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The Unbelief of the PeopleJohn 12:36-43Elijah saw Christ many years before he ever came, but some of the people could not even see Christ nor his works, and they were standing right in front of him. Blindness of eyes and hardness of heart. The prophet said, “Let us not read the scriptures with blindness, no hardness of heart, but let us search diligently and see Jesus.”''But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him''
Speaker: Pastor Armstrong Passage: Matthew 16:1-12
Blindness, God, Bible, Parkwood, Erwin
What happens when we become so fixated on our flaws that we miss the strengths hiding in plain sight? For years, I've watched people struggle with change not because they weren't trying hard enough, but because they were looking in the wrong direction. The science of "inattentional blindness" explains why we miss critical solutions when we're hyper-focused on problems. Just like participants who fail to spot a gorilla walking across a basketball court because they're busy counting passes, we miss our own strengths and resources when we're fixated on fixing what's broken. This psychological phenomenon creates a self-defeating cycle of demotivation and missed opportunities. Through my two decades in coaching, I've discovered that the most powerful transformations happen when we flip the script. Rather than obsessing over weaknesses, "awesome-based coaching" leverages what's already working. Drawing from principles developed by Precision Nutrition and my own experience transforming habits, I share practical ways to apply this strength-based approach to everything from health habits to business building. Whether you're struggling with personal change, leading a team, or trying to transform an entire system, this episode offers a refreshing alternative to the "fix what's broken" mentality that dominates our culture. As it turns out, you don't need more discipline or willpower - you need to recognize and build upon the strengths you already possess. Join me in exploring how to create lasting change by focusing not on what's wrong, but on what's possible. Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH
In this episode of The ADNA Presents, Roy Samuelson sits down with the unstoppable Steph McCoy, founder of Bold Blind Beauty, and all-around inclusion trailblazer. Steph opens up about her personal journey from losing her sight to finding her purpose, building a global community along the way. From the heart of her platform (think AIR: Access, Inclusion, Representation; and EPIC: Equity, Passion, Impact, Courage), Steph shares how Bold Blind Beauty is making a new definition on what blindness and beauty really mean. We talk real talk: the challenges of running a mission-driven platform solo, the power of storytelling to bust through stigma, and why Steph is ready for more hands (and hearts) to join the Bold Blind Beauty mission. If you're curious how one person's story can spark a movement? This episode's for you.
Anthony Ferraro and Dan explore a variety of topics ranging from musical inspirations and songwriting to thrilling adventures on jet skis. They share personal anecdotes about facing fears in the water, the excitement of jet skiing, and the aftermath of an injury during judo practice. The discussion also touches on technology, including hoverboards, and concludes with reflections on guitar lessons and influential teachers. In this engaging conversation, Anthony and Dan share personal anecdotes ranging from unexpected encounters with strangers to health scares and the challenges of dog ownership. They delve into the humorous yet chaotic experience of dealing with a pet that has been sprayed by a skunk, and they explore misconceptions surrounding blindness through a trivia game. The discussion also touches on deeper reflections about life, health, and even the concept of purgatory, all while maintaining a light-hearted and relatable tone.~~~Call or Text the Podcast Hotline at +1-908-349-1480Or you can Email us to send in those questions to podcast@fourbadeyes.com More about Four Bad Eyes Podcast ► https://www.fourbadeyes.com TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@fourbadeyes INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fourbadeyes ~~~More about Anthony Ferraro ► https://www.asfvision.com Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asfvision More about Dan Mancina ► https://www.keeppushinginc.com Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danthemancina/ ~~~Chapters00:00 Introduction and Musical Inspirations01:43 Songwriting and Music Industry Insights04:27 Jet Ski Adventures and Personal Experiences06:52 The Thrill of Jet Skiing and Overcoming Fears10:03 Technical Aspects of Jet Skis and Water Sports12:40 Hoverboards and Future Innovations18:18 Nostalgic Toys and Childhood Memories18:57 Musical Journeys and Learning Guitar20:34 Injuries and Their Impact on Life23:20 Unexpected Events and Their Challenges31:03 Dealing with Pets and Their Adventures37:53 Trivia and Fun Facts About the Blind38:29 Understanding Braille and Accessibility39:06 Blindness and Famous Musicians40:28 Trivia on Blindness and Perception40:54 Assistive Technology for the Blind41:41 Goalball and Sports for the Blind43:00 Braille Technology and Innovations44:07 Personal Stories and Reflections on Blindness45:08 Purgatory, Baptism, and Original Sin54:55 outro_template_2025.mp4~~~Podcast Intro & Outro done by @BlindSurfer Pete Gustin find out more at ► https://www.petegustin.com
It's an all new That Real Blind Tech show as fresh off of Convention Season, Allison, Brian, David, and Jeanine sit down to discuss the 2025 Conventions and the Resolutions coming out of them. We kick off the show with a little housekeeping and then Brian discusses his on going battle with his HomePod Mini's. We then discuss Blindness and the Meta Ray Bans going main stream and a great interview on the most recent VergeCast podcast which also includes an interview with friend of the podcast, BE My eyes, Mike Buckley. Ever lose something while traveling? Well, it is probably in Alabama! An idiotic Judge slapped down Click to Cancel. Brian then dives in to a story about his window air conditioner. Brian then discusses the awesome accessible experience he has been having with physical therapy. OKO has been acquired by Synapse, and is once again free to everyone. Open A.I. announced its new version of Operator is coming to do your clicking. Additionally, Open A.I. and most of the A.I. companies seem to be on the way to launching their own browsers. We then get in to our convention coverage as David tells us about his experiences getting to and attending this year's NFB Convention. We then discuss the NFB's 2025 Resolutions. We then get Jeanine's recap of her experience at this year's ACB Conference. We then discuss the ACB 2025 Resolutions. We then move in to some of the new products we have gotten. Brian has preordered the Meta Oakley's, which have yet to arrive. Prime Day came and went and Brian got a Walking Pad, the HyperDrive 6 in 1 with Touch Controls, and the Lisen ultraslim MagSafe Battery. Allison, David, and jeanine then share their recent purchases, but failed to send over the links to them, so they are just awful terrible people. And it's more of Watcha Streaming, Watcha Reading. We kick off the segment discussing the newly announce Big Bang Theory spinoff coming to HBOMax. To contact That Real Blind Tech Show, you can email us at ThatRealBlindTechShow@gmail.com, join our Facebook Group That Real Blind Tech Show, join us on the Twitter @BlindTechShow
The setting is simple. Jesus encountered a man born blind. He sets up the lesson with his disciples. He heals the man. CCLI Copyright License 11107056 CCLI Streaming License CSPL085064
What happens when your world begins to go dark — literally — before you've even hit your teenage years? In this powerful episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with author, speaker, and resilience coach Laura Bratton, who was just nine years old when she learned she would lose her sight.Laura's story is not just about blindness — it's about vision. Vision for what's possible, even when life takes an unexpected turn. From navigating a decade-long transition to blindness to becoming the first blind student to earn a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Laura has redefined courage on her own terms.We talk about what it means to truly harness courage, the origin of grit, and how gratitude can ground us when life feels overwhelming. Laura opens up about what she had to give up — and what she gained — and offers insight into how anyone facing adversity can tap into their own inner strength.Whether you're navigating loss, transition, or uncertainty, this conversation will leave you with a renewed sense of hope and the reminder that your greatest challenges might also be your greatest teachers.
What's it really like to undergo eye removal surgery and live with prosthetic eyes? Jenine Stanley joins Steven and Shaun to talk about blindness, braille signage, and tech from the ACB convention — with honesty, humor, and a touch of sass.Thanks to Turtleback Low Vision for sponsoring this episode of Double Tap. As a thank you to the Double Tap community, Turtleback is offering 12% off your entire order with promo code DT12. Visit https://www.turtlebacklv.com to shop the full lineup!In this revealing and often hilarious episode, Jenine Stanley returns to Double Tap for a raw and personal conversation that spans eye surgeries, prosthetics, blindness representation, and accessible tech. Shaun shares he's heading off for laser cataract treatment, sparking an honest exchange about vision loss and the value of light perception. Jenine dives deep into her own experiences with glaucoma, enucleation (eye removal), and prosthetic eyes, offering rare insights into the physical and emotional journey many never hear about.The trio explores the emotional impact of losing sight, the concept of “the blind look,” and how people adapt to vision loss — including the psychological weight of maintaining eye contact or navigating social expectations while blind. The chat also touches on the portrayal of blindness in media, the value of braille signage, and the standards that make it effective in places like the U.S.Later, the conversation turns to highlights from the American Council of the Blind (ACB) convention, including the new FeelDUM NaviPal pouch, smart glasses from AGGIGA, and blind-friendly sports like tennis and hockey. Jenine also discusses the political landscape around disability rights and why nonprofit organizations like ACB and NFB must tread carefully when it comes to advocacy and politics.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:01 - Shaun goes for cataract surgery03:19 - Jenine Stanley rejoins the show!06:01 - Removal of the eye and the replacement prosthetics24:03 - Sponsor: Turtleback24:51 - Get in touch with Double Tap25:15 - Visiting the ACB 2025 Convention in Dallas, Texas32:54 - The politics of non-profits in the USA40:32 - What does Jenine think about braille signage?45:17 - What tech finds did Jenine spot at ACB Convention? 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.
