Blind Guys Chat

Oran O'Neill
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Blind Guys chat is a biweekly podcast, produced by two blind guys, one in Ireland and one in the Netherlands. The show takes an easy and breezy approach to life, disability, technology, and just about anything else that the blind guys think of! We'd love to hear from you so get in touch by email to BlindGuysChat@gmail.com and follow BlindGuysChat on Twitter.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    #141: Meet the brother

    On this show we are speaking to Mohammed's brother Ihab Laachir, who is here to spill the beans about his older brother, apparently known as 'The Hacker' in his family. Who knew?! Ihab is currently studying political science at Amsterdam University and has some great insights into living with a disability while attending university. Is Ihab a future prime minister of The Netherlands? Well, he has our vote for sure. We have emails from Chloe in the UK about funniest blind bloopers - Mohammed has a funny one about meeting himself in his apartment. Huh? Mei Ling from Singapore is asking about AD. Jacob in Norway wants a raise for the 'token sightie' (AKA Clodagh) for having to put up with the 3 boys. Clodagh thinks she should get danger money! So, stick the toast on, fling open the windows, and listen to the dawn chorus while tuning in to the best podcast this side of a mushroom omelette: Blind Guys Chat - 18 out of 20 university students prefer it to lectures! Links for this show: Audio Description Association: https://www.audiodescription.co.uk/ Ihab’s links: o https://www.instagram.com/laatje12?igsh=NTgzanpubGdsNzV5 https://www.instagram.com/laatje12?igsh=NTgzanpubGdsNzV5o   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ihab-laachir-9129b522a https://www.linkedin.com/in/ihab-laachir-9129b522ao   https://www.patreon.com/14232348/join?utm_id=38cd0de4-8833-494b-9bf1-eb34dfc4e947\&utm https://www.patreon.com/14232348/join?utm_id=38cd0de4-8833-494b-9bf1-eb34dfc4e947\&utmo   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVMOvIMjOa3/?igsh=dnliMG9oMml6ano1 Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    45 min

  2. 12 FEB

    #140: Larry's favourite guest

    #:140: Larry's favourite guest of all time Fresh from setting fire to the Italian Pavilion at COP 30, due to a lack of salty caramel gelato, this week we are devoting the whole show to Professor John Sweeney, leading climatologist at Maynooth University. Prof. John, who is Larry's favourite person, at least when there are sausages about, is here to put a bit of smacht (an Hiberno-English term – see more here) on the whole weather situation going on at the moment. Over the last few weeks in Ireland, Spain, Portugal and even Morocco residents and business owners have been drenched with the unusual amount of rain. Is this a trend? Let's find out from Professor Sweeney. So, peel off your waterproofs that aren't actually waterproof, make some hot chocolate with just a drop of Baileys, and dry yourself in the cosy warmth of the best podcast this side of a damp piano: Blind Guys Chat - 7 out of 10 climatologists prefer it to the weather. Links for this episode: ·       “Smacht” and nine other lovely Hiberno-English words and phrases: https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/10-words-only-used-in-irish-english/#:~:text=1.,treasure%20in%20the%20vocative%20case. ·       NASA explain spring and neap tides very well at this link: https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tides/ ·       "Room for the river programme" in The Netherlands: https://www.dutchwatersector.com/news/room-for-the-river-programme ·       Ireland’s water level data: https://waterlevel.ie ·       The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI): https://ccpi.org (The UK, Morocco, and the Netherlands are in the top 10 – congratulations! Ireland is languishing in 33rd place. We’re mortified!) Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    48 min

  3. 29 JAN

    #139: Your flight has been delayed, again!

    As we celebrate 50 years of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind we speak to Tom O'Neill, guide dog owner and founder of the Balbriggan branch of Irish Guide Dogs. Tom tells us how he came to own his first guide dog and how having dogs has made his day-to-day living much more independent. It's not quite ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’, but Jan comes fairly close. Recently he spent a day, yes that's right! One day! ...in the "The City by the Bay". Why only a day? Well... let him explain; we think there could be a movie in this story! Clodagh is back with a shout-out for new listener, Adrijana, along with emails from Clare McLoughlin, and Blind Gordon, who has been doing some DIY, god help Mrs Blind Gordon, a.k.a. Alaine. So, fasten your seatbelts, stop hitting that cabin crew call button, recline back and listen to the greatest podcast this side of a snowstorm: Blind Guys Chat! 9 out of 10 de-icers prefer it to the cold! Links for this show: ·       Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind: https://www.guidedogs.ie/ways-to-help/ways-to-donate ·       GiveVision headset: https://www.givevision.net/ Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    49 min

