Podcasts about guide dogs

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Stories have a way of helping us recognize ourselves, and that's exactly what happened in my conversation with Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond. Nana shares what it was like to grow up in Queens, then suddenly move to a boarding school in Ghana, and how that experience shaped her identity in ways she's still uncovering today. As Nana describes her path from writer to author, her years of persistence, and the curiosity that led to books like Powder Necklace and Blue, I felt a deep connection to her commitment to keep creating even when the process feels uncertain. We also explored trust, partnership, and the lessons my guide dogs have taught me—all ideas that tie into the heart of Nana's storytelling. This conversation is an invitation to see your own life with more clarity, courage, and compassion. Highlights: 00:00:10 – Step into a conversation that explores how stories shape courage and connection. 00:01:41 – See how early environments influence identity and spark deeper questions about belonging. 00:02:55 – Learn how a major cultural shift can expand perspective and redefine personal truth. 00:23:05 – Discover what creative persistence looks like when the path is long and uncertain. 00:27:45 – Understand what distinguishes writing from fully embracing authorship. 00:33:22 – Explore how powerful storytelling draws people into a moment rather than just describing it. 00:46:45 – Follow how curiosity about history can unlock unexpected creative direction. 00:59:31 – Gain insight into why treating a publisher as a partner strengthens both the work and the audience reach. About the Guest: Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond is the author of Powder Necklace: A Novel, the award-winning children's picture book Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky, the collection Relations: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices, and My Parents' Marriage: A Novel.  Tapped for her passion about Africa's rich fashion traditions and techniques, Brew-Hammond was commissioned by the curators of Brooklyn Museum's "Africa Fashion" exhibit to pen and perform an original poem for the museum's companion short film of the same name. In the clip, she wore a look from the made-in-Ghana lifestyle line she co-founded with her mother and sister, Exit 14. The brand was featured on Vogue.com. Every month, Brew-Hammond co-leads the Redeemed Writers Group whose mission is to write light into the darkness. Learn more about it here.Learn more at nanabrewhammond.com. Ways to connect with Nana**:** Instagram, Facebook and Threads: @nanaekuawriter Twitter: @nanaekua  www.NanaBrewHammond.com  ORDER my new novel   MY PARENTS' MARRIAGE Read 2023 NCTE Award Winner & NAACP Image Award Nominee   BLUE: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky   Read RELATIONS: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices , stories, essays & poems by new and established Black writers   Shop Exit 14 , all weather, uniquely designed, 100% cotton apparel sustainably made in Ghana About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson  01:20 And a pleasant, Good day to you all, wherever you happen to be, I would like to welcome you to another episode of unstoppable mindset. Today, we get to have a conversation with Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond And Nana has a lot of interesting things to talk about. She's written books, she's done a variety of different things, and rather than me giving it all away, it'll be more fun to let her tell the stories and get a chance for us to listen to her. She is in Oakland, California, so she's at the other end of the state for me, and we were just comparing the weather. It's a lot colder where she is than where I live down here in Victorville, where today it's 104 degrees outside. And Nana, you said it was like, what, somewhere around 70. Yeah, it's 68 There you go. See lovely weather. Well, Nana, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here, and I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  02:23 I feel the same way. Thank you for having me on your amazing show. And it's so wonderful to be in conversation with you. Michael Hingson  02:30 Well, I'm glad we get a chance to spend some time together and we can, we can talk about whatever we want to talk about and make it relevant and interesting. So we'll do that. Why don't we start with what I love to do at the beginning of these is to talk about the early Nana growing up and all that. So take us back as close to the beginning as your memory allows. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  02:52 Oh gosh, as my memory allows. Um, I so I was born in Plattsburgh, New York, which is upstate near Montreal, Canada. Michael Hingson  03:06 Been there. Oh, cool in the winter. I even crossed the lake in an icebreaker. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  03:12 But yeah, oh my gosh, wow. Okay, yeah. Bring back memories. Well, I was only there for till I was, like two years old. So, but I do, I have gone up there in the winter and it is cold. Yes, it is cold, yeah. So I was born there, but I grew up in New York City and had that really was sort of my life. I lived in New York, grew up in Queens, New York, and then at 12 years old, my parents decided to send me to Ghana to go to school. And that was sort of like a big, the biggest change of my life, like I know that there was a before Ghana and an after Ghana, Nana and so, yeah, wow. Michael Hingson  04:02 So, so when was that? What year was that that you went to Ghana? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  04:06 That was 1990 August of 1990 actually. Michael Hingson  04:11 So what did you think about going to Ghana? I mean, clearly that was a major change. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  04:15 Yeah, you know, I, you know, my parents are from Ghana originally. So when, you know, they would always talk about it. We, you know, back then phones, long distance phone calls to Ghana. I, you know, that was, that was the extent of my sort of understanding of Ghana, the food that we ate at home, etc. So going to Ghana was just sort of mind blowing to me, to sort of be crossing, you know, getting on a plane and all of that, and then being in the country that my parents had left to come to the United States, was just sort of like, oh, wow, connecting with family members. It was just, it was a lot. To process, because life was very, very, very, very different. So yeah, it was just sort of a wild eye opening experience about just the world and myself and my family that ultimately inspired me to write a book about it, because it was just, I just, it was a lot to process. Michael Hingson  05:25 Why did they want you to go to to Ghana to study? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  05:30 Yeah, so in the 90s, in New York City or and in the late 80s, there was the crack epidemic was happening, and we, you know, I mean, I remember, we lived in a house in Queens, and when we would, you know, part of our chores was to sweep in front of the house, you know, rake the leaves, that kind of thing in the fall. And we would, all the time there would be crack files, you know, like as we're sweeping up, and I didn't get there where we were young. My sister was, you know, a teenager. I was 12, and my, you know, my younger brother had just been born. He was just like a, like, a little under a year old. And I think my parents just didn't feel that it was a safe place for us as kids to grow up. And so, yeah, they wanted to kind of give us an opportunity to get out of, you know, that environment for a while. Michael Hingson  06:33 What did you think of it? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  06:35 I mean, you know, as a kid, you never want to leave what to you. So it was, I would say it was, it was, it was interesting. Because initially I loved it. I was like, I actually campaigned, you know, I was like, I really, you know, would like to stay in Ghana, but I didn't want to stay for, you know, the three years, which is what I what happened? I wanted to stay for maybe, like a year, kind of try it, you know, go to school for a year. I found it this really cool adventure, go to boarding school and on all of that. But my parents made the decision that we should just sort of ride it out and finish like I had to finish high school. And, yeah, so, so great for me. Michael Hingson  07:25 So you were there for three years, yes. So by you were 12, so by 15, you had finished high Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  07:32 school, yeah, because the system there is different. It's it was at the time the British system. So it was like a form system where I saw I entered in form three, because it was, it wasn't quite the equivalent in the sense that I probably should have started in form two or form one, but I was also an advanced student, and and they, the way the system there works is you have to take a common entrance exam from primary school to get into secondary school. So it's very difficult to get into school midstream there. So we had to go through all of these hoops. And, you know, there was an opening in form three, and that was higher than my, you know, than where I should have been, but I was advanced, so I was able to get into that school that way. You did okay. I assume I did. I mean, I struggled, which was interesting, because I was a very, you know, good, strong student in the States, but I struggled mightily when I first got there, and throughout, it was never easy, but I was able to manage. Michael Hingson  08:49 Now, did your sister also go to Ghana? She Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  08:52 did, and she was hopping mad. Michael Hingson  08:55 How old was she when you were 12, she was Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  08:59 17, so she Okay, yeah, almost about to go to college. She was really excited about, like, that portion of life. And then it was like, okay, she's in Ghana. She was hopping mad. Michael Hingson  09:13 Well, how long did she stay? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  09:16 Well, so she stayed for two years. Because what Ghana has is sort of like, at the time it was something called sixth form, which is, again, the British system. So it's sort of like a college prep in between the equivalent of that. So she basically did that in Ghana. Michael Hingson  09:38 Okay, well, and your little brother didn't go to Ghana, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  09:44 not yet, not not yet. You Michael Hingson  09:47 mean they didn't send him over at one year? No, okay, well, that's probably a good idea. Well, so looking back on it, what do you think about having spent three years in. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  10:00 Ghana, looking back on it, I think it was actually really, really good for me. I mean, it was that doesn't take away from the fact that it was very difficult. It was very, very challenging, not only academically. It was I was bullied really hard at this boarding school that I went to. The girls just kind of made my life hell. But what was amazing about it for me was that I had, I had exposure to Ghanaian culture in a way that I would never have had in the States. As I mentioned to you, Ghana was sort of that country over there when I lived in America. And you know, it existed as you know, family members coming to visit, long distance phone calls, the food that we ate, that you know, the accents that we had, things that made us different, and at the time, that was not cool. You know, as a kid, you just want to fit in and you don't want to be different. And going to Ghana was my opportunity to learn that, wow, I didn't have to be embarrassed or ashamed of that difference. There was so much to be proud of. You know, my family was, you know, a sprawling family, you know, my my grandmother owned a business, my grandfather owned a business, you know, it was, it was really, it was eye opening, just to sort of be in another environment. People knew how to, you know, pronounce my name, and I didn't have to, you know, just explain things. And that was really affirming for a 12 year old and a 13 year old when you're going through that, you know. So it was really good for me. And in Ghana is where I came to know Christ. I became a Christian, and it was something that spiritually, I was not really, I don't know, I just didn't really think about spiritual. I did on some level. But going to Ghana, it everything just felt so palpable. It was really like we're praying for this. And it happened, you know what I mean, like, yeah. It felt very Yeah. It was just a time in my life when life really felt very the mysteries of life really felt like they were open to me, Michael Hingson  12:37 interesting and so you clearly gained a lot of insight and knowledge and experience over there that you were able to bring back with you when you came Yes, yes. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  12:55 When I returned to the States, I was just, I think of myself, I guess, as a weirdo. Like, when I came back, I just felt so weird because I couldn't really, fully, you know, connect with my friends, because I had missed out on three years of culture, you know. And you You don't realize how much culture means, like, until, like, you know, you don't have those references anymore. I didn't know the songs that were popular. I didn't, you know, know about, I forget, there was some sort of genes that were really popular while I was gone. I didn't know what they were. I didn't have a pair of them. So it was just sort of this, this interesting time. And I was also young, because I had finished high school, and I was 15, yeah, my friends were, you know, sophomores, yeah, you know, and I was beginning the process of looking into college. So it was just a really isolating time for me and I, but also, you know, interesting and I, again, I say it was, it was ultimately in the in the wash of it. I think it was good because it enabled me to sort of, I guess, mature in a way that enabled me to start college earlier. And, you know, sort of see the world in a much different way. Michael Hingson  14:26 So when you went to college, what did you want to do? Or had you had you decided to start laying plans for a major and what you wanted to do post college, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  14:36 I did not know what I wanted to do. I kind of, I mean, I kind of thought I wanted to be a doctor. I thought I wanted to be a doctor. Like, all my life, growing up, I was like, I'm going to be a doctor. And I was a science student in Ghana, but I struggled mightily. But still, I went. I entered college with us. You know, the plans? To become a bio psychology major. And you know, I took two, three classes, well more than that, I did, like, a year of classes. And I was just like, This is not for me, not for me at all. But yeah, yeah. So it was, it was that was a little rough. Michael Hingson  15:21 Things happen. So what did? What did you go off and do? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  15:25 Then I ended up majoring in political science and Africana Studies, and it was, I remember taking a political science class my freshman year, and I, my my professor was amazing, but it was, it was interesting to me. I think looking back now, being able to think about the world in a way that was sort of linking history and politics and culture together. And I think that was interesting to me, because I had just come from Ghana and had been exposed to, like, sort of this completely different culture, completely different political system, and, you know, kind of having that, I that thinking, or that wonderment of like, wow, you can Life can be so different somewhere else, but it's still life, and it's still happening, but also having that connection as an American to America and what's happening there. And so holding both of those things in my hands when I got to college, I think I was, I just what I was really sort of intrigued by the idea of studying politics and studying culture and society, Michael Hingson  16:48 and that's what you did. Yes, I did. So you got a degree in political science. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  16:54 Yes, a double degree political science and Africana Studies. Michael Hingson  16:57 Africana Studies, okay, and again, that that's probably pretty interesting, because the the Ghana influence had to help with the Africana Studies, and the desire to to do that, and you certainly came with a good amount of knowledge that had to help in getting that as a part of your major. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  17:16 Well, interestingly, my focus was on African American Studies, because I really growing up as an immigrant, like with immigrant parents, their understanding or their their thought process wasn't necessarily, I don't know they weren't. They didn't really raise us to think about race or being black, because their consciousness wasn't about that. It was they were immigrants. You know what? I mean, they weren't thinking about that. So I was actually quite curious, because I did grow up in America and I was black, but I didn't understand, you know, the history of America in that way. And I remember, actually, when I was in was it the third or maybe it was the second or third grade, or maybe it was fifth grade. I did a project on the Civil War, and I remember being so interested in it, because I had, I just didn't, you know, it wasn't. I was so fascinated by American history because I really wasn't. I didn't, I didn't understand it in the way that maybe somebody who wasn't the child of immigrants, you know, might, you know, connect with it. So I was just Yeah, so I was really fascinated by African American history, so I ended up double majoring in it and concentrating on African American politics, which was really fascinating to me. Michael Hingson  18:55 Yeah, and there certainly has been a fair amount of that over the years, hasn't there? Yes, there has, but you can, you can cope with it and and again. But did your time in Ghana, kind of influence any of what you did in terms of African American Studies? Did it help you at all? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  19:15 Um, I, I don't know, because I don't because, because I think what, what I what, what Ghana helped me with was, I remember, I'll say this. I remember one time in Ghana, in class, we were reading a book by an author who had we were reading a play, actually by a Ghanaian writer who was writing about a Ghanian man who married an African American woman and brought her to his home. And there was a lot of clash between them, because, you know, they were both black, but they had different sort of backgrounds. Yeah, and I remember the teacher asking, because the. The the wife that he brought home, the African American woman, mentioned certain things about America, and no one in the classroom could answer any questions about America, and I was the only one who could. And I was, you know, very, very sort of shy in that in that school and in that context. But I remember that day feeling so emboldened, like I was, like, I can actually contribute to this conversation. And so maybe, you know, in on some level, when I got back to the states, maybe there was some interest in linking those two things together. But it wasn't as as is in life. It wasn't obvious to me. Then it was sort of just kind of me following my interest and curiosity. And I ended up, I didn't set out to be an Africana Studies double major, but I ended up taking so many classes that I had the credits. And, you know, I was like, Okay, I guess I'm I have two degrees now, or two, two concentrations, Michael Hingson  21:02 yeah, did you go and do any advanced work beyond getting bachelor's degrees? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  21:08 No, I did not. When I graduated, I initially thought I might get interested, get in, go to law school. But this was me again, following my muse. I realized that my real interest was in writing papers when I was in college. You know, give me a 15 page paper, 20 page paper, I was ecstatic. I loved writing papers. And I think that's one of the reasons, too, why I loved political science and Africana Studies, because we were assigned tons of papers, and it enabled me to sort of, you know, writing these papers enabled me to kind of think through questions that I had, or process what I was reading or thinking about or feeling. And so when I graduated from college, you know, I got, you know, a job, and was working, trying to figure out, Okay, do I want to go to law school? But at the time that I graduated, that was also during the time of, like, the.com boom, and there were a lot of online magazines that were looking for writers, and so I started, kind of, you know, submitting, and I got some some things published. And as that was happening, I was like, I think this is what I want to focus on. Michael Hingson  22:30 So when did you really know that you were a writer? Then? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  22:34 I mean, I don't I think that when I got back, when I started working, so I, ultimately, I got a job in advertising, and I was working, you know, as an assistant in the on the account side of things, but there was this whole creative department that, you know, got to, you know, come up with all of the, you know, the the taglines and write commercials and write jingles and all that kind of stuff. And I was, like, so fascinated by that, and that's what I thought, okay, I could if you know, I need a job, I need money, and I want to write, so maybe this is what I need to be doing. And so I ultimately did get a job as a copywriter and and I still, you know, do that work today, but I think I always knew that I needed to write, and I wanted to actually write about my experience in Ghana. So I remember, you know, I started kind of very fledgling. Would began to write into that, and I ultimately started writing that the book that became my first book, powder necklace, on the subway to and from work. Every morning I would wake up very early, write what I could get ready for work, right on the bus, right on the subway, you know, get to work after work. You know, repeat. And it took me many years, but that's what I did. And I wrote my first book, Michael Hingson  24:14 and that was published in 2010 right? Yes, it was, did you self publish? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  24:18 Or I well, I did not self publish. I was published by Simon and Schuster. Simon and Schuster's Atria Books, Washington Square press. And part of my process was I started just kind of, you know, the Internet. The Internet was new. It was something that was available to me. So I started just kind of Googling, how do you get published? And they said you needed a literary agent. So I started looking online for literary agents. And because I lived in New York City at the time, I would literally write my my query letters and like, hand deliver them different agencies. 90s, and one woman, after four years of looking, said, Okay, this sounds interesting. I'd love to meet with you. And I didn't believe. I was like, wow, I've been rejected for four years, and somebody actually wants this, and she was able to sell the book. And I was shocked. I was like, Simon and sister, okay? And at the time they bought it, the, you know, the America, the US, was going through the whole financial, you know, crisis, the recession, in 2008 so they held my book for a year, and then we began the process in 2009 and then they, you know, we were on track to publish it in 2010 Michael Hingson  25:46 Wow. Well, tell me about that book. Yeah. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  25:51 Powder necklace is a novel. It's a fictionalized account of my experience going to high school in Ghana. I when I went to school in Ghana. I went to a girls boarding school in the mountains of Ghana central region, and that school was going through a major water crisis. We did not, I mean, we the short story is that, I guess, because of we were on the mountain, the water pressure was very low, and so it was really difficult to get the water up that mountain. And they didn't have like enough, you know, tanks around the school and what have you. So we had one artificial well, and then we had, like, an underground well, and that was it. And the underground well wasn't always, you know, full of water to service the whole school. It was really difficult. So, you know, we had to bring in our own water, some. And then it became, if you had money, you could bring water. But if you didn't have money, you didn't and it was a very desperate time for for young girls without being not being able to take a shower on demand. And it was, it was wild. Michael Hingson  27:15 Where does the title powder necklace come from? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  27:19 So the title, I named it powder necklace, because, as I mentioned, taking a shower became this like symbol of the haves and the have nots. And, you know, all of this having water, really. And if so, what, what the girls, what we would do is, you know, after you've taken a bath, people would put tons of powder on their necks. And it was sometimes it was okay we didn't take a bath, so we're going to put powder on our necks to scented powder to cover the odor. But it was also a way, like if you had bathed, to sort of, you know, show off that you'd bathed. So for me, it was as I was reflecting on the on this as I was writing this story and reflecting on that whole experience, I thought, wow, it was sort of our way of holding our heads up, you know, in the difficult situation, and kind of making the best of it. So that's why I called it powder necklace, Michael Hingson  28:17 okay? And that was for children. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  28:20 Well, it was for young adults, young adults, but Michael Hingson  28:25 it was more writing than pictures. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  28:27 Yeah, it was a young adult novel. I actually, I mean, this was my first book. I really didn't know what I was doing. I just, I wrote the book and I didn't know that it was a young adult novel, until people were like, Yeah, you wrote a young adult novel. I'm like, okay, Michael Hingson  28:47 works for me. Well, what does, what does being a writer mean to you? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  28:54 Um, I think being a writer means to me being able to articulate. A time, a place, a mood, a moment, being able to articulate it, one for myself, but also to create a record that helps people who don't necessarily have that gift to be able to sort of put words to the experience of living at a time place, having a certain feeling about something. Michael Hingson  29:34 Do you think there's a difference between being considered a writer and being an author, are they the same, or are they really different? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  29:45 I do think that there is a difference, and not in a sort of, you know, highfalutin way. I think the difference is the fact that when you I think, like, when you asked me initially, like, when do you think that you you became. Became a writer. My My instinct is to say that I think I was always a writer, because I think if you write, you're a writer. And whether you're published or not, you're a writer. If you have that inclination, that gift, and you sort of invest in that gift, and invest and develop it. I think you're a writer, but I think with an author, I think then that's to me. I think of it as the business of being a writer, or the business of being, yeah, you are now sort of in business with your publisher. Publisher has invested a certain amount in you, and it then becomes a more sort of public facing thing. The work is not just for you anymore. The work is now being disseminated to a group and hopefully to as many people as possible, and you as the writer now have to figure out, like, how do I get to my audience? How do I maximize or expand the reach of this thing that I wrote? How do I connect with people around the story and build build a readership. And how do I ultimately, you know, the my desire and goal would be to live off of this. How do I make turn this into something that I can, I can do, you know, full time and live off of Michael Hingson  31:38 so you turn from a writer to being an author. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  31:42 I'm, yes, I am an author, and I'm and I'm hoping to get to the to the, you know, the point where I can do it 100% full time, and it be, you know, 100% lucrative in that way. Michael Hingson  31:56 So what are you doing now? In addition to doing books, I Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  32:01 also freelance as a copywriter, so I'm still copywriting, Michael Hingson  32:05 okay, I was wondering what you what you did? So you're doing, still marketing and jingles and all those things, yeah, well, I Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  32:13 I'm my focus. I do do that, but my focus is mainly in the digital space. So I write lots of websites and web ads and social media copy, and, you know, things of that nature, campaign work. Michael Hingson  32:33 Well, that's, is there anything that you've written or copy written that we would all know, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  32:42 yeah, I mean, I did. I've done a lot. I guess the maybe the most recent thing that I've done that people might be aware of, or some people might be aware of, is the Brooklyn Museum in New York, did a an exhibition called Africa fashion. And I, they created a short film to promote it, and I, they commissioned me to write an original piece for it. And so I wrote that piece and and performed it in the film. So, you know, people who are into that kind of thing a museum, that that museum might be aware of it. But I've also written for, I did a lot of work for L'Oreal Paris, USA, and I've just done a lot of beauty work. So many of the beauty brands you might be aware, you know, you might know, I've done some work for them, cool. Michael Hingson  33:45 Well, that, you know, you do have to do things to earn an income to to be able to afford to write until you can do it full time. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  33:53 Yeah, yeah. And I actually really love copywriting. I think it's an it's been an incredible teacher in the sense of how to how to crystallize an idea in very short, you know, in just a few words, how to convey emotion in just a few words. And also that storytelling is not just the words, it's how you deliver the story that's all part of it. So I think it's been an incredible teacher in that way. Michael Hingson  34:28 I know for me as a speaker, it is how you tell the story. And I've learned over 23 and a half years of speaking how to take people inside the World Trade Center and actually have them travel with me and do all the things that, and experience all the things that that I went through, and then come out of the other side and I and I say that because so many people after I speak somewhere, well. Come up and say, we were with you in the building. We were with you with everything that you did. And I appreciate that there is a real significant art to storytelling, and part of it is also, and I'm sure that this is true for you as a writer and an author, that part of it has to be that you have to actually connect with the audience. You've got to understand the audience. You've got to connect with them, and you have to bring them along, because they're not expecting to go with you. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  35:33 Absolutely, absolutely. And I will say that I started one of your books just the beginning of it, and I was just running with Roselle, and I was so taken, so absorbed by the first few pages of it. You really do immerse us. And I think that that's the best kind of of writing. You know, when you're able to kind of present material that people may or may not be familiar with, and make it riveting and really bring us into it, and then have us invest being, feel invested well. Michael Hingson  36:16 And I think the last book that we did last year live like a guide dog. I worked really hard to make sure that we were drawing people into the experiences, because every chapter is actually taking lessons from one of my guide dogs and also from Fantasia, which who is my wife's service dog, but each chapter relates to one of those dogs, and I wanted them to be environments where people again were drawn in and appreciate the dogs for what they are and what they do, not just some dumb Animal that comes along. Yeah. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  37:00 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, yeah, so interesting. I think there's, there's so much, I guess. I don't want to use the word, I guess what I want to say, there's a lot of mystery in in the sort of human animal interaction, and people just aren't aware of how powerful it is, and I can, I'm saying that I speak for myself, because growing up, actually, I was really, really scared of dogs and animals, all animals, and I so there's, there's two, there's kind of two stories I'll share. But one is when we were, when we were growing up, my parents, you know, were from Ghana. They wanted to eat goat meat. And at the time, you couldn't just go to a supermarket goat meat. So we used to go to a farm out in New Jersey that had goats, and we would have to go and have the goat, you know, slaughtered and, you know, cut up and all that kind of stuff for the meat. And I remember that whenever the hand would go into, you know, the pen where the goats were, the goats would just were. They would be so stressed out, they would like, you know, part like the ocean walked in, and if he picked, when he picked one out. There would be other people, other goats in the pen that would start screaming in agony, along with the goat that had been picked out. And I was just like, Oh my gosh. That must be his family members, like, or his loved ones. And it was so I remember that was so eye opening to me, like, wow. So I ended up years, years later, I wrote a short story, and I actually did some research on goats and how brilliant they are, and I was just like, wow, oh my goodness, I remember that so well. But I have a cat right now, and my kitty cat is just such a such a joy, like just sort of to build that relationship with, with my with my pet, is just such a beautiful thing, and how she just kind of, because I grew up really scared of pets, and I sort of inherited her when I got when I got married, you know, she's been very patient with me, like, because at first I was so skittish around her, and I could see her, kind of like rolling her eyes, like, I mean, you no harm. You can pick me up. It's all good. And she's just been so wonderfully patient with me. We've built that bond over time. Michael Hingson  39:31 Well, yeah, I have, of course, my my eighth guy, dog, Alamo, and stitch the cat. Stitch is 15 and a half and a real cutie pie. We rescued her. Actually, there were people who were living next to us, and he was moving out. His wife had died, and he just told the people who were moving all of his stuff out, take the cat to the pound. I don't want anything to do with it. And we, we said, Absolutely not. We'll find it a home. And then I asked, What the. Cat's name was, and they told me the cat's name was stitch. And I knew that this cat wasn't going to go anywhere because my wife had been, well, my wife had been a quilter since 1994 and a quilter is never going to give away a cat named stitch. Yes. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  40:14 Oh, I'm so glad stitch found a home with you. Michael Hingson  40:18 Oh, yeah. Well, we found a stitch. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  40:20 Oh, that's right, that's right. Michael Hingson  40:23 And, and, and so she's, she's got lots of personality. And so it really works out pretty well. No, no complaints. And I've always said, Whenever I get a guide dog, because my wife has always had cats, when I get a new guide dog, I've always said, and will continue to say, it has to be a dog that's been raised around cats and has no problems with cats. I have seen a couple of Guide Dogs, actually, that hated cats, and one almost killed a cat, and that's I will never tolerate that. Yeah, they have to get along. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely now, when we brought Alamo home, stitch had a few concerns about this dog in her house. She got over it when she decided that Alamo wasn't going to do anything to bother her and they they talk all the time now and rub noses and all that sort of stuff. Oh, that's so cool, yeah, but, but it's, it is great, and they, they bring so much joy and so many lessons to us that I think it was really important to learn. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  41:34 Yeah, yeah. You're reminding me the first dog, because my grandmother actually loves animals, and when I went to Ghana, she got a dog, and, you know, as a kid, so we got a puppy. And I remember the puppy was initially supposed to be a guard dog, but we I, I would feed the I would hand feed the dog sausages and just spoil the dog so much. Could not be a guard dog, so I loved that dog. Joshua, yeah, Joshua, Michael Hingson  42:07 well, but you and Joshua got along really well. On we got along great. One of the things that people sometimes ask me is if my dog trained to protect and the answer is no, they're not trained, and then they've said, Well, what would happen if somebody were to decide to attack you with the dog around? And my response will always be and rightly so, I wouldn't want to be the person to try that and find out what will happen, because much more than guarding, there's love. And I've always believed that dogs love unconditionally. I think trusting is a different story. They are open to trust, but, but you have to earn their trust. They'll love you, but will they trust you? That depends on you. And so it's it's really pretty cool, but I would not want to be the person to ever decide to try to attack us, because I, I am sure that Alamo would not tolerate that at all. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  43:10 Oh, not at all. How do, how do you or how have you built trust with your your pets? Michael Hingson  43:17 Well, a lot of it has to do with they want us to be the pack leaders. They want us to be their team leader. And so I have to set the ground rules. So, for example, no jumping on the furniture and all that. But again, it's also how you convey that. So if my dog is going to jump up on something and I don't want that, I'll say, leave it. And as soon as the dog obeys, I'll give the dog a food reward, a kibble, to let the dog know, and I'll also use a clicker, but I'll let the dog know I approve of what you did, not punishing them for, you know, something else. Yeah, so it's not punishment, it's positive rewards. I think that's extremely important, but also it is in the stressful times being very focused and calm. So if we're walking somewhere and we get lost, that is not the dog's fault, because it's my job to know where to go and how to get where I'm going, and it's the dog's job to make sure that we walk safely to get there, so if we get lost, that's on me. And what I can't do, or shouldn't do, is panic and become very fearful and upset, because the dog will sense that I have to stop and figure it out and continue to praise the dog, saying what a good job you're doing, and so on. And those kinds of things are the things that will, over time, build that trust. I think it takes a good year to truly build a trusting relationship that is second. To none. And that's the kind of teaming relationship that you want, whether it's a guide dog or any dog. And even as far as that goes, although they're different cats, yeah, but it's, it's all about building that relationship and conveying the command and conveying that you want to trust and be trusted? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  45:24 Yeah, yeah. I think you're you. What you said that really resonated with me is that they want to know. They want you to be the pack leader and the and part of that is, you know, you lay down the ground rules, but also you're responsible for them and their well being. And, yeah, that really, that really resonated with me. Michael Hingson  45:48 Well, so you wrote your first book, and then when did you write your second book? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  45:55 My second book came out in 2022, so it was a 12 year spread in my first book and my second book, Why so long? Oh my gosh, my book, I was the book I was working on, like to sort of follow, was just rejected for, for all that whole time, and I was, you know, in more and more distraught, and, you know, in despair about it. I didn't know what to do about it. And I actually, you know, I was actually reading the Bible, and I came across the fact that there was a curtain, a blue curtain, in King Solomon's temple. And I was like, why does it matter that the curtain was blue? And so I just started googling casually, and I discovered that there was a snail in antiquity that was harvested for the blue drops that it it secreted, or it secreted drops that were ultimately oxidized to turn blue. And I was like, what I've never heard about this? I started doing some more research, and I realized, like, oh my gosh, the color blue has such a fascinating history. Kids need to know about this. And so I wrote it really as a poem initially, but then I thought, you know, I really want to see if I can get this published. And I was able to get it published, and that became my children's book blue, which was such a bomb to my soul, because after sort of a decade of getting, you know, rejected, and, you know, close to a decade of getting rejected, this, this sort of beautiful, like, sort of knowledge, you know, I came across, But I was able to create a book, and it's just been a wonderful experience with the children's Michael Hingson  47:45 book, wow, so the full title of blue is, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  47:51 it's blue a history of the color as deep as the sea and as wide as the sky. Wow. Michael Hingson  47:57 That should be enough to get the book sold. But as you point out, there's, there's a lot of history, yes, and that, that's pretty cool. So it was, it was released in 2022 and they finally, the publishers finally bought into that, huh? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  48:16 Well, yeah, I mean, that wasn't the novel that I've been working on. So I was still working. I ultimately, I did sell the novel, but that was its own journey, and I ended up writing another book that became the book is called my parents marriage, and it is not about my actual parents marriage. It's a novel about a young woman for adult readers. It's my first book for adult readers, and it is about a young woman whose parents are in a polygamous union, and how they're they have a really turbulent polygamous union, and how that relationship kind of kind of cast a shadow on this woman's, you know, choices in relationships and marriage for herself. Michael Hingson  49:10 So you you publish that my parents marriage. You also did a collection relations. Tell me about relationships. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  49:18 I did. Yeah, so relations is an anthology of its stories, essays and poems that are by writers from all across the continent of Africa. So I have Egyptian poets and Libyan you know essayists and you know, Nigerian storytellers, just it was, it was a really amazing project to work on. I started working on it during August of 2020, which was sort of like I've heard it described as peak pandemic, right? You know, we were several months. Into lockdown, and you know, it became this wonderful way for me to kind of connect while I was sort of holed up in my apartment in New York. Michael Hingson  50:15 Okay, now, were you married by then? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  50:18 No, I was not. I had just started dating my now husband, and I was like, Am I ever gonna see this man again? Because he lived in California, so at that time, the planes were grounded. I remember we were, like, on the first, very first flights that were able to start, you know, that started and be on planes, there'd be like, four people on the entire plane. Michael Hingson  50:42 Yeah, hopefully you both weren't on planes going against each other at the same time. No, you did communicate a little more than that. Oh, good. Well, so you published. So when was well? What was relations published? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  51:02 Relations came out in 2023 okay, February of 2023, and my parents marriage came out in July of 2024. Just came out in July of 2025, Michael Hingson  51:14 which one the paperback of the paperback? Oh, okay. Have any of them been converted to audio Yes, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  51:23 all, but my first book, are audio books. So blue is an audio book, beautifully read, and then their relations, the stories and essays and poems are read by two speaking artists, and then my parents, marriage is is also wonderfully performed. So, yeah, they're all an audience. Michael Hingson  51:50 That's cool, yeah. So when you're writing, what, what's kind of the difference, or, how do you differentiate between writing for young people and writing for adults. There must be differences. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  52:07 Yeah, I think, I think with for young people, and the practical thing that I try to do is make sure that the vocabulary is are is familiar to them, mostly familiar. I like to put in a stretch word now and then to kind of get them to, like, get to the dictionary and find out what. But if I'm right, when I when I wrote blue, for example, knowing that, you know, the the age group is, the age spread is four to 888, year olds are in third grade. Four year olds are in pre K, so that's that's pretty big spread. So my sweet spot is first and second grade vocabulary words. Okay, it has to be something that they've been exposed to. So thinking of it in that way, the other thing too is breaking down concepts that are, you know, as adults, you know, we just assume that you know, or you can go look it up, but just kind of thinking it through. So if I'm talking about, instead of saying that, you know, there was a snail in antiquity who, you know, heart, you know, dyers were harvesting blue dye from these snails through after a process of oxidation. I wouldn't use any of those words. I would say, snail produced some drops that when exposed to the air and the sun turned blue. And so just sort of really, kind of being mindful of that, and also thinking very visually, writing, very visually. How can I create pictures with words that would be familiar to a child, that can sort of ignite their imagination? Michael Hingson  53:53 Yeah, I think it's extremely important to to deal with the visual aspects of it, but using words and really drawing again, drawing people in because if you just say, well, you can see this in this picture. That doesn't mean a lot, and you're also, I would think, helping to teach or create the concept that some people might some children might want to go off and write because they like how you say and what you say Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  54:24 absolutely and when I when I talk to kids, I go or visit schools, I invite them like I wrote about the color blue. What's your favorite color? These are some some things that I did to kind of learn about it. You can do these things to learn about your favorite color and write your own book? Michael Hingson  54:42 Yeah, yeah, it's, I think, so important to really draw people in and get them to think. And I think it's so much fun for me, I do some of that, but I have probably more of a chance. Challenge, because kids want to play with the dog. Yeah, it's all about the dog. I did a lecture at a K through six elementary school in San Francisco several years ago. I'm trying to remember what school it was anyway, and the teacher said you can only talk for about 10 or 12 minutes, because they just won't pay attention any longer than that. 35 minutes later, I finally ended the discussion, because they were so fascinated to hear me talk about what my dog did. And then I carried that over to how blind people work and function and all that. And the fact is, they were fascinated. The teachers couldn't believe it, but for me, it was a great lesson to know that it's all about creating these pictures that people can follow, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  55:53 yeah, and also to extending those pictures or those words into an experience for kids. Yeah, they really, they really appreciate, sort of like seeing it, kind of, you know, see if the having the concept come to life, yeah, way. And so I'm sure when they see your dog, or are able to interact with your dog, that must be so wonderful for them, Michael Hingson  56:22 but it's important for them to understand what the dog is all about. So by the time they get to interact with the dog, we've talked about things like, you never pet a guide dog in harness. This is what a guide dog does, and this is what they don't do. There are a lot of things to to cover. So it's great when I have the opportunity to really teach them. And sometimes we'll walk around a classroom and I'll show them what he does. Yeah, it's important to be able to do that. Oh, I love that. I love that. And he loves it, of course, all the way. So no question about that. He's you haven't lived until you've seen two or 300 kids all wanting to pet this dog. And the dog knows what to do. He's down on the floor with every appendage stretched out as far as he can go to maximize petting places, petting. Oh, it is so funny. I love that. He loves it. He's, he's, he's so happy. He doesn't care whether he'll do it more with kids even than adults, but, yeah, he'll do it with everybody. It's all about petting me and just remembering I'm the dog. I love that. Well, you've gone through a fair amount of time between books, and I'm sort of curious, what do you think about all the various kinds of changes and ebbs and flows that have come along in the book business, in the book publishing business and so on. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  57:56 Yeah, there have been a lot of changes. Um, I think, um, when my first book came out, like things like, you know, Instagram Bookstagram did not exist. There weren't many sort of podcasts or things of that nature. So I think that there is, there's definitely, there are more venues and more platforms to, you know, get the message out about the book. But I think also there is, it's also just hard. It's in some ways, it also feels in some ways more challenging to get the word out, because in addition to, like, yes, there are more venues in that way, regard, there are fewer book reviewers and fewer places to get a book reviewed, and there's a whole kind of interesting business about around getting reviews. So it's just not the same in that way. But then at the same time. I think what remains the same is connecting with readers. I think the most effective thing is, you know, writing a book that's good and then getting people who have read it and liked it to evangelize, to tell people I liked it, please buy it, or you should have you heard of and because at the end of the day, you know, that's what's going to, you know, give it some wind Michael Hingson  59:30 when thunder dog came out, and we did mention about reviews, and it actually has had, like well over 1600 reviews since it came out in 2011 live like a guide dog hasn't had, of course, so many yet, but every time I get a chance to talk about that book, I ask people to go review it and tell them why it's so important, because potential readers want to know what people think of the book. Yeah, for sure. For sure, it's. It really is important for readers to review and just be honest and say what you think. It's fine, but people should do that. For me, I think one of the biggest things that I see that publishers are doing less of is in a lot of ways, true marketing. You don't, you know, you don't see them doing nearly as much. Of course, I know it's more expensive, but to help create book tours or anything like that, they focus only on social media, and that's not the way to market the book. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:00:33 Yeah, I think, I mean, I've never worked inside a publishing office, so I don't know what actually, how they make these decisions and what goes on, but I do. I think what I have come to sort of think, how I've come to think of it, is the publisher is my business partner, sort of invested in terms of, they've given me an advance. They're going to do the turn key things like, you know, make sure the book gets reviewed by Publishers Weekly, or, sorry, Publishers Marketplace, or no Publishers Weekly. I was correct, and Kirkus review, Kirkus right, and all those kinds of things. And maybe they'll do a mailing to you know who they believe are the people that they need to mail it to. But outside of that, unless you know you, you know it's stipulated in your contract, or you know you are that high, yeah, you know that that celebrity author, or that that best selling author that they you know, are willing to put that money behind. You're working with some your publicist, who's been assigned to your book has is probably working on 10 other books. Can devote so much to it. And so what I've learned is thankful. I'm thankful that, you know, I have this publisher, but I also know that I need to do a lot of work on my own to get Michael Hingson  1:02:04 you've got to be your best marketer, yes, but, but there's value in that too, because you can tell the story whatever it is, like no one else, exactly, exactly. And so that's that's really pretty important, yeah, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:02:18 for sure, for sure. And you can be, you know that I think, also giving yourself permission to be creative, yeah, you know, how can you get the word out in really creative ways, like, again, the publisher. These are things that like, if there was, you know, people, there were many people dedicated to your book for this amount of time, they could kind of sit there and brainstorm and do all those things. But, you know, the reality is, in most cases, it's a small it's a lean and mean team. They don't have that bandwidth, so yeah, just kind of coming up with creative ways. And at times, what I have learned to do is, how can I, if I have an idea that is maybe low cost and but I can't necessarily do it on my own? How can I ask them for support, because they do have, you know, a little bit more resources, Michael Hingson  1:03:16 yeah, and, and the how is really pretty simple. Actually, you just ask exactly, exactly, and you know either they will or they won't, or you'll share it, or whatever. And I have found that same thing to be true. Well, Nana, if people want to reach out to you, how do they do that? If they might want to talk about you doing copywriting for them or whatever, how can people find you? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:03:41 So my website is Nana brew-hammond.com, can you spell please? It's n, a n, a, b, r, e, w, H, A, M, M, O, N, d.com, and I have a newsletter there. So a newsletter sign up. So they can sign up to be a part of my newsletter and connect with me that way. They can also find me on Instagram, I'm at n, a, n, a, e, K, U, a writer on Instagram, and I'm also on Facebook at that same name, and then on Twitter, I am that without the writer. So, n, a, n, a, e, K, U, a, Michael Hingson  1:04:28 okay, cool. Well, I hope people will reach out and and I hope that they will read your books and like them and review them. I hope the same thing. Well, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching us today. We really appreciate you being here with us. I'd love to hear what you think. Please feel free to email me. I'm reachable at Michael H, I m, I C, H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I. B, e.com, Michael H i@accessibe.com love to hear your thoughts and love to get your your opinions. I would really appreciate it if you would give us a five star rating when you have the opportunity to review this podcast. We really value your ratings and reviews very highly, and definitely want to know what you think, but please give us a great rating. We love that. If you know anyone who wants to be a guest on a podcast, or you think ought to be a guest, we're always looking for guests. And Nana you as well. If you know anyone, we're always looking for more people to come on the podcast and tell their stories. So we appreciate it. If you'd let us know. By the way, you can also go to my podcast page, www dot Michael hingson, M, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s o n.com/podcast, that's another way to reach out to me as well. But definitely anything you can do to bring more folks to us, we value it very highly. And so with that, once again, Nana, I want to thank you for being here. This has been great. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:06:01 Thank you so much. I really appreciate you having me on, and you are such an inspiration. And thank you. Michael Hingson  1:06:13 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.