The field for New Orleans' fall elections is now set, and there were a few last-minute surprises before the candidate filing deadline. The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace joins us to break down the crowded field of candidates. Last week, the National Federation of the Blind National Convention came to New Orleans. The convention is the largest gathering of blind people in the world, and it offers training, support, networking and more to people from all over the country who are blind.Edward Bell was one of the guests that many were excited to meet. Bell is the director of Professional Development and Research at the Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University. He joins us to talk about his life and his mission to create more employment opportunities for the blind.According to the National Registry of Exonerations, more than 80 people in Louisiana have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted. Calvin Duncan is among them. While he faced his trial, and as he spent 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Duncan started to learn everything he could about the law to fight for his freedom and the freedom of fellow inmates.Duncan and co-author Sophie Cull tell his story in the new book, "The Jailhouse Lawyer." The Gulf States Newsroom's Kat Stromquist spoke to them about the memoir. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!
In hour 3, Ryan is joined by Jeff Mordock, a White House Correspondent for the Washington Times. They discuss Trump's health, the Epstein frenzy, Adam Schiff's mortgage fraud and much more. He then shares a crazy story about a man who almost had to have his foot amputated but miraculously had it saved. Ryan is then joined by Dave Simons, a Partner and the Managing Director at One Private Wealth. They discuss the DOW's amazing recovery, how long Jerome Powell will last as the head of the Federal Reserve, how big of an impact it's having on the economy, and more. He wraps up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.
7:40 - Table Of Content, Episode Topic Breakdown. - Sarah is feeling extra tough today because her testosterone levels are through the roof and people think Susie looks like a villain, so we're quite the pair. Hear what traits you need to be perceived as cool. We have a new catchphrase and we think it's super book (you heard us). People are getting AI Avatars of their family members to talk to them after they die, and we see a few issues with this form of grieving. We debate which animals are the gayest (shoutout to flamingos). Susie watched visually impaired kids compete in a Braille reading competition, and she explains why Braille is a dying language. We hear what pretty much every famous man is doing to avoid going bald, but we think they're nuts because bald is beautiful.00:27 - Sarah's Testosterone levels are off the charts!3:39 - Drama from the comment section.7:40 - Table Of Content, Episode Topic Breakdown.10:45 - Susie's favorite food delivery is HungryRoot.13:28 - Science can tell us what it takes to be "cool".25:06 - Our favorite hair partner. Nutrafol. 26:44 - AI Avatars of people who have passed away.33:17 - Need help with your lived experience? Try Betterhelp.35:25 - Statistics on which children's picture book characters are traditionally male, or female.44:28 - Susie's favorite glasses. Pair Eyewear.46:20 - Grenfell Uncovered Netflix documentary. The tragic fire in a UK block of flats.54:01 - Is the use of braille fading away with the rise of audio technology?59:01 - Male baldness. They're all doing it!1:02:59 - If men had flippity sloppity body parts, the'd find a solution! #SUSIERANTSBrain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recomendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchendise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors:Go to https://paireyewear.com and use code BCP for 15% off your first pair. And support the show by mentioning that The Brain Candy Podcast sent you in your post-checkout survey!Get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to https://nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BRAINCANDYThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off their first month at https://www.betterhelp.com/braincandyGet 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life when you go to https://www.hungryroot.com/braincandy and use code BRAINCANDYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode offers a solid suggestion on how to properly plan your time so that the effects of time blindness can't touch you! It's a great way...not THE way, there is no THE way...it's A way, and it works if you do the work to work it! Gotta work the work. What does it take for you, with your ADHD skull spaghetti, to do the work...Got a minute to help me improve the podcast? Click here to take the anonymous ADHD Big Brother survey!
Daystar Petition: https://tinyurl.com/ycxwe4ye Sign up for my newsletter here: Laura-Lynn Newsletter Jonathan & Suzy Lamb GiveSendGo: https://www.givesendgo.com/GEBG9 Richardson Nutritional Center: https://tinyurl.com/mudzzy3n Zstack Protocol: https://zstacklife.com/?ref=LAURALYNN Antibiotics at: Sales@larxmedical.com Promo code: LLTT Need some Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine? Fast shipping with guaranteed delivery in Canada and the US. Contact Mia for more information. SozoHealth@proton.me ☆ We no longer can trust our mainstream media, which is why independent journalists such as myself are the new way to receive accurate information about our world. Thank you for supporting us – your generosity and kindness to help us keep information like this coming! ☆ ~ L I N K S ~ ➞ DONATE AT: https://www.lauralynn.tv/ or lauralynnlive@protonmail.com ➞ TWITTER: @LauraLynnTT ➞ FACEBOOK: Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson ➞ RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/LauraLynnTylerThompson ➞ BITCHUTE: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/BodlXs2IF22h/ ➞ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/LauraLynnTyler ➞ BRIGHTEON: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/lauralynntv ➞ DLIVE: https://dlive.tv/Laura-Lynn ➞ ODYSEE: https://odysee.com/@LauraLynnTT:9 ➞ GETTR: https://www.gettr.com/user/lauralynn ➞ LIBRTI: https://librti.com/laura-lynn-tyler-thompson
If you can never show up on time, this segment might be for you. Plus – Are you still working from home? GUESTS: Dr. Mitch Shulman - Newstalk 1010 Chief Medical Analyst Richard Shimooka - Military Expert and Senior Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute
A couple living with paralysis and blindness share how they navigate faith, family, and community while rejecting the label of “inspiring” that others often place on them. They open up about building a Chasidish family and raising children while redefining independence and identity, showing what it means to live fully even with visible disabilities. Yoel Yitzchak & Rochel Yenti Bodek's conversation will make you rethink purpose, resilience, and what true support looks like in everyday life. Watch Yoel on Kosher Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Jyhzr9-jM&ab_channel=LivingLchaim Chani Lunger's Art: https://www.instagram.com/chanilunger/?igsh=MWJmNnFiNWM1ZzZvbw%3D%3D# ✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬ ► Feldheim: Top Books for the 3 Weeks The best books to read during the Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av are those that help us feel the pain of our losses while inspiring hope and strengthening our connection to Hashem. Use code INSPIRE for 10% OFF The Churban Comic: → https://bit.ly/44IXlRC All For The Boss → https://bit.ly/4kCDxFn All For The Boss Young Readers Edition → http://bit.ly/4lQrW6W Hirsch Tehillim Compact Size → https://bit.ly/3ImQJkw ► Woodmont College: A Bright Future Ahead If you're figuring out your next step, look into the online, frum-friendly BS in Computer Programming from Woodmont College. It's affordable, flexible, & teaches real skills like coding and cybersecurity, with strong income potential in a growing field. → https://bit.ly/4dovJVT ► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Really great way to take your business to the next level. Contact Bitbean today for a FREE CONSULTATION Reach Out Here → https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY ► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car Company For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery. Call today! → CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715 → EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com → WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU → WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce ✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬ This episode is in memory of: • Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima • Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe ✬ Donate and Inspire Millions (Tax-Deductible) ✬Your generous donation enables us at Living Lchaim to share uplifting messages globally, enrich lives, and foster positive change worldwide! Thank you! → https://www.LivingLchaim.com/donate Our free call-in-to-listen feature is here: • USA: (605) 477-2100 • UK: 0333-366-0154 • ISRAEL: 079-579-5088 Have a specific question? email us hi@livinglchaim.com WhatsApp us feedback and get first access to episodes: 914-222-5513 Lchaim.
In this compelling conversation, Bishop John Downs, former General Superintendent of UPC Australia, shares his transformative journey from Trinitarianism to a deep revelation of the Oneness of God. With a logical and scriptural approach, he walks listeners through pivotal Old and New Testament scriptures that reveal Jesus as the one true God. Bishop Downs also explores the limitations of modern science in dating the earth, discusses creation from a biblical worldview, and testifies to the power of revelation and patient love in sharing truth. This episode is both theological and deeply personal—an essential listen for anyone seeking clarity on the identity of Jesus.----------Podcast Outline with Timestamps:00:13 – IntroductionNancy introduces Bishop John Downs and sets the stage for a deep dive into the oneness of God.01:09 – Discovering Oneness in IsaiahJohn shares how Isaiah 43:10–11 and 45:21–22 first challenged his Trinitarian perspective.03:25 – Connecting Old and New TestamentsTitus 2:13 and Revelation 1 confirm that Jesus is the one true God.07:13 – The Shift from Trinitarianism to OnenessBishop Downs recounts how his personal and pastoral debates gradually led him toward biblical oneness.08:57 – Creation, Science, and FaithHe shares a university paper defending a young earth and critiques the reliability of carbon dating.13:15 – The Wheel of ProphecyJohn introduces a tool that helped him understand the unity of scripture.16:47 – Jesus and the First CommandmentExploring Deuteronomy 6:4 and Jesus' affirmation of the one true God.20:42 – Revelation and the Throne of GodDiscussion of Revelation 4 and the meaning of Jesus sitting on the throne.21:32 – Jesus: The Fullness of the GodheadColossians 2:9 and Isaiah 9:6 reveal Jesus as both the mighty God and everlasting Father.29:04 – The Mystery of Godliness1 Timothy 3:16 and Colossians 1 highlight the beauty of God manifest in the flesh.34:27 – The Blindness of TrinitarianismExplaining how philosophy and spiritual blindness have obscured the truth of the oneness of God.36:05 – “This Takes the Cake” MomentJohn 14:7–11 becomes a defining passage for Bishop Downs' full revelation of Jesus as the Father.39:12 – God's Suffering and Redemptive PlanThe love of God is revealed in Christ's suffering and sacrifice.44:00 – Gutter Water IllustrationA powerful parable showing how even small doctrinal errors pollute truth.47:15 – The Name of Jesus and SalvationDiscussion on the singular authority and power in the name of Jesus.48:44 – Love and Truth in DoctrineBishop Downs encourages patient, loving dialogue while standing firm on biblical truth.52:27 – Accountability for TruthOnce you hear or see truth, you are responsible to respond to it.53:06 – Closing PrayerBishop Downs prays for listeners to receive revelation, understanding, and love for God's Word.
