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 Polio To Pathology: Work, Access, And Grit
Start with a simple truth from Juana Lopez: you choose your path, even with limits. This conversation moves fast and goes deep as we follow Juana’s journey from post‑polio paraplegia to leading a VA histopathology team that turns tissue into answers. She walks us through the unseen work of processing biopsies, the precision behind cancer diagnostics, and the human stakes that drive her purpose every day.
Juana talks plainly about why she moved for promotion and team fit, how leadership shows up in a lab, and what it takes to build trust between technicians and clinicians. Accessibility threads through every story: strong laws, better technology, and the stubborn gaps that still make daily life harder than it should be. Her empathy test—try the same shoes—becomes a design principle for hospitals, software, and cities alike.
The heart of this episode is agency. Juana doesn’t deny barriers; she refuses to let them define the horizon. From adaptive workspaces and universal design to culture that welcomes disabled professionals as experts, not exceptions, we map a path where dignity and productivity rise together. If you care about disability inclusion, VA healthcare, cancer diagnostics, or simply living on purpose, you’ll find both practical insight and a mindset shift worth keeping.
Listen now, share with a friend who needs this perspective, and tell us the choice you’re making this week. Subscribe for more conversations that turn grit, access, and design into everyday action, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.
No, it's not true. It's not true. You choose whatever you want to do. Doesn't matter that you have limitations.
SPEAKER_02:What's up guys? As you can see, we're not in the studio at home. We're actually at the Ability's 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 speed.
SPEAKER_00:Just a couple of ones all trying to get by. Just a couple of teas are trying to survive. Live to the max.
SPEAKER_02:What is up everybody? It is Life to the Max Podcast. We are at the Ability's Expo in Schomburg, Illinois. It is June 20th, 2025, and today I am with Lana Lopez, a fellow uh person who worked at Heinz VA, Everhead's VA in Chicago, a place where I attended, a place where I go to, and also uh well learn more about her story now.
SPEAKER_01:Uh Lana, the floor is yours. Yes, I was working in Heinz VA for eight years. Then I worked in a Gainesville VA hospital for three years. Now I'm working uh since two years ago uh in Salisbury, North Carolina.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah. VA VA VA VA VA VA YES it is. May I ask what happened?
SPEAKER_01:I'm a paraplegic phlaic post polio since eight months was born.
SPEAKER_02:Oh uh no and sweet, you you said since eight months since you were born? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I never work, because there's like a just born and then get the polio poliumilities.
SPEAKER_02:What is uh made you like get through every single day?
SPEAKER_01:Every single day and try to be uh more productive. Productive? Yes. In my job, in my house, uh, in my family, in my community.
SPEAKER_02:Do you enjoy working at the VA? Like what are some of the things you enjoy giving back to people?
SPEAKER_01:Uh yes, of course. Uh the VA is a wonderful place to work. Yeah. When you are working in one VA and you move into another one or to another one, uh sometimes it's not your decision. Sometimes the God gives it to you uh works for you. Yes. This is a good country, United States. Yes. Uh, but we cannot say 100% is accessible. No, no yet. We're still working in that.
SPEAKER_02:Um, I was just talking about that with a Congressman.
SPEAKER_01:That's crazy. Exactly. We cannot say all the people are open minded, no yet. We sometimes you have people that um not understand how is the person with special needs. Yeah. Yes.
SPEAKER_02:So how so why didn't you choose to move to North Carolina?
SPEAKER_01:Uh first of all, because the position was wonderful. I'm a lead uh histopathology technology.
SPEAKER_02:Oh yeah, what what do you do at the VI? I'm so sorry I should have asked that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, the the name is very strange and long, but it's working in pathology lab, especially working working with the biopsies, uh the surgery remove organs, tissues. Yeah, and then you um working process to see that it has cancer or not, if it can have cancer, what type of cancer it is.
SPEAKER_02:So you're smart. You're smart. That's that's awesome. And then you uh move to Gainesville, uh is that North Carolina? Gainesville, North Carolina.
SPEAKER_01:Well, um, for example, if you are working in one VA, beautiful VA, Heinz VA, for example, I was working eight years, but during the eight years, uh you don't promote it easily. Yeah. And then you need to promote it soon. Heinz VA. It's not a nice VA. It's nice VAs, definitely. You think it's nice? It is, it is. Really? Yes, it is. Well, and the my perception is from the uh caregiver to the patients.
SPEAKER_02:Oh no, I bet like the aesthetic. Like the inside is very old. Is your uh new VA nice? Do you do you like your new VA? Yeah?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes, that's that's nice.
SPEAKER_02:Do you like North Carolina?
SPEAKER_01:Um all the places that are wonderful, all the VAs uh keep it the same um goals, no? Yeah. Um only the difference is the the people work to you close. Yes, it is. Sometimes are very open minds, sometimes it's not. So I think is this is uh my job. They send me to places that is the some people need to change it, make changes.
SPEAKER_02:I'm happy that life has treated you well. Uh do you have anything you would like to say to the people?
SPEAKER_01:Um well, um it's very difficult right now that I have a very uh higher the technologies, very more fast, but it's still uh we need to have um more uh health and understand the people on a wheelchair, for example. Uh change change the minds. We can do everything that we want. It's not like you do only this, only that. No, it's not true. It's not true. You can do whatever you want to do. When you born, uh you want to dancing, but at the end of the endurance, you cannot dance him, but you cannot change your mind. You still want dancing. Yes. So that is the example that is um you choose whatever you want to do, doesn't matter that you have um limitations.
SPEAKER_02:So basically, what you're saying is live life to the max, right? Live life to the fullest.
SPEAKER_01:The the the goal, the goal rules is uh thinking or try to use the same shoes. This is the best. That is the best. You're thinking how do you do without move your leg, immediately you will be have more than 50% understand the other people.
SPEAKER_02:That's beautiful. Well, thank you so much for being on the podcast. Uh very if you enjoyed this content, please like, comment, and subscribe. And as always, take a breath for me.
SPEAKER_00:Never really trippin', try my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool. Are you lame? Skip it, bogus. I head on a scribble, looking out for the locust. The Martin Soles trying to dive my opponents. Am I the next best thing? What I think I'm gonna close.