The No Barriers Podcast explores the gritty reality of the struggles we all face, with the detailed stories of those that have persevered to find amazing outcomes on the other side.
The No Barriers Podcast explores the gritty reality of the struggles we all face, with the detailed stories of those that have persevered to find amazing outcomes on the other side. Hosted by No Barriers Co-founder Erik Weihenmayer and longtime No Barriers partner Jeff Evans. Together, they talk with individuals who are defying all odds in the pursuit of learning to live a No Barriers Life.
Erik and Jeff speak with adventurer Jill Wheatley. She joins us from Nepal where when not locked down in a pandemic, she travels extensively ski mountaineering, climbing, and running mountains all around the globe. Not long ago she was trapped in a series of hospitals after a devastating injury. Listen to her story to hear how she used the power of the mountains to find transcendence.
EPISODE NOTES
Jill was a Phys Ed teacher in Europe when she was hit in the head by a rogue baseball during class.
The severity of the blow resulted in a traumatic brain injury and a 70% vision loss. In addition to the physical wounds, it left Jill in a deep state of despair. After 26 months in 7 hospitals in 3 countries, she was finally on the road to physical stability but still felt emotionally lost.
Inspired by the mountain view from her hospital bed, an idea evolved to run trails on mountains all around the world – a challenge to her broken body and the return to independence that she craved. She is doing a whole lot more than conquering mountains. Listen up and share her inspiring tales.
Tom Stevens says:
The last comment in the podcast says it all. The world needs more Jill Wheatlys. Many think of firefighters, law enforcement officers, or military members as heroes. Some of these men and women are brave, but they do what they love and get paid for it. I fought wildland fires for thirty years and never thought of it as more than a job that someone had to do. The standard is doing your job, but Jill has risen the bar on the term hero in my eyes.
Jill Wheatley says:
Thank you for making the time to listen to the podcast with Erik and Jeff, Tom. Your cheers certainly inspire me to keep rising.
With gratitude beyond the highest of the Himalayas,
jill