š GRATITUDE TO BE FEATURED IN VOYAGE RALEIGH MAGAZINE š
Iām truly humbled to be highlighted in Voyage Raleigh Magazineāpart of the Voyage family that started with Voyage LA. What I love most about their mission is simple but powerful: creating a space where peopleās real voices and personalities arenāt filtered out.
āØ Their platform lifts up small businesses, independent artists, entrepreneurs, local organizations, and the changemakers who make our communities vibrant.
When they reached out for an interview, I had no idea just how many incredible stories they were tellingāright here in Raleigh and across the country. It was such an honor to be included among so many amazing humans shaping the places we call home.
š Deep gratitude to the team at Voyage Raleigh for spotlighting stories that matter, and for reminding us that authenticity builds stronger communities.
https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-ali-ingersoll-of-qq-adventures-llc
#Gratitude #Community #Raleigh #KeynoteSpeaker #Storytelling
AAAHH ā I DID IT ā AN EPIC VICTORY š NEW WHEELCHAIR BATTLE WON –> THE APPEAL THEY SAID I COULDNāT WIN ā I DID. š„
š¬ The most nerve-racking piece of mail Iāve opened in years: a denial letter from my health insurance provider.
Not just a denial for a new wheelchair ā a denial of continuity of care. A denial of common sense.
WHAT I ASKED FOR
That my long-time wheelchair provider ā Stalls Medical ā historically in-network for years, be put back in-network to supply my new wheelchair (a Permobil F3).
Why? Because a wheelchair isnāt a ābuy it anywhereā item. Itās a complex, custom medical device that determines my health, independence, and survival.
WHY IT MATTERS
This isnāt about a chair. This is about the ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) Iāve worked with for nearly a decade.
ATPās arenāt salespeople. They are highly trained experts in seating systems, pressure relief, biomechanics, and mobility. My ATP knows my body inside and out ā how the smallest adjustment can keep me healthy.
Since working with this ATP, I havenāt had a single serious pressure sore. Thatās not luck. Thatās skilled care. Without that? Iād be back in a hospital bed, costing the system hundreds of thousands more than a properly fitted chair.
HOW I BACKED IT UP
I didnāt just beg. I built a case:
š Peer-reviewed journal articles
š Past medical records
šø Billing data showing the costs of pressure sores vs. the cost of a chair
š©ŗ Letters from my medical team
THE RESPONSE I GOT
Still denied. Their reasoning? āMembers can go to any in-network provider.ā
read more…THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NIGHT OF MY LIFE: UNBREAKABLE(ISH) BOOK LAUNCH šš
(200 PEOPLE. 1 BOOK. 1 WILDLY UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT.)
Iām rarely speechless (and letās be honest, that never happens) ā but my book launch for Unbreakable(ish): I Wasnāt Built for Boring hosted & donated by the North Carolina Museum of Art left me totally blown away.
(Audio version coming out mid October. 25 hours in the recording studio next week)
WHAT WENT DOWN:
ā 200 incredible humans from all across the country
šØ A breathtaking venue at NC Museum of Art
š¤ An improv interview that wasā¦ letās just say a 21+ conversation
š Nonstop laughter, jaw-dropping stories, and community magic in every corner
WHAT MADE IT EPIC:
š Friends Iāve known for 20 years sitting next to people I met last week
š¼ My legal world, advocacy world, speaker world, corporate clients ā all mixing with bikers I randomly met at bars (true story)
šØāš©āš§ My whole family actually flew up ā which is saying something, because they didnāt even all show up at the same time when I broke my neck š¤£ Apparently I need to write more books
š People who couldnāt make it in person still cheering from all over the globe
š¤ Strangers walking inā¦ and leaving as friends
š° And oh yeahā¦ we made the news too (link coming soon š)
15 YEARS PARALYZED TODAY AND HEREāS WHAT I KNOW
I donāt believe my accident happened for a reason. I believe bad things happen to great people every second of every day.
What I do believe is this: the way you move forward when life feels impossible is what defines you.
Today Iām sitting quietly, reflecting on August 27, 2010. Fifteen years ago I broke my neck in shallow water. I thought my life was over.
And yetāhere I am.