A young father who rose up from the streets to achieve his musical dream is gunned down by a stranger during a trivial altercation, but as he rebuilds his life in the aftermath, a new, deeper dream emerges.Today's episode featured Jason Miller, AKA Stone-Face. If you'd like to reach out to Jason, you can email him here: Stonefaceini@gmail.com. Jason's Socials:Facebook @AshtonMiller Facebook Page @Stoneface of GemStarr Records IG @OriginalStonefaceJason's Website: Www.AccessiblePASS.netJason is also a board Director of the Pennsylvania Council of the blind. In 2024 Jason was elected to be an Honor Society leader for the American Council Of The Blind as the Derwood K McDaniel award (DKM) which is a prestigious award for leadership. Currently, Jason and his associates have incorporated a new nonprofit called “Paschall Community Services,” which focuses on three main targeted areas, including, accessible housing for the low vision, blind and seniors, independence services, which includes transportation, home independence, and mentorship and home healthcare training for the low vision, blind and seniors, finally, access technology training for the low vision, blind, and seniors which encompasses access technology software such as screen readers, magnification programs, and other software that AIDS the vision impaired. This education is ongoing and also touches on mobile devices and other accessible devices for the home, such as echo speakers. Jason Miller and his company “Paschall Access Solutions LLC” is a state approved provider for access technology training for the low vision, blind and vision impaired seniors in the state of Pennsylvania, the business has been active for eight years and running, the business serves a five County region in the greater Philadelphia area and also provides independent. Transportation services called. “PASS Transport.”“Blindness is only a physical element, true site is spiritual, and with spiritual vision the world is your oyster.”A special thanks to Jason's good friend, Andrew 'William Cooper' Kissel, who brought us Jason's story. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: absentee father, violence, gun violence, stranger crime, hospital, blindness, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kijuan Amey had a plan. He was finishing school, building a business, and still serving in the Air Force Reserves. Then a motorcycle crash changed everything. He lost his sight, suffered major injuries, and had to figure out how to move forward in a world that suddenly looked very different. In this conversation, we talk about what that recovery really looked like. Not just the surgeries or physical rehab, but the mental side too. The frustration, the isolation, the doubt. And also, the turning point when Kijuan decided that this wasn't going to be the end of his story. He talks about learning to live with blindness, adjusting to daily challenges, and building a new mission through mentoring, speaking, and writing. For veterans who feel stuck or disconnected, this episode is a reminder that your circumstances don't define you. How you respond to them does. If you're navigating life after service and trying to figure out what's next, there's a lot here that will hit home. Timestamps 00:01:00 - How military service rewired Kijuan's mindset 00:08:45 - The motorcycle accident that changed everything 00:19:00 - Adapting to blindness and finding new strength 00:25:00 - Turning tragedy into motivation for others 00:33:00 - The first step when life punches you in the face Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://ameymotivation.com Follow Kijuan Amey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kijuan-amey-783889121 Transcript View the transcript for this episode.
One of the symptoms of ADHD is time blindness, but how does this differ from poor time management?Joining Seán to discuss is Nicola Coss, ADHD Ireland National Service Development Manager.
Two disciples walking to Emmaus couldn't recognize Jesus walking right beside them. Why? And how can we avoid the same spiritual blindness?
On the bonus ep: Vogue's dealing with tech chaos, and had a visit from the tooth fairy, whilst Amber's choking on her own spit and stopping the kebab train. Plus a dodgy fishbone, faking blindness to get around slow walkers and a sister with some intense boundaries. Remember, if you want to get involved you can:Email us at vogueandamberpod@gmail.com OR find us on socials @voguewilliams @ambrerosolero and @vogueandamberListen and subscribe to Vogue & Amber on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.Please review Global's Privacy Policy: https://global.com/legal/privacy-policy/
(July 03, 2025)Heather Brooker joins Neil Saavedra who hosts Handel on the News while Bill is out for an extended 4th of July weekend. House GOP holdouts fall in line, paving the way for final passage of Trump tax bill. Diddy denied bail at hearing, to remain in jail after verdict. Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw reaches 3,000 strikeout milestone. Girl who went overboard on Disney Dream cruise fell ‘backward through a porthole.'
In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Laura Bratton—author, coach, and inspirational speaker—joins Amb. Elisha to share her transformational journey of going blind as a teenager and turning pain into purpose. Laura opens up about her early diagnosis with a rare eye disease, the emotional toll of losing her sight, and how she found strength through community, mentorship, and mindset shifts. From despair to determination, Laura reveals how grit and gratitude helped her navigate overwhelming change and become a beacon of hope for others facing adversity. You'll learn: • How to live a life of gratitude even during trauma • The real meaning of courage and how to practice it • Laura's practical advice for embracing change, one moment at a time • The power of mindset, resilience, and spiritual support Whether you're navigating personal struggles or supporting others through tough transitions, Laura's story will leave you inspired, uplifted, and equipped to move forward with strength and purpose.
Meet Teresa, a strong and resilient mom who has incredible wisdom to share with other moms who have endured mama trauma. Teresa and Keri talk about navigating the medical system, the fallout of a momsday moment, and the beauty in the ashes! Motherhood, mom, momsday moments, bunker, preps, prepper, doomsday prepper, honesty, vulnerability, childhood cancer, cancer, pedestrian, pedestrian accident, blind, blind child, blindness, podcast, podcaster, grief, death, mama trauma. You can find Keri here —> www.momsdayprepper.com Thank you to all the friends and foes that follow us on the Momsday Bunker. Please like, share, and follow social media. Facebook —> https://www.facebook.com/hensonk/ Instagram —> https://www.instagram.com/keri_henson_aka_momsdayprepper/ Need Production work? A Huge thank you to Chris Wichmann at www.chriswichmann.com If you have a story to share please reach out to Keri at momsdayprepper.com
6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: "One Man's Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on "Ocean with David Attenborough" & "On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea."
6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: "One Man's Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on "Ocean with David Attenborough" & "On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea."
6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: "One Man's Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on "Ocean with David Attenborough" & "On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea."
6/25/25: U.S. Ct of Appeals Judge David Tatel: "One Man's Journey with Blindness and Justice.” Easthampton Theater Co “Guys & Dolls” actors Maddy Oldenberg & Manny Morales. CDH Nursing Dir Ann LeBrun & UMass Dean of Nursing Allison Vorderstrasse: on the front lines of health care. Brian Adams w/UMass Distinguished Prof Prashant Shenoy: Artificial Intelligence at work. Larry Hott on "Ocean with David Attenborough" & "On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea."
Show notes will be available soon.
Drew is upset about the ending of book. The dudes then review notable deaths of characters and state if it was justified. They also start to plan their visits to California and Wisconsin. This week's brews are Eagle Rare 10 year and Almanac's The Future is Fluid
Check out the TIES Sales Showdown at www.tx.ag/TIESVisit The Sales Lab at https://thesaleslab.org and check out all our guests' recommended readings at https://thesaleslab.org/reading-listTo listen to The Sales Lab Podcast on your favorite apps, visit https://thesaleslab.simplecast.com/ and select your preferred method of listening.Connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/saleslabpodcastConnect with us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesaleslabSubscribe to The Sales Lab channel on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp703YWbD3-KO73NXUTBI-Q
Steven shares the emotional and practical realities of applying for a guide dog, while Shaun questions the balance between blind pride and accessibility struggles. The duo also tackles listener emails on delivery frustrations, hearing myths, and audio description failures.In this episode of Double Tap, Steven opens up about his recent guide dog assessment and the mental toll it took. The conversation explores the complexities of guide dog eligibility, mobility expectations, and the challenges blind people face in daily life. Shaun and Steven reflect on blind pride, debating whether it empowers or downplays real obstacles. Listener feedback adds depth, from Grace's Amazon delivery experience to Logan's frustration with inaccessible blind school screenings. Lisa shares insight on using Glide, while Hetty and Lucas raise important points about independence and tech durability.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:31 - Steven has his guide dog assessment!18:04 - Listener Geroge doesn't like to move it, move it22:22 - Listener Lisa with comments on Glide and blind people's hearing28:31 - Listener Grace on blind people texting and annoying delivery drivers33:10 - Listener Heddy on the subject of blind pride44:42 - Listener Logan on school for the blind not showing audio described movies in class48:24 - Listener Lucas on the durability of Meta Ray Bans53:53 - Listener Camille on boats not having steering wheels! 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.
