00:00:00.18 Richard uh all your work as well it's great it's great listening to it and uh i've kind of had a little bit of a obviously before i go on and anybody's kind of podcasts or oh i always have a little bit of a listen so yeah well done 00:00:11.00 nextlevelguypodcast Oh, bro. Which one did you get a chance to have a listen to? 00:00:14.01 Richard what was the last one you did the last one you record was it the last did you do one last week was it the last one you did last week can't remember 00:00:23.27 nextlevelguypodcast I've done and quite a few sort of like cycling guys like Dean Scott, Beaufort. 00:00:29.14 Richard No, it wasn't his. 00:00:31.20 nextlevelguypodcast um 00:00:32.82 Richard Which one? I was listening to it the other other day in the car. 00:00:36.46 nextlevelguypodcast Oh, my but my dulcet tones. 00:00:36.76 Richard And was like, it was really insightful. Anyway, yeah, it was it was it was one that i i i've kind of got a vibe of, obviously, your you' questioning as well, which is really good as well, because obviously different people have a different kind of approach for how they deliver their questions. and it's really informal. I quite like it, like you say, the back and forth approach. 00:00:59.48 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah, because I think that's something that i lot of people, that they they want to try to impress. and They want to just talk about your medals. And I want to know all about... 00:01:06.90 Richard ah Yeah, and and those those kind of conversations have been had a lot anyway, so... 00:01:12.56 nextlevelguypodcast And I want to know you because I find you so fascinating. 00:01:14.01 Richard Yeah. 00:01:15.69 nextlevelguypodcast There's such a ah depth, ah so have an interest there. But how would you sum up yourself? 00:01:20.02 Richard For sure. 00:01:22.28 nextlevelguypodcast Like if you had to introduce yourself, because you've done amazing amount of things, but what what do you describe yourself as as you? 00:01:30.36 Richard I would say... a lot of people would describe me as obviously an athlete, um a person with a disability, and i would describe myself as ah somebody that likes to make a change, likes to show that anything is possible and really unlock potential in people. 00:01:53.46 Richard So that's obviously my kind of front facing um an aura you could say but i think internally i i think i'm a guy that works really hard and and hopefully when people listen to me they see a different side to the runner and i would say that i've had so many life experiences positive and negative, that hopefully have brought me to this place now, where it's given me a really great platform to be able to 00:02:32.02 Richard help people to understand what life really means. And life really really means it's an opportunity and everybody deserves a platform to shine. 00:02:35.22 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 00:02:42.42 Richard but not everybody understands that your goals and aspirations are as important as anybody else's, whether you've got a few followers, million followers, whether you're you're from a small community, a big community of people, 00:02:59.19 Richard your life, your platform is as important as anybody else's. And like I said previously, um your platform really does give people ah an opportunity to shine, but also inform the audience around some of the skills and tools that people have and develop that really do help unlock other people's potential. 00:03:21.75 nextlevelguypodcast Thank you. but I really appreciate the kind words. Because and that's something I see in you that you know you've you've changed millions of lives. 00:03:25.35 Richard No, Hennessy. 00:03:31.91 nextlevelguypodcast You've won numerous and countless medals and awards and things. But was there a point in growing up in school that people start treating you differently, but also that you felt differently, that you felt I am destined for bigger and better things than just being somebody that's kept to the side? 00:03:52.63 Richard I would say that um as you grow up, you start to understand our perceptions and understand how other people put barriers and obstacles in front of you. 00:04:06.17 Richard And the ones that ah aren't physical are the ones that really toughest ones to remove, obviously, because those stigmas that you're having to try and change around the importance of equality, diverse inclusion, the importance of social change are the ones where you're having to really show and educate. 00:04:28.57 Richard And I remember growing up, obviously having a disability and having those those physical challenges like steps and ramps and people moving a lot quicker than me. 00:04:40.47 Richard being the ones that were really frustrating. But then looking back, I think the tougher challenging obstacles were people's perceptions of what I could and couldn't do. 00:04:53.37 Richard And then having to educate those individuals to say that I deserve the same opportunity, maybe the pathway to success was longer or maybe took a little bit more support and guidance, but it was as fruitful. 00:05:09.50 Richard And obviously now with my success, it's just really highlighted that perseverance is really key. And when I go into schools, colleges and universities now, I talk about ah success and leadership and perseverance and enjoying the process of going towards or aspiring towards your goals. And I think as a youngster, I did have people and role models that were around me, but I didn't have people that looked like me that had that empathy that could really say, actually, Richard, it's going to be okay. 00:05:49.34 nextlevelguypodcast And was there somebody at that point who kind of, because you've talked about how your parents installed these core values in you, but was it ah an inspiration apart from Terry Fox? 00:05:56.20 Richard Yeah. Yeah. 00:05:58.13 nextlevelguypodcast Was there like a teacher or was there somebody looking out for you at that point? 00:06:02.01 Richard Yeah, and and there were various individuals that I was fortunate enough to obviously come into contact with and A gymnastics coach called Wack that I was in Dayco Flying Angels, which is an all boys gymnastics group when i was younger. 00:06:20.18 Richard He was somebody that was a real role model when I was growing up. Head teacher, Mr. Scott at the my secondary school, because my first my first school that I went to, ah didn't have a great experience. 00:06:33.34 Richard my tutor, Mrs. Griffiths. Again, there's this people that throughout my life that maybe had those little elements of kind of showing and supporting that there was real potential inside this little boy and this little boy that had a disability ah that clearly there was going to be some real challenges and obstacles for this person to achieve those aspirations in life and they 00:06:53.10 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 00:07:07.02 Richard supported and really mentored my potential. But then also, i think i got to understand that sport was such a powerful thing for me, but it wasn't just solely the participation, it was how people respond to my performances within sport. 00:07:25.88 Richard And then also the importance of those sharing those gold medal moments with the wider community. And really, showing up every time, like on the field of play, um delivering a performance that you're proud of and going that extra mile. And I think those people, when I was growing up, really did highlight that community element and and to this day still have contact with a lot of those people. Wack unfortunately isn't isn't with us anymore and and that he's a great loss but I think those memories kind of really um really stay with me and and one person, one of my friends Simon Mellows that that died of of the same cancer as Terry Fox, sarcoma, he was somebody as he was coming towards the end of his life 00:08:16.31 Richard really did underpin the importance of gratitude, the importance of kindness, the importance of the impact you can have through sport and hence the reason why i'm now a patron of Sarcoma UK. 00:08:32.47 Richard i also have my own charity. i also selflessly give as much time as I can to initiatives that that need that support and I advocate for other athletes and other people within society to do exactly the same because it's really important to, when you look in people's eyes and see that trauma, you see that those real obstacles, that they need have people that can support them. And so sport really does provide people with 00:09:06.68 Richard um mental health and physical physical health opportunities that other um areas of life don't offer us supportive. 00:09:17.37 nextlevelguypodcast Because you've certainly opened the door to showing you know people that a of people with disabilities, with handicaps, mentally, physically, emotionally, et cetera, all they want is a chance to just be themselves and just do what they are. 00:09:31.76 Richard opportunity yeah yeah for sure and and a lot of people that reach out to me whether it's socially or whether it's in in the street that see me running they they probably see me as a person that's that's overcoming my disability and success is is bigger than that and um 00:09:33.62 nextlevelguypodcast and i think 00:09:56.63 Richard I think when i when I look back on my career, it started obviously with London 2012 and that like fantastic opportunity of enrichment and winning my gold medal and and really did catapult my myself and my sport and my disability into people's homes and hearts. 00:10:17.14 Richard But I think it was then my opportunity to wear that tracksuit with pride and really kind of embrace the opportunity around making that social change. 00:10:24.75 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 00:10:28.10 Richard And don't think enough people enough people do that. And that's a real shame. So when I meet young athletes, young leaders, look young clerk coaches, I say, look yes, you're offering this, you're providing this, but what those other hidden talents and hidden skills and, 00:10:46.85 Richard hidden gifts that you've got, bring those to the table because that will really elevate your um elevate your the opportunity to ah make yourself different and give yourself a real opportunity to support people into the future and be sustainable. 00:11:07.38 nextlevelguypodcast I mean, you're certainly doing that on a daily basis, but does the, 00:11:10.63 Richard I try to and it really does motivate me. It's like it's like a lot of people say, why i must why do I do what I do? it motivates my my training. it motivates ah when I see other people ah do some great things that have come through the foundation or maybe some of the work that I've done. 00:11:30.39 Richard Yeah, it's fantastic to see. and I think those gold medal moments, everybody deserves them. And hopefully, actually I personally have a lot and and and i provide other people with those as well. 00:11:43.27 nextlevelguypodcast And do you think the younger Richard would have been a kind of like, I do what? When you think about, you know, you've started stood on podiums, you've got an MBE, you've started a foundation, you talk to charities and all these things. 00:11:49.44 Richard Yeah. 00:11:52.12 Richard Yeah. yeah 00:11:56.12 nextlevelguypodcast But is it a smaller, kind of quieter, more contained, shyer version of yourself that you've 00:12:01.27 Richard Oh, I ah love my own personal time. I, yeah, when when um ah come home or have those moments, it's great to have your own kind of your personal time where you look after after your own, obviously, mental health, look after yourself, give yourself some some some time to reflect and analyze. 00:12:25.91 Richard And I think obviously as a younger person, i was very shy, um not probably not as optimistic as I am now. um I think disability was a big part of my life where I think now it's a sports small part. ah I don't allow my disability to stop me from doing anything, to be honest. um And I think society still has a long way to to go, to change, to ah not just see disabled people as people that are doing well or to pity but actually deserve to be in leadership roles and CEO ceo roles and to be really leaders in society. um The young Richard Whitehead I think would would not realise his potential at that point and 00:13:18.20 Richard and a a ah question that I'd put to him at that time would be, what what are your aspirations? And probably at that time it was, I'd like to go to the Paralympics. 00:13:30.90 Richard And then I'd say, look, you just need to be perseverant. You need to work hard and be kind and be genuine and authentic and everything will be fine. And that's the same message that I give to young people now. 00:13:44.59 nextlevelguypodcast I love how that was your sort of aspiration to go to the Paralympics. Most people would have been to get a girlfriend or get a car. 00:13:48.72 Richard It was. 00:13:51.13 Richard Yeah. ah so yeah yeah 00:13:55.37 nextlevelguypodcast But do you find then when you look at that now that you know like that maybe that primary school kind of controlled, like you know you're just if you're quiet, you just get left behind. Schooled, if you have a good teacher, they bring it out of you. 00:14:10.91 nextlevelguypodcast they'd serve the way we teach like healing modalities to in surgeries and stuff to you know we just say okay that's it you're not allowed to do that anymore or you know we say to people like that that's you limited by this how would you change that for schools for the way hospitals treat these things to youngsters so we can get them into the ceos and the leadership roles 00:14:17.43 Richard yeah 00:14:34.20 Richard Yeah, I think schools have um opportunities for young people, especially in leadership opportunities, but I feel that representative wise, they don't understand that everybody um needs that opportunity of enrichment and 00:14:57.78 Richard I think when you're you've got disability and you feel part of something and you you have an equal opportunity and you you have i a safe place to to shine, it really does mean lot to a person with a disability. and and In the UK, one in four people have a disability, whether that's hidden, learning, sensory. So it's a big part of society. 00:15:23.77 Richard And a lot of those individuals are still left behind nor or have these stigmas around their impairments that don't give us give them those opportunities. and I'm now in a position where I'm able to support, ah mentor and educate some of those communities about the importance of equality, diversity, inclusion. 00:15:50.42 Richard And I still feel that there is a long way to go with regard to representation and also celebrating that success. 00:16:00.92 Richard And the start of celebrating that success is highlighting that it's okay to be different. And um these different skills, goals and aspirations in life are very similar to celebrating um the difference in disability and highlighting that it's not all about gold medals at Paralympics as a disabled person. 00:16:26.70 Richard It's about people within the community that are doing some fantastic things that have got disabilities. I'm fortunate that I've had those opportunities in my life. I continually want them selfishly to kind of keep pushing on and being the better but best athlete that can be, even though I'm nearly 50. 00:16:46.71 Richard But my real purpose is slowly changing to be able find the next Richard Whitehead really develop a sustainable community where everybody's represented and everybody feels like they've got safe space. 00:17:00.49 nextlevelguypodcast So what would you say to kids like that who come and say, look, I don't have a good role model. I don't have a good teacher who's kind of tried to push me into things. mean, you did, you know, like um gymnastics, you were swimming, you' were running. 00:17:13.72 Richard yeah yeah 00:17:13.77 nextlevelguypodcast I mean, you seem to have amazing parents, but for people who maybe are fearful, but they want to try something, was there something that got you over it? 00:17:19.83 Richard yeah and that was Yeah, and it was never easy at the start. it's it was never It was never an easy transition between like going into school and transitioning secondary school. 00:17:31.86 Richard think education 00:17:35.37 Richard of the restrictions that the primary school setting really had. I would say that um if you're a young person now that hasn't got those those role models and aspirations and those those networks that that will support those those enrichment moments. 00:17:53.71 Richard It's about people like myself really being accessible, um having those microphone moments, having those um moments on TV that people relate to, and then and then support the wider community. I think education needs to have more more people from the community going in and talking about the importance of inclusion and also showing difference, showing difference like people with disabilities or people that have done some incredible things within society like Climb Everest or being an astronaut or 00:18:31.16 Richard And then also relating it back to the kids and say, you could be a graduate at Oxford or Cambridge, or you could be an Olympian or Paralympian, or you could be an astronaut. 00:18:41.37 Richard So really talk about aspirations, about that they are achievable. Because if i didn't think it was achievable for me at a young age to be a Paralympic athlete, then maybe I wouldn't be sitting here now talking to you. 00:18:55.58 Richard Maybe I'd just be a disabled person that's in a nine to five job that's not happy with what they're doing. Now, that's okay having a nine to five job, but I also think we all need to aspire to be better. 00:19:08.43 Richard Whether we've got a disability or not, every day we wake up, we should say to ourselves, what am I gonna do today to make myself better, to have a bigger impact on my community, ah for my proud family to be proud of me? 00:19:24.70 Richard And then when I go to bed tonight, then brush your teeth and kind of reevaluate your day and go, I've done really well today or I've had a real struggle and tomorrow's going to be better but really value that time because one thing I've I know from the work that I've done especially in the humanitarian community all over the world war-torn conflicts and working with people that have suffered from some real trauma life can be really short and some of those challenges that we have in life 00:19:55.65 Richard we need have support, yes. We need to have some positive role models, yes. 00:19:58.62 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 00:20:02.39 Richard But I think most of all, we need to really value life and make the most of it because we're all on ticking clock. We don't know when that clock's going to stop. 00:20:13.20 Richard And I think it's really important to make the most of our time on this planet. 00:20:18.14 nextlevelguypodcast Because I think that's where your power comes from. It's that you don't just talk about it. You actually demonstrate that you can do it no matter what perceived limitation or what kind of starting point they come from. 00:20:29.02 Richard Yeah. 00:20:31.38 nextlevelguypodcast And when you... 00:20:31.88 Richard There's a really interesting point there, though, I think as well, that I think limitations on disabled people initially are... that somebody will see that I've got a disability, they'll make a subconscious ah bias regarding my aspirations and then say, yes, but this will be really difficult. Like when I was younger, the as a baby, there was mark the doctor would say, Richard's going to really struggle to walk, Richard's going to struggle to access education, Richard's going to struggle to ah hold down a job because of his disability. 00:21:09.05 Richard and That was like obviously like a punch in the face really like to my family. 00:21:15.32 nextlevelguypodcast no 00:21:16.28 Richard And I think as we as disabled people become more successful, general members of public that haven't got the empathy around disability, the aspirational kind of inspirational young person becomes, oh yeah, but now you're accessing technology. 00:21:37.96 Richard And now that because you're successful, maybe you're getting an advantage because of the technology you've gained. And the interesting thing I have is that when I become really successful and very good at what I've done, 00:21:51.51 Richard Some people in the the track or field or on the marathons. 00:22:08.36 Richard And I actually say, no, it's about my aspirations and my success are mine. Your aspirations aren't any less important as mine, but they're yours. 00:22:18.89 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 00:22:19.10 Richard And a person with a disability, when they're very successful, don't change a positive to a negative, support, nurture, give them the platform that's sustainable because sustainable relationships within communities are so important and they open conversations that are for that fulfill some of the the real kind of social changes that we all need. 00:22:45.55 nextlevelguypodcast And is that the bit that bugs you that people are judged on like the subconscious bias of, oh, he's different, they look different, they have visible wounds, whatever it is? 00:22:56.63 nextlevelguypodcast Because I find that is such a... i love getting to know the person and the uniqueness because everybody's got a story, everybody's got amazing gifts and things they can give to the world, but... 00:23:07.90 nextlevelguypodcast How do we change that perception so that people come and go, i want to know more about you. I want to see how we can bond you in rather than, oh no, you're not, you're going to struggle. 00:23:18.39 nextlevelguypodcast But I mean, are are things improving them from what you've seen? 00:23:21.91 Richard I think storytelling is really important for disabled people and more people like I think social media is great for the disability security community. um a lot of people with disabilities are socially isolated. So obviously COVID was a really interesting time because a lot of disabled people actually were were more resilient from than the able-bodied community because they they have those challenges 24-7, 365 days a year. And then when the general member of the public couldn't go out, 00:23:52.70 Richard it was like, oh my goodness, I can't go out the house now. And there was like all these, it was just really interesting, the psychology around it. And the disabled community got left behind a little bit because the disabled community are already coping with that, already resilient, already have the tools to be able to navigate some of those problems. 00:24:13.02 Richard I, um yeah, I would say that um somebody like myself, um 00:24:24.44 Richard Yeah, I think it's is it's one of those things, isn't it, where you you say that I would like to make a social change, I would like to support ah um people with disabilities, but it's about unlocking that potential and then going, and the floor is yours. 00:24:43.13 Richard Here's an opportunity to shine, storytell, and really open the world to the disability world to those that haven't actually had experience. There's so many people out there that haven't had experience with disabled people. 00:25:00.92 Richard And as a foundation, we offer volunteer ah volunteering opportunities for those that want to support and give their time. um Things like swimming and running and cycling and outdoor activities just to actually go and experience and mentor and guide um and and to actually say to yourself it's okay to get something back as somebody that's a volunteer and then that that knowledge, that experience that you've gained from volunteering within that disability community, you take back to your home environment and you can use those skills, those informed skills 00:25:26.66 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 00:25:39.74 Richard that relate to the challenges that the disability community has. So empathy is really important. I think storytelling is always also really important, but um an opportunity and platform for disabled people um and whatever that is, whether that's work, education or employment. 00:25:57.87 nextlevelguypodcast I love that. I mean, is that where Terry Fox sort came in? Did you see him and, you know, his running with his condition and the way it inspired the world that you thought I could do this? 00:26:05.60 Richard Yeah. 00:26:08.38 nextlevelguypodcast Or were you already planning something along that lines? 00:26:11.70 Richard No, I think, because I was probably 11, 12, 13, 14 at the time. And at that time, was quite disengaged with society and yeah had my friends and liked go out. 00:26:24.06 Richard with my friends and I saw my disability a real challenge at that point, um building relationships, like looking to outside of education, ah support, um didn't really understand my place in society. 00:26:44.12 Richard And then ah saw the Terry Fox story and then read his book. around that it it's more than just those so gratifying moments on top of the top of the podium. 00:26:58.90 Richard It's about the ability to be able to relate. So somebody that's actually doing it and then have a purpose. And we all have a purpose in life. Maybe our purpose might be making money. you might be having a family. it might be, again, the kind of the aspirations that I talked about earlier. um And I'm not saying any of those are not as worthwhile as any others because we all should have the opportunity have our own purpose. 00:27:26.20 Richard But when I Terry Fox's story and read his book, it really opened that um part of my life to say when I have those opportunities unlocking potential in other people will be as for fulfilling as my own personal success And it definitely has, it definitely has. and every marathon that he tried to run, every step that he took, it was with a purpose of changing people's perceptions of what can be possible. 00:28:02.57 Richard And by raising money um for cancer sufferers, not just in Canada, but also highlighting cancer sufferers all over the world, has definitely unlocked a lot of potential in people. 00:28:19.15 Richard And we just need to have more role models like Terry Fox in society that really believe it's possible to make that change, and then be out there doing it. 00:28:30.21 Richard Cheers. 00:28:31.22 nextlevelguypodcast Well, i mean, I think you've taken that mantle and you've run, well, you've literally run with it. I mean, how did you take that moment then of being the shy, the scared, the hating life, hating society? 00:28:37.30 Richard says 00:28:44.40 nextlevelguypodcast Because, I mean, I suffered a depression when was younger. i think, was it three out of five, m you know, and disabilities and illnesses and mental health issues and all that, I was like unseen. 00:28:55.51 nextlevelguypodcast and So we're all kind of like dealing with battles, and know but how did you take that and then go, was it just looking at Terry and going, that's what going to 00:28:55.58 Richard Yeah. 00:29:06.39 nextlevelguypodcast Did that inspire you enough to leave the the negativity behind or was there something you did? 00:29:10.30 Richard probably not. I think i think i think that that moment with with the Terry Fox moment was more of a like, a probably at some point I have the opportunity to to be able to better to run my marathon. 00:29:24.54 Richard um and then start to plot how i' was going to get to that first point and then realising that we can't do these fantastic things on our own. We need to have people support us. So I needed to have the support of the prosthetic company, Osser, that gave me the running blades in 2004 and I needed to have my NHS prosthetist, Terry Stanley, to be able to start my running journey. I needed a running coach at the time. 00:29:54.74 Richard I didn't have one, but in 2006, Liz Yelling, who's still my coach, became my winning coach. And these people are people that are positive, that add value, that believed in me, that were real genuine cheerleaders for me. And and every year i ae ah started to believe that things were possible and that periodized approach of of just being better and stronger and wiser was that culmination of probably theyre leaving school, going to America, working ah on the Camp America scheme, going into teaching, teaching kids PE, then going from that into into my professional career as an athlete. 00:30:46.68 Richard and Yeah, even when I won my Paralympic gold medal in 2012, I was such a different person than I am now. And i think every moment that you have in your life is ah an enrichment opportunity. 00:31:02.52 Richard we don't realise how powerful those enrichment opportunities are. And I think we just need to be open enough and make ourselves vulnerable to understand that we can grow, but we need to make ourselves vulnerable to to be able to do that. 00:31:19.16 Richard And I will say that I have been lucky in the people that have supported me. I've had some real challenges and obstacles overcome clearly, especially when was younger. 00:31:31.64 Richard And I think we all have those. And The one thing that we all have in common in life, apart from breathing, is that we will all be affected by a disability or a debilitating time in our life. 00:31:48.31 Richard And why would you not upskill yourself into being more prepared for those moments? and I still see people that are blinded by maybe things like cancer and blinded by things like disability and impairments and um as things that either won't happen to them or when it happens to them they'll deal with it where i've I think it's about being prepared, being upskilled supporting other people in the community because when your times when your time needs to be supported by the community, the the community will support you 00:32:27.45 Richard But you need to be like genuine or authentic around that response and not just kind of just go, actually, I'm going to take, but I've never given. And hopefully, hopefully, the work that I've done previously, really just kind of showcase that appreciate everybody's support in the past. 00:32:48.02 Richard But I also know we've we've still've still got a long way to go to support these young people in their futures. 00:32:54.25 nextlevelguypodcast Great answer. Was that part of it that because you went and taught, because you went to different countries, that you saw how people reacted across the globe that yeah and you know you saw how they reacted to your perceived potential? 00:33:07.46 Richard Yeah. 00:33:11.06 nextlevelguypodcast mean, they're probably blown away by now. 00:33:11.83 Richard Yeah. 00:33:13.30 nextlevelguypodcast But how you built a team there, an amazing team that support you. you know You've built leadership through the teaching of the kids, et cetera. Was that your chance to kind of expand your horizon and see, ah, so that's how people treat it, so this is how I fix it? Did this give you a kind of real-time working fix? 00:33:32.88 Richard Yeah, and I still go countries all over the world have never seen people like myself running, walking, being in communities. So last year I was in Albania, I was in Zimbabwe, 00:33:46.46 Richard ah countries that maybe have never seen amputee walking on prosthetics or definitely not running before. um And to be able to maybe showcase that maybe maybe i am a little bit biased around disability or maybe I'm not really that well informed. So it's my it's my purpose to to be a part of that education and and then having a team, a strong team around me, 00:34:19.87 Richard is right, is something that really does advocate who I am and just one person and however much i I think I can do it all and change the world myself, you can't. 00:34:30.18 Richard And you need to have those allies the all that are encompassing of your core values, but also grow with you. 00:34:32.84 nextlevelguypodcast Cool. 00:34:39.00 Richard And i do a lot of work within my home city of Nottingham around that allyship as well. So working with like universities, ah young people's running groups, the LGTQ plus running group group in in Nottingham, as well as um the BME groups, because I still feel that some people within those communities with disabilities do ah or are hidden and don't have the the opportunity to get into society. 00:35:16.16 Richard it's my purpose and my team's purpose to have that shining light that actually shows that it's not just Richard Whitehead that turns up and wins the races or talks to young people. it's It's a real team effort and everybody that's in my team really does, or hopefully feels really supported and really part of the mission and develops the mission as well. So for instance, my foundation, the Richard Whitehead Foundation, 00:35:49.21 Richard ah Our mission statement is to enable disabled people's ambitions. So that's nothing about sport, it's about ambitions. And we use reuse sport as a real hook to enable people to move, to understand that there is a real opportunity within life and we can be part of their team. 00:36:12.41 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah, I mean, and and you've opened it up to them by showing that, you know, that you can be scared, that you can feel out place, you can feel limited by your condition. But if you go, there are people who are more than happy to help. 00:36:21.21 Richard Yeah. 00:36:24.22 nextlevelguypodcast There are people who will reach out and, you know, and you don't have to do it your own. find the nutritionist, find the coaches, find the the friends, et cetera. 00:36:32.10 Richard Yeah. 00:36:33.18 nextlevelguypodcast I mean, I was really surprised when I heard it in one of the podcasts you did where you said about you were you know you were shy when you were younger and you're so likable and just easy to talk to. 00:36:40.82 Richard Yeah. 00:36:43.89 nextlevelguypodcast And I know you probably sort of worked on that through many like thousands of TEDx's and all these kind of things, but 00:36:50.65 Richard Yeah, I've done quite a lot, yeah. 00:36:52.54 nextlevelguypodcast But something that I always think never gets the credit it deserves is the the impact that you and Simon had. you know Because you talk about how you when you're really struggling, you dip into that box and find the memories of him. 00:37:00.90 Richard Yeah. 00:37:03.86 Richard Yeah, yeah, still do. 00:37:06.37 nextlevelguypodcast What was it about Simon's friendship that gave you like that i like they built that connection with you, but also gave you both that amazing chance to say, we're taking on the world, we're going to do this? 00:37:06.90 Richard Still do. still do. 00:37:18.52 Richard Yeah, I think, um so yeah, Simon was ah probably really good friend for about three years and played cricket ah for Woodburn, Nottinghamshire, and we were part of the England development team, cricket development team. And, yeah, 00:37:37.62 Richard I think how I related to him was that at that stage I was starting realise that I had a real opportunity within my running. And i think I was starting to maybe take life for granted as a person that was growing up. And there was probably a split in the road where could have kind of negatively drinking, socialising too much, or the other road where it was that, have a real purpose and and and support people and real positive mindset, positive behaviours. 00:38:13.66 Richard And then, obviously, having some time with people like Simon and Simon specifically, especially that he lost his leg due to sarcoma and then unfortunately died of his sarcoma in 2005. But within those those final months and really understanding the value of life with a young family and I taught his two children to swim, supported his widower Nikki and obviously through the the charity really kind of highlighted the importance of research and support with families with sarcoma and obviously patients. 