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Osborne is more than a bike rider — he’s a survivor, a motivator, and a man who carries history with every mile he pedals. After facing down cancer, Osborne turned to cycling not only as a way to rebuild his strength, but also as a way to inspire others to reclaim their health and discover freedom on two wheels.

He has spent years encouraging friends, family, and community members to ride, showing that the road can heal as much as it challenges. But this ride — from Tulsa’s Black Wall Street to New York’s Wall Street — was different. This wasn’t just about endurance or distance. It was a journey that connected survival with legacy, resilience with history, and personal recovery with the collective story of Black America.

Osborne rides not just for himself, but for everyone who’s ever been told they couldn’t make it. His story is one of strength, faith, and the power of movement.

Bill: That’s powerful. Can you talk about the experience of the ride itself?

Osborne: I was covered on the bike. Everybody else had a beautiful glance climbing that mountain.

The crew was at the top cheering. For them, it was the best moment. For me, it was the worst — physically I was drained. But it was also my best moment because I saw my teammates do so well. Everyone came together, everyone owned that climb.

It wasn’t my best day on the bike, but it was right up there. I’ll never forget it.

Bill: And your riders, this was a multicultural group?

Osborne: Yes. We had Richard Kaiser out of Detroit, he’s Jewish. Beth Livingston out of Detroit, also Jewish. Pam from California, she’s Black. In total, probably six Jewish riders and six Black riders.

As we rolled out of Tulsa, people joined and left the group each day. Beth rode for three weeks, went home, then came back to finish. We met amazing people, made amazing friends.

The oldest rider was Richard at 70. I was 67 — the two strongest riders. The youngest was Junior, a 28-year-old mechanic. The six who made it all the way to New York were Richard (72), me (67), Linda (57), and Marcus (60). So yes, age is just a number.

Bill: That’s inspiring. Tell us about the people you rode with.

Osborne: Richard is a cancer surgeon. He built an earthquake-proof home in Nepal at the base of Mount Everest. He’s also the executive advisor for the Black Leaders of Detroit. Beth Livingston runs the Make-A-Wish ride in Michigan — they raised $4 million this year.

We were in the company of some real heavy hitters, people doing amazing things. And we all rode together, ate together, and became family.

Bill: Survivor to survivor — what role does cycling play in your recovery, physically, mentally, and spiritually?

Osborne: I’ve been cycling since 2006. But my biggest recovery wasn’t from the bike — it was from building a new life.

Cancer is God’s way of saying: make changes. I didn’t just change my diet, I changed my lifestyle. The way I live, the way I think, the way I appreciate life. I slowed down. I realized I couldn’t keep poisoning myself. I had to take care of the children God gave me.

So yes, cycling is part of my life — but the deeper recovery came from shifting my mind, my spirit, and my appreciation for life.

Bill: That’s powerful. I was going to ask about patience, rhythm, and pushing through pain. But you summed it all up. Thank you for sharing this.

• “What’s your way of pushing through pain? email us
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Mark Halvorsen’s life changed on May 1, 1999, when he sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after falling from the roof of his screened-in porch.He was in a coma for approximately three weeks and underwent an extensive rehabilitation journey.Today, Mark serves as a Peer Visitor with the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association, providing guidance and encouragement to other TBI survivors navigating their own recovery paths.

💪 Advocacy & Professional Activities

Brain Injury Advocacy: Mark is active in the TBI community, particularly through Seek in Motion, where he champions resources and awareness for brain injury survivorConferences & Webinars: He regularly participates in brain injury-related events, sharing his perspective as a survivor.Insurance & Rehabilitation Issues: In one of his LinkedIn posts, Mark discussed the challenges of insurance coverage for TBI recovery and shared his positive rehabilitation experience at Boston’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.Podcast Feature: Mark appeared on Episode 5 of the “HumanityRx” podcast, where he recounted his coma, recovery journey, and ongoing advocacy efforts.

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Bill (Host):

“So what is dyslexia, really?

Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes language — especially written words.

It’s not about intelligence.

It’s not about laziness.

And it’s definitely not just ‘mixing up letters.’

People with dyslexia often have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing — even though they may be just as smart, creative, or insightful as anyone else.

It’s like the brain is wired to take a different route when reading — and that route might be slower or bumpier, but it’s still powerful in its own way.

And here’s something important:

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, affecting around 1 in 5 people.

But it’s also one of the most misunderstood.”

🎙️

ScrambledEggs&Ham

Segment

Title: Brains That Work Differently — and Brilliantly

[Music fades out]

Bill (Host):

You know, one of the biggest myths about dyslexia is that it somehow limits a person’s potential. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, some of the most creative, bold, and successful people we know have lived with dyslexia.

Let me give you a few names that might surprise you.

Whoopi Goldberg

Comedian. Actress. Legend.

Whoopi has always marched to her own rhythm. She’s talked about struggling in school, but she also said that her dyslexia gave her a different way of seeing the world.

Steven Spielberg

One of the most iconic filmmakers of our time.

He didn’t find out he had dyslexia until later in life — but it helped explain why school had been so tough.

He calls it part of his creative engine.

Richard Branson

Founder of the Virgin Group.

A billionaire who says his dyslexia taught him to delegate, think outside the box, and be bold.

He once said,

Octavia Spencer

Yes — Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer grew up with dyslexia.

She says it made her more determined — and more compassionate.

She’s passionate about telling kids:

Magic Johnson

On the court, he was pure genius.

Off the court, he struggled with reading — but never let that stop him.

Magic learned how to build businesses, inspire others, and lead by example.

(Optional)

Anderson Cooper

Even journalist Anderson Cooper — someone known for his sharp reporting — has talked about growing up with dyslexia and how important early support was for him.

Bill (Host):

So if you’re listening today and living with dyslexia — or someone you love is — know this:

You’re in powerful company.

These people didn’t succeed in spite of dyslexia.

They succeeded because they learned how to use it.

And that’s what this show is all about — turning struggle into strength, and finding power in the way your brain works.

[Music swells]

Bill (Host):

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