Adaptive athlete shares his story of resilience, recovery, and redefining what’s possible
The Unexpected Journey, the acclaimed podcast dedicated to elevating voices from the adaptive and disability communities, returns for its sixth season on Thursday, July 9th. The season premiere features High Fives Foundation athlete Landon McGauley, whose story highlights resilience, perseverance, and the power of community after life-changing injuries.
“What an unexpected journey it has been. I never expected to experience one spinal cord injury, and once I had worked my way through that, I definitely never imagined I’d have to face a second. Life has a way of throwing wrenches into your plans, but learning how to adapt, keep moving forward, and find joy again has, for good or bad, become a part of my story. Today, I’m grateful to feel like I’ve made it through the other side of that second injury and am back to loving life. A huge thank you to Tim and everyone involved with the Unexpected Journey podcast for having me on and creating a space where I felt comfortable being vulnerable and sharing my story. I hope something in our conversation resonates with anyone who takes the time to listen.”
- High Fives Foundation athlete Landon McGauley
Hosted by adaptive athlete and quadriplegic Tim Brown, The Unexpected Journey explores authentic conversations with adaptive athletes, adventurers, creators, and changemakers who continue to redefine what is possible after disability. Through immersive storytelling, original music, and intimate campfire-style conversations, the podcast gives listeners an honest look into the triumphs and challenges of life after injury.
Landon McGauley’s episode kicks off a new season of stories while celebrating the continued impact of the High Fives Foundation, which has now supported more than 1,000 athletes and veterans through recovery, adaptive sports, and empowerment opportunities.
“Story has the power to humanize and change the way we see disability,” said Tim Brown, host of The Unexpected Journey. “Landon’s journey is unique and full of grit, humor, and determination. I hope listeners learn that life doesn’t end after a traumatic injury, and these conversations remind us that resilience isn’t about overcoming alone, instead it’s about finding purpose, community, and continuing to move forward.”
Brown became quadriplegic following a spinal cord injury sustained in a skiing accident more than a decade ago. Through The Unexpected Journey, he creates a platform where guests can share their experiences with honesty and vulnerability, helping both disabled and able-bodied audiences better understand the adaptive community while inspiring meaningful conversations about inclusion, perseverance, and possibility.
New episodes of The Unexpected Journey will be released every other Thursday and are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.
Listen, Review & Win
To celebrate Season 6, The Unexpected Journey is giving back to its listeners. During every episode this season, one lucky listener will be selected to win exclusive prizes.
Entering is easy:
- Rate and review The Unexpected Journey on Apple Podcasts.
- Take a screenshot of your review.
- Send the screenshot via Instagram direct message (https://www.instagram.com/unexpectedjourneypod/) or email to be entered (tim@unexpectedjourneypod.com).
Each new episode brings a new chance to win while helping more people discover the powerful stories of the adaptive and disability communities.
