Life and Limb

Angie Sandow: Born Different. Built Strong.

Jeff Tiessen — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:25:22 +0000

Angie Sandow is an inspirational speaker, humourist and musician who captivates audiences of all ages with her powerful performances and story of resilience. She shares insights on responding to challenges related to her limb difference, primarily others’ attitudes toward her. Finding strength in adversity, and in her love for music, football and motorcycles, she’s a big proponent of “getting out of our comfort zones”. The subject of a documentary film and the author of “From Chemo to Throttle”, Angie emphasizes that “accountability resides within.”

Coaching Amputees to Our Best Lives - Lynn DeCola

Jeff Tiessen — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:54:56 +0000

Lynn DeCola is a retired prosthetist, orthotist and technician, and now an amputee coach with clients across Canada and the U.S. through her Florida-based company Lifelong Prosthetics. She’s a Mental Health First Aider, a writer, and an international online amputee support group host, which she founded, called Amputees Preparing Amputees for Life. Lynn truly understands the unique challenges that we face as amputees, because she is one herself, an above-the-knee amputee of over 30 years. Lynn DeCola is all about getting her clients back to living their best life after amputation by bridging gaps in information and care... great advice for amputees of all ages and stages.

Kevin Gray's "Connection" to Limb Loss

Jeff Tiessen — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:08:27 +0000

After experiencing life-changing amputations several years ago, Kevin Gray quickly discovered the power of connection. During his rehab and recovery he met others who were searching for the same thing — honest conversation, guidance, and hope from people who had been there. Those early conversations became the foundation for something much greater. Today, Kevin is the founder and CEO of Limb Loss Connection (LLC), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting and supporting individuals living with limb loss and limb difference. Kevin shares his vision for LLC and Canada’s amputee community.

Andrea Swallow - Amputee Advice for Her Future Self

Jeff Tiessen — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 23:02:08 +0000

Growing up in Victoria, British Columbia, possibilities in life were boundless for teenaged Andrea Swallow. Her teenage years were good, with social, athletic and academic endeavours accompanied by no more angst and pressures than that of other typical youth around her. Then she became an amputee, a survivor of a motorcycle accident. In a thrive magazine feature several years ago, Andrea shared what she would say to her younger self, equipped with what she knows now about acceptance, joy, self-care, peer support, emotional health and the impact of trauma. Now an amputee of 38 years, she ponders her future self, and shares how she is harking back to the advice she had for her younger self as she adapts to her life’s next uncharted stage.

Balancing Amputee Life with Gratitude and Joy – Roz Hakim

Jeff Tiessen — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:13:41 +0000

In so many ways, Rouzalin “Roz” Hakim was transformed in ways she could never have imagined with the loss of her left leg above the knee four years ago. Today, she’s a force in the amputee community, especially when it comes to peer support. But not just that. She’s also a respected author, public speaker and advocate for the amputee community. And what makes her so unique is her complete honesty and transparency about her difficult journey after her motorcycle accident. She celebrates her victories big and small, and finds a lot of pride and joy in her accomplishments. At the same time, she’s true to the person she was before her amputation. Roz still approaches life with zest, living a mile a minute sometimes.

Appetite for Accessible Adventure - Tanya Rabe

Jeff Tiessen — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:41:37 +0000

Despite facing her share of travel challenges as an above-knee amputee and someone living with rheumatoid arthritis, those experiences have fueled Tanya Rabe’s passion for making travel accessible to everyone. That passion includes finding detours around roadblocks to make for accessible adventures. Tanya does that for clients with and without disabilities through Right Foot Adventures, her own travel agency. For Tanya, it’s all about research, planning ahead, problem-solving and confidence. She shares how she helps take away the fear of traveling with a disability that so many of us can experience, and offers tips for choosing the right travel agent, and the right destination and accessible accommodations for peace of mind.

Lawyer Dionne Chambers Practices Peer Support

Jeff Tiessen — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Dionne Chambers is a personal injury lawyer, experienced in claims for clients with a wide range of serious injuries including amputation, brain injury and psychological trauma. Her work with amputee clients has increased her awareness of the gaps in meeting their needs, particularly in the area of peer support. As such, she has partnered with a Niagara-area amputee to establish a peer support group in that region. Dionne advocates for her clients regularly throughout their recovery and rehabilitation and is now bringing insights from client experiences and needs to the Amputee Coalition of Canada as its newest board member.

Erez Avramov - Changing the Resiliency Conversation

Jeff Tiessen — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:31:47 +0000

Erez Avramov, nicknamed “The Man Who Refuses to Die”, is an internationally-recognized resiliency expert who’s been trained and shaped by life’s most challenging adversities. Three near-death experiences, and an elective amputation, have given him a unique perspective about life. Deeply driven to explore human potential, Erez has uncovered the inner workings of resiliency and is the founder of Life Rebuilder Academy. He shares proven methodologies that he developed to harness the power of adversity so others can transform their lives as well. Erez changes the conversation from “why did this happen?” to “how can I use this to transform my life?”