Learn what age-related macular degeneration (AMD) isWhat causes AMDThe types of AMDThe update on NAION - listen to last year's podcast all about itWhy we aren't too concernedClick here to join Dr. Spencer's online clinic VineyardClick to read the JAMA AMD articleClick to read the Ophthalmology journal AMD article
In this episode of the Four Bad Eyes podcast, hosts Anthony Ferraro and Dan Mancino share their experiences at amusement parks, particularly Cedar Point. They discuss the accessibility programs available for blind guests, the thrill of roller coasters from a blind perspective, and the joy of family outings. The conversation also touches on the differences in experiencing rides with and without sight, as well as the safety of carnival rides compared to amusement parks. In this engaging conversation, Dan and Anthony share a humorous and insightful recount of a flight experience that highlights the challenges of air travel, unexpected acts of kindness, and the unique perspectives that arise from human interactions. They delve into the dynamics of seating arrangements, the impact of energy on experiences, and the reflections on life and connection that emerge from their journey. The discussion also touches on the perceptions of blindness and the nature of dreams, culminating in a lighthearted trivia segment that showcases their camaraderie and humor.~~~Call or Text the Podcast Hotline at +1-908-349-1480Or you can Email us to send in those questions to podcast@fourbadeyes.com More about Four Bad Eyes Podcast ► https://www.fourbadeyes.com TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@fourbadeyes INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fourbadeyes ~~~More about Anthony Ferraro ► https://www.asfvision.com Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asfvision More about Dan Mancina ► https://www.keeppushinginc.com Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danthemancina/ ~~~Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Four Bad Eyes Podcast03:13 Cedar Point Adventures and Accessibility06:15 Roller Coaster Experiences and Family Fun12:12 Comparing Roller Coaster Experiences: Sighted vs. Blind20:10 Reflections on Thrill Rides and Personal Growth21:03 The Thrill of Roller Coasters28:23 Travel Adventures and Airplane Etiquette43:04 Gratitude and Connection45:29 Memorable Encounters on the Journey48:54 Witchcraft and Misunderstandings50:04 Trivia Time: Fun and Games58:31 Reflections on Blindness and Perception01:02:14 OUTRO_USE.mp4~~~Podcast Intro & Outro done by @BlindSurfer Pete Gustin find out more at ► https://www.petegustin.com
True grit? Not the movie or book, but a real live individual. I met Laura Bratton about a month ago and realized that she was a very unique individual. Laura was referred to me by a gentleman who is helping both Laura and me find speaking venue leads through his company. Laura is just ramping up her public speaking career and our mutual colleague, Sam Richter, thought I could be of help. Little did I know at the outset that not only would I gain an excellent podcast guest, but that I would find someone whose life parallelled mine in many ways. Laura Bratton began losing her eyesight at the age of nine years. Like me, she was one of the lucky ones who had parents who made the choice to encourage their daughter and help her live her life to the fullest. And live it she does. Laura attended public school in South Carolina and then went to Arizona State University to secure her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Why ASU? Wait until you hear Laura tell that story. After securing her degree in Psychology she moved to the Princeton School of Divinity where she secured a Master's degree in Divinity. She followed up her Master's work by serving in a chaplaincy program in Ohio for a year. Then, if all that wasn't enough, she became a pastor in the United Methodist Church and took a position in South Carolina. She still works part time as a pastor, but she also has taken some other exciting and positive life turns. As I mentioned earlier, she is now working to build a public speaking career. She also does one-on-one coaching. In 2016 she wrote her first book. Laura shares many poignant and relevant life lessons she has learned over the years. We talk about courage, gratitude and grit. I asked her to define grit which she does. A very interesting and good definition indeed. I often get the opportunity to have guests on this podcast who share life and other lessons with all of us. To me, Laura's insights are as relevant as any I have encountered. I hope you will feel the same after listening to our conversation. Please let me know what you think. You can email me at michaelhi@accessibe.com. About the Guest: At the age of nine, Laura was diagnosed with an eye disease and faced the difficult reality that she would become blind. Over the next ten years she experienced the traumatic transition of adjusting to life without sight. Laura adjusted to her new normal and was able to move forward in life as she graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in psychology. She then was the first blind student to receive her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the author of the book, Harnessing Courage. Laura founded Ubi Global, which is an organization that provides speaking and coaching to empower all people to overcome challenges and obstacles with grit and gratitude. Ways to connect with Dr. Laura: Link for LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bratton-speaking Website https://www.laurabratton.com/ Link for coaching page on website https://www.laurabratton.com/coaching Link for book on website https://www.laurabratton.com/book Link for speaking page on website https://www.laurabratton.com/speaking 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. Well and a gracious hello to you, wherever you happen to be on our planet today, I am your host, Michael Hinkson, and you are listening to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and we sort of get to tie several of those together today, because my guest, Laura Bratton happens to be blind, so that brings inclusion into it, and we could talk about diversity all day. The experts really tend to make that a challenge, but we can talk about it ourselves, but Laura is blind, and she's going to tell us about that, and I don't know what else, because that's the unexpected part of this, but we're going to have ourselves a lot of fun for the next hour. She knows that the only rule of the podcast is you got to have fun, and you can't do better than that. So Laura, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Laura Bratton ** 02:12 Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm excited. Michael Hingson ** 02:15 Well, this will be some fun, I'm sure, which is, of course, what it's all about. Well, why don't we start by you telling us kind of about the early Laura, growing up and all that, and anything about that that you think we ought to know that'll help us as we go forward. Laura Bratton ** 02:31 So the early Laura was, Michael Hingson ** 02:34 you know, that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But yeah, Laura Bratton ** 02:38 was was fearless. Was involved in so many different activities, and I didn't have any health concerns or vision problems. And then around the age of nine, after the summer, after my second grade school year, my parents started noticing she's just holding books a little bit closer. She's just sitting a little bit closer to the TV than normal, than usually. So my they decided we'll just make a regular pediatric ophthalmology appointment, take her to the doctor, get the doctor to check her out. You know, if you need glasses, that's fine, and we'll just move on with our our summer and prepare for a new school year. So that June, when I had that doctor's appointment, my eyes were dilated. I'd read the the letters on the chart in the room. The doctors had looked in my eyes, and then the doctor just rolled back in his chair and looked at my mom and said, there's a major problem going on, and we need to address this, and I'm going to send you to a retina specialist. There's something major going on with her retinas. So from that appointment that started the rest of the summer and into the fall of just having doctors, different doctors appointments, meeting with specialists, trying to figure out why this 910, year old was all of a sudden having vision problems. Michael Hingson ** 04:20 So yeah, go ahead that, Laura Bratton ** 04:22 yeah. So that started the whole vision loss journey, Michael Hingson ** 04:27 and what was the diagnosis that they finally came up with? Laura Bratton ** 04:31 So they finally came up with a diagnosis of rare retinal onset disease. So it's not genetic. It wasn't like another accident, physical accident that calls the blindness. It's most similar to macular. So what I was losing first was my central vision. I still had all my peripheral vision, so it's very similar to macular, but not. Not quite macular or star guards. What's happens in children? So that's the diagnosis, just rare retinal disease. Michael Hingson ** 05:11 Interesting, and they they didn't have any idea that what caused it. Do they have any better idea today? Or is it just so rare that they don't tend to pay a whole lot of attention. Great Laura Bratton ** 05:23 question, yes and yes. So I've done a lot of genetic testing over the years, and the gene has not been discovered. That is obviously what they are predicting, is that there had to be some kind of gene mutation. But that gene hasn't been discovered. So far, the genes that are identified with vision problems, those have not been the problem for me so far. So the gene, Gene hasn't been discovered. So testing continues, but not exactly sure yet. Michael Hingson ** 05:59 Yeah. So do you have any eyesight left, or is it all gone? Laura Bratton ** 06:04 I don't, so to continue kind of that process of of the the early childhood. So I was diagnosed around nine, but I didn't lose any major vision until I was in middle school. So the end of middle school is when I started to lose a significant part of sight. So I went from very quickly from roller print, large print, to braille, and that was a very quick transition. So basically it was normal print to learning Braille and using Braille and textbooks and Braille and audio books and all that. Then through high school, I will throw more a significant amount of vision. So what I have currently is just very limited light perception, no, what I consider no usable vision, just light perception, Michael Hingson ** 06:55 so you learn braille. So you learn braille in middle school. Then, yes, okay, absolutely. What did you think about that? Because that was certainly a life change for you. How did you deal with all of that? Laura Bratton ** 07:10 How did I do with the process of learning braille or the emotional process? 07:14 Both, Laura Bratton ** 07:16 they're kind of related, so both, they're very much related. So learning Braille was incredibly difficult because I was trying to learn it at the same time. Use it with textbooks in middle school level material rather than normal development. Of you learn braille and start out, you know, with with simple books, and slowly move up. I try, you know, I had to make that adjustment from learning Braille and then algebra in Braille or Spanish and Braille. So using the Braille was very difficult, but I was because I was forced to to learn it, because I had to, just to stay in school. You didn't really have a choice. As far as the emotional perspective. My first thoughts was just the denial, oh, it's not that bad, oh, it won't be forever. Oh, it's not going to get much worse than this. Just that denial of the reality. And then I can say more, if it just kind of that whole how that whole process unfolded, that's kind of the whole emotional process. It Michael Hingson ** 08:34 certainly was a major change for you, yes, but it sounds like by the time all was said and done, and you did have to immerse yourself, like in learning Braille and so on. So it was an immersive kind of thing. You, You did come through it, and you, you seem to be functioning pretty well today, I would gather Laura Bratton ** 08:55 Yes, because of focusing on the emotional mindset piece. So once that I've sort of began to move out of denial. It was that, okay, well, I can't this is just too hard. And then what I eventually realized and accepted was, yes, it's hard and I can move forward. So just a practical example, is what you were saying about having to be fully immersed in the Braille. Yes, is really hard to jump from learning braille to knowing Braille and algebra. But also choose to move forward. As you said, I choose to immerse myself in this so that I can continue life, yeah, Michael Hingson ** 09:42 and you you have done it. Well, how? How do you view blindness