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30 episodes with penn street
5 episodes with penn street
2 episodes with penn street
3 episodes with penn street
2 episodes with penn street
2 episodes with penn street
2 episodes with penn street
2 episodes with penn street
2 episodes with penn street
In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn Street and Moses Street kick off an inspiring three-part series with Denise Leigh. Denise shares her extraordinary journey of living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), raising four children, and navigating life as a blind parent. From her early years in a challenging residential school system to raising her youngest son with RP, Denise's story is filled with resilience, humor, and deep love for her family. This episode explores the joys and challenges of parenting while blind, the importance of community, and the emotional toll of passing on RP. Don't miss the beginning of this incredible story. Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Introduction: Welcome to The Blind Chick! 02:26 - Thanksgiving in 1920s Style 04:42 - Meet Denise Leigh: Her Village and Early Life 06:57 - Early School Years: A Tough Start 11:44 - Parenting Challenges as a Blind Mother 16:15 - Raising Four Kids: The Village Approach 20:50 - Discovering RP in Her Youngest Child 25:37 - The Emotional Toll of Passing on RP 27:55 - Closing and Colorado Gives Day Reminder Contact Aftersight: www.aftersight.org info@aftersight.org (720) 712-8856
In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow is joined by Penn Street from The Blind Chick Podcast to explore strategies for making holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable for those with low vision. From the accessibility challenges of online shopping to the benefits of shopping local and personalized gift ideas, Penn shares her insights and experiences. They discuss using assistive technologies like Be My Eyes, the joy of giving experiences over material gifts, and the importance of taking care of yourself during the holiday season. The episode also highlights Colorado Gives Day and encourages listeners to consider charitable giving as a meaningful holiday gift. Chapter Markers 00:31 – Introduction and Colorado Gives Day 02:07 – Welcoming Guest Penn Street and the Holiday Spirit 03:08 – Challenges and Strategies for In-Person Shopping 04:07 – Charitable Giving as a Holiday Gift 05:45 – Benefits of Online Shopping and Accessibility Challenges 09:13 – Personalizing Gift Lists and Using Technology 12:00 – Navigating Tactile and Sentimental Gifts 16:00 – Funny Anecdotes from Shopping Experiences 17:23 – Accessibility Issues in Online Shopping Platforms 21:02 – Giving Experiences and Non-Material Gifts 26:20 – Personalizing Strategies for Stress-Free Shopping 30:11 – Self-Care During the Holidays 32:12 – Closing Thoughts and Holiday Wishes Contact Information Aftersight Website: aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Email: feedback@aftersight.org Guest Contact Penn Street: Co-host of The Blind Chick Podcast
In this inspiring episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses Street interview Wendy Fagan, the director of Envision Blind Sports. Together, they explore how Envision Blind Sports empowers individuals of all ages through adaptive sports, promoting independence, confidence, and joy. Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Introduction 00:28 - The Philosophy of Envision Blind Sports 02:51 - Adaptive Sports Techniques 07:37 - The Bigger Picture of Sports 10:03 - Outreach and Accessibility 14:43 - Funding and Volunteer Support 19:21 - Participant Costs and Accessibility 24:00 - Future Plans: Blind Adult Camp 26:14 - Closing Remarks Contact Information: Envision Blind Sports Website: www.EnvisionBlindSports.org Facebook & Instagram: Envision Blind Sports LinkedIn: Envision Blind Sports Volunteer, donate, or learn more through their website's contact form. Aftersight Website: www.AfterSight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Email: feedback@aftersight.org Colorado Gives Day Support transformative programs like Envision Blind Sports and Aftersight by donating on December 10th. Your contributions help create life-changing opportunities for individuals with low vision or blindness. Thank you for listening! Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on The Blind Chick!
The Blind Chick: Thanksgiving Special In this heartfelt and humorous Thanksgiving episode, hosts Penn and Moses Street reflect on their 37 years of shared Thanksgivings, highlighting the challenges, joys, and quirky memories that make the holiday meaningful. From hilarious stories about green Jell-O salads to the significance of creating new traditions with family and friends, this episode captures the spirit of gratitude and community. The hosts also share personal milestones, reflect on life's difficulties, and celebrate their listeners for helping them surpass 40,000 downloads. Chapter Markers: [00:00] Intro and Reflections – Thanksgiving memories and the evolution of traditions. [05:15] Gratitude for the Community – Celebrating 40,000 downloads and listener appreciation. [08:30] Hike and Community Events – Highlights from Aftersight's annual hike. [13:00] Nostalgic Thanksgiving Memories – Moses' mom's green Jell-O salad story. [20:00] Modern-Day Thanksgivings – Friendsgiving and family gatherings. [26:00] Gratitude Highlights – Penn and Moses share what they're most thankful for. [31:00] Wrap-Up and Call to Action – Kindness, gratitude, and Colorado Gives Day. This Thanksgiving, consider supporting Aftersight by donating on Colorado Gives Day. Your contributions help create resources and community events that uplift the lives of people with low vision. Visit Colorado Gives Day and search for Aftersight or contact us directly at (720) 712-8856 or email us at feedback@aftersight.org to learn more. Thank you for being part of our journey. From all of us at The Blind Chick, we wish you a joyful and memorable Thanksgiving! Stay Connected: Follow Aftersight on Facebook and Instagram for updates on events and new podcast episodes. Be sure to subscribe to The Blind Chick for more stories, laughs, and inspiration.
