Episode 77: An All Inclusive Curling Community

You're listening to Demand and Disrupt, the podcast for information about accessibility, advocacy, and all things disability.

Welcome to Demand and Disrupt, a disability podcast. I'm your host, Kimberly Parsley.

And I'm your co host, Sam Moore. Folks, if only you could hear. And I know we've said this before, but if only y' all could hear what is said either, you know, off record or edited off record, that. That would be. You know, we should. We should have a. A bleeper episode.

We should have a bloopers reel at the end. And we've talked about doing that, but we have.

Or maybe, you know, at the end of each year, we. We could have like, an entire episode of nothing but our bleepers.

Yeah, our. Our bloopers would be lots of bleeps, though.

That's the thing.

That's. That's all it would be.

So be careful, little ears, what you might hear. Let's just leave it at that.

Exactly.

But all bl.

Who are we hearing from today, Sam?

Well, I had the pleasure of chatting with. With this week's guest, Kimberly, and her name is Bethany Curry, and she is a curler. She. She is a curling virtuoso. Now, have you ever even been remotely tempted to attempt curling yet?

I can say no. And also because I don't even know what that is. Is so not being most athletic of people, it.

That.

That is. That's a winter sport. Is that right?

It is a winter sport because as we'll learn from her, I don't want to spoil it, but Bethany and. And her husband started a. The Derby City Curling Club is what it's called, and they offer classes and groups that meet during the winter months. And anyhow, she is actually in a wheelchair herself, and she actually has a history of serving as an employment specialist with a few different people, but most recently it was hdi, you know, the Human Developmental Institute, University of Kentucky. And so she did that most recently, and helping others with disabilities perhaps find their. Their calling and their. Their next line of work. But anyhow, she has. She really took an interest in curling. And what I find really unique about it is that it's accessible and doable for those with all kinds of disabilities. I've never tried it either, Kimberly, so don't feel bad. But there are people that are blind and visually impaired that. That indeed have done it, and so there would be. There would be hope for you and me both if we, you know, should we, Kimberly, decide to explore that avenue. In fact, talking with her, she really got me excited about it.

So awesome. So if you went to learn how to do it, would you be. Would you be learning with only other people with disabilities or everybody?

Well, I, I'm not. They offer adaptive curling experiences there, I know, at the curling club.

So I don't know.

I probably wouldn't be with all blind people, I'm betting, but maybe I might be in a class with people with various disabilities. I, I would have to ask for clarification on that, but. But it does sound fun, and I can respect the fact that it's adaptive and doable for, you know, people with all sorts of disabilities. Yeah, I know most of you probably haven't considered me to be an athlete, and I'm not. I do stationary bike twice a week, and that's about it. And I've never gone nowhere faster.

But Olympic talker. That's what you are, Sam.

Olympic talker, Olympic mouth runner. But, but anyway, believe it or not, Kimberly, when I was little, we had Challenger League sporting opportunities in Henderson, a few of which I partook in.

What is Challenger League?

Challenger League. It was. Well, we had it in Henderson at the time. Now I think you got to go to Evansville. They have a league over there. But we, you know, they basically, they invited individuals with all different kinds of disabilities to, to play. And in baseball, you know, we had folks with autism. We had few kids in wheelchairs, of course, me being totally blind and you would play and in fact, back. I don't know how they do it now, Kimberly, but back then, we didn't even keep score. They let everybody bat and circle the bases, so. So everybody technically scored. And if everybody for each team showed up, it would end in a tie.

Oh, that's awesome. I think that's great.

Yeah. So. But anyhow, they adapted for everybody's disability. You know, some people used pitching machines that they had. Some people used actual pictures. In fact, I started out when I was like five, six years old. I would hit off the table so I would know where the ball was.

Oh, that's a good idea.

I didn't have to have it pitched to me. But anyway, after a couple years of that, Kimberly, I, I told Dad, I said, I want to hit off the T. Nobody else is. And, and he goes, well, I'll have to pitch to you, but we're going to have to work on our timing a little bit. And let me say one, Let me say, before I talk about the next venture in the Challenger League, I had, even back in, when I used the tea, I had a beeper ball, Kimberly. So it. You Know, you take a pin out and it would be factual.

Right.

We know where the ball was, and it was. It never traveled as far because it was bigger. I don't think I ever actually hit it over the fence because I guess didn't travel as far. But. But anyhow, I. You know, that it got to where when I was ready to be done with the tea, dad would count to three, and on three, he would throw the beeper ball and I would swing. And eventually we. We developed enough chemistry to where after a few pitches, I would always. I would always make contact with it. And of course, I could listen for the beat to see when it was, you know, hear when it was getting close. And that was. That was a clue, too. So that was how. That was how we made it with dad pitching to me. And. And I would. And I would hit the beeper ball, and so that I'm. I enjoyed that for several years in Challenger League. And then I did Challenger League basketball, too, which was available in Henderson at the time. And I would. Yeah, I would have a partner that I would do side of God with, which, for those of you that don't know, side of God is when you basically hold somebody's arm and they guide you where you need to go, and we grind through that sort of thing. And sometimes, whenever I'd shoot, they would tell me how far away I was from the goal. Sometimes they'd stand under the goal, Kimberly, and clap their hands so I'd know how far away the goal was, and then I could know where to aim my shots. And so we did it several different ways.

Well, that's cool. Did you. Which did you like better, baseball or basketball?

