On this episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, host Rick Bontkowski; amputee, advocate, drummer, and storyteller, sits down with one of the most unexpectedly extraordinary people you’ll ever meet: Mark Watson.

Mark isn’t a celebrity. He isn’t a decorated athlete. He isn’t a world-traveling motivational speaker.
He’s an everyday guy who survived a life-changing moment, and then quietly rebuilt his life with grit, humility, and a sense of humor that’s impossible not to love.

This conversation peels back layers that most “inspiring stories” never touch. Mark opens up about the amputation that reshaped his identity, the dark private battles that came after, and the fierce determination it took to reclaim joy, purpose, and forward motion. You’ll hear the moments he almost gave up… and the surprising things that pulled him back.

If you’ve ever wondered what real resilience looks like, ordinary, honest, unpolished resilience, this episode will stay with you long after you finish listening.

The AMP’D UP211 Podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories of amputees, survivors, creators, and everyday warriors who remind us that extraordinary lives are often built from the most unexpected moments.

Subscribe, share, and join us on this journey of courage, humor, and the relentless pursuit of living fully.

She didn’t just rewrite the rules, she built an entirely new playbook.

Viktoria Modesta, the world’s first amputee pop star and one of the most iconic creative forces in modern culture, sits down with Rick Bontkowski for a rare, revealing conversation. From medical trauma to global stages… From silence to self-invention… From prosthetic necessity to prosthetic art…

Viktoria shares the raw, unfiltered truth behind her rise, her reinvention, and her mission to push culture forward through creativity, technology, and unapologetic individuality. This episode explores identity, confidence, disruption, disability representation, and what it truly means to design the life you want — even when the world isn’t designed for you.

About the Podcast:
The AMP’D UP211 Podcast is created and hosted by Rick Bontkowski, an amputee drummer, storyteller, and builder of community. The show spotlights extraordinary people rewriting what’s possible, one story at a time.

What if a retired prosthetic could be more than a memory?
What if it could become a knife that honors a veteran’s story… or fund a child’s new leg… or even help an amputee climb a 14,000-foot mountain?

In this inspiring episode, Rick Bontkowski sits down with Jason Dickens, founder of ReDefined Prosthetics, a nonprofit redefining what it means to give back to the limb-loss community.

Jason’s mission is simple but powerful: take old prosthetics and transform them into tools, art, and opportunities that continue the story of resilience. Through partnerships with makers, veterans, and amputees across the country, ReDefined Prosthetics funds pediatric prosthetic care, and hosts free events like the 14,000 Ft Peak Challenge..

This episode dives deep into creativity, advocacy, and the kind of quiet strength that fuels real change. Whether you’re part of the amputee community or just someone searching for perspective, Jason’s message will move you.

Rick Bontkowski

Creator & Host

On this episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, host Rick Bontkowski welcomes Katy Grainger, a sepsis survivor whose life changed forever in the span of just a few days. What began as a small cut on her thumb quickly escalated into septic shock, organ failure, and a medically induced coma. When Katy awoke, she faced the unimaginable reality of losing both legs below the knee and the tips of nearly all her fingers.

Her journey, however, is not defined by loss, but by the strength and purpose she discovered in its wake. Today, Katy is one of the nation’s most passionate advocates for sepsis awareness, a leader in the amputee community, and a living example of how resilience can turn tragedy into a mission.

In this powerful conversation, Rick and Katy explore the critical moments that saved her life, the emotional and physical realities of being a multiple amputee, and the urgency of knowing the signs of sepsis. This is more than an interview, it’s a wake-up call and a testament to the power of grit, hope, and purpose.

What does it take to return to one of the most physically demanding jobs on earth, after losing your leg? In this unforgettable episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, host Rick Bontkowski sits down with Michael Laughlin, Canada’s first amputee firefighter, whose story is as courageous as the job he’s reclaimed.

After a devastating motorcycle accident resulted in the loss of his leg, Michael faced a question few could answer: Could he ever return to the firehouse? With grit, heart, and relentless determination, he not only returned, he made history. Rick and Michael dive into the mental and physical road to recovery, the battle to be seen as capable in a world full of doubt, and what it means to redefine strength on your own terms.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever been told “you can’t.”

The AMP’D UP211 Podcast is where amputees and adaptive warriors come to tell the truth, and Michael Laughlin’s truth will leave you fired up.

In this powerful episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, host Rick Bontkowski sits down with Parker Byrd, a standout athlete, college baseball player, and the first NCAA Division I player to compete with a prosthetic leg. After a life-altering boating accident took his leg, Parker defied every odd and returned to the field with more grit and heart than ever before. His story isn’t just about sports, it’s about identity, resilience, and the unshakable belief that your purpose doesn’t disappear when your circumstances change.

Rick, an amputee himself and the voice behind AMP’D UP211, brings empathy and realness to the conversation, asking the questions only someone who’s lived through limb loss can ask. This podcast was built to elevate the voices of amputees, athletes, and those who have turned adversity into power, and Parker Byrd is all of that and more.

If you're looking for motivation, perspective, or just a damn good story, this is the episode that will light a fire in you.

What does it take to stare down adversity and keep climbing, literally?

In this episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, host and creator Rick Bontkowski sits down with Tom Jalinski, a bilateral below-the-knee amputee who refused to let limb loss define his limits. Tom takes us deep into the mental and physical grind of becoming an endurance hiker post-amputation, detailing the trails he's conquered, the pain he’s endured, and the mindset that keeps him moving forward.

From rocky paths to life’s roughest terrain, Tom's journey is a blueprint for perseverance. Whether you're an amputee, athlete, or just someone trying to push past personal limits, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

What happens when determination outweighs despair?

In this powerful episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, host Rick Bontkowski sits down with Mark Ksobiech, an amputee who lost over 250 pounds and reclaimed his life in the face of overwhelming challenges. Mark opens up about the emotional and physical transformation that reshaped his identity, his health, and his purpose.

This isn’t just a story about weight loss—it’s about rediscovering hope, confronting addiction, and choosing to fight for the life you deserve. Mark’s journey is raw, relatable, and deeply inspiring for anyone in the limb loss community or beyond.

The AMP’D UP211 Podcast is created and hosted by Rick Bontkowski, a drummer, amputee, and advocate for resilience and self-discovery. Each episode brings together powerful voices from the limb loss and disability community, ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Listen. Share. Be inspired.

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