1 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: Sam Bloom is a full time parasurfing World Champion, but 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: it was with the help of a magpie named Penguin 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: that she found her way there. Growing up by the beach, 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: Sam had always had a strong connection with the ocean, 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: but after an accident left her paralyzed and in a 6 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: dark place. It was Sam's companion Penguin that helped reignite 7 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: that love for the water, so much so that she 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,319 Speaker 1: won two Australian Para Canoeing titles and represented Australia at 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: the Para Canoeing World Championships. But she eventually found her 10 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: way back to the ocean, winning gold at the Parasurfing 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: World Championships not once, but four times, including most recently 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: this year. My name is Sophie and I'm the producer 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: here at the Female Athlete Project. Chloe caught up with 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Sam this week, just months after becoming the reigning World 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: Parasurfing Champion. This chat shows that sometimes you have to 16 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: dig really deep to find your inner strength, but sometimes 17 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,839 Speaker 1: a feathered friend can help along the way. We hope 18 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: you enjoy it. 19 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 2: Sam, Welcome to the Female Athlete Project. 20 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. 21 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having us in your beautiful home. 22 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 2: It's very special to be here today to have a chat. 23 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 2: Can you take us back and describe yourself as a 24 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 2: little kid as. 25 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,839 Speaker 3: A kid, yeah, sure, well boys Benetts one boy. Yeah, 26 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 3: even it's like a little tacker, you know. I remember 27 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: one one year getting a surfboard for Christmas because we 28 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 3: say have a swimming pool, and yeah, that was like 29 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 3: the best present ever. So I'd always get a surfboard 30 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 3: or a skateboard or a tractor attractor. 31 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, right, were you on a farm going on? No, 32 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: we weren't. Where was the tractor? 33 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 3: No, we have a really big backyard. So he's a 34 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 3: tractor and like riding around on a tractor. 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 36 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 3: Yeah. Surfboarding and skateboarding. 37 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: Yeah cool. 38 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 3: Surfboarding, surfing and skateboarding. We're my favorite. 39 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: Was there something about the ocean that you fell in 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 2: love with? 41 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 3: Yes, because we grew up essentially grew up at Kuldji 42 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 3: Beach and even as like babies, my mom would take 43 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: us down and we'd have our sleeps on the beach. 44 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 3: So we've always been like, yeah, the ocean has a 45 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 3: played a massive part. 46 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: It's quite an amazing thing. Like I think growing up 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: on the Northern Beaches. There's something about the ocean I found, 48 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 2: like the vastness of it. It kind of centers you 49 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: a bit, brings you back down to earth a little bit. 50 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: You feel quite small in comparison down size of the ocean. 51 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. Yeah, we because we didn't I didn't actually 52 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 3: grow up well I did grow up on the Northern Beaches, 53 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 3: but we moved up here when I was about eight, 54 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 3: and so we grew up at we Go on the beach, 55 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 3: and so it was a two minute walk if that 56 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 3: from the beach. So yeah, like I said, yeah, I 57 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 3: mean the ocean and surfing and just hanging out of 58 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 3: the beach was That's just that's just what we did, 59 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 3: you know, before school, after school, on the weekends obviously. Yeah. 60 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 3: It was pretty awesome childhood. 61 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, very special. You were recently crowned the twenty twenty 62 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: four Parasurfing World Champion. Yes, and you've had a number 63 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 2: of accolades in surfing. What has the year been like 64 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: for you? 65 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 3: This year's been cool. Yeah. So we've had it's a tour, 66 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 3: they call it a tour parasurfing tour, and there was 67 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 3: four competitions, so I went in three and I was 68 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 3: pretty lucky. I won three of the. 69 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: Three, not a bad not a bad train record. 70 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. So the first one was in Barron Bay, which 71 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 3: was amazing, and then the second one was Hawaii, and 72 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,839 Speaker 3: the third one was Costa Rica, which was insane. They're 73 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 3: the most It's at this place called Boca Branca and 74 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: I'd never been there before and it was this the 75 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 3: most amazing left hand and it went like the left 76 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 3: went for over a minute. And for me, it was 77 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 3: a perfect way because it' just peeled and it wasn't powerful, 78 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 3: it wasn't scary and dumpy. It was perfect. So I 79 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 3: love that clump. 80 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: That's awesome. And can you for people who might not 81 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: have seen parasurfing, can you break down how does adaptive 82 00:03:59,080 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: surfing work? 83 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 3: So these nine divisions and I mean it's called prone, 84 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 3: which is lying down and yeah, I just I used 85 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 3: to get assistance in the water when I first started, 86 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 3: and now they change that so I'm just on my own, 87 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: and yeah, I have to paddle into the waves, and 88 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 3: so it can be pretty challenging for me because all 89 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 3: I've got is literally in my arms. So if the 90 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 3: stef's big and dumpy, I do find it pretty terrifying 91 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: and I can't say I love it. 92 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, so it was nice that one minute. 