We’re Not Stumped | Motivational Podcast Featuring Survival Stories, Recovery Journeys & Disability Stories

What if the future of assistive technology is being built by the very people who need it most? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped , Mike Bolland sits down with Owen, an entrepreneur living with muscular dystrophy who turned his lived experience into innovation. After struggling with limited rehabilitation tools, Owen co-founded a company developing a simple, home-based exoskeleton to make therap...

In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped , Mike sits down with Lindsay to share her courageous decision to choose amputation at age 22 — and the emotional and physical challenges that followed. Lindsay opens up about navigating identity after limb loss, the support of her parents, and the mindset that helped her move forward. She shares how setting a goal to walk unassisted by Christmas gave...

On this episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland welcomes Dr. Glenn Gaston , an orthopedic hand and upper-extremity surgeon who’s helping redefine what’s possible in amputee care. Dr. Gaston shares how a single patient encounter sparked his mission to improve outcomes for people with limb loss — leading to innovations like the Starfish Procedure , which restores individual finger control f...

Lera Doederlein joins Mike Bolland on We’re Not Stumped to share a powerful story of choosing possibility. Born with AMC (arthrogryposis multiplex congenita), Lera grew up in Phoenix using braces and forearm crutches while navigating school, friendships, and the quiet realization that sports might look different for her. As a teenager, she made the bold decision to pursue double above-knee amputat...

In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped , Mike talks with John Cooper, a physical therapist assistant with 18 years of experience, about his journey into physical therapy and his passion for working with lower-limb amputees. John shares how his grandfather’s recovery from brain surgery sparked his career, and how close collaboration with prosthetists helps him address the real-world challen...

In this special episode of We’re Not Stumped , Mike Bolland shares the story behind Enable Review — a new community-powered platform created to help people with limb loss, limb difference, and caregivers find prosthetic, orthotic, and rehabilitation care they can trust. After a lifetime navigating prosthetics and hearing powerful stories from guests and listeners, Mike explains why real patient ex...

In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland welcomes Risa August — cancer survivor, author of The Road Unpaved , TEDx speaker, and patient advocate — for a deeply honest and uplifting conversation. Risa shares how her diagnosis and cancer treatments reshaped her identity, challenged her physically and emotionally, and ultimately inspired her to create a life of meaning and se...

In this powerful and reflective episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland welcomes Terry Tucker , author of Four Truths and a Lie , for a deep conversation about mindset, mental toughness, and what it truly means to live a significant life. Terry shares the philosophy behind his latest book, which challenges common definitions of success rooted in money, status, and material achievement. In...

In this eye-opening episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland speaks with Dr. Kevin Lie , a vascular and interventional radiologist at Georgia Endovascular , about why so many amputations don’t have to happen. Dr. Lie explains how misdiagnosed or untreated peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of the leading causes of limb loss—especially among veterans, older adults, and people living wit...

Tom Lenoble’s story is one of remarkable leadership, resilience, and reinvention. In this episode, Tom shares his extraordinary career journey leading customer operations at companies like MCI, Walmart.com, and Palm — and how he helped build Facebook’s first global customer operations team during its explosive early years. He reflects on interviewing with Mark Zuckerberg when Facebook was still a...

In this compelling episode of We’re Not Stumped , Mike Bolland sits down with Scott Martin , bilateral hand amputee, soccer coach, and author of Play From Your Heart . Scott shares his life-changing experience after a devastating infection in 1993 led to the loss of both hands and parts of his feet, and the emotional journey that followed—including denial, depression, and rebuilding his sense of p...

This special Christmas episode of We’re Not Stumped is a heartfelt reflection from host Mike Bolland on resilience, community, and gratitude during the holiday season. Instead of an interview, Mike takes a few minutes to acknowledge the realities many people in the limb loss and disability community face during the holidays — from accessibility challenges and family dynamics to grief, growth, and...

