In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Karen Morales, a wheelchair user and leader of Fora Travel’s Accessibility Initiative, to discuss how the travel industry can become more inclusive for everyone.
After becoming a wheelchair user in 2020, Karen quickly discovered that planning an accessible trip often meant endless phone calls, unanswered questions, and uncertainty about whether hotels, transportation, and attractions would truly meet her needs. Rather than accepting those challenges, she helped create an initiative that’s training hundreds of travel advisors to better serve travelers with disabilities and other accessibility needs.
Mike and Karen discuss:
- Why accessible travel is about confidence—not limitations.
- The biggest obstacles travelers with disabilities still face.
- How hotels and airlines can create better experiences.
- Why accessible travel benefits far more people than you might think.
- Practical advice for planning your first accessible trip.
Karen also shares how adaptive skiing and travel helped her reclaim a sense of freedom after becoming a wheelchair user, and why she believes everyone deserves the opportunity to explore the world.
Whether you’re living with a disability, traveling with a loved one, or work in the travel industry, this conversation offers practical insights and an inspiring reminder that travel should be accessible to everyone.
- Karen IG — https://www.instagram.com/gojoyward/
- Karen LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-morales-157b412/
- Fora IG — https://www.instagram.com/foratravel/?hl=en
- Fora LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/foratravel/
- Fora Website — https://www.foratravel.com/
- Karen Fora Page — https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/karen-morales
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What if surgery and virtual reality could dramatically reduce phantom limb pain? On this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Dr. Glenn Gaston, orthopedic hand and upper-extremity surgeon, to explore groundbreaking innovations in amputee care — including the Starfish Procedure and a virtual reality treatment for phantom limb pain. Dr. Gaston shares how a life-changing patient experience led him to build a dedicated amputee clinic and push beyond century-old methods of care He also shares his journey into amputee care, the inspiration behind his innovations, and why collaboration between surgeons, prosthetists, therapists, and mental health professionals is shaping the future of limb loss recovery.
Lera Doederlein joins Mike Bolland on We’re Not Stumped to share a powerful story of choosing possibility. Born with AMC (arthrogryposis multiplex congenita), Lera grew up in Phoenix using braces and forearm crutches while navigating school, friendships, and the quiet realization that sports might look different for her. As a teenager, she made the bold decision to pursue double above-knee amputations in order to gain independence and improve long-term mobility—and it transformed her life. Lera walks us through the realities of recovery and physical therapy, learning to use prosthetics, and the moment a clinician pushed her beyond her comfort zone—encouraging her to run just a week after she started walking. She also shares why community matters so much, from Camp No Limits to Hanger events and amputee boot camps that helped her build confidence and momentum.
In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike talks with John Cooper, a physical therapist assistant with 18 years of experience, about his journey into physical therapy and his passion for working with lower-limb amputees. John shares how his grandfather’s recovery from brain surgery sparked his career, and how close collaboration with prosthetists helps him address the real-world challenges amputees face every day. He explains why patience matters in rehab, why quality beats quantity in therapy sessions, and how setbacks can become powerful turning points.
