Briel Adams-Wheatley, content creator and advocate, opens up about being born with no arms and no legs, being left in hospital by her birth mother, and growing up in a large Mormon family where her story was often treated as a miracle.
She reflects on the pressure to be strong from a young age, being bullied, pushed harder than her siblings, and learning to perform happiness while privately struggling. Briel also shares how she was set up to inspire others through public speaking, even when the words she delivered were written by someone else.
In this conversation, Briel speaks candidly about coming out, feeling used by the church, the conflict between faith and identity, and the moment she told her family: “You’re not God, you don’t get to damn me.” She also opens up about dating after trauma, finding safety with her husband Adam, and why they are getting married again after her transition.
Honest, emotional and deeply human, this is Briel Adams-Wheatley like you’ve never seen her before.
Briel Adams-Wheatley, We Need To Talk
This conversation includes discussion of sexual assault. Please take care while watching. We’ve included links to support resources below:
MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
The Survivor’s Trust: https://linkly.link/2kE8q
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https://www.instagram.com/no_limbs_
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(00:00) Intro
(01:46) Briel’s Birth and Adoption
(04:39) Statistics Around Hand Heart Syndrome
(10:49) Forced To Be Independent
(14:26) Bullying At Home And School
(21:29) “I Think I Like Boys”
(25:42) Raised To Be The Mormon Miracle
(28:17) The Good Parts of Briel’s Childhood
(30:06) How Briel’s Parents Taught Her to Swim
(32:34) How Briel Got Into Dancing
(35:47) Briel’s Relationship With Her Mother Today
(37:04) Paul Surprises Briel With A Letter
(40:23) Huel Ad
(41:34) Coming Out To Everyone At Once
(47:18) Briel’s Experience Giving Motivational Speeches
(54:07) How Makeup Changed Everything
(58:43) Shopify Ad
(59:54) Coming Out as Trans
(01:06:01) Briel’s Dating History
(01:10:47) The First Relationship That Felt Safe
(01:18:25) Adam’s Letter To Briel
(01:22:49) Why Briel Stepped Away From Mormonism
(01:23:57) What Briel Wants Next
(01:25:47) Being Trans In America Today
(01:28:41) Advice For Anyone Questioning Their Gender Identity
(01:30:57) Most Memorable Conversation
(01:34:37) Paul’s Takeaways
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