About The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast
Welcome to the podcast from Back Up, the spinal cord injury charity. We inspire people affected by spinal cord injury to get the most out of life.
Back Up and Thriving is an accessible travel podcast about travelling with a spinal cord injury. Hosted by Back Up’s Head of Services, Sophie Elwes, who sustained a SCI herself in 2011. She interviews a range of guests, all of whom have a spinal cord injury and have experienced Back Up's life-changing services.
Nathalie McGloin on Racing, Travel and Independence After Spinal Cord Injury
What does freedom look like when you redefine what is possible after spinal cord injury? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving, Sophie Elwes is joined by Nathalie McGloin, the first female tetraplegic racing driver in the world and President of the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission. Nathalie shares her journey from sustaining a complete C6–7 spinal cord injury at 16 to becoming a licensed racing driver and international leader in motorsport accessibility. Nathalie reflects on sp...
3 Feb 2026
From Harry Potter Stuntman to Disability Advocate with David Holmes
How do you rebuild your life after a career-ending accident — and find joy again in travel, creativity and independence? In this powerful episode of Back Up and Thriving, host Sophie Elwes speaks with David Holmes, a former British gymnast and stuntman whose career on the Harry Potter films changed forever after a devastating on-set accident left him a tetraplegic. David opens up about his incredible journey from the film industry to becoming a passionate advocate for disability awareness...
27 Jan 2026
Grace Spence Green on Life, Medicine and Travel After Spinal Cord Injury
What does it take to rebuild your life after a spinal cord injury while pursuing a career in medicine? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving, Sophie Elwes speaks with junior doctor and disability advocate Grace Spence Green, who sustained a spinal injury in 2018 while at medical school. Grace shares her remarkable journey of returning to medical studies as a wheelchair user, becoming a trustee at Back Up, and her mission to improve disability representation in healthcare and society.She r...
20 Jan 2026
Life After Spinal Cord Injury: Resilience, Communication While Travelling, and Realising Our Value with Kyla Harris
What happens when you refuse the story you are told about disability and choose to write your own? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving, Sophie Elwes speaks with Kyla Harris, actor, producer, writer and co creator of the BBC series We Might Regret This. Kyla shares her experience of sustaining a spinal cord injury at 15 and the long process of rebuilding identity in a world with limited disabled role models. Kyla speaks openly about internalised ableism, medical pessimism, and how comm...
6 Jan 2026
Life after Spinal Cord Injury: Why Family Support Matters, Accepting Help to Travel and Peer Support with Clair Pollard.
What helps you rebuild confidence, identity and freedom after a spinal cord injury? In this episode of Back Up and Thriving, Sophie Elwes is joined by Clair Pollard, who’s a Clinical Psychologist and paraplegic who sustained her spinal injury in 1999 while travelling in Africa. Clair shares how discovering Back Up shortly after leaving hospital changed the direction of her life and reshaped her belief in what was still possible. Clair reflects on her first multi activity course in the Lak...
6 Jan 2026
Life after Spinal Cord Injury: Paralympic Gold, Mindset and Air Travel with Benjamin Pritchard
What happens when a life-changing crash leads to a world-class comeback? In this inspiring episode of Back Up and Thriving, host Sophie Elwes speaks with Benjamin Pritchard, a Paralympic, World, and European rowing champion whose story proves that strength comes from adaptability. After a cycling accident in 2016 left him with a spinal cord injury, Benjamin faced one of life’s toughest challenges: learning to rebuild his independence and identity. From the early days at Stoke Mandeville H...
6 Jan 2026
Back Up & Thriving: Accessible Travel Starts Here
Welcome to the pilot episode of Back Up & Thriving, a podcast exploring accessible travel, real experiences, and practical support for people navigating life after spinal cord injury. In this short introduction, we share what this podcast is all about, who it’s for, and how Back Up supports people to travel with more confidence, independence, and clarity. Whether you’re thinking about your next trip or simply want to hear from people who understand the challenges and possibilities of acce...
2 Dec 2024
Travelling with a Spinal Cord Injury by Plane with Sophie Morgan
Sophie Morgan shares her inspiring journey and expert advice on accessible air travel, empowering others with spinal cord injuries to push boundaries and thrive on adventures despite disabilities.
25 Nov 2024
Travelling with a Spinal Cord Injury by Car with The Bucys
Sophie Elwes interviews Hannah Bucy, a C5 incomplete spinal cord injury survivor, and her father Darren, sharing insights on navigating life, travel, and driving with adaptability and independence.
2 Nov 2024
Travelling with a Spinal Cord Injury by Wheelchair with Pete Donnelly
In this episode of the Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, host Sophie Elwes interviews Pete Donnelly, who has lived with a T6 spinal cord injury for 18 years. They discuss Pete's journey with Back Up, his rehabilitation, mastering wheelchair skills, and his exceptional travel experiences globally. Pete shares valuable insights into overcoming internalized ableism and the societal barriers faced by people with disabilities. He also offers practical advice for living well with a sp...
1 Nov 2024
Travelling by Public Transport with a Spinal Cord Injury with Merryn Thomas
In this episode of The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, host Sophie Elwes interviews Merryn Thomas about her journey with a spinal cord injury sustained in 2009. The discussion touches on various travel experiences, focusing on public transport, living abroad, and the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world as a wheelchair user. Merryn shares valuable tips for newly injured individuals, emphasizing the importance of confidence, planning, and community support. From smal...
30 Oct 2024
Travelling with a Spinal Cord Injury by Train with George Robinson
In this episode of the The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast, actor George Robinson discusses his journey following a spinal cord injury sustained during a rugby trip in South Africa. He shares his experiences in the hospital and his involvement with Back Up, a pivotal support system during his recovery. George details his acting career, including his role as Isaac in 'Sex Education.' He reflects on the challenges and strategies of traveling with a disability, emphasising the imp...
29 Oct 2024
The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast trailer
The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast is hosted by Sophie Elwes, Head of Services at Back Up. She sustained a T4 spinal cord injury back in 2011. Over this series she'll be interviewing a range of guests who are all affected by spinal cord injury and each episode will look at a different mode of transport. Guests to come include George Robinson who stars in Netflix's Sex Education, Merryn Thomas, Pete Donnelly, Hannah and Darren Bucys as well as TV Presenter Sophie Morgan. Guests...
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