In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland sits down with Janne Kouri, entrepreneur, founder of NextStep, and co-founder of Lencaro Finnish Long Drink.
Janne shares the incredible story of how a spinal cord injury from a swimming accident in 2006 changed the course of his life. After spending two months in the ICU battling paralysis, pneumonia, and a 104-degree fever, he traveled more than 2,000 miles to receive groundbreaking activity-based rehabilitation that wasn’t covered by insurance—but changed everything.
That experience inspired him to create NextStep, a nonprofit rehabilitation center that helps people living with paralysis access advanced therapy long after traditional insurance benefits end.
In this inspiring conversation, you’ll learn:
His 3,100-mile power wheelchair journey from California to Washington, D.C.
How he balances leading a nonprofit with building Loncaro Finnish Long Drink (https://loncaro.com/)
His vision for the future of rehabilitation and recovery
Whether you’re living with paralysis, navigating rehabilitation, supporting a loved one, or simply looking for a story of resilience and purpose, this conversation offers hope, practical insight, and inspiration.
Learn more about NextStep: https://www.nextstepfitness.org
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When should a limb be saved—and when might amputation provide a better quality of life? On this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland talks with podiatric surgeon Dr. Danny Ghannoum about limb salvage, diabetic foot complications, Charcot neuroarthropathy, bone infections, and the difficult decisions that can lead to lower-limb amputation. Dr. Ghannoum explains how diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, poor circulation, foot ulcers, and osteomyelitis can put a limb at risk. He also shares complex patient cases that illustrate an important point: saving a limb isn't always the same as achieving the best outcome for the patient.
What are you actually allowed to ask someone with a service dog? Do service dogs need paperwork? And what happens when businesses get the rules wrong? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland talks with upper-limb amputee Stevia Walker about service animals, disability, prosthetics, self-advocacy, and life after limb loss. Stevia shares an encounter at a hotel where employees demanded documentation for her service dog and incorrectly assumed the dog was an emotional support animal. She discusses what people and businesses should understand about service animals and why these interactions matter.
What does it take to overcome a challenge you've faced since birth? In this episode of We're Not Stumped, Mike Bolland welcomes Nathan Winston, who was born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD), a rare limb difference that led to the amputation of his left leg at the age of four. Nathan shares his incredible journey from adapting to life with a prosthetic to excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. His determination eventually carried him to the Little League World Series and into the ranks of professional baseball. Along the way, Nathan reflects on the challenges he faced, the resilience he developed, and the mindset that helped him keep moving forward—even when the path wasn't easy.