I would. It's close. I would. I'd probably say baseball, because I did it a little longer. I think they. They discontinued basketball a little sooner, I guess, because the interest just wasn't there as much as baseball. But. But I enjoyed them both. And I was glad to get to play basketball because I grew up listening to so much of it. Dad made sure that I was a basketball and football fan.

The only thing I ever did was horseshoes. Michael would go up, take a horseshoe, and kind of bang it against the. Against the. What's the stick thing called? I don't even remember, you know?

Well, I would probably know if I heard it, but I don't.

Right. Yeah.

Anyway, the thing you're supposed to get the horseshoe around, because this all really stuck in my brain, y'.

All.

And then. So he would bang on it. And then when I was getting ready To. To pitch the horseshoe, he would run fast and far because, you know, you never knew where I was going to throw it. But I wasn't bad. I mean, I wasn't. I wasn't bad.

So whenever it left your hand, Michael would run for his life.

Yep.

Yep.

Run far.

So.

Yep. And I mean, there's. There's stuff like. I think I've been bowling because they have those bumpers you.

Yeah, yeah. Whenever I've done. I've done bump. I've done bowling with bumpers plenty of times, too.

Those are more hobbies, I guess, than sports, wouldn't you say?

I guess, Yeah. I made more hobbies, although I. When I did short courses at Kentucky School for the Blind back in the day, I noticed that they would do kickball in PE class a lot, especially when the weather was ideal. And they would have these. We didn't have these in Challenger League, but at the ksb, they had the beeping bases, so, you know, that you could listen to the. The beeps on the bases. That's how you knew where to run after you. After you kicked the ball. So.

But that's not. That's not what you used when you played baseball.

Not what I used. I had a beeping ball, but we didn't have beeping baseball.

What? They just. They just holler, say, this here, Sam, this way, this way.

Yeah, that would, you know, he would holler, be like, right here, right here, right here.

There you go.

But. But, yeah, that. I thought that was kind of cool that they had. Yeah, yeah.

So much stuff now that there's so much stuff available that we didn't used to have. So I think that's great.

Absolutely. Yeah. More than I can keep track of. But anyhow, we're all gonna learn from Bethany Curry about how curling is possible.

I cannot wait.

I can't either. And, you know, I know you will enjoy Bethany. She is just full of, you know, enthusiasm and passion for the sport. And if you've got future show ideas for other things that we could talk about, other guests that we can feature. As you remember, in the last episode, we tossed around the idea of potentially doing a show from a Major league baseball stadium like Bush Stadium, that would be awesome. That's something that Kimberly and I would both enjoy. Plus, y' all could hear no telling what else in the background, like, you know, stadium, Oregon, maybe, Maybe some fireworks. If a home run was hit, maybe we could actually do it during the game. That'd be kind of cool.

That would be fun.

But anyway, if you have any Other ideas.

If you're a company that sells adaptive equipment and you want to sponsor the podcast, feel free to give us money.

There we go.

We love to take your money.

Absolutely we would. And for any other inquiries you may have, the email address is real hard to remember. Kimberly. It's demandanddisruptmail.com.

there you go. So reach out. Let us know what's going on, what you want to hear more of.

Yeah. As you say. As you say at the end of every episode, Kimberly, let's keep the conversation going.

Let's do. Because Sam, as you know, an Olympic mouth runner. I love it. He. We need more conversation. That's what we need.

Yeah. That we do. Yeah. There's never a bad time for it.

There you go. Well, I cannot wait to hear your interview with Beth Curry.

Well, I hope you enjoy it. Hope the listeners do, too, and give Bethany your full attention. You won't regret it. Curling. How familiar are you with it? No, we're not talking about the curling irons we use or some of us using our hair. I don't have enough hair to really be too concerned about the curling iron, But a lot of you are. But this is actually a whole other. A whole other deal. A sport that a bunch of people are committed to and have fallen in love with. Among them being our very special guest this time around on the show. She quickly fell in love with curling, even started a club devoted to it in Louisville. It's the. The Derby City Curling Club. And she has mastered the sport despite a disability that has her in a wheelchair. So she told me before we went on here that she was an open book and that I could ask her anything. I may not ask her quite everything, but we'll spare her the misery of some of those questions. But we'll ask her a lot. Plenty for you folks to get to know her and how she fell in love with curling, what exactly her disability was, and how she helped others for a lot of years there as an employment specialist. So here to fill us in on these and a bunch of other stuff direct via Zoom from Louisville, it is none other than Ms. Bethany Curry. Bethany, it is great to welcome a curler to the show. I think it's safe to say that's your favorite sport.

It's one of my favorites. My other love in passion is fencing, so I actually used to be a wheelchair fencer as well.

Cool.

So summer and winter sport.

Yeah. I'll tell you, those are both popular Paralympic sports, too.

Quirky sports. I love it.

Hey, nothing wrong with quirky variety I know it's overused, but variety is most certainly the spice of life. But anyhow, you live in Louisville and have for, I know, the past 17 years, you and your husband, Brett. Am I saying that, or is it Brent?

No, it's Brett. B, R E T T. Okay, great.

So it is Bratz. And do y' all have any children?

We have four. We have a furry child.

Oh, you've got a furry child. That's enough.

