In the first episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, I’m very honored to have Nicole Kelly as a guest. Like me, Nicole is an congenital amputee of an upper extremity. Nicole was Miss Iowa 2013 and competed in the Miss America Contest in 2014 and she talks about that experience in this podcast. Nicole was also featured on the The Today Show as well as countless other shows and platforms. She has a masters degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University and and has proudly spoken at hundreds of K-12 schools and given educational lectures at universities across the country. Nicole has spoken at corporations including Google, Microsoft, Allstate, and Riot Games. She now works for Coapt, the maker of Complete Control advanced pattern recognition myoelectric control technology for upper limb prosthetics. In this video she will demonstrate her incredible prosthetic made possible by the great team at Coapt. If you are an amputee, a family member of a person with limb loss or a person in the support community, I would love to have you on the show. Please contact mike@mikebolland.com to be considered as a guest.
More Info
Nicole Kelly website: https://www.missnicolegkelly.com
Coapt website: https://coaptengineering.com/
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In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Shawn Johnson, founder and executive director of Enhancing Skills for Life, and Mike St. Onge, board chairman and quadruple amputee, to explore the organization’s inspiring mission and impact. Shawn, an occupational therapist with nearly three decades of prosthetic and rehabilitation experience, shares how Enhancing Skills for Life grew from its first workshop in 2002 into a global community serving people living without both arms or all four limbs. Mike reflects on his personal journey as a quadruple amputee, highlighting the strength of peer support and empowerment in rebuilding independence. Discover how this nonprofit is transforming lives through: ✅ Workshops and skill-building events ✅ Adaptive equipment resources like the “Hands-Free Catalog” ✅ Scholarships, mentorship, and international participation ✅ Exciting future collaborations and upcoming workshops Whether you’re part of the limb loss community or simply inspired by stories of resilience and hope, this conversation is packed with insight and heart.
In 2013, Armeda Batchler made the life-altering decision to amputate her left leg above the knee after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma—just months after becoming a new mother. Determined to push forward, she balanced recovery, parenting, and work with remarkable strength. Yet behind the resilience, Armeda faced hidden struggles: depression, isolation, and the difficulty of asking for help. Over time, she discovered the healing power of connection, rebuilding a local amputee support group and embracing advocacy to support others walking a similar path. In this heartfelt conversation, Armeda opens up about her cancer journey, the challenges of raising her daughter while adapting to limb loss, and how hope and community helped her transform struggle into purpose.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland examines leadership at the Amputee Coalition. Between 2019 and 2022, CEO compensation jumped 107%. Cass Isidro led the organization from February 2023 until August 22, 2025. While reliable sources say she did a good job, Mike discusses why long-term leadership is vital for the limb loss community—highlighting the value of someone deeply committed to the cause rather than viewing the role as a career step. He also shares why he personally would not seek recommendation letters for the Certified Peer Visitor program.
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