Climbing Kilimanjaro Without Legs? Spencer West, Motivational Speaker & Activist Talks About What IS Possible!
Podcast: Silver Disobedience® Perception Dynamics with Dian Griesel: How People Think, Lead and SucceedPublished On: Mon Jun 22 2026
Description: Spencer West on Breaking Free: Stop Following Expectations and Start Following YourselfDian Griesel welcomes Spencer West, author of "Breaking Free: Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself," to discuss resilience, identity, and human potential. West shares how being born with sacral agenesis led to leg amputations at age five and how the expectation to be “just like everyone else” shaped his childhood, education, and coming out as gay. Spencer describes feeling trapped after college while working in Phoenix, then finding renewed purpose through a volunteer trip to East Africa that inspired him to move to Toronto and work in international development. West recounts climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with friends while raising $500,000 for clean water for 12,500 people! Throughout this conversation Spencer West highlights lessons on asking for help, self-trust, rest, and play. He also explains how his content and speaking address inclusion, accessibility, and community solutions.You can find more about Spencer West at any of these links:Website: https://www.spencer2thewest.com/Breaking Free -- the Book: https://amzn.to/4aaxwxCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencer2thewestSilverDisobedience© Perception Dynamics™ is a psychology and mindset podcast for anyone rethinking success, leadership, and reinvention at any age. Host Dian Griesel — perception analyst, hypnotherapist, and the provocateur of perception known as @SilverDisobedience — sits down with fascinating guests for unscripted, no-holds-barred conversations on human behavior, personal growth, mental health, relationships, pop culture, and the B.S. in between. Through bold questions that spark honest revelations and unguarded "aha" truths, every episode delivers real mindset shifts, hard-won wisdom, and inspiration for living — and aging — on your own terms. No scripted fluff. Subscribe!Show Run: 00:00 Meet Spencer West00:54 Kilimanjaro First Impressions01:41 Breaking Free From Expectations02:01 Growing Up Disabled And Queer06:30 College Identity Wake Up10:10 Listening To Yourself10:50 Phoenix Career Trap12:42 East Africa Turning Point14:59 Building A Purpose Driven Platform22:18 Why Kilimanjaro Mattered25:43 Lessons From The Summit29:25 Roadmap To Action33:42 Rest Play And Hustle Culture37:12 Final Thoughts And Farewell
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