Walk and Roll Live-Disability Stories

Myles Pearson is a British Paralympian whose journey in wheelchair rugby is defined by talent, resilience, and fearless honesty. Born with Arthrogryposis and raised in Lytham St Annes, Myles first made his mark in wheelchair tennis—reaching the world top 25 as a junior—before discovering wheelchair rugby at just 15 years old. By 17, he became the youngest athlete ever to represent Great Britain in wheelchair rugby, earning a silver medal at the 2011 European Championships and competing on the world stage at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Known for his creativity and playmaking ability, Myles has gone on to help Team GB capture European gold and compete against the world’s top nations. Beyond competition, Myles is a powerful advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and authentic storytelling in disability sport. From blogging about life in wheelchair rugby to speaking candidly about relationships, identity, and independence, he brings a refreshing voice to the conversation. This episode of Walk and Roll Live explores elite sport, life beyond the medal podium, and what it truly means to belong—on and off the court. Walk and Roll Live   

In this episode of Walk and Roll Live, we travel to rural Uganda to shine a light on the powerful work of Training Of Rural Women in Uganda (TORUWU). For more than two decades, TORUWU has been empowering women, children, and families through education, income-generating programs, healthcare, and disability support. We explore how TORUWU supports children with disabilities through physiotherapy and inclusive education, helps women gain economic independence, and strengthens entire communities through grassroots solutions. This conversation is filled with inspiring stories, real-world challenges, and a hopeful vision for what happens when opportunity, dignity, and inclusion come together. If you’re passionate about disability advocacy, global community development, and stories of resilience, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Walk and Roll Live 

In this episode of Walk & Roll Live, we’re joined by Michelle Steiner, advocate, writer, photographer, and founder of Michelle’s Mission. Michelle lives with an invisible learning disability and grew up being told there were limits to what she could achieve. Today, she’s a college graduate, published writer, paraeducator, and a passionate voice for disability awareness. Through her writing, advocacy, and photography, Michelle works to encourage, empower, and educate people with and without disabilities. We talk about what it’s like to navigate a world that often overlooks invisible disabilities, the importance of self-advocacy in education, and how art and nature have played a powerful role in Michelle’s personal growth and healing. Michelle also shares insights from working with students with disabilities and offers encouragement to listeners who may be feeling unseen or discouraged. This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about resilience, identity, and making the invisible visible. Walk and Roll Live 

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Walk and Roll Live, Doug and Addie welcome Avriel, a former railroad executive whose life took an unexpected turn following a back surgery that resulted in a T5 spinal cord injury. Avriel takes us back to his roots—growing up in Charleston, moving to Atlanta as a teen, and taking a bold leap to New York City at just 18 years old to work on the trading floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange. After finding his footing, he built an impressive 16-year career with Norfolk Southern, rising through the ranks to become a Terminal Superintendent and leading teams in one of the most demanding field-management environments in the railroad industry. In 2022, everything changed. Following surgery, Avriel experienced paralysis for several months and began a long, grueling road of recovery and rehabilitation. He shares candidly about the fear, uncertainty, and determination that carried him through months of intensive physical therapy as function slowly returned. Forced to step away from field leadership, Avriel redefined his professional identity, transitioning into a headquarters role focused on Network Design and Optimization—bringing new perspective, empathy, and problem-solving skills shaped by lived experience. Beyond career and recovery, Avriel opens up about rediscovering photography, a first love that became a source of healing, expression, and connection. Through the lens, he now captures organic moments and helps others see themselves—and their stories—more clearly. This episode is an honest conversation about resilience, identity, disability, creativity, and finding purpose after trauma. It’s a must-listen for anyone navigating life-altering change, spinal cord injury recovery, or the challenge of rebuilding after the unexpected. Walk and Roll Live 

In this powerful episode of Walk and Roll Live – Disability Stories, host Doug Vincent welcomes Mike Kent, a stroke survivor whose life changed in an instant after a routine surgery in Paris went catastrophically wrong. What was meant to be a simple nose operation in 2019 resulted in a massive hemorrhagic stroke, an induced coma, and doctors giving Mike just 90 minutes to live. Eight weeks later, he woke up unable to move the right side of his body, unable to recognize his own life, and uncertain whether he wanted to go on. Spending six months in a wheelchair, Mike began the slow, painful, and deeply human process of rebuilding—learning to walk again, write again, think again, and ultimately believe again. Today, Mike helps disabled professionals break free from anxiety and reclaim their sense of purpose after medical trauma. In this raw and honest conversation, he shares the emotional realities of stroke recovery, identity loss, mental health, and what it truly means to rebuild a life from the inside out. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating disability, recovery, medical trauma, or searching for hope without sugarcoating the journey. Walk and Roll Live