For as long as he can remember, Mario Bonfante has lived for speed — from BMX tracks and motocross jumps to the smooth pavement of road racing. By the time he was sixteen, he had earned his pro card, chasing the dream of becoming one of the best. But in September of 2006, a BMX crash changed everything.

The accident left him paralyzed — but not powerless.

After months in the hospital and years of intense physical therapy in San Diego, Mario refused to let his injury define his limits. He wasn’t just rebuilding his body; he was rebuilding his future.

When racing seemed out of reach, he decided to engineer his way back. With the same creativity and relentless drive that fueled his racing career, Mario taught himself how to design and build his own adaptive hand controls — custom setups that would let him get back behind the wheel. What started in his garage turned into a symbol of what’s possible when passion meets innovation.

Now back in the Bay Area, Mario continues to push boundaries — whether it’s refining his designs, chasing new projects, or inspiring others to redefine what’s possible. For him, life is 5% physical and 95% mental. Tell him he can’t, and he’ll not only prove you wrong — he’ll figure out how to do it better.

This is the story of Mario Bonfante — racer, engineer, and proof that no crash can stop someone who’s built to keep moving forward.

At just 18 years old, Armando Ramirez’s life changed in an instant. What began as an ordinary night ended in tragedy when a drive-by shooting left him fighting for his life. His heart stopped for 12 minutes. Doctors said the odds were slim — but Armando had other plans.

Now living with a T9–T10 spinal cord injury, Armando has defied every expectation. From countless surgeries and rehab at Craig Hospital to rediscovering his love for painting cars and earning his real estate license, he’s proven that resilience runs deeper than muscle.

In this powerful episode, Armando opens up about survival, faith, heartbreak, and the journey of finding purpose after trauma. His story is a reminder that even when life stops your heart, purpose can start it beating again.

In this episode, we sit down with Corey Lee — better known as Pheez. At just 18 years old, Corey joined the Navy on September 6, 2001, only five days before 9/11 changed the world. What he thought would be a four-year enlistment turned into deployments, life-altering experiences, and a path he never expected.

Corey opens up about his time serving and the diving accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. From that life-changing moment, he embarked on a journey of survival, resilience, and rediscovering purpose. Despite the challenges, he found love after his injury, bought an ADA-accessible home at the age of 24, and is now a proud father of two. Corey is also active in nonprofit organizations advocating for people with disabilities and has built an established music career, with several albums streaming on all platforms.

His story is raw, unfiltered, and full of powerful lessons about facing tragedy head-on, thriving beyond it, and redefining what it means to live a meaningful life.

Note for listeners: There are a few parts of the conversation with poor audio quality that couldn’t be fully fixed in post-production. We decided to keep them in because Corey’s story is too important not to share. Thank you for your understanding as you listen to this moving and impactful episode.

• Listener discretion is advised. Eric’s story is raw, real, and unforgettable. After surviving two major crashes that left him with spinal cord injuries, he takes us inside the highs and lows of rehab—sharing how medication-induced hallucinations tested his mind, and how humor became his tool to calm others and himself. He recalls the unlikely moment that changed everything: eating a hamburger that reignited his drive to push through therapy and fight for independence.
• Eric also gets brutally honest about the personal challenges—missing his divorce court date while hospitalized, living in a nursing home for six months, and finding friendship in a resident named Maria. To close the episode, Eric and Danny break stigma wide open with a no-holds-barred discussion about sexuality after spinal cord injury—covering intimacy, fertility, precautions, and possibilities. Unfiltered and unapologetic, Eric proves that life after injury is still full of fight, love, laughter, and real talk.

Jody’s story is one of resilience, faith, and fighting spirit. He shares how a life-changing accident deepened his spiritual connection and set him on a journey of recovery at Craig Hospital. Through the ups and downs, he battled depression and discovered purpose and joy in adaptive sports. Today, Jody is not only the reigning Wheelchair Boxing Heavyweight Champion but also a loving father, a devoted fiancé—recently proposing in London—and a man who leads with humor and heart. His journey reminds us that true strength is found in perseverance, passion, and love.

Episode Description (Dr. Julia Bramwell) In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Julia Bramwell, a board-certified pediatrician who has dedicated over two decades to medicine before making a bold shift to launch Invest in My Health Corp. Julia opens up about her personal journey, the challenges she faced, and the pivotal experiences that reshaped her path.

We talk about her “rage against the machine” — her fearless investigative work uncovering the misuse of funds within the healthcare system, and how that fight has fueled her mission to create more transparency and accountability. Julia also shares her insights into the benefits of ketamine therapy, its potential to heal, and why she believes it is an important tool in the landscape of modern medicine.

But Julia doesn’t just tell her story — she challenges us. In one of the most memorable moments of the conversation, she turns the tables and asks us why we are passionate about the work we do.

This episode is both eye-opening and deeply personal, offering a look at medicine, advocacy, and healing through the lens of someone who has lived it, fought for it, and continues to innovate for the future.

In this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Britt Sitzes, OTR/ATP — from performing as a clown to becoming an occupational therapist and later a respected ATP. Britt’s career path is full of unexpected turns, but each step shaped the impact he would go on to make in the mobility world.

We talk about his time at National Seating and Mobility in Austin, where he helped grow one of the company’s most successful branches. Britt also shares stories from the early days of RESNA and Adorno Mobility, giving us a glimpse into how the industry has evolved. Now retired, Britt reflects on his career, the people he’s served, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

This episode blends history, equipment talk, and personal insight from someone who’s been at the heart of mobility for decades.

Episode 7: Phillip Bramwell: Finding Freedom in Laughter

In this episode, we welcome comedian and performer Phillip Bramwell. Born with quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, Phillip brings a sharp sense of humor and a fresh perspective on life, independence, and disability. With a background that includes professional acting and modeling, he’s no stranger to the stage—and now he uses comedy as his platform to connect, educate, and entertain.

Phillip opens up about the realities of living with CP, the role humor plays in navigating everyday challenges, and his belief in the power of education and earning a living through passion. Outside of comedy, he enjoys traveling, catching live shows, and building meaningful relationships.

This episode is full of laughs, real talk, and honest reflections—showing how Phillip transforms challenges into stories that inspire and entertain.

Listeners can connect and support Phillip here:

· Venmo: "WheelchairPhillip"Support the comedy, keep the wheels spinning.

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelchairphillip/– Follow for comedy clips, behind-the-scenes, and live show updates.

· Fourth Star: A fully immersive metaverse experience where you can buy ships, own apartments, design avatars, and pull up to Phil’s comedy shows in true VR style. Use his referral link and promo code: SPOFF85 while the discount lasts. Don’t just listen to comedy — be part of it. https://www.fourthstar.com/?fpr=phillip85&fbclid=IwY2xjawMfQepleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFESGxiWEpESFJPTmsxZzVkAR7_fJjVIbRnYomgyRr4ZpKg4CVzaLfqL_x-JZ_vhl-s8uwnH2U4zqci-kqLiw_aem_lJWjKqudZlQWjG2GQuMFdg

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