On this episode we talk with client Luis Sanchez about his journey with blindness and receiving services at Leader Dog.

Discover the realities of guide dog eligibility, shared ownership, and new assistive tech like Glide, as Steven Scott and Shaun Preece share candid experiences from their own lives insights from blind tech users visiting Sight Village London.Steven opens up about being declined for a guide dog due to low daily activity levels, revealing the emotional impact and the surprising alternative offered. The discussion explores the practicalities, responsibilities, and emotional rewards of guide dog ownership and how shared partnerships work in the UK. The episode then moves into the future of assistive navigation, featuring conversations with Mark and Mustafa, early adopters of Glide, an AI-powered mobility device dubbed “a dog with a plug.” They share hands-on experiences, the evolution of Glide's design, and how it complements rather than replaces guide dogs or canes. Mustafa also explains why he relies on an iPad as his primary computer for university studies, highlighting generational shifts in tech use and accessibility. Like what you hear? Share your guide dog stories or your thoughts on Glide!Subscribe for more conversations where blind people talk tech, and leave a comment to join the discussion.Relevant LinksGuide Dogs UK: https://www.guidedogs.org.ukGlide Mobility: https://glidance.io #GuideDogs #AssistiveTech #BlindCommunity #Accessibility #GlideDevice 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Guide Dog Blogs, we meet Jason, a guide dog who's very protective, very energetic, and loves his ice creem. 

Join us for a heartwarming episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, where host Jed Doherty welcomes three inspiring guests from the world of children's books. First, we celebrate Aria Mia Loberti's debut picture book, I Am Ingrid, a touching guide dog story about Ingrid, the world's greatest guide dog, and Aria's personal journey from living with low vision to regaining her sight. Aria shares deeply moving insights about her partnership with Ingrid, her life-changing vision correction, and the unique challenges of adapting to sight. In addition to her experience as a children's author, Aria discusses the impact of literacy advocacy and the importance of reading together as a family. Aria also tells us of her unique journey from academia to starring in Netflix's hit series All The Light We Can't See. The episode also features Claire Tattersfield and Rob Sayegh, the author-illustrator duo behind the festive new picture book, Cupid Saves Christmas. Discover how Claire and Rob collaborate to bring holiday magic and creativity to life, offering valuable advice for aspiring children's book authors and illustrators. They reveal behind-the-scenes secrets from the publishing industry and highlight the joys (and hilarious surprises) of sharing stories with their own families. Whether you're looking for inspiration, guidance on creating picture books, or ideas to spark engaging family reading, this episode delivers uplifting conversations and actionable insights. Tune in to Reading With Your Kids for authentic interviews, children's book recommendations, and tips to foster a lifelong love of reading. Don't miss this episode celebrating literacy, creativity, and the power of storytelling!

This week on Guide Dog Blogs, Hubert chats to Holly Tuke from our social media team. They talk unique guide dog requirements, as we find out what Holly needs from her guide dog, and how her needs can be met. Plus they also discuss the skills and personality Holly would like her possible dog to have. 

We take a closer look at what it truly means to be ready for a guide dog. 

Devon In Sight's Children and Young People's Counselling Service won the Customer Excellence Award sponsored by Guide Dogs at the 2025 Visionary Awards. Amelia spoke to Grahame Flynne, Chief Executive Officer, and Louise Millington, Sight Loss Advisor, to hear about their work and the win. Learn more about Devon In Sight on their website - Welcome to Devon in Sight - Devon in Sight or call 01392 876 666 Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

This special Ask Emily and Garth will make you smile while educating about 2 common Guide Dog issues. Please feel free to share it with all the dog Lovers in your life. Barb and Anthony look forward to your questions for Garth and Emily and please share your favorite stories with us. pisode Notes Notes go here Support Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/acb-sunday-edition This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Guide Dog Training at The Seeing Eye: Paralympic medalist Evan Wilkerson introduces his partner, Titus, and shares the critical safety rules pet owners must know.

Kyle Kittleson brings the wow! In this fantastic, fun interview, Kyle shares wild and wonderful animal-training stories (yes, dolphins!) and how those lessons power his work as host of MedCircle—where he translates expert mental-health insights for everyday life—and creator of Baba Blast, a kids' series that builds empathy and resilience. We dive into grief, practical tools for mental health, and the magic of human–animal connection that Working Like Dogs listeners love. EPISODE NOTES: Feathers, Fins, and Four Paws: Empathy in Motion with Kyle KittlesonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

On this episode, we explore the remarkable and personal journey of receiving a new guide dog, a process that goes far beyond simply picking up a companion. Gain insight into what happens for the dog and partner, the intensive training both undergo, and the emotional transition that comes with building trust and teamwork.On this podcastNarratorSara Brown, APH Public Relations ManagerDanielle Burton, APH Accessibility EditorAdditional LinksGuide Dogs for the BlindGuide Dogs of AmericaAmerica's VetDogsThe Seeing Eye

App-based taxi company Uber have launched a new accessibility tool for assistance dog owners. The optional feature allows people to self-identify within the Uber app, which will inform drivers that they are traveling with their dog. The aim is to offer riders better support and to try to combat trip refusals. General Manager of Uber UK Andrew Brem tells In Touch how people can use the feature and how it will contribute to their combatting of refusals based on assistance dogs. Fancy yourself a keen baker? Love Productions, the company behind Channel 4's popular baking programme The Great British Bake Off, is calling for visually impaired amateur bakers to apply for the next series of the show. Molly Midlane, Casting Producer at Love Productions, describes how people can apply.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: Kim Agostino Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three separate white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch" and the Radio 4 logo (the word ‘radio' in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside of a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one is a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.

This time on Guide Dog Blogs, Hubert once again chats to Louise Carter, we hear about Louise's guide dog David, but we also talk about Vicky, and one of the few situations where a guide dog partnership simply does not work out, and how that sort of situation is then handled in the appropriate way. 

On Guide Dog Blogs this week, Allan Russell joins us to tell us all about his brand new k9 friend Jayson, and how he feels about having a guide dog back once again in his life. 

Get ready for an incredible episode of Working Like Dogs! I'm joined by Sharon Gattas and Peter Sellas, two extraordinary handlers who know firsthand the life-saving power of canines in times of crisis. Fresh from their recent deployment to the Texas flood recovery, they'll be sharing what it's really like to work side by side with their remarkable Belgian Malinois partners, Riley and Harley. These highly trained dogs aren't just companions —they're dedicated rescuers, using their skills to bring hope and relief when disaster strikes. From the bond that fuels their teamwork to the grit it takes to face floodwaters together; Sharon and Peter's stories will give you a front-row seat to the heart and heroism of canine recovery work.EPISODE NOTES: Canine Heroes in Action: Riley and Harley on the Frontlines of DisasterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

Meet Lauren Holtz, Guide Dogs for the Blind's Breeding Program Manager! Lauren sits down with Theresa to talk all things guide dogs, from puppy raising to the science of purpose breeding future generations of guide dogs.

On this episode we talk with Stephanie Enyart the Chief Public Policy and Research Officer at the American Foundation for the Blind.

Daniel sits for a chat with Melissa Rubin, a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America.

We at In Touch have increasingly been hearing from people who say that if you're totally or near totally blind, you are harder to pair with a suitable guide dog and are being given lesser priority over people with more vision. These impressions have been circulating for a while and so we address them with Guide Dogs' Deputy Chief Executive Officer Peter Osborne.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: Kim Agostino Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three separate white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch" and the Radio 4 logo (the word ‘radio' in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside of a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one is a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.

Did you know that there are times when a guide dog is trained to ignore a request from it's owner when out and about? RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Tim Stafford from Guide Dogs to find out why… If you'd like more info on Guide Dogs UK, go to www.guidedogs.org.uk #RNIBConnect Image Show RNIB Logo, White Background, RNIB In Bold Black Letters A Pink Line Below With Connect Radio Underneath In Black Letters

In this episode, I have a chat with New York Times bestselling author Michael Hingson. We discuss his latest book, Live Like a Guide Dog. We chat about the books lessons for overcoming fear, how being afraid can be a positive thing and all the principles that each of his guide dogs have taught him. Have a listen and learn about Michael's adventures and learning from his guide dogs. Enjoy!EPISODE NOTES: Michael Hingson - Live Like a Guide DogBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/animal-writes-animal-writers-and-best-selling-authors-pets-animals--6666984/support.

In this episode, we talk with client Jeff Petersen, who came to Leader Dog for both orientation and mobility as well as a guide dog. He shares his experiences with blindness and how our programs have impacted his journey. 

If you work with (or just adore) canine partners, don't miss this conversation with veterinary behaviorist Dr. Simone Sidel and researcher Jaci Gandenberger from the University of Denver's Institute for Human–Animal Connection (IHAC). We dig into their new open-access paper, “Recognizing and Mitigating Canine Stress in Human–Canine Interaction Research,” and the big idea behind it: centering dog welfare so studies treat dogs as true participants—with consent cues, low-stress handling, and ethical protocols—rather than research tools. You'll come away with practical ways to spot and reduce stress, design kinder sessions, and still produce rigorous science that benefits both species. EPISODE NOTES: Listening to Dogs: Stress, Signals, and Welfare-CenteredBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

Dr. Laura welcomes #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author and Inspirational Speaker Michael Hingson to Where Work Meets Life™for a conversation about his escape from the World Trade Center with his guide dog Roselle and the lessons we can all learn from their teamwork. Michael shares his story of being born blind, never allowing that fact to hold him back, and how the trust between him and his guide dog helped him overcome fear on a very dark day. His advocacy for disability access and employment is now changing the world alongside his story.On 9/11, Michael Hingson was at work in the World Trade Center when the first plane hit the tower. In the panic that followed, Michael's guide dog Roselle stayed calm, which allowed him to also remain calm and use his emergency preparedness knowledge to work with Roselle to walk down 78 flights of stairs to safety. Thirty other people followed them down and also escaped. Michael explains how teamwork with a guide dog works, how overcoming fear is part of everyone's life, and the ways in which his parents set the tone for his life by raising him with the belief that he could do anything. Dr. Laura learns about important accessibility tools, why disabilities are not limitations, and the power of hope in these trying times from Michael.“I learned all I could about everything concerning the World Trade Center, where things were, where all the emergency exits were, what the process was, even what the firefighters would be doing when they come up the stairs. I learned all of that so that I would know in reality. And as we all know, knowledge is power. And so by knowing all that, what I never thought about was until much after September 11th, when the emergency happened and the plane hit the building, and it tipped, and then it came back vertical, a mindset kicked in that said, you know what to do and how to get out of here. And so I didn't allow fear to overwhelm me. I just focused and used every skill in my body to focus, to deal with the events. And among other things, observed Roselle, and how she was behaving. And she never exhibited fear.” - Michael HingsonAbout Michael Hingson:Michael Hingson is a #1 New York Times Best-selling Author & Inspirational Speaker.On September 11, 2001, a blind man escaped the World Trade Center by walking down 78 flights of stairs with his guide dog. Days later, America fell in love with Mike and Roselle and the special bond that helped them both survive one of the country's darkest days.Immediately after the 9-11 tragedy, Michael was featured on the Larry King show five times. To quote Larry King…“Michael Hingson is an international hero honored and awarded by top organizations worldwide.” This media exposure changed the course of Michael's life and launched him into a speaking career that has spanned over nineteen years. He now travels the world as a keynote and inspirational speaker who can motivate audiences to action.Resources:Website: MichaelHingson.comLinkedIn: MichaelHingson“Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust” by Michael Hingson and Susy Flory“Live like a Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and his Dogs about Being Brave, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward in Faith” by Michael Hingson and Keri Wyatt Kent“Running with Roselle: How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America's Darkest Days” by Michael Hingson and Jeanette HanscomeAiraAccessibe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The head of MI5 has said Chinese state operatives present a daily national security threat to the UK and expressed frustration about the collapse of a case into alleged spying on behalf of Beijing in Britain. Also: The Chancellor says she's planning targeted action in her Budget next month to tackle cost of living challenges. And a lucky thirteen for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, as it celebrates its biggest litter of pups for three years.

Hôm nay là Ngày Gậy Trắng Quốc tế hay International White Cane Day 15 tháng 10, với những câu chuyện về những người Úc khiếm thị đang tái định lại những điều thông thường có thể xảy ra. Trong khi đó tổ chức Guide Dogs hay Chó Dẫn Đường, kêu gọi tất cả người dân Úc hãy hành động, tích cực ủng hộ sự độc lập cho họ và trở thành những người đồng cảm tốt hơn.

Talk about a 4-legged lifesaver! A loyal canine leads cops straight to his 86-year-old granny who fell in the middle of the night. NY Cops are sifting through a landfill in a desperate search for a boy - whose own mother denies he even exists! Plus, talk about dumb luck! Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we chat with client Maria Kristic and cohost Timothy Cuneio about Meta Smart Glasses, exploring their pros and cons for users in the blind and low vision community. 

