Episode 4 — Loving from the Sidelines Part One (A Conversation with Mitch Bohn)

Welcome to the Pay Love Forward Podcast—where we share stories of the unsung heroes shaping the heart of Montana. I’m your host, Dr. Matthew Leavenworth, founder and director of Pay Love Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to building compassionate communities for the at-risk and underserved through mentorship.In this episode—the first of a two-part series titled “Loving from the Sidelines”—I sit down with Mitch Bohn, advocate, storyteller, and founder of Access Billings. Born with spina bifida, Mitch has spent his life navigating challenges most never see, becoming a powerful voice for accessibility, inclusion, and quiet perseverance.Fresh off his recent TED Talk, Mitch shared a line that has stayed with me:“We celebrate trophies, titles, promotions, and highlight reels—but the game isn’t the same without those who love it from the sidelines.”That sentiment became the heart of our conversation. Together, we talk about his talk, his podcast Wide Left Sports, his love for baseball, and his work amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. Beneath it all, this episode is about resilience, belonging, and the power of love expressed not through spotlight, but through presence.And there’s a special moment in this one—when my son Gentry joins the conversation. Gentry needs the world Mitch envisions: a world built on accessibility, compassion, and the simple belief that everyone belongs.Mitch reminds us that accessibility isn’t about charity—it’s about recognizing that every role matters. The sidelines, as he says, aren’t a place of limitation—they’re a place of strength.It’s my deepest honor to share his story. The world needs better stories—and Loving from the Sidelines is one of them.