My service dog. Her name is Salem, so she is. There's an organization here in town called PAWS with Purpose, and they raise and train service dogs, and they partner with the women's prison here. And so she was trained out at the women's prison, and she helps me a lot around the house. I've taught her to take the recycling to the recycling bin, you know, because all those Amazon packages.

Yes. And. And here recently, you know, it wasn't that long ago we had the holiday season, and I'm sure you saw a ton of them.

Yep, that is true.

But anyway, it's. It's great. But the dog is so helpful and locally trained, too. That's always icing on the cake. So you are from Bowling Green originally, right?

That is correct. Born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Go Toppers.

Go Tops. I second that. I am a WKU alumnus myself. But now you. You went to high school in Murray, didn't you?

No. So I went to Bowling Green High School.

Oh, you're a Purple.

I am a Purple.

Okay.

Through and through. And I went to college and got my undergraduate degree from Murray State University. Go Racers. And. And then I moved back and worked at the center for Independent Living. I was a independent living specialist there.

Oh, and Bowling Green, huh?

And in Bowling Green. That is correct. So I worked with a lot of people with disabilities and the personal care attendant program that is provided funding by the state and helping people to pay for personal care attendance. I covered the ten county Barren River Area Agency on Aging District.

That's a mouthful.

Yes. And after working for about a year or so, I decided to kind of go back to school and get a master's. And so I went to Western and graduated and became a Hilltopper.

So you've got permission to say, go Racers and Go Tops.

Absolutely.

Even though they were once big rivals and in the same conference. They're not in the same conference anymore. So you've got a little more wiggle room there.

I do. And my whole family went to Western. So when I was like, I'm not going to Western. I want to go I want to move away from Bowling Green, go to Murray State. They were a little hesitant, but that

was a little hard for them to

swallow at first, just a little bit. But I think I convinced them, and it was great for me.

Oh, gosh. And in the end, you did, in fact, become a hilltopper yourself.

I did.

So you kind of got the. The best of both worlds there. But let's. Let's backtrack a bit here. Bethany, why don't. Let's begin with you describing the disability that left you in a wheelchair and tell us when this was diagnosed.

So I was born with a disability condition called spina bifida.

Okay. Yep. That's pretty commonplace.

Yeah. So spina bifida affects anywhere on the spine, and it is where your spine doesn't fully develop. So mine was a lower lesion, but. So I. I walked until I was about 8 years old, and. But I walked kind of with a strain. It strained my back a lot.

Kind of like a lamp.

Yeah. Kind of like a. Kind of like a limp. Like a little sway. And my friends were faster than me, so I started using a manual wheelchair, and I've been to manual wheelchair ever since.

Okay, so it's. Ever since the age of eight.

Yes.

Yeah. And it's. It's treated you well, I say, you know, I hear about these wheelchair participants in 5Ks and so forth, and they're. Their cohorts on foot are almost jealous of them because they can, you know, beat them pretty soundly around the track as far as Tom and. And, you know, conquer the race and almost double the speed that. That their piers on feet can. Have you ever done the 5Ks or anything like that, Bethany?

Yeah, so I used to do the bowling, the 10k classic and bowling green. Not the 10 one, but, like, the fun run when it was at Covington Woods Park. I did that when I was, you know, in, like, elementary school in my manual wheelchair. I have tried to sit in one of those, like, specialty racing wheelchairs, but I was just not very comfortable with my center of gravity and afraid I was gonna, like, fall and, like, bump my head, so.

Well, you know, you want to be at least halfway comfortable even when you're racing.

Yeah.

So. So anyhow.

But, yeah, I have some good friends that race, and they love it, and they've traveled the world racing, and so, you know, each to each their own more happy to them.

Right? To each. To each their own. And you've dabbled in it yourself, and. And I figured that. That you probably had, given your athletic background and, and passion and so forth. So after, after graduating from Bowling Green High School, you went to Murray and. And you might have said a second ago, what'd you major in at Murray?

So I majored in therapeutic recreation with a minor in special education.

Oh, so you got a little special ed in your.

I do.

In your arsenal for sure. And then after working a year for the center of Accessible Living in. In Bowling Green, or is it independent? It's independent.

It was the center for Independent Living, but the center for Accessible Living took it over a couple years ago, so.

Okay, so that's. So it had a name change since then. Yes, but anyhow, after that one year of work experience, you. You went to Western, got one of your two masters. So what was the first masters in?

In public administration. I had some crazy idea that I kind of wanted to go into politics, but I'm kind of glad I didn't.

It's not for everybody, is it?

It is not.

It's not for everybody.

The government was not for me. I found that out pretty quickly.

Yeah. Well, I guess it's good that, you know, at least you came to that realization either, you know, during or maybe shortly after grad school.

Yeah.

And then I'm guessing that's. That was part of the inspiration behind your second masters.

Kind of. So after my first masters, I actually got a job with a non profit here in Louisville with the. Actually the Spina Bifida association of Kentucky. I was.

Okay.

Their program coordinator and doing like activities programming. Not like computer programming.

Sure.

And so I worked with the spider, so I worked with their activities and I kind of wanted to go back to clinical work. And so I got my master's in occupational therapy from Spalding University.

Oh, Spaulding. Okay. So did you, did you continue to work the whole time you were pursuing that one?

I did. I actually worked at Baptist east as a unit secretary.

Oh, you were unit secretary at Baptist East?

I was. And I loved that job. It was, it was great. I work second shift, so. Went to class during the day and second shift at night and did that until I, you know, graduated and.