In this engaging episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn Street and Moses Street sit down with Wendy Fagan, founder of Envision Blind Sports, to discuss the life-changing impact of adaptive sports for blind and visually impaired individuals. Wendy shares her journey from discovering goalball and beat baseball to founding Envision Blind Sports, a nonprofit that introduces participants to over 25 different sports and activities. Together, they explore how sports can break stereotypes, inspire confidence, and foster independence. Wendy shares heartwarming stories of athletes who found joy and purpose through adaptive sports, while emphasizing the importance of exposing participants to a variety of opportunities. From rock climbing to skiing, Envision Blind Sports is helping athletes discover their passions and integrate into their local communities. The episode also delves into the broader challenges and misconceptions surrounding blindness and adaptive sports. Wendy and the hosts discuss how sports can be a universal language, breaking barriers and bringing people together. Looking ahead, the hosts preview part two of their conversation with Wendy, as well as upcoming special episodes, including a Thanksgiving message and highlights from Colorado Gives Day. Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Welcome and introduction. 05:10 – Meet Wendy Fagan. 07:34 – Origins of The Blind Chick podcast. 12:20 – Discovering adaptive sports. 14:24 – About Envision Blind Sports. 19:02 – Breaking stereotypes in sports. 23:42 – Inspiring inclusion through education. 27:50 – Part two preview and closing. Contact Information: Aftersight is a nonprofit organization producing The Blind Chick podcast and other empowering content for the blind and visually impaired community. Support their work through donations, and check out their other podcasts: Website: Aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Email: feedback@aftersight.org Envision Blind Sports Envision Blind Sports introduces individuals to adaptive sports, fostering confidence, independence, and joy through movement. With programs spanning 25+ sports, they empower participants of all ages to discover their passions. Website: EnvisionBlindSports.org Colorado Gives Day Support Aftersight this Colorado Gives Day on December 10th! Your donations help fund inclusive programming like The Blind Chick, making a difference in the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals. Donate Here: ColoradoGives.org Join us next week for part two of our conversation with Wendy Fagan, and don't miss our Thanksgiving message from Penn and Moses. Keep tuning in, and thank you for being part of the Blind Chick family!
Join hosts Penn and Moses as they continue their captivating conversation with Matt Hendrick in the second installment of his story. Matt delves deeper into his extraordinary life journey, sharing more about his out-of-body experiences, encounters with the unexplainable, and the artistic inspirations that shape his unique style. The episode highlights the role of disability in discovering purpose, finding beauty in unexpected places, and the uncharted paths that emerge from life's challenges. Tune in to explore thought-provoking discussions on spirituality, art, and resilience. Contact Information Matt Hendrick: Website: hendrickmedia.com Social Media: @MattHendrickArt on Facebook and Instagram Book: Uncommon Vision: Embracing the Unseen Aftersight: Email: info@aftersight.org Contact Number: (720) 712-8856 Website: aftersight.org Support Aftersight on Colorado Gives Day! Help us continue producing impactful content by contributing to Aftersight this holiday season. Colorado Gives Day is December 10th, and every donation fuels our mission to create accessible resources for the blind and low-vision community. Your contributions make a difference in building a more inclusive world. Donations are tax-deductible, and every dollar counts toward creating content like The Blind Chick. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Introduction and Colorado Gives Day 02:12 - Matt's Experiences with UFOs and Openness 04:36 - Spiritual Encounters and Family Reflections 06:22 - Guardian Angel Memories and Childhood Stories 08:38 - Discussion on Ancient Art and Mysticism 10:59 - Artistic Inspiration and Techniques 13:21 - Use of AI in Art and Creating Alien Imagery 15:21 - Reflections on Disability and Purpose 17:45 - Facing Life with a Disability and Needing Support 20:09 - Finding Connection Through Disability 22:34 - Contact Information for Matt and Final Thoughts
In this captivating episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street sit down with artist and author Matt Hendrick to explore his remarkable journey. Matt, who has survived numerous near-death experiences, shares his inspiring path from a life-altering car accident to becoming an artist who paints using his mouth and hand. His newest book, Uncommon Vision: Embracing the Unseen, delves into his experiences and the profound insights he's gained from his journey, including unique perceptions, synchronicities, and the spiritual connections he's encountered. Matt also reveals his creative process, including how he utilized technology like ChatGPT to craft his memoir, bringing his story to life in ways he hadn't imagined. Penn and Moses, known for their own adventurous lives, connect with Matt's experiences of life beyond physical limitations and share anecdotes about spiritual connections and the role of art and storytelling in processing trauma and celebrating resilience. Stay tuned for Part Two next week, where Matt delves even further into his life and experiences. Resources and Contact Information: Matt's Book: Uncommon Vision: Embracing the Unseen – Available in audiobook, Kindle, and paperback. Support Aftersight for Colorado Gives Day (December 10th): Donate and support shows like The Blind Chick, Blindsight, Navigating Life with Vision Loss, and Blind Level Tech. Your contributions make it possible to produce accessible content for the blind community. Colorado Gives Day Donation Link Contact Us: Aftersight Contact Information: Phone: (720) 712-8856 Email: feedback@aftersight.org Thank you for listening and supporting accessible storytelling. Be kind to yourself and others—it's good for the soul! Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Moses introduces his mountain lion story and The Blind Chick podcast. 02:23 – Moses and Penn share about meeting new friends on the trail. 04:50 – Matt describes his journey with painting as a quadriplegic. 07:15 – Matt discusses the process of writing his memoir. 09:40 – Matt and hosts discuss near-death experiences and spirituality. 12:06 – Moses shares his own experiences with premonitions and intuition. 14:30 – Penn talks about her connection with her angel, Casey. 16:53 – Penn recalls her childhood near-death experience. 19:21 – Matt and hosts discuss finding balance in spiritual connection. 21:47 – Jonathan closes Part One, encourages Colorado Gives Day donations, and thanks listeners.
The Blind Chick Podcast Summary In this episode of The Blind Chick, your hosts Penn and Moses Street dive into a conversation with Chelsea Elder from Adaptive Adventures. Together, they explore the power of adaptive sports and how they create a supportive, tight-knit community for people with disabilities. Chelsea shares the excitement of their unique Dragon Boat Racing program and how it fosters camaraderie and confidence, especially for participants with blindness or low vision. She also highlights other inclusive programs at Adaptive Adventures, from kayaking and paddleboarding to indoor fitness and climbing. Throughout this episode, you'll learn how Adaptive Adventures works to reduce barriers for individuals of all abilities, connecting them to a range of year-round activities and even offering specialized programs for veterans. Don't miss this inspiring discussion on how these adaptive programs empower participants to embrace challenges and discover new passions. Contact Information: Aftersight Website: aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Email: feedback@aftersight.org Adaptive Adventures Website: adaptiveadventures.org Email: info@adaptiveadventures.org Colorado Gives Day Support Aftersight and Adaptive Adventures on Colorado Gives Day, happening on December 10th! Your donations help keep these programs thriving and accessible. Contribute to help expand resources for the blind and low vision community across Colorado. Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick 00:28 – Message from Producer Jonathan Price 02:43 – Introducing Chelsea Elder and Adaptive Adventures 04:34 – Dragon Boat Racing and Community Building 06:53 – The Spirit of Dragon Boat Racing 09:11 – Benefits of Adaptive Adventures Programs 11:27 – Getting Started with Adaptive Adventures 13:44 – Dragon Boat Seasons and Continuation 16:03 – Access Adventure Days and Multi-Sport Events 18:15 – Adaptive Adventures Funding and Corporate Partnerships 18:42 – Winter Programs and Indoor Activities 20:48 – Veterans and PTSD Programs 22:55 – How to Get Involved and Volunteer
Join hosts Penn and Moses Street as they tackle misconceptions about blindness and share personal, humorous stories in this episode of The Blind Chick. They're joined by Chelsea Elder from Adaptive Adventures, who highlights the life-changing impact of adaptive sports programs. Chelsea shares how her organization provides outdoor recreation opportunities across the country for people with disabilities, along with their families and caregivers. From kayaking to Dragon Boat racing, this episode shows that blindness is just the beginning of the adventure. For more on Adaptive Adventures, visit adaptiveadventures.org. Have questions or comments for The Blind Chick? Reach out at (720) 712-8856 or email feedback@aftersight.org. Also, don't forget that Colorado Gives Day is coming up on December 10th! Donations open on November 1st and support Aftersight's mission. Make a difference by contributing—it's a great tax write-off and helps us continue our work! Visit coloradogives.org for more information and to donate. Takeaways Blindness is often misunderstood, leading to misconceptions about what blind people look like. Adaptive Adventures provides inclusive sports opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families. Community engagement is crucial for creating sustainable adaptive sports programs. Lived experience among staff enhances the support provided to participants. Adaptive sports can help individuals with disabilities regain confidence and independence. Inclusion of families in adaptive sports fosters a sense of togetherness and support. The importance of collaboration with other organizations to expand resources and reach. Celebrating small victories can lead to significant changes in individuals' lives. Adaptive Adventures focuses on removing barriers to participation in sports. Creating a supportive community is essential for the success of adaptive sports programs. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Blind Chick Podcast 02:50 Exploring Blindness and Perception 06:00 Adaptive Adventures: A Passion for Inclusion 12:05 Community Engagement and Support 18:46 The Importance of Lived Experience 24:00 Celebrating Achievements and Community 26:53 Conclusion and Future Discussions
