The Blind Chick

Aftersight
Aftersight
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    I Lost My Vision and Most of My Hearing—and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

    Summary Liam Erven has been blind since birth, but growing up, his family largely expected him to experience the world the same way other kids did. He climbed things, ran into walls, got lost, learned to find his way back, and eventually discovered a Nintendo his grandparents bought him simply because other kids had one too. That gift introduced him to what he describes as a whole world inside a box, even if that world wasn’t designed for him yet. On this episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses Street talk with Liam about growing up blind, mainstream education, independence, relationships, sports, hearing loss, and the importance of being allowed to fail. Liam shares why being protected from every mistake can ultimately keep a child from developing the skills they will need later in life, and why one of his guiding philosophies has become simple: just figure it out. Gaming became one of the places where Liam did exactly that. After becoming good enough at Mortal Kombat that neighborhood kids stopped wanting to play against him, he eventually turned a childhood idea into Super Liam, which he describes as the first side-scrolling audio game for blind players. Today, he continues working with accessible technology, developing games, and exploring ways technology can make entertainment more inclusive. The conversation also gets personal as Liam discusses his marriage to Alyssa, their podcast 404 Sight Not Found, the fear that comes with losing hearing he has depended on his entire life, and his desire to leave the world better than he found it. His closing reminder is simple: some days are bad days. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get through today, let it go, and try again tomorrow. Credits Show: The Blind ChickHosts: Penn Street and Moses StreetGuest: Liam ErvenProducer: Jonathan PriceProduction: Aftersight Contact Information Liam Erven / L-Worksl-works.net Podcast: 404 Sight Not Found Aftersightaftersight.org Chapters 00:00 Summer plans and an unexpected Pagosa Springs story03:49 Meet Liam Erven05:21 Blindness, hearing loss, and three and a half senses08:16 Understanding the world without a visual reference10:18 Growing up without being treated differently14:15 Nintendo, childhood, and realizing he was different15:53 Mainstream education and choosing his own path21:40 Hockey, baseball, and making sports more accessible28:15 From Chicago to Oklahoma and a career in accessibility30:25 How Liam met Alyssa and their unexpected love story38:29 Facing hearing loss and preparing for change45:01 Disability, independence, and adapting to what changes49:42 Why gaming can bring people together51:22 Creating Super Liam from a childhood dream56:08 Why failure matters for children and adults01:00:54 404 Sight Not Found and life with Alyssa01:04:28 Brainstation, new games, and what comes next01:11:41 Bad days, tomorrow, and learning to reset

  2. Sep 24

    You Can’t Just “Adapt” Your Way Out of Vision Loss with Dr. Brittany Adams Yee

    Episode Summary  Penn and Moses sit down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Brittany Adams Yee for a candid conversation about mental health, disability, trauma, and adapting when life changes in ways you never expected.  Dr. Adams Yee shares her own experience with vision loss, the barriers she encountered while becoming a psychologist, and why those experiences shaped her work with people living with disabilities. The conversation explores grief and identity after vision loss, accessible approaches to EMDR, virtual therapy, aging, major life transitions, and the importance of understanding people as individuals who are suffering rather than simply reducing them to a diagnosis.  Dr. Adams Yee also explains how bilateral stimulation used in EMDR can be adapted beyond eye movement, including tactile and auditory approaches that can make the treatment accessible for people who are blind or low vision.  Through plenty of laughter and some deeply personal moments, the episode comes back to a simple idea: there may not be one correct way to navigate life. As Brittany puts it, each person has to discover what living well looks like for them, knowing that answer can change over time.  Credits  Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Dr. Brittany Adams Producer: Jonathan Price Produced by: Aftersight  Connect with Dr. Brittany Adams Yee Dr. Adams Yee is the founder of Unconscious Connections Therapy Services and provides virtual therapy services. She is licensed in Colorado and Illinois and discusses additional telehealth availability through PSYPACT during the episode.   Website: ucts-psych.com She can also be found through Psychology Today and LinkedIn.  Connect with The Blind Chick  Have a question, story, or idea for a future episode? Reach out to Aftersight and connect with The Blind Chick wherever you listen to podcasts.  Please subscribe, share the show, and leave a five-star rating if you enjoy the podcast.

