

The Blind Chick
Aftersight
The Blind Chick is an Aftersight Original hosted by Penn and Moses Street. It’s a raw, real, and often funny conversation space where blindness isn’t a limitation—it’s part of the story. Each episode dives into the lives of blind and low-vision people, exploring resilience, identity, and the messy, beautiful realities of living without sight. With heart, humor, and honesty, The Blind Chick breaks stereotypes, challenges stigma, and reminds us all that blindness is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a new one.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 1, 2026 • 1h 5min
Phoenix Rising: Ashley Purdy’s Second Chance After Losing Her Sight
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 ...

Dec 25, 2025 • 43min
Christmas with The Streets
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

Dec 18, 2025 • 1h
Blind X-Men & Button Mashing Brilliance: Gable Meade
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

Dec 11, 2025 • 53min
Unwrapping the Gift of Healing
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

Dec 4, 2025 • 59min
From Christmas Lights to Qigong: Austin Seraphin Hacks Blindness (and Ham Radios)
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

Nov 27, 2025 • 25min
Blind Travelers Gone Wild: Live From Austin
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

Nov 20, 2025 • 35min
Four Blind Travelers, Forty Axes, and One Very Nervous Waymo
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

Nov 13, 2025 • 60min
From Fireworks to Faith: Reverend Ray’s Journey
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

Nov 6, 2025 • 38min
We Lost Trivia, Our Insurance, and Maybe Our Minds. Oh Well, We Still Got The Miles... Right?...
Episode Summary
In this lively post-Halloween edition of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses share stories from their trivia night adventure, conventions, and travel dreams while exploring a deeper conversation about independence and companionship. From the Brain Candy Podcast trivia contest to tales of sailing, NFB conventions, and the upcoming Blind Travel Summit in Austin, this episode blends humor, honesty, and practical insight. Penn opens up about a close friend who felt crushed after being told she was “too much work” to travel with, leading to a discussion on finding compassionate travel partners, affordable accessibility options, and the idea for a new app connecting blind travelers with sighted guides. They also highlight the perks of traveling blind—from early boarding to free museum access—and urge listeners to “get out and be seen.” The episode wraps with reminders about Colorado Gives Day and an upcoming guest therapist who will share strategies for mental health and resilience.
Contact Info
Email: feedback@aftersight.org | contact@aftersight.org
Website: aftersight.org
Donate: Support Aftersight this Colorado Gives Day at aftersight.org/donate
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street
Producer: Jonathan Price
Presented by: Aftersight
Recording Engineer: Jonathan Price
Airs on: Aftersight Podcast Network
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Halloween Trivia with Brain Candy
04:30 – Sailing Memories and Katie Boyd’s Episode
06:50 – NFB Colorado Convention Recap
09:20 – The Blind Travel Summit Preview
11:40 – The Travel Buddy Dilemma
14:10 – Finding Independence and Affordable Travel
18:50 – Feeling Like a Burden While Traveling
21:20 – Perks of Traveling Blind
23:45 – The Travel App Idea
25:30 – “Get Out and Be Seen”
28:00 – Travel Stories and Making Connections
30:50 – Iceland, Norway, and the Aurora Borealis
33:10 – Live Recording Plans and Upcoming Guests
34:40 – Colorado Gives Day & End-of-Year Giving
35:30 – Movie Talk and Reflections on Judgment
37:00 – Closing Thoughts: Be Kind, Be Seen, Be Adventurous

Oct 30, 2025 • 59min
Can’t Drive? Let’s Sail: Katie Boyd on Accessible Blind Sailing
In this episode of The Blind Chick Founder of Twin Cities Blind Sailing and co-founder of the U.S. Blind Sailing Association, Katy Boyd traces her vision-loss story, the freedom she found on the water, and how accessible sailing scales from youth camps to ocean racing. Topics include training blind helms with tactile and auditory cues, solo sailing in Mini-Illusions, safety and right-of-way on busy harbors, racing culture, mental-health benefits, and building national and global programs. Clear takeaways: sailing is teachable, teamwork matters, and access grows when local clubs partner and commit.
Contact Info
Guest/Org: Katy Boyd — U.S. Blind Sailing Association • us-blindsailing.org • Twin Cities Blind Sailing (donations for local growth via program page; national growth, contact Katy via the site)
Aftersight (network): feedback@aftersight.org
• (720) 712-8856
Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight
Show Credits
Hosts: Penn Street, Moses Street
Guest: Katy Boyd
Producer: Jonathan Price
Series: The Blind Chick — an Aftersight Original
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Opening and guest setup
02:17 — RP diagnosis and reclaiming architecture
04:38 — First sail in Boston and falling in love with the water
06:57 — Harbor stories and the five-horn barge lesson
09:21 — Learning venues: Charles River to open harbor
11:45 — Stress, humor, and decision-making under pressure
14:09 — Big-race goals and “firsts” for blind sailors
16:31 — Youth camps, safe starter boats, and racing pathways
18:50 — Teaching philosophy: rigging, knots, and 3D lake maps
21:13 — Why blind sailors excel at the helm
23:38 — Team dynamics: blind helm with sighted bow calls
25:59 — Solo sailing in Mini-Illusions and guide boats
28:23 — Night sailing logic and nonvisual navigation
30:49 — Independent outings and learning limits (fishing fail)
33:07 — Apps, rules, and racing without assistive tech
35:29 — Practicing blindfolded skills safely
37:52 — Starting programs in Minneapolis and beyond
40:11 — Colorado partnerships and site growth
42:31 — Progress stories: fear to racing to solo
44:55 — Mental health, volunteers, and first-time nerves
47:18 — Transfer effects: confidence beyond the dock
49:36 — How to connect and donate
51:59 — Scaling nationally and internationally
54:18 — Inclusion on the line with Olympians
56:39 — Final message: do not accept imposed limits
58:42 — Close and Aftersight thanks


