In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Brooke Brown—a passionate advocate, spiritual wellness guide, and founder of Brooke’s Butterfly Touch. Brooke, who lives with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, shares how her journey led her to discover Reiki, energy healing, and the power of self-connection.
As an Ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona and host of the Rolling in Grace podcast, Brooke empowers others to live with purpose, embrace their uniqueness, and become their own biggest advocates. She shares her message of accessibility, inclusion, and disability visibility, along with the importance of assuming competence in every interaction.
💜 Brooke’s mission is simple but powerful: help others reconnect with their spirit, lead fulfilling lives, and see disability through a lens of strength, not limitation.
🎧 In this episode:
- Brooke’s journey with cerebral palsy
- Discovering Reiki and spiritual healing
- The story behind Brooke’s Butterfly Touch
- Her role as a UCP Ambassador
- The Rolling in Grace podcast and disability advocacy
- Why we must always assume competence and bless our differences
📹 Watch Brooke speak at Life Recovery Church:
Always Assume Competence – Blessing Our Differences
🦋 Learn more about Brooke:
https://brookesbutterflytouch.com/
👩🦼 UCP Ambassador Profile:
https://ucpofcentralaz.org/ambassadors/brooke-brown/
🎧 Listen to Rolling in Grace:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rolling-in-grace-podcast/id1674482810
If you’re passionate about disability advocacy, spiritual growth, or building a more inclusive world, this episode will uplift and inspire.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
What does it truly mean to be seen as fully human in a world that often overlooks disability? In this thought-provoking episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes back Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon—an acclaimed deaf author, speaker, and researcher—for an honest and insightful conversation about identity, accessibility, and belonging. With ASL interpreters Amanda Ford and Steven Nugent joining, Dr. Cawthon shares the personal and cultural impact of her book Disability is Human, a work that has deeply influenced Mike’s own journey.
What’s the difference between being born with a limb difference and losing a limb later in life? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland (born without a right hand) breaks down the emotional, physical, and social differences between congenital limb loss and adult amputation—two very different starting points that often lead to the same powerful resilience. Mike shares personal experiences, insights from recent guest interviews like Stevia Walker (who became an amputee in 2023), and stories from others who’ve learned to adapt and thrive no matter how their journey began. Whether you’ve lived with a limb difference your whole life, recently became an amputee, or support someone who has—this episode is for you.
What does it mean to truly be heard when you can’t speak? Jessica Frew, a nonverbal actress, model, and passionate disability advocate, joins We’re Not Stumped to share her powerful story of living with cerebral palsy and using an eye gaze device to communicate—a technology she began using at just nine years old. While Jess initially limited the device to school and close friends, she opens up about the emotional weight of using it publicly and the deeply personal regret of not speaking to her father through it before he passed away. Over time, Jess found strength in her voice and now uses it to educate, advocate, and challenge misconceptions about nonverbal individuals. She speaks with host Mike Bolland about the common experience of being talked down to or ignored—and how she responds with patience, courage, and relentless advocacy.
