Taking the Lead

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Leader Dogs for the Blind empowers people who are blind or visually impaired with the tools for safe and independent daily travel. Our goal is to educate, advocate, and share real life experiences of those with blindness. Come learn, laugh, and grow with

Leader Dogs for the Blind


    • Jun 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 125 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    Taking the Lead podcast by Leader Dogs for the Blind is an incredible resource for anyone looking to learn more about blindness, guide dogs, and the inspiring work of this organization. As someone who has received O and M training at Leader Dog and is eagerly awaiting my first Leader Dog, this podcast has quickly become my favorite. The hosts, Tim, Leslie, and Christina, are not only entertaining but also feel like family as they share heartwarming stories, useful tips, and information about the organization.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to entertain while educating listeners about blindness and guide dogs. The hosts have a natural chemistry and provide entertaining banter throughout each episode. They also share personal stories and experiences that are relatable and offer valuable insights into living with blindness or vision loss. Additionally, they feature guests who share their own journeys with guide dogs or discuss relevant topics in the field. This combination of entertainment and education makes each episode engaging and enjoyable to listen to.

    Another great aspect of Taking the Lead is that it serves as a platform for promoting Leader Dogs for the Blind and raising awareness about their mission. The podcast showcases the incredible work done by this organization in helping individuals facing vision loss gain independence through guide dogs. By sharing success stories from clients, highlighting fundraising events, and discussing various aspects of guide dog training, they inspire listeners to support this cause.

    While it may be challenging to find any negative aspects of such a wonderful podcast, one potential drawback could be that some episodes might not fully resonate with listeners who are not directly connected to blindness or guide dog community. However, even these episodes still offer valuable insights into resilience, adaptability, and overcoming challenges which can benefit anyone.

    In conclusion, Taking the Lead is an amazing podcast produced by an even better organization - Leader Dogs for the Blind. With its heartwarming stories, useful tips on blindness-related topics, informative discussions on guide dog training processes, and uplifting messages of empowerment, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in blindness, guide dogs, or simply looking for inspiring content. The hosts create a welcoming atmosphere and provide valuable information that educates and entertains listeners. Whether you are connected to the blindness community or looking for a cause to support, Taking the Lead is the podcast for you.



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    Latest episodes from Taking the Lead

    Over the Edge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 25:49


    On this episode we talk with Leader Dog client and volunteer Karen Burke. She shares her story and talks about what it's like to volunteer at Leader Dog. 

    Leader Dog Lessons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2025 26:30


    On this episode we talk with the Leader Dogs for the Blind Board Chair John Reed on his new role.

    It Started With a Book

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 29:42


    On this episode we talk with team member Chelsea Nohan about their work on accessibility at Leader Dog.

    Disability Network

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 23:16


    On this episode we talk with Leader Dog Client Mark Hymes who is the Community Program Manager for Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston about his role. 

    You Don't Know What You Don't Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 26:31


    On this episode we talk with client Dr. Allison Weinmann about her experience at Leader Dog. 

    The Perfect Dog

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 26:26


    We talk with Dr. Gail McRae, Leader Dog's first Theriogenologist about her work at the organization.

    Warm and Welcoming

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 28:49


    On this episode we talk with Leader Dogs for the Blind's new Psychosocial Support Manager.

    You Have to Start

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 25:38


    On this episode we talk with Sam Seavey from the Blind Life YouTube channel about his work teaching others about emerging technology in the blindness and low vision field. Find Same on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@theblindlife

    A Message of Gratitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 25:18


    On this episode Leader Dogs for the Blind CEO and President Melissa Weisse joins us to talk about one year in her position. 

    Pez Dispenser

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 28:56


    On this episode we talk with a volunteer who is working to recruit puppy raisers and breeding hosts for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

    Trust Your Gut

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 28:37


    Happy 2025! In this first episode of the new season, cohost Christina Hepner has big news to share! We also talk with a client who is also a Leader Dog team member about her journey with Leader Dog.

    Reflecting on the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 18:54


    Leader Dog Programs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 13:56


    On this shorter episode we catch up with Timothy on his journey from when he first came to Leader Dog until now and share about our programs and services. 

    Happy Halloween

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 13:46


    On this episode we have cohost Timothy Cuneio in studio! We catch up on life and talk about tips for navigating the holidays.

    100% The Best Boy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 28:32


    On this episode we talk with two of six Leader Dog team members who are co-raising a Future Leader Dog. 

    It Started With A Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 25:47


    On this episode we talk with Dr. Graeme Harper who is a Leader Dog ambassador who's established a student organization of puppy raisers at the college campus he works at. 

    At Least I'm Not Blind

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 30:33


    On this episode we talk with Jill Gaus is a Leader Dog client and board member. She is a licensed nurse, educator and longtime advocate for individuals who are DeafBlind. 

    Moses

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 24:27


    We talk with Alan Spaulding, a Leader Dog client who first came to Leader Dog during our 50th anniversary back in 1986 and has had a total of 6 Leader Dogs! 

    It Takes a Village

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 25:06


    On this episode we talk with volunteer Eric Walters about his volunteer role as a client and puppy driver for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

    The Journal

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 24:36


    We talk with team member Beth Dahlke and her father Karl who was a Leader Dog client back in the 1990's. 

    Press the Pause Button

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 32:33


    We talk with Client Erica Rodman on her journey to Leader, her work with disability awareness and advocacy work in her community.

    Ruthless Prioritization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 27:56


    This week we're sitting down with Dani Landolt, the first-ever Chief Impact Officer at Leader Dogs for the Blind! We talk with her about her new position and the work she's doing at Leader Dog. 

