In this compelling episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Steven Vine for a raw, honest, and deeply human conversation about survival, disability, and rebuilding life after everything changes. Steven shares how a sudden medical emergency in 2016—caused by an undiagnosed genetic heart condition—led to a near-fatal aneurysm and a six-month coma. He awoke blind, a right above-knee amputee, living with an ostomy bag, and navigating chronic pain.
Before his medical crisis, Steven was a nationally ranked teenage track and field athlete who idolized Steve Prefontaine and later owned and operated a fine dining Italian restaurant. In this episode, he reflects on the physical, emotional, and psychological toll of disability, including depression, anger, opioid use and withdrawal, and the loss of relationships—while also sharing how caregiving support helped him reclaim independence.
Steven explains how his recovery inspired him to launch The Disability Diaries podcast, creating space for honest conversations that help people feel seen and less alone. The episode also explores listening to health warning signs, adapting to blindness, managing chronic pain, and redefining purpose. Steven closes by sharing updates on his upcoming memoir, Beyond These Green Eyes, and his mission to use storytelling as a tool for connection, resilience, and hope.
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Host Mike Bolland sits down with Risa August — cancer survivor, author, patient advocate, and TEDx speaker — to talk about transforming adversity into impact. Risa shares her journey after being diagnosed with acromegaly, the life-altering treatments she endured, and how she rebuilt her life with courage, mindset, and purpose. From losing her identity to riding 1,845 miles from Canada to Mexico, Risa proves that resilience can create extraordinary new beginnings. This conversation is about more than survival — it’s about finding purpose, shifting your mindset, and helping others rise after life’s greatest challenges.
In this powerful and reflective episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Terry Tucker, author of Four Truths and a Lie, for a deep conversation about mindset, mental toughness, and what it truly means to live a significant life. Terry shares the philosophy behind his latest book, which challenges common definitions of success rooted in money, status, and material achievement. Instead, he invites listeners to rethink success through the lens of service, responsibility, and impact on others. At the heart of his message is one foundational truth: if you don’t control your mind, it will control you.
In this eye-opening episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland speaks with Dr. Kevin Lee, a vascular and interventional radiologist at Georgia Endovascular, about why so many amputations don’t have to happen. Dr. Lee explains how misdiagnosed or untreated peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of the leading causes of limb loss—especially among veterans, older adults, and people living with diabetes. He shares how minimally invasive endovascular procedures can restore blood flow, reduce pain, and help patients avoid amputation when disease is caught early.
