SIA launches new podcast

Welcome to “I didn’t plan on this” – Real stories of resilience, hope and life after spinal cord injury

Hosted by SIA Ambassador Zoe Fox and SIA Support Network Manager Gary Dawson, each episode opens the door to conversations that are raw, uplifting and full of the kind of truth you only hear when people speak from lived experience.

Whether you’ve recently sustained an injury, you’re rebuilding your life years down the line, or you’re supporting someone you care about, this series is here for you. These stories reflect the setbacks and the breakthroughs, the surprising joys and the moments of strength you didn’t know you had.

• Real journeys told with honesty, humour and heart
• Practical insight and lived experience
• Stories of identity, ambition and rediscovery after life changes
• The reminder that support, community and hope truly matter.
• Every listener is welcome, injured, non‑injured, curious or connected.

A spinal cord injury changes many things. But it doesn’t take away your potential, for many of our guests it marked the beginning of a new chapter they never expected — and one they’re proud to share. Dive into conversations with everyday people navigating extraordinary circumstances. Their stories will remind you that rebuilding is possible, and that a new life can always be a fulfilled life.

Episodes

• Zoe Fox & Gary Dawson: Two people, one honest conversation about rebuilding, redefining and thriving after spinal cord injury.
• John & Jade Reynolds: The viral couple who turned a broken lift, a first date and a whole lot of love into a story that people can’t stop following.
• David Holmes & Rosie Mayes – Part One: A former Harry Potter stuntman and the woman who changed everything share the love story they never expected to find after life-changing injury.
• David Holmes & Rosie Mayes – Part Two: A brave, unfiltered conversation about love, intimacy and the truths most disabled couples never say out loud.
• Hannah Cockcroft & Nathan Maguire: Paralympic sport’s power couple reveal what really drives their success — on the track and at home.
• Mo Belal & Elizabeth Penny: A surgeon, a life altering accident and the extraordinary determination that took him back into the operating theatre against all odds.
• Steve Brown, Becca & Baby Lyra: From elite sport to an emotional IVF journey, this is the story of a family that fought hard for their happily ever after.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube: