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Hosted by Unknown Host · 🇺🇸 US · EN
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Optical Delusion is a podcast that challenges what you think you see. Hosted by two Team USA Paralympic swimmers, we dive into the untold, unexpected, and unapologetically real stories of Paralympians, athletes, and people with disabilities. From podium moments to plot twists no one prepared us for, we talk grit, identity, access, failure, humor, and everything in between. This isn’t a highlight reel or a feel-good montage; it’s a conversation about navigating a world that often underestimates you. Optical Delusion: telling the stories we did not see coming (and you probably didn't either).
Unknown Host hosts Optical Delusion.
With Para Dressage World Championships up this week, we are so excited to welcome our first equestrian athlete, Fiona Howard! Not only do we now know a lot about para dressage, but we get to cheer on Fiona and the rest o
We are excited to host the fist blind hockey player on the podcast, Joe Fornasier. From losing his sight and love of the sport, to being a 10x Canadian national team member, Joe's journey is one for the books and we cann
We are very excited to welcome Paralympian and author Ashley Dyce onto the pod this week!! If you've ever wanted to know the ins and outs of para powerlifting, and how athletes navigate life through sport, this is the ep
This episode we are honored to have South African sisters Ivana and Danika! Their story of resilience is INSANE and they made it to the world stage from a backyard pool after going blind at young ages. Ivana's Instagram:
This week we are very excited to welcome on Shea Hammond, founder of CP soccer and advocate in the community! The conversation covers topics such as adaptive soccer, the World Cup and competitive landscape, grassroots no
In this episode we welcome a visually impaired swimmer from Norway, Thea! Thea is attending the University of Arizona as apart of their adaptive athletics program. How does it work? How do you move across the world for s
Most athletes have dreams of reaching the top. Yaseen El-Demerdash turned that journey into a movement; creating Ripple Effect Foundation to make sports more accessible, inclusive, and impactful beyond the pool. He revea
We are thrilled for this week's episode with the newly announced, 2026 USA Powerlifting coach of the year, Abbey Phillipson! From creating the first collegiate adaptive lift program to founding the Collagen Advocacy Netw
In this episode, we bring to you Norwegian para swimmer, Gabriel Steen. Gabriel's journey is unique as he has faced numerous trials and setbacks in his mission to the Paralympic stage. What does it mean to get classed ou
Today we are so excited to share another new and unique perspective from 2012 Paralympic swimmer, Anna Johannes!! The conversation delves into the evolution of Paralympic sports coverage and support as Anna has recently
This episode includes an interview with Kendall Gretsch, a six-time Paralympian, covering her experiences in both the summer and winter games, as well as her recent achievements at the 2026 Milan Cortina games!! The conv
We are so thrilled to bring in our first wheelchair basketball athlete, Lindsey Zurbrugg! Lindsey has a wide range of accolades from her time on Team USA to coaching the University of Alabama's women's team to national c
We are SO excited for today's episode with our dream guests, Matthew and Paul Castle!! While not Paralympic athletes, this duo brings a unique perspective as creatives and social media figures. Paul's diagnosis is one th
We are so excited to welcome teammate and friend, Keegan Knott, onto the podcast this week! Keegan is a two time Paralympian with lots of firsthand navigating the NCAA, and elite level swimming with her disability. Our c
The podcast episode features a conversation with Paralympian Hannah Dederick, a two-time Paralympian in wheelchair racing. The discussion covers Hannah's journey, experiences at the Paralympic Games, and the competitive
The podcast episode features an interview with 4x World Gold Medalist, Paralympic swimmer Katie Kubiak. The conversation covers Katie's experience at NYU, accessibility in New York City, her journey into para swimming. T
The conversation covers the Winter Paralympic Games experience for the sibling duo of Meg and Spenser Gustafson! We fly into the world of guide skiing in the Paralympics, the challenges of training and competing in Paral
Our conversation covers Gia's Paralympic journey, her experiences in Tokyo and Paris, and the memories from the Team USA house. We also dive into reflections on past competitions, the formation of the S13 Dynasty, and th
The podcast episode features a discussion with members of Team USA's women's sled hockey team, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for women's sled hockey, the impact of para sports and representation, and an in
The conversation transitions into a deeper exploration of Paralympic sport and the importance of representation. The interview with Ali Truwit covers her journey as a Paralympic swimmer, her advocacy work, and the impact
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Optical Delusion is hosted by Unknown Host. The show is categorised under News (culture) and has published 0 episodes.
Optical Delusion regularly covers News, Society, Culture, Sports. It sits in the News category, with a culture focus.
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Episodes of Optical Delusion average 50 minutes. a focused format where a clear narrative arc and tight preparation matter most.
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