach in two I first of all I have visited all 50 states so that's already that's
done but I have a bucket list of visiting every state capital so that sometimes now that means
I have to go I have to go back to a state you know or whatever to go to their state's capital and
(39:19):
reason why I mean I'm again a big history and even some somewhat you know I made my bachelor's
degrees in political science so I'm also a policy you know kind of political junkie a little bit
but I find when you go to a state capital you learn so much about that state because inside that
state capital is the art that represents the their people it's the sculptures you know representing
(39:43):
their historical figures it's you know you know architecture it's so it's architecture history
art there's so many components to that so that that I'm working on I might be about two-thirds
the way of all 50 state capitals and then the other really weird bucket list again because I'm a
history junkie is I want to visit a site associated with every US president and I only have one
(40:07):
US president left and that's Barack Obama when he and so when he opens up his presidential library
and I'll be hopefully one of the first purchasers of the ticket so I have visited everything from
and I include this you know the current president is always the White House and I've been to the White
House so so even you know I've been to George Washington's Mount Vernon and Donald Trump's Trump
(40:31):
Plaza and and so the only one I'm missing is Barack Obama and so my trip to Chicago will be in the
work you know whenever that's opened up so that's a couple a couple things that I can talk about
and I love those trips I love you visiting when I get when I get to check off a list the gratification
and satisfaction of checking off another state capital and and building a trip around that you
(40:54):
know that's the intent or purpose behind the trip but then what else can I do in addition to that
I want to cheat and segue off of that one before we wrap up the show and on your website is a
story regarding D-Day what what what's with that
(41:15):
are you talking about the the book or the the book talk about now yeah oh it's it's on your
website yeah I think it maybe it's just a synopsis of something yeah but it's regarding D-Day I mean
I could tell you're caring for it and you're you're caring for history yeah and it it made me think
(41:37):
you know because I've I used to teach social studies in history have you ever been over in a
Normandy it's also a bucket list item yes you got to do what I've been there you better be ready
for it emotionally yes um my god there are some there are some that you definitely have there are
something that I've done that you have to prepare for I mean even just the Holocaust Museum and
(41:58):
D-Day is something that you have to prepare for oh yes most definitely and you go to Normandy
people there in the shops and the restaurants will welcome you with open arms because they still
they remember it's been passed down it's their heritage so let's wrap on that I want to stay
on for a couple minutes after I hit stop but you know this is let's just wrap up the show for here
(42:23):
for folks and uh when I talk for a second okay sounds great Scott hang on
thanks for listening check out previous episodes with new ones dropping each Tuesday
if you don't see a synopsis of this show where you're listening visit our website at
lifesarodetrip.podbean.com for more information on this week's guest this is your host Scott Martin
(42:51):
reminding you that Life's a Road Trip
(43:21):
Sky
Being disabled or having a chronic illness can feel like you're moving forward in reverse.
(00:21):
I'm your host Scott Martin.
Join me and my new friends in this underrepresented community as we talk about disrupting the
status quo and creating change within the world and within ourselves.
A life's a road trip.
Hop in.
Let's turn on some tunes and go.
(00:56):
The passenger seat in managing the radio for our road trip today is Sean Butcher.
Sean is the editor of the award winning challenge magazine, a columnist for the Frederick News
Post communications manager and editorial director of Move United magazine and he hosts
the Move United podcast called Redefining Disability.
Wait I'm not done.
(01:18):
Sean has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit sector in various capacities and leadership
positions.
He has written for various publications including the Frederick News Post, Eastern Home and
Travel Magazine and is a member of the National Press Club.
Okay.
Hi Sean, how you doing man?
(01:39):
Thanks I appreciate that Scott.
That was a lot a lot more than I anticipated.
You've got a lot going on and I really appreciate you taking the time to do a podcast with a
little old me who's just getting things trying to get off the map here.
Now one of the things that I found out when I was reading into you is you are a quote
(02:01):
occasional actor and have appeared on Netflix's House of Cards HBO's Veep.
AMC's Making of the Bob and as well as several voice and stage performances.
