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Speaker · Author · Advocate

Carlana Stone

"She can't walk. But she can fly."

Carlana Stone brings 40+ years of lived experience with spinal cord injury and neuro-restorative research to healthcare systems, corporations, campuses, and civic stages — through the science of rhythm, breath, and story.

Rhythm — Research — Restoration — Resilience

About

Turning resilience into a roadmap audiences can follow

Carlana Stone is a published author of Never Give In, Never Give Up, an international speaker, and founder of Courage Community 360 (CC360), a community engagement consultancy. She organized Florida's first Music Mends Minds chapter and is also an Emmy-nominated television producer with two decades in Hollywood, beginning her career as the first wheelchair-using TV news reporter for ABC in Miami before producing shows including A&E's Intervention, Judge Judy, and The Biggest Loser.

Ambassador, International Association for Human Values (IAHV) · Ambassador, Music Mends Minds (MMM) · Member, International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians (IFRM) & Club Champion, Alzheimer's/Dementia Rotary Action Group (ADRAG)

Her framework — Rhythm. Research. Restoration. Resilience. — blends neuroscience, music, and breath into presentations that give healthcare, civic, corporate, and academic audiences practical tools for building more resilient, connected communities.

On Stage & Off Script

Signature Talks

I Can't Walk But I Can Fly

A personal story of paralysis, resilience, and the mindset shifts that turn limitation into momentum — including how she became the first female paraplegic in the United States to fly a plane solo.

What's Paralyzing You?

An interactive look at the invisible barriers — fear, bias, burnout — that keep individuals and teams stuck.

Rhythm. Research. Restoration. Resilience.

The science of music and breath as tools for healing, focus, and community connection.

Flight Plan to Freedom

A practical roadmap for turning adversity into a clear, actionable path forward.

Room to Breathe

An experiential session introducing SKY Breath Meditation and its research-backed impact on stress and resilience.

Target Audiences

Who Carlana speaks for

Fortune 500 companies Hospitals & healthcare systems Universities & colleges K–12 school districts Government agencies Nonprofits Professional associations Rotary & civic organizations

Formats: Keynotes (30–90 min) · corporate workshops · leadership training · educational programs · conference presentations · executive coaching on inclusive, resilient leadership · panel moderation · virtual webinars

Speaking Fees

Fees vary by format, travel, and audience size

Nonprofit and healthcare rates available.

View fee ranges →

People Are Saying

What audiences take away

"Carlana Stone is a force of nature — too strong creatively, psychologically, and emotionally to be slowed down. She is an inspiration who inspires everyone she touches."

— Ben Stein, TV Personality, Actor, Author, Presidential Speech Writer

"Carlana's inspirational story reminds us how the entire course of our lives can change in a split second — and offers us all a special gift of hope."

— General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Army, Retired

"Carlana's chair is like a handbag on her shoulder — just another accessory she's wearing."

— Leeza Gibbons, Talk Show Host, Reporter, Spokesperson