PODCAST · business
A Leg Up On Life
by Roni Sasaki, Paralympian and Inspirational Speaker
A Leg Up On Life is the podcast that take success to a whole new level. The host, Roni Sasaki, a Paralympic Gold Medalist in ski racing, interviews high achieving guests with disabilities. They will inspire and encourage listeners to push through all obstacles to reach their goals.
Episodes
-
#60 Jake French
In this final episode of A Leg Up On Life, Jake French shares how he lives life to the fullest from a wheelchair. Jake is a professional speaker, inventor, hunter, and fisherman. Fourteen years ago, in a freak accident, Jake broke his neck and became paralyzed from his collarbone down. His life…
more -
#59 Laurie Hayn
Four years ago, on September 18, 2018, Laurie Hayn lost her left arm and leg in a farming accident. Up to then, she was an active outdoors person, having hiked 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail three years in a row. Laurie's positive attitude and the loving support of her husband and family…
more -
#58 Nicole Ver Kuilen & Dee Palagi
Nicole Ver Kuilen & Dee Palagi led a team of adaptive athletes in the 2022 Hood to Coast relay, a 200-mile journey in Oregon from the base of Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean. Both women are below-the-knee amputees and outspoken advocates for individuals with disabilities, particularly children, to...
-
#57 Mary Riddell-Bowman
Mary Riddell-Bowman was born without her right lower leg and began skiing on her prosthetic leg at age four. Mary qualified for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team when she was fourteen. She raced with the national team from 1994 - 2003, competing in two Paralympics and World Championships. Along the way,...
-
#56 Michael Belew
Michael Belew broke his neck after diving into a wave while taking a break from his intense military training. He is currently paralyzed from the chest down but hopes to one day regain the use of his body. Two years after his accident, Michael keeps a positive outlook on life by surrounding…
more -
#55 Mark Mohammadpour
Mark Mohammadpour lost 150 pounds and has kept it off for 15 years. He went from a public relations executive to the Chief Well-Being Officer of Chasing the Sun. He transformed his negative mindset into one of positivity and possibility. Mark now coaches individuals and corporations to take small...
-
#54 Colleen Young
Colleen Young knows how to adapt. She was born with Albinism, a condition that affects her eyesight and makes her legally blind. Colleen tried numerous sports as a youngster but thrived at competitive swimming. Colleen is a 3-time Paralympic swimming champion, winning silver and bronze medals at...
-
#53 Andrew Kurka
Paralympic Gold Medalist, Andrew Kurka, is making his second appearance on "A Leg Up On Life." In this episode, Andrew recaps his experience at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics, emphasizing his philosophy of "No Regrets!" He also talks about his new marriage, business, and life as a professional ski...
-
#52 Mimo Pearl
Mimo Pearl nearly broke off her foot when a ladder collapsed underneath her. She has undergone numerous surgeries and treatments for almost a year to save her foot. Before her accident, Mimo was a healer and a Footzone Practitioner. She is a positive force of love and laughter to those who have...
-
#51 Kendra Herber
Kendra Herber was born missing part of her foot. Her parents decided to amputate the foot when she was two years old. It was a decision that worked in Kendra's favor, allowing her to be a "normal" kid. In this episode, she shares living life as an amputee and feeling "WHOLE."
-
#50 Kellie Delabitoria
Kellie Delabitoria is a full-time caretaker for her adult son, who is autistic. She lives by faith and prayer and takes one day at a time. She is a "behind-the-scene" hero who often goes without recognition for her efforts. In this interview, Kellie candidly shares her daily struggles and...
-
#49 Michelle Kuei
Michelle Kuei is an international speaker, certified visibility coach, and author who empowers others to build resiliency, overcome tragedy, and find purpose in every challenge. When she was an 11-year old student in Taiwan, a car ran a red light and hit her as she crossed the street. Michelle's...