93 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 3: And the best thing actually in the comp they'd come 94 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 3: because it was such a long ride, they'd come pick 95 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 3: you up on a jet skie and just get you 96 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 3: out the back again. So yeah, it's like that was 97 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 3: my ideal. 98 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: That's awesome. And I've seen videos. Do you almost have 99 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 2: like grips at the top of your surfboard? Is that? 100 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: Do you hold on to those? 101 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 3: I do? So my board is like a short board, okay, 102 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 3: and then I've got everyone just stares at it. But 103 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 3: I've got fins on the top and they keep my 104 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 3: legs on. 105 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: So your legs almost go between the fins. Yeah cool. 106 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, because otherwise if a wave and washes my leg 107 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 3: just topple off. 108 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: Got yah. 109 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I have fins on the top and yeah, 110 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 3: and a handle at the front, so I just kind 111 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 3: of grabbed the handle and then grabbed the rail and 112 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 3: dig my arm in late to turn the board. 113 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, got yeah. Yeah. 114 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 3: I mean everybody's board's different because you know, as you imagine, 115 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 3: there's a lot of different disabilities, so you know, there's 116 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 3: visually impaired people, people missing limbs quota quads, and they 117 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 3: obviously needed more assistance in the water because I didn't 118 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 3: have great arm function. Yeah, it's pretty incredible. 119 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 2: It's amazing. Who came up with the fins on top 120 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: of the surfboard idea? 121 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 3: Well, when I first went in the camp in twenty eighteen, 122 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 3: we actually we got a pool noodle and we cut 123 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: it in half and glued it onto the top of 124 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 3: my board and actually didn't really work very well. And 125 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 3: then we saw someone else, actually from someone from Australia, 126 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 3: Barney Miller, and he lives up up the coast and 127 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 3: he had them on his board, so he got the 128 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 3: idea off Barney. That's awesome than Barnie. And now it's 129 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 3: funny now everyone has them. 130 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: Oh really Yeah, they've all followed suit. 131 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 3: Yeah that works. Yeah, yeah, I mean obviously you don't 132 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 3: use the hard fins. There, soft fins like from a phoamy, Yes, 133 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 3: don't cut you iss, you fall off and. 134 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: Okay that makes more sense. I was like that could yeah. 135 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 3: And especially if you can't feel it. Yeah, imagine that 136 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 3: you get out of the water and just like Smashes. 137 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 2: Episodes and so prior to parasurfing, you were doing you're 138 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: in the canoe. Yes, how did you find the canoe? Oh? 139 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 3: Good? Yeah, I mean I got into that because when 140 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 3: I was in rehab, there was this he was a 141 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 3: sports recreation officer. He was awesome, and he used to 142 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 3: know I love sports before my accident, and you'd be 143 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 3: trying so hard to find me something to do. And 144 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 3: to be honest, I didn't want to do something in 145 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 3: the wheelchair, and so I said to him, maybe I 146 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 3: could kayak, and so, yeah, it was so cooled. A 147 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 3: couple of weeks after I got out of rehab, went 148 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 3: down in urraben legs, which is nice and closer. Yeah 149 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 3: and yeah, and it just started kayaking. It was just nice. 150 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: I love the freedom and I love being not in 151 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 3: the wheelchair and just on the water again. 152 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 2: And it wasn't long that you've been doing it for 153 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: that you were representing your country. 154 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, what was it, maybe a year and a half. 155 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: It's pretty crazy. Yeeah, it was pretty crazy. 156 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 2: And how did you find getting into that, like going 157 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: from rehab to get into that elite mindset of competing 158 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 2: at the highest level. 159 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 3: Oh well, it took a long time. I mean to 160 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 3: be honest, When I first got out of rehab. I 161 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 3: do only paddle this one one day week, but I 162 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 3: just loved it. And then I had the most amazing 163 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 3: coach who names Gay Hatford, and she's like absolutely legend 164 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: and she's is a volunteer. But you know when you 165 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: meet someone and you just hit it off with them, yes, 166 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: and you just know they've always got your back and 167 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 3: they're not Judgmentorn was so lucky. She's she's just awesome. 168 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 3: So I guess she pushed me. You know, we'd paddle 169 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 3: once once a week and then we'd bump it up 170 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 3: to me twice a week and as a bit of 171 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 3: a joke, we just went in a couple of races 172 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 3: and yeah I did, Okay, I guess, And then yeah, 173 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 3: I went in another race out at Penrith and that 174 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 3: was when the head coach from the parakeanneeing, Yeah, sort 175 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 3: of spotted me. It was hilarious because a gay and 176 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 3: I had no idea like that we're going to get 177 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 3: chosen for the team. And yeah, when she came down, 178 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 3: she's like kind of like I can't remember exactly what 179 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: she said, but she's like, you know, what are you 180 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 3: guys doing next week? And we're like, I don't know nothing, 181 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: and she's like, Okay, you've got to come to Queensland 182 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 3: for training and then you're going to Italy and go 183 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 3: and I would just like, what, like it was pretty exciting. 184 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's amazing. That's very very cool. So to represent 185 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 2: your country now in two of those sports, is that 186 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: something that you thought you would be doing. 187 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 3: No, never, in a million years. 188 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 2: It's amazing and. 189 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 3: It's so it makes you really proud and you become 190 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 3: really patriotic. Yeah, but you know when you hear the 191 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 3: national anthem and I don't know, it's just it's the 192 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 3: best feeling in the world. 193 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 2: It's very special. 194 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's super special. That's really really cool, very fortunate. 195 00:08:56,160 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 2: And off we chatted about so paraserving hasn't been included 196 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 2: in LA twenty twenty eight. So there was a big 197 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: push for it to be included, and they've cited reasons 198 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: like cost and complexity, yes, for it not to be included. 199 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 2: We know there's people campaigning to try and get. 200 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 3: It included and they're still they're still trying. 201 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: Maybe Brisbane maybe two. And are you thinking that we're 202 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: going to see you there to say on the record 203 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 2: so we can. 204 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 3: Go watch I can't imagine I'll be there because I 205 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 3: will be sixty sixty wow, sixty one. 206 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 2: I'll be. 207 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 3: Now you're the world jam We'll yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, 208 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 3: that'd be pretty crazy, pretty awesome. 209 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: And never credible for a home Paralympics. Yeah, it would 210 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 2: be amazing. You'll like stop asking me ques, Yeah, no pressure, right, yeah, exactly. 211 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: Be pretty cool if I still fit and if I 212 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 3: still enjoyed it. 213 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that's awesome. I first heard story through Penguin Bloom. 214 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: Can you take us back to where that part of 215 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 2: your journey started and where Penguin Bloom came along. 216 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 3: Okay, So I've always loved traveling and cam my husband 217 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 3: and I have three boys, and we wanted to take 218 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 3: them traveling and kind of show them the world. It's 219 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 3: really frustrating because our initial our initial plan was actually 220 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 3: to take them to Ethiopia. He came and I love 221 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 3: Ethiopia and we loved Egypt, and then you know, we're 222 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 3: all set and kind of looking forward to it, and 223 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 3: then there was like this big political uprising in Cairo, 224 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 3: so we thought, oh no, no, it's too dangerous. So 225 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 3: that's why we chose Thailand. He said, oh yeah, it's 226 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 3: close lovely people, great food, and yeah, pretty cool culture. 227 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 3: So we went to Shaighland twenty thirteen, and we're there 228 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 3: for four days and we're staying at this really cool 229 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 3: hotel and it was quite remote and it was just 230 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 3: opposite a beach, and one of the kids spotted like 231 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 3: a stairway up to it, like this kind of observation deck, 232 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 3: and so we just went up there to have our 233 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 3: juice and I lean on a railing I had dry rode, 234 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 3: but I didn't realize. So I fell six meters and yeah, 235 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 3: I broke my back and here my head and sustained yeah, 236 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 3: quite a few injuries. So that was the start of 237 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 3: my journey. 238 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 2: And did you go into hospital over in Thailand? How 239 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: long was it? Yeah? How long were you in the 240 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 2: hospital in Thailand? 241 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 3: I was. I was in the hospital for about ten 242 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: days in like this. I guess it was a big 243 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 3: teaching well, oh, actually I think it was a private hospital. 244 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 3: He was in a town called Wahian, And so they 245 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: waited till I was stable enough because I'd lost a 246 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 3: lot of blood and so I think they thought I 247 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 3: was actually going to die. Wow, Yeah, but I didn't realize. 248 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 3: And yeah, so three days after the accident. They operated 249 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 3: on me and put rods and screws in my back. 250 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 3: So I was there for ten days, and then they 251 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 3: transported me up to Bangkok and I was there for 252 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 3: I think maybe ten days or so, and they just 253 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 3: wanted me to be stable so they could fly me 254 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 3: back to Australia. So I think, yeah, all maybe be 255 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: roughly three weeks or no, not three weeks. Yeah, she 256 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 3: maybe it was all up three weeks. 257 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 2: Wow, I think it was. 258 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was longer than I thought. 259 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 2: Do you have memories of that period of time being 260 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 2: in the hospitals? 261 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 3: Not really, No, it was They're pretty scattered. And you know, 262 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 3: the funniest thing is I actually didn't know I was 263 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 3: I was paralyzed. Wow, yeah, which makes no sense, hey. 264 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 2: Because were you just lying in the hospital bed. 265 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 3: I was just lying in the hospital bed. And because 266 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 3: I'd hit my head and I had like bleeds on 267 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 3: my brain, that's what I was focusing on. I just 268 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 3: remember the headaches was just like crazy, and then the 269 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 3: nurses would just come in and inject some sort of painkiller. 270 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 3: I don't even know what that would be a bit 271 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 3: out of it. So yeah, I don't remember. I don't 272 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 3: ever remember eating or drinking or anything. Yeah, it's weird. Yeah, scattered, 273 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 3: scattered memories. I remember my friend coming over though, she 274 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 3: flew in from Australia. 275 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: Wow. 276 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 3: And I remember seeing her and rememb bursting into tears 277 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 3: when I said I saw her. Yeah, and I saw 278 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 3: the boys a bit, but I don't really remember it. 279 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 2: And do you remember at the moment that you like, 280 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: do you remember finding out about being paralyzed. 