Blind Techie Geek Speaks

Kathleen Ann Masciana

This is a technology podcast for the blind or anyone else that might be interested in technology. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel for all the latest segments coming soon. https://youtube.com/channel/UCOtlYZd4QEiynKHdiRN9Dew Happy listening!

  1. Aug 13

    B.T.G.S. Radio Spotlight: Music, Philosophy, and the Good Life

    B.T.G.S. Radio, today’s hottest and coolest new-music station, presents a commercial-free program where music, culture, and philosophical ideas come together on Stationhead. Hosted by Kathleen Masciana, this special broadcast explores Halsey’s song “Graveyard” through the themes of autonomy, moral responsibility, epistemology, natural law, and Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia, or human flourishing. The program also offers a preview of a term-paper project examining life in the 1970s, when vinyl records, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, AM/FM radio, typewriters, handwritten letters, and shared landline telephones shaped how people listened, communicated, and experienced everyday life. By comparing that analog era with today’s environment of streaming, smartphones, social media, email, and instant communication, B.T.G.S. Radio considers how technology has transformed attention, access, community, and personal reflection. This broadcast asks a timeless question: Does technological progress alone create a better life, or do purpose, meaningful relationships, reflection, and community remain essential to human flourishing? Tune in for commercial-free music and original programming that brings thoughtful ideas to the airwaves. #BTGSRadio #Stationhead #CommercialFree #NewMusic #MusicWithMeaning #Philosophy #Ethics #Epistemology #NaturalLaw #HumanFlourishing #Aristotle #MusicAndCulture #RadioShow #IndependentRadio #OnAir #ListenLive

  2. Jul 30

    Moral Knowledge and the Digital Divide

    In this episode of Blind Techie Geek Speaks, host Kathleen Masciana bridges ancient philosophy with contemporary parenting debates about technology. Kathleen guides listeners through a thoughtful exploration of whether true moral knowledge is possible without the metaphysical frameworks of Plato, Augustine, and Aquinas, and what this means for how we make decisions about technology in our families. Kathleen examines Rachelle Farquhar's "iPad-free" parenting experiment alongside perspectives from social psychologists Jonathan Haidt and Jean Twenge. She discusses Twenge's rule from "10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World," which recommends waiting until a child has their driver's license before giving them a smartphone—typically at age sixteen. Kathleen offers a critical perspective on this rule, explaining why such a one-size-fits-all approach is unrealistic for persons with disabilities, particularly those who cannot drive. Drawing from her own experience as a blind online graduate student pursuing her master's degree in philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Kathleen shares how she received her first smartphone at fourteen and waited until nineteen to join social media—using a flip phone before that to stay connected with family. She argues that Twenge's book would benefit from modified rules that account for different circumstances, as smartphones often serve as essential tools for independence and access rather than just entertainment. Throughout the episode, Kathleen offers insights on digital literacy, balanced technology use, and how devices can serve as vital instruments for education and connection. Her perspective invites listeners to move beyond rigid thinking and consider more nuanced, inclusive approaches to technology in our lives and the lives of children.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This is a technology podcast for the blind or anyone else that might be interested in technology. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel for all the latest segments coming soon. https://youtube.com/channel/UCOtlYZd4QEiynKHdiRN9Dew Happy listening!