The Blind Chick

In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses sit down with therapist and avid hunter Darren Zenger for a powerful, raw, and deeply insightful conversation. Darren shares his journey of vision and hearing loss, recovery through the 12-step program, and how he rediscovered his love for the outdoors and hunting using adaptive tech and strong community support. The conversation dives into trauma, addiction, neuroplasticity, and the importance of family systems in healing. Darren's story reveals how blindness and deafness don’t limit one's identity—they demand innovation, patience, and community. Plus, you won’t want to miss the story of how Darren bagged a deer at over 500 yards using adaptive hunting gear. ⏱️ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick 00:28 – Meet Darren Zenger: Therapist, hunter, and mental health advocate 01:45 – The link between trauma and addiction 02:50 – Vision loss and its role in addiction risk 04:10 – Medications and treatments for curbing addiction 05:15 – The importance of mental health in recovery 06:00 – Brain spotting, neuroplasticity, and healing the unseen 09:45 – The blind brain: how sensory loss rewires neural activity 11:20 – Family systems and community in recovery 12:15 – The opposite of addiction is connection 13:30 – Everyday trauma in the blind community 14:10 – Can blind people hunt? (Short answer: YES!) 16:00 – Adaptive hunting: crossbows, scopes, and 5-inch monitors 18:50 – Taking the shot: a 525-yard success 21:15 – Hunting as healing and connection 23:40 – Final thoughts: resilience, community, and not letting blindness define you 25:35 – Closing remarks: Be kind to yourself—and someone else 📞 Contact Info Website: aftersight.org Email: feedback@aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street sit down with Darran Zenger, a licensed clinical social worker at Cirque Lodge in Utah. Darran shares his personal journey with Usher Syndrome, his experience with cochlear implants, and how his own life challenges led him to become a trauma-informed addiction counselor. He introduces us to brainspotting, a groundbreaking therapeutic approach rooted in EMDR, and explains how it helps clients unlock stored trauma in the nervous system. This episode is a deep dive into resilience, recovery, and redefining life after trauma. ⏱️ Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick 00:28 – Meet the hosts + Moses’s “muse” confession 01:30 – Intro to guest Darran Zenger 02:36 – Darran’s background and where he’s from 05:01 – Living with Usher Syndrome and hearing loss 07:20 – Public school with accessibility support 09:19 – Becoming a stay-at-home dad & finding his calling 10:37 – Fear, faith & the journey to cochlear implant 12:44 – Music, retraining the brain & the power of sound 15:10 – Adjusting to dual cochlear implants 17:38 – Discovering social work & substance use counseling 20:00 – Working at the Moran Eye Center 22:02 – Brainspotting: What it is and how it works 24:27 – Real stories of healing through brainspotting 27:00 – The miracle moments of trauma therapy 29:00 – Closing thoughts & feedback invitation 📞 Contact Info: Email us: feedback@aftersight.org Call us: (720) 712-8856 Website: aftersight.org

In Part Two of this powerful and heartfelt interview, The Blind Chick welcomes back Canadian disability advocate and podcaster Steven Vine, host of Disability Diaries. This episode dives deeper into Steven’s journey navigating life with blindness, a prosthetic leg, chronic pain, and a passion for podcasting. Steven shares how self-teaching and mentorship helped him master his smartphone, the critical role that asking for help has played in his life, and why he transitioned from being an individual in need of advocacy to becoming an advocate himself. He offers a glimpse into the Canadian disability landscape and challenges both able-bodied individuals and the disability community to stop underestimating what is possible. Steven’s words—“If you can do it, do it”—echo throughout this episode as a rallying cry to push past limitations and find purpose through adversity. His humor, sincerity, and resilience shine as he talks podcasting, politics, and the power of community. Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Opening and Welcome Back to Steven Vine 00:42 – Learning Technology as a Blind Person 02:20 – The Power of Asking for Help 03:15 – Living with Chronic Pain and Wheelchair Use 04:37 – Positivity, Potential, and the Birth of His Podcast 06:58 – Becoming a Podcaster: Purpose and Passion 09:18 – Building a Show that Advocates and Educates 11:31 – Featuring Diverse Guests from Politicians to Artists 13:53 – The Shift from Needing an Advocate to Being One 16:16 – Empowering the Disability Community from Within 18:30 – Where to Find Steven Vine and His Podcast 20:42 – Clarifying Canadian-American Relations and Booing at Hockey Games 22:46 – Focusing on What You Can Control 24:00 – Final Thoughts from Steven Vine 25:00 – Closing Remarks and Listener Call to Action Where to Find Steven Vine: Podcast: Disability Diaries with Steven Vine (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Buzzsprout, and more) Facebook: Disability Diaries with Steven Vine Email: sgv44isback@gmail.com