    College Ready

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 27:49


    On this episode we talk with a GDMI and client services representative about things to consider if getting a guide dog when going to college. We also somewhat settle an ongoing debate on the podcast. 

    Be Thankful for Your Toes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 25:59


    On this episode we catch back up with client Stuart McGregor and talk with him about his involvement with Leader Dog and his journey with blindness. 

    First Stop - Margarita

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 14:27


    On this episode we catch up with client Walker Jones while he's in class getting his first Leader Dog. 

    Boston Marathon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 31:59


    On this episode we talk with Stuart McGregor. Stuart's story and accomplishments are truly inspiring. As a Leader Dog client and advocate, Stuart has dedicated his career to improving accessibility. He currently works as a policy analyst for Accessibility Standards Canada, creating standards to make the world more accessible for everyone. But Stuart's impact extends far beyond that. He is a three-time Paralympian and Boston Marathon champion! 

    Skydiving into Leader Dog

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 27:13


    This week's episode featuring Rod Haneline, a true pioneer in the field of orientation and mobility and guide dog mobility instruction for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Rod has been an integral part of the Leader Dog team since 1979. For more than two decades, he served as our Chief Operations Officer, earning international recognition for his extensive knowledge in developing advanced instructional programs. His groundbreaking work combines the use of canes, guide dogs, and GPS technology into integrated orientation and mobility (O&M) and guide dog training methods.

    Unmet Needs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 26:27


    In this episode we talk with Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Kristy Plesscher on our Unmet Needs survey. If you'd like more information about the survey email takingthelead@leaderdog.org. 

    Be Curious

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 29:32


    On this episode we had the incredible opportunity to speak with Eric Bridges, President and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). With over two decades of experience championing causes that impact people who are blind or have low vision, Eric provided us with fascinating insights into the groundbreaking work being done at AFB.

    It Started with a Tour

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 29:10


    On this episode we talk with longtime volunteer Mike Toger about why he got involved with Leader Dog and continues to volunteer. 

    Beautiful Biscuit

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 27:02


    On this episode we talk with Jeannine Penzone, a mother of two of our Leader Dogs for the Blind clients. She joins us again to share her experience interning at Leader Dogs for the Blind with our Certified Orientation and Mobility team.

    Get Back on the Horse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 27:47


    On this episode we talked with client Karen Leonetti. She opened up about an obstacle she faced and how she overcame it. Karen shared some great advice for anyone adapting to vision loss.

    Be an Olympic Learner

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 32:32


    This episode features Melissa Weisse, the new President and CEO of Leader Dogs for the Blind! Melissa shares her inspirational vision for leading the organization into the future and discusses her goals for this pivotal role. 

    Work to Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 28:23


    On this episode we talk with Sue Daniels about her tenure as President and CEO of Leader Dogs for the Blind. 

    Sponsored by Nashville

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 24:59


    This week we learned more about one of the new volunteer puppy raising options called co-raising. The podcast features two Leader Dog team members who have experience co-raising several puppies together. They discussed what co-raising involves and shared why they continue to enjoy volunteering as puppy raisers under this model.

    Stay Firm Know Your Rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 29:31


    On this episode we talk with Raul Gallegos the president of the the National Association of Guide Dog Users about what the association does for guide dog users. 

    Be You

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 20:47


    We talk with Leader Dog Client Elizabeth Fryseth who has worked with first responders to teach them about how to best respond to incidences involving people who are blind and visually impaired and have guide dogs.

    CCTV

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 27:31


    On this episode we talk with client Dr. Jesse Bolinger who shares with us his journey with blindness and advances in accessible technology.

    My Oxygen Mask First

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 27:59


    On this episode we talk with Linda Hawkins, wife of Leader Dog client Jeff Hawkins, about her perspective on her husband's vision loss journey and the impact it's had on her life. 

    They're not Blind

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 30:52


    On this episode with talk with Leader Dog client Jeff Hawkins about his journey with vision loss and representing Leader Dog as a keynote speaker.

    Well Oiled Machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 27:52


    On this episode we talk with Sharon the manager of residential and food services at Leader Dogs for the Blind about what clients can expect when they come to stay on the Leader Dog campus. 

    Accessibility

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 28:07


    On this episode we talk with Leader Dog Client Maria Kristic on issues people who have guide dogs are seeing with ride shares and accessibility. 

    Wrong Eye

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 30:03


    On this episode we talk with Ophthalmologist Dr. Matt Trese about what happens when someone is diagnosed legally blind. He also shares technology advances in the blindness and low vision field. 

    An Adult in Kindergarten

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 31:20


    Welcome back to season 5! On our first episode we talk with Leader Dog client Justin Sutton. Justin shares how his journey to becoming a para-cyclist with his Leader Dog by his side. 

    Replay of Disability Pride

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 27:35


    We are taking you back to some of our favorite episodes before season 5 airs. On this episode we talk with client Leatrice Fullerton who is an advocate in the blindness and disability community. She shares her experience with Leader Dog but also being in advocacy and her work with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within many organizations and communities.  

    Replay of Trip on the Elephant

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 31:11


    We are taking you back to one of our favorite episodes before airing season 5. In this episode, we talk about what it's like as a parent whose children are going through vision loss. 

    Replay of Harsh Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 28:38


    We are taking you back to one of our favorite episodes where host Timothy Cuneio and Leader Dog client Shannon Columb have an honest and open conversation about what it's like losing vision throughout your life. 

    Replay of Hiding Blind

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 36:19


    We are taking you back to our first episode as we take some time to prepare for season 5. Timothy shares about his experience with hiding blind. 

    Leader Dog Programs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 17:42


    In this short episode we go over all of the free programs Leader Dogs for the Blind has to offer. 

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