Podcasts about Accessibility

Emma Tracey speaks to one of the only visibly disabled MPs Marie Tidball, who has been fighting for parliament to be more accessible. She's been looking at door handles, voting systems and getting the Speaker's attention by ‘bobbing'. She sets out how she intends to make sure disability groups have a meaningful role in the government's review of the assessment process for Personal independence payments (Pip). The Timms review, as its known, is led by Disabilities Minister Sir Stephen Timms and is set to report back in autumn 2026 and was ordered amid the government climb down over changes to disability benefits.Emma makes up her own version of a classic board game with disability pitfalls along the way, Paul Carter throws the dice and encounters her inaccessible traps!Plus Bethany Dawson from Politico gives us a rundown of the disability-related happenings coming up in the world of politics as MPs return after their summer break.SOUND RECORDING AND DESIGN: Dave O'Neill PRODUCERS: Phoebe Keane, Alex Colins and Emma Tracey EDITOR: Damon Rose

Auf den Innovationstagen des Verbandes Internet Reisevertrieb gab es wieder einen regen Austausch. Der Podcast der Touristik war mit einer eigenen travelholics_area vertreten und bot die Möglichkeit, 9 Minuten als Gast am travelholics Mic zu sein. In dieser shortcast Episode begrüßt travelholics Podcaster, Roman Borch Florian Pichler (Mainmatter) Ist die Buchungsstrecke wirklich konsistent? Mainmatter hat viele Portale analysiert und erklärt, wie kleine UX-Basics große Wirkung haben, Serviceaufwände senken und Accessibility praktisch wird – ohne Overlay-Zauberei.

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/iRw-dmE8GpAIn this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome guests Brad Lowery and Matt Brading to discuss their experiences in the home inspection industry, the importance of building science, and the role of podcasting in connecting with the community. They explore the upcoming Inspection Fuel conference, share insights on effective home inspection practices, and emphasize the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the field. The conversation highlights the value of educating clients and the significance of understanding building science to improve home inspection outcomes.Check out the YouTube video we mentioned here: $2.5 Million can get you this 9 bedroom house in St. Paul, MN!Learn more about the conference we talked about here: Inspection FuelTakeawaysHome inspection is a community-driven industry.Building science is crucial for effective home inspections.Podcasting allows for deeper connections and discussions.Continuous learning is essential for home inspectors.Client education is a key responsibility of inspectors.Understanding building science can prevent major issues.The Inspection Fuel conference offers valuable insights and networking opportunities.Podcasting can showcase diverse voices in the industry.Accessibility in home inspection is important for all clients.Engaging with the audience enhances the podcasting experience.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions02:54 Brad Lowery's Journey in Home Inspection06:05 Matt Brading's Background and Podcasting Experience09:03 The Importance of Building Science in Home Inspections11:50 Upcoming Conference and Presentations14:56 Understanding Home Inspection Challenges17:56 The Role of Inspectors in Client Education20:53 Final Thoughts and Conference Details24:43 Exciting Conference Plans in New Orleans27:54 The Value of Podcasting in Home Inspection34:43 Learning and Community Building through Podcasts39:13 Connecting with Diverse Audiences42:43 Final Thoughts and Conference Reminders

In this episode of the Real Estate Pro Show, host Erika interviews Leslie Sonnier, a pioneer in the short-term rental space. Leslie shares her journey from hospitality to real estate, emphasizing the importance of design and experience in attracting guests. She discusses the heart of hospitality as generosity, the common misconceptions about short-term rentals, and the significance of networking in the industry. Leslie also highlights innovative approaches to accessibility in rentals, aiming to create inclusive spaces for all guests.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Greater accessibility to glucose biosensors has led to their use to improve metabolic health, prevent disease, and feel better. Historically, these biosensors for monitoring glucose were only available with a prescription, often reserved for people with diabetes, but now with brands like Stelo, they are available over the counter. Dom D'Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol discuss how biosensors can be a tool for anyone to improve overall health, reduce risk for chronic diseases, manage women's health including menstrual cycles and the menopause transition, help with fueling strategies for workouts and performance, prevent energy crashes, and more.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl

Did you know you could be missing out on a huge portion of your potential audience? As podcasters, we tend to focus on audio, but by doing so, we might be unintentionally excluding the deaf and hard of hearing community. Creating an accessible show isn't just good practice; it's a powerful way to expand your reach and the impact of your content. In this episode of Podcasting Unlocked, we're diving into simple, impactful strategies to make your show more inclusive and loyal to all listeners. This week, episode 227 of Podcasting Unlocked is about making your podcast accessible for the deaf community! Michael Leung is the CEO and Founder of The Flo Group, who offers affordable, health-focused, open-ear bone conduction hearing devices. Their mission is to empower seniors and individuals with disabilities, especially those with hearing or vision loss, by making transformative technology accessible. They aim to support low-income families and those seeking simpler alternatives to traditional hearing aids. Their vision is global hearing accessibility, allowing anyone to purchase and use their devices without a hearing test.In this episode of Podcasting Unlocked, Michael Leung is sharing the importance of developing affordable, accessible adaptive technology and I share actionable steps you can take right now to make your podcast more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing communities. Michael and I also chat about the following: How advancements in technology can improve media access for those that are deaf or heard of hearing.Why transcripts and captions are your secret weapon for improving accessibility and SEO.Using plain language and avoiding technical jargon to be more easily understood.Why high-quality, clear audio should always be your top consideration for your podcast.Your message is too important to leave anyone out. Pick one of the accessibility strategies from this episode and implement it this week. Once you have, share this episode with another podcaster who cares about inclusivity and making a difference in the world. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on turning your podcast listeners into leads and to hear even more about the points outlined above. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Podcasting Unlocked at https://galatimedia.com/podcasting-unlocked/ CONNECT WITH MICHAEL LEUNG:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYouTubeCONNECT WITH ALESIA GALATI:InstagramLinkedInWork with Galati Media! Work with Alesia 1:1LINKS MENTIONED:Listeners To Leads Ep 141: How to Improve Your Podcast's Accessibility with Maxwell IveyProud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

Get 10% off your conference passes with our special code "uxtweakatuxcon". Tickets available at uxcon.io. Bryce, an inclusive designer at Microsoft and co-founder of the Inclusive Tech Lab, discusses the inclusive design process and the philosophy he adopted to create accessible and inclusive products with and for people with disabilities, especially in the gaming industry. Bryce also gives practical advice on where and how to engage with different users to create more accessible and inclusive designs. 

The wait is over. In this follow-up to our origin story, we're officially pulling the curtain all the way back and unveiling what Project B has been all along: The Fitness League — a fitness platform built for busy humans who want to train smarter, live stronger, and actually enjoy the process. In this episode, we share how this project came to life after walking away from Fit Coach Pro, and why The Fitness League isn't just an app — it's a movement. A community. A new standard. We're talking: The full vision behind The Fitness League How we're using tech to make fitness personal (and fun) Why we believe gamifying health can change how people show up The core values driving everything we build What to expect as a member of the League If you've ever felt like fitness apps were built for someone else's life — this one's for you. We didn't just build another app. We built what we wished existed. And it will soon be yours too. APPLY FOR COACHING: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/1-1-coaching SDE Method app: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/sde-method-app The Fitness League Waiting List https://quest.lvltncoaching.com/project-b Macros Guide https://www.lvltncoaching.com/free-resources/calculate-your-macros Join the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lvltncoaching FREE TOOLS to start your health and fitness journey: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/resources/freebies Alessandra's Instagram: http://instagram.com/alessandrascutnik Joelle's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joellesamantha?igsh=ZnVhZjFjczN0OTdn Josh's Instagram: http://instagram.com/joshscutnik Chapters 00:00 The Birth of the Fitness League 05:47 Transitioning from Fit Coach Pro to a New Vision 10:34 The Evolution of Project B 14:44 Building a Community and Engaging Users 19:26 The Importance of Detail and Team Dynamics 24:07 The Vision for a Happier, Healthier World 28:47 Core Values and Future Directions 33:14 Features and Accessibility of the Fitness League 40:29 Enhancing Fitness Through Technology 42:56 Gamification and User Engagement in Fitness 46:35 Challenges: Building Community and Healthy Habits 50:48 The Vision for Future Community Events 56:28 The Journey of Building the Fitness League

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe078This episode's podcast guests are Kim and Penn Holderness. They are award-winning content creators known for their original music song parodies, comedy sketches, and weekly podcasts. Their videos have resulted in over 3 billion views and over 9 million followers since they first went viral in 2013. Kim and Penn are authors of the New York Times bestselling book, ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD and their new children's book, All You Can Be with ADHD, is coming out this October.Penn and Kim also host an award-winning weekly podcast called Laugh Lines every Tuesday, and they were winners of The Amazing Race Season 33 on CBS. Kim and Penn Live in Raleigh, North Carolina with their two kids and their dog, SunnyConnect with the Holderness Family: ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD: Holderness, Penn, Holderness, Kim, Edward Hallowell: 9781400338610: Amazon.com: BooksAll You Can Be With ADHD - The Holderness FamilyHome - The Holderness FamilyThe Holderness Family (@theholdernessfamily) • Instagram photos and videosConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

If you love Taylor + Travis, this episode is for you.If you do not love Taylor + Travis, this episode is still for you (but we also are sad for you). This episode drops a fun and spontaneous announcement of the next offering coming soon from Mom Who Works -- Whole Village. There is power in connection and community but it must be accessible to others. We can build that-- and we want your input! Listen in.

PSR Podcast is a listener supported outreach of Be Broken Ministries. Partner with us through giving at BeBroken.org/donate. Thank you for your support!----------In this episode, I sit down with Sam Black, Director of Recovery Education at CovenantEyes, to explore the journey of online accountability and recovery from pornography. Sam shares how Covenant Eyes has evolved over 25 years, shifting from simple filtering to a relational, ally-based approach. We then dive into CovenantEyes' Victory app and its features, including emotional check-ins, family management, and supportive courses for men, women, and parents. Sam also announces a special book giveaway and encourages listeners to take the next step toward freedom with these practical, faith-based resources.To get access to all of CovenantEyes' resources, visit CovenantEyes.com. (And use code bebroken to try out their services free for 30 days.)FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY!Sam agree to give away 10 FREE copies of his book, The Healing Church. To get your free copy, send an email to psr@bebroken.org and put "FREE Healing Church Book" in the subject line. First 10 respondents will get a free copy.Topics Covered in this Episode: History and mission of Covenant Eyes, focusing on relational accountability.Evolution of terminology from "accountability" to "ally" to foster supportive relationships.Development and features of the Victory app as a companion tool for recovery.Importance of educational resources and community support in overcoming pornography addiction.Challenges faced in app development, including technological and platform guidelines.Overview of the app's functionality, including accountability reports and communication features.Accessibility of the Victory app for both men and women, addressing diverse needs.Introduction of new features like the check-in process for emotional monitoring and progress tracking.Emphasis on viewing relapses as learning opportunities rather than failures.Availability of additional resources, such as the Strive 21 program and the book The Healing Church.More Resources:Victory App by CovenantEyesSTRIVE: 21-Day Porn DetoxFind a Support GroupRelated Podcasts:Porn, Technology, and Self-ControlHow Group Work Will Transform Your Recovery JourneyBeyond the Porn Phenomenon: Barna Group Research on Porn Use----------Please rate and review our podcast: Apple PodcastsFollow us on our Vimeo Channel.

keywordsMetropolitan UMC, community service, Motown Mission, youth empowerment, Detroit, church initiatives, scholarships, local partnerships, education support, volunteerismsummaryThe conversation highlights the collaborative efforts of Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Detroit, focusing on community service initiatives, support for local youth, and the impact of the Motown Mission program. The speakers discuss various projects, including school supply drives, accessibility improvements, and scholarship opportunities, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and volunteerism in making a difference in the community.takeawaysMetropolitan UMC has hosted the Motown Mission since 2005.The church collects school supplies for local organizations.They have a diaper bank that serves the community monthly.Accessibility improvements include a newly installed chairlift.The church supports over 250 children with school supplies each year.Centennial Scholarship Fund provides significant financial aid to students.Motown Mission engages young people in community service.The church collaborates with local nonprofits for various initiatives.Future mission opportunities are planned for 2026.Community partnerships are vital for sustaining church outreach efforts.titlesEmpowering Communities Through FaithCelebrating Local Partnerships in DetroitSound Bites"We have the diaper bank at Metropolitan.""We are providing for a minimum of 250 kids.""Your presence keeps our presence out there."Chapters00:00Celebrating Community Partnerships02:36Ongoing Initiatives at Metropolitan UMC05:08Supporting Local Education and Youth Programs08:00Impact of Motown Mission10:50Future Opportunities and Scholarships

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are commonly used to share information across multiple platforms and are often required in school and employment settings. Objectives: We'll provide an overview of PDFs, discuss multiple ways to access, read, and interact with them, plus show you how to: Set the default application for opening PDFs Set Adobe Reader accessibility settings Process an untagged document Search for text in a PDF Change reading order on-the-fly Open a PDF in Word Freedom Scientific Presenters: Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan

(Aug 26, 2025) U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand visited Saranac Lake on Monday, as she works to secure millions in federal funding for the Trudeau Institute amid the Trump administration's proposed cuts to scientific research; we follow along with one of the first users of the motorized wheelchair program at Great Camp Santanoni; and NCPR book reviewer Betsy Kepes talks about a new historical novel, The Jackal's Mistress. 

