Robert Rodriguez: Growing Up With Limb Difference, Adaptive Sports & Leading With Love

Adaptive athlete and motivational speaker Robert Rodriguez, also known as Robert Anthony, joins Mike Bolland on We’re Not Stumped for a conversation about growing up with limb difference, finding confidence through sports, and supporting others through limb loss.

Born with fibular hemimelia, Robert shares the physical and social challenges he faced as a child, including bullying and barriers in sports. He reflects on his family’s support and his path into amputee soccer, paratriathlon, and beach volleyball.

Mike and Robert also challenge the assumption that experiencing limb loss early in life means someone automatically has it easier—or has less to offer a person navigating a recent amputation.

The conversation explores:

• Building confidence and connection through adaptive sports
• Peer support and helping others adjust to limb loss
• Robert’s work as a patient care manager at Hanger
• Changes in prosthetic technology over his lifetime
• His “Lead with Love” philosophy
• Finding purpose through volunteering, speaking, and community service

Robert shares why listening, showing up, and leading with compassion matter—and why someone’s age at amputation doesn’t tell their whole story.

Robert’s website: https://www.robertanthony.us

Follow We’re Not Stumped with Mike Bolland for more conversations about limb loss, limb difference, disability, and life on your own terms.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Spotify

  • Jessica Cox: School, Driving, Prosthetics & Becoming a Pilot | We're Not Stumped Podcast

February 25th, 2025|

A must listen! In this dynamic episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland speaks with Jessica Cox, a pioneering pilot, martial artist, and motivational speaker born without arms. Jessica shares her journey of overcoming challenges, embracing independence, and inspiring others worldwide. She reflects on her childhood, the support of her parents, and her decision to forgo prosthetics in favor of using her feet. She recounts her fight to regain her driver’s license after unfair scrutiny, a moment that reinforced her resilience. Jessica also discusses earning her black belt in Taekwondo and becoming the world’s first armless pilot—turning fear into empowerment. Through her nonprofit, Right Footed Foundation International, Jessica mentors children without arms, encouraging them to chase their dreams. Looking ahead, she aims to build her own plane for greater independence. This episode is a testament to determination, self-belief, and living without limits. Don’t miss this powerful conversation!

  • Who is Infinite Flow Dance

February 20th, 2025|

Post-amputation pain can be debilitating, but a new treatment called hydrodissection is showing promise in providing relief. In this episode of We're Not Stumped, we explore this groundbreaking therapy and its potential to improve the lives of amputees. Hydrodissection is a relatively new and promising treatment for post-amputation pain, particularly for neuroma-related pain and phantom limb pain. Here’s how it compares to other common pain treatments for amputees. Mike Bolland also shines a spotlight on Infinite Dance Flow, an inclusive dance company that is redefining what it means to move, featuring dancers of all abilities.

  • Allison Sweet Grant author: I Am The Cage

February 18th, 2025|

In this episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland welcomes Allison Sweet Grant, author of I Am The Cage, a powerful novel inspired by her own medical experiences. Allison shares her journey of undergoing the Lizarov limb-lengthening procedure as a teenager and how those experiences shaped her writing. Like her protagonist Elisabeth, Allison grappled with feelings of isolation, a lack of agency, and the struggle to be heard in a confusing healthcare system. She opens up about translating her personal trauma into fiction, creating a character who faces her own battles with bodily autonomy and self-forgiveness.

By |October 27th, 2026|Limb Loss Due To Medical Condition, Lower Limb Amputees|Comments Off on Robert Rodriguez: Growing Up With Limb Difference, Adaptive Sports & Leading With Love

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Go to Top