In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses sit down with Canadian podcaster Stephen Vine, host of Disability Diaries. Known for his sharp wit and musical heart, Stephen shares the intimate, harrowing story of how ignoring warning signs, overworking, and a high-stress lifestyle led to a catastrophic health crisis that changed his life forever. After surviving a near-fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), Stephen lost his sight, his leg, and his colon—but not his sense of humor or determination. The conversation explores his fast-paced past as a restaurant owner serving celebrities like Mel Gibson, Linda Blair, and John Candy. Stephen walks us through the day his life changed and the emotional toll that followed. With vulnerability and hope, he shares how he moved from bitterness to purpose—learning to adapt, reconnect with joy, and begin his podcast, which has become a platform for elevating voices within the disability community. Listeners will gain insights into resilience, the power of listening, and how choosing to stop digging can help you climb out of life’s deepest holes. Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick 01:05 – Penn and Moses banter, Superman joke 02:18 – Guest intro: Stephen Vine of Disability Diaries 03:10 – Quote of the Day: “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens” – Jimi Hendrix 04:38 – Learning to listen after blindness 06:57 – Celebrity clientele from Stephen’s former career 08:45 – Workaholism, stress, and health warnings 11:40 – The day of the aneurysm: ignored signs and collapse 14:01 – Waking from the coma: adjusting to total blindness 16:24 – Drinking culture, grief, and changing relationships with alcohol 18:38 – Healing, rehab, and redefining identity 21:02 – Finding support through Kristin and taking back his life 23:18 – Empowerment, advocacy, and thriving through disability 25:00 – Closing remarks and teaser for Part 2

This heartwarming and visually vibrant episode of The Blind Chick opens with a special birthday celebration for co-host Penn Street. Listeners from around the world, including touching messages from Oksana in Russia and friends from GFI Grand Junction, share their love and gratitude for Penn’s impact. The episode then transitions into an unforgettable conversation with world-renowned blind painter John Bramblitt. John shares his journey as a blind artist, his unique process for understanding color and texture, and how tactile and auditory technologies help him “see” and recreate realistic portraits—including celebrities like Jeff Bridges. From texturized paint techniques to sound-based image translation, John paints a compelling picture of accessibility in art. He and the hosts explore imagination, how we all build “visual” worlds differently, and the importance of feeling oversight in artwork. John also speaks on his work with international museums, his Yellow Dog Art Bar in Texas, and the emotional honesty that fuels his art. The show closes with a reflection on the courage to fail, and how each mistake is a brushstroke on the journey toward success. ⏱️ Chapter Markers: 00:00 – 🎉 Penn’s Birthday Celebration 01:30 – Listener Birthday Messages 02:19 – Tribute to Penn’s Advocacy 03:00 – The Power of Textured Paint for the Blind 04:43 – John’s Ever-Changing Studio Techniques 07:06 – Painting Realistic Portraits Without Sight 09:31 – Tech That Helps Blind Artists “See” 11:54 – NVDA, Cat Eyes, and Future Apps 14:12 – 3D Printing & Tactile Art Innovations 16:35 – Dream World vs. Real World in Art 18:59 – The Importance of Emotional Honesty in Art 21:11 – How to Contact John Bramblitt & Visit His Gallery 23:35 – John's Book & Accessibility Options 24:50 – Final Thoughts on Failure & Art 25:54 – Show Close & Calls to Action

