We're Not Stumped | Survival Stories, Disability Stories & Recovery Journeys Podcast

Rachel Kubicki, Executive Director of the Hanger Foundation, joins Mike Bolland to discuss the organization's mission of empowering people with physical challenges to live life as fully as possible.

With more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Rachel shares how the Foundation has expanded its impact through scholarships, nonprofit grants, community events, and innovative fundraising efforts. She discusses Move to Inspire, EmpowerFest, and the upcoming Night to Inspire event in Nashville, all designed to create opportunities, build connections, and inspire achievement within the limb loss and limb difference community.

Rachel also shares powerful stories of individuals who have overcome obstacles, reached unexpected milestones, and discovered the life-changing value of community support.

In this episode:

• The mission of the Hanger Foundation
• Move to Inspire and EmpowerFest events
• Scholarships and nonprofit grant programs
• Building community after limb loss or limb difference
• Inspiring success stories from across the country
• How supporters can get involved and make a difference

Whether you're part of the limb loss community, a caregiver, healthcare professional, or someone who appreciates stories of resilience and possibility, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Learn more about the Hanger Foundation at hangerfoundation.org.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

After more than 30 years away from competitive bowling, I’m discovering that some things have changed—and some things haven’t.

In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, I share three things that surprised me as I prepare for my return to competition at the 2026 PBA60 World Championship.

•  The body doesn’t work quite the same at 61. 
•  Some instincts and memories never really leave. 
•  And one unexpected encounter reminded me that people still remember my days on the PBA Tour. 

This episode isn’t about scores or equipment. It’s about rediscovering a part of my life I thought was behind me and finding out what’s still possible when you decide to take one more run.

As the first person with limb loss to compete on the PBA Tour, I hope this conversation encourages you to revisit a dream, try something again, or simply remember that it’s never too late to surprise yourself.

Have a stump and a smile! 🎳

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

From Vision Loss to Inspiration | Helen Keller Achievement Award Recipient Kathy Nimmer

What happens when you begin losing your vision as a child—and refuse to let it define your future?

In this inspiring episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Kathy Nimmer, recipient of the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award, author, speaker, and retired high school English teacher who spent nearly three decades educating and inspiring students while living with blindness.

Kathy shares her remarkable journey of progressive vision loss caused by a rare retinal degenerative disease, the challenges she faced along the way, and the resilience that helped her build a life filled with purpose, achievement, and impact.

In this episode, Kathy discusses:

• Growing up with gradual vision loss and adapting to change
• Teaching high school English for nearly 30 years as a blind educator
• Overcoming depression, anorexia, and uncertainty about the future
• The role of advocacy, family support, and disability representation
• Pursuing mountain climbing, writing, public speaking, and teaching
• Employment challenges facing people who are blind or visually impaired
• Practical advice for families navigating vision loss and disability

Kathy also shares insights from her latest book, Two Plus Four Equals One, an anthology celebrating the unique bond between people with disabilities and their assistance dogs.

This powerful conversation is a reminder that while circumstances may change, purpose, passion, and perseverance can help us achieve far more than we ever imagined.

Learn more about Kathy at KathyNimmer.com and visit WereNotStumped.com for more inspiring stories of resilience, determination, and living without limits.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

Host Mike Bolland welcomes Whitney Lavender — Miss Wheelchair Tennessee 2026, author, advocate, and host of the Wits Grit podcast — for an inspiring conversation about resilience, purpose, and overcoming unimaginable challenges.

After a devastating fall led to a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Whitney faced years of severe pain, countless treatments, and ultimately bilateral leg amputations. Rather than allowing adversity to define her, she rebuilt her life and discovered a new purpose through advocacy, storytelling, and empowering others.

In this episode, Mike and Whitney discuss:

• Living with CRPS and chronic pain
• Whitney’s amputation journey and recovery
• Phantom pain and adapting to life with prosthetics
• Overcoming depression and rebuilding confidence
• The importance of support and community
• Adaptive sports and accessibility advocacy
• Whitney’s children’s book and podcast Wits Grit
• Her journey to becoming Miss Wheelchair Tennessee 2026

Whitney’s story is a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges can sometimes reveal strengths we never knew we had.

 Whitney's Website: https://www.whitneylavender.com/ Whit & Wheels: A Journey of Courage: https://www.amazon.com/Whit-Wheels-Journey-Whitney-Lavender/dp/1959955683/ 

🎙 Learn more about We're Not Stumped and subscribe for more stories of resilience, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

Ever since announcing his return to competitive bowling, Mike Bolland has been getting one question after another from friends, bowlers, podcast listeners, and people discovering his story for the first time.

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike answers the top three questions he keeps hearing:

🎳 How did he start bowling?
🎳 Why did he walk away from the sport?
🎳 Why is he coming back now at 61 years old?

Mike shares the story behind becoming the first person with limb loss to compete on the PBA Tour, the life experiences that pulled him away from bowling, and how volunteering with Arizona Disabled Sports unexpectedly helped inspire his comeback journey toward the PBA60 World Championship.

