How do you rebuild your life when everything changes?

In this episode of Adding Context, Michael Bollentin sits down with award-winning author, speaker, coach, and brain tumor survivor Risa August to explore resilience, personal Growth, and the power of reinvention. After navigating a brain tumor, a rare disease, the end of an 18-year Marriage, and a solo 1,845-mile bicycle journey from Canada to Mexico, Risa shares how one simple question—“What CAN I do?”—helped transform adversity into purpose.

Together, they discuss overcoming life’s unexpected challenges, redefining identity, embracing change, and finding hope through uncertainty. If you’re interested in resilience, mindset, healing, self-discovery, and turning setbacks into opportunities for growth, this conversation offers practical Wisdom and an inspiring perspective on what it means to keep moving forward. Follow Risa at www.risaaugust.com

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Michael Bollentin Podcaster

My wife and I have been married for over 20 years. I am a father of two boys, eighteen & fifteen. My entire adult life, plus a few years before, has been in the service of others.

Starting as an EMT when I was 15-16 years old and as a police officer. I am also a youth sports coach. I have coached football, wrestling, and ice hockey. I love coaching and mentoring.

My early retirement forced me to find a new way to continue to help others; I chose to dive into politics. I have run for federal, NJ State, and local seats as an independent candidate who tried to bring integrity and accountability back into the political arena.

My hobbies include ice hockey, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, music, and learning as much as possible. I am lucky enough to have partnered up with a very creative friend; together we have made several successful short films.