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
Injury To Impact: Brandon Fleischer On Resilience And Community
We set up at the Abilities Expo in Schaumburg for a fast, unpolished conversation with Brandon—part survivor, part builder—about what it takes to turn a life-altering crash into a life with direction. No studio polish, just honest talk about spinal cord injury, early rehab victories, the detours that come with school and work, and the strange comfort of finding your people in a crowded hall of adaptive tech.
Brandon walks us through the moment everything changed, the grind of physical therapy, and the real-world choices that shape long-term recovery. We dig into the power of community at events like the Abilities Expo, where peer knowledge travels faster than brochures, and a five-minute demo can upend a tired limit. We talk practical resilience: how to stack small wins, protect energy, and turn experience into service without slipping into empty hype.
There’s humor too—travel from Nashville, first-podcast jitters, and that universal cringe of hearing your own voice. Underneath it all lives a grounded perspective: life flips in a heartbeat, gratitude rebuilds in inches. If you’re navigating injury, disability, or a hard restart, this speedcast is a reminder that progress rarely arrives in a straight line. It shows up as community, courage, and the next honest step.
Tap play, share it with someone who needs momentum, and if the conversation resonates, like, comment, and subscribe. Then tell us: what small win moved you forward today?
What's up guys? As you can see, we're not in the studio at home. We're actually at the Ability 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 please enjoy this Life to Max speedcast.
SPEAKER_00:Just a couple of ones, not trying to get back. Don't give it twice.
SPEAKER_02:What is up everybody? It is Life to X podcast, and we are at the Abilities Expo in Schomburg, Illinois. It is June 21st, Saturday, 2025, and today I have Brandon. Brandon, what brings you out to the Abilities Expo?
SPEAKER_01:Um, just seeing new stuff, and uh I've never been to an expo, so it's kind of eye-opening. Yeah, very first time.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, the last time I went was like 2018, then I decided uh I was gonna play for the podcast.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, yeah, and uh you know, something different to see what's out there and uh all life-changing stuff.
SPEAKER_02:Wait a mask, what uh we in a correct stuff.
SPEAKER_01:Uh 12 years ago, I was in a motorcycle accident. Yeah. Uh I came up over a hill, there was a garbage truck. Garbage truck won on that day, but you know, we're still here, you know.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Kick it in. Uh so ha tell me all your uh progression well with like rehab and stuff.
SPEAKER_01:I was doing like physical therapy to get walking and stuff. Uh I was able to get to the point where on a I get sat on a stationary bike and uh I could actually like rock it and then you know, um, but then I got in school to uh get my bachelor's degree and stuff like that. So kind of got put on the back burner, but hoping to get back to that eventually.
SPEAKER_02:Do you have a spinal cord injury?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, spinal cord. I'm an incomplete T3 injury injury.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I I was in a car accident. I wasn't driving, coming back from base. Uh like you know, I it was tough in the beginning, but you know, nine years later, here I am talking to you. Yeah. So it's crazy ride.
SPEAKER_01:It is. Um, and I feel those dark, you know, I I've had those dark days where it's it's tough, you know, we're locked in these bodies and we can't do anything about it.
SPEAKER_02:Well, the thing the thing that's cool about this expo is that you see that there's like we don't have a community out there, there's a lot of people are suffering and going through the same things. Yeah. Suffering some ad works, going through the same things.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly. And I mean, you know, what one thing I always say is it can always be worse. Oh, me too, you know, so it's like we could have been six feet under while we're not. So we're still here, and that's I mean, obviously that's eventually gonna happen to all of us, but let's not s you know, fast track that. So yeah, what are we doing?
SPEAKER_02:Well, let's stop being gram. What are uh some of the things you love doing?
SPEAKER_01:So I work part-time, so I do enjoy that, you know, getting out and about um movies.
SPEAKER_02:Where do you work?
SPEAKER_01:Uh Dick Sporting Goods, you know. Yes. Um, but kind of like you, I'm hoping to you know, become a motivational speaker. Yes. Yeah, so that's one of my big goals this year is to try to get that. So this was kind of fun because this something new and I can't over yet.
SPEAKER_02:Exactly.
SPEAKER_01:You know what I mean? So that's why it was extremely fun that I could get on here today and so is this your first time doing something like this? Uh kind of. I mean, I've had where uh like my caseworker thought I was very motivational, and I spoke with 300 uh case managers across the state in a Zoom, so it wasn't as like nerve-wracking, which I'm kinda the point where I don't that doesn't bother me at all.
SPEAKER_02:So uh is this your first time being a podcast?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yep, yeah, very first.
SPEAKER_02:I know hearing your voice, it's a little different.
SPEAKER_01:It's a little different.
SPEAKER_02:Hate hearing my voice, but so uh where are you from, yeah?
SPEAKER_01:Um I'm out of Nashville, Tennessee.
SPEAKER_02:So you you you came up here?
SPEAKER_01:I did. Uh my best friend, she lives up here, and she made me come to this. Yes.
SPEAKER_02:And I uh I actually used to live in Clarksville. Like so Nashville. Yep, Clarksville. Um let's go in. Do you have anything uh you want to say to the comedian author?
SPEAKER_01:Um you know there's life after everything, yeah, everything happens for a reason, and it sometimes it takes a lot longer to find out that reason, but everything happens for a reason.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I believe that too. Like, and life could change in a split second, so be grateful for it because you only have one doing it. Exactly. Thanks for coming on the podcast. Uh if you guys like this content, please like, comment, and subscribe. And as always, take a breath for me. Thank you very much. All right, thanks, man.
SPEAKER_01:No, thank you.
SPEAKER_00:Never really tripping to my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool. Are you lames? Ahead on a scribble, looking out for the locus of modern souls trying to dive my pony. Am I the next best thing? But I think I'm the closest.