Quadruple amputee, Tom Nash, is one of the funniest and most inspirational people we've met. So it was an absolute delight to welcome him as our guest on this episode of The One Way Ticket Show.

In our conversation, Tom shares how he lost all four of his limbs after a devastating brush with a deadly disease over twenty years ago. Coming as close to death as one ever can, he spent over 18 months in hospital, surviving a coma, life support and having to re-learn to walk using prosthetics.

He then had to learn to navigate life with prosthetic hooks for hands.

None of that stopped Tom.

He launched a career as a musical artist, first as a guitarist in a band, later as a nightclub DJ. Tom subsequently went on to enjoy remarkable success in the music industry, starting his own nightclub brand in 2006, curating music as DJ Hookie and producing numerous records.

He has since gone on to become one of the most in-demand DJs in his native Australia, playing sell-out shows across various countries and playing host to some of Australia's biggest music festivals. He is the co-owner of a successful Entertainment company, and a platinum-producing record label. The nightclub brand he started became the longest running weekly club brand in Australia.

Tom is now a Global Keynote Speaker, inspiring audiences with thought-provoking takes on Antifragility — moving beyond resilience — and how embracing challenges can turn adversity into advantage. He has graced the stages of some of the world's largest conferences and festivals including TED and SXSW. Tom's unique talent for captivating people with his personal story, his dark sense of humor and his incredible wit are distilled into grounded philosophies for life from which everyone can draw wisdom. Tom's unapologetic attitude towards dealing with adversity renders him deserving of the platform he so eloquently uses, speaking openly with sincerity and candor to a full gamut of audiences.

Tom's latest book 'Hook, Line & Sinner' was published through Penguin Random House in 2023, and his TEDx talk has amassed over two and a half million views on TED.com.

You can also catch Tom on his fabulous YouTube show, 'Last Meal with Tom Nash'.

Apart from sharing his remarkable journey and offering insight into thriving amidst adversity, Tom shares his one way ticket to the year 3333.

In addition to being a fan of symmetry (which played into the year he selected), Tom would like to venture into the future (with his partner Lauren and his Italian Greyhound), to see how much we would have explored space by then, how we harvest energy, medical advances achieved, to meet the person in 3333 who's at the forefront of technological innovation, and more.

Tom takes us on a wild ride, so fasten your seat belts!

LINKS:

www.tomnash.com

go.ted.com/tomnash

instagram.com/djhookie

x.com/djhookie

https://www.youtube.com/@lastmealtomnash

I've been following, Assita Kanko, Member of European Parliament on social media for quite some time, so it was a true thrill to welcome her into the studio as our latest guest on The One Way Ticket Show.

Ms. Kanko was born on July 14, 1980, in Godyr, Burkina Faso. She grew up in a society where women's rights were severely restricted and was subjected to female genital mutilation as a child. At a young age, she began writing about human rights and women's rights. In 2001, she moved to Belgium, where she eventually became a naturalized citizen. She studied journalism and political science and became a well-known voice in public debate, working as an author, opinion maker, and human rights activist.

Since 2019, Ms. Kanko has been a Member of the European Parliament for the N-VA party, affiliated with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. Within the Parliament, she serves on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), where she focuses on issues such as migration, security, women's rights, and the fight against human trafficking. She is a vocal advocate for a controlled migration policy and the protection of Europe's external borders. Ms. Kanko also champions women's empowerment, equal opportunities, and the defense of European values.

In our conversation, Ms. Kanko shares her journey from being a journalism student and activist in her native Burkina Faso, to being a powerful voice in Brussels.

Plus, she covers:

1. The stigma attached to being a conservative black woman
2. How it angers her that we still need to discuss protecting women against radical Islam
3. Why the rape of Israeli women on October 7th demonstrates that rape as a weapon of war is not treated the same everywhere (and her relentless fight against those who act as if the rapes and mutilations never took place)
4. Why UN Women and UNRWA need to be dissolved such that their funding can go to better use
5. Why the most important issue nobody is talking about today is Russia and China's involvement in the Sahel region
6. Why Europe needs to invest in its industries and defense
7. The one thing every visitor should do when traveling to Belgium.

As for her "one way ticket" destination of choice? It's to New York City, sometime in the not too distant future, where she'll bring her grandmother, mother and daughter with her.

This is a fascinating conversation that I know you'll enjoy.

You can follow Ms. Kanko on:

Instagram: @assita_kanko

X: @Assita_Kanko

Facebook: KankoAssita

https://www.assita-kanko.be/