And then slept the other eight hours. Everything.

Homework and. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah. And I guess the good thing about the secretarial role, you know, you probably had some time off and on to do homework, even on the job, didn't you?

Not really. You know, I didn't like to do homework on the job.

You had plenty of distractions, I'm sure. Even when you had free time.

Yes.

Because people would holler at you. You were so accessible right there at the.

At the desk. Yeah.

Sometimes people would talk to you without, you know, even when they didn't really need anything. And so, you know, you get distracted from time to time, I'm sure. So anyhow, working and going to school with that combination, how. How long did it take you to get that second master's degree?

I think it was about two and a half years.

Okay, well, that's pretty good.

So it wasn't. It wasn't long.

Yeah. While trying to work full time simultaneously, what were some of your favorite classes at. At Spalding there in that second master's degree that you pursued?

So I really liked, like, the activity classes because it kind of leaned into my therapeutic recreation background.

Sure.

But I also like, like, our internships that we. We did. We went to, like, our. So we had to do like, three months at one place and then three months at another, and they're called field work. And so I did mine at Fort Knox and their brain injury unit. So that was really cool to get on base and work with soldiers. And I felt really proud to. To do that. And then.

Oh, no doubt.

My second one was at a hand clinic in Lexington. And then I ended up working not at that specific hand clinic, but a different hand clinic for about two and a half years. And then my dad unexpectedly passed away, and so I kind of switched gears.

Oh, wow. I'm sorry to hear that.

And I ended up teaching occupational therapy, assisting students. My favorite class to teach was anatomy and physiology.

Oh, I can imagine.

I loved. Absolutely loved it. So anatomy and fizz is my jam.

Oh, gosh. I knew with that special ed back, even though this wasn't special ed, I knew with that special ed background, you would, you know, you would feel inclined to teach something somewhere.

Yes, absolutely. I miss teaching. I absolutely loved teaching. But the college I taught at, they actually closed. So I stayed throughout the teach out. And then after the teach out, I was, like, bored sitting around, and so I was. So I actually found a job as an employment specialist, so.

Oh, yeah. And that's. That brings us to our next item. But first off, where. Where was it that you taught that's now closed?

It was Brown Mackey College.

Okay. I've heard of that. Okay. Brown Mackey. And so that was. I guess that was shortly. Or maybe right after you finished your. Your master's at Spalding.

Let's see. I. I finished my master's in 2000. It was like 11 or 12. And. Yeah, no, it was 11. My dad passed away in April of 2013.

So, okay. And that's about the time that I did that transition that you transitioned into teaching. Yeah, I'll. I'll tell you, I bet. I bet all of your students left with a smile on their face almost as big as yours, or maybe even bigger because y' all had so much fun.

It was great. I love to challenge my students because I think it makes them. It would make them better therapists.

Absolutely. And. And who says you can't be challenged and have fun at the same time? So.

Exactly.

You know, your students got the best of both worlds. So anyhow, then.

I hope so.

Oh, yeah, I know they did. So, so anyhow, then you. You gravitated towards your role as an employment specialist. Now, when. When did you start in that role, Bethany?

It was probably around September. 17, maybe.

17. Gotcha. Okay, so. So when you did that for. For several years.

Yeah, I did that for a couple years, and then I transitioned to doing kind of this same thing, but more casework at the University of Kentucky for a grant called the Retain Project.

Okay, yeah, I remember reading about that. The Retained project. And where did you work prior to uk as an employment specialist.

It was called Sea Change.

Sea Change, Okay. And that's based right there in Louisville, correct?

It is, yes.

Okay, that's what I thought. Okay, so between sea Change and UK's Human Development Institute, or HDI, you, for quite a few years faithfully assisted others with disabilities and finding work as an employment specialist. And so why don't you talk, Bethany, if you would, about the clientele to which your services were typically offered, along with the forms of. Of guidance and support that you regularly extended to them?

Yeah, absolutely. So we. I worked with a wide variety of clients, anywhere from. Well, and they were all adults.

Sure.

In a wide range, a wide range of ages and disabilities. So some had autism, some had physical disabilities like cerebral palsy, others had traumatic brain injuries. Some were. Had been incarcerated and had been, you know, served their time. And so we've got. Got some of their clients. So. And then I helped them. I just, I helped them find work. I would get to know them and really kind of hone into their skills and try to find them jobs that would. They would be successful in. And so, you know, to get to know them, we would go and do, you know, we'd go hang out at the mall or go, you know, to the park or go, you know, observe it different places.

That's a unique way to get to know them.

So we, you know, I would try to. Try to just really kind of, you Know, get to the core of their passion and not just get. Get them a job at McDonald's, but try to get them a job, you know, let. Like at a lawyer's office or, you know, if they wanted to bag groceries, you know, then let's go to Kroger and try to, you know, get them to work at Kroger. If they want to work at the library or, you know, the movie theater. Just, I mean, a wide range of places.

Yeah. You tried to get them something that. That not only matched their skill set, but something that you could tell they enjoyed and perhaps something that maybe you found them to be good at that they didn't even realize they were good. Action.

No, exactly. And it's something that they would be proud of and that they would hopefully still stay at for a long time and not just go for, you know, they, you know, not to just go to get paid on a Friday and not show up the next day, you know.

Yeah. Not just somewhere they would go and every day think, gosh, how much longer, how many days till I can get out of here?