This episode is about much more than bowling. It’s about reinvention, resilience, identity, and realizing it’s never too late to take one more shot at something meaningful.

And Mike wants your questions too.

Leave a comment or message with what you’d like him to answer in a future comeback episode.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

What happens when you step back into something you once loved… years later?

In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, Mike Bolland shares the story behind his bowling comeback — from being the first person with limb loss to compete on the PBA Tour to stepping back onto the lanes with a new purpose.

But this isn’t just about bowling.

It’s about rediscovering confidence, overcoming fear, finding purpose again, and proving that it’s never too late to chase something meaningful.

Whether you’re an athlete, someone facing adversity, or simply trying to find your way back to something you once loved — this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for more stories from the limb loss and disability community.

#Bowling #PBA #BowlingComeback #Amputee #DisabilityAwareness #WereNotStumped #AdaptiveSports #Motivation #Resilience #PBA60 #MikeBolland

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

What happens when life changes in an instant—and you have to decide whether it defines you… or whether you redefine it?

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Travis Sanders — master barber, entrepreneur, author, peer mentor, and above-knee amputee whose story is rooted in resilience, mindset, and purpose.

After blood clots led to multiple surgeries and ultimately limb loss, Travis was forced to confront a completely different future. But instead of allowing that moment to define him, he made a powerful decision:

He would redefine it.

Just days after leaving the hospital, Travis returned to cutting hair — a moment that perfectly captures the determination and mindset that now fuels his mission to help others.

Mike and Travis discuss:

• The mental and emotional battle during recovery
• Returning to work immediately after surgery
• His new book, Path of Resilience Journal
• The importance of peer mentoring and support groups
• Helping amputees rebuild confidence and purpose
• Why mindset and community matter after trauma

Today, Travis mentors fellow amputees through hospital visits, support groups, and encouragement rooted in lived experience — proving that resilience is something built one day at a time.

 🔗 Connect & Learn More 

📍 Hair by Travis Sanders: https://www.haircutsbytravis.com/ 

📘 Path of Resilience Journal: https://a.co/d/00avjtCT 

🌐 Instagram: @resilience_forge 

🌐 Enable Review: Real reviews for prosthetic care: https://enablereview.com/ 

Subscribe to We’re Not Stumped for more real stories from the limb loss and disability community.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

What does it mean to tell a story about limb loss… when you haven’t lived it yourself?

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland—born without a right hand—sits down with author Jim Roberts to explore the decision to create a one-arm protagonist in his novel And Your Bird Can Sing.

This conversation goes beyond writing. It’s about representation, authenticity, and what it truly means to feel seen.

Jim shares how limb loss in his story became a powerful metaphor for grief, guilt, and forgiveness, set within a Southern Gothic coming-of-age journey through 1960s and 70s East Texas.

Together, Mike and Jim dive into:
 • Writing characters with experiences different from your own
 • The responsibility of representation in storytelling
 • Using physical loss as emotional metaphor
 • Balancing authenticity with creative freedom
 • The challenges of publishing meaningful literary fiction

Jim also reflects on his late-in-life writing journey and why telling stories that matter is worth the uphill battle.

This is a thoughtful and honest discussion about voice, visibility, and the impact of storytelling—especially for communities that don’t always see themselves represented.

🔗 Learn more about Jim Roberts: https://jimrobertsfiction.com/

🎧 Follow We’re Not Stumped for more real conversations on resilience, disability, and the human experience.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

What happens when your life changes overnight—and you have to rebuild from the ground up?

In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Melinda Preciado, a former ER professional turned disability advocate, about her life-changing journey after becoming an above-knee amputee in 2021 following a rare and devastating medical complication.

Melinda shares the realities of life after amputation, challenges with prosthetics and accessibility, misconceptions about disability benefits, and why advocacy matters. She also opens up about social support, finding community through Miss Wheelchair, and using her story to inspire others.

An honest conversation about resilience, identity, and discovering strength beyond limits.

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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

What happens after an amputee faces cancer and must rebuild life from scratch?

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Kim Ousley to share her powerful amputee story—from a synovial sarcoma diagnosis to limb loss, recovery, and becoming a leader in amputee support and advocacy.

Kim opens up about:

•  Her cancer journey and decision to amputate 
•  The emotional and physical realities of limb loss 
•  The importance of peer support in the amputee community 
•  Her work with the Amputee Coalition and global amputee resources 
•  Aging as an amputee, including prosthetics, mobility, and long-term health 
•  Turning personal experience into advocacy, writing, and purpose 

As a certified peer support visitor and advocate, Kim is helping others navigate life after amputation with honesty, resilience, and real-world insight.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in amputee life, disability, recovery after limb loss, and stories of overcoming adversity.

Kim's website: https://kowriter66.wordpress.com/

Send Mike a Message!

Support the show

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

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