  3. Sep 17

    Rope-teams and High School Reunions... what could go wrong?

    Episode Summary Penn and Moses are back together in the Aftersight studio, recovering from an incredible weekend at the annual hike with No Barriers USA. More than 40 people joined the event, bringing together friends from across the blind and low-vision community, including climbers, artists, advocates, families, and longtime supporters. Penn and Moses reflect on the people who made the weekend memorable, from familiar friends to new connections, and share the story of Jim Valenzuela getting the opportunity to try adaptive cycling equipment that could potentially put him back on the road. Then the conversation turns toward Moses’ upcoming 60th high school reunion in Rochester, Indiana. What begins as a trip down memory lane becomes a hilarious look at how class reunions change over the decades: from trying to impress everyone at the 10-year reunion, to discovering forgotten high-school crushes, comparing gray hair and medications, and wondering whether spouses should even be invited. Along the way, Penn and Moses talk about how much people really change over a lifetime, the strange persistence of old personalities, family photographs, lost friends, and one of Moses’ classmates who became known as the “hanging judge” because of his unwavering commitment to applying the law consistently. They close by looking ahead to fall adventures, hot springs, sports, Thanksgiving, and more opportunities to get out of the house and participate in life. Penn offers her familiar challenge to the blind and low-vision community: grab the white cane, get outside, and be part of the world around you. Credits Hosts: Penn Street and Moses StreetProducer: Jonathan PricePodcast: The Blind ChickProduction: Aftersight Contact Aftersight / The Blind Chick: feedback@aftersight.org YouTube: Search for Aftersight or The Blind Chick on YouTube.

  4. Sep 10

    Sarah Hardwig: Picks, Sticks and Killer Licks

    Episode Summary  Country singer-songwriter Sarah Hardwig joins Penn Street and Moses Street for a wide-ranging conversation about music, blindness, ambition, creativity, and what success actually means.  Sarah shares how growing up blind with Leber congenital amaurosis never stopped her from developing an early love for country music. From singing Carrie Underwood in the car as a child to recording homemade CDs, performing national anthems, attending CMA Fest, and eventually studying songwriting and music business at Belmont University, Sarah describes a career built through persistence, relationships, and a willingness to keep showing up.   She also reflects on her experience auditioning for America’s Got Talent, where she received four yeses but did not advance to the live shows. Sarah explains why the exposure became valuable in its own right and why she ultimately sees not advancing further as something that may have protected her artistic independence.  The conversation goes deeper into performance anxiety, songwriting, learning guitar by feel and ear, her complicated relationship with Braille music, and her belief that blindness should never force an artist into a particular creative lane. Sarah explains that her songs are not about portraying a character. The strength, vulnerability, humor, fear, and determination in them are all different parts of herself.   Sarah also discusses her single “Breaking Away,” which grew from her own struggle with uncertainty and self-doubt as she approached high-school graduation. For Sarah, breaking away means refusing to allow fear and doubt to dictate what happens next.  Through conversations about manifestation, fame, Nashville, artistic community, and the uncertainty of a creative career, Sarah keeps returning to one idea: connection matters more than accolades or numbers. Success is not simply being famous. It is finding people who believe in what you do and continuing to pursue something meaningful even when the outcome cannot be controlled.   Credits  Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Sarah Hardwig Producer: Jonathan Price Podcast: The Blind Chick Produced by: Aftersight  Contact & Follow  Sarah Hardwig   Website: sarahardwig.com Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: @sarahhardwigofficial Music: Apple Music, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms The Blind Chick / Aftersight   Website: aftersight.org More podcasts, programming, resources, and services for people who are blind or low vision are available through Aftersight.

