Life & Work with Jo Giese

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Giese

Hi Jo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I should not be able to walk, let alone jump from helicopters and hike to some of the most beautiful and remote waterfalls in the world. Because of my determination and grit I was recently honored as a Local Hero 2024 by Oboz, the hiking shoe company. I was a Peabody Award-winning journalist at NPR’s Marketplace, and I’m a successful author, teacher, activist, and global adventurer. Keep Chasing Waterfalls, my current book, is the story of how a freak accident and a botched surgery left me non- ambulatory. But this story is not just about a dead achilles. It’s about the unabashed joy one person has on this planet earth and that joy was snatched away from her. The book builds around the author’s heroic passion, joy and optimism. Refusing to give up, I defied the odds and experienced what is being called a medical miracle. Keep Chasing Waterfalls is a story guaranteed to leave others crying and cheering.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If we’re talking about the freak accident and the botched surgery in 2018, which left me with no left achilles, it was anything but a smooth road. After 8 surgeries it still was not clear that I’d ever walk again.
As a friend said, Do you consider yourself an ex-walker, ex-hiker? No!

And unfortunately, these 8 surgeries coincided with the launch of my last book–Never Sit If You Can’t Dance. I was not dancing.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I’m an author of nonfiction books. My most recent bestseller is Never Sit If You Can Dance, and my next book is Keep Chasing Waterfalls: A Story of Adventure, Tragedy, and Defying the Odds.
Although I’ve worked for years in TV–PBS, WNBC–I prefer working in radio–npr.

What matters most to you?
A positive, joyful message matters to me. And kindness. The world has enough vitriol and negativity. We don’t need another book about violent abusive, destructive behavior. Although my current book–Keep Chasing Waterfalls–is about a freak accident–losing my left achilles, and a botched surgery, and 99.9% of the people in my condition would not be walking again, I refused to give up. I’m a determined individual.

Although I’m getting older–I’m 77–I don’t let aging and my age define me. I’m still hiking to waterfalls around the world. I still have a terrific sex life. And I’m still writing books that get published!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jogiese.com
• Instagram: giese jo
• Facebook: giesejo