In this episode, The Blind Chick welcomes world-renowned blind artist John Bramblitt. Penn and Moses dive into John's inspiring journey from losing his sight to becoming an internationally celebrated artist. They discuss the impact of blindness on identity, the challenges of transitioning from sighted to blind, and how John found new ways to express himself through art. John shares how painting became a way for him to regain control of his world, developing unique tactile techniques to navigate the canvas. The conversation touches on advocacy, humor, and breaking stereotypes about blindness. Penn also shares how John's art class at the No Barriers Summit helped her reclaim a lost passion for art. This episode is packed with powerful stories about resilience, creativity, and adapting to life’s unexpected turns. Part two of this conversation will be available next week! Chapter Markers 📍 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick! 📍 02:21 – Introducing guest John Bramblitt 📍 04:45 – John's impact at the No Barriers Summit 📍 07:09 – The emotional journey of losing sight 📍 09:11 – John's artistic background and childhood struggles 📍 11:35 – The turning point: Adapting to blindness 📍 16:13 – The social dynamics of blindness: Cane vs. Guide Dog 📍 18:33 – How people treat blind individuals differently 📍 20:58 – Finding purpose through art after vision loss 📍 23:14 – Transitioning from anger to advocacy 📍 27:22 – The therapeutic power of art 📍 29:55 – Closing thoughts & preview for part two Call to Action ✅ Subscribe to The Blind Chick on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review—your feedback helps us grow! ✅ Send us a message: Have a question or comment? Reach out! ✅ Check out our other Aftersight podcasts: 🎙 Blindsight – Tackling mental health in the blind community 🎙 Blind Level Tech – Exploring accessibility in technology 🎙 Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Now in its Advocacy Series! ✨ Stay tuned! A new Aftersight show is coming soon—announcement coming in a few weeks!

In this heartwarming and music-filled episode of The Blind Chick, host Penn Street and co-host Moses Street welcome the legendary Diane “Deeds” Schuur—jazz icon, two-time Grammy Award winner, and all-around incredible soul. With laughter, deep conversations, and a surprise musical performance, this episode is one for the books. 🎂 Penn’s Birthday Surprise! The crew kicks things off by inviting listeners to send physical birthday cards to Penn Street for her special day on March 24th at 1700 55th Street, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301. 🎵 Music, Advocacy, and Life’s Beautiful Twists: Deeds shares incredible stories about her career, collaborations with music legends like B.B. King, Count Basie, and Stevie Wonder, and her thoughts on music accessibility and the power of sound over visuals. 💡 Deeds’ Life Philosophy: She opens up about gratitude, faith, and the importance of finding joy—even in life’s toughest moments. We hear about her love for soap operas (or as she calls it, The Hung and the Restless), her tech companion Lenny the Laptop, and her skydiving adventure (!), proving she’s as fearless as ever. 🎶 A Birthday Gift Like No Other: In a spontaneous and touching moment, Diane gifts listeners with a live performance, singing a heartfelt song for Penn’s birthday. This raw, unfiltered musical moment will leave you in tears (happy ones, we promise!). 💫 Final Thoughts: Diane shares her wish for world peace, kindness, and gratitude, and reminds us all to embrace life’s journey with open arms. Next Week: We continue our journey with more inspiring guests, stories, and surprises. Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with friends! 📌 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick! 🎙️ 00:27 – Penn’s Birthday Shoutout! 🎂 02:00 – Diane Schuur on Concert in the Dark Controversy 🎶 05:10 – Life After Touring: Deeds’ Perspective 🏡 07:30 – A Special Song for Penn 🎵 (Tissues ready!) 12:00 – The Power of Music & Gratitude ❤️ 18:00 – What’s Next for Diane? 🌟 22:30 – Why You Need to Listen to Diane Schuur 🎤 25:20 – Wisdom, Laughter & Soap Operas 📺 27:45 – Final Thoughts & Farewells 💛 📲 Connect with Us! 📩 Email: contact@aftersight.org 📱 Follow Us on Social Media: @AftersightOrg 💌 Send Penn a Birthday Card! 📍 Address: 1700 55th Street, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301