Exactly.

Yeah. So they're. They're hopefully, you know, comfortable there for a long period of time. But it's great that you accompanied those people, like, on a lot of their natural outings and hung out and. And got to know them through, you know, various different forms of engagement along those lines. And those that were incarcerated, I'm sure after they got back on their feet and found work, thanks to you, that really, you know, helped to change their life for the better in a lot of cases.

Absolutely. And I would help them kind of go through, like, budgeting and help them with resume writing. We would do mock interviews, you know, hook them up with places like Dress for Success or the center for Accessible Living. They have, like, a clothes closet so they could get clothes for interviewing.

So they could look the part, too.

Exactly.

Yeah. So you help them out in a variety of different ways in their quest for success. Indeed. Now, I know, Bethany, that as of a few years ago, you were working towards a PhD in the university of Kentucky's College of Social Work while continuing at that time to fulfill your employment specialist duties. And I think you told me that you're back enrolled in that once again. So why don't you sort of discuss your progress towards this degree at this point and the means by which maybe you hope to utilize that social work doctorate in years to come?

Yeah, so I, you know, I worked for the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute for a couple years. You know, I'm Definitely an older student. I am probably the. One of the oldest people in my class, but I. So I started, you know, the PhD program while I was working with HDI.

Right.

And I did that for probably two years. And then I had to take medical leave and I. I left. Did leave my position at uk. I had. I had to take medical leave and then I just. Well, and then I took a year to just focus on school. Then I got really, really sick and I actually became. It started on dialysis. So I've been on dialysis for a year and I just started. So I had to. To take medical leave to the spring of last year. So they didn't have any classes in the fall that I needed because I just needed these two classes left to graduate or not. Well, not graduate, but to get my dissertation. Like start my dissertation.

Start the dissertation.

So. So I started back this spring in the PhD program for social work. I hope to. And it's a. More of a research degree or teaching. So I either hope to teach or do research or do both.

Professor Curry has a nice ring to

it, you know, Dr. Dr. Curry. Absolute.

I guess. Well, you've sort of already been Professor Curry.

That's very true.

You know, maybe Dr. Curry's in your future. So you're taking. You're taking class this spring and are you taking the one or two classes?

I'm taking two classes, but one class is just an hour class and the other class is three hours, so.

Okay.

It's not a heavy load.

And you can do most of that online.

Well, it is. They're actually in person classes and they're on Friday, so I do go to Lexington. I commute to Lexington on Fridays for my classes, so.

Once a week.

Yeah. Which is not bad.

No.

But I do have accommodations to zoom in if I need to because dialysis can wipe you out.

This is true. So. So you do have the ability to zoom when necessary.

That is correct.

From home. And you can still, you know, get the benefits of the lecture and things like that. So these two classes, then your. Your dissertation. And you'll be also. You'll be Dr. Curry.

I hope so. So I'm. I'm hoping to be done by like 20, 28.

Oh, yeah. Because that dissertation usually takes a. Takes about a year and a half, two years, doesn't it?

Yeah.

So anyhow, we'll. We'll wish you all the best with that, Bethany. I will. I will help you Write that for 5. $5 a page.

Oh, okay. I'll keep that in mind.

I'm not promising you a passing grade, but $5 a page. I'll be of assistance. But anyway, no. All the luck in the world. Seriously. Now let's drift into curling, a sport that it didn't take you long to become passionate about and you've worked tirelessly to popularize it. I know. In the Louisville area. So why don't you first tell us when was it and how was it that you formed an interest in curling? Bethany?

Well, so I was a wheelchair fencer for about four or five years and

I

did a lot of competition both locally and internationally, and I absolutely loved it. But you know, adult things happens and you have responsibilities, you have to pay bills. So I sure kind of stepped away to pay bills. I understand A work and pay bills. And so when in 2000, I think it was 2018, when the USA Ben's team won gold, my husband and I were watching and I was like. And so I started just researching curling and I was looking for a sport that my husband and I could do together. And curling was something that came up and the closest place was, was like Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis. And I was like, I already drove from Bowling Green to Louisville for fencing for, on weekends like for four years. Like, I want to do something local.

Yeah, I'm not feeling another two hour drive.

Exactly. So I just kind of approached my husband and I was like, we think about starting a curling club. And so.

And he was like, okay.

He just kind of went with it. I mean, he knows that I'm, I come up with these crazy ideas.

Oh, that's awesome.

So, yeah, so yeah, so we came, we came up with a business plan. My husband's a graphic designer, so he does all our graphics and like our, he helps with our website. And so we, you know, did our research, met with the, a couple ice rinks here in town. There's two of them. And then we just, we went up to Fort Wayne, Indiana to learn how to curl so we could teach people how to curl here.

Okay, so you made that trip. But that's. We did. At least you didn't have to make it repeatedly.

That's correct. So. And we, and then we just started. I just put it out there and we found passionate curlers to start a board and we started our little club.

Yeah. So you, you watched the US curling team win gold early in 2018, and I think by was it October 2018, your Derby City Curling Club was up and running.

Absolutely. And we started to do learn to curl classes.

So you started with a bang for sure. And, and a Lot happened in just those about six months or so time. I'm sure it was sort of a whirlwind, but a good whirlwind.

Oh, absolutely.

And it was a, A lot of excitement along the way.