The U.S. Department of Justice recently sued Uber for refusing rides to passengers who use service dogs. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires ride-hailing services to accommodate riders who use service animals and mobility devices such as wheelchairs. A self-selected survey from the nonprofit Guide Dogs for the Blind found that 83% of respondents had been refused a ride at some point, causing them to miss appointments, flights, job interviews and more.   Kirsten French, community education and advocacy manager at Guide Dogs for the Blind, has had drivers cancel rides due to her service dog. She joins us with more details about the lawsuit, along with Lynn Dubinski, vice president of client engagement and impact at the organization.  

Case + Cass share stories from Cass' guide dog training journey with her new partner, Mr. A, and celebrate graduation in part 2!

In this powerful and heartwarming episode of Working Like Dogs, hosts Marcie Davis and Fenway welcome Paige Mazzoni, CEO of Canine Companions - the groundbreaking nonprofit that founded the service dog movement in the United States. As the organization celebrates 50 years of transforming lives through expertly trained service dogs, Paige reflects on the legacy, growth, and deep human-canine connections at the heart of their mission. From powerful graduate stories to behind-the-scenes insights on innovation, accessibility, and volunteerism, this conversation offers a meaningful look into how service dogs are changing the world—one life at a time.EPISODE NOTES: Canine CompanionsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

This is a classic episode of Things People Do (following last week's disaster where every guest dropped out on us

Case and Cass dive into Cass' two-week guide dog training experience and introduces her new partner in part 1 of this special podcast series.

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Day 2 began with Panel 'Balancing Innovation And Responsibility: AI, Social Media And Ethical Communications' and Amelia spoke to Char Speedy from Guide Dogs about how they are applying AI to support their work and sharing their learning with other charities. Learn more about Guide Dogs on their website - Guide Dogs | The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

On this episode we talk with Avril Rinn a guide dog client who is working with her 3rd dog Louie and she serves as the secretary on the Leader Dog board. 