281 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, that wasn't until I got back to Sydney though, 282 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 3: m h. Yeah. They flew me back and I went 283 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 3: to No Share and then I did the MRI and 284 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 3: that's when the doctor told. 285 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 2: Me and what kind of headspace were you in? Then? Oh? 286 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 3: Mate? I was like, my whole life is over. 287 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 288 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 3: Yeah I saw I say, like the real Sam died 289 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 3: wow over there and then this thing came back. 290 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 291 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 3: It was just like you just lose your like, your 292 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 3: identity and everything that you love doing was just taken away. 293 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 3: So yeah, no, man, I was not in any good headspace 294 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 3: at or. 295 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 2: How long did you then go into rehab for? 296 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 3: Well, I was in Norsh for a few months because 297 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 3: when I was in Thailand, they left me on a 298 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 3: spinal board which was not a good thing. 299 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 2: To do the whole time you're in hospital. 300 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 3: No, just for three days, but that was enough. Yeah. 301 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 3: So I used to say this massive pressure injury my 302 00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 3: sacred and yeah, I never saw it because it was discussing. 303 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 3: I think it was like five centimeters by six centimeters 304 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 3: and a couple of centimeters deep. So that's why I 305 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 3: was in nor Shore for so long, just going from 306 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 3: side to side, and I'd always go down to theater 307 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 3: and they'd try and fix it and it didn't work. 308 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 3: And yeah, that was a bit of a disaster. So 309 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 3: I was there for three months and then rehab for 310 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 3: three months and came. 311 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: What was rehab like? Having to learn how to do 312 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 2: daily tasks? 313 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 3: Oh? Pretty horrible. Yeah, just the basic things like just 314 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: transferring from the wheelchair into the bed and you know, 315 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 3: getting dressed. It just took so long. Yeah, No, it's not. 316 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 3: Nothing was easy, Yeah, that's for sure. And when yeah, 317 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 3: and when I came home, it was, yeah, it was 318 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 3: just as hard. 319 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 2: And where did where did penguin first come into the mix? 320 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 3: Penguin came into it into our lives about three months, 321 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 3: three months after I got home, yea. So yeah, it's 322 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 3: funny because I remember cam he went before before I 323 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 3: was coming home. He was so excited. He's like, you know, 324 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 3: I can't wait to have your home, and you're going 325 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 3: to be so excited and you must look forward to it, 326 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 3: and I actually wasn't, and that was the hardest for me. 327 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 3: That was the hardest time was coming home. And then 328 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 3: you know, you get here and it's kind of like, you, well, 329 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 3: we can see the beach from our house. I used 330 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 3: to look at North Bogola where I grew up, and 331 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 3: I just stare at my favorite spot and we just 332 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 3: make me so angry and sad, and I just, yeah, 333 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 3: I don't know. That was by far the hardest. So yeah, 334 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 3: I was in a pretty dark place. And so I 335 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 3: was kind of lucky because then, yeah, three months after 336 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 3: I got home, we went to my mom's and she 337 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 3: lives at Bogola Beach and we found a baby magpie 338 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 3: and she was so cute and we thought if we 339 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 3: didn't pick her up and bring her home, she would 340 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 3: have died. She was so tiny. And yeah, so that's 341 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 3: where Penguin's story began. 342 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: And was Penguin injured? What was Penguin doing? 343 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, she was injured her wing. I don't think it 344 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 3: was one hundred percent broken. It was just a little 345 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: bit a bit wonky, you know, and she cat fly 346 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 3: because she was only a few weeks old, so she 347 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 3: needed a lot of care and a lot of looking after. 348 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 3: So yeah, it was fantastic because I loved it because 349 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 3: I hate being center of attention, and so when we 350 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 3: bought Penguin into our lives, all our attention went on 351 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 3: to Penguin, which is great, and it just made the 352 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 3: boys happy. I mean, she was so cute and it 353 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 3: was like having a little puppy. 354 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: That's awesome. I don't know a lot of people that 355 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: would describe a magpie as a little puppy, but it's 356 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 2: a special bondly guys with Penguin definitely. 357 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 3: I mean she was with me all the time. 358 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: Wow. 359 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, because when I was kind of I used to 360 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 3: say I was on house arrest because I couldn't drive 361 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: at the time. I'm like literally stuck here. And so 362 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 3: it's just lovely just having the company and just something 363 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: to look after and something to talk to, just to 364 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 3: tell her all the things that were going on in 365 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 3: my head. Yeah, because there was a lot of negative 366 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 3: a lot of negative thoughts. So it's just lovely just 367 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 3: to be able to talk to her. Yeah, hang out 368 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 3: with her. She was like a dog as she got older, 369 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 3: like and then she know, she always she learnt to 370 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 3: fly and stuff. But you could just call her and 371 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 3: she just come running down and as you go up 372 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 3: and she just jump up on my lap. And yeah, 373 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 3: she was appy. She was a super cool puppy. 