Please fill us in on what all this is and including some of the behind the scene stuff.
How did you get into this and how do you get these gigs?
(02:22):
I think I can speak equally about arts and sports.
I think arts and sports have such an impactful part of our lives and I was fortunate to be
involved with both early on growing up.
A creative part of me wanted to participate in the arts and then just the competition part
(02:44):
of me wanted to participate in sports.
So I did a lot of acting and singing just growing up in general and then and so some
you know obviously like stage plays and musicals and things and then you know living where
I live in Maryland have had the opportunity to occasionally get notices that folks were
(03:07):
looking for background actors and background work.
So I thought you know this would be fun.
This would be something that I'd like to just again kind of draw from my creative side.
So House of Cards was actually my first that I submitted for and was in you know obviously
background is just that right.
You're in the background.
You don't have a major role.
(03:28):
I have never had a speaking role in anything that I've done but for at least two seasons
or parts of two seasons of House of Cards I played an FBI agent.
It was a recurring role right because it was the same kind of storyline that they were
wanting to tell that they kept a few of us that were you know originally started out
(03:51):
as on that particular scene and then just kept us you know kind of coming back a couple
of times.
So I was on seasons four and five again background you know if you blink you miss me.
So I always do that.
I tell folks that all the time but.
Exactly exactly you got to pause and hit pause so that you can actually see that.
(04:12):
Oh that is you know that is you.
But it's just a lot of fun.
It's just a lot of fun that kind of again happened to create a side play you know play
a different role and just kind of be part of you know part of that industry if you will
and it's exciting and fun.
So that was my first House of Cards I had I was in a scene on HBO's VEEP but literally
(04:35):
you would have to squint to look for me out.
It was a big kind of campaign rally you know for Julia Louis Dreyfuss you know running
for reelection and and so I'm like in the crowd like a hundreds literally.
And then some of the other kind of more exciting House Cards was definitely exciting but but
the one that I particularly enjoyed was AAMC is making in the mob it was kind of a mini
(05:01):
series that was obviously you know kind of what they call you know like part documentary
part kind of acting.
So I played a number of little roles in that again you could see me in a and then you could
see me as a kind of a juror in a legal scene you could see me walk in the halls with Thomas
Dewey you know who's the governor of New York kind of trying to put a stop to organize crime.
(05:27):
A number of little fun scenes and all of those were fun because you know it's different it's
you know different attires and different wardrobes and different you know background you know
kind of background environmental scenes so it's like a lot of fun.
So I've done a couple things since the pandemic I actually have been kind of getting having
an itch to try to do something again never something I wanted to do full time but it's
(05:49):
kind of a nice quote unquote hobby if you will.
So yeah when you when you want to get your foot in the door probably people you know
might be able to come around and grab you again that sounds fantastic.
Yeah absolutely.
Let's talk about movie United and I've been looking forward to this interview for a while
you're our fifth guest and my background is in it in the sport athletics in soccer and
(06:15):
being able to well being an amputee I when I realized that I was no longer going to be
playing it hurt.
And so therefore I have a major soft spot in my heart for anyone that's into athletics
and movie night it uses sport to push what's possible so everyone regardless of ability
(06:37):
has equal access to sports and recreation in their community.
I also found out that movie night is affiliated with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee
and I remember back late 60s unis Kennedy Shriver was the founder of US Olympic and
Paralympic Committee.
(06:59):
So tell us about movie night it just go ahead and dig into that force please some of the
history what you do anything.
Yeah absolutely and hopefully I won't bore you.
I'll try to be brief so I mean folks don't realize that this movement's been around a
while and that we were very involved from the very beginning.
(07:21):
Most folks think of adaptive sports starting with wounded world two veterans and the sport
of wheelchair basketball you know was kind of started to just get wounded were were two
veterans and you know active and staying active and healthy and fit and just benefiting from
everything that sport can provide you know both physically and mentally and emotionally
(07:46):
and socially.
And so you know that's kind of where folks think it's kind of started from an adaptive
perspective but then there were folks that were like well what about other populations
besides you know veterans and what about other sports.
