What if the thing that broke your life… became the very thing that built your purpose?In this powerful, unscripted “cafecito-style” conversation, we sit down with Stephen and Julie Wagstaff—a Canadian couple whose story carries equal parts grit, humor, faith, and hope.

Stephen shares the moment that changed everything: August 2, 1996, when a dive into shallow water resulted in a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic at just 19. But this isn’t a story about what was lost—it’s about what was rebuilt. Together, Stephen and Julie walk us through the real journey: the trauma, the resilience, the marriage work, the caregiving realities, and how purpose can rise out of pain.

You’ll also hear how their nonprofit, SwagAbility, was born from a season of intense hardship—Stephen’s extended hospital stay, Julie’s cancer journey, and a deep desire to help others thrive where life finds them. Their mission is grounded in practical support—like life coaching, counseling, and assistive/adaptive technology support—and a fierce commitment to showing up for people navigating life-altering circumstances, including caregivers, people living with disability, and veterans.

This episode goes beyond inspiration. We talk honestly about:

• Authenticity (and why people freeze up the moment things feel “official”)

• Caregiver burnout—the resentment nobody wants to confess, and why it’s normal

• Marriage and communication (the “3 keys” are… communication, communication, and communication 😄)

• Hope in dark seasons, faith, and finding purpose when life feels like it’s closing in

• Why “pain is pain” and comparison helps nobody

• What it really means to build community when you feel alone

If you’re in a transition caring for a loved one, facing illness, navigating disability, rebuilding after trauma, or just trying to make it through a hard chapter, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Keywords / Topics: caregiving, caregiver burnout, disability advocacy, spinal cord injury, quadriplegic story, cancer survivor story, faith and resilience, marriage communication, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, life coaching, counseling support, nonprofit organization, veteran support, Life & In Between Podcast.

Connect with Stephen & SwagAbility
If you’d like to support their mission, request help, or learn more about their resources:

• Website: swagability.com

• General support / inquiries: info@swagability.com

• Donations: donations@swagability.com

• Donate: Visit swagability.com and click the Donate button (they use a platform that takes 0% from your donation).

Stephen shared that SwagAbility is currently a registered nonprofit in both Canada and the U.S., and they’re working toward 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. to provide tax receipts for donors.