{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnobarriers.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fraising-others-up-and-the-power-of-comm-7SXL_61X","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Raising Others Up and the Power of Community: Speaking to Paraclimbing Legend Koichiro Kobayashi","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/5d2497b6-1915-47d7-ae4e-e88d18cd86db/ccd09960-b538-44da-bbd5-54eaa5dc03de/1538186032artwork.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/d60e26f4-e8ca-4a62-a0e0-a36923c49ae6\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Raising Others Up and the Power of Community: Speaking to Paraclimbing Legend Koichiro Kobayashi\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"Koichiro Kobayashi, known as “Koba,” is a “paraclimbing legend.” Koba went blind at age 28 from a degenerative eye disease and at age 31 decided to take up climbing. He has since racked up a number of gold medals around the world! Koba envisions a world where various groups of people can live together without being worried about their handicaps. To pursue his vision, he established a Tokyo-based non-profit organization called Monkey Magic that promotes free climbing among those with visual impairments. Koba believes climbing “is a lifetime sport that people with disabilities can enjoy throughout their lives which increases exercise opportunities, promotes self-reliance and social participation by empowering, and improves quality of life.” Koba is joined today by his guide, Naoya Suzuki."}