9. Rebecca Koltun: Life After the Fall

In March 2021, Rebecca Koltun’s life changed in an instant. A catastrophic skiing accident left her paralyzed from the neck down—but that’s not where her story ends. From hospital beds to speaking stages, Rebecca has become a living testament to resilience, humor, and the power of showing up anyway. In this episode, Rebecca shares how she rebuilt her life post-injury, what drives her every day, and why laughter is one of her greatest survival tools. It’s a raw, real, and unexpectedly uplifting conversation about independence, identity, and finding joy when everything feels broken. Whether she’s cracking jokes, chasing new goals, or reshaping what’s possible after paralysis, Rebecca reminds us: your spirit is never out of reach. Connect with Rebecca here: • Instagram:   / rebecca_koltun   • Tiktok:   / notparalyzedjustlazy   • Koltun Strong Foundation: https://events.elitefeats.com/25rebec... Mahalo for joining us, Rebecca 🤙🏽 Let’s dive into her extraordinary story- 1. Intro to Rebecca – [00:01:15:13] 2. The skiing accident and initial recovery – [00:03:03:13] 3. Facing emotional lows and early mindset challenges – [00:05:48:21] 4. Support from family and friends during hospitalization – [00:07:13:08] 5. Starting to regain positivity through rehab – [00:10:02:26] 6. Communication struggles and learning to speak again – [00:11:16:06] 7. Creating funny and educational content on social media – [00:21:11:25] 8. Using dark humor as a healing tool – [00:23:17:11] 9. Medical scare while traveling and defining resilience – [00:25:08:21] 10. Future goals, art, and balancing work with disability benefits – [00:33:05:16] Links: • Check out our website: sickburnpodcast.com • Follow us on Instagram:   / sickburnpod.  . • Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thomascraigviii Mahalo for tuning in! If you enjoyed today's episode, please: • Subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode. • Follow us on social media to stay updated with our latest content and behind-the-scenes fun! We love hearing from our listeners! If you have any feedback, questions, or just want to chat about the episode, email us at [email protected] or send us a message on Instagram! Credits: Hosted & Executive Produced by Thomas Craig VIII. Guest Appearance by John Pendleton. Produced by Voice & Video- Bill Lanzaratto, Audio Engineer by Mickey. Edited by Lizi Bronson. Graphics by Jeff Lee. Special Thanks for their invaluable work, Rosie Flores & Carlisi Creative- Jenna Carlisi. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily represent those of "The Sick Burn Podcast," its affiliates, or any organizations we are associated with. This podcast for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. #SickBurnPodcast #RebeccaKoltun #Resilience #SpinalCordInjury #DisabilityAwareness #HumorHeals #MentalHealthMatters #PodcastEpisode #ListenNow #ParalysisAwareness #SurvivorStories #Inspiration #AdaptiveLife #PowerOfPerspective #RawAndReal #burnsurvivor