Welcome back to The Blind Chick! In this episode, Penn and Moses continue their conversation with Tricia, the founder of Blind Girl Designs. Tricia shares her journey in the fashion industry as a blind business owner, discussing how she uses her white cane as a symbol of freedom and how her designs break down stereotypes around blindness. She talks about the inspiration behind her products, the importance of accessibility, and the empowering connections she's made within the blind community. Tune in for an inspiring story of resilience and creativity! Contact Info: Website: Blind Girl Designs Phone: (862) 448-1011 Support Aftersight: aftersight.org Remember to be kind to yourself and someone else—it's good for your soul. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Blind Chick Podcast 00:30 Revisiting Tricia's Journey 01:53 Navigating Challenges in Design 05:17 Embracing the White Cane 06:45 Designs that Spark Conversations 10:29 Creative Inspirations and Collaborations 14:16 Breaking Stereotypes of Blindness 19:27 The Impact of Social Media on Blindness Awareness 22:51 Reflections on Identity and Adversity 24:40 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement
In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street share their relaxing getaway to Colorado's Hot Sulphur Springs, discussing the importance of self-care and rejuvenation. Special guest Tricia Waechter joins the conversation, sharing her journey with vision loss and how she built her company, Blind Girl Designs, after transitioning from a career in fashion. This episode is full of humor, heart, and inspiration, reminding us all to embrace life's challenges. Don't miss part two next week! #TheBlindChick #BlindGirlDesigns #SelfCare #VisionLoss #Resilience Takeaways Self-care is essential for mental and physical well-being. Hot springs can provide a unique and rejuvenating experience. Living with vision loss presents unexpected challenges. Transitioning to blindness can be a difficult journey. Building a business can be a way to reclaim independence. Community support is vital for those with disabilities. Self-accommodation is a common experience for those with vision loss. The fashion industry can be inclusive and adaptive. Embracing change can lead to new opportunities. Finding joy in small moments is important. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Blind Chick Podcast 02:23 The Importance of Self-Care 04:41 Living with Vision Loss 12:49 Transitioning to Blindness and New Beginnings 23:28 Building Blind Girl Designs
In this episode of The Blind Chick podcast, hosts Penn and Moses Street dive into an inspiring conversation with Evan Schwabrock, who opens up about his journey of adapting to vision loss from Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Evan shares the real challenges he's faced—both personally and from societal misconceptions about blindness—and how he's pushed through to prove his capabilities. He also talks about his passion for fitness and empowerment through his initiative, Kane and Able Fitness, which is dedicated to helping the visually impaired community reach their fitness goals. You can learn more about his work at KaneAndAbleFitness.com. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Aftersight at (720) 712-8856 or email feedback@aftersight.org. Tune in to hear how physical fitness can fuel personal growth and help overcome life's obstacles. Takeaways Blindness can be an adventure if we embrace it. Vision loss is only a barrier if we let it be. Adapting to vision loss requires determination and support. Societal perceptions often underestimate the capabilities of the blind. Fitness can empower individuals with visual impairments. Kane and Able Fitness aims to provide accessible fitness resources. Overcoming challenges in fitness can translate to life skills. Movement should be enjoyable, not a punishment. Personal growth often starts with physical fitness. Everyone deserves to feel confident and capable, regardless of disability. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Blindness 02:25 Evan's Diagnosis and Initial Challenges 07:33 Adapting to Vision Loss and Independent Living 12:09 Overcoming Societal Doubts and Misconceptions 17:00 Kane and Able Fitness: Empowering the Visually Impaired 23:00 The Broader Impact of Fitness on Life Goals
We know you have questions for Penn and Moses. Why not drop them the line and ask them those burning questions that you can't keep inside? Call us at 720-712-8856 or email us at feedback@aftersight.org. In this episode of The Blind Chick podcast, Penn and Moses engage in a heartfelt conversation with Joel Schneider about the journey of training service dogs and the impact they have on individuals with disabilities. They discuss the unique experiences with guide dogs, the training processes involved, and the importance of community support in fostering a better understanding of service animals. The conversation emphasizes the humane treatment of all creatures and the need for more resources and awareness in the field of service dog training. If you would like to find out more about a soul dogs, you can visit their website at https://www.soul-dogs-inc.org/ Takeaways Blindness can be an adventure and a journey of strength. Guide dogs have unique personalities and relationships with their handlers. Soul Dogs operates as a job development program for individuals with disabilities. Training methods for dogs can vary widely, similar to different cuisines. Many guide dogs do not complete their training for various reasons. Humane treatment of all animals is a core value in service dog training. Community involvement is crucial for the success of service dog programs. There are significant costs and time commitments involved in obtaining a service dog. Support for service dog training can come from various community resources. Everyone can contribute to animal welfare by fostering or adopting dogs. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Blind Chick Podcast 00:26 The Journey with Guide Dogs 05:13 Soul Dogs: Training and Career Development 10:16 The Process of Guide Dog Training 14:04 Challenges in Service Dog Training 18:45 Community Involvement and Support 22:30 The Importance of Humane Treatment 24:28 Conclusion and Call to Action