  4. 15 JAN

    #138: Down under with David Woodbridge

    Happy New Year to you all! This week we are devoting the whole show to Mr David Woodbridge, Product Specialist for Humanware Australia. David will take us through all things Humanware, including the new Evolve Windows Braille notetaker. We also chat about guide dogs, and of course our favourite topic: Braille. So, sit back, slap on the factor 2000, and settle in for a listen to the hottest podcast this side of a chess-playing koala bear; Blind Guys Chat. 8 out of 10 sandy beaches prefer it to salt water. Links for this show: ·       Humanware: https://www.humanware.com/en-international/ ·       Isee podcast: https://podcast.app/isee-using-various-technologies-from-a-blind-persons-perspective-p5394 Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    45 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    #137: I wouldn't do it like that!

    This week, Jan is floating on cloud 9 as his local football team (that's soccer for those of you in the USA) seems to be doing very well. So well, in fact, that they are top of the 'kitchen' league ...better not to ask what that means!  Our good friend Stuart Lawler gives us his own thoughts on the NewHaptics 'Codex' Braille display, which uses compressed air to raise its braille cells. It does this by hooking itself up to an aquarium-like pump. However, we are not sure if fish need to be present while the display is in operation. Once we find Nemo, we will ask him/her!  Mohammed has at last received his Ally Solos smart glasses. What does he think? Well, tune in to find out whether you should spend your hard-earned cash or not. In addition to being a world-renowned lawyer and mathematician, Mohammed is now passing himself off as an orientation & mobility trainer, and has some views on how one should use a long cane. Do you agree? Let us know at blindguyschat@gmail.com.  Clodagh has an email about screen readers from a listener in Poland. What's your preference, JAWS, NVDA or Narrator? Let us know.  So, forget about cleaning out the poo from the aquarium. Slap on a pot of coffee and tune into the most radical podcast this side of a moaning Liverpool football player: Blind Guys Chat. 11 out of 13 guppies prefer it to pushing braille cells.  Links for this show: ·       https://www.newhaptics.com/codex ·       https://www.ally.me/glasses Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    44 min

  6. 27/11/2025

    #136: Rocky 21: The EAA vs Mohammed

    This week we are talking to Adela Buliman from Vially here in Ireland. Adela is the Chief Accessibility Officer and what she doesn't know about the European Accessibility Act, isn't worth knowing about! So, roll up your sleeves, Mohammed, and get ready to rumble! Disclaimer: this chat is more of a girlie pillow fight than a "pistols at dawn" kinda thing, but we enjoyed it! Jan was home alone at Sight Village, London recently, and he has all the juicy tech news to share, including a new Braille note-taker from HumanWare.  The biggest news this episode is that the guys have been working hard on a new email jingle for Clodagh – what do you think? Is it down with the kids? Send us your reviews to BlindGuysChat@gmail.com. Clodagh has an email from Nina in Canada, who wants to know about independent travel. Mohammed can answer this one as he is an expert solo traveller.  So, pull out that list of all your inaccessible gadgets and settle in for the number 1 podcast this side of a 365-day-old Christmas tree: Blind Guys Chat. 16 out of 20 European Commission lawyers prefer it to laying down the law!  Links mentioned in this show: HumanWare, Braille note Evolve: humanware.com/en-ireland/braillenote-evolve/ WeWalk cane: wewalk.io Vially: vially.io/ Competition and Consumer Protection Commission: ccpc.ie ICT regulation document EN 301 549: https://tinyurl.com/ITregDoc National Transport Authority: nationaltransport.ie Irish Aviation Authority: www.iaa.ie Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    53 min

  7. 13/11/2025

    #135: Mohammed knows everything about the law, but he is not a lawyer!

