1) Episode Summary In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow sits down with Mindy Keene for a grounded and encouraging conversation about health, wellness, and the small choices that build a stronger foundation for life. Rather than focusing only on sports performance, this episode pulls back and looks at the bigger picture: sleep, hydration, movement, nutrition, stress, self-talk, and the mental side of lasting change. Mindy shares her personal turning point after learning her lung function had dropped significantly, and how that moment forced her to take her health more seriously. She talks honestly about cutting back on sugar, learning to read labels, shifting her meals toward protein and vegetables, and starting with simple movement like walking. She also opens up about the emotional side of the journey, including stress, crying as release, using music to reset, and learning not to punish herself for being human. The conversation also touches on practical barriers that can come with vision loss, from navigating gym spaces to advocating for oneself with doctors. Throughout the episode, the heart of the message stays the same: start small, be realistic, love yourself, and build one healthy choice at a time. It is a warm, practical episode that reminds listeners that progress does not require perfection, only consistency and grace. 2) Contact Info Guest: Mindy Keene Guest / Organization Contact: Not provided in the transcript. Aftersight Website: Aftersight Email: feedback@aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Producer Credits: Host: Kim Wardlow Producer: Jonathan Price 3) Show Credits Show: Navigating Life with Vision Loss Host: Kim Wardlow Guest: Mindy Keene Producer: Jonathan Price Network: Aftersight (00:00) - Chapter 1 (00:20) - — Welcome to the sports series and why wellness comes first (01:30) - — Important note: this episode is encouragement, not medical advice (02:08) - — What wellness means right now (02:47) - — Mindy’s wake-up call: lung function, the scale, and needing change (04:59) - — First steps: cutting sugar, moving more, and reading labels (07:25) - — Sleep, white noise, boring books, and learning to rest (09:10) - — When the mind will not slow down: music as therapy (10:41) - — Healthy movement starts with walking (11:46) - — Motivation on tired days and using hype music to get moving (13:29) - — Food changes, loving yourself, and realistic goals (14:40) - — Grocery shopping, label reading, and learning cleaner options (16:46) - — Making healthier meals practical for the whole family (18:15) - — Avoiding “junk” ingredients and keeping food simple (19:24) - — Stress, overwhelm, and letting emotions out in healthy ways (22:42) - — Vision loss barriers, gym anxiety, and self-advocacy with doctors (25:51) - — Support systems, social media, and learning from others (29:52) - — Mindset, cravings, and giving yourself grace (30:47) - — Water, motivation, and measuring progress without shame (34:27) - — Where to start: drink more water and make one small change (37:03) - — The biggest takeaway: love yourself and build small goals (38:45) - — Audio darts, marriage, and discovering new confidence (40:05) - — Final encouragement and Kim’s closing challenge to listeners
