In this powerful episode of The TOP Lessons Podcast, host Kathy Inglot sits down with globally touring artist, award-winning social entrepreneur, and disability culture leader Lachi for a deeply moving conversation about identity, access, and rewriting the narratives that shape our lives. From her expansive career across music, film, television, and advocacy to founding the U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD, Lachi shares how her journey as a legally blind creator has taught her that the real barrier isn’t disability, it’s social conditioning. She reflects on masking in the music industry, lessons she would tell her younger self, and the importance of embracing difference as a creative superpower. Lachi also opens up about completely losing her vision, the inspiration behind her new book, I Identify as Blind, the power of positivity in combating scarcity mindset, and what’s ahead in 2026 following her January 2026 book release, including new music, “Cornrows Reimagined.” About Today’s Guest Lachi is a globally touring artist, an award-winning social entrepreneur, a host of PBS’ American Masters series, and an active Governor of her GRAMMYs chapter board. Born legally blind, Lachi uses music, storytelling, and film to amplify pride in identity and promote Disability Culture and inclusion. Her U.N.-recognized organization, RAMPD, has collaborated with the GRAMMYs, Netflix, Tidal, SONY Pictures Television, and more to bring opportunity, visibility, and community to music professionals with disabilities, neurodivergence, and other conditions. Named an ADCOLOR Innovator of the Year and a USA Today Woman of the Year, her work has been featured in national Google ads, TEDx stages, discussions with the White House, BBC, CNBC, NYTimes, Essence, and Billboard. Lachi's content is often inclusive of sign language or a short audio description at the top for blind/low vision viewers, as well as discussing topics on inclusion, accessibility, culture, and identity, mostly created by fully-diverse crews. Key Points from this Episode: 0:00 Welcome to The TOP Lessons Podcast 0:20 Introducing today’s guest, multi-hyphenate artist, thought leader, and personality, Lachi 3:15 Lachi expounds on her expansive career as an artist, author, speaker, and founder, and the inspiration behind her work 8:41 A lesson that has helped shape the person Lachi is today: “It’s not the condition that’s the issue; it’s the social conditioning.” 11:37 The start of RAMPD to support other artists in the music industry who were also masking 14:07 Lachi shares lessons for her younger self and fellow creatives with disabilities on embracing differences 21:03 Lachi talks about her book, I Identify as Blind, completely losing her vision, and lessons that she wishes she had known earlier in life 32:03 The power of positivity and combating the scarcity mindset 34:26 Lachi’s plans for 2026 following her January book release 40:45 About “Cornrows Reimagined” and how the album connects with her new book Mentioned on the Show: Connect with Kathy Inglot on LinkedIn Recommend a Guest for The TOP Lessons Podcast: kathy@kgroupventures.com Connect with The TOP Lessons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetoplessons/ Subscribe to The TOP Lessons on YouTube I Identify as Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity, and Power by Lachi with Tim Vandehey RAMPD Official Website 2026 Grammy Awards Nominations Glamcanes.com Lachi’s Books and Tour Dates: https://lachimusic.com/books.html Tour Dates and Events: lachimusic.com/events Connect with Lachi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lachimusic Thank You Thank you for tuning in to The TOP Lessons Podcast! If you love what you heard here, take a moment to leave a review or comment and subscribe to be notified when new episodes drop. This helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners like you! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for bonus content from this episode and more TOP lessons!