And so you know moving right now is the compilation of a couple of different organizations that
it went through a couple different name changes over the over the years but essentially we've
(08:09):
been around for over over sixty five years and you know started again with just a couple
of sports in a couple of places and have grown to really this national movement we have
we have two hundred ten member organizations and these are local organizations where people
(08:30):
can actually participate so kind of our model is as the unburial organization or as the
national you know leader in this space is to support.
So we play a kind of a capacity building and support role to these two hundred ten member
organizations.
Excuse me.
They all go by different names and right now we're in forty five different states serving
(08:54):
about a hundred twenty thousand hundred twenty thousand people both youth and adults because
I often get that question to Scott is is it just for kids or is it just for adults and
most of our programs serve both.
Now I've been receiving the magazine in the mail for years now and it's free correct.
Yes it is a place where we provide it's part of the part of our interest and desire to
(09:19):
get you know the spread the word that you can participate in sport and how basically how
to do it where to do it.
The fact that of course it you know like I just mentioned I received the magazine in
the mail quarterly I believe it is and you also of course are online and I would just
want to mention the listeners that on the lives of road tip website of course is going
(09:40):
to be a link to the movie night and people can go in there and start reading about it.
How did you get started with movie night when did you first approach them or get picked
up by them.
I've been with movie night for six years and I was drawn to the organization one basically
again because I knew how sports was how sports impacted my life you know gave me an outlet
(10:07):
to you know work out you know any frustrations or aggressions or to become physically active
to be social with peers to you know challenge me you know even mentally in terms of sports
that we were involved in strategy so growing up you know I played baseball I played football
(10:30):
and played basketball I switched you know from basketball once I realized I was not going
to make the high school team to wrestling so I even did some high school wrestling and
so all along you know sport was always important part of my life and I took that you know desire
and interest and joined the Army National Guard right out of high school and so because
(10:53):
movie nighted also has a huge program to work with wounded veterans that also kind of picked
my interest because again it was just a way for me to give back to fellow veterans and
so that was kind of a dreamy to the organization as you mentioned in the intro my official title
is communications manager and we've grown you know so that we can even segment a little
(11:17):
bit of some of the work so I you know I was able to hand off some things when we hired
a marketing manager and then take on new things like the podcast that we developed that you
mentioned as well that you're also doing so you know that so the big responsibility I have
is the magazine it is it is published and printed three times a year it's our largest communication
(11:42):
piece it's our way to reach people you know to the largest population because we have about
40,000 subscribers and as you mentioned it's free so it's a just a free resource to encourage
people to find what sport they're interested in because I always say that you know try
as many sports as you can because sometimes you might not you're there's a sport that
(12:05):
may not work for you or you're not interested in and and but there is a sport that will
and that's what I always and so that's I think that the magazine plays that kind of a resource
for folks is in every issue we we have two feature stories on different sports and we
walk the reader through we take the reader through one how to get started in this sport
(12:28):
if you've never thought about it and then and then ultimately like the equipment that
you need and not really great detail about the rules and regulations because that kind
of stuff you'll figure out once you once you decide you want to like it but why you'd
want to play that sport and why it's fun and exciting and then at the end we always kind
of lead the reader to like do you want to do this recreationally just for fun you know
(12:53):
just stay active and socialize or do you do you want to try to you know just take a stab
at competing at you know at a you know at a whatever level regional level or national
level or international level and that's where you know kind of we always we do always try
to engage the national governing bodies you mentioned we were an affiliate of the US OPC
the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee so we try to always engage the the the national
(13:17):
governing body of that sport to also give them insights about or an or an
apparent Olympian to give some insights about what it takes if you would want to want to
compete at the at the at the high level now I I was reading the last edition the winter
2022 edition three stories in their adaptive crossfit functional fitness for your life
(13:39):
everybody dance now and Paris snowboarding with Rebecca Johnson very much to the point
very much providing information for folks and again I really like your aspect of giving
people a taste so maybe they'll reach out and move forward in contact someone or spur
them on to try something new or especially for folks that are with limb loss maybe get
(14:05):
back into the swing of things and find something that they can do physically indeed and that's
you know I when I met as communications manager I sometimes like we'll exhibit at you know
trade shows or events and and every now and now I'll run across well not every now and
probably pretty frequently I run across folks who you know question whether they can play
(14:29):
sport and you know this day and age you know there's no you know if you want to play sport
or sports if you want to be involved in sport there's there's definitely an opportunity
there and you've got to find that opportunity and again it may be that it's not one sport
but it's another sport so it's not a question of if you know just a question of how and
(14:52):
and that's what the adaptive sports movement is really all about I mean the technology
and the equipment has has advanced significantly and even just the last 10 maybe even if you
really want to go out 20 years but particularly in the last decade or so the equipment has
just advanced significantly you can you know you can go skiing down a mountain you know 60
(15:15):
70 miles an hour you can swim without limbs and there's just so many so many adaptations
available and that's you know that's what adaptive sports is all about is that adaptation
and so whatever works whatever may not work for you there's a way to try to figure out
how to adapt it so that it does work for you.