In this heartfelt episode, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Diane Schuur (affectionately called "Deeds") returns to The Blind Chick for a deeply personal conversation. She shares updates on her life, the challenges of Meniere’s disease, her transition to assisted living at the Motion Picture Television Fund, and the loss of her beloved cat, Puss Puss. Deeds reflects on the resilience she’s built throughout her career, her 35 years of sobriety, and how she continues to find joy in music, friendships, and storytelling. She also reminisces about Concert in the Dark, her past experiences on the show, and her connection with hosts Penn and Moses Street. ✨ Stay tuned for Part 2, where Deeds has a special birthday surprise for Penn! Chapter Markers 📌 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick 📌 00:27 – Penn’s upcoming birthday & a past birthday surprise 📌 02:46 – A special global birthday card idea for Penn 📌 04:58 – Introducing guest Diane “Deeds” Schuur 📌 07:20 – Deeds’ diagnosis with Meniere’s disease 📌 09:49 – A major life transition & moving to an assisted living facility 📌 13:37 – Reflecting on Concert in the Dark 📌 16:05 – The loss of Puss Puss, her beloved cat 📌 18:28 – Finding peace and spreading joy despite life’s challenges 📌 20:54 – Celebrating 35 years of sobriety 📌 22:50 – Singing & playing piano at her new residence 📌 25:12 – Memories of impromptu piano performances with Penn & Moses 📌 27:37 – Looking ahead: What’s next for Deeds? 📌 30:00 – Closing thoughts & Part 2 preview Follow & Connect 📢 Share this episode to help The Blind Chick continue growing! 💌 Send Penn a birthday card! Let’s fill her mailbox with love. 📍 Website: Aftersight.org 📩 Email: feedback@aftersight.org 📞 Contact: (720) 712-8856 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe & tune in next week for Part 2!

In this episode of The Blind Chick, we continue our conversation with Dr. L Penny Rosenblum, diving deeper into education, advocacy, and empowering individuals with low vision. Penny discusses strategies for parents raising children with blindness, the importance of realistic expectations, and how small steps in advocacy can lead to big changes. We also explore transportation challenges, the impact of policy changes on accessibility, and how individuals can take action in their communities. Plus, a special birthday surprise for Penn Street—make sure to send in your birthday cards and messages! Chapter Markers 00:00 – Introduction & Penn’s Birthday Surprise 02:16 – Recap of Part 1 & Introduction to Penny Rosenblum 04:34 – Overcoming Overprotective Parenting 06:58 – Teaching Kids Life Skills & Responsibilities 09:20 – The Importance of Explaining the World to Blind Children 11:32 – Navigating Transportation Challenges with Low Vision 13:48 – Adapting to a Life Without Driving 15:58 – Teaching Children to Use Different Forms of Transportation 17:50 – The Impact of Policy Changes on Accessibility & Inclusion 20:10 – The Future of Advocacy in the Blind & Low Vision Community 22:29 – How to Stand Your Ground & Advocate for Rights 24:50 – Encouragement to Take Small Steps in Advocacy 27:15 – Final Thoughts & The Power of Planting Seeds of Change

In this episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses Street sit down with Dr. Penny Rosenblum, an educator and advocate who has made a significant impact in the field of visual impairment. They discuss her background, her personal journey with low vision, and the role her mother played in shaping her advocacy skills. Dr. Rosenblum shares valuable insights on self-advocacy, the importance of accessible education, and strategies parents can use to empower their children with blindness or low vision. Additionally, Moses kicks off the episode with a special birthday initiative for Penn, encouraging listeners to send physical birthday cards instead of just virtual greetings. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation, with Part 2 airing next week. Chapter Markers: 📍 00:00 – Introduction to The Blind Chick 📍 01:10 – Special birthday initiative for Penn Street 📍 04:00 – Welcoming guest Dr. Penny Rosenblum 📍 06:30 – The story behind Penny’s name 📍 09:00 – Early childhood experiences and vision challenges 📍 13:00 – The role of advocacy in education 📍 15:30 – Choosing a career in teaching and visual impairment advocacy 📍 18:00 – The importance of having an adaptive ‘toolbox’ 📍 20:25 – Encouraging children to be self-advocates 📍 22:50 – Teaser for Part 2 airing next week Contact & Engagement: 📬 Send Penn a Birthday Card! 📍 Address: 1700 55th Street, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301 📣 Want to support the show? Leave a review and share this episode! Follow Aftersight’s other podcasts: Blindsight – Exploring mental health and addiction recovery Navigating Life with Vision Loss – A new season on advocacy launching soon! Blind Level Tech – Exploring the latest in accessible technology 📧 Contact us: jonathan@aftersight.org 📞 Voicemail/Text: (720) 712-8856