The Blind Chick

Episode SummaryElise Draper joins Penn Street and Moses Street for a candid, funny, and deeply real conversation about living with progressive vision loss—and refusing to let society set the ceiling on what’s possible.Elise shares her diagnosis (PIC), the long road through misdiagnosis, treatments, and the layered realities of chronic eye disease (including autoimmune inflammation, scarring, injections, and early-onset glaucoma). She also explains Charles Bonnet syndrome in practical terms—what it can look like, why it’s so disorienting, and why being dismissed by medical professionals can be as damaging as the symptoms themselves.The conversation moves from the darkest seasons (depression, isolation, relationships fracturing under the strain) to rebuilding: community support, independence tools like the white cane, and a mindset shift that replaces “lowered expectations” with agency. Elise then spotlights the work she’s leading through the VIMB Creatives Workshop under the umbrella of IPub Global (iPub Cloud): creating a platform for blind and low-vision creatives to publish, get feedback, build professional skills (including resumes), and raise visibility for marginalized voices.Contact InfoGuest: Elise Draper — author, publisher, freelance writer; marketing director/CMO (as discussed in the episode)Creative Platform: VIMB Creatives Workshop (Elise notes you can find it by searching “VIMB Creatives Workshop”)Spotify: “VIMB Creatives Workshop” (as named in the episode)Aftersight: Aftersight.orgGeneral contact: feedback@aftersight.org | (720) 712-8856Producer: Jonathan PriceShow CreditsHosts: Penn Street, Moses StreetGuest: Elise DraperProducer: Jonathan PriceNetwork: Aftersight (Aftersight Original Podcast)Chapter Markers00:00 — Show intro and welcome02:19 — Elise’s name origin and pen name story04:29 — Diagnosis: PIC (punctate inner choroidopathy) and current vision06:51 — Life disruption, resilience, and “switching lanes”11:03 — Early symptoms, misdiagnosis, and not being believed13:26 — Mental health impact, sleep disruption, and depression15:43 — Charles Bonnet syndrome explained (and why it gets dismissed)18:04 — When it becomes unsafe: driving, vivid visuals, and the “time” moment20:28 — Rebuilding independence: DVR support, mentors, and community25:11 — Sheltered employment, systemic ableism, and raising the bar32:28 — The white cane: stigma vs. freedom (and bruises as evidence)34:55 — VIMB Creatives Workshop: what it is and who it’s for39:30 — Submitting work, editing support, workshops, and author branding44:20 — Accessibility hurdles in marketing and practical ways forward46:43 — Elise’s recommended starting point: Free Will (2nd edition)49:06 — Favorite author influence: Octavia Butler51:28 — Wrap-up, gratitude, and Aftersight support message

1) Episode Summary Penn and Moses open with a quick New Year check-in and some light banter about January weather in Colorado, then shift into the heart of the episode: grieving the sudden loss of Penn’s guide dog, Beethoven, who passed away on December 22. They reflect on what a guide dog means as a working partner and family member, and they thank the community for the wave of condolences, cards, and memorial gifts. They also share brighter moments from the holiday break—traveling to Ouray, Colorado to spend several days with family, enjoying the hot springs, and visiting Box Canyon and its waterfall. The conversation closes with encouragement around mental health support (including therapy), staying socially connected, and a listener invitation to share New Year’s resolutions and stories with the show. 2) Contact Info Listener Email: contact@aftersight.orgProducer: Jonathan Price — Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight3) Show CreditsShow: The Blind Chick (Aftersight Original)Hosts: Penn Street, Moses StreetProducer: Jonathan Price4) Chapter Markers00:00 — Show open00:29 — New Year check-in + Colorado weather02:51 — Remembering Beethoven and what he meant07:38 — Community support and shout-outs09:54 — Ouray family trip + Box Canyon14:33 — Mental health, therapy, and staying connected21:46 — Resolutions invite + wrap and calls-to-action

