In March 2021, Rebecca Koltun’s life changed in an instant. A catastrophic skiing accident left her paralyzed from the neck down—but that’s not where her story ends. From hospital beds to speaking stages, Rebecca has become a living testament to resilience, humor, and the power of showing up anyway. In this episode, Rebecca shares how she rebuilt her life post-injury, what drives her every day, and why laughter is one of her greatest survival tools. It’s a raw, real, and unexpectedly uplifting conversation about independence, identity, and finding joy when everything feels broken. Whether she’s cracking jokes, chasing new goals, or reshaping what’s possible after paralysis, Rebecca reminds us: your spirit is never out of reach.
Connect with Rebecca here:
• Instagram: @rebecca_koltun
• Her paintings: @madebymouth
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notparalyzedjustlazy
• Koltun Strong Foundation: Walk-Run-Roll 5k
Mahalo for joining us, Rebecca 🤙🏽 Let’s dive into her extraordinary story-
1. Intro to Rebecca – 00:01:15:13
2. The skiing accident and initial recovery – 00:03:03:13
3. Facing emotional lows and early mindset challenges – 00:05:48:21
4. Support from family and friends during hospitalization – 00:07:13:08
5. Starting to regain positivity through rehab – 00:10:02:26
6. Communication struggles and learning to speak again – 00:11:16:06
7. Creating funny and educational content on social media – 00:21:11:25
8. Using dark humor as a healing tool – 00:23:17:11
9. Medical scare while traveling and defining resilience – 00:25:08:21
10. Future goals, art, and balancing work with disability benefits – 00:33:05:16
Mahalo for tuning in! If you enjoyed today's episode, please:
• Subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode.
• Follow us on social media to stay updated with our latest content and behind-the-scenes fun! We love hearing from our listeners!
• If you have any feedback, questions, or just want to chat about the episode, email us at thomas@sickburnpodcast.com or message us on Instagram!
Credits: Hosted & Executive Produced by Thomas Craig VIII. Guest Appearance by John Pendleton. Produced by Voice & Video- Bill Lanzaratto, Audio Engineer by Mickey. Edited by Lizi Bronson. Graphics by Jeff Lee. Special Thanks for their invaluable work, Rosie Flores
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily represent those of "The Sick Burn Podcast," its affiliates, or any organizations we are associated with. This podcast for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.