HOW I MEASURE MY LIFE
I donāt measure my life by what I lost. I measure it by what Iāve built:
ā
Surviving 7 years in a hospital ā building an advocacy career in health equity
ā
Guiding corporations on access, inclusion, and disability research
ā
Creating a keynote speaking business that takes me around the world
ā
Delivering a TEDx with over 500,000 views
ā
Becoming a published author
ā
Donating 20% of my time to nonprofit boards advancing equity
ā Always engaging in the most crazy adventures
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT: š BOOK LAUNCH EVENT FOR MY MEMOIR Ć UNBREAKABLE(ISH): I WASNāT BUILT FOR BORING
I never imagined my story would become a bookā Not after the injury. Not after the detours. And definitely not after the monkeys at the Playboy Mansion. But here we are.
My memoir is a collection of the wild, raw, hilarious, and brutally honest moments that shaped meāand now, I finally get to share it with all of you.
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the launch of Unbreakable(ish) sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of Art and Lenovo.
š
WHEN: Wednesday, August 27th at 6:00 PM
š WHERE: North Carolina Museum of Art ā 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
š CLICK HERE TO REGISTER –> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1419971546119?aff=oddtdtcreator
WHAT TO EXPECT
š· Meet Ali Ingersoll and hear the stories behind her powerful memoir
š Books available for purchase at the event
š„ Lite bites and refreshments sponsored by Lenovo
š An evening of inspiration, laughter, and authentic storytelling
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A portion of book sale proceeds will be donated to the North Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association, supporting vital programs and services for individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries.
šļø FREE ADMISSION ā LIMITED SPACE
Because unforgettable nights like this one don’t come with a price tag, admission is completely free. However, space is limited and we expect a large turnout, so reserve your tickets today to guarantee your spot.
ā ļø Friendly reminder: This book is spicier than late-night premium cable, so arrange for childcare first and then settle in for some seriously adult storytelling!
DONāT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY
Celebrate a remarkable story of resilience, humor, and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.
šø Cash bar available (because free drinks only exist in fairy tales and corporate events).
š ABOUT THE BOOK
From caviar on deserted islands and monkeys at the Playboy Mansion to surprise jail time overseas and directing her own rescue after a dive that left her paralyzed from the chest downāAli Ingersollās life has been wild.
Unbreakable(ish) is a no-filter, laugh-out-loud memoir that turns pain into persistence and paralysis into power. With a splash of neuroscience, a pour of rebellion, a twist of dark humor, and a raw bold voice, Ali proves that when life goes sideways, you donāt have to.
āØ If youāve ever had to start over more times than you can count, this story is fuel for rewriting yoursāyour way.
š ļø Because often reinvention comes with detours, duct tape, and delightfully twisted stories.
š CLICK HERE TO REGISTER –> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1419971546119?aff=oddtdtcreator
I JUMPED OUT OF A PLANE ššŖ QUADRIPLEGIC SKYDIVING AT 14,000 FEET
Because if youāre going to live life on the edge, make sure itās properly harnessed. Skydiving has been on my bucket list since foreverābut I didnāt get the chance before I broke my neck in a shallow water dive and became a C6 quad, paralyzed from the chest down with limited arm and hand movement.
And yetā¦ I still jumped.
With my legs hanging out the door of that plane, 14,000 feet in the air, I had one thought:
š āIāve arrived.ā
MEET THE DREAM TEAM
I met the All Veterans Group last year when we went racecar driving together (becauseā¦ obviously). Their motto? āWe want to make the world a better place.ā And they mean it. This nonprofit is made up of active duty service members, veterans, patriotic civilians, and their families. They:
šŖ Jump into stadiums at events around the country
šŖ Create unforgettable experiences
šŖ Help people with disabilities live their wildest dreams
With the help of the Golden Knights and a top-notch engineering crew, they designed a custom harness just for me:
ā
Protected pressure-sensitive areas (huge when youāre paralyzed)
ā
Locked in my arms so they didnāt go flying
ā
Allowed my legs to be lifted safely during landing
It was so effective, theyāre now working on a patent.
WHAT SKYDIVING FELT LIKE AS A QUADRIPLEGIC
Honestly, itās hard to put into wordsābut Iāll try:
š Like falling into freedom
šØ Like fear turning into laughter mid-air
š¤ļø Like weightlessnessā¦ in every way
š§ Like shutting off the noise and turning on wonder
We freefell for 90 seconds at 120 mph before the chute opened. And then? Quiet. Peace. Absolute joy. I couldnāt stop smiling. I even convinced my boyfriend to jump with me (Heās a keeper!)