374 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: And so would she just like hang out in the 375 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 2: house like this? This became her home definitely. 376 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, definitely. So for about six months she slept 377 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 3: inside and yeah, it's pretty gross to be honest lately, 378 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 3: and she kind of would poo everywhere. Yeah, he's a 379 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 3: bit yuck. We have this rule. Whoever saw her poo 380 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 3: had to pick it up. Yeah, you can imagine the 381 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 3: boys how they ever saw it. 382 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 2: I was going to say, how did I go with 383 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: the boys? 384 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 3: Has being cam wipe most of it up? So it 385 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 3: was pretty gross. He's got your sweet. 386 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. 387 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 3: After about six months, we started putting her to bed 388 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 3: outside just because yeah, she just kind of destroyed everything, right, 389 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 3: So yeah. 390 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 2: How did she go when she moved outside? 391 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 3: She didn't like it. Yeah, she always want to come 392 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 3: back in, which I don't blame her. It's pretty nice. 393 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: I guess it's safe. Yeah, safe. 394 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. And then did it get to the point where 395 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 2: Penguin was ready to fly and be part of the 396 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 2: outside world. 397 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean she was like honestly, like she was 398 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 3: never locked up, like she was always free to do 399 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 3: what she want. But yeah, she got older, she'd start 400 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 3: flying away and then then she'd come back, and then 401 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: then the time it was just getting longer and longer, 402 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 3: like she goes away for a week and then she'd 403 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 3: come back. Yeah. One of the coolest times though, was 404 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 3: he was right before Ruben's thirtieth birthday and she'd been 405 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 3: gone for about six weeks and you know, oh, no, 406 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 3: something's happened to her. And I remember saying to Rube's 407 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 3: on his birthday, like, you know, imagine if Penguin came 408 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 3: back today. And he's like, you know, we're kind of laughing, 409 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: going yeah, yeah, as if. And it was hilarious because 410 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 3: we went to my mom's for his for a lunch 411 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 3: to celebrate his birthday, and this lady called and she 412 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 3: called Cam She's like, I think I've got Penguin and 413 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 3: and can goes she got red painted fingernaut like toenails, 414 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 3: and she's like yeah, because we painted them as a joke. Yeah. Yeah, 415 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 3: And so Penguin somehow ended up in this lady's house. 416 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 3: So Cam went and picked her up and then he 417 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 3: brought her back here and then yeah, so she came 418 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:16,959 Speaker 3: back for his birthday. 419 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: Wow. 420 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's super cool. 421 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 2: That's awesome because I was going to ask how you 422 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 2: I mean, you obviously knew her so well that you 423 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 2: could recognize her regardless, but did the red did the 424 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: red nails help? 425 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, And actually she had grown up a bit 426 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 3: in the six weeks. The one way we could tell 427 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: it was her song, like she'd make this specific call 428 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 3: and we knew that was her. Yeah, I know that 429 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 3: was That was so cool. But then about what she is? 430 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 3: When was that? That was in February in August I 431 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 3: think of that year. That's when she flew away and 432 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 3: she didn't come back. 433 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 2: Wow. 434 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, but it was a good timing. I was actually 435 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 3: in Italy for the kayaking. Yeah, and Cam and the 436 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 3: kids came over and they left about three weeks after me, 437 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 3: and she flew away that night. So yeah, it's cool. 438 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 2: Did you grieve that when she didn't come back? 439 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 3: We missed her, but you know, we were happy that 440 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 3: she'd kind of you know, she said she'd flown away 441 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 3: and she's just like a normal bird. 442 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, just out living her life. 443 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly having fun. 444 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and your husband Cam is an amazing photographer. What 445 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 2: was it like having him document that part of everything? Everything? 446 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 3: I used to say at the beginning, I used to 447 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 3: say to him, Okay, you can take a photo of 448 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 3: Penguin and I, but only if she's on my shoulder. 449 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 3: I said that I don't want the wheelchair. 450 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 451 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 3: Wow, Yeah, I was embarrassed. Wow, yeah, I hate it 452 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 3: being well, I still hate being in this thing, but yeah, 453 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 3: I was so embarrassed and I hated seeing photos of 454 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 3: me in it. So I'd like, Yep, you can take 455 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 3: a photo, but don't shoot the wheelchair. So I used 456 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 3: to say that for yeah, quite a long time. 457 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 2: And if he's shooting now, it's fine. 458 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 3: Now okay, yeah he can do it. I'll let him shi. 459 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 2: Yeah okay, Yeah. But pretty special to have those memories documented, definitely. 460 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, No, I am. I'm so so grateful because I mean, 461 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 3: Cam's always taking photos and it's great. It's annoying sometimes 462 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 3: it's great, but it's really nice to see kind of 463 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 3: where we've come from, where I know how far we've come, 464 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 3: you know, because he even shot when I was in Thailand. Yeah. Wow, 465 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 3: So it's just yeah, it's just cool to sort of 466 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 3: see just how far we've come and and how things 467 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 3: have gotten better. 