    It's celebration time here in the BGC office as Óran has news! It seems he is now calling himself a scriptwriter because his very first script has just been produced. It is for the super-fun, excellent and wonderful children's animation TV series: ‘Maddie + Triggs’. You may remember we had the star of the show, Bonnie O'Meara on the podcast, together with Turnip + Duck founders: Colm Tobin and Aidan O'Donovan. Óran’s episode is #46 and is called 'Dogs with Jobs' which is about Lolo the guide dog. There are links to that interview, along with links to Óran’s episode at the bottom of the show notes. Disclaimer: any resemblance to Larry the guide dog is not fictional! If you are not in the UK or Ireland, Maddie + Triggs is available in these countries and broadcasters: YLE (Finland); SVT (Sweden); NRK (Norway); RTS (Switzerland); ABC (Australia); CRTVG (Spain); DR (Denmark); JY Ent (China); TFO (French-speaking Canada); Knowledge Network (English-speaking Canada); VME (US Hispanic); Côte Ouest (Sub-Saharan Africa); France TV; Minika (Turkey). Óran has a question about the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and while he does trust our designated BGC lawyer and senior council, Mr Mohammed Laachair, he would appreciate comments from the wider community: blindguyschat@gmail.com. Clodagh has a reminder that there’s a ‘Seen - Unseen goes Racing’ day out at The Races in a non-visual way, in collaboration with HRI at Fairyhouse Racecourse on Saturday November 29th. Participation is free of charge. Email Claire on claremclaughlinemail@gmail.com or send a voice note or text to 086 3091653. We also have a listener asking us to recommend TV content with good AD, see list below. • On Netflix: Arcane, Stranger Things, and The Diplomat. • On Apple TV: Slow Horses series 5. • On other streamers: Game of Thrones. And please email us on blindguyschat@gmail.com to let us know what shows you’ve been enjoying. We’re always looking for recommendations! So, shake off the damp November weather, tell winter to hold its horses, and settle in for the number 1 podcast as voted by readers of pre-school magazine 'Sleepy Times': Blind Guys Chat. 8 out of 10 dogs with jobs prefer it to having a job! Links mentioned in this show: • Dogs with Jobs news article: https://www.rte.ie/kids/2025/1106/1542541-larry-the-guide-dog-maddie-and-triggs-rte/ • BGC Episode 63 - Maddie and Triggs’: The Unbeatable Team: https://tinyurl.com/BGC063 • Link to Óran’s episode of ‘Maddie + Triggs’ on RTÉ: https://tinyurl.com/MaddieTriggsEp46DogsWithJobs • Link to Óran’s episode of ‘Maddie + Triggs’ on BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002ls4q/maddie-triggs-series-1-46-dogs-with-jobs • Link to Óran’s episode of ‘Maddie + Triggs’ on DailyMotion (muted by default): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9tlxfy • Seen, Unseen: Contact Claire on claremclaughlinemail@gmail.com or send a voice note or text to 086 3091653. • Dutch mountain song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpCUbmAsxwQ And don’t forget to email us on blindguyschat@gmail.com! Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    34 min

  8. 30/10/2025

    #134: Jan: One, Mohammed: Nil

    This week we are chatting with Freek van Welsenis, the Director and CEO of Hable One. Freek is here to talk about the Hable One, a sleek Braille device that can be used to navigate your smart devices. He also tells us about the Hable Easy, a smartphone controller, and the Speechlabel, a handy device for labelling and subsequently identifying items around the house and in work.   Mohammed and Jan's date to Jan's local football club didn't go so well. It appears that Mohammed was left to fend for himself at the ticket gate! Well, Chantal was also with him, so he wasn’t completely abandoned, and Mo is famous for being independent, so we don’t think he was in any danger, but we’re not sure Jan will get a second date!   We have an email from Sarah from ‘down under’; she is wondering if smart speakers are useful, or are they really just small juke-boxes? What do you think? Do you still use your smart speaker for anything else but setting timers? email us: blindguyschat@gmail.com   So, strip down to your #25 Juho Kilo jersey and start your warmup for the best podcast this side of a stroopwafel: Blind Guys Chat. 9 out of 11 football supporters prefer it to watching grown men cry!   Links: ·       Hable One: https://www.iamhable.com/en-om/products/hable-one-keyboard ·       Hable Easy: https://www.iamhable.com/en-om/products/hable-easy ·       Hable Speechlabel: https://www.iamhable.com/en-om/pages/speechlabel ·       Juho Kilo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juho_Kilo Support Blind Guys Chat by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blind-guys-chat Read transcript

    45 min
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About

Blind Guys chat is a biweekly podcast, produced by two blind guys, one in Ireland and one in the Netherlands. The show takes an easy and breezy approach to life, disability, technology, and just about anything else that the blind guys think of! We'd love to hear from you so get in touch by email to BlindGuysChat@gmail.com and follow BlindGuysChat on Twitter.

Information

  • Creator
    Oran O'Neill
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Blind Guys Chat 2020
  • Show Website
    Blind Guys Chat

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