To talk about activities I notice in the winter edition there are 23 different activities
(15:42):
across the country and you guys listen provide information for that's that's fantastic.
Yeah and that's through our member network so we we want people I mean obviously we live
we're all local right I mean everything happens locally and so we want to connect people with
the program that's closest to them.
(16:03):
In some cases there are still adaptive sports deserts you know there are still places where
you know the program that at least offers you know frequent activity or regular activity
for you you know you still may have to drive an hour or two and our we have a strategic
plan called Vision 2028 Scott that you know we want to get within 90 percent of the population
(16:26):
within one hours drive or within a 50 minute drive of the of the 90 percent of the US population.
So we have a we have a growth model and a strategy and an intent to try to grow more
programs so that those barriers of transportation or or you know opportunities to get somewhere
or at least reduce as much as possible and but but saying that I also we created a whole
(16:52):
online platform so that even if for whatever reason if it's a transportation issue it might
even be a mobility issue some folks may not be able to get out of their house as much
as they would like they can go online and through our you know movie night online platform
they can find a number of different Franklin conditioning classes yoga programs you know
(17:17):
you name it there's a there's a whole program that that's available then that's why we created
we created that ultimately originally out of the pandemic and the fact that many of our
programs nationally were closed down and so now what but then we also realized okay the
pandemic was the reason that we created it but it's provided such a additional value above
(17:39):
and beyond that more that I'm doing this show when I'm running into people and we're we're
talking about things that the pandemic comes up but there were a lot of good things that
came from it and some things that we learned from each other and to be able to provide
opportunities for people yeah absolutely absolutely I want to change gears now we let's get into
(18:03):
the podcast redefining disability and again that sort of thing there will be a link to
that on the life's a road trip website to prepare for this show I listen to a few different
episodes but to in particular I want to talk about January night titled choreography equals
strategy it's about Connor Landes or Lundes excuse me Lundes she was a dancer since age
(18:28):
five she danced competitively for almost a decade and continue to dance through college
at the age of 22 she was injured in a car crash and sustained a L2 spinal cord injury
it's been it was then that she was for found the Rolex dance team and decided to keep dancing
to speak and her that's fantastic since 2019 Connor's been dancing and choreography for
(18:55):
the Rolex who were where she also serves as a team captain how did you come across her
story you know I get one this is a sometimes a small space in small world as you probably
know and and so there's always connections or links or opportunities to to find people
(19:18):
or reach people or meet people and so Connor specifically I knew of the Rolex through
the abilities expo and if you're not familiar with the abilities expo there's about six
to eight of them that are held across the country and they are essentially trade shows
there it's a big convention hall full of resources for people with varying abilities and disabilities
(19:43):
and so if you're if you're just looking for you know maybe the right chair or you know
you're looking for ways to get you know connected to other organizations or other people with
disabilities to just you know be able to network and and and learn from and it's just
the great event so we're active partners with with the abilities expo and and so we exhibit
(20:10):
at most of them not all of them but and so I knew of the real that's a met the role that's
and connected with the role that's there and and and then Connor and I connected about
just hey would you love to talk about a performance of dance and you know people talk about you
know even just you mentioned it's it's also happens to be a topic in our most recent issue
(20:32):
of our magazine you know people question you know is dance a sport or dance an art right
so I even had a question I it's dance a sport and is dance an art and and that's where the
title or of the of the podcast episode came about because you know in every sport you
have strategy so you know you you call it in basketball your team comes together and
(20:54):
figures out a play that will get you know your team to be able to get as close to the