468 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 2: What was the process like for you writing the book 469 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 2: and putting all of that together? 470 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was kind of strange. That was never our like, 471 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 3: that wasn't our idea. It just kind of all happens, 472 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 3: kind of organic, to be honest, just like like you 473 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 3: just said, camera's photographer, always taking photos. And so we 474 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 3: started an Instagram count just as a joke, and we 475 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 3: called it Penguin the Magpie. And then this ABC journalist 476 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,360 Speaker 3: somehow saw it and he wrote a story on it, 477 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 3: and that's when it all started going a little bit crazy. 478 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 3: And so publishers would be ringing Cam, going, oh, we 479 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 3: want to do a book wow, and we were like, 480 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 3: why on earth would anyone want to buy a book 481 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,360 Speaker 3: of our family photos essentially, And then Cam reached out 482 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 3: to Bradley Brady Trevor Greeve, who is an author and 483 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 3: he's an ausy author but lives in la just to 484 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 3: sort of get some I guess, just some help, like 485 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,640 Speaker 3: you know that should we do a book or don't 486 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 3: they and Brady, Yeah, a day later he came back 487 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 3: and he said, I'll write a book for you. And 488 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 3: that's how it kind of happened, which was really cool 489 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 3: because Brolly and I were just skype pretty much every 490 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 3: day and it was just nice just to tell him everything, 491 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 3: you know, just yeah, and be completely honest with him. 492 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 2: And then when it was getting picked up to become 493 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 2: a movie, which is an incredibly beautiful thing to watch, 494 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 2: how did it feel like if you talk about going 495 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 2: from saying that you didn't want any photos taken in 496 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 2: for it being available for the world to see, you know, 497 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 2: how did that feel? 498 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 3: No, it was fine, It was fine. It was pretty good. 499 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 3: Oh no, isn't this it's crazy? Huh? Yeah, saying don't 500 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 3: shoot the wheelchair? Yeah, because I'm embarrassed, and then like 501 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 3: you just said, like everyone all around the world has 502 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 3: seen it. Yeah, no, it was It was actually quite fun. Yeah, yeah, 503 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 3: I remember, because how that happened is one of the 504 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 3: producers was his best friends with Naomi Okay, and her 505 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 3: name's Emma. She's awesome, and she gave Naomi the book 506 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 3: and Naomi read it to her kids and it just 507 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 3: resonated with her, so she's like, I want to produce 508 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,400 Speaker 3: you so I want to make it a film and be. 509 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 2: Sam Wow, like what wow? 510 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 3: Super crazy. 511 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, And how did the boys go throughout that experience 512 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 2: because it's obviously a lot for them, well for you 513 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: to process as their mum, but for them to process 514 00:23:57,119 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 2: as kids as well. 515 00:23:58,320 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 3: The accident and everything. 516 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was. 517 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 3: It was really challenging, especially the first year because you know, 518 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,719 Speaker 3: before the accident, I was always happy and full of energy, 519 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 3: like you know, I'd always go mountain biking it's surfing 520 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 3: and be riding skateboards with them and yeah, I don't know, 521 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,719 Speaker 3: life was unreal. And when I came home, life wasn't unreal. 522 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,119 Speaker 3: It was just sad and it kind of brings everyone down, 523 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 3: which is not a nice thing, but I just couldn't 524 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 3: help it. So yeah, it was really hard. And it 525 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 3: was hard for Noah actually because he used to surf. 526 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 3: We're still absolutely you know, and he felt a lot 527 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 3: of guilt because he'd grab his board and just look 528 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 3: at me and go, oh, I'm so sorry. Yeah, and 529 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 3: that made me feel worse. So I'd like, dude, just 530 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 3: go get a really sick wave, and that made me happy, Like, yeah, 531 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 3: it was really hard because I think they didn't want 532 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 3: to say the wrong thing, but I also I just 533 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 3: wanted them to live their life is like we would have. 534 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: And how has spored and exercise, Like you've achieved incredible 535 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 2: things like we touched on how have you used that 536 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 2: to I guess work on not only your physical health 537 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 2: but your mental health. 538 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,679 Speaker 3: Well it's been it's been pivotal one hundredercent. Yeah, Like 539 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 3: that's the one thing that's got me through it. Like 540 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 3: even if you're having like a really shitty day, go 541 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 3: to the gym or go for a kayak, and you 542 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 3: just feel a million times better. 543 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a powerful things. 544 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 3: So powerful. Yeah, yeah, it's just oh man, for me, 545 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 3: it's been like yeah, it's just been like so important. 546 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 3: Even actually early on it was pretty funny because because 547 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 3: I wasn't driving and I was probably home maybe not 548 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 3: even a month, and Cam organized me to see this 549 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 3: personal trainer in Avalon Craig and he's such a legend 550 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,119 Speaker 3: and you know, and I used it with like a baby. 551 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 3: I'd be like going to camp. I don't want to go. 552 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 3: I don't want to go, like you know, I was 553 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 3: just like no, and he'd kind of make me go. 554 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 3: He'd get me in the car and then I'd wait 555 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 3: to all the other moms kind of left training and 556 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 3: then you know, there was no one around, and then 557 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 3: Cam would take me in and you know, Cam new 558 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 3: like you know, once I'd done a session with Craig, 559 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 3: I'd come out and just yeah, I feel happy again. 