-
#48 - Vasu Sojitra
Vasu Sojitra is an extreme back-country skier. When he was only nine months old, he had one of his legs amputated because of a blood infection. Vasu's passion is to spread the message that having a disability is not a bad thing. His motto is "ninjasticking through the woods to bring...
-
#47 Candice Caesar
Candice Caesar is an Army veteran, and it was during her service that she became paralyzed. She learned to walk despite the doctor's prediction that she would never walk again. At that time, she set a goal to walk a marathon someday. Since then, Candice has completed a half marathon in nearly all...
-
#46 Maureen Manley
Maureen Manley is a world-class cyclist. She is a former member of the U.S. Cycling Team, where she won a National Championship. Manley also set a national record and won numerous medals at both international and national racing events. At the peak of her career, Maureen was diagnosed with…
more -
#45 Jesse & Joe Fay
Jesse Fay has faced life-threatening illnesses twice in his life. When he was only 3, he was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. After an aggressive treatment regime, including a bone marrow transplant, Jesse kicked cancer. Then again when he was a teenager, he began to experience problems…
more -
#44 Angie Heuser
Angie Heuser injured her knee during a Taekwondo belt test. Her routine MCL tear led to numerous surgeries and crippling pain. Her knee refused to heal, and after years of medical procedures, Angie realized that her life had become severely impaired by her limitations. She chose to have the leg...
-
#43 Chris Waddell
Chris Waddell is one of the fastest mono-skiers of all time, and he impacted his sport profoundly. Chris won 13 Paralympic medals in both the summer and winter events. He is a member of the Paralympic Hall of Fame and the US Ski and Snow Bard Hall of Fame. His many accomplishments include…
more -
#42 Alvin Law
When Alvin Law looks in the mirror, he sees a fully competent and confident man, but he doesn't see any arms. Alvin's list of accomplishments is impressive and includes being a member of the Canadian Speaker's Hall of Fame, accomplished musician, and author. Alvin believes that the best thing…
more -
#41 Jessi Machnik
Jessi Machnik is an equestrian who specializes in show jumping. She began riding horses as a young child, and it has been her passion ever since. A few years ago, Jessi lost her leg below the knee due to severe car wreck injuries. She has resumed riding and jumping and believes that show jumping...
-
#40 David Rotter
Dave Rotter, owner of David Rotter Prosthetics in Joliet, Illinois, is a world-class prosthetist who builds artificial limbs for many Paralympic athletes who travel far and wide to benefit from his services. In this episode, Dave shares how he became a prosthetist. He also talks about his...
-
#39 Tony Drees
Tony Drees is a powerhouse of positivity. He is a Desert Storm Purple Heart Amputee. Tony miraculously survived a scud missile attack, but his right leg was severely damaged. He endured over 70 surgeries to save his leg, and finally, in 2018, the leg was amputated at the hip. Tony is an advocate...
-
#38 Michael Belew
Michael Belew is a young man with a vision. While taking a much-deserved break from intense military training, he dove into a wave and broke his neck. Now he only has sensation from his chest upward and partial feeling in his arms. His accident was only six months ago, and his positive attitude…
more -
#37 Bill Mayo
Bill Mayo battled a cancerous tumor (named Stanley by his grandchildren) for eight years. When cancer reappeared for the third time, he decided to have his leg amputated to get rid of it once and for all. In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Bill shares his story, faith in God, and his life...
-
#36 Mike & Jodi diPenna
Before Thanksgiving 2019, Mike diPenna was a healthy and athletic man. No one could have imagined that he would fall ill with a bacterial infection in his blood and meningitis. This rare combination created numerous mini-strokes in many regions of his brain. Mike woke up after being in a coma and...
-
#35 Emily Purry
Emily Purry is an expert in accessibility, intersectionality, technology, and the world of ADA. Legally blind herself and the parent of a child with autism, she brings personal and professional experiences to help move companies forward. Emily delivers presentations and training on disability and...
