The Current The Current

Rick and Amanda Hansen reflect on the “Man in Motion” Tour

Sep 11, 2026 · 26m

Summary

CBC's The Current hosts Matt Galloway with Rick Hanson and his wife Amanda to discuss the world premiere of their documentary, Man in Motion. The couple reflects on Rick’s 1985 wheelchair tour around the world, detailing the physical hardships, emotional struggles, and lack of accessibility they faced. They share how their relationship evolved from professional to personal during the journey and how the experience fundamentally changed their perspectives on disability and resilience.

Topics discussed

Sponsor reads and show introduction Rick Hanson's opening reflection on the 1985 tour Introduction of guests and the documentary premiere The origin story of the song 'Man in Motion' Rick's initial stigma and fear of the wheelchair Redefining disability and finding freedom in mobility Confidence despite injuries and logistical challenges The physical struggle of the Siskiyou Mountain summit Amanda's transition from physiotherapist to tour partner The emotional toll on Amanda and the team Building trust and navigating their early relationship Terry Fox's influence and the fear of failure Using Terry Fox as a compass when wanting to quit Sponsor break for the podcast 'Personally' Accessibility barriers and the Great Wall of China incident Amanda's perspective on supporting Rick's emotional state The low point in Miami and the urge to give up Amanda's encouragement to finish the journey The strain of a secret relationship on the road The emotional homecoming to Canada The tour's legacy and personal transformation Amanda on Rick's emotional vulnerability Prioritizing connection with disabled fans Closing remarks and documentary details Show sign-off
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