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/
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
Season one is in the books! In this episode, I share highlights of all of the episodes that have been produced . What's next? You! Reach out to be on the podcast. Here are the links to previous episodes: [...]
In this episode of the We're not Stumped podcast, I have the honor of speaking with all four executive members of the Limb Care Foundation. The mission of Limb Care Foundation is to promote multidisciplinary approaches to limb salvage, [...]
John Higbee is a standup comedian in the Phoenix area and performs all over the state. His dry sense of humor and quick wit makes him a crowd favorite. While going to ASU as young man, his life changed [...]