-
#34 Nicholas Hinrichsen
Nicholas Hinrichsen, has never considered himself a person with a disability. Nicholas lost his hair when he was only 11 years old. For six years, he hid his alopecia under a baseball cap and nursed his young self-esteem. Twenty years later, he graduated from Stanford Business School and started…
more -
#33 Gail Hamilton
Gail Hamilton will inspire you to live a life of vision, purpose, and action. She is a professional speaker and author of the book, Soaring Into Greatness. Gail has also earned two Masters degrees, sang a leading role in two operas, and won Ms. Colorado Senior America. She is a blind person who...
-
#32 John Register
John Register won the silver medal in the long jump at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He had never heard of the Paralympics while he was a member of the U.S. Army and training to become a member of the 1996 Olympic Team. But on May 17, 1994, John landed wrong while going over a...
-
#31 Melanie Ausmus
Melanie Ausmus was struck ill and hospitalized with COVID-19. The entire world is experiencing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Yet many of us do not know anyone who has been sick from the virus. Melanie openly talks about what it felt like to be ill and admitted to the hospital on two…
more -
#30 Chris Madison
Chris Madison lost his foot in a boating accident when he was only ten years old. At that time, he gave up his dream to be a fighter pilot but continued to set goals that have since shaped his life. Chris is an attorney for the state of Arkansas. Before getting his law degree, he served as a…
more -
#29 Katie Leimkuehler
Katie is the granddaughter of Paul Leimkuehler, a World War II Veteran who invented the outriggers used by adaptive skiers throughout the world. Paul was a ski legend, orthotics and prosthetics leader, and war hero. Katie is the Executive Director of a documentary film called "Fresh Tracks" that...
-
#28 Greg Mannino
Greg Mannino is one of the top one-legged ski racers of our time. He lost his leg at age seventeen and found skiing to be an ideal outlet for going fast and being competitive. He raced in 5 Paralympic Events and 3 World Championships for the disabled. He's won numerous medals over the years. Greg...
-
#27 Bob Meserve
Bob Meserve was a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team from 1989 - 1993, skiing in a monoski. In 1992, he began to serve as the Winter Athlete Representative of the National Board of Directors for Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA). Since then, he has served on numerous boards and worked behind the…
more -
#26 Prateek Dujari - Himalayan Bike Expedition
A Leg Up On Life welcomes back Prateek Dujari, who was our guest in Episode #21. During the interview, he shared about his upcoming 10-day bike expedition in the Himalayan Mountains in India. In this interview, you'll hear all about his journey back to India and the adventure of a lifetime.…
more -
#25 Christina Chambers
"My wheelchair will only take me so far, but that's not as far as I can go!" At age 12, Christina Chambers became a paraplegic when her immune system attacked her spinal cord. A manual wheelchair became part of her identity, and she has used it to touch the lives of hundreds of adaptive athletes...
-
#24 John & Anni Furniss
John Furniss, also known as the Blind Woodsman, is a blind woodworker. His wife, Anni, is a painter. The two artists form a partnership that is the stuff movies are made of. John lost his sight when he was 16. After many struggles, he took on the challenge of living life as a blind man. He…
more -
#23 Elisa Hays
On an icy and snowy February night, Elisa Hays got hit by a semi-truck as she and her coworkers attempted to run for safety after their pickup and trailer slid on black ice. In this episode of "A Leg Up On Life," Elisa shares her compelling story of resilience in the face of a horrific accident…
more -
#22 Bob Ewing
Leave your disability at the dock, is the motto of Footloose Sailing Association. In this interview, you will meet Bob Ewing, one of the founders of the sailing club specifically for individuals with disabilities. Bob is a quadriplegic and has dedicated his time and efforts to help others find…
more -
#21 Prateek Dujari
In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Roni Sasaki chats with Prateek Dujari, an engineer from Intel and avid outdoorsman who lost his sight in a climbing incident. Prateek found healing and purpose in doing the sports he loves, such as hiking, snowboarding, running, and biking. He is currently...
