What can 250 conversations teach us about disability, connection, and belonging? Mike Bolland celebrates the 250th episode of We’re Not Stumped with the person who helped start it all—his first-ever guest, Nicole Marti.
Now Event Support Manager at the Amputee Coalition, Nicole turns the questions on Mike as they reflect on four years of sharing stories about limb loss, limb difference, and the broader disability community.
Mike discusses how the podcast has changed his perspective, why mental and emotional challenges deserve more attention, and what returning to competitive bowling after cancer taught him about taking the shot anyway.
Nicole also previews the 2027 Amputee Coalition National Conference in Las Vegas, including a Story Slam hosted by Mike and plans for live podcast recordings.
The episode opens with a tribute to former guests Dr. Eric Gabriel and Karlene Martinez, honoring their lives and the stories they shared.
In this episode:
• Remembering Dr. Eric Gabriel and Karlene Martinez
• Welcoming back our first guest, Nicole Marti
• Lessons from 250 episodes of honest conversations
• Limb loss, limb difference, peer support, and belonging
• Disability representation and “inspiration porn”
• Competitive bowling and facing the fear of failure
• Building connections through the Amputee Coalition
Hear the stories of our remembered guests:
Dr. Eric Gabriel: https://youtu.be/eOz9JGHyQYc
Karlene Martinez: https://youtu.be/i1ILaBBAIB4
Thank you to every guest and listener who has helped us reach 250 episodes. Follow We’re Not Stumped for more conversations about living with limb loss, limb differences, and disabilities.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
Mike Bolland celebrates 250 episodes of We’re Not Stumped by welcoming back his first guest, Nicole Marti. Now Event Support Manager at the Amputee Coalition, Nicole turns the questions on Mike for a conversation about disability, community, and belonging. Together, they explore lessons from sharing stories, the importance of emotional support, and finding courage to take chances. Mike reflects on returning to competitive bowling after cancer, while Nicole previews the 2027 Amputee Coalition National Conference in Las Vegas. The episode also honors former guests Dr. Eric Gabriel and Karlene Martinez, remembering their lives and the lasting impact of their stories.
Adaptive athlete and motivational speaker Robert Rodriguez, also known as Robert Anthony, joins Mike Bolland on We’re Not Stumped for a conversation about growing up with limb difference, finding confidence through sports, and supporting others through limb loss. Born with fibular hemimelia, Robert shares the physical and social challenges he faced as a child, including bullying and barriers in sports. He reflects on his family’s support and his path into amputee soccer, paratriathlon, and beach volleyball. Mike and Robert also challenge the assumption that experiencing limb loss early in life means someone automatically has it easier—or has less to offer a person navigating a recent amputation.
Does being born with a limb difference—or experiencing amputation as a child—mean you have it easier? In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland challenges an assumption that can leave people feeling dismissed within their own community. Born without a right hand, Mike shares why physical adaptation tells only part of the story. Through his podcast and community work, he’s met people whose experiences include bullying, employment barriers, relationship challenges, and depression. While these experiences don’t all reflect his own journey, they deserve acknowledgment. Acquiring a disability later in life brings its own challenges, including grief and adjustment. Recognizing those experiences doesn’t require minimizing the challenges of congenital limb difference or childhood limb loss. This episode invites us to listen more closely, question what we assume about others, and support one another without ranking whose journey is harder.
