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Hearing the Disability Community One Story at a Time
What is Travel Talk With Joy?
In a world where accessible travel is often underrepresented,Travel Talk With Joy (TTWJ) spotlights the journeys of extraordinary individuals who navigate life and travel differently. Joy Burns, a passionate traveler who has visited all 50 states and all 7 continents hosts the podcast. She travels alongside her husband, Bert Burns, a full-time wheelchair user since 1981. Currently, Joy is the Alliance and Community Coordinator for Wheel the World, a travel company where travelers with disabilities can find and book accessible accommodations, activities, vacation packages, and transportation.
TTWJ is a platform dedicated to explore the unique stories of people with disabilities, break down barriers, and celebrate the resilience and adaptability of those who travel the world with unique challenges.
Why We Created Travel Talk With Joy
TTWJ connects audiences with authentic travel and life stories that inspire, educate, and challenge perceptions. The episodes evoke a raw, genuine conversation where nothing is off limits.
The goal is to explore the universal themes of travel—adventure, discovery, and personal growth—while also addressing the unique challenges of life with a disability.
Inspiring Guests, Unique Stories
TTWJ has featured a range of remarkable guests, each sharing their own perspective on life and travel. These are individuals who have embraced the spirit of exploration.
Recent guests
Bert Burns, Joy’s husband, shared his incredible journey of resilience and adventure. Bert, a quadriplegic since a car accident in his youth, has never let his disability define him. As a Paralympic gold medalist and wheelchair racer in over 80 marathons , Bert’s story is one of relentless determination.
Renee Bruns, is a wheelchair traveler who has visited an astonishing 130 countries. She holds the Guiness World Record for traveling to the most countries in one year! Renee has ventured to some of the most challenging and remote destinations, including Cambodia and Botswana. She finds joy in traveling to the most unexpected and inaccessible places.
Ryan Davis is a former Army Ranger and triple amputee who continues to defy the odds. After sustaining life-altering injuries from an explosion in combat, Ryan’s journey of recovery and adaptation is nothing short of extraordinary. His story touches on emotional and physical challenges, and how he finds new ways to create lasting travel memories with his family.
From the excitement of planning a new journey to the unexpected hurdles that travelers might face, Travel Talk With Joy is about finding solutions, sharing tips, and ultimately proving that with the right approach, the world is accessible to everyone.
Join us as we continue to explore the world, one story at a time.