I'm excited to welcome back my friend, writer, and podcaster Kim Lengling for her second appearance on Unstoppable Mindset. Kim's journey is a powerful example of how unexpected changes can lead to new beginnings filled with purpose, faith, and hope.   In our conversation, Kim shares how losing her corporate job in 2020 opened the door to writing, podcasting, and a deeper exploration of the things that bring her joy. Together, we talk about the importance of balance, kindness, and being present—whether that's through connecting with nature, learning from animals, or practicing gratitude even during life's hardest moments.   What We Talked About Kim's Writing Journey – From her first anthology contribution to full-time writing and podcasting, and how storytelling became both a calling and a source of healing. Work-Life Balance – Why flexibility, happiness, and cultural shifts matter in how we work and live. Nature & Animals as Teachers – Lessons in patience, empathy, and presence, from walks in the woods to stories about guide dogs and even a moth's transformation. Faith & Resilience – How Kim found faith in her 30s, and how prayer, stillness, and gratitude help her manage PTSD and life's challenges. Nuggets of Hope Project – Kim's book and community initiative built around small acts of kindness, and how those acts ripple outward in powerful ways. This episode is full of heart, gentle wisdom, and encouragement. Whether you're navigating change, seeking more balance, or simply needing a reminder of the beauty in kindness, Kim's words are sure to resonate.     About the Guest:   As a multi-published author, Kim shares her love of nature and animals, her life with PTSD, and her mission to toss out Nuggets of Hope through her writing and podcast.   Kim is the lead author and coordinator of six anthologies: The When Grace Found Me Series (three books), When Hope Found Me, Paw Prints on the Couch, and Paw Prints on the Kitchen Floor. Her newest book, Nuggets of Hope, was released on November 15, 2024.   In addition to writing, she hosts the podcast Let Fear Bounce, which spotlights people who have faced and overcome personal fear(s) to make a difference in their slice of the world through writing, coaching, film production, philanthropy, teaching, founding non-profits, public speaking, or simply being an amazing human being.   You can regularly find Kim drinking coffee, reading, and talking with the critters in the woods while taking long walks with her dog, Dexter. Visit her website, www.kimlenglingauthor.com, to keep up with everything happening in her realm.   Ways to connect with Kay:     Website:                                www.kimlenglingauthor.com Amazon:                               https://www.amazon.com/author/kimlengling   Let Fear Bounce                 @Letfearbounce Apple:                                   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-fear-bounce/id1541906455   Facebook:                            https://www.facebook.com/letfearbouncepodcast   LinkedIn:                              https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylengling/   Instagram:                            https://www.instagram.com/lenglingauthor/   Twitter:                                  https://www.tiktok.com/@klengling?lang=en   TikTok:                                 ** https://www.tiktok.com/@klengling?lang=en     About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Hi everyone, and here we are once again with another episode of unstoppable mindset. And I'd like to welcome you all to another episode from wherever you may be. And we have a guest who was on once before, Kim lemring, and Kim is here to continue our discussions. One of the things that I ask people to do when they're going to come going to come on this podcast is to send me questions they want to talk about. And so when we decided that Kim was going to come on again, I asked her to send me more questions. So I don't know how much agony she had to go through to figure that out, but I'll bet she figured it out pretty well, since she's a published author with a lot of books to her credit, so we'll and we'll talk about some of those as well. So again, Kim, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here again.   Kim Lengling ** 02:09 Well, thanks for having me back. I've been looking forward to this.   Michael Hingson ** 02:13 I think it was episode 327, that you were in originally. So anyway, we're, we're glad you're here, and I think it will be a lot of fun to kind of talk about things. Again, you're in Pennsylvania, which is kind of cool. You share a love of nature and animals, and I guess you write about those things. Tell us a little bit about, kind of in general, what you write about, and how you got started in doing   Kim Lengling ** 02:39 that. Yeah, I got started writing. I wasn't I never thought to be a writer that wasn't a dream of mine or anything that was even on the back burner. I was approached years ago by a woman that I had met in a business networking group, and she was putting together an anthology, and asked me if I would like to contribute a chapter. And the name of the book was called Inspire. And it's, you know about inspiring stories about people that have overcome something, whether it's trauma or what have you. And I had never shared my story before, and I had, I declined. I politely declined. At first, she, you know, kind of kept at me. She was persistent, but in a gentle, loving way, and said, Kim, you shared your story with me. And I really think it's something that should be shared. And so I eventually did share that, and that was a an eye opener for me, on on actually writing and writing something that's so personal and had such an impact. And from that point forward, I kind of kind of got bit by the writing bug. I'm thinking, You know what? I had such positive feedback from the story as well. And I thought, okay, maybe, maybe this is something I should look into a little bit more. I was working full time and all of that. So I was just writing, you know, in my off timer in late in the evenings when I couldn't sleep or something like that. But that's kind of how it started.   Michael Hingson ** 04:09 What were you working on originally, before you started writing, what were you doing?   Kim Lengling ** 04:13 I was sales and sales and marketing manager. That's, that's my background in the corporate world. Ah, yeah. Did that for, oh, close to 25 years.   Michael Hingson ** 04:24 Wow, yeah, then you, then you decided to go off and spin and do other things.   Kim Lengling ** 04:30 Well, the world changed. It was 2020   Michael Hingson ** 04:34 Oh, the world did change. Yeah, yes, the world   Kim Lengling ** 04:37 changed. And I lost my job, along with millions and millions of others, because so many doors were closing, and many of them closed for good, when the world changed at that time. And I thought, you know, at the season I'm at in life, in other words, the age I decided I don't want to go back in the corporate world. I'm not happy there anymore. I don't feel fulfilled in any way. And all of the doors are shut right now. Everyone's stuck at home. We can't do anything. I'm gonna try and make something happen. And, you know, figure out, figure out what it is I can do. So I asked myself three questions, what are you good at? What do you like doing? And what are you having a passion for? And I thought, Well, okay, I actually like writing. I'm getting much better at it from when I started years ago, and I love meeting and talking to new people and learning new things. So I took that and created a podcast and started writing books.   Michael Hingson ** 05:36 There you go. You know, it's interesting, when September 11 occurred. The main mantra I heard from so many people is, or was, at the time, we got to get back to normal. And my reaction was always kind of negative. And it took me a while to realize why I was never happy hearing that, and the reason I wasn't, rightfully so, by the way, was normal would never be the same again. And so many people kept saying, We got to get back to normal, but normal would never be the same again. And the other thing that hopefully people are a little bit more now discovering is that normal is a moving target anyway. I mean, look at the pandemic, and getting back to normal is not going to be productive from that either. The pandemic happened. Some companies want you to just come back to work full time, which flies in the face of the whole concept that maybe there is relevance in letting people at least partially work at home, because they're happier and they will be just as productive, if not more, so if you really go back to the whole concept of having happy employees, but you know, we're still not there   Kim Lengling ** 06:56 yet. No, I agree. Yes, yes. And prior to I was really unhappy where I was at and it felt like, and I'm, I am sure that there are many, many people out there that feel the same, or have felt the same, that you're just on this, you're on this hamster wheel, and it just seems you're more and more is expected. Now, I'm a hard worker. Always have been, so I'm not, I would never stop the issue, right? Yeah, that's not the issue, but it's, you know, quality of life. Am I living to work or I'm working to live? Mm, hmm, you know? And it gets to the point where sometimes that's where I for me personally, that's why I said, you know, I don't want to go back in the corporate world. I was so unhappy, and it was actually becoming the the atmosphere I was in was making me unhealthy, and that's not good long term either. And I'm thinking, I want to be able to enjoy retirement if I ever get there, you know, Lord willing, I want to be able to enjoy retirement in a healthy manner, not be sick and you know. So it was a big decision, and it was kind of scary. That's why they named my podcast. Let fear bounce. There was, there was some fear in there, but I thought, you know, if not now when you know when, when gonna be feeling okay, Kim, you know. I think that's a question we all have to ask. Now, I know everybody's circumstance is so different. I know that. And please don't think you know anyone listening that I'm putting any, I'm making light of any situation that someone's in. But for me, I had reached that point where it's like, I'm just gonna do it, I'm just gonna do it period. And it was bumpy. It was very bumpy. And actually, I will be very honest, it was very hard the first two years. I'll bet there were times I'm like, am I gonna be able to make the mortgage?   Michael Hingson ** 08:46 You know, yeah, and that's a fair question, but at the same time, you made a decision that I'm sure helped your health a lot, and the more you came to grips with all of it, probably the better things became for you.   Kim Lengling ** 09:06 Yes, you're absolutely right. And once I, you know, I had to, I had to let those fears bounce, you know, like you said, I made that decision, and I was getting healthier, and I was feeling much better mentally as well as physically, and that's huge. Yeah, you know, you life is not meant to be a grind.   Michael Hingson ** 09:29 Well, it's not supposed to be. You're right. How do we get the corporate world to recognize that and deal with it? And I hope that the pandemic would would help, and it has in some quarters, but in some quarters it certainly has not. How do we get people to recognize that there's a lot to be said for giving people more freedom on the job, letting people spend some time working from home, and the reality is they'll. Probably be more productive. I spoke with someone a few months ago on the podcast about it was in he was in Europe the work week, and what he said that there was that there's a big difference between five, eight hour days and 410, hour days or four eight hour days, depending on what different companies did, but for 10 hour days, you had an extra day that you didn't have to work and that you worked at home. And surveys have shown productivity wise people do at least as well with the 410, hour days or four day work week than they do with a five day work week.   Kim Lengling ** 10:44 I've my ex husband, who is from Germany, and they in Germany anyway, and I think a lot of Europe, they have much more time off than Americans do. So you know, when he moved here, he was, like, two weeks off a year. What do you mean? Two weeks that is nothing. Because they get they get six, yeah, you know, and they have much more sick time and much more personal time they're able to take. And a lot of the the companies, at least over there, from what I know from him, the larger companies, they recognize that that, you know, a happy, healthy employee is going to be a loyal employee, yep. And you know, working your folks into the ground, they're going to burn out and leave you sooner. And I, you know, I don't know, Michael, you have to tell me what you think, or what you've run into when you talk to folks. Do some larger companies. And I don't know, because I'm not in the corporate world anymore, but anymore, but do some larger companies in larger cities, because I'm in a rural area, they have employees. But then, you know, there's that's just work. Work works so much over time they burn out, and then they hire younger and younger people for less and less money until they, in turn, burn out. It seems like it's an endless cycle, from what I've heard from a few folks that I've talked to, you heard that as well.   Michael Hingson ** 12:04 Well, I've heard that. And in fact, I spoke with someone yesterday, and we were talking about the whole concept of how investors and CEOs and so on work to a to a degree. And one of the bottom lines is the only thing that we have to do as a company is make our investors happy and make a profit for them. That's just not true, and I don't know what it's going to take for people to learn there really is more to our life, and there is so much more to be gained by having employees who are a lot more comfortable and a lot more happy. So I don't know it is a it is a very frustrating thing. And the reality is that if you have happy employees, then when there's a need, they will step up and do more than you will probably have ever thought they would do. Agreed.   Kim Lengling ** 13:05 Yes, I agree. Yeah, my daughter works for a company that she she works from home one day a week. But they're also very flexible. So if something's wrong or like her daughter's sick or something like that, they will let her work from home on days like that, as long as she has her time in, and she will often go above and beyond, like you just mentioned, because she's given that opportunity and despair, yeah, and I think it makes a huge difference in the work environment. And then also, you know, your mental view of your job, it doesn't feel like it's a grind. My daughter, she loves her job. Loves it. For me, it would be incredibly high stress, but the way they've set it up, where she works, it's, yes, she has stressful days, but it's not sustained stress every single day. You know? What does she do? She does the finance and the HR for the parent company that oversees like four to five different companies.   Michael Hingson ** 14:08 So there can be stress, there can be   Kim Lengling ** 14:13 Yeah, but you know, she's, I often tease her. I'm like, you know, finance, soon as you say numbers, just my brain turns off, yeah, but it's such a different thing, a different atmosphere from, like, work experiences that I've had. So her bosses are younger, so it's like, I'm hoping that maybe it's, maybe it's a different generation that's going to take to have that become the norm, you know. And you had said normal, you know. People said, we have to get back to normal. I don't, you know what is normal. I don't even such a thing as normal, just what you're used to, not normal, you know, right?   Michael Hingson ** 14:52 Well, that's the point. And yeah, and what is normal for me is not necessarily normal for you. But the bottom line is, you. That when something like September 11 happens or the pandemic happens, the fact of the matter is, conditions will never go right back to the way they were before, and shouldn't, because in theory, at least hopefully we learn from what happened. So with the pandemic, there was so much that all of us had the opportunity to learn about how to interact with each other, how to work with companies, and for those who did it, allow people to work at home part of the time, and I can understand and value going into an office to work, but you shouldn't have to do that five days a week and just have that be a grind. That's not what a job should really be about.   Kim Lengling ** 15:48 I agree. Now, unfortunately, just get many, many, many more people to agree with us.   Michael Hingson ** 15:53 They're probably a lot of workers who agree.   Kim Lengling ** 15:57 But yes, you know, I was, I don't know, have you ever listened to the group Alabama? I just love them. They're one of my favorite groups. And the other day, I was driving along, running errands, and the Alabama song, 40 hour week came on, and it's the whole song is about, you know, Pittsburgh steel mill worker. They list, you know, that truck driver, they list all of the different workers that keep America moving. And I just love that song. And I was listening that song, I thought, I thought of you actually thinking of this upcoming conversation. But I love that. So I think folks go listen to that Alabama song, 40 hour week. It's a really good it's a really good song. And if you're from the United States, it just kind of really slams home, like what it should be and what we should be thankful for.   Michael Hingson ** 16:52 I think that it's absolutely appropriate for companies to want you somehow to put in a certain amount of time, and that they have goals that that need to be achieved, but you want to have some flexibility in exactly how you deal with it, so long as you get the work done, and if you're really comfortable in doing it, probably more than they ever thought possible, Right?   Kim Lengling ** 17:20 Yeah, that's what you're hired for a 40 hour week job, and then they say they expect 65 to 70 from you, yeah, and I've been in those jobs that's that's tough.   Michael Hingson ** 17:33 The other side of it is the person who gets hired for a 40 hour a week job, but they're given more flexibility, they're given more freedom, and they put in 65 hours. And it shocks the heck out of some bosses. Well, you're putting all this time in, but the job is wonderful. I love   Kim Lengling ** 17:50 it, right? Yes,   Michael Hingson ** 17:53 yeah. So it's, it is a, it's an interesting discussion that to have here, but it is also something that we're all going to be dealing with. And I think you're right. It's going to take younger generations to come in and hopefully have learned from the pandemic, and we'll see, because now we have the students who experienced it in high school, and they're going into college, and I'm sure that they're in part, going to demand, and probably in a college environment, they get the ability to be a little bit more flexible in how they learn, because there's more lectures online, there are more things online, so they don't necessarily sit all the time in a classroom. But I think that there's also value in being in an office or being in a classroom at least part of the time.   Kim Lengling ** 18:42 Oh, I agree. I agree, yeah. And I wouldn't ever expect to not be in an office. I mean, if that's if that's where, if it was a local company to me, or something like that, there's a lot of online jobs that you know are full time remote. But because being I think, for me, anyway, I do enjoy, I did enjoy part of the office atmosphere, because you're meeting people. And my job, I was meeting new people almost every day in sales, marketing. So that part, you know, that I really enjoyed, you know, and being out on the road and going to different companies and speaking the other companies and things like that. So that part I enjoyed. So you know that part I would never want to not do. Should I ever be in corporate America again? But yeah, I know it's interesting, interesting.   