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Blind Chick. I know you have questions for Penn and Moses, so why not ask? Give us a call at (720) 712-8856 or email us at feedback@aftersight.org In this episode of The Blind Chick podcast, hosts Penn and Moses Street engage with Joel Schneider, the executive director of Soul Dogs, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to training service dogs for individuals with disabilities. The conversation explores the mission of Soul Dogs, the process of training service dogs, and the profound impact these animals have on the lives of their handlers. Schneider shares insights into the unique abilities of service dogs, the importance of temperament in training, and the distinction between service dogs and emotional support animals. The episode highlights the healing power of the human-animal bond and the transformative experiences of those involved with Soul Dogs. Takeaways Blindness can be an adventure and a journey of strength. Soul Dogs, Inc. was founded to support individuals with disabilities. The connection between animals and healing trauma is profound. Training service dogs involves understanding their temperament. Service dogs can be trained to detect medical conditions like seizures. The journey of training a service dog is both rewarding and challenging. Emotional support animals differ from service dogs in their roles. Community involvement is crucial for the success of nonprofits like Soul Dogs. Every dog has unique abilities that can be harnessed for support. The bond between humans and dogs is a source of joy and healing. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Blind Chick Podcast 02:23 Meet Joel Schneider and Soul Dogs, Inc. 03:20 The Mission and Impact of Soul Dogs 12:41 The Journey of Training Service Dogs 18:24 Understanding the Unique Abilities of Service Dogs 21:10 The Difference Between Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals
We're so glad you're listening to The Blind Chick. If you have any questions for Penn or Moses, email them at feedback@aftersight.org or give them a call at (720) 712-8856. In this episode, Paula Kissinger is back for part 2 as she talks with Penn and Moses Street. They discuss their experiences with adaptive sports, including swimming, hiking, and working on a cattle ranch. They share tips for swimming in the ocean and hiking with a visual impairment. They also talk about how participating in sports has impacted their lives and provided them with valuable life skills. The episode concludes with a discussion on finding resources and services for adaptive sports. Takeaways There are adaptive ways to participate in various sports, such as swimming and hiking, even with a visual impairment. Participating in sports can teach valuable life skills, such as perseverance and the ability to overcome challenges. Sports can have a positive impact on career choices and relationships. It is important for parents to allow their children with disabilities to experience struggles and learn independence. There are many resources and services available for adaptive sports, and getting involved in a program can be a great experience. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Various Sports and Magic Tricks 01:48 Swimming and Echolocation 06:28 Swimming in the Ocean 09:44 Hiking with a Visual Impairment 12:37 Impact of Sports on Career and Relationships 18:50 Working on a Cattle Ranch 21:11 Takeaway: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Independence 21:39 Takeaway: Adaptive Sports for Everyone 22:06 Finding Resources and Services for Adaptive Sports25:23 Conclusion
Summary Paula Kissinger, a guest on The Blind Chick podcast, shares her story of how sports became her compass through vision loss. She grew up loving sports and found a sense of normalcy and community at a summer camp for kids with visual impairments. She discovered her love for judo at the camp and went on to compete in able-bodied competitions. Paula also talks about her passion for skiing and how she learned to ski at a young age. She now mentors young skiers and encourages them to overcome their fears. Takeaways Sports can be a compass for navigating vision loss and provide a sense of normalcy and community. Judo is an accessible sport for people with visual impairments due to its tactile nature. Skiing can be enjoyed by blind and low vision individuals with the help of guides and proper training. Parents should encourage their blind or low vision children to try sports and support their progress. Overcoming fear is an important part of participating in sports and achieving personal growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:20 Growing Up in Colorado and Moving to Philadelphia 03:40 Paula's Vision Diagnosis and Journey 06:03 Discovering Sports and Judo at Summer Camp 08:23 The Impact of Sports on Paula's Life 10:38 The Accessibility of Judo for People with Visual Impairments 13:29 Skiing with Guides and Overcoming Fears 16:20 Different Styles of Guiding in Skiing 19:11 Paula's Love for Skiing and Favorite Ski Areas 22:40 Paula's Role as a Mentor for Young Skiers 24:08 Encouraging Blind and Low Vision Children to Try Sports 25:52 Overcoming Fear in Sports and Achieving Personal Growth 26:23 Conclusion and Preview of Part 2
Rob and Ryan welcome Penn Street, host of the Blind Chick Podcast, who shares her journey of losing her vision due to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. The three dive into a discussion of the importance of early intervention, mentorship, and community support as well as the need for better representation and accessibility in various aspects of life, including dating apps and government before talking about the importance of sharing lived experiences to inspire and educate others through podcasting. Show Transcript https://atbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/at-banter-podcast-episode-395-penn-street-the-blind-chick.pdf Show Notes The Blind Chick https://aftersight.org/audio-publications/the-blind-chick/ AfterSight https://aftersight.org/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.