Steven Scott and Shaun Preece open with a lively debate about the HumanWare Monarch braille device, its price tag, and whether it's really a “consumer” product. They share feedback from listeners, discuss tactile graphics with the PIAF “Pictures in a Flash” machine, and reflect on funding challenges in accessibility.The episode then shifts to Ramblio, a new iOS beta social app designed around short voice messages. Steven compares it to early platforms like Vorail and Clubhouse, raising questions about moderation, community culture, and whether audio-first spaces can thrive long-term.The highlight is Steven's hands-on review of the Geekom A5 mini PC. He explains why it could be the perfect “screenless” computer for blind users, detailing setup with screen readers, performance with NVDA, and how its compact build compares to the Mac Mini. The conversation expands into accessibility, affordability, and the personal reality of moving from low vision to fully screenless computing.Chapters00:00 – Intro and banter01:39 – HumanWare Monarch reactions & funding debates06:36 – Clarifying tactile graphics with the PIAF machine08:43 – Introducing Ramblio: a new audio-first social app12:26 – The challenges of audio-only social media14:25 – First impressions of Ramblio beta15:31 – Mini PCs and the search for a secondary computer20:31 – Hands-on with the Geekom A5 mini PC27:04 – Performance, processors, and screen reader speed38:39 – Living screenless: accessibility and identity54:50 – Envision Ally Solos webinar mention55:36 – Closing thoughts Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website---Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart About Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Get ready for a double dose of laughs and insight as the Limitless Podcast and AT Banter join forces for the inaugural episode of Limitless Banter! Guest host Shawn Marsolais (Blind Beginnings, Limitless Podcast) teams up with Ryan Fleury and Steve Barclay for a lively podcast crossover featuring the one and only Jennie Bovard, star of AMI's comedy series, Pretty Blind. Dive behind the scenes as Jennie shares hilarious stories from set, reveals how real-life moments inspired the show's characters. From goalball shenanigans and Pirate themed board games to the challenges (and triumphs) of authentic disability representation, this episode is packed with candid conversation, plenty of banter, and a few surprise confessions. Plus discover the local music powering Pretty Blind, get the inside scoop on what's next for Jennie, and find out which iconic Canadian show the crew wants to crossover with next! Show Transcript https://atbanter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/at-banter-podcast-episode-437-pretty-blind-pretty-funny-jennie-bovard-returns.pdf Show Notes Watch Pretty Blind on AMI+ https://www.amiplus.ca/Pretty Pretty Blind Playlist on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/356A9KcqqSJR2Pbm4FhTY9 AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver.

Marty and Eric provide ideas and resources for your consideration is using project management softwareWhy move past email?Email buries decisions/files in long threads.Slack (real-time chat + threads) + a project manager (kanban/tasks/timelines) make work visible, searchable, and faster.Slack is already common in higher ed for communication and collaborative learning; pairing it with a project manager levels up coordination.30-minute starter kitCreate a Slack workspace; invite your class/research team with university emails.Channels (starter set): #announcements, #general-questions, #project-alpha, #helpdesk, #random.Norms (pin these in #announcements): use threads, tag with @, add short TL;DRs, react for quick status.Project manager: Set up a board with lists/columns → Backlog → To Do → Doing → Review → Done.Task template: Goal, owner, due date, checklist, attachments, link to reading/IRB doc.Connect Slack ↔ project manager: enable the integration so task updates post to the right channel.Teaching use casesTeam projects: each team gets a Slack channel + its own board; require weekly “Done” screenshots.Office hours: scheduled Slack huddles; post a recap thread.Peer feedback: students comment on tasks; instructor summarizes in Slack.Late-work transparency: a Blocked list with reason + next step.Research use casesProtocol to practice: one task per milestone (IRB, recruitment, analysis, manuscript).R&Rs: a “Review → Revise → Resubmit” lane with checklists for each reviewer note.Data hygiene: Slack for coordination only; store data in approved drives; link rather than upload.Accessibility & equityEncourage asynchronous participation; clear headings, short paragraphs, alt text for images.Prefer threads to reduce noise; summarize meetings in a single recap post.Privacy, policy, ethics (esp. counseling/education)No PHI/PII or client details in Slack or the project manager; share links to secured storage instead.Align with FERPA and IRB guidance; pin a “What NOT to post” note.Set channel/board permissions; remove access at term/project end; export/archive if required.Adoption playbook (4 weeks)Week 0: Announce tools + 5 rules (threads, TL;DRs, owners, due dates, recap posts).Week 1: Move announcements to Slack; first sprint (one deliverable on the board).Week 2: Turn on Slack↔PM automations; introduce the Blocked ritual.Week 3–4: Gather feedback; prune channels/labels; codify norms.Asana   Asana.com Free 10 members 3 projectsMonday   Monday.comOpenProject — https://www.openproject.org/ Pros: Full suite (Gantt, Agile boards, time tracking); mature docs; robust Community Edition. Cons: Heavier to administer; some advanced features gated to Enterprise. Taiga — https://taiga.io/ Pros: Clean Scrum/Kanban workflow; easy start; open source. Cons: Best fit for agile use—fewer “classic PM” features than larger suites. Redmine — https://www.redmine.org/ Pros: Very mature; flexible trackers/wiki; huge plugin ecosystem. Cons: Dated UI; Ruby stack setup can be fiddly. Leantime — https://leantime.io/ Pros: Designed for “non-project managers” (inclusive UX); simple boards/roadmaps; self-host downloads. Cons: Smaller ecosystem than Redmine/OpenProject. WeKan — https://wekan.fi/ Pros: Trello-style Kanban; easy install options (e.g., Snap); MIT-licensed. Cons: Kanban-only; limited built-in reporting. Kanboard — https://kanboard.org/ Pros: Ultra-light, minimal Kanban; quick self-host; solid docs. Cons: Project is in “maintenance mode”; fewer advanced features. Plane (Community Edition) — https://plane.so/ Pros: Modern UI; issues/sprints/roadmaps; AGPLv3 CE. Cons: Still evolving; smaller academic user base. Nextcloud Deck — https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/deck Pros: Kanban tightly integrated with Nextcloud Files/Calendar; mobile apps available. Cons: Requires a Nextcloud instance; not a full PM suite.Email:ThePodTalkNetwork@gmail.comWebsite: ThePodTalk.Net

Welcome back to Barn Talk! In this episode, Sawyer and Tork welcome a very special guest—Jeff Crotwell from Easter Seals Wisconsin's Farm Program. Jeff's story starts on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin, where an accident changed his life at just 16 years old. Rather than letting it hold him back, Jeff turned his experience into an opportunity to help others in the agricultural community. He now dedicates his work to supporting farmers who have suffered injuries or face physical challenges, helping them adapt so they can stay on the land and keep farming.In this heartfelt episode, Jeff shares what it was like to grow up farming the hard way, how farm life can sometimes make us numb to everyday dangers, and the split-second decisions that can alter the course of a life. The conversation dives deep into farm safety, real-life stories of farm accidents, the challenges (and pride) of asking for help, and all the meaningful work the Easter Seals Wisconsin Farm Program does to get farmers back in the game.Whether you've ever loaded square bales in a stifling haymow, climbed a grain bin in the dead of winter, or just love a great story of perseverance and giving back, this episode will remind you why community matters—and why no farmer should have to face hardships alone. Tune in for inspiration, practical information, and more than a few laughs along the way.Shop Farmer Grade

Designing a learning experience for the average learner is a thing of the past, we must now design for everyone. So, in this episode of Learning for Good, I am joined by accessibility expert Dr. Nicole L'Etoile. We're diving deep into how we can design learning strategies in our organizations that work for ALL learners.You'll understand why accessibility is a foundational part of L&D, discover barriers your learners might be facing, and learn how to start being more inclusive today.▶️ 8 Major Accessibility Insights for Your Nonprofit Learning Strategy with Nicole L'Etoile ▶️ Key Points:01:20 What it feels like when accessibility and inclusion are missing03:38 Meet Nicole L'Etoile and her path to accessibility work07:30 Why accessibility is important for nonprofit L&D leaders09:41 Two examples of barriers that learners might be facing13:29 Steps for more inclusive and accessible design16:33 The most common accessibility shortcomings found in audits20:34 A sneak peek into our upcoming webinar: Roadmap to Accessibility23:14 First steps you can take now toward accessibilityResources from this episode:Join our Roadmap to Accessibility: How to Shift Mindsets, Culture, and Workflows webinar on September 23, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Central Time.Learn more about the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).Check out Nicole L'Etoile's Making Online Content Accessible For All Course.Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collectiveWas this episode helpful? If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!

Michelle and Cliff talk with Michelle Junkin, Co-director at Big Faith Resources about making certain church is accessible to those with Neurodivergence and Brittney Porch starts us off with an appetizer giving us some ideas for family worship spaces within worship and a resource for how to get started. 

Aug. 25, 2025- The state senate's housing leader, Manhattan Democrat Brian Kavanagh, discusses why his chamber is looking into the cost and accessibility of residential property insurance.

Chris Cooke joins Steven Scott and Shaun Preece to share her real-world experience with the Monarch multi-line braille display from APH and HumanWare. The hosts also discuss the future of tactile graphics, Glide's $4M funding boost, and the growing ecosystem of NVDA add-ons.This episode dives deep into the evolving world of tactile technology. Long-time listener and rehabilitation specialist Chris Cooke brings her hands-on perspective of the Monarch, exploring how multi-line braille and tactile graphics are reshaping accessibility in education, employment, and daily life.The conversation highlights how tools like the Monarch open up new ways for blind users to understand spatial concepts, icons, music notation, and even perspectives like the scale of buildings. Chris shares her practical use cases—from teaching fractions to exploring the Eiffel Tower—illustrating how tactile graphics extend far beyond textbooks.Steven and Shaun also react to Glide's latest $4 million funding round, noting the impact of high-profile backers from OpenAI and SpaceX. They discuss the phased rollout of the mobility device, its beta testing, and the newly announced name “Rover.” The hosts also chat about NVDA add-ons, showing how tools like Audio Manager are giving blind users greater flexibility with audio and system control.Chapters0:00 – Intro14:40 – Glide raises $4M and rollout plans28:50 – NVDA add-ons and customization37:10 – Chris Cooke joins the show41:00 – The evolution of tactile graphics52:15 – Real-world impact of the Monarch1:05:30 – Multi-line braille and spreadsheets1:15:00 – Accessibility, libraries, and the futureRelevant LinksAmerican Printing House (APH) Monarch: https://www.aph.orgHumanWare: https://www.humanware.comGlide Mobility: https://www.glide.aiNVDA Add-ons: https://addons.nvda-project.org Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website---Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart About Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Elaine Marino (she/her/ella), Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Meltwater and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about paid leave for period pain, rocking true access in our national parks, queer rights protection in Illinois, and more!Here are this week's good vibes:Portugal pays up for period painRocky Mountain rolls out real accessLive Nation finally hits inclusion notesIllinois schools the nation on queer rightsPrinceton pays up, but diversity slipsGood Vibes to Go: Bernadette's GVTG: Looking for a light, fun TV series? Check out Acupulco on Apple TV. The dialogue is in English and Spanish and it's a great celebration of family and culture. Elaine's GVTG: Listen to or read “Born a Crime”, Trevor Noah's memoir. Listening to it is ideal as he is hilarious as he tells stories from his childhood growing up in South Africa.Read the Stories.Connect with Elaine Marino. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Julia Undeutsch's path to becoming an accessibility specialist defies conventional career trajectories. From studying musicology and Japanese while working as a poker dealer to becoming a passionate advocate for digital inclusion, her story reveals how diverse experiences shape innovative approaches to accessibility.When Julia first encountered coding, she noticed something peculiar on Stack Overflow: developers often presented two solutions—a standard approach and an "accessible" alternative. Her immediate reaction speaks volumes: "Why would I choose one or the other? You always choose accessibility." This clarity of purpose has defined her work ever since, recognizing that accessible code inherently represents better quality and cleaner development practices.Julia's linguistic background provides a fascinating foundation for her accessibility work. Having studied Japanese and Austrian Sign Language, she draws direct parallels between human languages and programming languages. Both require similar cognitive processes and serve as gateways to understanding different cultures and perspectives—skills that translate perfectly to creating inclusive digital experiences that work for diverse users.Beyond her day job at Atos, Julia has become a community builder extraordinaire. Through the Google Developer Expert Program and Women Techmakers, she's created platforms to spread accessibility awareness globally. Her talks in Japan revealed a hunger for accessibility knowledge in places where it hadn't yet become mainstream. Alongside her "partner in crime" Laura, she's building Vienna's accessibility community by combining web development expertise with UX research.What makes Julia's perspective particularly valuable are the real-world lessons from her poker dealer days—experiences that unknowingly introduced her to accessibility challenges. Whether accommodating a player with prosthetic arms who couldn't reach cards at a specially designed table or navigating rules about "English only" when a deaf player needed sign language, these moments forced her to consider fundamental questions about inclusion that continue to inform her work today.Ready to learn from Julia's unique journey and gain fresh perspectives on accessibility? Tune in to hear how diverse backgrounds and passionate advocacy are reshaping digital inclusion for everyone.Support the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyzhttps://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruh

Does adapting escape rooms to audio make them more accessible … or more exclusive? Join Jamie, Mairi and special guests Dani and Bill from Escape This Podcast as we discuss accessibility in game design and what it means for creating escape rooms of the ears, the eyes, and all the senses. Why a hotel? Turns out Australia has an interesting drinking culture around hotels, but you'll just have to listen to find out more about that. As always, we come to you with some recommendations for the month ahead. They are: Mairi - Signing up to vote in this year's TERPECAs. Or just using the site to find some cool escape rooms near you. Bill - Novelty Automation in London, UK. A museum collection of satirical, home-made arcade machines. Dani - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and in particular pay attention to it's clever feeding of information in character dialogue. Jamie - Another podcast: Today in History! Which does exactly what it says on the tin. Short, snappy episodes about what happened on that day in history.   Hosts: Jamie Gibbs, Mairi Nolan Guests: Bill and Dani of Escape This Podcast Editor: Jamie Gibbs All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom

Wound care is a vital aspect of healthcare, particularly for people with chronic or complex wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and post-surgical wounds. In the United States, these wounds affect about 6.5 million individuals, with annual costs exceeding $25 billion. They commonly arise from diabetes, poor circulation, or immobility, and if left untreated, can result in infections, amputations, and reduced quality of life. Recently, mobile wound care has emerged as an innovative solution that brings specialized treatment to patients' homes or care facilities. This article synthesizes the essentials of wound care, highlights the benefits of mobile wound care, and shares insights from a Positive Aging Community discussion with Ashley Harris (Advanced Mobile Wound Care of Virginia) and Andre Atkins (Alternate Solutions Home Health).Watch the episodeWhat is Wound Care?Wound care comprises medical interventions to promote healing and avoid complications in wounds that don't heal naturally. It involves cleaning, debridement (removing dead tissue), dressing changes, infection prevention, and advanced therapies like biologic grafts or negative pressure wound therapy.Benefits of Mobile Wound Care1. Accessibility and ConvenienceMobile wound care overcomes logistical obstacles—patients no longer need to arrange transportation or travel long distances. Providers deliver care wherever the patient resides, ensuring consistent treatment for those with mobility or scheduling challenges.2. Advanced Technologies and ExpertiseMobile providers use advanced tools like biological placental grafts and ultra-mist debridement systems, increasing comfort and healing rates. These certified specialists focus only on wound management for high-level care.3. Improved Compliance and HealingPain, transportation, or dissatisfaction can lead to missed appointments and slow healing. Mobile care ensures regular visits, cutting down cancellations and enhancing adherence. Consistent care can reduce hospitalization rates and risk of reinfection.4. Personalized, Collaborative CareTreatment plans are tailored in collaboration with physicians, home health agencies, and caregivers. Providers like Harris emphasize close work with home health teams to ensure continuous care between visits.5. Patient Choice and EmpowermentPatients can request mobile wound care, especially when traditional options are inaccessible or ineffective, giving them more control over their healing journey.6. Support for Care FacilitiesMobile wound care reduces administrative burdens for care facilities by providing on-site expertise, letting staff focus on daily caregiving while residents receive specialized treatment.While mobile wound care offers notable advantages, some cases may still require hospital-based interventions. Availability can vary by location, and the post-pandemic loss of experienced clinicians has made these specialized teams even more valuable. Mobile wound care teams combine advanced skills with patient education, supporting effective wound management between visits.Overall, mobile wound care is a major advancement for patients with chronic or complex wounds who face barriers to traditional care. By delivering specialized, evidence-based treatments at home or facility, providers like Advanced Mobile Wound Care of Virginia and Alternate Solutions Home Health are improving healing, reducing complications, and elevating quality of life. As highlighted by Harris and Atkins, the combination of advanced technology, expertise, and patient-centered care makes mobile wound care a transformative option for those in need. To learn more, individuals can contact providers or consult their home health agency about available options, as mobile wound care continues to grow as a compassionate, effective solution.

How will generative AI reshape the classroom? Ryan Lufkin, VP of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, joins Marc Aflalo to discuss the new OpenAI partnership, how Canvas powers millions of students worldwide, and what this means for the future of education and accessibility. Canvas has become the digital backbone of education, used by over half of North America's college students and rapidly growing worldwide. In this conversation, Ryan Lufkin explains how Canvas and OpenAI are working together to embed AI into the classroom in ways that feel seamless, trustworthy, and genuinely useful for both teachers and students. We explore why education shifted from “nice-to-have” to “must-have” technology after COVID, the eight global trends shaping academic strategy, and how AI can support personalized learning, accessibility, and lifelong education. Ryan also addresses big concerns around bias, data privacy, and misuse—highlighting Instructure's “trust first” approach to rolling out AI features. The discussion covers practical use cases, including AI study modes that encourage learning instead of cheating, accessibility tools that generate alt text and improve course design, and equity-focused strategies to ensure schools of all sizes can benefit from AI. Ryan also shares insights on how educators can build AI literacy and overcome fears by treating it like a “lazy graduate assistant”—a helpful starting point, not a replacement for human expertise. [Chapters] 0:00 – Introduction and name banter 0:31 – What is Instructure and Canvas? 1:35 – Why Canvas is the “backbone” of education 3:09 – Key global education challenges 4:50 – The new OpenAI partnership explained 6:01 – How AI will show up in classrooms 7:29 – Why now? The timing of AI in education 8:21 – Addressing bias, hallucinations, and trust 9:59 – Real-world use cases and Harvard study 11:47 – Accessibility and universal design 13:34 – Equity, affordability, and global access 15:23 – Surprising outcomes from AI in education 16:52 – What success looks like in the next year 18:16 – Why educators still matter in the AI era 19:10 – Advice for educators hesitant about AI 20:54 – Final thoughts and closing [Call to Action] If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into technology, accessibility, and the future of learning. [Relevant Links] Canvas by Instructure: https://www.instructure.com/canvas InstructureCon: https://www.instructure.com/events/instructurecon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode we interview Joe Hout, the designer of 3 Chapters.01:33 - Joe Hout's Love for Gen Con02:29 - Joe Hout's Gaming Origin Story03:36 - Twin City Games and Game Design Journey05:03 - The Concept Behind 'Animal Espionage'06:34 - The Transition to Game Design08:35 - Balancing Game Design with a Full-Time Job09:53 - The Art of the Pitch at Gen Con12:45 - The Journey of 'Three Chapters'14:36 - Self-Publishing vs. Working with a Publisher20:13 - Pitching 'Three Chapters'22:11 - Understanding the Game Mechanics of Three Chapters24:06 - Future Projects and Game Design Aspirations25:54 - The Appeal of Lighter Games29:44 - The Importance of Accessibility in Gaming32:58 - The Joy of Game Design and Community35:07 - The Unique Value of Tabletop Gaming36:25 - Celebrating Community and Librarians in Gaming

An update on accessibility at Bridge Command. I'm pleased to say it's largely positive news.

In this episode of Purposely Catholic, Khalil and Bobby sit down with Jacob Ciccarelli, co-founder of Truthly AI, to explore how artificial intelligence can be used in harmony with the timeless truths of the Catholic faith. While tools like ChatGPT offer impressive capabilities, they often miss the depth, nuance, and eternal perspective of the Church's wisdom. They discuss why the Catholic lens matters when asking big questions, how AI can be trained to reflect moral truth, and what it means to bring light into the digital frontier. Chapters:00:00 Intro01:00 The Energy at Seek and Young Catholics03:20 The Birth of Truthly AI05:20 Jacob Ciccarelli's Journey of Faith and Surrender11:30 The Call to Action and Community15:20 God Incidences and Divine Guidance25:30 The Impact of Truthly AI28:10 Future Developments of Truthly AI31:20 Empowering Thoughtful AI Use34:00 Connecting Spirituality and Technology36:45 Truthful AI vs Traditional Resources39:35 Accessibility and Generosity in Faith45:00 Mission Driven Development and Community Support46:15 Equipping Disciples with Tools of Faith54:00 Closing Prayer#AI #CatholicEducation #faithtech ✴️

Dan Schmitt, President and CEO of Actuate Therapeutics, is developing a cancer therapy that inhibits GSK3β, a key enzyme that is hijacked in cancer cells to drive tumor growth. Inhibiting this enzyme can impact the cancer cells and stimulate an immune response against the tumor. Actuate selected metastatic pancreatic cancer as their first target due to unmet need and promising data for their lead drug candidate. This could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, offering a new standard-of-care option.   Dan explains, "So, GSK-3β is a known quantity across a number of inflammatory diseases. It was understood when we first started the company that, particularly in cancer cells, GSK is hijacked in its activity. Basically it's been shown that in normal cells, GSK-3β sits in the cytoplasmic domain and there it's involved in multiple paths, basically in glucose metabolism. But in cancer cells, it translocates into the nuclear compartment, and there it's accumulated at much higher levels and then sits upstream of a pro-oncogenic set of pathways, all mediated by NF-κB. NF-κB is notorious in cancer. It regulates gene expression involved in tumor growth and progression, chemoresistance, and protects tumor cells from death." "So it's been very difficult to target NF-κB directly, but we can target GSK-3β directly, specifically and potently, and therefore downregulate those key oncogenic processes. And that's really where we started the company, that set of activities of this protein. What's been shown since we've been in the clinic is that there is also a resulting upregulation of immune response from the host towards the cancer itself based on this inhibition of GSK-3β as well."  #ActuateTherapeutics #Cancer #PancreaticCancer #MetastaticPancreaticCancer  actuatetherapeutics.com Listen to the podcast here

Dan Schmitt, President and CEO of Actuate Therapeutics, is developing a cancer therapy that inhibits GSK3β, a key enzyme that is hijacked in cancer cells to drive tumor growth. Inhibiting this enzyme can impact the cancer cells and stimulate an immune response against the tumor. Actuate selected metastatic pancreatic cancer as their first target due to unmet need and promising data for their lead drug candidate. This could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, offering a new standard-of-care option.   Dan explains, "So, GSK-3β is a known quantity across a number of inflammatory diseases. It was understood when we first started the company that, particularly in cancer cells, GSK is hijacked in its activity. Basically it's been shown that in normal cells, GSK-3β sits in the cytoplasmic domain and there it's involved in multiple paths, basically in glucose metabolism. But in cancer cells, it translocates into the nuclear compartment, and there it's accumulated at much higher levels and then sits upstream of a pro-oncogenic set of pathways, all mediated by NF-κB. NF-κB is notorious in cancer. It regulates gene expression involved in tumor growth and progression, chemoresistance, and protects tumor cells from death." "So it's been very difficult to target NF-κB directly, but we can target GSK-3β directly, specifically and potently, and therefore downregulate those key oncogenic processes. And that's really where we started the company, that set of activities of this protein. What's been shown since we've been in the clinic is that there is also a resulting upregulation of immune response from the host towards the cancer itself based on this inhibition of GSK-3β as well."  #ActuateTherapeutics #Cancer #PancreaticCancer #MetastaticPancreaticCancer  actuatetherapeutics.com Download the transcript here

What if the guilt and shame you carry as a mother or caretaker weren't yours to begin with?In this episode of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn sits down with Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, licensed depth therapist, and author of the new book, The Motherhood MythFrom growing up as a “parentified child” to raising her daughter with intention, Vanessa shares how generational wounds, from the “witch wound” to the “mother wound”, shape our lives in ways we may not realize. Together, they explore self-abandonment, the myth of perfection, codependency in relationships, and how to reclaim your identity through micro moments of self-choosing. Whether you're a mother, daughter, partner, or friend, this conversation offers tangible ways to break cycles, set boundaries, and follow the breadcrumbs back to yourself.How Do We Heal Generational Wounds Without Losing Ourselves?Vanessa reveals how recognizing inherited patterns and our part in them is the first step to breaking free.(00:00:22) Depth Psychology and the Path to IndividuationVanessa explains depth psychology as the “psychology of the soul,” focusing on the whole being and the unconscious.Her upbringing as a parentified child and how it shaped her initial decision not to have children.The importance of holding your upbringing objectively to heal. “They're not all bad. And also, they're not all good.”(00:06:11) The Trinity Wound: Witch, Sister, and MotherThe witch wound: epigenetic trauma silencing women's power, sexuality, and individuality.The sister wound: competition among women fueled by scarcity thinking.The mother wound: how women unconsciously uphold patriarchy and pass down harmful narratives.Why ending these cycles starts with self-awareness and modeling change for the next generation.(00:12:30) Self-Abandonment, Guilt, and Rebuilding Your Sense of SelfGuilt and shame are by design. They are tools of societal control, not signs you're broken.Accept guilt as part of the process, then act anyway.Use “micro moments” (like saying no when you mean it) as bricks in the foundation of self-trust.Following breadcrumbs: orienting toward what makes you feel alive, even if it's small or scary.(00:22:09) Codependency, Resentment, and Healthy BoundariesWe live in a codependent culture that teaches us to outsource our emotional regulation.Resentment as a diagnostic tool: a signal that a boundary is being crossed or unspoken.Attachment styles are fluid and change depending on the relationship dynamic.The link between resentment and projection and how awareness can stop the cycle.Why attraction often fades when relationships take on a parental dynamic, and how both partners can reclaim responsibility for their own happiness.(00:32:50) Friendships, Attachment Styles, and CommunicationVanessa and her co-host model conflict resolution through a commitment to talk about issues openly.The cultural trap of expecting a partner to “reparent” us and why it can kill romantic attraction.Building safety without losing mystery or eros in long-term relationships.(00:40:17) Therapy, Accessibility, and the Power of Group WorkWhy therapists need therapists, and the stigma that still exists around seeking help.Alternative paths to healing: coaches, low-cost...

#195 Something very easy to do for document accessibility is to add a few bits of metadata. Find out why metadata is important for accessibility, what metadata to add and how to add metadata to a document.

ALLi nonfiction adviser Anna Featherstone chats with Danica Favorite, community manager at PublishDrive, about the challenges indie authors face in global distribution. They discuss how writers can navigate multiple platforms, balance print, audio, and ebooks, and manage metadata. They also talk about new accessibility laws and when outside tools or services make sense—and when they may not. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Anna Featherstone is ALLi's nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she's also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to and memoirs and her book Look-It's Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she's not being bookish, Anna's into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time. About the Guest Danica Favorite is the community manager at PublishDrive, a global self-publishing platform supporting authors at every stage—from formatting and metadata optimization to wide distribution and sales analytics. A multi-published author herself, Danica brings a unique blend of hands-on publishing experience, marketing savvy, and a deep understanding of the author journey. She regularly speaks at conferences about AI, metadata, and business strategy for authors.