00:38:59.89 Richard I think that time started to mold me around how important the decisions I was going to make ah in my life. And sure as a young person, and you can you can talk to young people ah until the cows go home about, you need to be doing this and too much of doing those those bad things are really bad for your own physical health, mental health and future. And um and I think at that time, 00:39:27.19 Richard him leaving such a young family, again, really did show show showcase that I need to, not only in Simon's memory, but also with the opportunities that I have really kind of grab the ball by its horns and and go for it. And and every opportunity I have in in my career and life, however big and small it is, ah make sure I show up, I make sure i give 100%, whether it's talking to 10 kids in a primary school, or whether it's talking to 1000 people at a conference, they get exactly the same, Richard Whitehead. And Simon taught me that, I think Simon taught me about showing up 00:40:10.65 Richard it instances where we'd play cricket together and maybe were under the caution he kind of just pulled it out the bag and kind of said look just kind of just put yourself that out there give everything and you just be proud of who you are and then in his final moments I remember having conversations that really did kind of lean into that like you've got a disability but use that as a a real opportunity to connect to people that are struggling. And I probably have done that. 00:40:43.73 Richard And then also, obviously, then losing somebody like Simon and then and then seeing that even though he was in my life for such a short time, he had a massive impact on the direction and the way of traffic that I i then moved from from that point in my life. And probably one of the times that when I look look like say look back at my life around running my first marathon and then having Simon's name on ah um on my vest that first marathon and really kind of those tough moments in that marathon were like dedicated to him. And yeah, you allude to that when I have those tough moments now, i that he's actually sitting on my shoulder. I open that box and he comes out and he kind of tells me, look, whatever moment you're in now however tough it is, however, 00:41:33.94 Richard dark it is, whatever however deep you've got a dig, there's always tomorrow and he didn't have tomorrow and that's what really it showed me that I need to continue this journey. um I sometimes feel that yes, I've got big shoulders, it's it's ah it's a big It's a big responsibility, but I've really chosen to accept that responsibility and I'm proud of that. 00:42:04.92 Richard I'm proud that my parents, when was younger, saw me as a person that that could get on in life because there's a lot of young people out there that don't have that support. 00:42:17.00 nextlevelguypodcast No, it's a beautiful answer and it's beautiful to see the the impact that he had on you and you know, that you would have had to him and to think that how great that friendship is. 00:42:24.15 Richard a 00:42:27.35 nextlevelguypodcast Do you, i mean, if it's not too personally, um do you think back to like the inside jokes? 00:42:27.51 Richard Yeah, and now so yeah 00:42:33.47 nextlevelguypodcast Do you, you know, like when they're really struggling and running, are there things that you just think, oh, you know, it cracks you up and makes you smile when you're running or what, 00:42:44.69 Richard and i think and I think that's also like a disability thing as well, where like you kind of like when we was talking about like disability, like i I'm a double leg above knee amputee and um some of the athletes like Simon at the time were who were single leg amputees or like lost their fingers or like we call them as like a scratch. 00:43:09.44 Richard You've got a scratch as a disability. It's not like, why are you man? You've got a scratch. So it'd be, and it'd be those kinds of moments that kind of, 00:43:14.04 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 00:43:19.03 Richard really made me understand that it is, yeah, disability is part of life. And um yeah, again, I kind of, I look back at a lot of that time in my career as real fondness that have really moulded that when I, now when I'm training really hard and having to put every ounce of energy into what I'm doing, 00:43:44.54 Richard that there's a real purpose behind it. And that is, again, it's it's about that life thing. Just kind of, people have been saying to me for 20 years, when are retiring? Even after London 2012, I was like my mid thirties when I won my first medal. 00:43:58.17 Richard Is this the end for Richard Whitehead? And even now I feel every moment up to this point, has been purposeful for this time. And i want to have as big a platform now to be able to reach as many people all over the world and not just in the UK, not just in those those countries that have the platforms of communication to be able to reach those hard reach people, but also go into these countries like I did last year and 00:44:32.18 Richard and being making myself vulnerable and and and then understanding that even if I can change one person's perception about possibility, that one person, it's it's it's been worthwhile. And yeah, when i when when I'm struggling personally and performance-wise, ah probably am hardest critic and and i always try to show up, we always try to do my best. I sometimes question, am I doing my best? Am I doing enough? 00:45:06.04 Richard ah But that's just me. And I then yeah have those moments with with Simon, obviously, personally, that then justify what I'm doing and and why I'm doing it. and And hopefully... 00:45:21.53 Richard Hopefully he's proud of what I've done what i've done and in his name and obviously since then. um But yeah, it's it's not been easy. And those relationships with that we build with people um are so important. We don't know how that how long they'll last. 00:45:38.49 Richard We don't know how long people will be in our lives, but we definitely know that that those relationships will have an impact. 00:45:45.45 nextlevelguypodcast I'm sure he have been very proud, and you know especially seeing what you've done to with his kids, with to his partner, you know the support that you've always got him first and forefront of everything. 00:45:57.08 nextlevelguypodcast And I love that you it shows the strength of character in you, that you took possibly this destruction, this pain, grief, and you said, I'm going to use this to motivate me to then go and help other people and show them that there is a way through this. 00:46:10.25 Richard Yeah. Yeah. 00:46:11.49 nextlevelguypodcast That is a... 00:46:12.34 Richard Yeah. 00:46:13.01 nextlevelguypodcast That's a part your character that, you know, like, because even as your body breaks down with a running and you're getting older, you know, you're now using your foundation to say, how can I take this into millions of people rather than just inspiring the tens in the primary school or the going to university? It's phenomenal. 00:46:32.29 nextlevelguypodcast But not many people would have said, let's go and run a marathon after, was it, you had barely run a mile at that point? 00:46:39.99 Richard Yeah, no, so when I got my my first prosthetics, 00:46:45.48 Richard it was like about, because I'd been running on my knees on these sports cups before I got my prosthetics. And was running at night and running at the treadmill at the gym just because I was not aware of, obviously, how the public would... 