  5. Sep 3

    When Your Voice Becomes Your Defense

    1. Episode Summary Penn and Moses catch up on a full stretch of life: Penn’s inclusion in Jennifer Chassman Brown’s upcoming book See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability, a restorative Buena Vista getaway, Charlotte Hot Springs, a nostalgic drive-in movie night, and Aftersight’s upcoming No Barriers hike. The conversation then turns sharply toward independence and advocacy. Penn shares how Model Mugging self-defense training changed the way she carries herself, including a real-life moment when she protected her young daughter from two much larger men. They close with a practical conversation about medical self-advocacy: bringing another person to appointments when possible, taking notes, asking questions, and making sure concerns are actually heard. It’s a wide-ranging episode about enjoying life, trusting your instincts, using your voice, and refusing to surrender your agency. 2. Contact Info Listener feedback / guest ideas: feedback@aftersight.orgAftersight: aftersight.org Book mentioned: See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability — Jennifer Chassman Brown Self-defense program mentioned: Model Mugging Travel resource mentioned: Blind Pilots — founded by Scott Garrison 3. Show Credits Show: The Blind ChickHosts: Penn Street and Moses StreetProducer / Editor: Jonathan PricePresented by: Aftersight 4. Chapter Markers 00:05 — Welcome and Penn’s big news01:03 — See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability04:08 — Portraits, recognition, and being seen06:58 — A Buena Vista glamping getaway08:26 — Charlotte Hot Springs and actually slowing down10:22 — Coyote vs. Acme and drive-in nostalgia17:39 — Reflections on the Grand Canyon flash flood19:45 — The upcoming No Barriers hike and community support23:13 — Model Mugging and why self-defense changes more than fighting26:24 — Penn’s real-world self-defense story: protecting Tate31:59 — Why bringing someone to a medical appointment can matter34:53 — Listener feedback, support, and closing thoughts

  6. Aug 27

    Meet My Menu: AI, Independence, and the Freedom to Choose

    1. Episode Summary  At 17, Avital “Avi” Drel heard a deceptively simple story: a blind diner could not independently find out what was on a restaurant menu. Instead of treating that as a minor inconvenience, Avi spent hours interviewing blind and low-vision people across the country. Again and again, he heard the same word: independence.  In this episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses talk with Avi about Meet My Menu, an AI-powered tool that can locate or scan a restaurant menu, organize it for screen readers, and let a diner explore dishes through a conversational voice agent.  They discuss why reading a menu is really about choice, how accessible design often benefits far more people than its original audience, and where the same idea could go next, including conferences, theater programs, and other information that is still too often inaccessible.  2. Contact Info  Guest: Avital “Avi” Drel, founder and CEO of Meet My Menu Meet My Menu: https://meetmymenu.com Web app: https://app.meetmymenu.com Avital Drel: https://avitaldrel.com Aftersight: https://aftersight.org  3. Show Credits  Show: The Blind Chick Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Avital “Avi” Drel Producer: Jonathan Price Presented by: Aftersight  4. Chapter Markers  00:05 — Welcome to The Blind Chick 01:18 — Aftersight’s annual Colorado hike and sponsors 05:00 — Meet 17-year-old inventor Avital “Avi” Drel 06:49 — The restaurant experience that sparked Meet My Menu 08:24 — What blind diners said they wanted most: independence 09:08 — Learning that blindness is a spectrum 13:09 — Why traditional menu access still falls short 15:12 — Building and refining the first prototypes 16:36 — Searching online or scanning a printed menu 17:56 — Structured screen-reader access and the AI waiter 21:24 — How voice-first menus can help beyond blindness 23:20 — Where to use Meet My Menu 25:50 — From idea to working product in a matter of months 27:28 — Expanding accessible information beyond restaurants 28:23 — What audio description reveals about what is missing 31:00 — Accessible theater programs and conference information 38:10 — The student team behind the project 41:28 — Business, leadership, and building with AI 45:48 — How to find Avi and Meet My Menu 49:09 — Avi’s message: there is always something you can do 54:14 — Closing thoughts