Steven Scott and Shaun Preece tackle the frustrations of installing printers, review the Keychron Q6 Max keyboard, and look ahead to Google's big Pixel 10 event. Plus, listener emails on shopping accessibility, community inclusion, and Apple News Plus.Today's Double Tap dives into the quirks of accessible tech and daily life as blind users. Steven shares his battle with an Epson printer setup and why driver downloads remain a nightmare, while Shaun argues printers should “just work.” The pair continue to explore the Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard, discussing switch types, typing accuracy, and the balance between accessibility and customization.Listener emails bring fresh perspectives: practical advice on clothes shopping online, inclusion concerns within ACB and NFB, and praise for Apple News Plus. There's also light-hearted banter on streaming ads, old BlackBerry revivals, and whether Google should recommit to smart speakers at its Made by Google event.Chapters0:00 – Intro & AI subscription debate6:45 – The case of the missing keyboard & Keychron Q6 Max review23:10 – Why are printers still so hard to set up?39:50 – Mac vs Windows accessibility frustrations57:15 – Looking ahead to Google's Pixel 10 event1:03:00 – Emails: accessible shopping, LGBTQ inclusion, Apple News Plus1:21:00 – Closing thoughts & upcoming guests Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website---Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart About Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Get ready to blast off into the fascinating intersection of science, music, and accessibility! In this episode of AT Banter, the crew welcomes astrophysicist and musician Dr. Matt Russo, who's turning the cosmos into a symphony through the magic of data sonification. Discover how planetary orbits, star brightness, and much more can be transformed into captivating soundscapes. Dr. Russo shares his journey from jazz guitar to astrophysics, explains the art and science behind sonification, and reveals how this innovative approach is making astronomy more accessible for everyone—including people who are blind or visually impaired. Show Transcript https://atbanter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/at-banter-podcast-episode-436-sonifying-the-universe-with-dr.-matt-russo.pdf Show Notes Dr. Matt Russo Online https://www.astromattrusso.com/ System Sounds https://www.system-sounds.com/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

Roborock's Saros Z70 robot vacuum stunned CES with its built-in robotic arm. But beyond the show, it's reshaping smart cleaning for everyone—including people with mobility challenges. In this spotlight interview, Your Tech Report host Marc Aflalo speaks with Ashley Hu, US PR Manager at Roborock, about the innovation behind the company's flagship robot vacuums—including the eye-catching Roborock Saros Z70, the world's first vacuum with a built-in 5-axis mechanical arm. Ashley explains the design thinking behind Roborock's product line, including real-world benefits like hands-free cleaning, powerful AI obstacle avoidance, and accessibility-driven features for users who struggle with bending, lifting, or heavy vacuums. She also touches on how community feedback from Reddit, YouTube, and social channels shapes Roborock's roadmap. Whether you're a college student or a smart home enthusiast, Roborock's lineup—from the Saros 10 to the Saros Z70—has something for every floor type, home size, and budget. And yes, the robot vacuum can even dance. 0:00 – Meet Roborock: Innovation in Smart Home Cleaning 2:10 – What Makes Roborock Different from Other Brands 4:40 – The Roborock Saros Z70: Robot Vacuum with a Robotic Arm 9:15 – Accessibility and Inclusive Design in Smart Cleaning 11:45 – How to Choose the Right Roborock Model 14:00 – What's Next: Roborock's Future Tech and AI Advancements #RoborockZ70 #SmartHome #RobotVacuum #CES2025 #AccessibilityTech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Tyler Tech Podcast, we explore how strong data governance is essential to unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence in the public sector.Recorded live at the Tyler Connect conference in San Antonio, this insightful conversation features Franklin Williams, president of Tyler's Data & Insights Division and deputy chief technology officer. Franklin explains how effective data governance — covering data inventory, quality, access, and accountability — lays the groundwork for trustworthy AI and better decision-making.We dive into the most common data challenges public sector agencies face today, the practical steps to take when building a governance program, and how those efforts can empower both human users and AI systems alike. From data stewardship to responsible access controls, this episode offers valuable guidance for any organization preparing for the future of government technology.Tune in to learn how cleaning, cataloging, and securing your data today can help unlock transparency, operational insight, and innovation tomorrow.This episode also highlights “Resilient by Design: How Technology Supports Government,” our free e-book that explores how public sector agencies can strengthen their resilience in the face of disruption. From cloud infrastructure and automation to secure payment systems and crisis response tools, the e-book features real-world examples of how technology helps governments maintain continuity and serve their communities more effectively.Download: Resilient by Design: How Technology Supports GovernmentAnd learn more about the topics discussed in this episode with these resources:Download: A Digital Government Guide to Effective Data StrategiesDownload: Digital Access and Accessibility in the Resident ExperienceBlog: The Power of Data: Building Resilient and Responsive SystemsBlog: Preparing for the Future of AI in GovernmentBlog: Improving Public Safety: Data and Cloud InnovationsBlog: Nevada's Pursuit of Open GovernmentListen to other episodes of the podcast.Let us know what you think about the Tyler Tech Podcast in this survey!

Marc and Dan Buck chat with Todd Pyro, host of Fox and Friends First, about the nonstop news cycle surrounding former President Trump, his unprecedented media accessibility, and the challenges for journalists trying to keep up. Pyro offers insight into media coverage, the left's resistance to Trump's successes, and critiques MSNBC's branding choices. The conversation also touches on Todd's personal life, including his Tunnel to Towers golf event, while previewing the upcoming 2A Tuesday segment on firearm safety and training.