Summary The Blind Chick podcast is a platform for people with disabilities to share their stories. The hosts Penn and Moses Street interview individuals from all over the world, including para-Olympians, gamers, photographers, artists, writers, and activists. In this episode, they interview Ted Tahquechi, a blind art photographer, who creates 3D printable art that can be touched and experienced by people with visual impairments. They also interview Jacqueline and Alexa, the creators of the Dateability app, a dating app designed for disabled and chronically ill individuals. Lastly, they speak with Shawn Satterfield, the founder of the Shine Music Festival, which focuses on accessibility and inclusivity in live music events. Takeaways The Blind Chick podcast provides a platform for people with disabilities to share their stories. Ted Takuichi creates 3D printable art that can be experienced by people with visual impairments. The Dateability app is a dating app designed for disabled and chronically ill individuals. The Shine Music Festival focuses on accessibility and inclusivity in live music events. Chapters 00:00 Empowering Stories from Around the World 05:19 Creating Tactile Art for the Visually Impaired 10:47 Finding Love and Connection with the Dateability App 16:18 Promoting Accessibility and Inclusivity in Live Music Events Thank you for listening to this episode of The Blind Chick. It was so much fun seeing you all at the Shine Festival, and we are so blessed to get to do this every week. If you have any questions for Penn and Moses, reach out to us at feedback@aftersight.org or give us a call at (720) 712-8856. Have a great week.
Summary In this episode of The Blind Chick podcast, host Jonathan Price interviews Marty Sobo, a podcaster and tech guru who is a strong advocate for accessibility in the tech world. Marty shares his personal journey of losing his sight 10 years ago and how it changed his life. He discusses the challenges faced by blind individuals in learning and using technology, as well as the importance of advocating for oneself and the blind community. The conversation also touches on the need for better resources and support for those who receive a vision loss diagnosis. Takeaways Losing one's vision can be a life-altering experience, requiring individuals to learn new skills and adapt to a world that heavily relies on technology. Blind individuals often face challenges in accessing and using technology, and there is a need for better resources and support to help them navigate the digital world. Advocacy plays a crucial role in empowering blind individuals to ask for help, seek resources, and educate others about their needs and experiences. Receiving a vision loss diagnosis can be overwhelming, and there is a need for improved support systems to guide individuals through the process and connect them with relevant resources. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:19 Marty's Journey and Diagnosis 03:09 The Challenges of Accessing and Using Technology 07:00 The Emotional Journey and the Power of Advocacy 15:58 Unmuting Yourself and the Blind Community 21:32 Unmuting Your Potential: Asking Questions and Advocating for Yourself 24:22 Improving Support Systems for Vision Loss Diagnoses 27:08 Closing Remarks and Call to Kindness Thank you for listening to The Blind Chick. If you have questions, please email us at feedback@aftersight.org or call us at (720) 712-8856.
Summary In this episode, Penn and Moses interviews Dominic Petrello, a writer and advocate for the blind community. They discuss Dominic's upcoming kidney transplant, his journey with diabetes, and the challenges faced by blind individuals in sports journalism. Dominic shares his perspective on the misconceptions about blindness and the need for society to value individuals based on their abilities rather than their disabilities. He also talks about his aspirations to become a full-time sports writer and his desire to help others through his words. Takeaways Blind individuals face misconceptions and stereotypes, but they should not let them define their abilities or limit their aspirations. Society needs to value individuals based on their abilities rather than their disabilities. Blindness can enhance other senses, such as hearing and smell, and individuals should embrace and utilize these heightened senses. Mentorship and support from others can play a crucial role in overcoming challenges and achieving success. Dominic aspires to become a full-time sports writer and hopes to make a difference in the world through his words. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Recap 00:55 Dominic's Kidney Transplant Journey 02:15 Living with Diabetes and Other Health Challenges 03:09 Discussing the Documentary 'Hoop Dreams' 04:33 Making Sports Journalism More Accessible for the Blind 05:52 Challenging Misconceptions about Blindness 07:18 The Importance of Empathy and Understanding 08:17 Navigating Relationships and Dating as a Blind Individual 09:41 The Deeper Sense of Perception in the Blind Community 10:59 The Desire for a More Inclusive Society 12:24 Utilizing Enhanced Senses and Cognitive Abilities 13:47 The Challenges and Benefits of Heightened Sense of Smell 15:11 Living with a Partner with a Good Sense of Smell 16:08 Connecting with Dominic and Seeking Mentorship 18:59 Dominic's Aspirations as a Writer and Mentor 21:20 Defining Success as a Sports Writer 23:45 Final Thoughts and Takeaways Thank you for listening to The Blind Chick. Give us a call at (720) 712-8856 if you have any questions for our hosts. Have a great week!