In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland sits down with Jason A. Jones —motivational speaker, author, and founder of Positive Pieces—for a powerful conversation about resilience, mindset, and growing up with a congenital hand difference. Mike and Jason share a unique connection: both were born with a difference in their right hand. Together, they explore the realities of...

In this compelling episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland sits down with Steven Vine to share an honest conversation about survival, disability, and rebuilding life after a catastrophic medical event. After a sudden aneurysm in 2016, Steven spent six months in a coma and woke up blind, a right above-knee amputee, living with an ostomy, and managing chronic pain. Once a nationally ranked...

 ⭐ Topic #1: Are you thinking about starting your own podcast but not sure where to begin?  So many people reach out asking how to get started. And while podcasting isn’t terribly difficult, those first few episodes can feel time-consuming and a bit overwhelming.  Here’s an easier way to try it out: 👉 Come guest-host a solo episode of We’re Not Stumped and share your personal story.  These are s...

 In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Belma Islamovic, a double above-elbow amputee, community advocate, and proud member of the Dallas Amputee Network. Mike and Belma first met at Empower Fest in Arizona, and today she shares her remarkable story of survival, resilience, and hope.  Belma recounts:  • Surviving a devastating explosion during the Bosnian War  •...

In this eye-opening episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland sits down with civil rights advocate Marc Fishman , a disabled father from New York who has spent years fighting for basic ADA accommodations in family court. After surviving a traumatic brain injury and other life-altering injuries from a severe car accident, Marc found himself navigating a court system that repeatedly denied hi...

Welcome back to We’re Not Stumped ! Today, I’m honored to sit down once again with Brooke Brown — an “ink weaver of life, faith, and fiction,” an honors graduate of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2022, and founder of Brooke’s Butterfly Touch , a ministry that helps individuals discover the power and purpose of their own stories. Brooke is also the author of Roll...

In this must-hear episode of We’re Not Stumped , Mike Bolland chats with Caitlin Conner about turning challenges into impact. Caitlin, founder of Be More Adaptive , explores her mission to create a global hub for disability resources. Caitlin shares her remarkable journey — from surviving a life-changing motorcycle accident while pregnant to becoming a Paralympic-level athlete, model, and advocate...

 When Drew Ann Long, a stay-at-home mom from Birmingham, Alabama, realized there were no shopping carts designed for her daughter Caroline — who has Rett syndrome and cannot walk or talk — she took matters into her own hands. With no design or manufacturing experience, Drew set out to create Caroline’s Cart, a life-changing adaptive shopping cart for individuals with disabilities.  In this episode...

 In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Josh Green, an above-knee amputee, patient advocate, and founder of the Northeast Ohio Amputee Support Group. Josh lost his leg at just 4 years old and has since turned his life experiences into a mission to uplift and educate others in the limb loss community.  Josh opens up about growing up with a prosthetic, how hi...

In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped , host Mike Bolland — born without his right hand — shares a powerful message about why he feels dressing well matters for the limb loss and disability community. This isn’t about vanity — it’s about confidence, self-respect, and advocacy . Mike explains how personal style can change the way we feel about ourselves and the way others see us. From challengi...

 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects millions worldwide — yet most people don’t recognize the warning signs until it’s too late. In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Emmy Award-winning journalist and Global PAD Association co-founder Kym McNicholas to explain what PAD is, how it causes poor circulation, and why early detection is critical in preventing ampu...

 In Part 1 of this special episode, host Mike Bolland sits down with Emmy Award–winning journalist and Global PAD Association founder Kym McNicholas for an impromptu, post-interview discussion that turned into an insightful recording. What started as a quick chat evolved into a powerful conversation about Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), early detection, and Kym’s mission to raise global awareness...

 After a life-threatening illness led to multiple amputations, Karlene Martinez refused to give up. In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Karlene about her incredible path from septic shock and paralysis to recovery, faith, and advocacy. Karlene opens up about:  💪 Her battle with sepsis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and months of rehabilitation  🦿 Adjusting to l...