basket as possible in football their strategy I mean every sport their strategy and so in
dance you know their choreography is their strategy they it's it's planned it's organized
but you know and so and but it's also it's so there's an artistic component to it but
(21:15):
also very physical component to it if you've ever seen them them dance it will definitely
you know result in any of the benefits of sport will like in terms of you know getting
your heart rate up and and exerting you know you know burning calories or or exerting you
know yourself a little bit and so and this and even some also from a strength and conditioning
(21:36):
perspective so that was a great conversation and I should back up probably a little bit
so we we just by telling you know how we started the podcast and why we started the podcast
the podcast was basically in part because we were doing all these interviews for this
magazine this print magazine that's been around almost 30 years now so this magazine has been
(21:59):
around a while too and you know as anything if you're like if you're a filmmaker there's
so much film that's just left on the cutting you know left on their cut and left on the
cutting floor right right and and never used the same way with the magazine you know we
had these wonderful conversations and only a snippet you know could all of that conversation
(22:23):
could end up in a two or three page article particularly when you're interviewing maybe
three four people for that article so the podcast came as a result of you know let there's so
much more here that doesn't just because it doesn't make it in the magazine doesn't make
me make it less valuable or less insightful it just didn't fit the flow or the the way
(22:45):
the article was structured and so that's number one reason why we started the podcast the other
reason we started the podcast was because the magazine is essentially in my voice I'm the
editor I write you know essentially all of them all the all the articles except for the
the the around the country section that you you talked about that other organizations
(23:09):
can consume it contact for but the the feature pieces I typically write so it's in my voice
even though it might have a quotation around somebody so the opportunity for us to be able
to have a platform or a way for anyone else you know for an athlete to be able to tell
their story and their voice I thought I mean that's just a such a powerful means and so
(23:31):
those were the the reasons why you know we started the podcast and and so we have we have
all these art interviews that are intended for the magazine and then we've been able to
add you know people that may not again because magazines are constricted by page count and
and and in costs and stuff we're able to interview so many other people that you know may not
(23:54):
be able to fit in the magazine but still have something to share and so the the redefining
disability podcast is is really just I always say it's just a one-on-one conversation with
me and and either an athlete a coach a program leader you know someone that's in the field
of the adaptive sports maybe it's a technology an inventor or a creator of a piece of technology
(24:16):
and then we just talk about you know that their journey their story and I think it's
just a wonderful means and and as you and I are talking we're actually celebrating our
hundredth podcast episode so you was wondering when I was going to go.
That's fantastic.
I've now been able to do a hundred and I'm I'm in and they're they're just a hundred
wonderful stories that have been able to be shared and I'm hoping for a hundred more.
(24:41):
Well I have to tell you there was another one that stood out and it it's it was perfect
for podcasts rather than written word and that it's from May 31st of 22 trekking 2,653
miles with a guy named Sam Mattis.
It was a graduated US Naval Academy two years in Naval San Diego he had a motorcycle accident
(25:05):
and lost some of his limbs.
He had a BK blowing the amputation it was in rehab for a month he was worried you know
I'm not gonna be snowboarding again but it wasn't all that long he was back up on
Vale on a board but you interviewed him I thought this was really interesting he was
(25:26):
on his track and he must have stopped off and and you guys got together and did an interview
when he probably called in you know was using his phone but he was on the Pacific Crest
Trail which goes from the southern border of the United States up to the north border
with Canada.
Do you remember that I mean it's been a little bit anything you could fill us in on on Sam
(25:49):
a little bit he was a really tough guy and he was very open with you you're able to
get him to really express his thoughts and his feelings.
