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.
Marc also shares why amputee athletes should be treated as athletes first — not charity cases — and his vision for future prosthetic innovation.
Mike also introduces Enable Review, a platform where amputees can share honest experiences about prosthetists to help others navigating limb loss find better care.
This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, sport, leadership, and redefining what’s possible.
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The Amputee Coalition is undergoing another major transition with the resignation of President & CEO Cass Isidro, who announced her last day will be August 22nd. In her farewell message, Isidro stated that her work had been about “restoring the Amputee Coalition to its original purpose with deeper community engagement.” That statement raises difficult questions: 👉 Why did the Coalition need to be “restored” in the first place? 👉 Has the organization lost focus on directly serving amputees? 👉 What does this leadership change mean for peer support, advocacy, and resources moving forward? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland dives into the resignation news, shares community concerns, and examines whether the Amputee Coalition is truly on track to support the limb loss and limb difference community—or if amputees should be worried about its direction. Listeners are invited to join the conversation as the podcast takes on tough questions about the Coalition’s mission, leadership, and future.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Meegan Winters, CEO and founder of AbleVu, the innovative accessibility search platform making the world easier to navigate for everyone. Meegan shares her inspiring journey—from special education teacher to tech entrepreneur—and how her friendship with Jessica, a power wheelchair user, sparked her mission to improve accessibility for all. Mike and Meegan explore AbleVu’s evolution from virtual tours to a “TripAdvisor for accessibility,” the business model that empowers contributors, and why accessible information benefits both consumers and businesses. Along the way, Meegan opens up about leaving a stable career, overcoming the challenges of building a startup, and the fulfillment that comes from creating real-world impact. Discover how technology and empathy intersect to make the world more inclusive.
Podcast host Mike Bolland is looking to connect with individuals willing to share their experiences with prosthetists and prosthetic care. If you’ve ever faced challenges with a prosthetist, received a prosthetic that didn’t meet your needs, or discovered a provider who went above and beyond, your story can make a difference. On his show, We’re Not Stumped, Mike engages in open, honest conversations about life with limb loss, prosthetics, and advocacy. His mission is to give a voice to the limb loss community, spotlight real experiences — both the good and the bad — and work toward improving the system for everyone. Mike invites you to be part of this important dialogue, knowing that your insights could help others navigate their own prosthetic journeys with greater confidence and support. 📩 Interested in being a guest? Visit: https://werenotstumped.com/were-not-stumped-limb-loss-podcast-guest-guide/