560 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 3: So you're no sport? Oh my gosh. Yeah, it's just 561 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 3: been It's been the best thing ever. Yeah. 562 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 2: Wow, And you said that, like Brisbane might not be 563 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 2: on the cards, But what is it? What is it 564 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,919 Speaker 2: for you that keeps you going in sport? Is it 565 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 2: wanting to achieve? Is it wanting to be the world champion? 566 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 2: Or is it moving and what comes with sport? Yeah? 567 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 3: I think I mean, sure, I like winning. Everyone loves 568 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 3: to win, right, we all love winning. Yeah, But no, 569 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 3: I think for me it's just it's actually the community, 570 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 3: Like the parasurfing community is just amazing and you get 571 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 3: to meet people from all around the world, and you know, man, 572 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 3: everyone's overcome like the most insurmountable challenges to get back 573 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 3: out in the ocean. You know, there are people missing 574 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 3: both of their legs and an arm, and yeah, it's 575 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 3: pretty crazy what some people have been through. But they've 576 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 3: found the ocean, they've found surfing and that community, and 577 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 3: it's just, yeah, are them happiness. 578 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 2: That's awesome. 579 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 3: So that's that's why I love it. 580 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, do you have a favorite failure? Yes, just quickly. 581 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 3: It was kind of a failure, but it worked in 582 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 3: my favor, which is kind of weird. Okay. So, like 583 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 3: I said, when I got into the surfing, I had 584 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 3: assistance in the water. So for five years i'd have 585 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 3: cam pushing me onto the waves, and in a comp, 586 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 3: usually a coach or someone getting me back out, and 587 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 3: so yeah, that was pretty cool. It's nice to have 588 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 3: that security. And then two years ago I was in 589 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 3: Hawaii and it was two days before the comp and 590 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 3: they're like, you're looking pretty strong, and I was just like, 591 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:48,959 Speaker 3: nothing's changed, and so they reclassified me. Yes, oh yeah, 592 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 3: and so they're like, you're too strong and you're getting 593 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 3: no assistance. I was just like, oh my god, because 594 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 3: I was just thinking, because I was actually being honest, 595 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 3: I'm like, I can't paddle. I can't paddle very well 596 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 3: because of all the rods and hardware. I can't you know, 597 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 3: I can't arch my back up okay. So I'm kind 598 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 3: of flat. I'm literally with my chin on my board 599 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 3: going like that, wow yeah, and I was, and I 600 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 3: was saying to the girl like and then I was like, 601 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 3: if I lift my head up, I get headspins. And 602 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 3: she's like, I don't know. She's like, she's pretty blun she 603 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 3: gets well, maybe find another sport. I was just like, oh, okay, 604 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 3: like whoa. Yeah. So I was like, oh, how embarrassing. 605 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 3: You know you had to ring like I imagine ring 606 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 3: response is going, oh, sorry, you know, I can't do 607 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 3: this anymore, because yeah, I can't do. 608 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 2: It's too strong of those It's a weird thing for 609 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 2: them to change your classifications. 610 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 3: I'm actually glad they did. 611 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 2: Okay in the end, okay, okay. 612 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 3: So I was just thinking, how embarrassing I can't if 613 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 3: I can't even catch away from this camp. And then 614 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 3: after a couple of days, I just changed my mindset 615 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 3: and I thought, well, I've got nothing to lose. And 616 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 3: it was at Waikiki. So I don't know if you've. 617 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 2: Ever been there, but I haven't. I'd love to go. 618 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's at Queen's and it's an easy break. Okay, 619 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 3: so you get you go out to the to the 620 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 3: break and it's all still water around it, so it's 621 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 3: not like a beach break where he's getting pummeled. So 622 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 3: I figured, yeah, go out there, like, go out and 623 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 3: just try my best and have fun. And it was funny. 624 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 3: I was up against the world champion at that time, 625 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 3: and she's American girl, Sarah, She's super cool. And I 626 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 3: remember asking another mom and American mom, I'm like, you know, 627 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 3: I'm like, Sarah's pretty good, isn't she. And she goes, oh, 628 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 3: she's going to mop the floor with you really confidence. 629 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,479 Speaker 3: I love that, Okay, all right, yeah, And so I 630 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 3: just went out and I just figured, just go out 631 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 3: and have fun and just do your best. And I did, 632 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 3: and I was I was lucky. I was in the 633 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 3: right spot at the right time and caught a couple 634 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 3: of waves and beat her. So yeah, yeah, that was 635 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 3: my yeah, failure, but it worked in my favor. 636 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's awesome. I like that because I think I 637 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 2: love that question because it's reframing how we look at 638 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 2: those things, you know. 639 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 3: Tyler, Yeah, yeah, oh man, I was just like, I 640 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 3: was so nervous and I was just like, how empassing? 641 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 3: You know, everyone's gonna be watching and if I don't 642 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 3: get away, blah blah blah blah blah. 643 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 2: But yeah, just. 644 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 3: Changing mindset and just yeah, go out there, have fun 645 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 3: and obviously try your best. 646 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 2: Who has had the biggest impact on you as a person. 