Excitement. Trial and error, learning curves.

Oh, sure, yeah. Figuring out what works and what doesn't and, and that sort of thing. That's always part of it. But anyway, you, you mentioned you went to Fort Wayne. Why don't. Let's expand on that a little more, Bethany. And why don't you shed light on the people and the resources that helped you to broaden your scope of curling knowledge and ultimately master the sport.

Yeah. So we went up to Fort Wayne and did a Learn to curl. Like a private learn to curl class. They have a. Their own dedicated facility up there. And we met with their founder and he taught us the rules of curling. We played games, we learned how to throw stones. We learned how to sweep from a wheelchair and not from a wheelchair. Well, my husband, you know, learned, you know, how to curl.

Oh yeah, right. Yeah. Because he's. Yeah, you're the, you're the wheelchair.

I'm the wheelchair person.

Right.

I learned how to deliver stone from a wheelchair. We learned the rules and we met with a bunch of people and it was just a lot of fun. It is such a blast.

So they obviously have a curling club up there in Fort Wayne and we

also got a lot of stuff support from USA Curling and they, when they found out that Kentucky wanted to cur. Wanted to start a curling club, they were very excited and we ended up getting some stones from them. So we had to go to Wisconsin and get their stones, which was fine.

Okay. Is that where they're based?

They were based now. I think they're now based in Minnesota.

Okay. I figured it was somewhere up in the Great White North.

They moved their offices.

Yeah.

So yeah, so they gave us a lot of support and we, the curling community just came out with support and it was just great.

Yeah, well, it's great that, you know, you had all this great education and guidance from the folks in Fort Wayne. Was it just a one time trip you made up there? Was it two or three or four?

Well, so at the beginning it was just one and then we have been back to Fort Wayne. So a curling tournament is called a bond spiel. And so we've been up there for a couple bond spills. So curling tournament and then I'm learning

new vocabulary as we speak.

Yes. And so, and those are always fun. We've had, we've hosted and had a couple bond spiels here in Louisville called the bourbon spiel.

Oh, I think. I think I came across that advertised that when I was doing my research. I found that.

Okay.

That and mentioned in an article, maybe a YouTube video or two. But yeah. But anyway, I can. I can see where that would be pretty popular. So between Fort Wayne and USA Curling, they help get you off the ground. And you probably felt when you started this curling club in Louisville, you probably discovered that there were plenty of others right there in your backyard who shared a similar passion then at a similar sort of thirst for a. A club of that nature.

Absolutely. And we've. The club, you know, it gives us something to do in the winter time. It gets my husband, you know, out of the house. We. One of the things that curlers do is they. It's called broomstacking. It's basically you go out and drink beer.

That's what I'm talking about.

And so there's a social aspect to it. But we have made some lifelong friends and we still make friends that from club members and people that come out to our learned a curls and you know, even when we do go and like promote the club like to festivals and stuff, we always hear Louisville has a curling club.

Yeah, people are still trying to catch on. Yeah, it's almost like Louisville and a curling club just don't seem to belong in the same sentence quite yet. But they do.

One of those shirts that my husband designed for our very first season, it said on the back it says homegrown Kentucky Curling.

Homegrown Kentucky.

That's.

I like that. You know, I love it. A lot of people associate Kentucky with homegrown, but maybe not necessarily with curling. And so that sort of combines them on. On one great spiffy shirt that. That people can take. Is that shirt for sale by chance?

No.

Okay.

Special club shirt.

It's a club shirt. Okay. Well, still, you never know. Keep your eyes open, folks. It might be.

Yeah, we do. We do. But yeah, go to DerbyCityCurlingClub.com we do have other shirts for sale. We have stickers, we have buttons.

So you can definitely stock up on your share of merchandise.

Absolutely.

The website for sure. Many in our audience have probably heard of curling, but may be very remotely familiar or maybe not familiar at all with the concept we mentioned. You know, we know it involves stones and you alluded to broomstacking, which sounds like all sorts of fun too. But why don't you explain to us the. The primary object of the game, Bethany, and perhaps touch on some basic rules to keep in mind when, when playing. Sure.

So there are two houses, one on either end of a sheet of ice. I forgot the distance, but it's fairly far.

Not close.

Yeah, it is not close. And you have a 42 pound granite stone that you slide across the ice and try to get in the middle of there. So the, the targets at the, at either end of the ice sheet, they're called houses. And in the middle of the house is like a two foot circle and it's called the button. So, so you want to get your stone closest to that button. And each team has four, four players and they throw two stones each and there are eight to 10 ins, like in baseball for innings. And so at the end of an inn, whatever team stone is closest to the button and any other stones that are closer than the opponent stones, then you get those points.

Okay. So you know, it's just like you do, you have first, second, third, and all the way up to, you know, 8 to 10.

Correct.

Just like, just like your innings in baseball. And so the, the team whose stone is closest to the button after one inning, they, they have the lead.

Yep, that is correct.

They get the points.

And so when you throw a stone, you have sweepers. So they are the ones with the brooms and.

Makes sense. So.

So one thing that, that people don't see is the preparation of the ice. So you have the ice and you think it's just ice. Well, it is actually. There's a guy before, every time somebody goes, you know, to play, there's a. He kind of has like this jet pack on his back and it has a hose with little holes in it. And he is sprinkling these little droplets on the ice and then you scrape them down to make them all even and that makes the stone glide across the ice. So when you sweep, you are sweeping down these little droplets to help the stone go a little further and curl the direction that you want it to go.