Michael Hingson ** 19:31 I know that when I started in sales and so on, it was mostly all by phone, and I was selling high tech, very sophisticated, innovative products. But then it got to the point where we were selling a lot to Wall Street, and Wall Street insists that manufacturers actually have a presence in the city. I'm not sure if it's as much that way anymore, but probably it is, because Wall Street people. People tend to get what they want. But the bottom line is that then I moved to the East Coast, and so then I started doing a lot more traveling to visit customers, and I see the value of that as well. It was easy for me on the phone, because I don't have to sit there and look at people anyway.   Michael Hingson ** 20:19 So meeting with some of those people was was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed doing it when we actually had a chance to start meeting. So there's value in that too. Yeah, I agree. So one of the things that you describe yourself as is a lover of all things nature and animals and coffee, how does all that come together in your life? Because, personally, I do tea more than coffee, but that's okay.   Kim Lengling ** 20:51 I'll forgive you for being a tea drinker.   Michael Hingson ** 20:55 Get some spam. You know,   Kim Lengling ** 21:00 that's nature coffee, animals that those are my that's that's kind of like my happy place. That's where I breathe, that's where I am most at ease, outside walking my dog first thing in the morning, that first cup of coffee sitting on the back porch listening to the birds as they wake up. You know, they're heralding a new day, and they're welcoming you to it, and as I sip my coffee and my dog sniffing around the backyard after all the critters that probably came through the night before, you know that's just, that's my happy place right there. So a lot of my thoughts and ideas come on my walks. And you know, yesterday this, I mean, nature is just amazing for me, and it's just magical. And there was this really large cocoon hanging from two small branches for weeks, and to go out into the field with my dog. I would pass it every day. It was always, it's like, right at my eye level. So I would always, you know, tilt my head so I didn't hit it right. And I was often wondering, what is in that? What is going to come out? Yesterday, I was going to take my dog for a walk in the evening, because it's been so amazingly hot here, you have to wait until almost 730 at night to do anything. I'm walking by, and there's the most beautiful moth, like the size of my hand, hanging from that cocoon that had just come. And I thought I have been watching this for weeks, and now look at the magic of nature. It's the most beautiful thing. And I just stood there. I took pictures of it, and I just stood there in awe and wonder over it. And I thought, you know, as I was walking away, and I kept looking back, because it had just come out. It was just starting to flutter its wings a little bit, to air out. And I had never seen anything like that so soon after something, you know. And it was so big size of my hand. And my thought was, you know, okay, wow. Look at the magic of nature right there. And these things that I notice, and I often wonder how much people miss because they're so busy all the time, right, right, you know. And to me, that was just such a big reminder of, there is a lot of beauty in the world. There truly is. It might not seem like it, but there's a lot. There is a lot, and that that was a big reminder to me yesterday, and that's part of why I just that's why that's in my bio nature dogs, animals and   Michael Hingson ** 23:43 coffee. So what kind of dog is Dexter?   Kim Lengling ** 23:47 Dexter? I got him from a local humane society. So he's a rescue. He is a Belgian malnois Mastiff mix with just a smidge of Husky. Wow. Yeah. He's a very unique dog, very unique looking dog. He has a fawn body, a black head, white feet, and one blue eye and one brown eye.   Michael Hingson ** 24:12 We had a cat that and her name was Kelly. Actually it was Kelly Alico, but Kelly short and she had, we are of the opinion that she was two cats that were glued together because one side was white and the other side was and I don't remember whether it was orange or what, but literally, the line went right down her back and under her tummy. Oh, geez. There's a wonderful kitty.   Kim Lengling ** 24:45 I love the unique ones well.   Michael Hingson ** 24:47 And then we had her sister also, who is named smudge, because smudge was run to the litter and a little gray smudge, just a smudge, just a smudge. Cutie pie. Awesome. Now you're talking about nature. We moved to New Jersey in 1996 and my wife Karen, one day, I came home in what had to be, I guess, the end of March, the beginning of April. And she said, I finally really understand what spring is about. I never thought about it. Thought about it much in California, but she said, this morning I looked out and all the blossoms were on the trees, and when I looked out this afternoon, they had all opened to flowers. They sprung Yes, which I thought was very interesting. I've always remembered that Yeah. What a what a cool way to   Kim Lengling ** 25:36 Yeah, yeah, yes. She was right.   Michael Hingson ** 25:41 She was,   Kim Lengling ** 25:44 he was, yeah. And that's, you know, that's I'm I might complain more and more for the older I get about winters of where I'm at, because we experience all four seasons where Ivania, but there is so much beauty in each season, yeah? And for me, that's, it's just such a joy to experience all of them. You know, it might be super cold in the winter, but there's beauty in that, in that really still cold silence and the snow sparkling as the sun hits it, you know, it's just, I mean, there's just, just so many things. And to me, that's, you know, it's almost, it's almost spiritual, those those moments that that you can grasp on to, and for me, I grasp on to them, and then I pull them out later on days that I need them. They're my little nuggets of hope that are put before me that I'm to pull out every once in a while, if I'm having a tough day.   Michael Hingson ** 26:41 I tend to disagree with most people you know who say things like, well, out in California, you don't have four seasons. We do. It isn't necessarily as dramatic, perhaps, but in the winter, it is very cold, and there's, of course, a lot of snow, and the flowers do come out in the spring. They don't spring like they do in the east, perhaps, and it's a lot more gradual. But I really think there are four seasons, at least, from my experience, there are, maybe, from a visual standpoint, it isn't there so   Kim Lengling ** 27:11 much. But I think that's, I think that's what I mean when I say that before, no, I know, I know, yeah, because they're so definitive,   Michael Hingson ** 27:20 they're much more definitive. And I have and I buy that now, now in a place like Hawaii, perhaps, where there isn't snow and it doesn't get as cold in the winter, but even so, seasons are are definable, and so what winter is is still different than what spring and summer in autumn are, fall is and it's just a matter of how you perceive it. But guess the way it goes, everybody's got little bit different observations,   Kim Lengling ** 27:49 what you're used to and where you live. Yeah, because I've never lived in California, I've not experienced those seasons.   Michael Hingson ** 27:59 So yeah, I think, I think it's a it's a fun place to live. I enjoy it not being as cold, although in the winter out here we can get down to 10 degrees or colder, we don't get snow. I'm in a valley, so we don't tend to get the snow that the ski resorts around us get. So as I love to tell people, they hog the snow at the ski resorts, but they're perfectly willing to share their cold air with us. So, you know,   Kim Lengling ** 28:24 yeah, 10 degrees is cold. That's chilly.   Michael Hingson ** 28:28 Yeah, this get pretty cold, but that's okay. I have a house that is well insulated, so it stays pretty warm in the winter, and it's easy to keep it, keep it hot. And in the summer it is, it is pretty cool. It stays pretty cool. In the house. It'll get up if I don't turn the air conditioning on at all, it'll get up to 76 or 77 degrees by the evening time, but starting to feel a little warm, but it's okay. I'll still take the warmer air all year round than we typically find in the East. And I don't, and I don't mind the lack of snow, not because of the snow, but because when it starts to melt and then the nighttime comes, it turns to ice. It's the ice. It's a frustration   Kim Lengling ** 29:17 that's pretty scary sometimes, especially here black ice, yeah, in the wintertime, and the traveling, traveling in winter, that's, I'm kind of thankful that I no longer have to go back and forth to work each day, because, you know, you have those winter days where it's still dark in the morning. It's dark when you leave for work, it's dark when you come home and yes, no. And you know, three feet of snow and you have to come home and shovel. It's a lot. It's a lot.   Michael Hingson ** 29:45 So, you know, the the thing is that I think we all live in different environments and so on, but I also know that if I have to live somewhere else, I can do it. I prefer to stay where I am. I'm fighting where I am, and I. Um, so I will do that as much as possible, but I also understand that sometimes things change and you you deal with it.   Kim Lengling ** 30:07 That's right. I like how you just said, you know you could live a different you like knowing that if you had to live a different place, that you could do it, yeah, that's   Michael Hingson ** 30:17 the big issue, yeah. Well, yeah, for you, you've you've said that you've had experiences dealing with PTSD. How has that shaped your mission to offer? I know this goes back to a book titled nuggets of hope, but for people and the other things that you're able to share because of your PTSD experience,   Kim Lengling ** 30:40 yeah, I found over the years that and all the folks that I've met that have been through some sort of trauma that has left them with, you know, post traumatic stress, that, for myself and I've witnessed it in others, makes you much more empathetic and compassionate to people. Yeah, and for me, it seems, the older I get, the more empathy I have, and because I can relate to or I recognize in others, symptoms or things that they're going through, I can relate to, and maybe, maybe I can offer a little nugget of hope and say, hey, you know I've been there too. I've been in those same shoes, and oh my gosh, it is so hard. And, oh, you're right. You're right. Sometimes it's even hard to breathe. Yep, you're right. Sometimes it stops you in your tracks. Yes, you're right. Sometimes you have three days of no sleep, but you can get through it. That's right, you know? And I, someone actually was my counselor told me a few years ago, said Kim and I was having a bad day. I mean, it was, it was tough. It was one of those days where anxiety was just ruling the day, and it was, it was hard to breathe that day. And she said, Kim, when's the last time you looked in the mirror like truly looked at yourself in the mirror? And I said, I don't do that. She goes, why? And I said, because I don't want to see the mess that I am. And she said, Why? Why go negative? Why do you look at yourself as a mess when you should be looking in that mirror and saying, Wow, Kim, look at you. You have a 100% success rate for getting through the tough stuff. So don't look at yourself as a mess. You look at yourself as a success because you're still standing and you're able to look in the mirror and tell yourself that, and however that is for someone you know, maybe it's not looking in the mirror. Maybe I don't know what that would be for someone you know, whatever it is, remind yourself you're still standing. You're still here. It's another day. It's a brand new day. So that means you have a 100% success rate for getting through the tough stuff. And when she said that, that that flicks a switch in my mind, and I've not forgotten it, and I've shared it with so many other people that have been in tough spots, and then they have told me later, you know, I shared that with someone when they were having a tough day, so I was like, you know, look at all these little nuggets of hope that we can toss out to people. And you might be a nugget of hope and not even realize it like your show, your show, Michael, could be nuggets of hope for 1000s of people that listen to it way in the future. So, I mean, you know, how amazing to think of it that way, that we can in our own way, just as that one person you know, someone says, you know, well, you're just one person. You can't change the world. No, you're right. I can't, but I could change one person's world. I can. I can be a positive nugget of hope in my own small slice of the world. And if we can do that, why wouldn't we?   Michael Hingson ** 33:55 Geez, and you never know what change that might bring to the whole world, which is what you just said, Yeah. And the reality is, you shouldn't do it to change the world. You should do it to do what's right for you, but that is what people see. I think ultimately, most people will sense when you're doing something, especially when you're doing it for the right reason. You're not doing it just to try to get vision. To get visible or publicity or whatever. And so I think when people see that, they empathize with it. And so you're right now, you never know when you're a nugget of hope.   Kim Lengling ** 34:34 That's right. Let's, let's just keep on making ripples.   Michael Hingson ** 34:37 Huh? Well, you know, it's similar, and I've thought and I've thought about it and talked about it on the podcast a few times. I used to always say when I wanted to to deal with something, and I was thinking about me internally, I'm going to deal with this, because I'm my own worst critic, and only in the last couple of years. Have I realized wrong thing to say I'm my own best teacher, which is a much more positive and relevant thing. And if you use that every time you might have used I'm my own worst critic, but you'd rather say I'm my own best teacher, look at the difference and the positive impact that mentally immediately has on you, much less however else you deal with it?   Kim Lengling ** 35:22 Oh, that is awesome. Michael, you should make that into a coffee cup.   Michael Hingson ** 35:28 Oh, well, or a teacup, but I'll have to worry.   Kim Lengling ** 35:35 Oh, I love that though. See, it's just shifting a couple words and how that can change your mindset and how you look at it exactly. Amazing. I love that. Thanks for sharing.   Michael Hingson ** 35:46 Well, you're welcome, and you can, you can use it. It's fair. I think I will perfect. Go ahead,   Kim Lengling ** 35:53 yeah, we've got see. That was an awesome nugget. So you're tossing it to me and I'm going to toss it elsewhere. Yeah, there you go. See we can. And you're in California and I'm in Pennsylvania, we have literally, just like criss crossed across the entire country.   Michael Hingson ** 36:08 Not gonna hope. We've blanketed the country, that's right, with hope. So you wrote, you've written a number of anthologies, and I guess the latest one is paw prints on the kitchen floor, which is the creative title, but what, what do you learn? And what do animals help you learn and and grow from that?   Kim Lengling ** 36:31 Gosh, you know, it's so fun. It was so fun putting that book together. There's, you know, about 20 different co authors in there, each with a chapter sharing a story of their animal on how they enrich their life in some way. And for me, oh my gosh. You know, some of the stories just bring you the tears. They make you laugh out loud. And each person writes so differently, it was just but for me, the dogs in my life that I've had in my life, they have taught me patience, empathy. They've also taught me to slow down at times, you know, I'll be I've caught myself rushing my dog. I'm like, come on, extra, come on. You've been sniffing that one blade of grass for like, two and a half minutes. Let's go. And then I realized, and then he doesn't listen to me, keeps on sniffing. And I'm like, You know what? Why am I? Why am I rushing him? You know, maybe I should just sit down and, you know, take in a couple deep breaths. So they've taught me to slow down and to enjoy the little things more, to see the world. You know, it's something, it's like, sometimes feels like, yeah, just get down on the ground and see the world from their point of view. You know? And I don't know, I we can learn an awful lot from animals, as I'm sure you are aware.   Michael Hingson ** 38:00 Well, last August, we published live like a guide dog, true stories from a blind man and his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity and moving forward in faith. And the whole idea was to try to start to teach people how they can learn to control fear and not let it overwhelm or, as I put it, blind them. And the reality is, there's so much of that that we can learn from dogs and other animals, but specifically for me, guide dogs and in really studying fear,   Michael Hingson ** 38:33 so many lessons like, why do people fear so much? Well, because all we do is spend all day going well, what if this happens, or we are worried about every single thing that comes along, and we don't have control over, like over 90% of the things that come along, but yet we we try to, and we become afraid because of that. And rather than stepping back and going, Wait a minute, I don't have any influence over that. Okay, I'll be aware of it, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I'm not going to worry about it, you know. And you know, for example, using probably the most visible one today is, is our elected leaders. We've got people who are on both sides of supporting or not supporting the president and so on. But the reality is, the President is going to do what the President's going to do, and we and I'm not going to say what's good and not good about that, but the president's going to do what the President's going to do. What good does it do us to worry about all that all day, every day. Now I want to be aware of it, so I do watch the news, but I want awareness not being around to just go ape over everything that happens. And I learned that from working with and being involved with dogs. Dogs don't worry about that they live in. The moment they worry about what they have to deal with, and that's all they have to worry about. So they tend not to fear. They tend not to do well. They don't do what if and their their lives are much better and more peaceful. And we could learn so much from that, if we would, but do it.   Kim Lengling ** 40:17 Yes, yes, that's right. And you mentioned you used the word control at one point, because we don't have control over so much, even we like to think we do, yeah and we don't. Yeah, we don't at all. And once you realize that and actually accept that, I think for me anyway, it was easier to let fears go, because it's like, you know, I don't have control over really anything.   Michael Hingson ** 40:48 You know, control   Kim Lengling ** 40:50 is going to happen. I mean, yeah, some things, but not the big things. Or, like you said, to go ape over certain things we have no control over, so much, and you know, there's no reason to argue, fight, rip each other apart over things that literally you you personally have no control over.   Michael Hingson ** 41:10 The other part about that, though, is not while not having control, if we would, but talk about things and listen to other people and listen to their viewpoints. You never know what you might learn. Necessarily mean you're going to change your position, but you never know what you're going   Kim Lengling ** 41:28 to learn. That is right, and we don't have to agree. No, it's okay to disagree and still like each other.   Michael Hingson ** 41:36 Yeah, and it's and there's nothing wrong with that, no, but we live in such a society today, everyone wants to control everything, and if you don't do it just the way I do it, you're wrong. And that's just not true.   