Life to the Max Podcast
Welcome to 'Life to the Max Podcast,' where resilience meets inspiration!
Join us on a transformative journey through the life stories of remarkable individuals, including Quadriplegic Army Veteran Maximilian Gross. In this empowering podcast, we dive into tales of triumph, courage, and the human spirit's unwavering ability to overcome obstacles.
Our show is a celebration of diverse narratives, from awe-inspiring achievements to the darkest of traumas. 'Life to the Max' is a testament to the power of living authentically, no matter the circumstances. We believe that everyone has a unique story worth sharing, and we invite individuals from all walks of life to join us.
Discover the profound meaning of living 'Life to the Max'—a concept that resonates differently with each storyteller. It's a journey of perspective, resilience, and finding joy amidst life's challenges. Tune in to be inspired, motivated, and reminded that there's strength in every story.
Ready to redefine what it means to live life to the fullest? Share your story with us and become a part of this uplifting community. Because, at 'Life to the Max,' every story matters.
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Life to the Max Podcast
From Diagnosis To Design: A Maker’s Journey With MS
Kathleen Thomas brings a story that’s equal parts grit and ingenuity. From growing up in Indianapolis to navigating life with MS, Kathleen channeled daily challenges into a small, delightful solution: a palm-sized 3D-printed turtle with a clickable shell that helps calm the mind. We dig into how a simple fidget can lower stress in loud spaces, soothe anxiety in quiet moments, and give users a sense of control when they need it most.
We pull back the curtain on her brand, 3D Labs Jr, and talk through the practical path of turning a maker project into a business. Kathleen shares why she chose TikTok for quick demos and honest feedback, what early traction looks like six months in, and how she’s pacing growth to protect essential benefits while moving toward more independence. Along the way, we map actionable steps for creators: tight captions, clear calls to action, small batch drops, community replies, and email capture that safeguards momentum beyond algorithms.
What stays with us is Kathleen’s grounded mindset. Gratitude isn’t a slogan here; it’s a daily practice shaped by friendships, new experiences, and the choice to build rather than wait. The turtle is more than a fidget—it’s a pocket-sized reminder that accessibility can be beautiful and that tiny tools can shift the course of a day. If you’re a maker, a therapist, an educator, or someone who just needs a reset you can hold, this conversation will nudge you toward the next useful step.
Subscribe for more creator stories, share this with a friend who loves smart design, and drop a review to tell us which detail clicked for you. Your feedback helps us bring more voices like Kathleen’s to the mic.
What's up guys? As you can see, we're not in the studio at home. We're actually at the Abillies Expo in Chicago, and this podcast is gonna be a little different. It's gonna be like a speedcast. The sound is not gonna be as great because of how wide open this space is, but I hope you guys enjoy it. Please enjoy this Life to the Max speedcast. What is up everybody? It is Life to the Max podcast, and we are at the A Buildings Expo in Shawburg, Illinois. It is June 22nd, 2025, and today I am here with Kathleen Thomas. Kathleen, tell me a little about yourself.
SPEAKER_02:Okay. Um, I grew up in Indianapolis.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_02:I have a mess. Um, I was diagnosed in 2004, so 21 years ago. Okay, I've been like in a wheelchair to say, well, since probably since 28-ish. So I'm 40, I'll be a 41 next month. Um so it's been a while.
SPEAKER_01:Well, it seems like you're killing it. You're doing a great job. Yeah, great job. And uh right before we well, we were just talking, you started a business with bubble bees?
SPEAKER_02:Yes. Well, not bubble specifically, turtles specifically. Okay. Okay. Um, I started at TikTok. It's 3D Labs Jr. So they're 3D printed turtles. They're about the size of the palm of your hand. Um, the shells feature like uh keyboards, clickers. So you click the shells that kind of relieve stress or frustration. Oh kind of reset yourself. So it's for fidgeting? Yeah, it's like a fidget. It's for like anxiety, stress, like those kind of things, yeah. Like a stressful? Yeah. Well, that's amazing. How is that going? Um, you know, it's going in the right direction. I'm getting more followers. I'm still not where I want to be. Um, but my goal with it is to start making money so I can rely less on the government.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that would be amazing. And don't worry, I will try my best to uh get your business out there. I'll make sure that I uh put all the links in the description below for your business and uh your TikTok shop. Yeah. Because I have a friend who does the same thing. Okay. She's doing great, but it took her a little bit. It took her about three years.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and I'm only like six months in, so I know I gotta put in the work to the time.
SPEAKER_01:Well, you're doing a great job. Um, what are you most grateful for?
SPEAKER_02:Most grateful for just being here every day making friendships, having experiences.
SPEAKER_01:It's amazing that with your strength and your perseverance to go through what you've gone through and uh thought that entrepreneurship inside of you to make a creative system like try to depend on only try to become more independent, and I I'm really glad you decided to come on the show.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Is there uh sorry, were you is there anything I you would like to say to the people?
SPEAKER_02:I just think what you're doing is great, this podcast is great. I think people just need to snap out of bad attitudes because it's not gonna help anything.
SPEAKER_01:That's beautiful. Thank you so much for being uh ever uh everybody listening. If you enjoyed this content, please like, comment, and subscribe. And as always, take a breath for me.
SPEAKER_00:Never really trimming, try my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool, are you lames? Ahead on a swivel, looking out for the locus. I'm on stand so trying to dive my ponies. Am I the next best thing? But I think I'm the closest.