today? Laura Bratton ** 09:49 That is a great question. So today is the balance of acknowledging. Yes, they're difficult moments. Yes, their stressful moments. Moments, and I have the resources to process that. So now, rather than just being a denial or being stuck in that I can't do this, I can say, okay, yes, this is hard. Yes, I am frustrated. Yes, I am overwhelmed in this moment, but also I can move forward with the gifts and purposes that I have in this world and using that as a strength. So for me, it's that acknowledging the rap the reality, but also moving forward with that belief in myself, trust in myself. Michael Hingson ** 10:39 So how long did you at the beginning really grieve and view all this in a negative way? Because it sounds like you've evolved from that today. Laura Bratton ** 10:53 Absolutely. So in my experience, the so I'm going to break the grief and the negative apart, because for me, it was two different experiences. So for me in those middle school, high school days, it was more than negative, and the grief just came along with that. Now even, you know, through college and even now, yes, there are moments that I grieve, but that negativity has turned into the mindset of strength, the mindset of trust, the mindset of okay, I can continue forward Again, living out those purposes, my purpose with those gifts as a source of strength, the source of courage. It's a source of just belief in myself. So my experience now is the mindset of holding both intention, holding space for both when I have those moments that I need to grieve, absolutely, giving myself those space and then at the same time, choosing to move forward with that courage, rather than being stuck in what I was in middle school of that negativity. Does that difference? Does that make us make sense of what I'm trying to separate the two? Michael Hingson ** 12:19 Well, yeah, they overlap, but I understand what you're saying, Where, where and how were your parents in all of this? Laura Bratton ** 12:28 So that was the incredible gift, that that was a deep source of strength, that as that middle school child who was in that negative place of denial and I can't, I can't. That was the source of strength. So immediately, when I was diagnosed, even though I didn't have major vision loss, I was diagnosed in elementary school, they wanted to send me to school for the deaf and blind, and so my parents had to fight to keep me in regular school. Again, I wasn't experiencing major vision loss, but just having minor vision loss, the school said, Okay, you're at a public school and going to a different school. So my parents were a source of strength, because they knowledge what was happening, what was going to happen, but also held me to the same standards. Michael Hingson ** 13:25 And there are some schools, I don't know how much today, but in the past, there were some schools for the blind, and I'm not sure about schools for the deaf and blind, but we'll put them in the same category. But there were some schools that really did have very high standards, and and did do a great job. The Perkins School was one. Tom Sullivan, the actor, went through Perkins and and I know other people who did, but in general, the standards weren't the same, and I had the same issue. I remember my parents. We were in the office of the school principal of Yucca school where I went kindergarten through third grade here in California, okay, and I remember a shouting match between my father and my mother on one side, and Mr. Thompson, the principal on the other. And by the time all was said and done, he decided that it was he was going to acquiesce, because they were not going to let me go to the school for the blind, which would have been like, 400 miles away. Laura Bratton ** 14:38 Okay, okay, so, so you can relate to that experience. Michael Hingson ** 14:42 I can absolutely relate to that experience, and I think that it's for kids one of the most important things to hope comes along that parents deal with blindness in a in a positive way. Yes, and don't view it as something that's going to hold you back. I. 100% Yeah, because if they do, then that creates a much more difficult situation. Yes. So it's it's great that you had some parents who really stood up for you and helped as you went Laura Bratton ** 15:15 Yes, and I was also deeply grateful that they all they held those standards at school, and they also held those standards at home. So they didn't just say, oh, you know, our expectations are lower for you at home, you don't have any more chores. You just kind of do whatever you want, get away with whatever you want. They kept those things standards. I still had chores we just made, you know, the accommodations are adapted if we needed to adapt anything. Yeah, a story that I always, always remember, just like you talking about you vividly remember being in that principal's office. I remember one day my the specific tour was unloading the dishwasher, and I remember thinking, well, oh, I'm not really, I don't really want to unload the dishwasher today. So I just kind of thought, Oh, the blindness will get me out of the situation. So I was like, Mom, I can't unload the dishwasher. I can't see exactly where to put all the silverware in the silverware of her door. And I still, I can still see this in my mind's eye. She was standing in the doorway the kitchen and the hallway, and she just turned around and just said, Laura, unload the dishwasher, put the silverware in the drawer, and just walked away. And that told me she was still holding me to the exact standards. She wasn't saying, Oh, honey, that's okay because of your blindness. Yeah, you don't have to do it. That was such a huge teaching moment for me, because it pulled me I can't use my blindness as an excuse. That was incredible experience and I always think back on and remember, Michael Hingson ** 17:04 yeah, and I remember growing up, there were chores I did, there were chores My brother did, and there were things that we had to do, but we had, and my brother was cited two years older than I, but okay, but we had very supportive parents for both of us. And one of the things that the doctors told my parents when they discovered that I was blind, was that I was going to take all the love that the family had, even for my older sibling. Oh, my parent and my parents said that is just not so, and they worked really hard to make sure that my brother got all the things that that he needed and all the support that he needed as well. Wow. When he was still in high school, I remember they got him a car, and I don't remember when he got it. Maybe, I don't know whether he was already a senior in high school, but he got a car. And, you know, I didn't want a car. I right. I didn't want that, but, you know, that was okay. I would have driven it around if I got one, but, you know, that's okay, but, but parents are such an important part of the process, yes, and they have to be ready to take the leap, yes, that blindness isn't the problem. It's attitudes. That's really, that tend to really be the problem, right? 100% Laura Bratton ** 18:24 and thankfully, thankfully, I had that. I had that experience another, another example that I always think of all the time, still such a vivid memory, is as as a family. We were a big sports family, and loved to go to different sporting events, and so we would always go to high school and college football games. And as I was in those middle school, high school years, those first, early days of experiencing difficult vision loss, where obviously I'm sitting in the sands and can't see the field clearly, rather than my parents saying, Oh, you're just going to stay home. Oh, you're not going with us. To be part of this, my dad are really, literally. Remember my dad saying, Here's a radio. I just put new batteries in. Let's go. So I would just sit there and, you know, with with my family, listening to the game on the radio. And that was such a gift, because, again, they didn't say, is what you're saying about the leap. They didn't say, okay, you can do this anymore. They just figured out a way to adapt so that I was still part. Michael Hingson ** 19:34 Yeah, I've been to a number of baseball games, and the same thing, I've never been I've been to a high school football game, but I've never been to a pro football game, and I've never been to a basketball game, and while I think it would have been fun, I'm a little bit spoiled, and I think that the announcers today aren't as good as the announcers that we used to have, like Dick Enberg doing sports out here, who did. Football chick, Hearn, who did basketball, who could talk as fast as, I mean, he was, he was he taught me how to listen fast. That's great. He he talked as fast as many times books I read talk. He was just incredible. But that's okay. But still, I've been to games, and it is a lot of fun to be able to go and listen. It's even if you're listening on the radio, the point of being at the game is just the sounds and the experience of being at the game and hearing and interacting with all the sounds, because you're not hearing that as much through the radio as you are listening to the fans as they yell, or as the Yes, as the foul balls coming at you. You know, yes 100% Laura Bratton ** 20:50 and just to feel the energy, you know, and your team's doing well, your team's not doing well, just to feel that energy, and there's to also to be there and have that, that fun experience with your family or friends, or you know, whoever you're with, that is such a fun experience. So yes, Michael Hingson ** 21:08 so when you went into high school, did, what did you study? Or what did you do there? Laura Bratton ** 21:15 What were your interests? So in college, when I Michael Hingson ** 21:18 was thinking high school, but you can do college. So Laura Bratton ** 21:21 High School, honestly, I didn't have specific professional interests, because it was just so much focused on the blind surviving and all the surviving, just the New Black, because the blindness was literally happening during high school, right? So my only focus was just survival passing because it was all of my energy was focused on the the learning Braille and just completing the assignments. Fast forward to college. My focus was definitely. My major was psychology. My focus was on psychology. A lot because of my personal experience, because of that experience in high school, and just that that not only that desire from my personal experience, but just using that experience to then help and support others from the mindset of of again, moving through that, that negativity to that, that foundation of grit. So it was definitely focused on psychology to be able to support others from a mindset perspective. Michael Hingson ** 22:36 So how did you bring that into play in college? Laura Bratton ** 22:40 So that was my focus. My My major was psychology, and then I I spent that, those years in college, figuring out specifically what area of psychology I wanted to focus on, which what, what facet of psychology I wanted my focus to be so that was, that was the purpose of the like psychology and taking different classes within psychology to try to figure out where my strengths within that Major Michael Hingson ** 23:16 and what did you discover? Laura Bratton ** 23:20 So what I discovered was I wanted the psychology to the mindset, to support people with to be that holistic perspective of, yes, the psychology, but also the spiritual connection and just our physical well being all connected together, so supporting our healthy mindsets and emotional health was not just psychology. It was the psychology, physical taking care of ourselves and the spiritual taking care of ourselves, all connected, combined together. So that's that's what led me to doing a master of divinity to be able to focus on and learn the spiritual part Michael Hingson ** 24:15 of the mindset. So what part of psychology Did you eventually settle on Laura Bratton ** 24:22 the holistic approach. So rather than just focus on specifically the mindset, focusing on us as a whole, being, supporting us through that mental, physical, spiritual connection that the healing, the empowerment came through, through all of that. So in that masters, what I focus on specifically was chaplaincy, so supporting people specifically I was a hospital chaplain, so focusing on helping people within the hospital setting, when they're there for different physical reasons and. Being able to be that spiritual presence focusing on both the spiritual and the emotional. Michael Hingson ** 25:07 And where did you do your undergraduate study? Laura Bratton ** 25:11 So I did my undergrad at Arizona State, and I was going to say a large reason, but not just a large reason, pretty much the whole reason I chose ASU was for their disability resources. So a major focus that that they emphasize is their disability resources is