Kent Lewis grew up in the Seattle area. In college he studied business and marketing. After college he went to work for a PR agency but left to go into the digital marketing industry in 1996. Kent has formed several marketing agencies during his career. He is quite up front about challenges he faced along the way as well as what he learned from each issue he faced.   Kent's philosophy about community is quite interesting and well worth adopting. He believes very much in giving back to his community. Today his day job is serving as “Executive Director of NextNW, a non-profit trade association that unifies the Pacific Northwest advertising & marketing professionals interested in professional development, sharing best practices, and collaborative problem-solving”.   Kent gives us many relevant and timely business insights. I hope you agree that this conversation gives us some good business lessons we all can use.     About the Guest:   Kent Lewis, Executive Director, NextNW Lewis is currently Executive Director of NextNW, a non-profit trade association that unifies the Pacific Northwest advertising & marketing professionals interested in professional development, sharing best practices, and collaborative problem-solving. He is also Founder of pdxMindShare, Portland's premier career community, with over 12,000 LinkedIn Group members. With a background in integrated marketing, he left a public relations agency in 1996 to start his career in digital marketing. Since then, he's helped grow businesses by connecting his clients with their constituents online. In 2000, Lewis founded Anvil Media, Inc., a measurable marketing agency specializing in search engine and social media marketing. Under his leadership, Anvil has received recognition from Portland Business Journal and Inc. Magazine as a Fastest Growing and Most Philanthropic Company.  After selling his agency in March 2022, he became a CMO for the acquiring firm. Beyond co-founding SEMpdx, Lewis co-founded two agencies, emailROI (now Thesis) and Formic Media. As a long-time entrepreneur, he's advised or invested in a host of companies, including PacificWRO, Maury's Hive Tea and ToneTip. Lewis speaks regularly at industry events and has been published in books and publications including Business2Community, Portland Business Journal, and SmartBrief. For twenty years, he was an adjunct professor at Portland State University, and has been a volunteer instructor for SCORE Portland since 2015. Lewis tours nationwide, averaging 30 speaking engagements annually, including a regular presenter role with the Digital Summit conference series. Active in his community, Lewis has been involved in non-profit charity and professional trade organizations including early literacy program SMART Reading and The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO).  Industry recognition and awards include Portland Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 Award, American Marketing Association Oregon Chapter Marketer of the Year, and Top 100 Digital Marketing Influencers by BuzzSumo.   Ways to connect with Kent:   Links https://kentjlewis.com/   And LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentlewis/     About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. Today. We get to chat with an award winning entrepreneur, and he just told me a really interesting factoid. We'll have to, we'll have to talk about it, just because it is about one of the most fascinating things I've heard in quite a while, and a very positive thing. But I'm not going to give it away, because I'm going away, because I'm going to let him talk about it, or at least start the discussion. I'd like you all to meet Kent Lewis. Kent has been an entrepreneur for a while. He helps other entrepreneurs. He works in the non profit arena and does a variety of different kinds of things. And rather than me telling you all about it, you could read the bio, but more important, meet Kent Lewis and Kent, welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Kent Lewis ** 02:05 It's, it's a pleasure to be on the show. Thank you for having me, sir.   Michael Hingson ** 02:10 Now where are you located? I'm based in Portland, Oregon, yeah. So you're, you are up up the coast, since I'm in Southern California. So yes, you know, one of these days I'll be up that way again. Well, Alaska Airlines will fly me up there.   Kent Lewis ** 02:27 Yeah, totally right. Yeah, good   Michael Hingson ** 02:29 to have you, unless you come this way first. But anyway, well, I'm really want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. And why don't we start? I love to do this. Tell me a little bit about kind of the early Kent growing up and all that stuff.   Kent Lewis ** 02:44 Yeah, so I grew up in Seattle, Washington. I think something that's influenced me is that my dad was is, or is, a retired architect. And so there was always this design esthetic, and he was an art collector enthusiast, I should say. And so I was always surrounded with art and mid century, you know, furniture and there's just style was a it was a thing. And then my mom was always in when she was a social worker and went into running nonprofits. And so I grew up around that as well of just giving back. So if you ever heard that common term, you know, learn, earn, return. Start your life you're learning, then you're maximizing your earnings during your career, and then when you in and around later in life, you start giving back, right, returning, right. And I learned from my mom that you never stop you never stop learning. You never stop returning. And my my mantra as an entrepreneur is never stop earning right? So, so I've always been giving back and donating my time, and I've always appreciated sort of good design and well thought out things. And I think that's influenced my career in marketing and as an entrepreneur, business owner, and now more of an advisor, Coach type,   Michael Hingson ** 03:59 well, so growing up in Seattle, did you visit pikes market very often?   Kent Lewis ** 04:04 My dad used to work right, right, like, two blocks away. So I would go there all the time. In fact, I remember when there was just one Starbucks when I was a kid, yeah, at Pike Place Market, and they used to sell large chunks of delicious, bitter sweet chocolate, I know, you know, in the behind the counter, and it was a very hi and you could smell the teas and all that. It was a very different experience, very cool place. And so, yeah, love   Michael Hingson ** 04:33 the pipe waste market. I understand that they don't throw the fish anymore. No, they do. They do. Oh, yeah, absolutely. Maybe it was just during the pandemic that they decided not to do that, but   Kent Lewis ** 04:44 think you're right about that. But they definitely, they, they're still, it's still a major attraction. It's too big of a thing to stop.   Michael Hingson ** 04:51 Wow, that's what I was thinking. And that's just way too big of a thing to to stop. My probably not the greatest fish fish catcher, I've been there, but I. I never caught a fish.   Kent Lewis ** 05:02 Yeah, that's only got, like, one or two in my life. And I don't, I don't do it much, but   Michael Hingson ** 05:08 Well, well, that's the place to go anyway. So where did you go to college?   Kent Lewis ** 05:13 I went to Western Washington University in Bellingham, uh, just 1020 minutes from the Canadian border, because, in part, when I was in school, it was a 19 year old drinking age in Canada, so I was 20 minutes away from my earlier drinking age. Turns out, I grew up going to Vancouver, BC quite often for the soccer exchange program when I was a real young youngster. So I fell in love with Vancouver, and as I've had been fortunate enough to travel the world a bit, I realized that it was one of my favorite cities, and it still is. It is such a global, amazing egalitarian, like, no matter your color, race, creed, you could be a millionaire or you could be a bus driver. There was no not the same class, classism you see in other US cities or around the rest of the world. It's truly an amazing and it's also, of course, beautiful   Michael Hingson ** 06:04 there. I found that true throughout Canada, and I've enjoyed every Canadian city I've ever been to. One of my favorites is really going to Toronto. I was always impressed as to how clean it really was.   Kent Lewis ** 06:17 You know, that's true. I've been there a couple times in conferences, and I found it to be clean and impressive, you know, and then, but my, one of my favorite, other cities I only spent overnight, there was Montreal. What a beautiful, beautiful place, absolutely stunning. I   Michael Hingson ** 06:35 spent two days in Montreal once when I was selling some products and turn the TV on at 1131 morning that I was there and watched the Flintstones in French. That was unique. That was unique. Cool. How cool is that? Yeah, it's awesome. That was kind of fun. But, you know, so you, you went to college. What did you major in?   Kent Lewis ** 06:58 I majored in business with a marketing concentration, which is great because I ended up doing marketing for a career, and for 22 years ran my own agency, or my own business, basically.   Michael Hingson ** 07:10 So what did you do when you got out of college?   Kent Lewis ** 07:14 I went immediately into the world of public relations agency life. I always wanted to be a found out after college that I, what I really wanted to be was a copywriter, you know, writing ads. I just coolest thing as a kid. I just didn't know that. It's, I didn't realize what it, what it you have to go to Ad School. You can't, you can't graduate regular college and become a copier. At least you weren't able to when I was, you know, back in the mid 90s. So I started in PR because it sounded hard to pitch the media and try and get them to say what you want them to say about your brand, your client and your brand. And that did me well, because when I got in from went from PR in 94 to digital marketing, SEO, search engine optimization 96 my PR background was extremely helpful. You know, in in that, in that whole world. So because doing PR builds Domain Authority, which builds your rankings in Google, and the rest is history. So, so it was very helpful. It gave me a bit of an edge. And then my business background meant I was better equipped to to go from doing the work to managing people, they're doing the work, to doing my own thing, you know, and running a instant running team, I was running a business. So that was super cool. You   Michael Hingson ** 08:38 know, it's interesting. I've especially because of the World Trade Center, but not only, but before it as well, I learned a lot about dealing with the press. And I've, I've watched a lot of press interviews today, and it's, it's amazing how often and then people have said that this is the way you should do it. No matter what the press person asks you, you answer with the with the answer you really want to give, whether you answer their questions or not. And I think that's an interesting approach, and I suppose it can be positive, but especially for for politicians who don't want to answer the tough questions. But I I know that for me, I've always tried to structure my answers in such a way that it gets them to take the question that they originally asked that I might sort of answer and reframe it so that I will answer a lot of times that, for example, talking about blindness and blind people, there are just so many misconceptions about it and and all too often, like first time I was on Larry King lives, Larry was asking questions about guide dogs. And he said, Now, where did you get your guide dog? And I said, from San Rafael, California. He said, well, but the but the main. School is a new is in Michigan, right? And I said, No, it's a different organization. And what we learned after doing that interview was that the way to deal with Larry was to program him and send him questions in advance with answers. Then he did a lot better, because the reality is, he didn't really know necessarily the answers in the first place. It's just amazing how you know how a lot of times it's just shallower. The Press tends to over dramatize. But I appreciate what you're saying about marketing and PR, I've done so much of that over my lifetime, and for so many reasons, in so many ways, I know exactly what you're talking about.   Kent Lewis ** 10:47 Yeah, yeah. That's, yeah, it's, it's a fascinating world that I've, that I've, you know, been live, living and working in. And I, yeah, I'm impressed, yeah, Larry King Live. That's pretty cool. And, you know, hopefully you've helped people just side note, you know, get a clear understanding of what it is, what it is both like to be blind and then how you navigate this world successfully, as if you're, you know, fully sighted. You know,   Michael Hingson ** 11:18 well, one of the things that I actually learned over the last couple of years is something that I've actually written an article and had it published about, and that is that we've got to change our view of disabilities in general. People always say, well, disability is a lack of ability. And I say, and I always say, No, it's not. And they say, Well, yes, it is. It begins with dis. And I said, then, how do you equate that with disciple, discern and discrete? For example, you know they begin with D is the reality is, disability is not a lack of ability. You think it is. But I've added to that now when I point out that, in reality, every person on the planet has a disability, but for most people, their disability is covered up. Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, or at least we give him credit for it back in 1878 so for the last 147 years, all we've done is spent so much time improving on the technology that provides light on demand, which just covers up your disability, but it's still there. And I realized that one day I was at a hotel in Los Angeles at three in the afternoon when we had a power failure, and everybody started to scream, even down in the lobby, when they had all these nice big windows that were letting in all sorts of light, but it wasn't giving them the light that they wanted and the amount that they wanted, and people panicked. So I realized then, oh, well, now the reality is they're light dependent, which is as much a disability as my light independence is. It's just that it manifests itself differently, and there are a whole lot more light dependent people than light independent people. But we've got to really change our definition and how we view it. So   Kent Lewis ** 12:58 that's really insightful. It's good to think about.   Michael Hingson ** 13:01 Yeah, it's kind of fun. But, you know, so, so where did you, where did you go off and go to work in the in the marketing world? So you did? You didn't go to Copyright School? Or did you? No, no,   Kent Lewis ** 13:13 I just know. I once I talked to the creative director at this agency in Seattle where I did my first internship. He's like, Yeah, you'd have to go back to art school. And I was like, what school I just finished? So, you know, it didn't really matter. And we So, with that said, we, you know, I moved into PR, and then I moved to down to Portland from Seattle, because I could actually get a paying job because the internship I did three months full time, virtually, basically no pay, I found a low paying job instead in Portland. So I moved I only knew one person here in Portland, my cousin. She's still here. We both have families now, and I know a lot more people, but I basically have, since moving here to do my second agency job. I've been, I've been a part of 10 agencies in my career. I've been, I founded two, co founded two, fired from three and exited the four that I created, or co, co founded, basically. And so right now I have a consultancy. I could say that's my 11th agency, but I don't even really count it as an agency. I'm just a fractional CMO, you know, marketing advisor at this point, just a few hours a month, because my my day job as of January, is running a nonprofit called next northwest.org which is a it's a trade organization for marketing and advertising and creative community, the creative services world. And it has 119 year history in Portland. And now it's, it's now expanded to five states and into Canada. And so I've got this I'm working. I manage a board of, you know, decent sized board, and a decent sized advisory. Committee that I created, and just the last couple months, and we do learning events for the creative community and networking events and celebrations, like, you know, awards, award shows to celebrate the work. So that's kind of my day job. And then I also speak and write a lot you and I share a passion for for education and learning and sharing knowledge. And so I've been, I've probably averaged 25 speaking engagements a year for the last 20 years, and last year was 30. For instance, I fly yours, mentioned your your travel. I'm flying to Tampa on Sunday to present on Monday, on a panel about AI in the senior care space, for instance. And then I come back and I, I, you know, got it. I got one or two more. But I, you know, I typically do a dozen fly flying gigs, and then I do a lot of webinars and local gigs as well.   Michael Hingson ** 15:55 So what are you what are you going to say? What are you going to say about AI in the senior care space?   Kent Lewis ** 16:01 That's a great question. So what my focus as a marketer is, here's how you can use AI to streamline and automate and maintain or improve quality. So it's not meant to it's not a secret hack, cheat code to lay people off. It's a It's get more out of your current resources, basically, and do more with less, and do it more effectively. That's kind of, that's, you know, that's my, what I'll be talking about is the how you know how to use it for research, ideation, content creation, content editing, reporting, synthesizing information, customer service, that kind of thing. So I only have, you know, it's a panel event, so I'm only doing like a 10 to 15 minutes part, and then there are other presenters doing their part, and then we have a little Q and A, usually, I'm a sole presenter on whatever topic, usually digital marketing or employee engagement, which is what I got passionate about. Once I sold my agency. After 22 years, I became an employee at that the agency that acquired my company, and I was immediately underwhelmed and disappointed in what it was like to be an employee, and wanted to fix it. So that's what I had been focusing on when I given a choice. I want to evangelize. You know, what I learned from my experience, and I've done a good amount of research, and, you know, two weeks ago, I presented in Portland on the topic to entrepreneurs. Then the next day, I flew to Denver and did the same presentation to a group of agency owners. And then the next day, I did a webinar for similar group of entrepreneurs, you know, so three versions, three days in a row, a 3060, and 90 minute version. So,   Michael Hingson ** 17:42 pretty fun. Yeah. So how many books have you written?   Kent Lewis ** 17:47 Ah, I knew you'd say that so or ask that. I have not written any books, but I have, darn but I've written, you know, probably 200 articles. I could easily AI them into some sort of book, if I wanted to. You know, I went from writing 80% to 90% of my art content was on digital marketing for the first 20 years. And then the last 10 years, I focused almost exclusively on writing about entrepreneurship and and business ownership, leadership and employee intention, retention, engagement. And, you know, so I mostly syndicate my articles, like business journals, occasionally in Ink Magazine, etc. So if I were to write a book, it would be about the business side of things, instead of the second, I would write something about digital marketing. Not only am I no longer an expert, and consider myself an expert relative to others, those books are outdated the second they're printed, right? So, so it doesn't make sense to really write a book on digital marketing, and everything's already been said, etc. So, so if I wrote a book, it would be probably more on the employee engagement side versus anything. But I will say that I don't know if you know who Seth Godin is. He's the number one marketing blogger in the world. He's written many best sellers, Purple Cow, permission, marketing, etc. He's remarkable guy. And I had was fortunate to talk with him and then meet with him over lunch in New York City 15 years ago. And he said, after our two hour lunch, he charges $75,000 for speaking engagement. So it gives you a sense of who he is. He has for for 20 years. And so he said, Kent, you've got a book in you. I was like, I wish you hadn't said that, because now I don't want to, I don't want to disappoint him, right? So there you go.   Michael Hingson ** 19:31 Well, if you write one at some point, you have to send us a picture of the cover and we'll stick it in the show notes whenever. Yeah, that sounds great, but yeah, I you know, I never thought of writing a book, but in 2002 we went to the AKC Eukanuba canine championship dog show in Orlando. It was in December, and among other people I met there. Here I met George Berger, who was at that time, the publisher of the American Kennel Club Gazette, and he said, You ought to write a book. And I went, why? Well, because you you have a great story to tell. You should really write a book. Well, it took eight years and a lot of time sitting in front of Microsoft Word to get notes down, but eventually I met someone named Susie Flory who called because she was writing a book called Dog tails. And it was a story of what she wanted to write stories of, actually, 17 different dogs who had done some pretty interesting and miraculous things. And she wanted to write a story about my guide dog at the World Trade Center, Roselle. And she said, Tell me your story, if you would. And I did. And when we were done, there was this pause, and then she said, You need to write a book. And since I've written books, I'll help you. And a year later, underdog was published, and it became a number one New York Times bestseller. So that was pretty cool.   Kent Lewis ** 21:01 That's fantastic. Congratulations. Very impressive.   Michael Hingson ** 21:04 And then last year, well, in 2013 we published a children's book called running with Roselle, but more adults by a thing kids, because it's not a picture book, but it tells the story of me growing up and Roselle growing up, and how we met, and all that. So it isn't really as much a World Trade Center book. But then last year, we wrote, live like a guide dog. And the intent of live like a guide dog is to say to people, look fear is all around us, and so many people just allow themselves to be paralyzed, or, as I say, blinded by fear, so they can't make decisions. They don't learn how to control it. But if you learn how to control fear, you can use fear as a very powerful tool to help you stay focused, and you'll make better decisions. So we use lessons I learned from my guide dogs on my wife's service dog to write, live like a guide dog. And so it is out there, and it's it's a lot of fun, too. So you know, it isn't the easiest thing to write a book, but I would think you have a book in you, and you should, well, I   Kent Lewis ** 22:03 appreciate that vote of confidence. And hey, I mean, you did it, and you had an amazing story, and you've done it multiple times. Actually, it's great inspiration for me.   Michael Hingson ** 22:16 Well, I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out. You'll have to let   22:20 us know. Yeah, will do so   Michael Hingson ** 22:23 you at some point, switched from being an employee to being an entrepreneur. How did that all happen? Why? Why did you do it? Or what really brought that about?   Kent Lewis ** 22:38 Well, I kept getting fired.   Michael Hingson ** 22:40 So why'd that happen?   Kent Lewis ** 22:42 Yeah, so that's the fun part. So I I've never been fired for cause like a legit clause. I'm a high powered, high performer, and so I actually, that's why. So the first time I was fired was by the guy that invited me to co found an agency. His name was Ryan Wilson. He was my he was my boss. And then he was fired by our larger agency. He ran a team that I worked on. I worked for him. I was inspired by him. I I was mentored by him. I thought the world of him. So when he came to me three months after he got fired, it was about, it's always about a girl. So he he basically, he got divorced. And so this other woman, they met at the office, and they were soul mates, and they he had to clean up his life. And he did, and he said, I've got an agency die. I've got two clients ready to sign. I need key employees, and you're one, one of them, then I would hope you would join me. I said, No, the first time he got his act together. I said, yes, the second time, and that. So I we built an agency together with, you know, we start with six people. I brought in two other people and another gal that ran the PR side. I was running the digital side. She brought in somebody said we had six of us on day one, and a year later, we didn't have a formal share shareholder agreement for our percentage of the company that went from being worth zero to being worth a few million dollars, and we felt that we should have something in writing, and before he could, we could get something formally in writing. My, my other partner, she, I didn't really want to do the business with her, but I didn't really have a choice. I want to do the business with him. She said, I'm asking for more equity. I said, Okay, I feel like that's fair. I think we've earned it, but, and I'll, I'll be there with you, but I wouldn't have done this if she hadn't said, I'm going in. Are you with me? So when I we asked, she asked me to make the ask. I wasn't necessarily prepared or thinking about it, and it really offended him. He was really mad, and he was playing to fire her, and by me teaming up with her, he felt, you know, slight. And he fired us both, and the next week, I started anvil, my agency, Anvil Media, that I ran for 22 years, I did a couple other starts, one with a college friend and a guy I had met at that that at one of the first, one of the earlier agency agencies I'd worked at. He and we, he and I and my college buddy started an email marketing agency in 02 and then I decided, well, this isn't for me, but I now learn it's not that scary to hire employees. So then I started hiring employees at anvil and late 03 and so I ran anvil with employees for, you know, 20 years. Two of those first two years were just me and some contractors and and then, oh, wait, I started a second agency because I needed a more affordable solution for my partners in small business called Formic media. Ran that for five years before I merged it with with anvil. But in between, I was also fired. When I first started anvil, I was it was just a hang of shingle in 2000 to do some consulting, but I wanted a full time gig, and a year later, I had an opportunity to run my my team from the agency. I was fired from that company. That agency was sold to another agency for pennies on the dollar. And when my old boss died, rest in peace, we hadn't really cleared the air yet, which is it still is one of my greatest regrets. You know, for nine months we didn't talk, and then he passed away. Everybody peace, not before he passed away, I was able to get, yeah, his his soul mate. They weren't married yet, but they were going to get married. She told me that two weeks before he died, he expressed regrets and how we had ended the relationship, how he had fired me, and he was looking forward to reconnecting and re engaging our friendship. And so that made that meant the world to me. I had a lot of peace in knowing that, but I so the first the second place I got fired was this agency again about a girl. So the first time was a girl telling me, you need to ask the boss for more money or more equity. And I did, and that offended him. And the second time was my girlfriend at the time, who's who moved over from that agency to the new agency where my my old boss died before he could really start there. She was dating on the side the Creative Director at that agency, and he'd been there over 20 years. And so when I started there, I saw something was up, and I was like, Is there anything going on? She's like, No. And so eventually I just broke up with her anyway, because I just it wasn't working, even if she wouldn't admit that she was having a side relationship. But I was eventually fired because he was a board, you know, he was on the board. He was, he wasn't my boss, per se, but he was one of the senior partners, and they just wanted me out. You know, she might have money. Wanted me out. He definitely wanted me out. So that was the second time I got fired. And then the third time I got fired was it kept the stakes get given, getting bigger. When I sold my agency 14 months later, they fired me, really, not to this day, not for any cause. It's that they asked me to take an 80% pay cut a year into my buyout, and I and then I they were going to close my Portland office, which I was, I own the building, so I didn't want to lose my own myself as a tenant, so I offered to reduce my rent 30% so I basically, for two and a half months, worked for free for this agency that had bought my agency. So they were making payments to me. I was carrying the note, but they they couldn't. A year later, they're like, I'm sorry. So they a year later, I took a pay cut for two and a half months, and when I asked them, you know, when am I getting back to my pay? They said, Well, you know, we can't guarantee. We don't have a path for you back to your full pay. And I was like, Okay, well, then I told my wife, let him inform them that we're going to go back to, we are going to go back to our full rack rate on our rent. And when I, when we notified them, they they totally, they totally fired me. So they canceled the lease, and they fired me, and so they so it. And you know, I, my team was slowly being dismantled, a 10 of us, 11 of us, I guess 10 or 11 us went over, and within a year, there were only two wait. Within two years, there was only one person left on my team. So it was a really sad, sad experience for me. It wasn't as hard to sell my business as I thought. It wasn't as hard, you know, just emotionally, it wasn't as hard to sunset my brand after 22 years. Wasn't easy, but it was way easier than I thought. What was hard for me was watching them was was closing the office. It broke my heart and and then watching them dismantle my team that I spent, you know, two decades building, most of that team was within 10 years, the last 10 years, last even five years of of our business. Us. There was a relatively new team, but we were so tight, and it was just heartbreaking. So, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 30:09 yeah, wow. So what do you think was your biggest mistake in running your own agency?   