In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks ith Ryan Wilson—founder of Team Trust Productions—for a conversation about how adaptive athletes are using the power of media to change the narrative around disability.

Ryan shares his journey from discovering adaptive sports at the University of Illinois to launching a creative agency that centers disabled voices through authentic storytelling and inclusive marketing. He opens up about the challenges of building a business as a wheelchair user, the impact of his Disability Marketing Guide, and why empathy and representation are key to reshaping public perception.

You’ll hear how Team Trust Productions is growing, how Ryan balances entrepreneurship with health, and why he believes adaptive athletes should be recognized not for their struggles, but for their strength, skill, and spirit.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

• How media empowers adaptive athletes
• The story behind Team Trust Productions
• Challenges and wins in accessible entrepreneurship
• How inclusive storytelling connects brands with real impact
• Ideas for collaborating in the adaptive sports world

🌐 Want to work with Ryan or explore inclusive marketing?
Visit teamtrustproductions.com

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland highlights two incredible stories of perseverance and progress in the world of limb loss and mobility:

🏃‍♂️ From Tragedy to Olympic Dreams
After losing both legs in a devastating accident, one athlete is refusing to let adversity define him. He’s now chasing a spot in the Paralympic Games—training hard, staying focused, and inspiring others along the way.

🌍 Mission Gait: Changing How the World Walks Again
We also spotlight Mission Gait, an organization empowering patients and professionals through advanced gait rehabilitation programs. Their mission: help every person facing walking challenges regain independence and confidence—whether in local clinics or around the world.

✨ Whether you’re living with limb loss, work in the rehab field, or simply love a story of resilience, this episode is for you.

#DoubleAmputee #ParalympicHopeful #AdaptiveAthlete #AmputeeStrong #MissionGait #GaitRehabilitation #LimbLossAwareness #AmputeeInspiration #WeAreNotStumped #DisabilityAdvocate #ProstheticsJourney #WalkingAgain #ResilienceInMotion #AmputeeLife #InclusiveRecovery #PhysicalTherapyMatters #NeverGiveUp #RehabInnovation #DisabilityInclusion #OvercomingAdversity

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

In this powerful episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland speaks with Eric Ford, a resilient father and amputee whose life changed forever in 2009 after a drunk driver struck his car in Atlanta. Eric opens up about the aftermath of the crash, including enduring over a dozen surgeries, the emotional strain on his family, and the moment he chose amputation to reclaim his life.

Eric shares how he embraced a new path—navigating life with a prosthetic leg, diving into rehabilitation, and drawing strength from his children to keep moving forward. His story is a candid look at the realities of trauma, recovery, and the power of perseverance.

🎧 Topics in This Episode:

• Surviving a devastating car accident
• Elective amputation and the road to healing
• Adjusting to life with a prosthetic limb
• Mental health and emotional recovery
• Finding strength through fatherhood
• Tips for mobility and prosthetic adaptation
• Support systems for amputees

Whether you're living with limb loss, supporting a loved one, or simply drawn to stories of resilience, Eric’s journey will inspire and empower you.

👉 Like, Share & Subscribe to help amplify voices in the limb loss and prosthetics community.
🎥 Watch all episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCbgJBQruEYntQAqPE289MCteAPjy0vS6

#Amputee #ProstheticLeg #LimbLossRecovery #DrunkDrivingSurvivor #AmputationStory #AmputeeSupport #InspiringRecovery #AdaptiveLiving #WeAreNotStumped #MotivationalStories

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

Stevia Walker joins host Mike Bolland to share her remarkable story of survival and strength following a devastating car accident that left her with a fused cervical spine and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in her right hand. After exhaustive research and consultations, she chose to undergo amputation—supported by the compassionate care of Dr. Stephen Niedermeyer.

Stevia talks about rebuilding her life and how she uses her experiences to empower others, including her former career as a hair stylist and her current role as a Girl Scout leader. She also discusses her journey with prosthetics and her ongoing battle with phantom limb pain.

As a board member of the Dallas Amputee Network (DAN), Stevia shares insight into their advocacy work, monthly meetings, and the upcoming Legapalooza fundraiser. Founded in 2002 by Ellen Fernandes, DAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, mentoring, and guiding amputees, their families, and caregivers in the North Texas area. The organization promotes education, physical fitness, social interaction, and sharing resources to improve quality of life for the amputee community.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and community in the amputee world.

Dallas Amputee Network

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

What happens when we stop trying to “fix” disability—and start listening instead?

In this compelling episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes back Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon, a deaf researcher, speaker, and author of Disability is Human. Joined by ASL interpreters Amanda Ford and Steven Nugent, Dr. Cawthon dives into the lived realities of the disabled and Deaf communities—and what true inclusion really means.

From navigating hearing loss in a world with limited ASL access, to facing the “disability tax” and confronting stereotypes in the workplace, this conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard truths. They also explore personal identity, societal expectations, and how mentorship, mindset, and opportunity are just as vital as ramps and captions.

Whether you live with a disability or want to better understand those who do, this episode is a must-watch.

🔗 Get the book: Disability is Human https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Human-Vital-Accessibility-Everyday/dp/1954233299

❤️ Like, comment, and subscribe to support more authentic disability conversations.

#DeafCulture #DisabilityIsHuman #MikeBolland #ASLAccess #InclusionMatters #WereNotStumped #DisabilityAwareness #EquityNotCharity

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

What’s it like to grow up with a limb difference compared to losing a limb later in life? Host Mike Bolland—who was born without his right hand—dives into these two distinct paths, highlighting how they shape identity, resilience, and daily life.

Through personal insights and stories from guests like Stevia Walker, who became an amputee in 2023, Mike explores how both congenital and acquired limb loss present unique challenges—and unexpected common ground.

Whether you’re living with a limb difference, adjusting after an amputation, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers real talk, encouragement, and connection.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

In this heartfelt episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes actress, model, and disability advocate Jessica Frew. Born with cerebral palsy and using an eye gaze machine to communicate, Jess opens up about the emotional journey of finding her voice—from early hesitations and a painful regret about her late father to becoming a powerful force for disability awareness.

She and Mike discuss the challenges of being nonverbal in a world that often underestimates her, her experiences on the Runway of Dreams, and her mission to bring authentic disability representation to fashion and entertainment. Jess also introduces her book The Disabled, or the Nonverbal Princess and shares details about her upcoming love story and a TV pilot featuring an inter-abled couple.

Tune in for a moving conversation about identity, inclusion, and using your voice—however it sounds—to create change.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/

After a devastating motorcycle accident changed his life forever, Kijuan Amey could have stayed stuck in the question, “Why me?” Instead, he chose a path of healing, faith, and unshakable resilience. In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Kijuan shares the raw truth of his journey—from the trauma of blindness to the triumph of reclaiming purpose. Whether you’re facing your own setback or simply need a dose of inspiration, Kijuan’s story is a reminder that miracles are possible when you keep moving forward.

https://ameymotivation.com/

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/

Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/