not a separate part of the university, but it's completely integrated into the university. So what I mean by that example of that is being a psychology major. I still had all the same classes. I was still in all the same classes as all the other psychology students on campus. I just had the accommodations that I needed. So that would be double time all testing or note takers, if I needed note takers in a class. So they did an incredible job, like they had a whole Braille lab that would print Braille books and provide books in PDF format. So the accommodations that I needed as a person who was blind were integrated in to the whole college experience. So that was incredibly powerful for me as a person who had just become blind and didn't know what resources were available. Michael Hingson ** 26:37 Did you have any major challenges and major issues in terms of dealing with blindness and so on, while you're at ASU, Laura Bratton ** 26:44 not at all. I am so grateful for that, because I wasn't the only person on campus who was blind. I wasn't the first blind person. I certainly wasn't the last so because they had so much experience, it was, it was an incredible, again, empowerment for me, because on the emotional perspective, it taught me, and literally practically showed me, yes, I give me a person with a disability and be integrated into the world, because They they showed me the resources that were available. So I was deeply, deeply grateful for what they taught me. Now, where did you grow up? So I grew up in South Carolina, Michael Hingson ** 27:31 so that is and that's why I wanted to ask that, because we hadn't mentioned that you were from South Carolina before, but that was a major undertaking. Then to go all the way across country to go to ASU, yes. On the other hand, they do have a pretty good football team. Laura Bratton ** 27:49 Just say Right, right, right Michael Hingson ** 27:52 now, my I went to University California, Irvine. I don't even know. I'm sure they must have some sort of a football team today, but they do have a pretty good basketball team, and I haven't heard whether they won the Big West, but I haven't Yeah, but I haven't heard that they did. So I'm afraid that that they may not have until going to march madness. Yeah, but whatever, Laura Bratton ** 28:21 team for March Madness spell your bracket in a different way. Michael Hingson ** 28:25 Well, they've been in the big dance before they got to the Sweet 16 once, which was pretty cool. Wow, that's impressive. Yeah, that was pretty cool. That's so cool. What did your parents think of you going across country Laura Bratton ** 28:42 again? Just like you talked about your parents being that taking that leap, they were incredibly supportive, because they knew ASU would provide the resources that I needed. Because again, in those years as I'm losing a major part of my sight, we didn't know other people who are blind. We didn't know what resources were available. Obviously, my parents reach out to people around us, you know, to connect with people who are blind, to learn about that, but we didn't have a lot of experience with that. So what we knew, and what my parents were excited about was ASU would be a place that I can not only have that college experience, but be taught the resources. And one of the major resources was my disability coordinator, so my disability coordinator, who was in charge of of creating all my accommodations, she was also blind, and that was such a healing experience for me, because she became a mentor. She was blind since birth. She. And so obviously we had different experiences, where I was just newly blind. She had been blind, but still, she was an incredibly powerful resource and mentor of just telling me, teaching me, not just telling me through her words, but living through her actions, you still have a full life like you're you're still a few a full human like you. This life still goes on. So she just modeled that in the way that she lived. So she she was, I'm so grateful for her mentorship, because she was very real. She had minimized blindness. But also she told me and taught me and showed me there's still a full, great life ahead, Michael Hingson ** 30:53 which is really what all of us are trying to get the world to understand. Blindness isn't the end of the world. It's not the problem Laura Bratton ** 31:02 exactly, exactly, she literally modeled that, Michael Hingson ** 31:06 yeah, which was pretty cool. Well, then where did you go to get your Masters of divinity? Laura Bratton ** 31:11 So then I went to get my masters at Princeton Theological Seminary, and that was a completely different experience, because, where as you, was completely set up for people with disabilities in the master's program, they had not had someone come through their program who was blind. So in that experience, I had to advocate and be very, very clear on what my needs were, meaning what the accommodations were that I needed, and then advocate that to the administration, which that wasn't a gift, because ASU had given me the foundation of knowing what I needed, what the accommodations Were then available. And then Princeton gave me the opportunity to become my own advocate, to force me to speak up and say, These are my needs, and these are accommodations I have. With these accommodations, I can be an equal student, so I'm not asking, Hey, give me good grades because I'm blind, but make the accommodation so that I have my books and PDF so I have double time on the test. So that was just as healing and just as powerful, because it gave me the opportunity to advocate and become clear on my needs so that I could communicate those needs. So Michael Hingson ** 32:38 this is part of Princeton in New Jersey. Yes, so you were were in Jersey for a while, huh? Yes, Laura Bratton ** 32:45 I went from sunny weather to Michael Hingson ** 32:50 snowy weather. Well, you had some of that in South Carolina too, though, Laura Bratton ** 32:53 yes, true, but from undergrad, it was quite the change. Michael Hingson ** 32:58 Ah. But the real question is, when you were in New Jersey. Did you get to meet any members of the family? You know what I'm saying, the mob, Oh yes, absolutely being bada. Boom. Come on now, Laura Bratton ** 33:11 definitely, definitely, definitely, absolutely, absolutely, yeah, lot of local restaurants and Oh yes, Michael Hingson ** 33:21 oh yes. When we were building our home in New Jersey, my wife was in a wheelchair her whole life, and we decided that when we went to New Jersey, because I was going to be working in the city New York, we wanted to build a house, because it's cheaper to build an accessible home for somebody in a wheelchair. My wife then it is to buy a house and modify it so we wanted to build. And it turns out that the person who financed the building, we got a mortgage and all that without any difficulty, but we had to get somebody to build the house. And the realtors had people they worked with, the financier. Part of that was from a guy, well, let's just say his main business was, he was in the garbage business, and his last name was, was Pinto. So, you know, let's just say we know where he got his money. You know, Laura Bratton ** 34:18 yes, yes. I had several those experiences too. Yeah, the garbage business seems to be big in Jersey. It Michael Hingson ** 34:25 is big in Jersey, but, but, you know, but they were all, they were all very nice to us good. And so it really worked out well. It did. It all worked out. We had a wonderful home. The only difference between our house and the others around us is we had to include an elevator in the house, okay? Because we couldn't have a ranch style home. There wasn't room, and so we had to have and all the other homes in the development were two story homes, okay, but we had to have an elevator. So that was essentially about a $15,000 An uplift over what the House would have cost otherwise. But right again, you build it in so it's not that huge of a deal, Laura Bratton ** 35:06 right? That's perfect. So all your neighbors are jealous. Michael Hingson ** 35:10 Well, they didn't have the elevator. They didn't come and ride it much. So they didn't ask for their their their bigger challenges were, who's giving the biggest party at Christmas or Halloween? So we didn't participate in that, so we weren't we weren't a problem. 35:28 That's great, Michael Hingson ** 35:30 yeah, so you've talked about grit a couple times, so tell me about grit, because clearly that's important to you, Laura Bratton ** 35:39 yeah? So it's so important to me, because that was a main source of empowerment. So just as I talked about that negativity in the middle school high school, what grit helped me to do is take the overwhelming future that I was so fearful, I was extremely anxious as I looked at the whole picture everything ahead of me. So the grit came in and taught me. Grit is taking it day by day, moment by moment, step by step. So rather than looking at the whole picture and getting overwhelmed, the power of grit taught me all I need to do is trust myself for this next hour. All I need to do is trust in the support that my parents are giving me this next day. So breaking it down into manageable goals was the strength of the grit. So to break it down, rather than the whole future, Michael Hingson ** 36:49 I didn't ask, do you did you have any siblings? Do you have any siblings? Laura Bratton ** 36:53 Yeah, so I have one older brother. Okay, so Michael Hingson ** 36:57 how was he with you being that you were blind. Was he a good older protective brother who never let anybody near his sister? Laura Bratton ** 37:06 He was a good older protective brother in that he did exactly what my parents did in not having different expectations. Yeah, he so he's five years older. So when I'm 14, losing a significant amount of vision, or 15, losing a certain amount of division. He, you know, was 1920 doing great in college. So a perfect example of this connects with the grit he, he taught me, and again, not in word, not so much in words, but again, in those actions of we will figure this out. We don't know the resources that are available. We don't know exactly what the future looks like, but we as a family will figure this out. Me, as your older brother, our parents being our parents, we will figure it out day by day, step by step. And I remember a lot of people would ask my parents, what's her future, and then even ask my brother, what's her future? What's she gonna do? And they would honestly answer, we don't know, but as a family, we'll figure it out, and we'll provide the strength that she needs, and that's what I mean by the grit. So it wasn't, this is her future, and they just, you know, named it for being home with us, right? But it was, I don't know, but day by day, we'll have the grit to figure it out. So I'm glad you asked about my siblings, because that's a perfect example of how that grit came into play and was such a powerful source of strength. Michael Hingson ** 38:54 So what did you do after you got your master's degree? Laura Bratton ** 38:58 So after I got my master's degree, I then did a residency, just like I was talking about the chaplaincy. I did a residency specifically in chaplaincy to to complete that process of being a chaplain. So in that that was a year long process, and in that process, that was an incredible experience, because, again, it taught me, you are a complete human with gifts and talents. You just happen to be blind and need specific accommodations because of the blindness. So what I mean by that is, just as ASU gave me the resources regarding blindness, and just as Princeton gave me the gift to advocate for those resources, the experience in the chaplaincy taught me when I walked into a high. Hospital room and introduced myself as the chaplain on the unit. The patient didn't know, or didn't care how long I had been blind, or how did I make it on the unit? Or how did I know they wanted chaplain? They didn't care. They were just thankful and glad that I was there to serve them and be in that Chaplain role. So it was that's why it was empowering of healing to me, because it taught me not to focus so much on the blindness, but to view myself as that whole person, especially in that professional experience, so I can give endless examples of specifically how that, how, just the patient reaction taught me so much. Michael Hingson ** 40:49 Where did you do your chaplaincy? Laura Bratton ** 40:52 I did it at the Clinton clinic in Ohio. Oh, Michael Hingson ** 40:56 my goodness, you did move around. Now. What got you there? Speaking of snow in the winter, yeah, Laura Bratton ** 41:02 literally, I Yes, I can talk about that. And a lot of experiences there with snow, like effect snow is real. So they were very strong in their chaplaincy program and developing Kaplan's and also their Kaplan Z training was a focus that I wanted that