1) Episode Summary Penn and Moses kick off with a New Year check-in (less “new me,” more gratitude) and give a clear warning that the episode includes suicide. Ashley Purdy, a blind advocate and speaker, shares the trauma-filled path that led to her suicide attempt at 17, her clinical death for 17 minutes, and the long rehab that followed—including the crushing moment she realized she was blind. Over time, she reframed survival as a “rebirth,” identifying with the phoenix. The conversation also covers independence, pushing back on “over-helping,” Perkins School for the Blind, isolation and social anxiety, and Ashley’s interest in getting a guide dog. The episode ends with encouragement to speak up if someone is in crisis, plus 988 resources and the reminder that one person showing up can save a life. 2) Contact Info Guest: Ashley Purdy — Blind advocate & public speaker (no direct contact info shared in the provided transcript) Aftersight / The Blind Chick: Website mentioned on-air: aftersight.orgEmail mentioned on-air: contact@aftersite.org (spelled this way in the provided transcript; verify spelling if needed)Crisis resource mentioned on-air (US): Call/Text: 988Website: 988lifeline.orgProducer: Jonathan Price (Aftersight) 3) Show Credits Show: The Blind Chick (Aftersight Original)Hosts: Penn Street, Moses StreetProducer: Jonathan Price4) Chapter Markers (mm:ss) 00:00 — Show intro00:27 — New Year talk + listener resolutions invite02:41 — Suicide content warning + self-care note04:54 — Ashley joins; Arlington (Virginia) + opening banter07:13 — Childhood: instability, early responsibility, family dynamics09:37 — Crisis stabilization + foster care separation12:02 — Guilt, grief, and how memories can distort reality14:28 — Returning home; “kid raising kids” reality16:46 — Sexual assault at 13; reporting; court outcome19:09 — Self-harm, hospitalizations, and cumulative strain21:35 — The “tipping point” at 17; why she seemed happier23:35 — Memory gaps; what she recalls from that night25:58 — Clinically dead 17 minutes; prognosis; survival28:22 — Rehab + communication; Zootopia/DMV analogy30:48 — Not realizing blindness at first; what she perceived33:15 — “Peace” before attempt; missed warning signs35:39 — Ripple effects; urging listeners to tell someone38:04 — Ongoing hard days; starting Perkins40:04 — Perkins explained42:26 — Over-helping vs independence; soda-can moment44:40 — Finding “your people” and belonging challenges47:06 — Isolation, social anxiety, and partner support49:09 — Guide dog schools and options51:31 — Hosts on guide dog freedom + reality53:57 — Hermit habits + encouragement to get out56:16 — Dogs as daily movement + sensory joy58:36 — Ashley’s advice: know who truly shows up61:00 — Hosts reflect on non-judgment support63:25 — 988 resources + Aftersight wrap + closing encouragemen ...

1) Episode SummaryPenn Street and Moses Street close out the year with a Christmas Day (2025) holiday check-in—reflecting on a packed season of gatherings, the weirdly warm and windy Colorado December, and why wind can be especially disorienting for blind and low-vision folks.They look back on standout 2025 guests and moments—mixing heartfelt gratitude with playful delirium from “too much sugar”. The conversation shifts into Christmas traditions and the very real tension of navigating holidays as a couple: different family backgrounds, different expectations, and a running debate about “taking turns” opening gifts.Penn and Moses also talk favorite Christmas movies (classic titles only, please), recent movies they loved, favorite Christmas songs (including an intentionally weird Tiny Tim recommendation), and the gift-giving stress Moses experiences—sharing why therapy is part of his real, practical approach to getting through the season.They close by inviting listeners to email in holiday stories (best, worst, or funniest gifts; traditions; whatever the season looked like), and they end with a simple challenge: be kind to yourself, and be kind to someone else.2) Contact InfoFeatured voices: Penn Street, Moses StreetListener email (shared on-air): feedback@aftersight.orgAftersight phone: (720) 712-8856Producer: Jonathan Price (Aftersight)3) Show CreditsShow: The Blind Chick (an Aftersight Originals podcast)Hosts: Penn Street, Moses StreetProducer: Jonathan PriceOrganization: Aftersight4) Chapter Markers00:00 — Show open and mission00:27 — Welcome back + host roll call00:41 — Holiday season chaos + Colorado wind talk03:04 — Guests of 2025 shout-outs (with jokes)05:21 — More shout-outs (Steven Vine, Shawn