Summary In this episode, Penn Street, the outreach and development coordinator at Navigating Life with Vision Loss, joins host Kim Wardlow to discuss exploring accessibility in the outdoors. Penn shares her love for outdoor activities such as skiing, paddleboarding, camping, and hiking. She emphasizes the importance of having a buddy and using communication tools like Bluetooth headsets or tethers to make outdoor activities accessible. Penn also talks about the Aftersight Audio Trekker's hike and the benefits of exercise and being in nature. The episode concludes with a discussion about the Independence Pass Braille Trail and the upcoming Shine Music Festival. Takeaways Outdoor activities can be made accessible with the right tools and support. Having a buddy and using communication tools like Bluetooth headsets or tethers can enhance the outdoor experience for individuals with vision loss. Exercise and being in nature have numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits. The Independence Pass Braille Trail and the Shine Music Festival are inclusive and accessible events worth exploring. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 02:24 Skiing, Paddleboarding, Camping, and Hiking 08:49 Making Outdoor Activities Accessible 25:17 The Aftersight Audio Trekker's Hike 31:13 The Independence Pass Braille Trail 35:20 The Shine Music Festival Thank you for listening to this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss. If you have any questions, please visit us at aftersight.org and email us at feedback@aftersight.org. You can also reach us by phone at 720-712-8856. Don't forget to register for the audio trackers hike at www.aftersight.org hike.
Walking by Faith, Not Sight: Kayla Jenkins' Inspiring Journey on The Blind Chick Podcast In this episode of 'The Blind Chick,' hosts Moses and Penn Street bring to the fore stories of resilience and the triumphs over life's hurdles, particularly focusing on living with vision impairment. The narrative unfolds with Moses and Penn encouraging audience engagement through feedback and announces the addition of a new podcast, 'Game Changers,' about adaptive sports. The highlight of the episode is an inspiring conversation with guest Kayla Jenkins, a young woman who, despite an aggressive form of glaucoma that led to significant vision loss, earned her law degree and is pursuing seminary studies. Jenkins, the youngest of twelve siblings, shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to founding Blind Faith Ministries, a platform rooted in faith and resilience against adversity. Throughout, the hosts and Jenkins touch upon the importance of self-advocacy, the distinction between sight and vision, and the role of faith in navigating life's challenges. The episode not only sheds light on Kayla's personal journey and aspirations but also discusses broader themes of adaptation, support, and the impact of loss on life's path. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Blind Chick Podcast! 00:45 Engaging with Our Audience: Feedback and Announcements 01:32 Introducing Game Changers: A New Podcast on Adaptive Sports 02:00 Don't Miss the Audio Trekker Hike Event! 03:11 Meet Kayla Jenkins: Law Graduate and Seminary Student 05:02 Kayla's Love for Vintage Fashion and Overcoming Vision Challenges 07:13 Finding Personal Style with Vision Loss 08:36 Kayla's Family Background and Hereditary Glaucoma 10:04 Kayla's Journey to Becoming a Lawyer 11:42 Facing Vision Loss During Law School 14:55 The Birth of Blind Faith Ministries 20:16 Kayla's Vision for Blind Faith Ministries and Being a Light for Others 24:58 Final Thoughts and Gratitude Thank you for listening to this episode of The Blind Chick. If you would like to make a comment or suggest a guest or have questions for Penn or Moses, please call us at 720-712-8856 or email us at feedback@aftersight.org. Have a great week.
