What happens when we stop deciding what someone is capable of—and give them the opportunity to lead?
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland welcomes Nathan Kennedy of Upstream Fitness, Chris Kocurek, and Chris’s son, Cameron ‘Coach Cam’ Kocurek.
Cameron, who has Down syndrome, began gymnastics as a child and later competed in Special Olympics and unified gymnastics. Today, he is using the confidence, communication skills, and discipline he developed as an athlete to help coach others at Upstream Fitness.
Nathan explains how Upstream Fitness uses movement, games, coaching cards, and step-by-step instruction to make exercise more accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chris shares Cameron’s journey from athlete to assistant PE coach—and his continued progress toward meaningful employment and greater independence.
In this conversation:
• Cameron’s growth through gymnastics and adaptive sports
• How Coach Cam connects with and leads fitness participants
• Nathan’s journey from boxing and powerlifting to inclusive coaching
• Making fitness accessible for people with autism and Down syndrome
• Creating meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities
• Building confidence, strength, independence, and belonging
• Upstream Fitness’s plans for coaching certifications and expansion
This episode is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people with disabilities are given genuine opportunities to contribute, lead, and succeed.
Learn more about Upstream Fitness:
https://upstream-fitness.com/
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Stacy and Courtney Walker are proving that teamwork knows no limits. As the only known mother-daughter duo in wheelchair power soccer, they proudly represent Arizona Heat Power Soccer—competing, training, and pushing boundaries together on and off the court. Their journey is about more than just the game. It’s about resilience, family, and the power of adaptive sports to change lives. On this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Stacy and Courtney to share their story—how they got involved in power soccer, what it’s like competing side by side, and what being part of Arizona Heat Power Soccer truly means. Now, they’re working toward their next big goal: competing at Power Soccer Nationals.
What does it take to turn a life challenge into a lifelong passion for sports and coaching? On this episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Marc Burkom, a double below-knee amputee born with fibular hemimelia who has built a life around athletics, coaching, and helping others reach their potential. Marc shares how his parents made the difficult decision to amputate his feet when he was just two months old — a choice that allowed him to grow up active in sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball. Today, Marc works in coaching education and advocates for expanding opportunities for adaptive and amputee athletes. In this conversation, Marc and Mike discuss growing up with prosthetics, the role sports played in building confidence, coaching amputee soccer, adaptive sports like amputee basketball, and how prosthetic technology has evolved over the years.
In this deeply moving episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Scott Martin, a bilateral hand amputee, soccer coach, and author of the upcoming memoir Play From Your Heart. Scott opens up about the life-altering infection in 1993 that led to the loss of both hands and parts of his feet, and the emotional aftermath that followed. He speaks honestly about denial, detachment, and the five-year struggle with depression that tested his identity, confidence, and purpose.