You know there's a lot of people with that toughness right one because you have to go
you go you endorse so much that you have to develop a toughness and then you know my
(26:10):
any fellow military veteran you know there's always a little bit of toughness or edge there
that you know nut that you're trying to crack but Sam was a wonderful conversation and you're
right he was probably I mean I'm trying to remember he was probably one third the way
in on that track and you know like anytime you're doing like the Appalachian Trail which
is where I know that trail pretty well because I actually live probably 15 miles from at least
(26:34):
part of it.
Maybe even less and then and then the Pacific Coastal Trail is a big one obviously on the
west coast you know you always are finding either little places to stop off and you know
maybe you're camping or tenting off you know sometimes but every now and then you want
to go into like a little bit of a town that might be on the trail and you know wash up
(26:55):
or get you know maybe some some warm food or whatever and that's what that's the that's
the case is we strategize about when he would be in a safe in a decent place for us to have
that conversation and yeah he's part of what we call our Moving Out of Warfighters program
you know and it's and it's our program that serves wounded veterans and and so that's
(27:18):
how we connected originally is just through that program and then he alerted us to the
fact that he was embarking on this track and and I think was supposed to you know be one
of the first to amputees to complete it yeah and so that's you know again you know if someone
asked me and I hope you don't you know someone asked me what my favorite is I can't there's
(27:41):
new way I wouldn't yeah there's no way I could say that there is a favorite but because they're
all just wonderful and the other thing I always get you know particularly even from some of
my interviewees is you know do you have you know do you have this like very you know specific
or prescribed script that you follow and and you know I do have some questions you know
(28:04):
kind of in my mind but it's really about the conversation so it's wherever that conversation
you know our lives are a journey and so aren't our conversations and so that's kind of how
I how I lead most of those podcast interviews so you we're starting to get into it about
for example Sam's toughness but maybe more than just toughness I was gonna ask you what's
(28:29):
the thread that ties these episodes together what is it that makes you reach out and ask
person to do an episode with you yeah that's you know that's a good question there are a
couple things at least come in a mind I'm hoping it at least addresses the question a
little bit but you know one I think it's it's so therapeutic for anyone to tell their story
(28:57):
you know and reflect on good point reflect on their life a little bit and their challenges
and you know they're they're up in their downs we all have ups we all have downs sometimes
you know when any when I get this every now and then that sometimes people think that you
know a Paralympic athlete you know like a like a Jessica Long who's you know got you know
(29:18):
20 some you know medals you know that it's all gravy right and and so you don't always
hear about you don't always hear about the challenges you know just the daily challenges
or the or the struggles you know you know that she had overcome or anyone had to overcome
you know early on but you also don't hear about you know what it takes to get to that
(29:40):
point you know the the defeats and the and the you know struggles and the frustrations
and all of that that's you know I mean we just we just hear or see hey this is a twenty
some twenty some time gold medalist you know medalist Paralympic medalist so those are those
are always important and then for so from a from the interviewee side I always think
(30:05):
that there's value and just someone telling their story but from the listener side I think
there's always value in in listening to someone else's story and figuring out how it applies
to your life so again I've interacted with lots of people who don't think sports are
in their cards if you will but if they listen to Sam or if they listen to Connor and they
(30:30):
say you know what you know maybe I will give it a try maybe maybe I can maybe I can give
this a try or do this you know it doesn't have to be sport you know I mean that's obviously
what we focus on you know sport as a means but also as the end but and so that's that's
what I hope the podcast and that's where the first person narrative comes into play like
(30:51):
you can read that but be able to hear me and you know Sam or Connor or anyone else that
I've had the privilege to interview just hear that conversation and hear it in their voice
and their inflection and their emotion is you know there's something that hopefully will
resonate with every listener and hopefully there's something in every podcast that will
(31:13):
will but you know will resonate with with every listener and and hopefully there's a resource
in there so like you know they learned it all he he learned about this program because
that's the challenge you know with with this when we're all saturated with so much out
there but yet we can't find what we're looking for it that's the that's the value I think
just the adaptive sports movement provides and and the resources and connections and so
(31:39):
sometimes people just don't know where to start and if they can hear someone's story
and follow that path or try that approach that's a that's a plus and then that you know the
only other thing I'll say is I think the real thread is really about how resilient we all
are every you know and I mentioned adaptive sport you know says it all when because it's
(32:00):
about adaptation you know every individual I've interacted with has had had to adapt you
know you either have to adapt to your new normal or have to adapt to a new challenge
or adapt to a new piece of equipment and so so it's all about resilience and adaptation
I think that between the magazine both in paper form and online plus what you do with
(32:27):
the podcast is a great way of introducing and providing knowledge to people about adaptive
sports so bravo I want to shift gears now and we're gonna wrap up the show with the
road trip roundup so these are five questions I'm gonna throw at you just talking to you
about your experiences with road trips so number one what's your go too fast food?