Kim Lengling ** 41:50 Yeah, and that's not the way it's supposed to be. You know, that's not how we're supposed to be living, not supposed to be living in anger and fear and arguments and, you know, darkness, that's just, it's just not the way it's supposed to be folks I don't know. So I work very hard to not live in an atmosphere or let myself be sucked into an atmosphere like that.   Michael Hingson ** 42:12 Yeah, I will, I will avoid those kinds of situations simply because there's no, there's no opportunity to really discuss and learn. If people want to talk, I love to talk, and I love to learn. And if, if people disagree with me, that's perfectly okay. My job is not to get angry about it. But I might say, Why do you have that position? Tell me more. Now, I've had some people where I know that their political views are opposite of mine, and if I ask them, Why do you believe this? For example, they won't even talk about it, because they just say, you know I'm right. And if you're asking, then you clearly don't have the same opinion I do, and we're not going to talk about   Kim Lengling ** 43:04 it. Yeah, I I steer clear of those types of conversations as well. When you know, when you know, going in, it'll go nowhere, but negative. Yeah, yeah, that's why, you know, I take a lot of walks with my dog.   Michael Hingson ** 43:23 Sometimes you can have those conversations, and that is so wonderful, because you never know what you might learn exactly. Doesn't necessarily mean you're going to change your opinion, but you get insights that you wouldn't get any other way. Communication is so important.   Kim Lengling ** 43:39 Yes, it is respectful, communicating, yes, I agree.   Michael Hingson ** 43:45 Yeah. Well, your latest book, nuggets of hope, cultivating kindness, that's that's a creative title, and so on. And I think that's really kind of cool. Can you tell us a story that particularly moved you that came out of that book, yeah, since we're authors and telling stories, yeah,   Kim Lengling ** 44:08 that's right, and I'm trying to remember if I shared this one on the last time I was with you or not, but I'll share a different one years ago. I'm a veteran, and I support veterans that struggle, that are in through my veteran post, we have, it's called Project support our troops. We send monthly boxes to those that are deployed around the globe. And we also help veterans in need in our local area as we're able to, and many of those have been, you know, through traumatic experiences or they live with PTSD. There was one young man years ago who reached out and called me and said, Hey, I need help. And I said, Okay, what can we help you with? And he gave me a little bit of his situation, and I said, All right, this is going to take me a minute. Or two to get some things rounded up. But yes, I think we can help you, and I want to help you. And then he called me back and said, You know what? No, forget about it. Forget I called you. I don't need help. I'm fine. And I said, I don't agree with you. I think you're fibbing. And it took a while, but he finally agreed to meet and not knowing him, and I'm, you know, I'm a single person. So I took a friend, a male friend, with me when I went to meet him at this at his home. And his home was more of a hovel than anything, and it was, it was a hovel. It was really unlivable. And I said, Where are you Where are you sleeping? And he pointed at a spot on the floor. And I said, well, and he was a Marine. I said, Well, marine, you're not going to sleep on the floor on my watch. And he says, Ma'am, I've slept in much worse places. I said, I am sure you have, but you're not going to sleep on the floor on my watch. We will get you a bed. What else do you need? And he wouldn't tell me, and I said, Can you show me through your home? And he said, I prefer not to. And I said, I can't help you unless I know what you need. And he took me through his home, and each room was worse than the last, falling apart, no water. It was pretty rough. And he was just a young man just doing the best he could to hang on, and I reached out to people that I knew, that I had met over the years, of doing things that we do through our post and to make a longer story shorter. It turns out a contractor saw and heard what I was trying to do, what we were trying to do for this young man. And he contacted me, and he said, If this young Marine agrees to it, take me out there, let me, let me take a look at his home, and we'll see what we can do. And he went in, took a look, and the young Marine was like, you know, what? If you could just fix this living room floor, that would be great. That's all I need, just if my living room floor because it was about to fall in. So if you could just fix that. And the contractor literally came in, and this brings me to tears. Came in room to room, and redid his whole home. I mean, with a bathroom, bedroom, living room, kitchen, I was able to get him furniture, I was able to get him a new appliances. I was able to get him a bed. We were able to get him a car, because he only had a motorcycle and winter was coming, and we know where I live. Yes, he's like, No, I'll be I'll be fine. I'm like, you cannot drive a motorcycle in the winter to work. You'll lose your job. And he had lost his job before because of that, so he was really, really in a tough spot. But people came together. Total strangers came together when I tossed out that call, and everyone came and brought in nuggets of hope, I mean, and for this young Marine, who was struggling so terribly in many ways, he now had a livable home that was much nicer than he even could imagine. He had a used car that a car sales, car dealership. They had an older used car, but it was in great condition. And they said, Hey, this will last him for a couple years, if he maintains it well, at least it'll get him by, you know. And then I had another person reach out and said, Hey, my mom would like to donate six months of insurance for this young marines car in honor of my dad, who was Marine. So all these people were tossing out these nuggets of Hope completely changed this young marines life completely around I kept in touch with them for years after and then I ran into him at a convenience store one day I was getting gas, and he said, Miss Kim. And I said, Oh my goodness. How are you? And he goes, I'm doing really, really well. You have no idea how good I'm doing, and I need to thank you, because you were my angel coming, coming to me when I needed it most. He goes, I got a full time job. I got accustomed to my son. I just bought a new house. I have a brand new car, and I just looked at him. I started crying because I met him at his lowest point, yeah, but so many of us came together and tossed out a nugget of hope and just shared kindness and love and understanding.   Michael Hingson ** 49:32 Was, was this all because of something like PTSD in his case?   Kim Lengling ** 49:37 Yes, yeah. He was struggling mentally, physically, because mental, mental has a plays a big part on your physical as well. You know, he was going through a divorce. He lost custody of his son. He was probably going to lose his job, his house was falling apart. And then, you know, for. Five or six years later, because I honestly almost didn't recognize him physically when I saw him, and I was just, I was thinking, Oh my gosh. So that was years later. So just think of what those little nuggets of hope that you toss out today, the long, lasting effects that they have. That's why I wrote this book. And it's just little stories, you know, little stories. That's such a huge story, but stories like that that are shared in there, along with just, you know, practical things on just, you know how to be kind. You can do it. You know, it doesn't cost a dime to be kind.   Michael Hingson ** 50:35 How did writing that book affect you, and how does it affect you? And I'll tell you why. Well, let me, let you answer, and then I'll tell you why I asked.   Kim Lengling ** 50:45 Well, I too live with PTSD, and when I help others, and when I am able to be a small spark of light or a nugget of hope to others that, in turn, helps me. And because sometimes, for me, anyway, I can, I call it a weight PTSD, sometimes can be really heavy on some days. And on those days, I found that if I reach out and help others, or do something to help others, do something positive, it takes some of that weight off. So it's a healing thing for me. And putting this book together and writing it, and thinking back over some of the things you know that happened as I was right. There were tears involved. I laughed, and then I at the end, I was just so very thankful, so very thankful that I was able to be in that spot, and that God put me where I was supposed to be in all this different circumstances to be a nugget of hope for someone so it was healing and also empowering, and gave me, you know, the inspiration to just keep on, keep on keeping on, keep on doing what I'm doing.   Michael Hingson ** 51:52 I asked because I kind of figured that would be your your answer. But I asked because I know, in my case, after September 11, people said, you need counseling and all that sort of stuff. But I started getting phone calls from reporters and my wife and I decided that I would would take those interview calls and people would come to our home, and that was therapy, because I got asked virtually any question that you could imagine regarding September 11 and me and so on, some very dumb questions that still happen today, but some really incredibly excellent, intuitive and concerning questions and having to learn to answer all of those because I put myself in the position where I needed to answer the questions was probably the best thing that I could do. So in your case, writing about it had to be helpful and pretty cathartic for you as well.   Kim Lengling ** 53:01 Yeah, it is amazing that now, did you, I guess, have a question for you. Yes, I do. Did you? Did you ever, I know that you said you and your wife decided yes, you're going to take those phone calls, you're going to take those interviews. But prior to that, did you find yourself maybe trying to stuff some of that stuff down.   Michael Hingson ** 53:23 I never did. So the story is that the next day, I contacted Guide Dogs for the Blind, where I've gotten all of my dogs, and among other things, I spoke to Joe and Ritter, who was our director of public information at the time, and she wanted to write a story, and I wasn't really thinking very straight. I that's what I say. But it didn't really matter. I said, Sure, go ahead. And she said, Well, I'll bet you'll also get a chance to be on TV. What television show do you want to be on first so I sort of flippantly said, Larry King lives, and on the 14th of September, we had the first of five interviews on Larry King Live. So the the first interview was actually from a major magazine the day before Larry King, I won't mention the name, and I'll and you'll see why in a moment, but the media had already gotten the story because Joanne wrote it and went out, and somebody called and they said they wanted to talk with me, and then near the end, they said, I want to come and take a picture of you wearing the suit that you wore on September 11. And I said, why? Well, that's all dirty and all that. And I said, No, we sent it to the cleaners already. Now we hadn't sent it to the cleaners, although we did, but I just thought that was a pretty obnoxious thing to say it was insensitive to say, I want you in the suit that you wore. I want to show you it was this dirty, scruffy guy when that really wasn't the kind of image that I wanted to project, because I was wow point where it's it's hard. Hope it's positiveness, and just doesn't make sense to do. So that was   Kim Lengling ** 55:05 the first that's really wow. That just amazes me that someone asked you to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 55:11 Yeah, wow. But, you know, had a lot of a lot of interviews and a lot of conversations with people ever since, and now it's kind of fun every so often, and I can't remember the last one, but every so often I'll get a question I've not heard before, but it doesn't happen very often anymore. But by the same token, I look for those questions because it shows that somebody's really thinking. I always hear what you didn't know happened because you couldn't see it. And that is so fun to deal with, because my response is always the same. The last time I checked Superman and X ray vision are fictitious, and the building was struck 18 floor above us on the other side. Nobody saw it where I was. But people want to rationalize, that's okay.   Kim Lengling ** 55:58 Yeah, that's okay.   Michael Hingson ** 56:02 So it makes   Kim Lengling ** 56:04 the world go round. You know, you have everybody that looks at the world in a different viewpoint.   Michael Hingson ** 56:07 So there, yeah, and sometimes we get to help people reshape it, or we work anyway. That's right. So faith is a big part of your life, isn't it?   Kim Lengling ** 56:16 It is, it is, I think that's, um, that's something. It wasn't always a part of my life. I was probably my mid 30s that I came to have faith, and since then, it has been a big part of my life. And on those tough days when the weight feels heavy and I'm out there walking with my dog more than normal, that is what I turn to, and I know, you know, it doesn't That's my belief. You know, everybody has their own beliefs, but for me, if I I've got God to talk to, and that makes a huge difference in in my life, and helps to settle me on those days that are then my that my soul feels a little bit unsettled. Prayer, being outside, being with my dog, that's what settles me, settles my soul, and I can just take a deep breath and keep on, keeping on.   Michael Hingson ** 57:13 I was talking with someone yesterday on a podcast episode that will be coming out and and it'll be probably one or two before yours. But he had an interesting thing to say, which I absolutely buy and I've believed for a long time, and that was we were talking about prayer, and he said the biggest problem with people in prayer is they're always telling God what they need, and they never listen to get the real answer, rather than recognizing God really knows what you want. And yeah, you might, we might say it, but then the real question is, do you ever slow down and listen to your inner voice, which is God that will tell you the answer to whatever it is that you're perplexed about? I thought that was very interesting for him to observe that. And I, I've believed that for a long time.   Kim Lengling ** 58:04 I believe the same as well for a very long time. That's why I'm always saying you got to slow down. You just got to slow down and take a look, you know, and listen, there's a reason that be still. Those two words are so powerful to Christians. Be still so and sometimes it's hard. I know that we're human, we're, you know, none of us, none of us are perfect. We are going to stumble, you know, especially if you're, you know, in your faith or your Christian walk, we're going to stumble because we're human, we're normal. But try and get off that, that hamster wheel, and slow down, because you're missing out on a lot. You're missing out on so much, and you're going to get, you know, Lord willing, you'll get to the end of your life, your later years, and you want to be able to look back fondly and smile, and not with, gosh, I wish I would have,   Michael Hingson ** 59:02 yeah, yeah. And it's so true. And the reality is that you do miss so much by just running around on the hamster wheel rather than slowing down, taking time to think about what happened today and even the good stuff. Could I have made it better? Could I have done anything? But when you have the stuff that didn't go well, what am I afraid of? What? What kind of fear is this causing? And those are things that we talk about and live like a guide dog, because those are all part of we need to learn to address and deal with in order to discover how better to control fear. And we can do that,   Kim Lengling ** 59:39 yes and be thankful, even for those, Mm, hmm, even for the crappy days. Yeah, yeah, thank you for even third crappy days, because you still, you got another day,   Michael Hingson ** 59:50 but still take the time on the crappy days to learn exactly right? And most people won't do that, and that's that is a. Fortunate, because those are the best learning experiences if you listen to hear what you're being told about, how to make sure that crappy day never happens again.   Kim Lengling ** 1:00:11 I agree. Look at us. Michael, see still, we're still solving the world problems here.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:17 Yeah, we're blindly blanketing the country with nuggets, right? Well, I don't want to bury everybody, so I'm gonna thank you for being here. It's been a whole hour already. How can people reach out to you?   Kim Lengling ** 1:00:33 Best way is just go through my website, which is Kim Lang, author.com you can see what I'm doing, the books that are out there, what's coming up. You can meet Dexter, because he is my office manager, and he actually he receives all the emails and then lets me know what's happening and who I need to reach out to. So he keeps me on track and keeps me on my toes. But yeah. Kim Lengling, author.com, you can find   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:59 lending and spelled   Kim Lengling ** 1:01:00 L, E N, G, l, I N, G,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:04 there you go, just like it sounds. That's right. Well, and reach out to Dexter. And one of these days, well, we were talking before we started the podcast. I'm going to be in Pennsylvania at the beginning of October, and I hope maybe we'll get to meet Dexter. Wouldn't that be awesome? We'll let Dexter meet Alamo.   Kim Lengling ** 1:01:25 There we go. Yeah. Why not? By golly works for me.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:33 Well, thank you for being here and again, I want to thank all of you for listening. I hope you've enjoyed this. I hope you've gotten some things out of it.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:41 It's it's fun talking to Kim. We'll have to do it again. And I know that I was on let fear bounce, and I'm going to go back on that again. So go off and check out her podcast, let fear bounce and listen to it. Lots to learn there, and we'll hopefully contribute a few nuggets along the way as well, but I want to thank you all for for all that you do to support us. Please give us a five star rating wherever you're listening and please, if you would know anybody else who want to be a guest, or who you think ought to be a guest, let us know. Introduce us. We would appreciate it, and give us a five star rating wherever you're listening to us so again though. Kim, thanks very much. This has been fun again.   Kim Lengling ** 1:02:25 Yes, it has. Thank you very much. Been a true blessing. Michael, thank you.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:33 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 powerful episode of Soul Elevation, I sit down with the extraordinary Laura Bratton, a speaker, coach, and author who shares her inspiring journey of going blind as a teenager—and how she transformed devastation into spiritual strength, resilience, and purpose. Laura opens up about the moment she realized she was losing her sight, the emotional toll it took, and the grief and fear that followed. She shares the mindset shifts that helped her move from “I can't” to “I can”, and how the love of her family, her guide dogs, and her inner courage carried her forward. We talk about: Navigating the trauma of sudden vision loss The power of grit and gratitude Awakening intuitive and energetic awareness when physical senses are diminished Her book, Harnessing Courage, and the deeper meaning behind the title How she helps others overcome change through her coaching and speaking work What her guide dogs taught her about healing, presence, and unconditional love