647 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 3: Well, the biggest impact problem is Cam, my husband, Cam, 648 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 3: because he's honestly, from the moment I fell, he's been 649 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 3: the most incredible support and he's the one who's pushed me. 650 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 3: He's pushed me to go to the gym, he's pushed me. 651 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 3: Not that he had to push me too much to 652 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 3: go kayaking, because I do love it, but also just 653 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 3: with the surfing, you know, he's been like, yeah, my 654 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 3: biggest support person. Yeah, by far, Cam, And and he's 655 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 3: a great role model for our three boys because you 656 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 3: see he's very kind, yeah and yeah, very compassionate and 657 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 3: can be really annoying but gives everyone can be an 658 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 3: knowing he'd be like when are you training? What are 659 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 3: you doing? Oh? My says yeah, back off, I say, dude, yeah, 660 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 3: like yeah, let me just have a rest. But no, 661 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 3: he's yeah, for sure, that's as amazing person. 662 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 2: That's really really cool. And how is your relationship change? 663 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 2: We got to meet a couple of your sons coming 664 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 2: in and out of the house. How has it changed 665 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 2: with them now that they're young adults. 666 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it's great. I mean it's so good watching 667 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 3: them grow up. 668 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 669 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 3: So our youngest now he's a personal trainer, which is 670 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 3: really cool. 671 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 2: So I trained with Oli that's really cool. 672 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, noah, he said, the music of a conservatorium doing music. Yeah, 673 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 3: and Rubes has his own little business making home worlds 674 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 3: and whatnot. But no, it's good. It's fun watching them 675 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:46,239 Speaker 3: grow up. 676 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's amazing. It's good. 677 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 3: You know, it's funny. You know how I said before. 678 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 3: Our initial plan was to take them to Ethiopia. Yeah, 679 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 3: we did that this Christmas. 680 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 2: Oh no way. 681 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're like eleven years late, but we made it. 682 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 3: Play on man, it was the best trip, So. 683 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 2: Tell me more about it. 684 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. So we actually went to Zimbabwe for a couple 685 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 3: of weeks. 686 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. 687 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,240 Speaker 3: I have a thing for Africa. Yeah, I've always loved Africa, 688 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 3: and yeah, I went to Zimbabwe for a couple of 689 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 3: weeks and stayed on a conservancy so it was just 690 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 3: surrounded by animals, which was amazing. And then we went 691 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 3: to Ethiopia for a months and it was the best 692 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 3: thing is the boys fell in love with it as 693 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 3: much as us. 694 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 2: That's awesome. 695 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 3: I was so sick, so I never after my accident, 696 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 3: I never thought i'd get back to Africa. Wow, and 697 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 3: you did it and I did it and yeah, so 698 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 3: that was the best. 699 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 2: That's awesome to be able to do that. 700 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 3: There's been a highlight ever since the accident that that 701 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 3: trip is probby one of my favorite trips ever. 702 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 2: Wow. What is it about Africa that you first fell 703 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 2: in love with? 704 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 3: I don't know. I don't know. I had this thing 705 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 3: even when I was like little in first grade. I 706 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 3: was like, I want to be a nurse and I 707 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 3: want to go to Africa. I don't even know where 708 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 3: they came from. Yeah, so yeah, I ended up being 709 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 3: a nurse and ended up going to Africa. 710 00:32:57,640 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 2: Amazing. 711 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's the people up. Have you been there? 712 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 2: No, I haven't. I'd love to. She s go. Yeah. 713 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 3: It's something like, man, you go and you just fall 714 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 3: in love with it. It's like magical. 715 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. Wow, add to the police. Yeah, do you have 716 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 2: plans to go back? 717 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 3: We do. We get in we're trying to organize another 718 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 3: trip for next Christmas. We don't know where yet. Okay, 719 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 3: we're thinking maybe Saudi Arabia. Okay, and Jordan can. I 720 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 3: really love Jordan and I'm on but not sure. 721 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Cool, that's awesome. And what's next for you? Obviously 722 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 2: raining World chap now, but what's what's next for you? 723 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 3: Well, I actually can't make it. There is a world 724 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:43,640 Speaker 3: I say, World Championships in November, but unfortunately I can't 725 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 3: make that one. So next year I'll just do the 726 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 3: tour again. So there's only three three comps next year, 727 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 3: so it's Byron Bay, Hawaii and actually in California. Nice. Yeah, 728 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 3: so I'll do that And yeah, that's see how I go. 729 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your time today. It's been 730 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 2: really special to sit and chat with you and hear 731 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 2: your story. And thanks so much for having us in 732 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:07,520 Speaker 2: your beautiful home. 733 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 3: Thanks for coming having me, no. 734 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 2: Problem at all, It's a real pleasure. Thanks so much 735 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 2: for listening. If you got something out of this episode, 736 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 2: I would absolutely love it if you could send it 737 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:23,400 Speaker 2: on to one person who you think might enjoy it. Otherwise, subscribe, 738 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 2: give us a review, and make sure you follow us 739 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 2: on Instagram at the Female Athlete Project to stay up 740 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 2: to date with podcast episodes, merch drops, and of course 741 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 2: news and stories about epic female athletes.