Cheshire)07:41 — Disaster preparedness reflections + Marty Sobo / Code Orange mention09:57 — Upcoming episode tease: Ashley Purdy on New Year’s Day11:58 — Christmas is hard for Moses; Penn is “Mother Christmas spirit”14:22 — Childhood Christmas differences + traditions16:48 — Christmas tree fights + family memories19:10 — “Taking turns” opening gifts debate21:34 — Why Moses dislikes getting gifts; joke presents23:56 — Favorite Christmas movies + holiday movie tradition26:15 — “The Housemaid” as a surprise favorite (no spoilers)28:38 — Ouray trip plans + Moses’s birthday (Jan 3)31:00 — Favorite Christmas songs (incl. Tiny Tim)33:21 — Favorite gifts + shopping together as a strategy35:41 — Gift-buying stress + holiday shopping misery (and Valentine’s Day contrast)38:08 — “One gift” simplicity + listener email call-in request40:34 — Send your holiday story to feedback@aftersight.org + closing kindness message

Penn Street and Moses Street welcome guest Gable Mead for a Facebook Live “podcast time travel” conversation recorded in July 2025 but airing during the holidays. They open with a story about a blind child interviewing her parents and use it as a springboard into how fear and misconceptions fade when people learn blindness skills firsthand. Gable shares his vision-loss story (bilateral retinoblastoma, gradual loss of remaining vision, and later choosing a prosthetic for comfort), plus what it’s like living with vivid “phantom vision” effects and how that can impact sleep. From there, the conversation shifts into blind gaming—how Gable transitioned into fighting games, competes in-person, and helped build a strong community of blind gamers. Gable explains the Cento Showdown (a Mortal Kombat tournament for blind/low-vision players) and his extensive accessibility work: long-form visual/cosmetic guides created with AI image descriptions, then carefully verified and rewritten to reduce errors and hallucinations. He also shares his day job as an educational braillist, how he found it after a discouraging job search, and why the work is unexpectedly fulfilling. The episode closes with encouragement around kindness (especially toward yourself), plus where to follow Gable and find his work. Contact Info Guest / Project Cento Showdown: @CentoShowdown (Twitter/X), thecentoshowdown.com Gable Mead: @BlindsightBlue (social), Twitch: BlindsightBlue Aftersight Email: feedback@aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Produced by: Jonathan Price (Aftersight) Show Credits Show: The Blind Chick (An Aftersight Original Podcast) Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street Guest: Gable Mead Producer: Jonathan Price Chapter Markers 00:00 — Cold open + “podcast time travel” (Facebook Live) 02:22 — NPR story: fear fades when you learn the skills 04:35 — “X-Men” analogy + trauma, adaptation, and senses 07:02 — Gable’s story: retinoblastoma, vision loss timeline 11:40 — Phantom vision and sleep disruption 16:26 — Prosthetics as art (custom colors, identity, and fit) 22:10 — Imagining people + building mental pictures 24:33 — Blind gaming: why fighting games work (audio + mind games) 29:13 — “Real job?” + why gaming stays a hobby 31:35 — The massive MK1 cosmetics guide (scope + structure) 36:28 — AI limits: verification process and rewriting for accuracy 43:30 — Becoming a braillist + barriers in job searching 47:56 — Why the braillist role is fulfilling (and surprising) 54:41 — Last words: kindness, self-compassion, perseverance 57:07 — Creating a new game? Writing dreams (Spider-Man aspiration) 59:19 — Wrap + where to find Cento Showdown and BlindsightBlue

1) Episode Summary Penn and Moses share a warm, humorous, and deeply honest holiday conversation reflecting on Thanksgiving traditions, a heavy viewing of Hamnet, and the joy of an accessible tactile performance of It’s a Wonderful Life. They talk about choosing shared experiences over gifts (while laughing about Moses’ lifelong inability to buy them), honor listeners like Oksana in Moscow, and revisit themes from their recent episode with Austin Seraphin on burnout and Eastern medicine. The episode dives into aging, Moses’ new health challenges, Penn’s holiday grief, and the emotional weight the season can bring. They openly discuss therapy, conflict resolution, seasonal depression, and the importance of giving loved ones both grace and space. The show ends with heartfelt thanks to listeners, Aftersight staff, and all who supported Colorado Gives Day, encouraging everyone to care for themselves and spread kindness during the holidays. 