00:47:01.46 Richard would respond to obviously me me running and obviously seeing somebody running on these like sports cups, so very kind of short stature at the time. But then when I got my running prosthetics, it was probably about two two two, three weeks before New York marathon. 00:47:18.07 Richard um And then just chose to really embrace it, just just kind of said, well, I've got these running prosthetics, I've got X amount of sessions to do before I get to America run. 00:47:30.14 Richard So just go for it. And yeah, I think I ran the first day like 10 miles and had some blisters on my knees because my processes at the time, Terry went, oh, just take it easy. Just go for a couple of couple of jogs up and down your street. And I was like, right, I'm just going to go for it. I've got 26 miles to run. 00:47:47.45 Richard I didn't know how far 26 miles was at the point, but I just went, right, I'm just going to run until I can't run any anymore. It was 10 miles. I went up and down some hills, which were really tough. 00:47:59.93 Richard Got back home, took my prosthetics off. There was like blood in my socks. And I was like, I think that just proved how hard it was going to be. But also that, yeah, I just, I needed to, needed to understand it's it's not going to be easy. And it definitely wasn't the first marathon in New York in 2004. Again, one of those defining moments. I thought I'd probably do one and never run another one. 00:48:25.11 Richard And, The money that i raised from Millen Cancer Relief at the time, obviously we're in Simon's name, but also really showcase who I am and kind of people at home, even parents didn't know how i was going complete it because I'd not run a 5K, 10K half marathon race before that point. um But I believed that I could do it. I believe that had the the willpower the strength, the physical strength, the mental health strength, so i actually get to the finish line, whatever state I'd be in. 00:49:01.50 Richard And even to this day, the kind the obstacles that I had to overcome to get to that finish line really do power me on to the successes I have now. 00:49:11.45 nextlevelguypodcast And you think the lack of knowledge about it, you know, like the the agony you on the hip flexors, the, you know, having to to contract your abs for so much and push yourself forward and all those sort of things, do you think that helped you because you didn't know you just threw yourself into it like you do a lot in life? 00:49:22.64 Richard Yeah. 00:49:28.50 Richard I think, yeah, probably if I knew how hard it would be, up I probably wouldn't have done it. Yeah. yeah And again, I, as a young person, probably never put myself into those vulnerable situations or really challenged myself enough. 00:49:43.19 Richard But then running's really unlocked that in me regarding a challenge. people have thrown some obviously crazy challenges my way with running like Comrades, which is 56 miles after I did New York. 00:49:56.09 Richard Obviously running 40 marathons in 40 days for charity, obviously my 100 marathons, like but being the fastest marathon runner in the world on prosthetics, all these kinds of things. um I would still say my hardest race was that first one, just because knew how important that was to get to that finish line and that I needed to get to that finish line and in whatever state I could do, because I think that finish line was really the start for me. 00:50:25.95 nextlevelguypodcast I heard you mention that once where you were talking about how you planned and visualized up to the line and um 00:50:34.87 Richard Yeah, I do. Yeah, i do generally. So when I, um even the track events, when I was doing my, when i was on the track, kind of running in the three Paralympics I completed in the World Championships, I always visualise like starting in the middle of my race and then seeing the finish line, but not going over It's very similar to my marathons, kind of visualise how I'm going to feel in mile one, mile five, mile 10, 15, 20, whatever. 00:51:04.54 Richard and then and just understand that even when it is going to be tough and things are going be sore that going to be able to get through those tough moments so visualize them so that when they happen on race day they're not new experiences and then from that um have have solutions to overcome those challenges so for me it's yeah breathing and being more relaxed and yeah understanding that i'm not doing it alone um because racing is just a like a preparation how hard trained so obviously the first time that i did a new york marathon obviously preparation was like poor really i'd not i've not trained very hard i don't i'd all my life i trained for that moment but not specifically to run 00:51:52.06 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 00:51:54.33 Richard Where now, obviously when I'm running in a marathon, I'm training like an elite athlete, because I am one. I'm preparing like an elite athlete, and everything goes into those opportunities. um and And that's what's important. It's about really showing up, showcasing who you are, and then delivering the best form of yourself, whether you you're running five hours or two hours 40 or whatever it is, or climbing a mountain or supporting young people in education. um 00:52:27.16 Richard i don't I don't see myself as somebody that's... that's had a massive impact on society at this this point. I think I'm doing what I'm purposeful, what I'm meant to have done. 00:52:38.94 Richard i think those around me ah will and I probably will say that I'm the hardest worker that they've ever kind of worked with because I work 365 days a year and whether it's training, whether it's on a my business or it's charity. 00:52:53.78 Richard um But I hope that people see me as somebody that would just give time to anybody that that needs it and always always be there to have a ah chat with anybody that I meet. And on a daily, I always talk to people about sport and maybe they've seen me on TV doing some TV shows or they have seen me running. And it's just great to be able to communicate. And one of the skills that I've developed through sport is, and obviously through good mentorship with other people is, 00:53:22.71 Richard how important communication is and ah be able to ah have a communication ah response that is adaptable and dynamic so that I can talk to young people and inspire them and speak to those with more wisdom and more knowledge about how important it is as a person with a disability to be in the public eye. 00:53:47.99 nextlevelguypodcast Because think you're sort of underselling the importance of you, you know, because like, i when I usually say to people, I'm interviewing so-and-so, that people go, who's that? Everybody I spoke to so far that I've said I'm interviewing, they'll be like, oh yeah, yeah, I've seen him, I know him, I like him, I've watched his... 00:54:01.83 Richard Yeah. Yeah. 00:54:03.12 nextlevelguypodcast And I think that you are doing this amazing things of like... at what point did you think 40 marathons and 40 days, when yeah when you come up with these challenges, when you want to set the world records, how do you ah like reverse engineer from the goal to what you're in now? But also, how do you make it in your head that you go, okay, I can actually do this? 00:54:25.56 nextlevelguypodcast Because you're... 00:54:25.98 Richard I think you're definitely right with reverse engineer. You need to have that kind of finish point and then we'll work backwards to how going to start. And yeah, 40 marathons obviously was bought out of kind of the Terry Fox kind of challenge of... 00:54:42.42 Richard Obviously when I did my first marathon, it was a like, I've done a marathon now and Terry Fox was doing the one of these every every day trying to run from east to west of Canada. So I wanted to do something very similar with running from north to south of the UK and then obviously get a team around me that was able to support that and and kind of, yeah, I was the face of it, but it was was more than... 00:55:10.87 Richard more than me in that challenge. 