holistic mind, body, spirit. It wasn't just spiritual or wasn't just psychological, it was the holistic experience of a whole person. So how wanting that to be my focus moving forward, that's where I chose to go to be able to focus on that. So again, it was such an incredible source of of healing through just through those patient interactions. Michael Hingson ** 41:58 Well, one of the things that is clear about you is you're not bitter about any of the things that have happened, and that, in reality, you are a person who appreciates and understands the concept of gratitude. Laura Bratton ** 42:11 Yes, yes. And specifically, let me go back to those high school days, and then I'll come back to the chaplain days, the way of the gratitude my focus started was not because I wanted gratitude, not because I chose to woke up, wake up one day and say, Oh, I'm so grateful for this blindness. But it all came through a mentor who said to me in those high school days, Laura, I want you to start writing down three things that you are grateful for each day and every day, I want you to write down three things that you're grateful for. So in my mind, my immediate reaction as a teenager, high schooler, was that's not good advice. I'm not sure you're a good mentor. I'm experiencing a major change in life, permanent life event. I don't know that there's a lot to be grateful for. So in my stubbornness, I said, Okay, I'm going to prove her wrong. So I started to think of the three things each day I was grateful for. And over the weeks that I did this, I then realized what she was teaching me, she was showing me. She wasn't asking me to be grateful for the blindness. She was asking me to recognize the gifts that the support that I had within the blindness. So, for example, the supportive parents, the older brother, who didn't make accommodations, or I mean, did make accommodations. Didn't lower expectations because of the blindness. So fast forward to the chaplaincy. I was incredibly grateful for all those patient experiences, because, again, it taught me to view myself as the whole person, not so hyper focused on the blindness. So one specific example that sticks out and was so clear to me is one day I had a patient request that one to see a chaplain, and I went in to this specific unit, and the so I walked in, my walked into the room, the patient took a look at my guide dog and me, and said, You're blind, like completely with this question or voice. And my thought was, well, I think so. I mean, that was this morning when I woke up, and so I said, Yes. And she said, Okay, then I'll, I'll share honestly with you how I'm doing and what I had learned, what I learned after my visit with her is she would not open up to the doctors, the nurses, the social workers, anyone who walked in the room. When I walked in the room and she didn't feel like she was being judged on her physical appearance, she was willing to open up and honestly share how she was feeling emotionally with her physical diagnosis. So that led that one conversation led to multiple visits where she could move forward in her healing emotionally because she was willing to open up and share and be honest with me as the chaplain. So that was an incredible situation of gratitude, because it taught me, yes, this is hard, yes, this is stressful. Yes, there are moments of being overwhelmed, and also their deep, deep moments that I am incredibly grateful for, that other people who are side sighted don't have that opportunity. Michael Hingson ** 46:36 One of the things that I talk about and think about as life goes on, is we've talked about all the accommodations and the things that you needed to get in order to be able to function. What we and most everyone, takes for granted is it's the same for sighted people. You know, we invented the electric light bulb for sighted people. We invented windows so they can look out. Yes, we invent so many things, and we provide them so that sighted people can function right. And that's why I say, in large part, blindness isn't the problem, because the reality is, we can make accommodations. We can create and do create alternatives to what people who can see right choose, and that's important for, I think, everyone to learn. So what did you do after your year of chaplaincy? Laura Bratton ** 47:39 So after my year of chaplaincy, after that incredible experience of just offering the patient care, I completed the part of the well after assorted in the master's program. But then after that, also completed my ordination in the Methodist Church. So I was appointed. I went to the process the ordination process, and then I was appointed to a local church back here in South Carolina. And again, with my focus on chaplaincy, my focus on patient care, I was appointed to that church for because what they needed most in the pastor the leader, was that emphasis on the pastoral care the mind, body, spirit connection. So as I became pastor, I was able to continue that role of what I was doing in the Kaplan see, of using both my professional experience as well as my personal experience of providing spiritual care to the members. So that was an incredible way. And again, that gratitude, it just I was so grateful that I could use those gifts of pastoral care, of chaplaincy to benefit others, to be a strength to others. Again, is that that whole person that that we Michael Hingson ** 49:13 are now? Are you still doing that today? Or what are you doing Laura Bratton ** 49:16 now? So I'm still I'm still there part time, okay, Michael Hingson ** 49:21 and when you're not there, what are you doing? Laura Bratton ** 49:23 I'm doing professional speaking, and it's all centered around my passion for that again, came when I was at Princeton, when I was doing the focus on chaplaincy, I became so passionate about the speaking to share my personal experience of the change I experienced, and also to empower others as they experience change, so not to be stuck in that. Negativity like we talked about in those middle school, high school days, but rather that everybody, regardless of the situation, could experience change, acknowledge it, and move forward with that balance of grit and gratitude. So that's my deep passion for and the reason for the speaking is to share that grit gratitude, as we all experience change. Michael Hingson ** 50:26 So what made you decide to begin to do public speaking that what? What was the sort of the moment or the the inspiration that brought that about, Laura Bratton ** 50:40 just that deep desire to share the resource that I'd experienced. So as I received so much support from family and community, is I had received that support of learning how to use the grit in the change, and then as I received the sport support of how to use the gratitude in the change, the reason for this, speaking and what made me so passionate, was to be able to empower others to also use this resource. So I didn't just want to say, okay, it worked for me, and so I'll just keep this to myself, but rather to use that as a source and empowerment and say, Hey, this has been really, really difficult, and here's how I can use the difficulty to empower others to support others. Michael Hingson ** 51:31 So how's that working for you? Laura Bratton ** 51:34 Great. I love, love, love supporting others as they go through that change. Because again, it comes back to the blindness. Is not not all we focus on, it's not all we think about, it's not all we talk about, it's not all we do, but being able to use that as a shrink to empower others. So just speaking to different organizations as they're going through change, and working with them speaking on that. How can they specifically apply the grit, the gratitude? How does that? What does that look like, practically, in their organization, in their situation? So I love it, because it takes the most difficult thing that I've been through, and turns it around to empower others. Michael Hingson ** 52:24 What do you think about the concept that so many people talk about regarding public speaking, that, Oh, I couldn't be a public speaker. I don't want to be up in front of people. I'm afraid of it, and it's one of the top fears that we constantly hear people in society have that is being a public speaker. What do you think about that? Laura Bratton ** 52:47 So two, two perspectives have helped me to process that fault, because you're right. People literally say that to me every day. How do you do that? I could never do that. I hear that every single day, all day, and what I've learned is when I focus on, yes, maybe it is the large audience, but focusing on I'm speaking to each person individually, and I'm speaking. I'm not just speaking to them, but I was speaking to serve them, to help again, that empowerment, to provide empowerment. So what I think about that is I don't focus on, oh my gosh. What are they going to think of me? I'm scared up here. Rather to have that mindset of, I'm here to share my life experiences so that they can be served and empowered to continue forward. So just shifting the mindset from fear to support fear to strength, that's that's how I view that concept of I could never do that, or that's my worst fear. Michael Hingson ** 54:01 So a lot of people would say it takes a lot of courage to do what you do, what? How do you define courageous or being courageous? Laura Bratton ** 54:08 Great question. That's a working, work in progress. So far, what I've learned over the years and again, this is a process. Not there wasn't just one moment where I said, Okay, now I'm courageous, and I'm courageous forever, or this is the moment that made me courageous, but how I understand it and how I process it now is for me and my experience courage is accepting and acknowledging the reality and then choosing to move forward with the grit, choosing to move forward with the gratitude. So holding both intention, both can be true, both I can acknowledge. Okay, this is difficult. Cult, and also I can also believe and know. I can have the grit moment by moment by moment. I can have the gratitude moment by moment by moment. So for me, courage is holding both intention the reality and what I mean by both is the reality of the blindness and reality of the frustration of people's faults, judgments. You know all that you can't do this. How can you do that without sight holding all of that at the same time as I have the support I need to move forward? So for me, Courage looks like acknowledging why I'm overwhelmed and then choosing at that same time to move forward with the support that I have. Mm, hmm. So again, that's what I mean by it's not just like one moment that, oh yeah, I'm gonna be courageous now forever, there's certainly a moment so I don't feel courageous, and that's okay. That's part of garbage. Just acknowledging that frustration and also choosing to move forward. So it's doing both it at the same time. Michael Hingson ** 56:10 We live in a world today where there is a lot of change going on, yes, and some for the good, some not for the good, and and all sorts of things. Actually, I was reading an article this morning about Michael Connolly, the mystery writer who, for four decades, has written mystery books. He's lived in Los Angeles. He had a wonderful house, and everything changed when the fires hit and he lost his home and all that. But he continues to to move forward. But what advice would you give? What kinds of things do you say to people who are undergoing change or experiencing change? Laura Bratton ** 56:52 I'm so glad you asked that, because I I didn't mention this in the grit so much of the grit that I experienced. So the advice I would give, or practically, what I do with someone that just what I did right before our we connected, was being being that grit for someone going through change. So in that, for example, in that speaking when I'm speaking to a group about the change they're experiencing, acknowledging, for them to acknowledge, let me be your grit. You might be overwhelmed. You might be incredibly fearful and overwhelmed by the future, by the task in front of you. So let me be the example of grit to to show you that there is support, there is courage, there is that foundation to be able to move forward. So that's my first advice, is just allowing others to be your grit when you don't feel like you had it, because, again, in those high school days and and even now days when I don't feel like I have any grit, any courage, and yet, I'll lean on the courage, the strength, the grit, of those around me so once they acknowledge and allow me to be their grit, and they their support through that change, then allowing them to slowly have that grit for themselves, and again reminding them, it's not an instant process. It's not an instant do these three steps and you'll have grit forever. But it's a continual process of grit and gratitude that leads us through the change, through the difficulty. Michael Hingson ** 58:46 Have you used the technique that that person that you talked about earlier in high school used when she asked you to write down every day three things that you were grateful for? Laura Bratton ** 58:56 Yes, absolutely, and the the funny part of that, what that makes me laugh is a lot of people have the exact same reaction I had when I present it to them. They immediately say, I'm not going to do that. That's no Why would I do that? They immediately think that is a horrible piece of advice. And how can I recommend? And I just, I don't say, Oh, well, just try it anyway. I just say, Well, okay, just try it and see. Just, just prove me wrong. And just like my experience, they try it and then a week or two days like, oh, that actually worked. I didn't think that would so, yeah, I'm so glad you said that, because that happens a lot. People said that is that doesn't make sense. Why are you telling me to be grateful in the midst of this overwhelming situation? So yes, great, great perspective that happens all the time. Michael Hingson ** 59:55 Well, we've been doing this now for about an hour, but before we wrap up, do you. Have any other advice that you want to pass on for people who are dealing with change or fearing change in their lives right now, Laura Bratton ** 1:00:08 the advice would be, take it step by step, moment by moment, rather than trying to navigate through the whole change at one time that's overwhelming, and that that's not the process that is most healing. So to trust in yourself, to trust that grit around you, and then just like, like you were saying, and ask me, and it doesn't seem like it'll work, but try the gratitude, try that three things every day you're grateful for, and just see what happens as you navigate through the change. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 1:00:52 And it really does work, which is the point? Laura Bratton ** 1:00:54 Which is the point? Right? Right? We don't think it's going to but it, it totally does Michael Hingson ** 1:00:59 well. Laura, I want to thank you for being with us. This has been absolutely wonderful and fun, and I hope that people who listen got and who watch it got a lot out of it. And you, you provided a lot of good expectation setting for people. And you, you've certainly lived a full life. We didn't mention we got us before you we we sign off. You're also an author, Laura Bratton ** 1:01:24 yes. So I wrote harnessing courage again, just like the reason I speak, I was so passionate about taking the grit and the gratitude that I use that was such a source of Empower for me, I wanted to tell my story and tell it through the perspective of grit and gratitude so that other people could also use it as a resource. So the book tells my story of becoming blind and adapting and moving forward, but through the complete expected perspective of the gratitude, how I didn't believe the gratitude would work, how I struggled with thinking, Oh, the gratitude is ridiculous. That's never going to be source of empowerment. Yet it was so. The purpose of the book, my hope, my goal for the book, is that people can read it and take away those resources as they face their own change their own challenges. Michael Hingson ** 1:02:30 And when did you write it? So I wrote Laura Bratton ** 1:02:33 it in it was published in 2016 Okay, so it that that definitely was, was my goal and passion, and that just writing the book was incredibly healing. Was like a great source of strength. Cool, Michael Hingson ** 1:02:50 well, I hope people will get it. Do you do any coaching today or Laura Bratton ** 1:02:54 Yes, so I do coaching as well as the speaking so the the one on one coaching, as people are experiencing difficult, difficult or just navigating through change, I do the one on one coaching as well as the speaking, Michael Hingson ** 1:03:11 which is certainly a good thing that chaplaincy taught you. Yes, 100% Well, thank you again for being here, and I want to thank all of you for being with us today, wherever you are. We would appreciate it. I would definitely appreciate it. If when you can, you go to wherever you're listening to or watching the podcast and give us a five star review. We absolutely value your reviews. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this, and I'm sure Laura would. So you're welcome to email me at Michael, M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, love to hear your thoughts. And also, of course, as I said, we'd love your your five star reviews, wherever you're listening. Also, if any of you, Laura, including you, have any thoughts of others who we ought to have on this podcast, we're always looking for more guests, and we really would appreciate it if you'd let anyone know who might be a good guest in your mind, that they can reach out or email me, and I'll reach out, but we really would appreciate that. But again, Laura, I just want to thank you one more time for being here and for taking all this time with us today. Laura Bratton ** 1:04:27 Thank you for the opportunity, and thank you for hosting this podcast. Incredibly powerful and we all need to be reminded **Michael Hingson ** 1:04:37 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.
In this engaging conversation, Evan Schwerbrock, a certified strength and conditioning coach, shares his journey of overcoming challenges as a blind athlete and fitness advocate. He discusses his initiative, Cane Enable Fitness, aimed at making fitness more accessible for individuals with visual impairments. The conversation delves into his experiences in strongman competitions, his personal fitness journey, and the importance of community support in achieving fitness goals. Evan's passion for fitness and dedication to helping others shine through as he shares insights and anecdotes from his life. In this conversation, Evan shares his personal journey of navigating vision loss due to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, discussing the challenges he faced and the importance of self-advocacy. The discussion delves into the impact of medical advice on individuals with blindness, the adaptation to educational environments, and how fitness can serve as a tool for building confidence. Evan emphasizes the significance of orientation and mobility training, the challenges faced in gym settings, and the importance of community support. The conversation also touches on nutrition and recovery strategies in sports training, highlighting the unique experiences of visually impaired individuals. In this engaging conversation, the speakers delve into various themes surrounding recovery techniques, the importance of grip strength, and the journey of strength training and competitions. They discuss the evolution of recovery methods, emphasizing the need for active healing rather than traditional icing techniques. The conversation also highlights the significance of grip strength in sports and daily activities, particularly for individuals with visual impairments. The speakers share personal experiences in strength training, including participation in strongman competitions, and the impact of fitness on the blind community. Additionally, they touch on literary interests and personal growth, showcasing the importance of education and empowerment in achieving a healthy lifestyle.~~~How to find more about Evan Schwerbrock:WEBSITE: https://www.caneandablefitness.com/about INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/caneandablefitness/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049697876217# ~~~Call or Text the Podcast Hotline at +1-908-349-1480Or you can Email us to send in those questions to podcast@fourbadeyes.com More about Four Bad Eyes Podcast ► https://www.fourbadeyes.com TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@fourbadeyes INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fourbadeyes ~~~More about Anthony Ferraro ► https://www.asfvision.com Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asfvision More about Dan Mancina ► https://www.keeppushinginc.com Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danthemancina/ ~~~Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Evan Schwerbrock03:03 Cane Enable Fitness: Making Fitness Accessible06:03 The Journey into Fitness and Strength Training08:57 Achievements in Strongman Competitions11:58 Adaptive Strength and Future Goals14:59 Personal Background and Life Experiences17:59 The Importance of Community and Support22:41 Navigating Vision Loss: Personal Stories25:00 The Impact of Medical Advice on Blindness27:04 Adapting to Blindness in Education28:58 Fitness as a Tool for Confidence and Advocacy32:02 Orientation and Mobility Training: A Game Changer35:57 Overcoming Gym Challenges as a Visually Impaired Person42:58 Building Community and Support in Fitness49:01 Nutrition and Recovery in Sports Training51:21 The Evolution of Recovery Techniques54:58 Grip Strength and Its Importance58:40 Exploring Strength Training and Competitions01:01:13 The Journey of a Strongman01:06:21 Literary Interests and Personal Growth01:08:15 Empowering the Blind Community Through Fitness~~~Podcast Intro & Outro done by @BlindSurfer Pete Gustin find out more at ► https://www.petegustin.com
I just wanted to talk about the iris today. A chill, colorful muscle donut that controls how much light hits your retina and makes you look good doing it. But no. UnitedHealthcare had to show up first—again—with a story so dark it makes retinal necrosis look like a fairy tale. We're talking Do Not Resuscitate orders getting denied by algorithms and patients dying because no human was watching. Then we finally pivot to the iris: how it works, how it fails, why it looks different in everyone, and what happens when people decide to change their eye color on purpose (spoiler: don't). I also touch on laser procedures, night vision contacts, LASIK myths, and iridology—which is basically astrology for your eyeballs. All that and a retinal wiring rant, because I can't help myself. Takeaways: UnitedHealthcare might be setting a new low. When your life is being managed by an algorithm that's literally ignoring your DNR order, we have officially lost the plot. The iris is not just decoration. It's a muscle. It's photoreactive. It's a vibe. And it's doing way more work than it gets credit for. Thinking about cosmetic eye color surgery? Just don't. It's like installing a tinted windshield inside your eye. Except it doesn't work. And might make you go blind. Night vision contact lenses are real(ish). But if you wear them in public, people are going to think you're either Batman or a sleep-deprived raccoon. Iridology is fake and somehow still thriving. It's amazing how far you can go in life with confidence and zero science. — To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com Can't get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/ If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken If you want more information on models I use: Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: https://anatomywarehouse.com/?aff=14 Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15 -- A friendly reminder from the G's and Tarsus: If you want to learn more about Demodex Blepharitis, making an appointment with your eye doctor for an eyelid exam can help you know for sure. Visit http://www.EyelidCheck.com for more information. Today's episode is brought to you by DAX Copilot from Microsoft. DAX Copilot is your AI assistant for automating clinical documentation and workflows helping you be more efficient and reduce the administrative burdens that cause us to feel overwhelmed and burnt out. To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi. To learn more about Pearson Ravitz go to http://www.pearsonravitz.com/knockknock. Produced by Human Content Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sarah is getting into birding and Susie is getting into the Elks. What we're saying is we're old. But we're happy. Unfortunately a lot of people aren't happy, but don't worry, we have the data on what can solve that problem, and it turns out it's not that hard. We share our own ideas of what hell is, and basically it's us being bad at literally anything. We find out how one woman went blind doing something we've all done! Susie shares a list of things people have gotten stuck in their bodies, and it's way worse than you could even imagine.Listen to more podcasts like this: https://wavepodcastnetwork.comConnect with us on social media:BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastSusie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterSarah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBCP on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodSponsors:Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/BRAINCANDY to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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