Amputee Greg Westlake Champions Life-Long Learning

Jeff Tiessen — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:55:50 +0000

Greg Westlake was the long-time captain of the Canadian Para Ice Hockey Team, a five-time Paralympian and three-time medalist. He’s worked as a CBC broadcaster and was the host of AMI’s Level Playing Field program, showcasing para-athlete stories. Westlake had both legs amputated below the knee when he was just 18 months old. Now a dad of two, a video production company owner, and a spokesperson for numerous organizations, he shares with listeners what he’s still learning about disability, himself and other amputees.

Finding Your Summit with Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt

Jeff Tiessen — Wed, 28 May 2025 12:22:26 +0000

Unstoppable Tracy is about more than inspiration. She provides life-changing action-able results. She has a #1 Best Selling Book and is a Female Transformational Global Leader winner. She’s earned awards as an athlete, businesswoman and for her work in underdeveloped countries. She has spoken to audiences in over 40 countries and is Toronto’s most virally viewed speaker with over 30 million views in three months in 2019. Born a four-way amputee, she’s climbed the Himalayan mountains, captained a towering 110-foot tall-ship, and conquered challenges that many would never dare attempt. Unstoppable Tracy has never let limits define her and promotes to others that they need not as well.

War Amps’ Rob Larman Applauds 50 Years of Child Amputee Program

Jeff Tiessen — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 12:15:04 +0000

Rob Larman lost his right leg above-the-knee when he was 14 after a friend dared him to jump on a slow-moving freight train. He ended up under the wheels. But not long after, he became one of the early graduates of The War Amps Child Amputee Program. Forty-plus years after his injury he’s still part of the “CHAMP” program, with 25 of those years as the Director of the Association’s PLAYSAFE/DRIVESAFE program. An educator and role model, Larman talks about parenting with a disability, and support for families of child amputees.

Rescue by Fire: Mike Laughlin's Triumph over Trauma

Jeff Tiessen — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:26:04 +0000

Motivational speaker Michael Laughlin has brought his extraordinary story of trauma, loss, love, resilience, hope and triumph to readers with his new book “Untapped 60” to encourage others to face vulnerabilities and find strength in the face of adversity. Mike is a career firefighter with Kingston Fire & Rescue. He has faced unimaginable personal and professional challenges in his life, and defied tremendous odds to twice return to his career to become Canada's only full-time above-knee firefighter.

Power of Peer Support with Kirsten Woodend

Jeff Tiessen — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:08 +0000

A nurse of 40+ years and an above-knee amputee of about seven, Kirsten Woodend has experienced healthcare from both sides - practitioner and patient - and shares the irony of how little she knew about amputation, let alone what a "prosthetist" is? She's an associate professor of nursing at Trent University and a two-time Dean of Trent’s School of Nursing. Today, Kirsten is the president of the Amputee Coalition of Canada (ACC). Her current research in osseointegration and peer visiting serves ACA's primary pillar of Peer Support very well.

Larissa Camp: Limb Loss from Domestic Violence

Jeff Tiessen — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 22:37:12 +0000

A talented hairstylist and a survivor of domestic violence, Larissa Camp found herself fleeing for her life when an ex-boyfriend shot her twice at close range with a shotgun. She suffered life-altering injuries, including the loss of four fingers on her right hand. But with strength and determination she’s found her purpose. She says, “I was given a story to share with the world in hopes of inspiring others to move forward despite challenges they may face.”

Global Effort for African Amputees - Tom Williams

Jeff Tiessen — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:58:22 +0000

Tom Williams started STAND (formerly Legs for Africa) after a trip to The Gambia more than a decade ago. It was there where he met a gentleman in need of a prosthetic limg, a leg lost to diabetes. Tom sourced one for him, and 10 years later his organization has rescued and recycled over 18,000 prosthetic legs for others in need across sub-Saharan Africa. Listen to his remarkable story of humanitarian impact.

Normalizing Limb Loss with Comedy - Courtney Gilmour

Jeff Tiessen — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:25:34 +0000

Courtney Gilmour is an award-winning stand-up comedian, television writer, and finalist on Canada’s Got Talent. She is one of Canada's most unique voices and sought-after comedy talents, named by NOW Magazine as “one of the top 10 stage artists to watch.” Courtney's victory at the 2017 Just For Laughs Homegrown competition was the first by a female comic in the 19-year-history of the event. Her first album - “Let Me Hold Your Baby” – was JUNO-nominated, and she’s just released her new “Wonder Woman" album – which is a really funny take on life as a triple limb amputee when it comes to public perceptions that come with her unique disability.