Oh, so. So just as in hockey, although this is a different type of preparation. But, but, but there is, you know, there is a process to preparing the, the ice for curling.

Yes.

As well. So yeah, we can't take for granted the, the dedicated individuals who, who make that happen. Now what we can't neg Bethany, that a particularly unique aspect of curling is its accessibility to individuals with various disabilities like spina bifida. So discuss, if you would, some of the disabilities that are represented within the curling community that you're aware of, along with the tool accommodations that have enabled these Folks, to conquer the sport.

Yeah. So curling is for everybody and pretty much every age. And so for someone who has, has had like, hip problems, knee problems, they can't bend down very well. People in wheelchairs, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, people with autism, developmental disabilities, down syndrome. I mean, I've, I've seen people who are blind

and so even visual impairments.

Yes. So the, the difference in wheelchair curling and, um, we'll just call it able body curling.

Sure.

Um, so somebody, and then somebody also, you know, who has like a hip replacement and they don't sit in a wheelchair. They can use what's called a delivery stick. So. Delivery stick, it's just this big long stick that has like a little, little handle that goes over, little contraption that goes over the handle of the curling stone and you literally push the stone with the stick, with the stick and, and, and release the stone to get it to the other end of the ice sheet. And, and that's pretty, pretty much the only difference is a delivery stick. And either you're sitting down or you're standing up.

So for the most part, everybody plays the exact same way.

Yes. And sorry, and let me mention this too, is in wheelchair curling, there is no sweeper. So there's nobody sweeping the ice.

Okay. So there's no brooms in wheelchair curling.

Correct.

Okay.

Because it'd be hard to, you know, push your. Sweep the ice.

Yeah, yeah, you already got something to push. You don't, you don't need two things to push. So. So, you know, that's, that's another important distinction. But other than that, there are a lot of similarities in how everybody plays in spite of the disabilities that, that they're dealing with. So.

And I've seen from young 6 and 7 year olds to 80 year olds play curling.

Oh. So, yeah, so pretty much the whole gamut in the age department.

Absolutely.

They've made their presence felt at, at Derby City Curling and, and have really enjoyed themselves. Now, now, as far as the classes, we'll talk more about, you know, what, what those classes entail and, and what they offer here in a bit. But as far as the ages, do you combine them in, in each class or do you have different classes for different age groups?

So for a learner curl, a regular learn to curl class, we combine all the ages.

Okay.

So if you are a minor, you do have to wear protective headgear and we provide, you know, bike helmets and, and these, they, they're called halos, but I call, they look like pool noodles. That you put over your head, but they're called halos. And so that just protects your head if you fall on the ice.

Right.

And then we provide the. These things you put on your shoe called a gripper. And that helps you to, you know, kind of not slide on the ice.

So if you're a little monkskin, you're going to be equipped with a halo and, and a gripper.

Correct. Adults get grippers too. And if ad. And if an adult wants protective headgear, we are not going to deny them that right to have that head.

So some people just feel better with it, I'm sure.

Yeah, absolutely. So and we, you know, we provide all the stones and we provide the brooms, the delivery sticks and we prepare the ice. So we pretty much. You show up, please, if you show up, please dress warmly.

Yeah, yeah, that, that's a definite must.

You are on ice. It is, it is very chilly.

You have to prepar for the coolness. Indeed. And, and show up ready to have a good time. That's another important thing.

Yes, absolutely.

Have a lot of fun because fun's what it's all about. Now I'm sure this varies, but about how big are those curling classes on average?

So we can hold up to 32 people a class.

32, gotcha.

So. So the class is, you know, fairly small, but fairly, fairly, you know, a decent size, I guess.

Yeah, big enough for you to have plenty to mix and mingle with, but yeah, small enough so that, you know, you all can get to know each other and you can get to know the instructors. So. So, you know, you get a. A win win there. And so as for these learn to curl classes, they feature a. A fun and informative introduction to the sport. And as we've been talking about, they've become popular among pretty much all age groups. So give us a feel for the nature of these classes, Bethany, and the knowledge slash skills that patrons will obtain while enrolled.

Sure. Before I address that, I kind of want to go. Go back to the ages, so. Oh yeah, we have hosted an after school program of, of I guess middle schoolers. Yeah, they were.

Oh, nice.

And so we've done that. This I think this year we did not host them, but they. We have had after school program middle schoolers. So we are, you know, trying to expand and, and get all age group.

Yeah. And that gives them another, when it's available, that gives them another extracurricular activity option.

Yeah. So anyway, so. So when you come to a learn to core class, what will happen is you'll get a brief introduction of curling. We'll. You'll watch a little short introductory video. We will tell you kind of the safety. We'll go over safety precautions.

Very important.

Yes, very important. And then you'll be introduced to. You'll get your equipment. You'll be introduced to a instructor and a instructor assistant, and then you'll go out on the ice. I mean, you're not there to stay out in the warm room. You're there to curl. So, yeah, after that short little introduction and safety, we will get you out on the ice. You will learn how to throw a stone, you'll learn how to sweep, you'll learn how to do, you know, both together. And then you will play some. A game. It depends on how fast, you know, you all go, that you can either play one game, if there's time, you might play a game and a half or two games. So.

So a lot of this learning, you're just. You're just doing as you go.