IāM AN ADRENALINE JUNKIEā¦ WITH A SPREADSHEET
Yes, I chase wild experiencesābut always with precision. I research, plan, and partner with people who prioritize safety and accessibility. Before the jump, someone told me:
š¬ āYouāll always have one more landing in life than you do takeoffs.ā It made me laughā¦ but it also stuck with me. There are moments in life when the only thing between you and joy is a leapāone made with courage, trust, and a really good team.
WHATāS NEXT?
Who knows. But hereās what I do know:
š” I live with intention
š” I appreciate every moment I can do something extraordinary
š” I say yes to things I once thought were impossible
If sharing this helps even one person take their own next bold stepāwhatever that looks likeāthen every second of that freefall was worth it.
(Behind the Scenes Video coming soon)
THE 10-10-10 RULE: THE BRAIN HACK THAT SAVED MY BUTT (LITERALLY)
Letās face it: your brain is dramatic.
Not theater-kid-in-high-school dramatic. More like toddler-who-dropped-their-Fruit-Roll-Up-in-a-sandbox dramatic.
Every day, your decisions are being pulled in a three-way battle between:
š§ The impulsive part that wants dopamine right now
š§ The responsible part trying to avoid long-term chaos
š§ And the existential part that wonders, āWill this matter when Iām 85 and crocheting revenge sweaters in a retirement home?ā
Thatās why you need the 10-10-10 Rule.
WHAT IS THE 10-10-10 RULE?
This isnāt just another productivity hack invented by a tech bro who drinks kale for breakfast and has never known the betrayal of a soggy burrito.
This is neuroscienceādisguised as a life raft.
Whenever youāre about to make a decision that might involve drama, cake, or texting someone whose name you shouldāve deleted long agoā¦
Ask yourself:
How will this choice affect me in…
- š 10 minutes
- š 10 months
- š 10 years
It gives your brain a timeout. A little pause button. A moment to stop the emotional toddler from hijacking the steering wheel of your life.
YOUR BRAIN ON EACH TIMELINE
read more…HOW TO FLY WITHOUT BREAKING YOUR $40,000 WHEELCHAIR (OR YOUR SPIRIT)
There are a few things I wish someone had handed me early in life:
š A how-to guide on being paralyzed with style
š A manual on avoiding airport catastrophe
š And maybe a coupon for lifetime bubble wrap
I didnāt know what I didnāt knowāuntil I learned the hard way. And by hard, I mean metal-on-metal-cargo-hold hard.
As a full-time wheelchair user paralyzed from the chest down (with limited arm movement), Iāve been through the ācongrats-your-chair-is-now-art-suppliesā phase of air travel way too many times.
Over the years, Iāve worked with engineers, wheelchair techs, caregivers, and fellow flying wheelchair warriors to build what I call my Cirque du Soleil of chair loading. Itās a high-stakes dance starring my caregiver and some very expensive hardware.
š„ The video below? Itās part choreography, part survival ritual.
THE ONE PROBLEM š¬
Even with all that prep? Thereās still a 50/50 chance something breaks. Why?
COMPASSION CRISIS: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION
(Could this be you? Or someone you love?)
I wish I could say this is one of my usual dark humor posts. Itās not. It is, however, one of the most necessary things Iāve written in a whileāfor all of us, as human beings navigating a system that often forgets the human part.
72 HOURS AGO, EVERYTHING SHIFTED š°ļø
My wildly energetic, sharp-as-a-tack 79-year-old German mother hit a wall. She had chills, a high fever, violent shaking, and looked like a truck hit her. We thought it might be a UTIāeasy mistake to make given the symptoms. We got her antibiotics. They didnāt help. We went to urgent care. More meds. No improvement. By the next morning, her fever spiked to 107Ā°F. I rushed her to the emergency room.
We spent seven hours in the ER together. I didnāt leave her side. I was her advocate. Her voice. Her bodyguard in a wheelchair. The diagnosis? A severe strain of rhinovirus. A virusāno easy fix. No magic meds. We just have to monitor her breathing, hope it doesnāt progress, and let her rest. Thatās the backstory.
But thatās not what this post is about.
WHAT I WITNESSED IN THE ER š
While we were waiting for blood test results, I watched something that made my stomach turn.
read more…