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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In this impactful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland dives into the second “A” of his Triple A’s of Limb Loss — Advocacy. Drawing from his own experience as someone born without a right hand, Mike explores how individuals in the limb loss and disability communities are using their voices to influence change, break down stigma, and fight for equal access and opportunity. Through heartfelt stories and eye-opening insights, this episode highlights: What advocacy looks like — from everyday conversations to systemic reform How sharing your personal journey can empower others and drive awareness The importance of representation in healthcare, employment, media, and beyond Ways listeners can get involved, speak up, and support the disability community Because when you find your community, you’re never stumped.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Brooke Brown—a passionate advocate, spiritual wellness guide, and founder of Brooke’s Butterfly Touch. Brooke, who lives with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, shares how her journey led her to discover Reiki, energy healing, and the power of self-connection. As an Ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona and host of the Rolling in Grace podcast, Brooke empowers others to live with purpose, embrace their uniqueness, and become their own biggest advocates. She shares her message of accessibility, inclusion, and disability visibility, along with the importance of assuming competence in every interaction.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland introduces the first part of his personal “Triple A’s” philosophy: Alone, Advocacy, and Attitude. Today’s focus is on that first word—Alone—a stage that many people experience after limb loss but rarely talk about openly. Mike, a congenital amputee and cancer survivor, shares what it means to feel alone physically, emotionally, and socially after amputation—and why that feeling doesn’t have to last forever. He explores practical, real-world solutions that help amputees take their first steps toward healing, including: The power of peer support and community How therapy and mental health resources can help Adaptive sports and creative outlets to rediscover purpose Navigating prosthetics, rehab, and daily independence Rebuilding identity and reclaiming confidence Whether you’re newly navigating limb loss or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that you’re never truly alone. Hope, connection, and healing are all within reach.
