A Leg Up On Life
A Leg Up On Life is the podcast that take success to a whole new level. The host, Roni Sasaki, a Paralympic Gold Medalist in ski racing, interviews high achieving guests with disabilities. They will inspire and encourage listeners to push through all obstacles to reach their goals.
Episodes
In this final episode of A Leg Up On Life, Jake French shares how he lives life to the fullest from a wheelchair. Jake is a professional speaker, inventor, hunter, and fisherman. Fourteen years ago, in a freak accident, Jake broke his neck and became paralyzed from his collarbone down. His life has turned out differently than planned, but he continues to look ahead and set goals. The title of his book sums up Jake's attitude, "Lif...
Four years ago, on September 18, 2018, Laurie Hayn lost her left arm and leg in a farming accident. Up to then, she was an active outdoors person, having hiked 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail three years in a row. Laurie's positive attitude and the loving support of her husband and family helped her quickly recover and adapt.
Nicole Ver Kuilen & Dee Palagi led a team of adaptive athletes in the 2022 Hood to Coast relay, a 200-mile journey in Oregon from the base of Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean. Both women are below-the-knee amputees and outspoken advocates for individuals with disabilities, particularly children, to have full access to athletic-quality prosthetics and orthotics. In this episode of "A Leg Up On Life," you will hear about their historic ...
Mary Riddell-Bowman was born without her right lower leg and began skiing on her prosthetic leg at age four. Mary qualified for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team when she was fourteen. She raced with the national team from 1994 - 2003, competing in two Paralympics and World Championships. Along the way, she racked up numerous medals, winning two gold, two silver, and two bronze at both the Paralympics and the World Championships. Mary's i...
Michael Belew broke his neck after diving into a wave while taking a break from his intense military training. He is currently paralyzed from the chest down but hopes to one day regain the use of his body. Two years after his accident, Michael keeps a positive outlook on life by surrounding himself with supportive friends and family and focusing on all that is good. He will inspire you to overcome and adapt to life's challenges.
Mark Mohammadpour lost 150 pounds and has kept it off for 15 years. He went from a public relations executive to the Chief Well-Being Officer of Chasing the Sun. He transformed his negative mindset into one of positivity and possibility. Mark now coaches individuals and corporations to take small incremental steps to create sustainable changes over time. Mark's numerous certifications give him the cred...
Colleen Young knows how to adapt. She was born with Albinism, a condition that affects her eyesight and makes her legally blind. Colleen tried numerous sports as a youngster but thrived at competitive swimming.
Colleen is a 3-time Paralympic swimming champion, winning silver and bronze medals at the 2022 Paralympics in Tokyo. At her first Paralympics in 2012, Colleen was only 14, the youngest competitor at that event. Since then, s...
Mimo Pearl nearly broke off her foot when a ladder collapsed underneath her. She has undergone numerous surgeries and treatments for almost a year to save her foot. Before her accident, Mimo was a healer and a Footzone Practitioner. She is a positive force of love and laughter to those who have given her care. She will impress upon you the importance of mindset and staying grounded for recovery and resiliency.
Kendra Herber was born missing part of her foot. Her parents decided to amputate the foot when she was two years old. It was a decision that worked in Kendra's favor, allowing her to be a "normal" kid. In this episode, she shares living life as an amputee and feeling "WHOLE."
Kellie Delabitoria is a full-time caretaker for her adult son, who is autistic. She lives by faith and prayer and takes one day at a time. She is a "behind-the-scene" hero who often goes without recognition for her efforts. In this interview, Kellie candidly shares her daily struggles and successes. Her positivity is contagious, and she will inspire listeners to trust and have faith in God.
Michelle Kuei is an international speaker, certified visibility coach, and author who empowers others to build resiliency, overcome tragedy, and find purpose in every challenge. When she was an 11-year old student in Taiwan, a car ran a red light and hit her as she crossed the street. Michelle's desire to be "normal" prompted her to complete a 4-day hike to Machu Picchu in Peru. Through her company, Elevate LifeCoaching, she inspir...
Vasu Sojitra is an extreme back-country skier. When he was only nine months old, he had one of his legs amputated because of a blood infection. Vasu's passion is to spread the message that having a disability is not a bad thing. His motto is "ninjasticking through the woods to bring intersectionality to the outdoors."
Candice Caesar is an Army veteran, and it was during her service that she became paralyzed. She learned to walk despite the doctor’s prediction that she would never walk again. At that time, she set a goal to walk a marathon someday. Since then, Candice has completed a half marathon in nearly all 50 states (with only two remaining as of this podcast). She is also a contender for the U.S. Para Archery team and is preparing for the W...
Maureen Manley is a world-class cyclist. She is a former member of the U.S. Cycling Team, where she won a National Championship. Manley also set a national record and won numerous medals at both international and national racing events.
At the peak of her career, Maureen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and gave up her dream of being a world champion.
Now years later, she is back on her bike and a creative force for herself an...
Jesse Fay has faced life-threatening illnesses twice in his life. When he was only 3, he was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. After an aggressive treatment regime, including a bone marrow transplant, Jesse kicked cancer. Then again when he was a teenager, he began to experience problems with his kidneys and discovered that he had Polycystic Kidney Disease. The condition esca...
Angie Heuser injured her knee during a Taekwondo belt test. Her routine MCL tear led to numerous surgeries and crippling pain. Her knee refused to heal, and after years of medical procedures, Angie realized that her life had become severely impaired by her limitations. She chose to have the leg amputated so that she could regain mobility and reclaim her life. Angie is the host of Be-You-Tiful Adaptive Warrior podcast, where she ins...
Chris Waddell is one of the fastest mono-skiers of all time, and he impacted his sport profoundly. Chris won 13 Paralympic medals in both the summer and winter events. He is a member of the Paralympic Hall of Fame and the US Ski and Snow Bard Hall of Fame. His many accomplishments include climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and being one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."
When Alvin Law looks in the mirror, he sees a fully competent and confident man, but he doesn't see any arms. Alvin's list of accomplishments is impressive and includes being a member of the Canadian Speaker's Hall of Fame, accomplished musician, and author. Alvin believes that the best thing that ever happened ...
Jessi Machnik is an equestrian who specializes in show jumping. She began riding horses as a young child, and it has been her passion ever since. A few years ago, Jessi lost her leg below the knee due to severe car wreck injuries. She has resumed riding and jumping and believes that show jumping will become an event in the Paralympics one day. Jessi's daily choices to move forward and pursue her dreams will inspire you.
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