00:55:14.95 Richard I think I do struggle a little bit with like challenges generally because a lot of people are doing them now, whether it's um 100 marathons, 40 marathons, like running for 100 miles. I think the real importance isn't the number. 00:55:33.28 Richard It's, again, going back to that purpose. Why are you doing this? And I understand people are doing it for charity or in in in memory of of like loved ones. or and But really hang on to that purpose because... 00:55:51.42 Richard you can be raising millions and millions of pounds, but unless you believe that you're having an impact, then you're not you're not growing as a person. 00:56:03.03 Richard And I think I would like to, and i think I have over last 10 years grown as a person because not not only have I had people around me that have been really positive, but also believe that I was positive i was My purpose was to be doing what i'm doing now. 00:56:24.66 Richard And whether I'm raising shit loads of money or inspiring loads of people or meeting people in these fantastic events, I always come back to my purpose and that's hopefully showing up doing a great job and showcasing that anything's possible. And when people see you me, 00:56:49.85 Richard They will see different things and that's okay. So maybe they'll see overcoming a challenge. Maybe they're inspired because they've never seen a person with a disability running before. Or a disabled person might say, actually, that's that's now that not now means that I can do what I want to do in my life. 00:57:09.34 Richard And I think that's the most important thing. It's it's definitely more important than 40 marathons or 100 marathons whatever. um And that's what I'm really proud of. I'm really proud of that I'm able to do that. And I think too many times people want to be the best, the fastest, the strongest. And the world records, that really pushes me personally. 00:57:35.03 Richard Is it like if I ran, I've run obviously 240, break my world record this year twice. That means a lot to me because it and it it shows that at 49, I'm still in great shape. 00:57:46.55 Richard Does it mean a lot to the outside world? Probably in the running world it does, but the wider world, it doesn't. ah And actually, that's where for me, it's like the world records, the the times are insignificant if the purpose isn't right. 00:58:03.95 nextlevelguypodcast And is that where that live without limits comes from, where you've kind of that first crossing the line and then my first marathon was for you, but now the rest is to kind of motivate and ah inspire other people to live without the limits? 00:58:11.47 Richard Yeah, 00:58:17.11 Richard yeah and yeah, I've ah got a tattoo on my right arm, cometh the outcome with the man. so for me, that means when the time comes, you kind of step up to the plate and shine, hopefully, or or have that opportunity. 00:58:35.86 Richard And I think limits to those that other people put in front of you. And those are limits that they have on themselves. ah Like I said earlier about the last 20 years, people have been saying that I should retire or why you retire him? 00:58:51.22 Richard And I think that's because they feel maybe that because I'm doing those with these really kind of incredible challenges that they should be doing things very similar. 00:58:54.75 nextlevelguypodcast threatened 00:59:03.26 Richard And I say that that's not the case, hopefully. with what I'm doing that just shows that you can have your own, um, aspirations in life and whether that's get a new job, whether it's start your running journey, whether it's go back into education. I think it's, it's very personal and don't feel threatened by other people's success. 00:59:25.85 nextlevelguypodcast because I think that is the thing nowadays, isn't it? We all want to beat each other up. We all want to ridicule or find a reason, you know, that you're doing this and I'm not, and rather than going, bloody hell, that's a great thing. 00:59:31.22 Richard Yeah. Yeah. 00:59:35.93 Richard Yeah. 00:59:37.79 nextlevelguypodcast I won't be able to do that. 00:59:38.68 Richard Yeah. 00:59:39.99 nextlevelguypodcast But what... 00:59:40.34 Richard and And that's probably why I went over to America as well to do quite a lot my, my initial challenges and I've done, I don't know probably 30 marathons in America in like New York, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Washington, 00:59:40.35 nextlevelguypodcast if 00:59:56.12 Richard um And I felt that there was a real affiliation to and gratification around success, a around them championing and cheerleading disability. 01:00:11.46 Richard Where here, we have this mindset of, 01:00:17.59 Richard that people disabilities need to be supported, need to be pushed, need to be patted on the head, need to be given money. 01:00:22.01 nextlevelguypodcast Hmm. 01:00:26.23 Richard Because the word handicapped means hand in cap or cap in hand. So that's where that word comes from. So that's where, obviously shit now it's changed, obviously to disability. 01:00:37.78 Richard um um And that's where I believe a change was in my perception in in my impact. Going to America, working over there, racing in America, 01:00:52.95 Richard um and then and then utilizing that for my, what i want to do for the rest of the world. 01:01:01.11 nextlevelguypodcast Because you've talked about being, you know, your visibility as a tool to kind of show people what of what you're capable of, but also what like people with disabilities have to endure because of the moronic side of how we implement society and how, you know, like how we are our attitudes to potentials and stuff like that. 01:01:06.03 Richard Yeah. 01:01:18.85 nextlevelguypodcast But what does that mean on a day-to-day basis? you know and Because we never think we see you crossing the finish lines, but we never think about you in the hotel room with the ice packs, hating life because you're away from your partner or you know that you're in agony, not wanting to get up in the ne the next day. 01:01:29.14 Richard Yeah. 01:01:36.18 nextlevelguypodcast How do you balance that with being the symbol that inspires so many people, but also you as a person? 01:01:44.50 Richard Yeah, it's the process is a long process to that start line for sure. Like people don't understand like, even for a marathon, I'm getting up really early and and obviously, I've got disability. And with that