4. Buck Latta | Exploring a Renewed Sense of Purpose After Loss of Arm

If you've ever faced life-altering loss or unexpected challenges, this powerful podcast episode is a must-listen. It’s a heartfelt, raw, and at times surprisingly humorous conversation about resilience, perspective, and the unexpected gifts that can emerge from even the darkest moments. With stories of physical and emotional recovery, finding joy after tragedy, and the importance of a strong support system, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and hopeful. Listen in—you won’t want to miss it.

“Buy a helmet and run right at life, don't let it stop you. You're going to be sad, you're going to have bad days, and it's going to be awful. I'm not going to sugarcoat it to you, life is going to suck for a while and you'll run into things that will bring you back to really fragile parts of your recovery, and those will be hard, but life is still out there waiting for you.” 

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Duality of Loss: Curse and Blessing

  • Loss can lead to profound growth and transformation.

  • The pain is real, but it can bring clarity and unexpected beauty to life.

  • Grief provides perspective; many things that once felt important become trivial.

    
    

• Grieving Is Personal and Nonlinear

  • There's no timeline for healing; grief must be fully felt and honored.

  • Pressure to “just be positive” can be harmful—real healing comes from allowing all emotions.
    

• The Power of Community

  • Supportive friends who treat you like your normal self can be essential to recovery.

  • The right tribe helps you maintain humor, identity, and perspective through adversity.
    

• Acceptance Through Perspective

  • Loss reframes what matters: being alive, seeing your family, appreciating the little things.

  • Volunteering and hearing others’ stories can shift focus from “poor me” to gratitude.
    

• Adaptation and Resilience

  • People are capable of more than they think; with time, you can do almost anything again.

  • Even with physical limitations, it’s possible to thrive and even surpass previous abilities.
    

• Humor as a Coping Tool

  • Laughing at yourself can be healing—it’s a form of acceptance and a way to disarm discomfort.

  • Humor creates connection and helps normalize tough experiences.
    

• Practical Advice for Navigating Loss

  • “Buy a helmet and run right at life”—don’t let fear stop you.

  • Find things you love and let them distract and fill you up ("distractive therapy").

  • Don't waste time with people or things that don’t add value to your life.
    

About Buck Latta:

Buck Latta is a Colorado native and amputee with deep ties to his family and community.  Whether that's helping local businesses successfully navigate benefits strategies or Volunteering, coaching or teaching within the amputee community, local sports teams and non-profits.  Buck lives in A-Town (Aurora) with his awesome wife,  Cammie and two kids, Kiera (16) & Flynn (14) where he enjoys playing golf with his family and making questionable decisions on the ski hills in Colorado's beautiful high country. Connect with Meagan:

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