2) Contact Info Show: The Blind Chick Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street Listener Contact: Email: contact@aftersight.org Website: aftersight.org Organization: Aftersight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving blind and low-vision Coloradans (and listeners worldwide) through free audio services, podcasts, and community programming. Donate: aftersight.org → “Donate” Phone: (720) 712-8856 Production Credits: Producer & Editor: Jonathan Price Recording Engineer: Evan Starnes Executive Director: Kim Wardlow Produced by: Aftersight 3) Show Credits Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street Producer / Editor: Jonathan Price Recording Engineer: Evan Starnes Executive Director: Kim Wardlow Board & Staff: Aftersight Team Presented by: Aftersight, serving Colorado’s blind and low-vision community for over 35 years 4) Chapter Markers 00:00 – Cold open: sleepy Moses, “mono,” and dude ranch plans 03:40 – Thanksgiving traditions & the emotional weight of Hamnet 09:40 – Accessible theater: tactile tour of It’s a Wonderful Life 12:05 – Experiences vs gifts: love languages collide 14:30 – Birthday cards, forgotten gifts, and a plea to men: just try 15:30 – Listener love: Oksana’s Thanksgiving voicemail 16:50 – Austin Seraphin recap & Eastern medicine reflections 17:45 – Legendary acupuncturist Pow and near-miracle recoveries 20:00 – Hit-and-run story and acupuncture healing 21:20 – Blind gamers, casinos, and preview of Gable Mead 23:50 – Holidays, birthdays, and family dynamics 26:10 – Aging: turning 30, wild youth, and perspective 28:30 – Moses at 78: health shifts, night vision, and stumbling 29:45 – George Harrell at 92 and redefining aging 34:20 – Doctors, paperwork, and “November is when it hit” 35:20 – Prostate cancer diagnosis and dark humor 37:50 – Longevity, vitality, and social connection 39:00 – Therapy after Hamnet and the “aha” rule 41:20 – Handling conflict with space, clarity, and calm 44:40 – Holiday grief: missing loved ones and holiday triggers 46:05 – Seasonal depression and supporting your partner 47:05 – Mental health stigma vs physical health norms 48:25 – Self-checks: if your partner irritates you… 49:25 – Gratitude & Colorado Gives Day 50:40 – Thanks to Evan, Jonathan, Kim, and the Aftersight team 51:45 – Final holiday blessing: be kind to yourself & someone else

1) Episode Summary In this episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses talk with blind technologist and accessibility consultant Austin Seraphin about tech, echolocation, and mind–body health. Austin shares how early experiences with Christmas lights, radios, and an Apple IIe pulled him into technology and programming, and how that curiosity grew into a career in accessibility, open source, and multi-sensory learning. The conversation moves through the spectrum of blindness, the promise and pitfalls of AI for disabled communities, and why open, community-driven tools matter. Austin then opens up about severe eye pain, burnout, and finding real relief through acupuncture, Qigong, and Daoist practice. He explains why slow, rooted movement and simple breath-focused meditation can help blind and sighted people alike release tension, avoid full-on burnout, and reconnect with their bodies—starting with just 15 minutes a day. 2) Contact Info Guest — Austin Seraphin Website: austinseraphin.net Aftersight / The Blind Chick Website: aftersight.org Email: feedback@aftersight.org Listener line: (720) 712-8856 Producer Credits Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight 3) Show Credits Show: The Blind Chick (An Aftersight Original Podcast) Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street Guest: Austin Seraphin – blind technologist, accessibility consultant, ham radio operator, and Qigong practitioner Produced and edited by: Jonathan Price Recorded at: Aftersight Studios 4) Chapter Markers 00:00 – Show intro: “Blindness can be an adventure” 00:28 – Meet Austin Seraphin and his tech-meets-mind-body journey 02:45 – Christmas tree lights, partial color vision, and the spectrum of blindness 05:13 – Apple IIe, talking computers, and discovering programming 10:02 – AI, medicine, hallucinations, and what it means for blind users 17:12 – Star Trek gadgets made real: smartphones, OCR, and independence 19:24 – Echolocation training and “seeing” in 3D with sound 24:10 – Eye pain, band keratopathy, and turning to acupuncture for relief 29:00 – Discovering Qigong and Daoism as a complete mind-body system 33:52 – Penn’s accident and the power of combining Eastern and Western medicine 47:49 – Qigong for blind bodies: releasing tension, rooting, and flowing movement 55:06 – Breath-counting meditation: 15 minutes to reset your nervous system 57:31 – Outro, listener invitations, and a reminder to be kind to yourself this week

