We're Not Stumped - Centering on life stories of the Limb Loss / Amputee and Disabled Communities

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 therapy more accessible.

They discuss univer...

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 her focus during recovery and how res...

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 for partial hand amputees, and a newly 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 amputations in order to gain independence a...

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 challenges amputees face every day. He expla...

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 experiences matter — and how Enable Rev...

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 service. From enduring radiation and its...

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. Instead, he invites listeners to rethink ...

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 with diabetes. He shares how minimally inv...

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 college platform, navigating rapid ...

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 purpose.

Scott discusses continuing to c...

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 adapting to change — all with warmth...

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 childhood, school, friendships, sports...

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 teenage track athlete and later a fin...

 ⭐ 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 single-person episodes — no guests allow...

 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 

• Her long medical journey from Bosnia ...

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 him essential supports like real-time tr...

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 Rolling in Grace: Volume 1 — A Foundation ...

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.

She opens up about adapting to life ...