(32:54):
You know I mean I love pizza so I would say you know when I can get pizza and it didn't
have to be fast food you know like a good a good craft pizza or a brook-oven pizza but
I do like pizza so I would say that's probably my go to so you're one of those that when
(33:16):
you're on a road trip doesn't necessarily mean you have to get from point A to point B
and it's just about the process or how fast you can do it it's let's take our time and
enjoy ourselves and they be pull over and sit down and eat some zah yeah and on a road trip
I'm glad you asked that question because in the context of road trips because I have a very
(33:41):
you know kind of very specific thought when I'm on a road trip one I don't like to do fast food
fast food when I'm in the rush or in a hurry at home you know trying to get again to just
point A to point B locally but when I'm when I'm when I'm traveling when I'm on a road trip I want
to enjoy something local I want to enjoy something unique I don't visit you know the the chains that
(34:04):
you see that are on every sign that you go up and down the highway it's the same sign regardless
of whether it's exit five or exit 50 it's the local stuff so I always look look for I specifically
look for some place unique to eat yeah we all need to be taken our time during road trips and enjoy
listen to some tunes and pulling over and meeting the local folks uh question number two
(34:29):
what's your dream car for road trip could be something you've had something you have or something
you would like oh you know if I could ever afford the rental fee I would love to do a convertible
yeah oh we just uh we just sold our convertible bug you could have bought it
yeah well where do you live again I live in Maryland right outside of Washington
(34:56):
East thing so when you get out into the boonies with a with a convertible uh Sean you would just
love it yeah you got to do it sometime is just go splurge a little bit well when you're renting
out there I'm sure that convertible prices are going to be higher uh but do it sometime it's
it's fantastic make sure you take a baseball cap with you though that's true you always see
(35:19):
those different rental um categories right and then uh one was a convertible or sport or whatever
they you know is always an option but you know I typically go you know go the safer and cheaper
route um let's get the Toyota one day one day maybe one day on the west coast or something there
you go oh oh that on that California coast oh yeah oh yeah bend there mm-hmm down that it's fantastic
(35:46):
um question number three last cassette or CD that played while you're on a road trip
not just tooling around town on a road trip oh my little bit longer
um you know freaking busy you are you probably do want to go on many road all right so if if
you're getting from you know a little bit longer than just bopping from home and work
(36:11):
no you know that's probably pretty easy easy to um so I you know I'm I'm a man of a lot of interest
so I must be the history buff and so I my my easiest answer to that question is the the Hamilton
uh soundtrack because uh from the musical I put that in um one because it's two CDs and I and
(36:34):
I guess I still put that in so it's not my uh two five years ago you know my car my vehicle still
has a CD player in it so yes I have put that in that CD in when I know I'm going to it's two CDs
when I know I'm going to be on a two to three hour road trip were you able to uh see Hamilton in
person I have I've seen it uh I've seen it in New York and I've seen it uh you know on a national
(37:01):
tour it kind of in the DC area as well is it as good as people were saying it was I you know I
again I told you some of my early background and background has been in the arts I yeah I love it
I mean there's oh there's you know if you're a history history aspect yeah history buff like me
you know yes there's there it's it's a creative piece so it's not it's historical fiction it's not
(37:24):
100% accurate but the fact that it is based on history you do learn some things and hopefully
you're learning the accurate most accurate things and just the the music and the beat and um and
the ensemble particularly of the original cast um yeah I put that that that that that would be my
I don't have to think about which CD I'd put in that's the one and I've I've seen the interviews
(37:46):
with the the creators on for example 60 minutes and something on PBS those case care I mean they
really love uh their productions and what they present to the audience so that would be a great