1) Episode Summary This special live episode of The Blind Chick comes straight from the 2025 Blind Travel Summit in Austin, Texas, where Penn and Moses host a fast-paced, humorous, and heartfelt 30-minute showcase featuring four remarkable blind travelers. Each guest shares a short, powerful “mini-story” about courage, healing, adventure, and finding community through travel. Orly opens with her journey of using travel—and plant medicine retreats—to confront and heal deep emotional wounds while navigating safety and independence as a blind woman traveling solo. Jean follows with stories from her global reporting career, including intimate encounters with big cats, wildlife, and one unforgettable (and unfortunate) cow interaction. Sean reflects on adventures with his wife, an unexpected moment of discrimination in Cozumel, and how AI helped him recover cognitive function after a stroke. Krista closes with two hilarious travel misadventures—one involving a cactus and one involving airport coffee—and shares her upcoming advocacy work for Usher Syndrome. Together, these stories celebrate resilience, humor, spontaneity, and the shared joy of exploring the world as blind travelers. The episode closes with a moving call to action: tell your story, leave a legacy, and help build a richer history for the next generation of blind and low-vision youth. 2) Contact Info Guests / Orgs Orly Jean Sean (“Feeling a Bit Keen” Podcast) Krista Webb — Instagram: @blindlove.woodburning Aftersight Website: www.aftersight.org General Contact: feedback@aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Producer Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer jonathan@aftersight.org • (720) 712-8856 3) Show Credits Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street Producer: Jonathan Price Recorded Live: 2025 Blind Travel Summit, Austin, TX Post-Production & Editing: Jonathan Price 4) Chapter Markers 00:00 — Live from the Blind Travel Summit 00:32 — Introductions & chaos (in true Blind Chick fashion) 02:05 — Mini-story format explained 02:20 — Orly: Travel as healing & Costa Rica ayahuasca retreat 06:30 — Jean: Big cats, cheetahs, and… a cow incident 09:40 — Jean on wildlife as healing 11:31 — Sean: Cozumel dolphin excursion drama 12:45 — Sean’s podcast & AI-supported stroke recovery 13:45 — Krista: Sedona hike + cactus mishap 16:50 — Krista: Seattle airport coffee adventure 18:30 — Encouragement: Travel despite challenges 19:40 — What’s next? Guests share future adventures 22:50 — Legacy, storytelling, and inspiring the next generation 24:50 — Closing encouragement: Be kind to yourself & others

Episode Summary Penn and Moses return from the 2025 Blind Travel Summit in Austin with a whirlwind of stories, laughter, unforgettable encounters, and a lineup of future guests you won’t want to miss. From interviewing four world-traveling blind adventurers live on stage, to axe-throwing with teenagers who inexplicably have elite axe-thrower energy, to getting kicked out of a Waymo for having too many blind people in one autonomous car… this recap is everything listeners love about The Blind Chick: hilarious, heartfelt, chaotic, inspiring, and deeply rooted in community. Across the episode, Penn and Moses highlight Orly, Jean, Sean, and Krista—four blind travelers whose stories were so good the team is dedicating full-length episodes to each of them in 2026. The hosts also share lessons learned from conversations with accessibility teams at Waymo, Airbnb, United Airlines, and Uber, plus heartfelt reflections on guide dog etiquette, blind travel culture, and the powerful moments of connection woven throughout the summit. It’s a joyful, funny, emotional, story-packed travel recap that sets the stage for a massive