-
#20 Shaun Williams
Shaun Williams is blind. He lost his vision gradually from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). In this episode, Shaun openly talks about what it's like to be blind. Shaun lives life to the fullest. First and foremost, he is a husband and father to two sons. Shaun is also a counselor for other disabled...
-
#19 Ron Heagy
Ron Heagy dove into a wave on the day before his 18th birthday and broke his neck. Since then, he has been a quadriplegic, unable to feel anything from the chest down. Ron chooses to focus on what he can do instead of what he cannot do. By changing his perspective, Ron has earned his Master's...
-
#18 Dave Carl
Dave Carl is a motivational speaker, author, blogger, and social worker. He was born with spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord is not fully developed. Because of this, Dave is paralyzed from the waist down and has been in a wheel chair his entire life. He wrote the children's book…
more -
#17 Shandy Welch
Shandy Welch was a clinical nurse practitioner in orthopedic medicine when she discovered that she had breast cancer. As part of her treatment, Shandy experienced a double mastectomy. She chose to see her cancer as a new experience that she could learn from and embrace. Now she inspires others to...
-
#16 Jim Lagerstrom
Jim Lagerstrom is a five-time Paralympian, winning numerous medals during a ski racing career that spanned 20 years. Jim lost his leg below the knee when he was five years old. Lagerstrom now works at a prosthetic company, designing and creating artificial limbs so that others can live active...
-
#15 Brenda Tyrrell
In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Roni Sasaki interviews Brenda Tyrrell. Brenda is the mother of "Little Bob," who was born with Down Syndrome. Brenda candidly shares some of the frustrations and many of the joys that she experiences while raising a child with a developmental disability. Most...
-
#14 Tammy Coates
In January of 2003, Clackamas County Sheriff's Seargent Damon Coates was shot in the face by a mentally disturbed 15-year-old boy. The incident devastated Damon's family and left him partially paralyzed. His wife, Tammy stepped into the role of caretaker and decision maker. In this podcast, Tammy...
-
#13 Corina Muntean
When Corina Muntean was 29 years old, she began to experience numbness in her legs. Her condition quickly escalated until she was completely paralyzed from the chest down. Her triumphant story of recovery and determination will encourage you to push toward your goals. Corina never gave up on her...
-
#12 Ana & Dave Wakefield
On October 18th, 2017, Ana Wakefield was in a devastating head-on collision that changed her life. She suffered a severe brain injury and multiple broken bones in her legs. The doctors were unsure that she would live. But her family's faith and the prayers of many offered a ray of hope. Now, one...
-
#11 Garce Garcia
In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Roni Sasaki interviews Don "Garce" Garcia. Garce grew up with Cerebral Palsy and used it as an asset to create a life of adventure and achievement. Along with participating in many extreme sports, Garce is a former member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. He won…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
A Leg Up On Life is the podcast that take success to a whole new level. The host, Roni Sasaki, a Paralympic Gold Medalist in ski racing, interviews high achieving guests with disabilities. They will inspire and encourage listeners to push through all obstacles to reach their goals.
HOSTED BY
Roni Sasaki, Paralympian and Inspirational Speaker
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does A Leg Up On Life have?
A Leg Up On Life currently has 60 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is A Leg Up On Life about?
A Leg Up On Life is the podcast that take success to a whole new level. The host, Roni Sasaki, a Paralympic Gold Medalist in ski racing, interviews high achieving guests with disabilities. They will inspire and encourage listeners to push through all obstacles to reach their goals.
How often does A Leg Up On Life release new episodes?
A Leg Up On Life has 60 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to A Leg Up On Life?
You can listen to A Leg Up On Life on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts A Leg Up On Life?
A Leg Up On Life is created and hosted by Roni Sasaki, Paralympian and Inspirational Speaker.
URL copied to clipboard!