Over the past few weeks, I was fortunate to be featured by ABC15 and Arizona’s Family as I prepare for my return to PBA competition after more than 30 years away from the sport.
The television stories were fantastic, but as anyone who has ever done an interview knows, there’s always more that doesn’t make the final cut.
In this special solo episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, I share some of the stories, organizations, and experiences that didn’t make it into the TV segments, including:
• The mission behind the We’re Not Stumped podcast
• Joe & Marie Bolland’s Helping Hands and supporting people with limb loss and limb differences
• Enable Review and helping people make informed prosthetic care decisions
• Why this comeback is about much more than bowling
The bowling ball may have opened the door, but the real story is about service, community, resilience, and making the most of the opportunities life gives us.
Have a stump and a smile!
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
What happens when you step back into something you once loved… years later? In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, Mike Bolland shares the story behind his bowling comeback — from being the first person with limb loss to compete on the PBA Tour to stepping back onto the lanes with a new purpose. But this isn’t just about bowling. It's about shedding light on the things that are important to him - this podcast, his nonprofit and Enable Review. It’s never too late to chase something meaningful.
What happens when life changes in an instant—and you have to decide whether it defines you… or whether you redefine it? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Travis Sanders — master barber, entrepreneur, author, peer mentor, and above-knee amputee whose story is rooted in resilience, mindset, and purpose. After blood clots led to multiple surgeries and ultimately limb loss, Travis was forced to confront a completely different future. But instead of allowing that moment to define him, he made a powerful decision: He would redefine it. Just days after leaving the hospital, Travis returned to cutting hair — a moment that perfectly captures the determination and mindset that now fuels his mission to help others.
What does it mean to tell a story about limb loss… when you haven’t lived it yourself? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland—born without a right hand—sits down with author Jim Roberts to explore the decision to create a one-arm protagonist in his novel And Your Bird Can Sing. This conversation goes beyond writing. It’s about representation, authenticity, and what it truly means to feel seen. Jim shares how limb loss in his story became a powerful metaphor for grief, guilt, and forgiveness, set within a Southern Gothic coming-of-age journey through 1960s and 70s East Texas.