In this thought-provoking episode of Working Like Dogs, we're joined by Kara Milotte, Manager of Client Services at the nationally recognized nonprofit NEADS and James “Chip” Harrington from the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Together, they offer a powerful look into the transformative partnership between NEADS and correctional facilities—and how this unique collaboration is changing lives through the training and placement of world-class service dogs. From fostering rehabilitation and purpose within prisons to creating life-changing bonds between dogs and their future handlers, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.EPISODE NOTES: Behind the Leash: How Service Dogs Transform Lives—Inside and Outside Prison WallsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

Send us a text*Visiting the archives today in commemoration of 9/11. kWelcome, New York Times Bestseller Michael Hingson, survivor of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, and his guide dog Roselle, as they share profound wisdom about bravery, overcoming adversity, and moving forward with faith as we celebrate our 300th episode.The conversation takes us through the powerful lessons Michael has learned from each of his guide dogs, from Squire to Alamo. These 11 principles form a roadmap for anyone facing challenges: awareness builds confidence, preparation prevents panic, flexibility and faith move you forward. Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

The hosts of the Taking the Lead podcast share about themselves for new listeners and Timothy shares his story with blindness. 

Today in 2001, as the world watched the horrific scene in lower Manhattan, and as those on scene faced all kinds of obstacles, a guide dog named Roselle stayed focused on her job, and helped her human get to safety. Michael Hingson (911Memorial.org)

Peter Boyles talks with Dave Swanson of MC1 Foundation on the upcoming 12th Annual MC-1 Honor Run Motorcycle Fundraiser! CLICK HERE TO PRE-REGISTER: https://www.mc1foundation.com/ Then, Guide Dog Trainer Becky Wynn is In-Studio with Jolie the Guide Dog! Becky tells us how Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and First Responders with Disabilities can get a Service Dog, fully trained. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.vetdogs.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, Hey, Hey Bookshelvers! This week we have another DOGx Special for you. We also have been graced with the presence of, the one and only, Jason Light as this topic is very close to his heart.  Every year we have a charity slot at DOGx and this year we've managed to get the wonderful Guide Dogs to do a presentation and demo for us. With that in mind we thought it would be wonderful to have Elli Cavazza, a puppy development advisor for Guide Dogs and Mandy Pike, a guide dog user with her dog, Loney on to talk all things Guide Dogs from both perspectives.   The discussion provides a fascinating peek into the world of Guide Dogs, going beyond the public-facing image to explore the detailed, dog-centred approach to training. We find out about Elli's role, which involves training puppy-raisers and ensuring puppies are well-socialized and prepared for their future, as well as Guide Dogs passionate views on their dog-centric and human-centric approach working in unison. We then get Mandy's perspective as a guide dog partner. She shares her journey, from her initial hesitation as a self-proclaimed "cat person" to her profound bond with her current dog, Lonnie. Mandy openly discusses the challenges and triumphs of working with a dog that is a "work in progress," highlighting the importance of trust, communication, and understanding Loney as an individual first and a guide dog second. There are also some real valuable insights from both Ellie and Mandy for the general public. Enjoy!  Links:Find out more about Guide DogsDOGx TicketsLink to our Bookstore

On this episode we talk with client Juanita Lillie who is the chair of our new alumni board about what the board is and how clients can get involved.

In this inspiring episode of Working Like Dogs, I sit down with two extraordinary women—Jeni Exley and Dr. Margaret Jones—who not only work at Craig Hospital, but also serve as passionate, dedicated puppy raisers for Canine Companions. Jeni has raised an incredible 19 puppies, and together, she and Dr. Jones co-raise future service dogs, creating a powerful team fueled by love, discipline, and purpose. They share what it's really like to be part of the life-changing journey from puppy to service partner—and the incredible support system that surrounds them, including the expert trainers at Canine Companions. If you've ever wondered what goes into raising a service dog—or felt a tug at your heart to get involved—this episode is for you. EPISODE NOTES: Raising Heroes: Inside the Life of a Puppy RaiserBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

In this episode of Working Like Dogs on Pet Life Radio, Marcie and her co-host and service dog Fenway sit down with Kyle Lephart, Executive Director, and Miki Brewington, Client Services Manager, from Canine Partners of the Rockies Kyle and Miki share how their organization is transforming lives through the placement of expertly trained service dogs and facility dogs across Colorado. They also dive into their innovative community-based programs where these incredible dogs serve in schools, healthcare settings, and other places where their presence brings comfort, connection, and confidence. It's a heartwarming and inspiring conversation that showcases the power of purpose-bred dogs and the humans who love and train them.EPISODE NOTES: Canine Partners of the RockiesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

On this episode we talk with client Krista Webb on her experience with Leader Dog and her passion of wood burning.

Listen now to Irene Lambert on 125 Future Now How do you interview your own mother and keep the show relevant to our listeners? Fortunately dear mother was a major influence on me especially with my interests in tech, science, and psychology of the human family.  So it is with great pleasure that we present you with tales from Irene Lambert, recently honored in Parliament for the remarkable achievements she has made in this lifetime! Listen to The Futures with Mother FutureIrene Lambert was born in Lachine, Quebec, Canada at the same time, August 10, 1930, as the R-100 dirigible flew over head making its first flight over Canada. As it was the dawn of the age of Airships, all the nurses and hospital staff rushed out to see it, leaving Irene alone as her first experience in this world.  Being the eldest of three children in a very loving family. Irene was diagnosed at ten with Retinitis Pigmentosa and lived with diminishing sight and then complete blindness. For many years she and her late husband Dr. Robert Lambert fought and won many battles for the rights of the disabled, especially the blind, while pioneering helpful new tech. In 2021, Irene Lambert was honored with the Chris Stark Distinguished Advocacy Award by Barrier Free Canada  in recognition of her lifelong contributions to disability rights and accessible communities around the world. And now, at 95, she is is still with us, with more memories to share and tales to tell! Enjoy.. Recipient of the Chris Stark Distinguished Advocacy Award