Kent Lewis ** 30:19 That's a great question. I think the biggest, biggest mistake was not understanding the Hire great people and get out of the way. Lee Iacocca, you know, to paraphrase him, I hired great people and I got out of their way. But what I didn't do was make sure they had all the proper training, alignment of core values that they had, there was enough trust between us that they could come to me with they were struggling or failing. Apparently, I was a fairly intimidating figure for my former my young recruits, but most of that time, up until the last five years, I always had a senior VP my right hand. I hired her with the attention that she might take over the business someday, she was totally creating a wall between me and my employees, and I didn't know it until 2012 and so, you know, I had 10 years to try to undo what she had created the first 10 years, basically of a fear based management style, so that that didn't help me, and I didn't believe it. I didn't really see it. So then I rebuilt the company, and from the ground up, I blew it up in 2013 so 10 years after of having employees, 13 years of having the business, I completely dismantled and blew it up and rebuilt it. And what did that look like? It started with me just not wanting to go to work in the building, and I realized I can't quit because I'm the owner, so I have to fix it. Okay? I don't mind fixing things. I prefer to fix other people's problems instead of my own, but I really a lot of people do, right? Yeah. So I wrote a credo, basically, what would it take for me? What are, what are it got down to 10 truths, what? What are the truths that I need to go into work and that others around me, co workers, team members, need to also agree on so that we can work together successfully. So it went from being about clients to being about the team and being about accountability. And you know, it was so it was so decisive. It was so radical for my current team that had been with me five to 10 years of they lose clients, I get more clients. And I eventually told them, I can't replace clients as fast as you're losing them. It's not a sustainable business model, so you need to be accountable for your actions and your decisions. That's the new anvil. You and you're out. I gave them 72 hours to think about it and sign it. Signed literally to these credo. It's not a legal document, it's just a commitment to credo. And half the team didn't sign it, and they quit. And then within 12 months, the rest of the team either quit or we've I fired them because they did not fit in the new anvil. And it's funny because everybody else that I brought in didn't even it didn't even register. The credo was so unremarkable to them, because we were already aligned by the time we hired them, we'd done our research and the work to know who fit, and so they didn't register. So eventually we just dropped the credo was no longer needed as a guide or a framework. It's still on the website, but, but you don't, you know it doesn't really matter. But that's what I got wrong, is I did not build the trust. I did not have I had processes in place, but but without the trust, people wouldn't tell me how they felt or that they were struggling. So a lot of process wasn't recognized or utilized properly. So I rebuilt it to where and rebuilt the trust to where the team that was with me when I sold I was very close with them. There was 100% trust across the board, a mutual respect, arguably a mutual love for the craft, for each other, for the company, for our clients, and it was a lot of fun to work with them. I didn't sell because I was unhappy. I sold because I was happy, and I thought now's a good time to go and find a good home. Plus my wife was my operations manager for five years, and she wanted out. Frankly, I thought it was easier to sell the business than try to replace my wife, because she was very good at what she did. She just didn't like doing it, yeah? And she also didn't like, you know, me being her boss. I never saw it that way. But once she explained it, after I sold, she explained, like, you know, you boss me around at work, and then you try to boss me around at home, and I'm not having it. You pick one? Yeah, so, so I was like, I think, like, I bossed you around. And she's like, Hey, you just, it was your company. It was always going to be your company. And, you know, that's fine, but you know, I want to move on. I was like, Okay, why don't we just sell and so that, yeah, they the operational people. And so it took her, took that load off of her. She's worked for. Nonprofit now, so she's happy, and so that's good.   Michael Hingson ** 35:05 Well, it also sounds like there were a lot of people that well, first of all, you changed your your view and your modus operandi a little bit over time, and that's why you also got you fired, or you lost people. But it also sounds like what you did was you brought in more people, not only who thought like you, but who really understood the kinds of goals that you were looking at. And so it was a natural sort of thing. You brought in people who really didn't worry about the credo, because they lived by it anyway.   Kent Lewis ** 35:38 Yeah, that's exactly right. And that was, that was my lesson. Was, you know, I always knew there's a concept called Top grading. You know, you thoroughly vet client, you hire slow and you fire fast. Most entrepreneurs or business owners hire fast and fire slow, and it's very, very expensive and but, you know, I got that part and I just better. I was far better at, I was far better at, what would I say, creating processes than kind of feeling, the love? And so once I figured that stuff out, it got a lot it got a lot better.   Michael Hingson ** 36:16 It's a growth thing. Yes,   36:18 exactly, yeah. Well, you   Michael Hingson ** 36:21 have something, and you sent me something about it. You call it Jerry Maguire moment. Tell me about that.   Kent Lewis ** 36:28 Yeah. So that's, you know, I just, I just sort of backed into the story of just being unhappy. But what ended up happening more specifically that Jerry Maguire moment was putting my son to bed in March of 2013 and I mentioned that feeling of not of dread. I didn't want to go to work. I was frustrated with my team, disappointed in my clients, not appreciating the work we were doing, frustrated with some of my partners. You know, in the business, I felt disconnected from the work of digital because I'd worked on the business for longer than I'd worked in the business by that point, and so I just, it was, it was, I was a bit of a mess. And I realized, like, I need a reason to get up and go to work in the morning. And that's when I came up. I was inspired by Jerry Maguire's manifesto from from the movie, and apparently you can find it online. It's a 28 page manifesto. So I ended up distilling into those 10 truths that we called the credo, and so what happening is just again to recap, it took me a like a couple days. I had instant clarity. I like I fell asleep like a rock. Once I realized I had a plan and I had a framework, I felt better about it, even though there was much work to do. So as I mentioned, you know, half the team quit within the first week, the other half bled out over the next year. That meant 100% employee turnover for two years in a row. As like as I upgraded my team, that was painful. I had to hire three people in order to keep one good one. You know, as I as I search, because we don't have formal degrees in the world of digital marketing, right? So it's hard to find the talent, and you want to hold on to the good ones when you get them. So it took a long time to get the team dialed. Meanwhile, my clients got tired of the turnover. As I was trying to figure it out, they started leaving in droves, and so in 2014 in March, a year later, exactly, I lost my five biggest clients in a 30 to 45 day period. So I lost, you know, 40, over 40% of my revenue vaporized, and I could not replace it fast enough. So I didn't take a salary for nine months. I asked two senior execs to take small pay cuts like 10% and as we hunkered down, and so I didn't have to lay off any good talent, and so I didn't, and we sprinted, we rebuilt, you know, the pipeline, and brought some new clients in. By the end of the year, I paid back my my two senior employees, their 10% that they pay cut. I paid them back, but I didn't take a salary for nine months of that year. It was the worst year I'd ever had, and the only time I ever had to take a pay cut or miss a paycheck myself. So that was the price I paid. The plus side is once I realized that the focus should be on the employees, which was what the credo was, I didn't realize at the time that it wasn't about my clients anymore. They were the life blood. They were the blood flow, right? But we have this organism that needed love, so we I breathe life back into it, one employee at a time until we had a higher functioning group. So it took me five or six years, and in 2019 so six years after I blew the business up, I had an offer on the table, had a sale agreement finalized, and we were less than a week away from funding, and I backed out of the deal because I felt, one, it wasn't a good cultural fit, and two, there was more work to do. It wasn't about increasing my valuation more. It was about finishing my journey of an employee first agency and. Three years later, I sold for one and a half x higher multiple, so an additional seven figures to to another agency based on a stronger profitability, even though the revenue is about the same, stronger, you know, profitability right better. Happy clients, stable clients. It was a lower risk acquisition for them and the so that was the high point. The low point was becoming an employee and wanting to be the best damn employee that agency had ever seen to being a very disappointed, disengaged, disheartened, disheartened employee. And I then I decided I started writing notes of everything, not to do that they were doing wrong. And I decided, once they let me go, I need to focus on this. I think I needed to help my other fellow entrepreneurs ways to avoid going through what I went through as an employee, because I had just been one, and most of my employ, my entrepreneur friends, haven't been an employee for over 10 years. You easily, quickly forget what it's like to be an employee, and I want to remind them and as other senior leaders, how important it is to put your employees first, otherwise you can never deliver on your brand promise no matter what it is, because they won't deliver to your standards. Because it's you know, they don't feel the same attachment to a business if they as if they're not owners, right?   Michael Hingson ** 41:22 But it sounds like you also, when you did sell, by that time, you had employees, one who had bought into the credo, into the philosophy, and two were satisfied. So it was a much better situation all the way around. Anyway,   Kent Lewis ** 41:38 exactly. It's right? And that's, that's the thing is, I realized it's not about throwing money at a problem. It's about throwing time and care at a problem. And the problem is that most employers, there is no loyalty employ to employees anymore, and therefore there's no employee loyalty to brands anymore, to their employers. And so I'm trying to unwind that. And it's not about pension plans, per se. It's not about bonuses, really at all. That's one of 120 items on my punch list of auditing and employee journey is, yeah, do you have a bonus program? Mine was basically spot bonuses, little spot bonuses for timely things, because the big cash bonuses blew up in my face. You know, i i the biggest bonus check I ever wrote. The next day he quit and created a competing agency. Now, he had planned that all along it, the bonus was only helped him do it faster, but I realized there was no appreciation for the bonuses. So stop doing that. So instead, I would bonus, reward the team with experiences rather than cash. And they the cash they got from a really, I paid over market, so that money was not an issue, and so that experiences were the memorable part and the fun part, and it helped motivate when we'd have a little contest with, you know, the wind being a dinner or whatever it was, something fun, right?   Michael Hingson ** 43:00 I was, earlier today, talking with someone who's going to be a guest on the podcast. He's in Germany, and we were talking about the fact that there's a major discussion in Germany right now about the concept of a four day work week, as opposed to a five day work week, and in the four day work week. Inevitably, companies that subscribe to the four day work week have higher productivity, happier employees, and some of those companies have a four day work week with a total of 36 hours and up through a four day work week with 40 hours, which is, of course, 10 hours a day. And what he said, I asked the question, did it make a difference as to whether it was 36 or 40 hours? What he said was mainly not, because it was really about having three days with family, and that that whole mental attitude is really it that we, we have forgotten, I think, in this country, about employee loyalty so much, and we just don't see anything like what we used to see.   Kent Lewis ** 44:09 100% you are correct,   Michael Hingson ** 44:13 and so it is. It is an issue that people really ought to deal with in some way. But you know now the new chancellor in Germany wants to go back to a five day work week, just completely ignoring all the statistics and what's shown. So the discussion is ongoing over there. I'll be interested to see how it goes.   Kent Lewis ** 44:36 Yeah, yeah, totally. I would be in Troy. Yeah. We know for whatever reason, for whatever reason that they've you know that well, I guess it kind of makes sense. But you know, you wouldn't think you could be more productive fewer days a week, but the research is showing that these people, that you know, that the like the Northern Europeans, are the, you know, Finnish and Scandinavians are like the half. People on the planet, despite not being in maybe the friendliest climate, you know, 12 months of the year because of a lot of how they value, you know, work life balance and all of that. And I think that's the thing, you know, we we came from an industrial age where unions got us the weekends off. You know, it's a very different we've come a long way, but there's still a lot more to go, so I, I will be interested to see what happens with the with that concept that four day work week.   Michael Hingson ** 45:26 Well, the other part about it is we had the pandemic, and one of the things that came out of the pandemic, at least, I think, in the minds of a lot of employees, was even working at home, and having to do that, you still got to spend more time with family and people value that. Now I don't know how over time that's going to work, because I know there's been a lot of advocating to go back to just everybody always being in the office, but it seems to me that the better environment would be a hybrid environment, where, if somebody can work at home and do at least as well as they do at the office. Why wouldn't you allow that?   Kent Lewis ** 46:04 Right? Yeah, I think it's that's the other thing is, I do believe hybrid work is the best solution. We were doing three three days, two days in the office, required, one day, optional flex. I ended up going in most days of the week before I, you know, even after we sold and we sell at the office, because I like, I'm a social being, and I really enjoyed the time at the office. And it was, it was, I designed the space, and it was, you know, as my place, and it was my home away from home, you know. So I feel like I've lost a little bit of my identity, losing that office. Yeah, so, but yeah, I do think that it makes sense to be able to do remote work, whatever, wherever people are most effective. But I do know there is a reality that companies are fully remote have a struggle to create cohesiveness and connectiveness across distributed teams. It's just it's just science, right? Psychology, but you can be very intentional to mitigate as much as you can the downside of remote and then play up as much as you can the benefits of remote people having their life and they see, on average, I heard that people valued their remote work about to worth about $6,000 on average, that there's a number that they've quantified.   Michael Hingson ** 47:21 Wow. Well, I know I've worked in offices, but I've also done a lot of work at home. So for example, I had a job back in the late 1970s and worked and lived in Massachusetts until 1981 and the company I worked for was being pursued by Xerox. And the the assumption was that Xerox was going to buy the company. So I was asked to relocate back out to California, where I had grown up, and help integrate the company into Xerox. And so I did. And so that was the first time I really worked mostly out of home and remotely from an office. And did that for two and a half, almost, well, a little over two and a half years. And my thanks for it was I was terminated because we had a recession and the big issue really was, though, that Xerox had bought the company and phased out all the people in sales because they didn't want the people. They just wanted the technology. And I've always believed that's a big mistake, because the tribal knowledge that people have is not something that you're going to get any other place. Totally, totally agree. But anyway, that occurred, and then I couldn't find a job, because the unemployment rate among employable blind people was so high, since people didn't believe blind people could work. So I ended up starting my own company selling computer aided design systems, CAD systems, to architects. Some of the early PC based CAD systems. Sold them to architects and engineers and so on. So I did have an office. We started, I started it with someone else, and had an office for four years, and then decided I had enough of owning my own company for a while, and went to work for someone else, and again, worked in an office and did that for seven years. Yeah, about seven years, and then I ended up in at the end of that, or the later part of that time, I was asked to relocate now back to the East Coast, because I was selling to Wall Street and New York and Wall Street firms really want, even though they might buy from resellers and so on, they want company, companies that make products to have them an office that they can deal with. So I ended up going back and mostly worked out of the office. But then, um. I left that company in 1997 and it was, it was a little bit different, because I was, I I had my own office, and I was the only person in it for a little while. We did have some engineers, but we all kind of worked in the office and sometimes at home. But for me, the real time of working at home happened in 2008 I was working at a nonprofit and also traveling and speaking, and the people who ran the nonprofit said, nobody's interested in September 11 anymore. And you know, you're you're not really adding any value to what we do, so we're going to phase out your job. Yeah, nobody was interested in September 11. And three years later, we had a number one New York Times bestseller, but anyway, your face yeah, so I ended up opening the Michael Hinkson Group Inc, and working out of home, and I've been doing that ever since. I enjoy working in an office. But I can work at home and I can, I can adapt. So my exposure to people and working not at home is when I travel and speak and get to go visit people and interact with them and so on. So it works out   Kent Lewis ** 51:05 that's, that's fantastic, congratulations. That's awesome.   Michael Hingson ** 51:10 It is, it is, you know, sometimes a challenge, but it works. So for you, what is your philosophy? You obviously do a lot of giving back to the community nowadays, is that something that has kind of grown over time, or you always had that? Or what's your philosophy regarding that?   Kent Lewis ** 51:29 So I I believe that, as I mentioned, I believe earlier that learn and return us. I believe that you should giving, giving back your entire life, as soon as you're able to, in whatever way. And so I, you know, when I first moved to Portland, I barely knew anybody. I was volunteering at this local neighborhood house where it was, you know, as tutoring this kid, and ironically, in math. And I'm terrible at math. Then I went to Big Brothers, Big Sisters for a while, and then I for the last 19 for last 25 years, I've been a volunteer, and for eight or nine of those years, I was on the board of smart reading. It's a, it's a, it's not a literacy program in that you're not teaching kids to read. You're teaching kids a love of reading. So you just sit with, you know, title, title, one school kindergarteners in an area near you, and you sit and read with them for 10 to 15 minutes, that's it. And it's a game changer, because some of them didn't own any books. And then they get to take books home with them, you know, like scholastic style books. So anyway, I I decided, of all, like I have friends, that their their passion is pets, others, it's like forests or planet or whatever. To me, I think I can, I can solve all of those problems if I invest in children, because they're shaping our future, and we can put them on a trajectory. So for instance, statistically, prison capacity is based on third grade reading levels in blue. So if you're if you can't learn to read, you can't read to learn, so you need to have a be a proficient reader by third grade, or you're left behind, and you're more likely, 10 times more likely, to be in the system, and you know, not in a good way. So I realized, well, if I can help these kids with a love of reading, I was, I was slow to learn reading myself. I realized that maybe we, you know that one kid that you find a love of reading, that finds books they love and is inspired by the books and continues to read and have a successful educational career, then that's that person may go on to solve cancer or world hunger or whatever it is. So that's kind of how I look at so that's my theory in general about giving. And then specifically my passion is children. So that's kind of my thing, and I think there are a lot of different ways to do it. Last night, I was at my wife's auction or the fundraiser for her nonprofit, which is around the foster system. It's called Casa court, important court, court appointed special advocate. So these kids in the foster system have an advocate, that that's not a lawyer or a caseworker, you know, by their side through the legal system. And I think that's a fantastic cause. It aligns with my children cause. And I was, I had seven my parents fostered seven daughters, you know, Daughters of other people, and the last two were very that I remember were transformative for me as an only child, to have a sister, you know, foster sister that was living with us for, in one case, two years. And it was invaluable and helpful to me. She helped me find my love of reading, helped me learn my multiplication tables, all that things that your parents might be able to do, but it's so much cooler doing with somebody that's, you know, I think she was 17 when she moved into our house, and I was, like, nine, and she was so helpful to me, so inspiring. So in a nutshell, that's, that's what we're talking about   Michael Hingson ** 54:55 when you talk talk about reading. I'm of the opinion and one of the best. Things that ever happened to reading was Harry Potter. Just the number of people, number of kids who have enjoyed reading because they got to read the Harry Potter books. I think that JK Rowling has brought so many kids to reading. It's incredible.   Kent Lewis ** 55:14 Yeah, yeah. 100% 100% I Yeah. I think that even you may, you know, you may or may not like rolling, but I as a person, but she did an amazing thing and made reading fun, and that that's what matters, yeah, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 55:33 yeah, well, and that's it, and then she's just done so much for for children and adults. For that matter, I talked to many adults who've read the books, and I've read all the books. I've read them several times, actually, yeah, now I'm spoiled. I read the audio versions read by Jim Dale, and one of my favorite stories about him was that he was in New York and was going to be reading a part of the latest Harry Potter book on September 11, 2001 in front of scholastic when, of course, everything happened. So he didn't do it that day, but he was in New York. What a you know, what a time to be there. That's fantastic. But, you know, things happen. So you one of the things that I've got to believe, and I think that you've made abundantly clear, is that the kind of work you do, the PR, the marketing, and all of that kind of interaction is a very time consuming, demanding job. How do you deal with work and family and make all of that function and work? Well,   Kent Lewis ** 56:41 good question. I, I believe that that the, well, two things you have to have, you know, discipline, right? And so what I've done is really focused on managing my time very, very carefully, and so I have now keep in mind my oldest, I have three kids, one's graduating college as a senior, one's a sophomore who will be a junior next next year, and then The last is a sophomore in high school, so I'm there at ages where two are out of the house, so that's a little easier to manage, right? So there's that, but similarly, I try to maximize my time with my youngest and and with my wife, you know, I built in, you know, it was building in date nights, because it's easy to get into a rut where you don't want to leave the house or don't want to do whatever. And I found that it's really been good for our relationship at least once a month. And so far, it's been more like almost twice a month, which has been huge and awesome. But I've just intentional with my time, and I make sure 360 I take care of myself, which is typically working out between an hour and an hour and a half a day that I'm I really need to work on my diet, because I love burgers and bourbon and that's in moderation, perhaps sustainable, but I need to eat more veggies and less, you know, less garbage. But I also have been at the gym. I go in the Steam Room and the sauna, and I'm fortunate to have a hot tub, so I try to relax my body is after my workouts, I've been sleeping more since covid, so I work out more and sleep and sleep more post covid. And because I'm working from home, it's really I find it much easier to get up and take breaks or to, you know, just to manage my time. I'm not traveling like I used to, right? That's a, that's a big factor. So, so anyway, that's, that's kind of my take on that. I don't know if that really helps, but that's, that's kind of where I'm at.   Michael Hingson ** 58:59 The other part about it, though, is also to have the discipline to be able to be at home and work when you know you have to work, and yeah, you get to take more breaks and so on, but still developing the discipline to work and also to take that time is extremely important. I think a lot of people haven't figured out how to do that   Kent Lewis ** 59:19 right exactly, and that is so I do have an immense amount of, I do have an immense amount of, what would you say discipline? And so I don't know, yeah, I don't have that problem with getting the work done. In fact, my discipline is knowing when to stop, because I get into it, and I want to get things done, and I want to get it off my plate, so I tend to do sprints. But the other lesson I have from covid is listening to your biorhythms. So, you know, we're a time based society, and we look, you don't want to be late for this and that I you know, that's great, fine. But what's really more important in my mind is, um. Is to, is to be thinking about, is to let your body tell you when it's tired, if and and more importantly, is to not stress about in the mornings when I wake up early. By that, I mean between four and 6am before I really want to get up at 630 and I just if I'm awake, then I'll write stuff down to get it out of my head, or I will just start doing my start my day early and and not stress about, oh, I didn't get enough sleep. My body will catch up, yeah, it will tell me to go to bed early, or I'll sleep better the next day, or whatever it is. So that was important, and also to learn that I'm most I can get a lot of tasks done in the morning. And I think bigger picture, and that's what, that's why I wake up early, is all the things I need to do that I forgot. I didn't write down or whatever, and I think of them at between four and 6am but the other is that I do my best writing in the afternoon, like between four and six. So I told my, my wife and my, you know, my my kids, you know, my first figures out when they were both in the House. I was like, I may be working late, jamming out an article or doing whatever right before dinner, or I might be a little late. Can we can wait for dinner for a little bit? They're like, Yeah, that's fine. We don't care, right? So, but normally I'd be like, I gotta get home because it's dinner time. But now that I'm already home, I just keep working through, and then, and then, oh, I can take a quick break. But my point is, they're totally adaptable.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:27 But you communicate, yes, communication issue is key. Is key, absolutely. That's really the issues that you do communicate.   Kent Lewis ** 1:01:36 It's all about setting expectations. And they had no expectations other than eating dinner. And we've been eating dinner later. Just, just a natural evolution. So it's not, it's not even an issue now, because I don't want to, I don't want to, what, right? What? Late at night, I just found it late afternoon, I just in a zone. Anyway, yeah, you listen to your body, and I'm way less stressed because I'm not worried about, oh my god, I have to get to bed at a certain time or wake up at a certain time. It's like, just kind of run with it, you know, and and go from there. So what's next for you? What's next? So I want to shift from going from speaking for free to speaking for a fee. There you go. And the re the reason why is I never asked for, and I'd even waive, you know, honorarium or pay because I got more value out of the leads. But now that I don't have an agency to represent, two things. One is, I want to get paid to do my employee engagement retention talks, because it's I'm getting great feedback on it, which is fun. But I also am being paid now by other agencies, a day rate, plus travel to go speak at the conferences. I've always spoken on that like me and want me and I just represent. I just changed the name that I'm representing. That's it, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:56 well, and there's value in it. I realized some time ago, and I k