  7. Aug 20

    Spooky Spaces and Running Bases

    Episode Summary Penn and Moses are back for a summer catch-up filled with the kind of highs and lows that make life feel like a roller coaster. Between Penn’s health struggles, a packed schedule, concerts, baseball, family time, and plenty of classic Blind Chick humor, there has been no shortage of stories. They share a memorable night with friends Jim and Kathy that included dinner in Denver and a Dodgers–Rockies game. The experience leads to conversations about accessibility, generosity, lifelong baseball memories, and the moments with family and friends that become bigger than the event itself. Penn and Moses also recap dancing through the rain at Red Rocks, seeing Zach Bryan at Empower Field, spending time with their daughters and families, and looking ahead to the upcoming Aftersight hike. Along the way, Moses offers his critique of modern concerts, especially the people who apparently paid admission so they could sing every song louder than the artist. The conversation becomes more serious as Penn talks about a difficult summer of health problems. She and Moses discuss the challenge of navigating multiple specialists who do not always communicate with each other and the exhausting process of trying to get clear answers. Penn also shares an update on her guide dog journey and one very large dream: seeing Andrea Bocelli at Red Rocks and interviewing him for The Blind Chick. Through everything, Penn and Moses end where they often do: with gratitude, perspective, and a reminder to be kind to yourself and find a way to be kind to somebody else. Content Note This episode includes candid discussion of illness, medical care, and navigating the healthcare system, along with mild profanity and adult humor. Contact Information The Blind Chick / Aftersight Website: aftersight.org Email: feedback@aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Listeners can also visit aftersight.org for information about the upcoming Aftersight hike, including registration, volunteering, and sponsorship opportunities. Show Credits Show: The Blind Chick Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Producer: Jonathan Price Presented by: Aftersight

  8. Aug 13

    The Fourth T: Why Your Story Is Worth Telling

    Episode Summary Robert Lamm returns to The Blind Chick several years after his first appearance, and this time Penn and Moses get to look at something rare: what happened after the goals, struggles, and dreams Robert talked about the first time around. Robert has now graduated from Colorado State University, transitioned from an internship into a full-time career with Stantec, and is beginning the next chapter of his engineering career. But the conversation goes much deeper than the degree or the job. Robert talks candidly about more than seven years of sobriety, finding the right recovery community, the transportation barriers that can make community involvement much harder for someone who is blind, and learning that leadership sometimes means knowing when to say no. And, of course, Fletcher is never far from the conversation. Robert reflects on how his guide dog helped change the direction of his life, forced him to slow down and take care of himself, and eventually became part of Robert’s own desire to give back. That has now led Robert into advocacy and public speaking with Leader Dogs for the Blind, including a new role on its alumni board. Near the end, Robert shares an idea that has stayed with him from his time as a CSU Presidential Ambassador: philanthropy is often described through time, talent, and treasure, but there is a fourth “T” — testimony. Sometimes telling the story of what you have lived through is itself a way of giving back. Robert’s challenge is simple: pay attention to where life is leading you, have the courage to act on the opportunities in front of you, find your purpose, and keep doing the right thing. Contact Info Robert LammEmail: roblam13@gmail.comLinkedIn: Search for Robert Lamm; his profile features Robert with FletcherFacebook: Robert is also active on Facebook AftersightWebsite: aftersight.org Credits Show: The Blind ChickHosts: Penn Street and Moses StreetGuest: Robert LammProducer: Jonathan PriceOperational Company: Aftersight

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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Channel
    Aftersight
  • Creator
    Aftersight
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    243
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2021
  • Show Website
    The Blind Chick

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