parade of future Blind Chick guests— from AI podcaster Sean Keene to wood-burning artist Krista Webb, musician Robert Kelly of Blue Mist, philanthropist Grayson, worldwide traveler Mike, and more. Contact Info To be a guest on The Blind Chick: Email: feedback@aftersight.org Producer: Jonathan Price — jonathan@aftersight.org | 720-712-8856 Featured People & Mentions: Krista Webb — Instagram: @blindlove.woodburning Sean Keene — Podcast: Feeling a Bit Keen Scott Garrison — Blind Pilots Guatemala Blue Mist / Robert Kelly — Austin, TX Chef Brayden — YouTube: “Chef Brayden” Blind Travel Foundation — Hosts of the Blind Travel Summit Waymo, Airbnb, United Airlines, Uber — Accessibility breakout partners Show Credits Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street Producer: Jonathan Price Executive Production: Aftersight Originals Recording & Editing: Aftersight Production Team Special Thanks: Blind Travel Foundation, TSBVI, Blue Mist, all summit attendees, and every listener supporting the show each week. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Cold open & show intro 00:29 – Austin recap begins 02:40 – Live Blind Chick interviews at the Summit 04:55 – The Four Travelers: Orly, Jean, Sean & Krista 06:52 – Krista Webb, wood-burning artist & viral hat maker 08:05 – Sean Keene and the power of AI 09:15 – Catching up with Scott Garrison from Guatemala 10:05 – Guide dog lessons & emotional moments with Mike 12:10 – Blue Mist, Robert Kelly & jazz connections 14:55 – Penn wins smart glasses (and Moses panics) 16:40 – The group Waymo fiasco 18:45 – Solo Waymo ride: shockingly awesome 20:22 – Accessibility talks with Airbnb, United, and Uber 22:48 – Exploring South Congress & culture contrasts 25:10 – Axe throwing with 40 blind people 27:55 – Social media hijinks in Austin 29:26 – Looking ahead to future guests 31:40 – Reverend Ray episode shout-out 33:20 – Thanksgiving episode teaser 34:20 – Listener call-to-action & closing words

Episode Summary Penn and Moses share Thanksgiving reflections, then welcome Reverend Ray, a D.C.–based pastor, advocate, and radio host. He recounts losing sight at 14 from a firecracker accident, the education he received at Maryland School for the Blind, and a 37-year career as a Randolph-Sheppard entrepreneur. He details his public-service work in Prince George’s County, why presentation and independence matter at work, and his faith journey that led to founding St. Didymus Church for the Blind. Reverend Ray describes training blind hosts at the Metropolitan Washington Ear, building men’s support groups, and practical inclusion inside churches. He offers a grounded take on “healing” culture and closes with a simple charge: pursue wisdom, work, and wealth—and share them. Contact Info Guest: Reverend Ray — Metropolitan Washington Ear; St. Didymus Church for the Blind (Washington, D.C.) Aftersight: feedback@aftersight.org • (720) 712-8856 • aftersight.org Producer credits: Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight — jonathan@aftersight.org • (720) 712-8856 Show Credits Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Reverend Ray Producer: Jonathan Price Recording & Post: Aftersight Studios Chapter Markers 00:00 — Cold open: gratitude and winter debate 02:16 — Guest intro: Reverend Ray’s story 04:32 — The long train to Kansas 06:47 — Firecracker accident and blindness at 14 09:07 — Education, possibility, and business mindset 11:00 — 37 years in Randolph-Sheppard 13:23 — Entering public service in Prince George’s County 15:47 — Hiring blind staff and customer-facing excellence 18:05 — Representation, grooming, and “show-and-tell” pedagogy 20:21 — Slides, memory, and being an ambassador 22:46 — Faith wasn’t first; the path toward calling 25:06 — Homelessness, surrender, and a turning point 27:23 — Becoming a pastor 29:43 — Founding St. Didymus Church for the Blind 32:01 — Inclusion in churches: solving real barriers 34:26 — “Healing” culture and harm 36:51 — Theology of acceptance and new-body hope 39:13 — Embracing the uniqueness of disability 41:28 — Staying humble: why paratransit 43:49 — Perks and advocacy in everyday life 46:08 — Metropolitan Washington Ear: shows and training 50:53 — Why coworkers hesitate and how to fix it 53:11 — Tech cost, older adults, and access reality 55:27 — Vans, transport, and men’s support groups 57:53 — Close: Wisdom, Work, Wealth