A listener recently asked: How do you make legal documents with line numbers accessible? And Dax and Chad have answers! They dive into this niche but critical topic, breaking down the challenges of line-numbered pleadings and outlining practical strategies for remediators and document creators. From table-based solutions and tag structure tips to NVDA shortcuts and source file considerations, this episode is packed with real-world guidance to help you build accessible legal documents from the start. Interested in a resource mentioned in this episode?  Send us an email at solutions@chaxtc.com and we'll get it right to you!Subscribe/Follow us on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you never miss an episode.

This episode of Screen to Speed, powered by Init eSports, we feature an in-depth conversation with Brenna Schubert, a racing driver for Prodigy Racing. Brenna shares her journey from falling in love with go-karting as a child to becoming a successful racer in various national and endurance races. She discusses her transition from karting to cars, the challenges faced, and her experiences in prestigious racing schools. Brenna also talks about the Racing Prodigy opportunity, which began with a unique selection process involving a mobile game, and her subsequent entry into competitive car racing. She emphasizes the critical role of practice and adapting to different vehicle dynamics. Brenna reflects on the importance of networking, draws insights from her involvement in the Girls on Track FIA initiative, and addresses the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated sport. We also highlight Brenna's upcoming endeavors, including her debut in the NASCAR Euro Series, and offers advice to aspiring racers to follow their dreams, encouraging inclusivity and the supportive nature of the racing community. So buckle up – Screen to Speed starts now! ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Meet Brenna Schubert: Prodigy Racing Driver 01:15 Brenna's Early Racing Journey 02:29 From Indoor Karting to National Championships 05:13 Transitioning from Karts to Cars 10:36 Favorite Tracks and Racing Combos 14:42 The Radical SR1 Experience 23:59 Adapting to the Car and Acknowledging Engineers 24:29 Becoming a Global Ambassador and eSport Cup Winner 27:23 Experiences at the Girls On Track Event 29:11 Facing Stereotypes in Motorsport 35:18 Plans for the Future in Racing 41:35 Advice for Aspiring Racers 44:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/ INIT eSports focuses on sim racing events and digital tournaments. They bring eSports content to fans and sponsorship opportunities to brands, while maximizing audience reach across multiple sports, industries, and platforms. INIT eSports is a woman-led company where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is in their DNA, and their platform aims to combat bullying and cheating to help make the eSports world as safe and fair as possible. To learn more, be sure to logon to www.initesports.gg today or follow them on social media @initesports, join their discord, check out their YouTube Channel, or follow their live content via Twitch. Copyright INIT eSports. This content originally aired on the INIT Talks livestreams via Twitch. This episode is part of the Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.