opportunity um coke or Pepsi um now Pepsi but you're years ago it was coke so just kind of I don't
(38:08):
know what happened and when I do it like just switch you know some people say it's one or the other
and that's the end um sometimes you don't have a choice you know I always order a Pepsi outside and
when they you know in a restaurant they say it's coke okay yeah you know it's it's the same kind of
rough rough drink but yeah I did something in something at one point time just triggered a
(38:29):
complete switch so that's Pepsi from me interesting how that can happen oh no okay let's wrap it up
with what's your favorite road trip memory you can go anywhere you want with this Sean you know
whatever you want to spout off about or I've had people that all of a sudden they haven't thought
about it for years and all of a sudden it comes out so go ahead so um I mean there's probably
(38:53):
different a couple different ways that I can answer it so I've got some weird bucket lists
um okay I'll reach in two I first of all I have visited all 50 states so that's already that's
done but I have a bucket list of visiting every state capital so that sometimes now that means
I have to go I have to go back to a state you know or whatever to go to their state's capital and
(39:19):
reason why I mean I'm again a big history and even some somewhat you know I made my bachelor's
degrees in political science so I'm also a policy you know kind of political junkie a little bit
but I find when you go to a state capital you learn so much about that state because inside that
state capital is the art that represents the their people it's the sculptures you know representing
(39:43):
their historical figures it's you know you know architecture it's so it's architecture history
art there's so many components to that so that that I'm working on I might be about two-thirds
the way of all 50 state capitals and then the other really weird bucket list again because I'm a
history junkie is I want to visit a site associated with every US president and I only have one
(40:07):
US president left and that's Barack Obama when he and so when he opens up his presidential library
and I'll be hopefully one of the first purchasers of the ticket so I have visited everything from
and I include this you know the current president is always the White House and I've been to the White
House so so even you know I've been to George Washington's Mount Vernon and Donald Trump's Trump
(40:31):
Plaza and and so the only one I'm missing is Barack Obama and so my trip to Chicago will be in the
work you know whenever that's opened up so that's a couple a couple things that I can talk about
and I love those trips I love you visiting when I get when I get to check off a list the gratification
and satisfaction of checking off another state capital and and building a trip around that you
(40:54):
know that's the intent or purpose behind the trip but then what else can I do in addition to that
I want to cheat and segue off of that one before we wrap up the show and on your website is a
story regarding D-Day what what what's with that
(41:15):
are you talking about the the book or the the book talk about now yeah oh it's it's on your
website yeah I think it maybe it's just a synopsis of something yeah but it's regarding D-Day I mean
I could tell you're caring for it and you're you're caring for history yeah and it it made me think
(41:37):
you know because I've I used to teach social studies in history have you ever been over in a
Normandy it's also a bucket list item yes you got to do what I've been there you better be ready
for it emotionally yes um my god there are some there are some that you definitely have there are
something that I've done that you have to prepare for I mean even just the Holocaust Museum and
(41:58):
D-Day is something that you have to prepare for oh yes most definitely and you go to Normandy
people there in the shops and the restaurants will welcome you with open arms because they still
they remember it's been passed down it's their heritage so let's wrap on that I want to stay
on for a couple minutes after I hit stop but you know this is let's just wrap up the show for here
(42:23):
for folks and uh when I talk for a second okay sounds great Scott hang on
thanks for listening check out previous episodes with new ones dropping each Tuesday
if you don't see a synopsis of this show where you're listening visit our website at
lifesarodetrip.podbean.com for more information on this week's guest this is your host Scott Martin
(42:51):
reminding you that Life's a Road Trip
(43:21):
Sky
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