NubAblilty Athletics: Sam Kuhnert’s Journey to Empower Limb-Different Youth Through Sports

In this episode of Small Town Big Business, hosts Deb Barnett and Russell Williams interview Sam Kuhnert, the founder of NubAbility, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering limb-different youth through sports. Sam shares his inspiring journey growing up in Du Quoin, Illinois, where he overcame skepticism and adversity due to his limb difference. Despite being told he wouldn't succeed in sports, Sam pursued his passion for baseball, proving his doubters wrong with hard work and resilience. His experiences, including being cut from his middle school baseball teams and battling a rare and life-threatening disease, fueled his drive to create NubAbility. NubAbility began after Sam attended a camp for limb-different kids, where he realized the importance of mentorship. Today, NubAbility hosts sports camps across the U.S., providing mentorship from limb-different athletes who encourage kids to embrace challenges. Sam credits his faith and his family, especially his mother, for instilling resilience and supporting him through difficult times. He emphasizes the value of persistence and self-belief, encouraging listeners to face obstacles directly and turn failures into steps toward success. The episode concludes with details on how to support NubAbility, including visiting their website for donations and camp information. The hosts also thank the show's sponsors and Union Street Arts for producing the podcast. Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois. https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Our guest: https://nubability.org/