In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Risa August — cancer survivor, author, patient advocate, and TEDx speaker — to talk about transforming adversity into impact.
Risa shares her journey after being diagnosed with acromegaly, the life-altering treatments she endured, and how she rebuilt her life with courage, mindset, and purpose. From losing her identity to riding 1,845 miles from Canada to Mexico, Risa proves that resilience can create extraordinary new beginnings.
They also discuss:
• The long-term effects of cancer treatment and radiation
• Risa’s award-winning memoir “The Road Unpaved”
• Her TEDx talk “How a Single Word Can Rebuild Your Life”
• Her work as a Gestalt coach and patient advocate
Plus, Risa reveals exciting news about her memoir being adapted into a feature film set for production in 2027.
This conversation is about more than survival — it’s about finding purpose, shifting your mindset, and helping others rise after life’s greatest challenges.
🎙️ Subscribe for more stories of strength, disability empowerment, adaptive living, and thriving beyond adversity.
Risa August: https://www.risaaugust.com/
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Angie Sandow was born with one hand and Poland syndrome—but that hasn't stopped her from riding motorcycles, playing guitar, performing onstage, and finding plenty of reasons to laugh along the way. In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland reconnects with Angie for a candid and often funny conversation about growing up with a limb difference, dealing with bullying and unwanted attention, and learning to turn difficult experiences into something positive. Angie shares how music became an important part of her life, including performing with bands and using a custom prosthetic guitar holder. She also talks about becoming a one-handed motorcycle rider and the modifications that allow her to ride, including moving the throttle to the left side.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Vincent about his extraordinary recovery—relearning how to walk, talk, eat, and handle everyday tasks most of us take for granted. Vincent shares what it was really like to gradually wake from a coma, the difficult prognosis his family faced, and the extensive damage to his skull that eventually required a custom 3D-printed implant. He also discusses the people who refused to give up on him, particularly his wife and family, who lived through weeks of uncertainty while Vincent was unconscious. Through his recovery, Vincent came to see resilience not simply as something you're born with, but as something you can develop and strengthen. That experience also helped shape the ideas behind his book, Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s Done
What happens when the limb loss community, prosthetics professionals, nonprofits, and supporters come together for a weekend built around giving back? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland talks with Rob Pittman of Hanger, Chairman of the Hanger Foundation’s Night to Inspire, about the upcoming 2026 Night to Inspire in Nashville, Tennessee. Now in its third year, Night to Inspire is expanding into a full weekend experience designed to raise funds, build awareness, and support organizations helping people with limb loss, limb difference, and mobility challenges.
