Life to the Max Podcast

08/10/2025

It can be frustrating to see seemingly able-bodied people abuse handicapped parking. You never know someone's story.

07/10/2025

What if there was an "extreme" handicap sign? It sounds weird, but there are people who abuse the system. What do you think?

06/10/2025

🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP!

At the Abilities Expo in Chicago we met Mikaylah, a creative writing major living with dystonic cerebral palsy who’s turning her challenges into incredible stories. 💪✨

From navigating life with a deep brain stimulator to writing fantasy fiction with authentic disability representation, Mikaylah reminds us all:

“Life goes on. Life is precious. You only get one.” ❤️

🎥 Watch now on YouTube and see how she’s breaking barriers, one page at a time!
👉 https://youtu.be/uu57nCRBmPQ

Stepping away from our studio setting, we're bringing you a special "speedcast" from the bustling Abilities Expo in Chicago where we met Mikaylah, a remarkab...

06/10/2025

From India to Antarctica! Hear about the trip that changed everything. It sounds like all first experiences are pretty extreme.

05/10/2025

An injury survivor explains how they rerouted their arm to regain functionality. The surgeries allow them to use their wrist to open and close their hand.

04/10/2025

She woke up after a month-long coma. The first thing she remembered was the removal of the tube from her throat. She even pulled her feeding tube out.

03/10/2025

"Chronically ill and medically fascinating"—a perfect description! It's all about respecting the chair.

02/10/2025

Amanda shares her experience with spina bifida and other complications, highlighting the need for greater awareness and representation.

01/10/2025

At the Abilities Expo in Chicago, Max sat down with Cindy—a lifelong disability advocate whose life changed forever after a tragic accident left her daughter quadriplegic. Their raw, honest exchange dives into trauma, guilt, forgiveness, and the resilience that carries us forward. https://youtu.be/6xgTxFPiw1c

Cindy’s daughter is now a lawyer, a mom, and living proof that life doesn’t end with injury—it transforms. Cindy captured their family’s early journey in her inspiring book Just Keep Swimming: A Crash, A Quest, and Waves of Hope

💬 Have you found serendipity or unexpected growth after hardship? Share your story in the comments—we’d love to hear it.

https://www.amazon.com/Just-Keep-Swimming-crash-quest/dp/1956450548This raw, intimate conversation from the Abilities Expo in Chicago captures a powerful mom...

01/10/2025

💙 When doctors said her son Elijah wouldn’t live past age 2, Amy Tarpein chose joy over fear. She created Elijah’s Baby Bucket List—a journey that’s now inspiring millions worldwide. 🌍✨

From family adventures to building community with other parents, Amy’s story shows the limitless power of love, resilience, and choosing connection. Her new book Braver Together captures it beautifully. 📖💫

Elijah's Baby Bucket List

https://youtu.be/5JYV7P_uJvk

Amy's Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/braver-together-amy-tarpein/1145897443Follow on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/elijahsbabybucketlist?utm_source...

26/09/2025

https://youtu.be/IHsr8QBvYPU

🎶 Live from the Abilities Expo Chicago! Meet Victoria Djembe — a self-autism advocate using West African drumming to empower people with disabilities.

Through her Victoriadjembe Academy, she’s creating spaces where students are seen, heard, and celebrated while keeping rich cultural traditions alive. 🌍🥁

This episode is all about inclusion, rhythm, and breaking barriers. Don’t miss it!

👉 Watch now & share the beat.

Sometimes the most powerful conversations happen outside the studio. Recorded live at the Abilities Expo in Chicago, this episode introduces you to Victoria ...

25/09/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G43UA8BiqTM&t=2652s

It saddens me beyond belief to hear of the passing of a good friend and an inspiration to us all. Rest in Peace to my friend Trey 🕊 and may God hold his family and friends in His arms during this incredibly painful time. Please send your prayers and Condolences to his family 🙏

Max sits with Trey, a remarkable 35-year-old man whose life took an unexpected turn at the age of 17 when he was paralyzed from the neck down after a tragic ...