Conquering His Own World – Andrew Haley

Jeff Tiessen — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 19:23:20 +0000

“You don’t have to conquer the world; you just have to conquer your world,” says Andrew Haley. His is a story of a Halifax kid with a 35 percent chance of survival becoming one of Canada’s most accomplished high-performance athletes. Andrew shares what motivated him from his cancer diagnosis through the loss of a leg above the knee, and onward toward four Paralympic Games and five trips to the Paralympic podium as a medal-winning para swimmer.

Life on a Road Less Travelled - Christa Couture

Jeff Tiessen — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000

A musician, writer, broadcaster, Christa Couture is proudly Indigenous and queer and a lower extremity amputee since childhood. She loves to share stories that intersect with disability, and is now the host of Season 5 of the AMI travel docu-series “Postcards from...” featuring a different Canadian city each episode. Her career's work has explored experiences of loss, which include several unimaginable ones in her own life.

Adventure After Amputation - Tyler Turner

Jeff Tiessen — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:21:11 +0000

A skydiver, surfer, rock-climber, snowboarder – Canada’s first Paralympic gold medalist in the sport in fact – a sailor and a contestant on The Amazing Race Canada reality show, the sky is not the limit for British Columbia’s Tyler Turner. The bilateral below-knee amputee, from a skydiving injury, lives by the motto: “It’s not about where you started or your end result. It’s the steps you take in between.”

Defying Aging with Amputation with Exercise

Jeff Tiessen — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 19:47:43 +0000

Megan Williamson is the head fitness coach at Ocean Rehab and Fitness in Vancouver. She’s also the head instructor for the North American Council of Inclusive Fitness and co-author of a resource called Breaking Barriers: Fundamentals of Training Clients with Physical Disabilities. She’s all about bridging the gap between rehab and fitness, making exercise inclusive for everyone no matter what. Megan shares strategies for achieving better health for anyone living with limb loss or limb difference.

Attitude is Science - Alvin Law

Jeff Tiessen — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Alvin Law says “attitude” is so much more than an overused word, and shares his remarkable story on Life and Limb, thrive magazine’s podcast. It’s a story of life without arms that he’s told to over two million people on five continents at over 7,500 events. Abandoned by his birth family at just five days old, Alvin has spent his life doing things that he wasn’t supposed to do. That sounds rebellious, and it is in his own way. His rebellion involved things like playing trombone and driving a car – with his feet. "I refused to let other people’s labels and limitations hold me back," he says. Today, he's a renowned Certified Speaking Professional, and the best-selling author of Alvin’s Laws of Life… 5 Steps to Successfully Overcome Anything!

Prosthetist-Patient Relationships with Marty Robinson

Jeff Tiessen — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:20:18 +0000

Prosthetics is an intriguing profession. It’s science. It’s art. And it’s social science in terms of relationships that are cultivated with patients or clients who, by way of life’s circumstance, may be hard to please at times. With over 35 years of experience with patient-prosthetist relationships, certified prosthetist Marty Robison provides some perspective on these "partnerships."

Cycling for Ukrainian Amputees - Jakob Kepka

Jeff Tiessen — Wed, 29 May 2024 14:34:55 +0000

Jakob Kepka, a military veteran and amputee, is prepared for all of the risks associated with his upcoming "Hoperaising Expedition", a 900-kilometre bike ride from Krakow, Poland, to Kyiv, Ukraine, fearing Ukrainian drivers more than the Russians, he says. Jakob shares his personal motivation to pedal through the war-torn terrain as a beacon of hope for those with amputations, and similar physical and psychological challenges that he faced after the loss of his leg, to raise money to support Ukrainian amputees.

Be the Hero of Your Own Story - Kevin Rempel

Jeff Tiessen — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:03:00 +0000

Host Jeff Tiessen chats with Canadian Paralympian Kevin Rempel. Kevin fought for years to rebuild his physical and mental health. Not only did he learn to walk again after a motocross accident that resulted in an incomplete spinal cord injury, but he has walked across countless stages sharing his story and encouraging others. A member of Canada’s Paralympic Sledge Hockey Team, Kevin speaks candidly about his journey back from traumatic injury, and his strategies to combat his struggles. Plenty of practical “get-started” advice to adopt to become a hero in our own stories.

The Joy in Our Authentic Selves with Alexis Hillyard

Jeff Tiessen — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In this first episode of Life and Limb, host Jeff Tiessen chats with Edmonton's Alexis Hillyard.

A teacher by profession, Alexis is a motivator, influencer and a YouTube content creator. She’s incredibly passionate about being her authentic disabled, queer self. She’s a rock climber, musician, mom of two, chef and much more, and she can be unapologetically silly.

Born without her left hand, Alexis knows all about limb difference, and has navigated that on her own terms since she was a child. Many know her from Stump Kitchen, her YouTube show (100 million+ views) that celebrates the unique ways we move through the world. She shares more on that, and the joy she finds in being genuine, and about her love for play.

Watch on YouTube

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Links mentioned in this episode:

StumpKitchen.com