Powering Through

In episode seven of Powering Through, host Jessie Owen – quadriplegic content creator and mom – welcomes Eric LeGrand, a former Rutgers University football player whose life was forever changed when a tackle left him paralyzed in 2010.

Since his injury, Eric has become a broadcaster, author, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and co-founder and host of the A Cup of bELieve podcast.

He has also raised millions of dollars for spinal cord injury research and opened several coffee shops. 

Living with a spinal cord injury is just one part of Eric’s story, while running many successful businesses and passion projects fills in the rest. Listen to Eric and Jessie discuss being a “roll model,” falling in love with coffee, and so much more.

Follow Eric’s journey: https://ericlegrand52.com/  

In episode 5 of Powering Through, host Jessie Owen, quadriplegic content creator and mom, welcomes Cole and Charisma Sydnor, the couple behind Roll with Cole & Charisma. 

For the past eight years, Cole and Charisma have documented their relationship and challenged assumptions made about marriage, love, disability, and caregiving.  

Together, Jessie, Cole, and Charisma explore the blurry line between being a spouse and being a caregiver, and what parenthood might look like for the couple as Cole prepares to become a dad living with spinal cord injury. More than anything, they show us that love doesn't always look exactly the way that you imagined – it’s better.  

Follow Cole and Charisma’s journey here.

In episode four of Powering Through, host Jessie Owen, quadriplegic content creator and mom, welcomes Mason Branstrator.  

Mason is one of the most recognizable voices in the online spinal cord injury community, where he shares the realities of living with SCI. 

Together, Jessie and Mason talk about chasing recovery and embracing adaptation, why peer mentors often become the greatest teachers, and how sharing the messy parts of life can often help others discover what's possible.  

Follow Mason’s journey: link.me/mason_branstrator 

On episode three of Powering Through, host Jessie Owen – a quadriplegic content creator and mom – connects with Cairo Smith.

Cairo is an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and storyteller whose life took a dramatic turn after a spinal cord injury three years ago. Together, Jessie and Cairo discuss Hollywood, community, building strong relationships, and balancing career with creative independence.

At the heart of their conversation is a question many of us might wrestle with: when you experience something life-changing, what parts of yourself survive?

Follow Cairo’s journey: https://cairosmith.com/

On episode two of Powering Through, host Jessie Owen, quadriplegic content creator and mom, chats with Rebecca Koltun.  

Rebecca is a social media creator, artist, and advocate who shares her life online with an incredible mix of dark humor, honesty, and vulnerability.  

In this conversation, Jessie and Rebecca discuss everything from caregivers and the loss of privacy, to traveling with a high-level spinal cord injury. Rebecca also opens up about dealing with internet trolls, being stared at in public, learning to paint with her mouth, and how she’s built a full and meaningful life after paralysis – without pretending any of it is easy. 

To follow Rebecca’s journey click here.

In the first episode of Powering Through, host Jessie Owen, quadriplegic content creator and mom, chats with Kenny Salvini.

Kenny is the founder of the Here and Now Project, a husband and dad, and has lived as a quadriplegic for over 20 years.

Jessie and Kenny discuss what it’s like to live with spinal cord injury – from the early years when you have no idea where to start, to how community changes everything. They discuss how even after some really dark seasons, you can build a life that you genuinely love.

For more information about the Here and Now project visit: https://www.hereandnowproject.org/

Get ready to hear real stories, real logistics, and real emotions from people living with spinal cord injury! 

The very first episode of Powering Through, our original podcast hosted by quadriplegic content creator and mom, Jessie Owen, is coming soon.

Each episode will explore what happens when identity, independence, and your imagined future shift overnight. It’s real, unfiltered conversations about adapting, finding community, and creating a life that’s genuinely worth showing up for.

Check out this preview to the very first episode of PoweringThrough with Kenny Salvini and follow now to be the first to listen to it when it drops!