Motivational Speaking
Lessons in resilience, mindset, and staying stoked!
Frequently Asked Questions
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My talks center on resilience, mindset, and the power of purpose after a life-altering event. I share my personal story of surviving a catastrophic illness that resulted in the loss of my right lung, right leg, and toes, and how I rebuilt my life to not only be what it used to be, but better. Doctor’s didn’t expect me to get off supplemental oxygen, yet now I compete in international surf events.
Key themes can include:
Surviving prolonged hospitalization and critical care
Choosing positivity and mental resilience during uncertainty and loss
The role of sport, movement, and community in healing and mental health
Redefining identity, independence, and success after trauma
Turning adversity into motivation, purpose, and performance
I tailor every talk to the audience:
Medical & Healthcare Conferences
I focus on the patient perspective. What it’s like to be on the other side of critical illness, 80+ days on ECMO, and never ending hospital stays. My father is a pediatric surgeon, so I have a good understanding of the medical journey I went through, and the critical decisions made to keep me alive. These talks often highlight communication, patient care, and the lasting impact healthcare professionals had on my recovery.Universities & Educational Settings
These talks are more instructional, connecting real-world experience to kinesiology, rehabilitation, adaptive sport, and mindset. I emphasize problem-solving, adaptability, and applying resilience in both professional and personal growth. I have no issues chucking my leg to the other side of a room to demonstrate a limbless life!General Audiences, Children & Events
I share my story in a powerful, relatable way that inspires audiences to reframe challenges, stay grounded in gratitude, and pursue what makes them feel alive—no matter the obstacles.
All of my talks are honest, engaging, and speckled with humor. My goal is to leave people motivated, reflective, and empowered to tackle whatever challenges them!
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I don’t just talk about overcoming adversity… I’ve lived through it in real time, inside ICU rooms, operating theaters, and years of rehabilitation. My story isn’t theoretical or polished; it’s honest, current, and rooted in lived experience.
What makes my talks different is the intersection of critical illness, adaptive sport, and mindset. I speak honestly from the unique perspective of someone who has been both a high-performing athlete and a patient whose life depended on the pinnacle of medical technology.
I also bridge worlds that don’t often overlap:
The patient’s perspective with the clinician’s impact
Medical reality with mental resilience
Adaptive sport with performance and purpose
Adapting my training as the only one-lunged, one legged surfer in the world
Rather than delivering generic motivation, I tailor every talk to the audience—whether that’s healthcare professionals, students, or general audiences—making the message practical, relevant, and grounded in real outcomes.
Most importantly, I don’t present adversity as something to “conquer.” These disabilities will be with me every day for the rest of my life. I talk about learning to live fully with it—and finding purpose, joy, and momentum on the other side.
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Absolutely. I love engaging with the audience through Q&A. I’m an open book and answer questions as honestly as I can. Whether they’re about prosthetics, mindset, recovery, or even my relationship status. I’ve heard it all!
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My talks typically run 15–45 minutes, depending on the audience and setting. I usually share my personal story—my journey of surviving critical illness, the role of sport in my recovery, and lessons in resilience and mindset.
After the main talk, I can open the floor to a Q&A, giving the audience a chance to ask anything.
For larger events or conferences, I can customize the length to fit your schedule, from a short spotlight session to a full length talk with interactive discussion afterwards.
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Reach out via email or my contact form with details about your event.
Tell me a bit about your event, who your audience is, and what you’re hoping to get out of the talk. From there, we’ll figure out how to make it fit your group—whether that’s sharing my story, diving into the medical side, or focusing on mindset and resilience.
I love collaborating with organizers to make the experience meaningful, memorable, and also a little fun.
Pricing depends on the type of event and audience, reach out and we’ll work out the details together!
What People Are Saying
“Carter brought a human side to the patient experience that we rarely get to hear. It’s not often we get to see what happens to patients after they leave our ICU. His talk reminded us why our work really matters”
“His talk was powerful, personal, relatable, and even funny! Carter has a way of making even difficult experiences feel hopeful and motivating.”
“I walked away motivated and challenged to rethink what I consider are my own limitations. Carter’s talk connected perfectly to our studies in kinesiology and rehab.”
Hawai’i Pacific Health Conference
My first large conference speaking to over 200 medical professionals. I have since been a speaker for the Hawai’i Nurses Conference, and lectured for Hawai’i Pacific University’s DPT Department, and the Kinesiology students at University of Hawai’i.