That's correct. You. You just. You learn and then you do.

You learn and then you do.

And then. And then after we invite you to go out to Broomstack with us, we usually go to Bambi Bar on Bargetown Road, and we sit around and socialize and enjoy some refreshment, enjoy, you know, food and drink and just have a good time and get to know each other and, you know, what do you.

I always love talking food. What do you enjoy at the. At the Bambi Bar and the food department department. What's your favorite?

Well, they have a really good burger, so I like their Bambi burger.

Well, you can't go wrong with a good bar burger.

You cannot go wrong with a good bar burger. I'm not much of a drinker, so. Okay, well, I leave that to other people.

I understand. Well, there's. There's plenty that'll pick up your slack in that bunch. I'm sure, but.

And usually. So when you're at a Bonsville and you are the. The winning team. You said the winning team buys the losers a round of drinks. I think that's how it goes.

Oh, okay. So everybody benefits.

Yeah, it's been a while since I've been to a Bondsville.

There you go. Yeah, but if you win, you know, you get bragging rights, but then you have to buy for the others.

Yeah, but I mean, you're only buying four beers, so.

Yeah, that. That's not going. That shouldn't break your budget by any means. But anyway, so about how long. I mean, are these classes like Two hour sessions each?

Yeah, they're about two hours, yeah.

Okay. And about how long do they normally last? I mean, there's like a few months.

So our curling season is usually from the end of November to mark the. Either the middle or end of March.

Okay. So November to March and about once a week.

Yeah. So we also kind of depends. So right now we, you know, the Olympics just happened, so we've got a lot of interest in curling, so we have done classes every weekend, and then we do offer membership. So during our season, you can come on Thursday nights and we do open curling for our members. And that's where you just go and grab, you know, whoever's at the. Another member and just go out on the ice and play a game and

you can sort of curl at your leisure on Thursday.

Yeah, you do pick up games, or if there's like a sheet that's nobody's using, then you can go and work on your delivery. So. Yeah. So, you know, there's all kinds of fun stuff you can do.

Absolutely something. The opportunities are practically endless, especially between November and March when. When curling is actually in season. Now, besides enrolling in class as Bethany and becoming members, why don't you enlighten us on the. Some other means by which we can give of our time and our resources to support the Darby City Curling Club.

Well, we do have a. Just a membership, like a fan membership that you can become a fan of Derby City Caroline Club. You can go to our website and purchase some merchandise. You can. I mean, our space is open. You can come and watch, come and hang out if you want.

And you'll gradually fall in love with the peeps and the sport as you do, I'm sure.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

I mean, you don't just support us. If you're into curling and you. You want to support USA Curling, you know, they def. You know. Absolutely. Like, it's. It's a community. So.

Yeah. And that Bourbon spill is. I mean, how often do we do those?

So we've had three. So I think we're gonna. We didn't do one this year because of the Olympics and the increase in interest in classes. So probably next year will be another bourbon spiel, and that's usually around February, I want to say.

Cool. Cool. And that's. That's always.

Look out on the website.

Sure. Yeah. Keep your eyes up. That. That's always a popular fundraiser. No doubt.

Absolutely.

The Derby City curl. And like, you may. I'm glad you mentioned the fan membership, because there are different membership levels. Correct.

Yes.

Yeah. And you can find out more about

that information on the website. Yep.

Yeah, on the website. Which we will link patrons to in the show notes. Indeed. Now, in conclusion, Bethany, why don't you share with us some future aspirations of yours personally, within the realm of curling.

Oh, that's a funny question. So you. You know, I've kind. I kind of have stepped away from the club since I had started my PhD and then my medical issues that come up, so.

Right. Understandable.

So I think. I think after I finish my PhD, God willing, in the creek don't rise.

Absolutely, absolutely.

I will probably pick back up. I mean, I might pick up, pick, you know, go every now and then. We'll see. I mean, I just, like, I just do it for fun. We'll see if it leads me anywhere. I don't know if it will, but if it doesn't, that's fine, but I just. I do it for fun and community.

Regardless. You're not gonna separate yourself from the sport because you've just grown too attached to it.

Oh, yeah. It's my baby. Absolutely.

Curling is your baby. And you want to, you know, at least from a fun standpoint, stay involved with it as. As much as possible. Well, best of luck with your future curling endeavors and your PhD. You folks make sure you go to Derby CityCurlingClub.com and I will, like I said, link that in the show notes. And you mind if we give them your email address there, Bethany?

No, it's derbycitycurlingclubmail.com derbycitycurlingclub gmail.com so you

can reach out through that email address too, and contact Bethany with any kind of inquiries that. That you may have about the club and what they do. Well, this has been very fun and informative. I have sure enjoyed learning about curling. I hope you've enjoyed this, Bethany.

Absolutely. Thank you for having me on. It's been a blast.

Well, that's what we aim for. You folks make sure if you haven't ready to explore the wide world of curling. Bethany, we'll do it again.

Absolutely. Thank you, Sam.

Demand and Disrupt is a production of the Advocado Press with generous support from the center for Accessible Living, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Our executive producers are me, Kimberly Parsley and Dave Mathis. Our sound engineer is Michael Parsley. Thanks to Chris Ankin for the use of his song Change. Don't forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode and please consider leaving a review. You can find links to our email and social media in the show notes. Please reach out and let's keep the conversation going. Thanks, everyone.

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