Burn The Map: Quivers of Legs and Law Changes w/ Brenda Novak
In This Episode:
We talk to Brenda Novak, co-founder of the Connecticut Amputee Network and champion for anyone told they’re “too expensive to fix.” Brenda breaks down her wild ride from business school grad to accidental activist, gives us the unvarnished scoop on the cutthroat world of prosthetic coverage (hint: it’s more ‘Shark Tank’ than ‘Grey’s Anatomy’), and shows us that sometimes, you’ve got to pass whole new laws just to get back on your feet—literally.
What We Cover:
- How Brenda and her fellow “pirates” rallied lawmakers to pass legislation making medically necessary prosthetics actually attainable for humans, not just trust funds.
- The mind-boggling cost (and insurance shenanigans) behind getting a leg that actually lets you walk, run, or—if you’re feeling spicy—surf.
- Why living with limb loss means a constant hustle, from learning how to live all over again to fighting to make basic mobility accessible.
- The reality behind “bionic” prosthetic tech, the quiver of legs nobody tells you about, and why peer-support trumps any medical pamphlet.
- Brenda’s battle-tested approach to resilience, and what it’s really like to lose a limb, find your new balance, and start pulling others up with you.
Guest Bio:
Brenda Novak is the co-founder of Connecticut Amputee Network, a grassroots force behind legislative wins for amputee rights. She’s an above-the-knee amputee (thanks to a freak accident), peer-mentor, and eternal realist who figured, “If no one’s going to fix the system, I guess I’ll have to do it myself.” When she’s not wrangling politicians or training new peer visitors, she’s out living her best life—whether that means kayaking, testing out her newest “water leg,” or reading up on trailblazing women like Victoria Woodhull. Brenda’s mission? Make sure nobody ever feels like they have to go it alone.
Enjoy! This show was brought to you by Wrench.ai
Follow Dan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbaird/
X: https://x.com/mrdanbaird
Follow Brenda:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan0vak/
Follow the Pod:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@burnthemappodcast
Twitter/X: https://x.com/BurnTheMapPod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnthemappodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@burnthemappodcast
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Selected Links From This Episode:
- Brenda Novak’s LinkedIn: Connecticut’s Own
- CT Amputee Network: ctamputeenetwork.org
- Amputee Coalition: amputee-coalition.org
- So Everybody Can Move legislation: soeveybodycanmove.org
People and Organizations Mentioned:
- Brenda Novak
- Herb Kaladny (pirate partner-in-crime)
- Lindy Mitsu, University of Hartford
- Ted Kennedy Jr., American Association of People with Disabilities
- Connecticut Amputee Network
Show Notes & Timestamps:
- 00:08 — Brenda vs. Dan: Who’s aged worse? (Spoiler alert: Dan owns the gray)
- 03:19 — Why found the Connecticut Amputee Network? The insurance coverage clown show.
- 06:05 — Civics 101, or: How Brenda learned legislative sausage is made
- 07:28 — Getting a law passed when you don’t know what you’re doing (hint: bring friends)
- 09:10 — Life with $100K legs, “K levels,” and sassy insurance denials
- 13:12 — The “quiver” of specialty legs (and why Brenda doesn’t name hers—tsk tsk, Brenda)
- 18:05 — There’s no map: Navigating drastic life changes with side-eye and stubbornness
- 23:07 — Peer visiting, real talk about loss, and getting “high” on actual connection
- 29:37 — Finding Brenda (and why she won’t do another cruise, ever)