What if the advice you've been given about concussions is not only outdated—but actually slowing down your recovery? Far too many people are still told to “sit in a dark room and wait it out” after a concussion. The problem? That approach is not just unhelpful, it can delay healing, increase frustration, and leave people feeling isolated. The truth is: concussion care has evolved. Access to the right treatment, at the right time, can make all the difference in recovery. And today's guest, Lucas Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Headquarters (a virtual concussion clinic), is on a mission to make high-quality, interdisciplinary concussion care accessible to everyone—without the outdated “just wait” approach. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: The outdated concussion myths that are still being repeated—and why they need to stop How Lucas' personal concussion story led him to create a new standard of care Why early, structured movement (not rest in a dark room) is key to recovery How virtual clinics like Headquarters are breaking barriers and expanding access across the U.S. If you've ever felt frustrated by the lack of clear, effective concussion care—or you just want to stay on top of the most up-to-date recovery strategies—this episode is packed with hope, science, and innovation. Connect with Lucas Johnston: Website: https://www.headquarters.health/ Email: lucas@headquarters.health   Let's connect!   Instagram:  @concussionnerds https://www.instagram.com/concussionnerds/ @natasha.wilch https://www.instagram.com/natasha.wilch/ Email: hello@natashawilch.com Website: https://www.natasha-wilch.com Learn how to connect & understand your nervous system so you can have greater outcomes in your health & healing journey: Grab a copy of the workbookhttps://www.natashawilch.com/understanding-connecting-your-nervous-system-1   Join the Clinician's Edge to have Your Weekly Taste of Neuro Wisdom  here: https://www.natashawilch.com/clinicians-edge   Join the Concussion Mini School and Membership! Get the support and resources you need for concussion recovery: Mini School: https://www.natashawilch.com/concussion-mini-school Membership: https://www.natashawilch.com/concussion-mini-school-the-membership  

In episode 143 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome back Karthik Kannan, co-founder and CTO of Envision, for an exciting update on accessible technology. Karthik last joined the podcast four years ago to discuss Envision Glasses, then partnered with Google. Today, he returns to introduce the brand-new Ally Solos, a next-generation wearable that pushes accessibility to new heights. Karthik explains how Ally Solos builds upon the original concept of AI-powered glasses by combining sleek design, advanced performance, and affordability. Unlike many mainstream devices adapted after the fact, Ally Solos was created specifically for blind and low vision users, with features designed to improve independence and everyday life. From real-time text recognition and object description to seamless integration with a smartphone, Karthik highlights how the device's enhanced speed, voice output, and intuitive interface make it truly empowering. The conversation also touches on the importance of community feedback in shaping Envision's innovations, ensuring that products meet the real needs of blind users. With its accessible price point and thoughtful design, Ally Solos represents a major step forward in inclusive technology. Listen to discover how Envision continues to transform possibilities for the blind community. Preorder your Ally Solos at https://www.ally.me/glasses/.  Show notes at https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/143     NFB of PA State Convention Registration is Open Registration is now open for the 2025 NFB of PA State Convention in Harrisburg from November 13 to November 16 at the Best Western Premier! Learn more at https://www.nfbofpa.org/state-convention/. Go directly to the registration form at https://www.nfbofpa.org/register/. An Easy Way to Help the NFB of PA Support the NFB of PA with every purchase at White Cane Coffee Company by going to https://www.whitecanecoffee.com/ref/nfbp. When you use that link to purchase from White Cane Coffee, the NFB of PA earns a 10% commission! Share the link with your family and friends! Listen to Erin and Bob Willman from White Cane Coffee on episode 072 of White Canes Connect. Donate to the NFB of PA Like what you hear on White Canes Connect? Support us and donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, visit https://www.NFBofPA.org/give/. We Want to Hear Your Story Reach out with questions and comments, or share ideas! We want to hear from you. Call us at (267) 338-4495 or at whitecanesconnect@gmail.com. Follow White Canes Connect Find out why White Canes Connect is currently ranked at #13 of the 100 Best Visually Impaired Podcast. Find the show on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-canes-connect/id1592248709  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YDQSJqpoteGb1UMPwRSuI  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pablindpodcast  Visit our website at https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/.

In this episode of AppleVis Extra, hosts Dave Nason and Thomas Domville welcome back Karthik Kannan from Envision for his second appearance this year. The discussion centers around Envision's newest wearable: the Ally Solos Smart Glasses, developed in partnership with Solos. The conversation covers design, functionality, pricing, and how these glasses differ from Envision's previous offerings and other competing smart glasses.Key Topics CoveredBackground on EnvisionBrief history of the Envision AI app and original Envision glasses.Introduction of Ally, Envision's conversational AI assistant.The Ally Solos Smart GlassesLightweight design (approx. 42g) with two HD (2K-class) cameras.Directional stereo speakers with minimal sound leakage.Beamforming microphones for clear audio pickup in noisy environments.Touchpad controls for volume, Ally activation, and navigation.USB-C rechargeable stems with fast charging (14-hour battery life).Functionality & IntegrationFull Ally integration for text reading, object recognition, facial recognition, and conversational interaction.Can also function as standard Bluetooth headphones for calls, music, and voice assistants.Ability to take photos with auto-generated alt text.No built-in GPS — relies on paired phone for location-based services.Pricing & AvailabilityPre-order tiers from $399 to $599 USD (€ pricing equivalent).Post-launch price expected to be $699 USD.Worldwide availability.Pre-orders include one year of Ally Pro subscription (valued at $200).Accessibility & Language SupportDesigned specifically for blind and low-vision users, with accessibility in setup and daily use.Supports over 20 interface languages (planned to expand to ~40) and understands 100+ languages for input/output.Future Features & PartnershipsPlans for offline Ally functionality in future updates.Potential integration with Aira and Be My Eyes.Commitment to continue supporting original Envision Glasses alongside the new model.Links & ResourcesPre-order Ally Solos Glasses: ally.me/glassesTranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers' names, voices, or content.Dave: Hello there and welcome to another episode of the AppleVis Extra. This is episode number 110. I am your host, David Nason, and joined once again by Thomas Domville for AnonyMouse. Good to see you again, buddy. How are you?Thomas: Hey, it's good to see you too. Oh my gosh, we're going to be bringing them on for the second time this year, right? It seems like they're on a roll here.…

  Interviewees: Tom Pisano, MD PhD and Laura Ashley Stein, MD, MS, Ed. Interviewer: Lisa Meeks, PhD, MA Description: In Episode 111, Dr. Lisa Meeks talks with Dr. Tom Pisano (former Penn neurology resident; now neuro-hospital medicine and neuro-immunology fellow) and Dr. Laura Stein (Adult Neurology Program Director at Penn) about building an accessible neurology residency for a physician who uses a wheelchair—and how trust, planning, and culture made it work. Together, they trace Tom's match-day disclosure strategy and “find-your-people” approach, an accessibility walk-through with tape measures and ADA checks, and the practical creativity of equivalent rotations when sites differ in accessibility. They also unpack a real barrier—a security policy that blocked ED entry during stroke alerts—and how reframing access as patient safety moved the system. Listeners will hear candid advice for residents (hold onto your “why,” communicate early, invite teaching adaptations) and for program directors (start with goals, not habits; assume success; apply the same creativity you offer patients to your trainees). This episode accompanies a written case study and a Mini Grand Rounds conversation in Learn at ACGME. Part of the ACGME/DWDI Disability Resource Hub, supported by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Catalyst Award, it's a practical guide for PDs, residents, and anyone committed to equitable clinical training.   Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xB_Cp8EiekJ9ExUZLP61EvE-0y4HUv22LuRp0D6uNB0/edit?usp=sharing Key words: Medical education, physical disability, disability research, residency, accommodations, wheelchair, SCI, medical technology, residency, neurology, program director, GME, GME Policy Bio: Laura Stein I have been involved in the Neurology Residency Program since 2018, and Director of the program since 2024. I teach residents on multiple inpatient services as well as in outpatient continuity clinic and stroke clinics. I also lead didactic sessions and workshops for resident onboarding and in our resident lecture series. I am particularly interested in expanding resident exposure to structured experiences in medical education and quality improvement and currently mentor multiple residents per year in medical education and quality improvement projects. In 2020, I was honored to receive the University of Pennsylvania Neurology Residents teaching award. I received my masters in medical education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. I have been a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Residency-In-Training Examination Committee since 2019. I have also been a member of the American Heart Association (AHA) Stroke Professional Education Committee since 2016 and currently serve as the Vice Chair of this committee. Clinically, I function predominantly as a neurohospitalist and attend on the stroke inpatient and consult services, the neurology ward service, and the PPMC consult service. I am dedicated to ensuring delivery of high-quality neurologic care across our system and currently am the physician co-lead for our neurovascular disease team, which spans our six-hospital network, as well as our HUP inpatient neurology unit-based quality improvement team. Tom Pisano I enjoy weekend bike rides with my wife, followed by trying out a new restaurant. When traveling, if possible, I always try to get in some monoskiing or scuba diving. I would also consider myself a (very) mildly competitive board gamer. I will be pursuing a combined neurohospitalist/neuroimmunology fellowship to develop expertise in myelopathies. My research includes brain-computer interfaces, especially of the spinal cord. Producer:  Lisa Meeks Follow Us: X: @DocsWith Instagram: @DocsWithDisabilities Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/docs-with-disabilities-initiative Resources:  Disability Resource Hub: https://dl.acgme.org/pages/disability-resource-hub Case Studies in Disability Resource Hub: https://dl.acgme.org/pages/disability-resource-hub#case_studies UME to GME Toolkit:  https://dl.acgme.org/pages/disability-resource-hub-transitions-toolkit-introduction Policy Toolkit: https://dl.acgme.org/pages/disability-resource-hub-policy-toolkit Disability in Graduate Medical Education Program:  https://www.docswithdisabilities.org/digme   Link to Case Study: Coming Soon!              

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Barry Herman, Chief Medical Officer of Mentavi Health, about the clinical validation of the ADHD Smart Assessment, the rise of telehealth, and how these advances are improving access to ADHD diagnosis and treatment. We cover key insights and practical takeaways, including: The process and significance of clinically validating the ADHD Smart Assessment How telehealth is expanding access to mental health care, especially for ADHD The challenges and solutions in diagnosing ADHD in adults To try the assessment and to save $40, visit https://adhdonline.com/adultingwithadhd/ and use promo code ADULTINGADHD40.  If you enjoy the show, please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

Is your Mac taking forever to start up? Mikah Sargent reveals the hidden culprits slowing down your macOS boot times and walks through proven solutions to get your machine running like new again. •Login Items Management - How to identify and remove unnecessary apps that automatically launch at startup using System Settings - General - Login Items and Extensions •Terminal Commands for Advanced Users - Using "launchctl list" to view all startup processes and "launchctl remove" to eliminate problematic items from the command line •Hidden Launch Agents and Daemons - Navigating to /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons through Finder to manually remove stubborn startup services •Spotlight Re-indexing Fix - Using Terminal command "sudo mdutil -E /" to rebuild corrupted Spotlight indexes that can cause system hangups •Cache Clearing Strategy - Removing cached files from ~/Library/Caches and /Library/Caches to free up system resources •Visual Effects Optimization - Disabling animations, transparency effects, and the genie effect in Accessibility settings to reduce graphics processing load •Stage Manager Performance - Why turning off Stage Manager can help improve startup times on older Macs Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

SummaryIn this conversation, Dr. Ben Thompson, a licensed audiologist and founder of Treble Health, discusses the complexities of tinnitus and hearing loss. He explains the invisible nature of these conditions, their root causes, and the innovative therapeutic approaches he employs to help patients manage and potentially reverse their symptoms. The discussion covers sound therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the importance of neuroplasticity in treatment. Dr. Thompson also shares success stories from his practice, highlights recent research linking hearing loss to cognitive decline, and emphasizes the accessibility of treatment through telehealth services.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Tinnitus and Hearing Loss02:45 Understanding Tinnitus: Causes and Perception06:00 Diagnosis and Initial Steps for Tinnitus Patients08:54 Therapeutic Approaches: Sound Therapy Explained11:48 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus15:02 Neuroplasticity and Tinnitus: The Brain's Role18:00 Success Stories and Patient Transformations20:53 Research Insights: Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline24:01 Telehealth and Accessibility in Tinnitus Treatment26:44 Future Projects and Community Engagement