Empowerment and Inclusion: A Conversation with Joe Stretchay on 'The Blind Chick' Podcast This episode of 'The Blind Chick,' an Aftersight original podcast, features hosts Moses and Penn Street engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Joe Stretchay, a renowned figure in the film industry known for his work on advocating for the inclusion of blind and low-vision actors. The discussion covers a range of topics, including overcoming adversity, the significance of representation in media, and the impact of Stretchay's work on challenging ableism in the film industry. Stretchay shares insights from his involvement in major productions like 'See,' 'Daredevil,' and 'The OA,' emphasizing the importance of authentic representation and innovative techniques that cater to blind and low-vision individuals. The episode not only celebrates the achievements and contributions of Joe Stretchay but also underscores the broader themes of strength, resilience, and the transformative power of representation in media. 00:00 Welcome to The Blind Chick Podcast! 00:33 Listener Feedback and Contact Info 01:15 Celebrating Birthdays and Special Guests 01:32 Joe Stretchay: A Visionary in the Film Industry 03:57 Exploring Ableism in Entertainment 05:09 The Art of Touch Language in 'See' 08:12 Behind the Scenes: Creating a World for the Blind 16:50 The Impact of Authentic Representation in Film 17:33 Universal Design and Accessibility in Set Design 26:57 Concluding Thoughts and Birthday Wishes Thank you for listening to this episode of The Blind Chick. If you would like to have your question answered by Penn and Moses, please give us a call at 720-712-8856 or if you would rather email us you can do so at feedback@aftersight.org
Resilience and Rediscovery: Ariana Dewberry's Journey from Sight to Insight This episode of The Blind Chick podcast features host duo Moses and Penn Street engaging in conversation with guest Ariana Dewberry, also known as Professor Blindie. Ariana shares her profound journey of sudden vision loss in 2018 due to pseudotumor cerebri, leading to legal blindness. Despite the setbacks, including misdiagnosis and significant mobility loss, Ariana emphasizes resilience, the transition to learning new skills such as Braille and cane navigation, and her motivation to start her business, Blind Intelligence. The discussion also covers the impact of the loss of Ariana's son and how she channels her grief into positive actions, including initiating a scholarship in his name. Her story underlines the theme of overcoming adversity and using personal experiences to inspire and assist others in the community. 00:00 Introduction to The Blind Chick Podcast 00:25 The Hosts' Banter and Introduction to the Episode 02:01 Introducing the Guest: Arianna Dewberry 02:43 Ariana's Childhood Hero and the Origin of 'Professor Blindie' 04:11 Ariana's Sudden Vision Loss Journey 06:01 The Struggles and Challenges of Losing Vision 10:42 Ariana's Rehabilitation and Learning New Skills 15:59 Starting Blind Intelligence and Overcoming Personal Loss 21:30 Ariana's Takeaway and How to Connect with Her 24:56 Closing Remarks and Shout-outs Thank you for listening to this episode of The Blind Chick. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to email us at feedback@aftersight.org or give us a call on our voicemail line at 720-712-8856.
Overcoming Self Esteem Challenges & Story Time with The Blind Chick Tune in for an uplifting and insightful episode of 'The Blind Chick' where Penn Street, the blind chick, and her husband Moses Street share their personal experiences in boosting self-esteem through the power of perception. They share how they survived a severe winter with improvised warmth and a lot of humor. Penn discusses her fondness for sunglasses and the empowering effect they have on her self-image. Tune in as they dive deep into the impact of appearance in media and social media. They explain how emotions play a crucial role in photography and discuss some practical tips to feel more confident in front of the camera. The show concludes with both emphasizing the importance of embracing uniqueness and practicing kindness. If you would like to follow along with a transcript of this show, please click on the link below.
Aftersight: Year-end Wrap Up In this final episode of Aftersight for 2023, host Penn Street reflects on the year's milestones and memorable highlights. From connecting with Olympic athletes and artists to discussing innovative technology with entrepreneurs, Aftersight has touched various aspects of life. It also played an important role in preserving braille for future generations and providing comfort through a memorial episode dedicated to a dear friend. This episode is beautifully wrapped up by an inspiring message from Jonathan and a
Aftersight with Bridget Kuenning-Pollpeter In this episode of 'Aftersight', host Penn Street engages with esteemed guest Bridget Kuenning-Pollpeter. Bridget is a journalist, mom, and performer who fought adversity from birth. She shares her experiences with diabetes, vision loss, and an eating disorder, using her story to inspire and change lives. Bridget later pursued a career as a creative nonfiction writer and journalist, circling back to her love for creativity. She discusses her favorite works and how she navigates the freelance writing world. Topping it off with talks about identity and body image and the importance of kindness, this episode emanates an aura of resilience and positivity. If you would like to follow along with a transcript of this episode, please click on the link below. https://share.descript.com/view/O9nNMo7U2WF 00:03 Introduction and Welcome 00:25 Meet the Guest: Bridget 01:50 Getting to Know Bridget: Ice Breaking Questions 04:28 Bridget's Struggles with Health and Eating Disorders 05:17 The Impact of Body Image and Eating Disorders 11:08 Bridget's Journey in Performing Arts 14:52 Transition to Writing and Journalism 22:10 Bridget's Favorite Pieces and How to Follow Her Work 27:04 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes We hope you enjoyed this episode of Aftersight. Thank you for joining us. If you would like to reach any of the hosts or ask a question, please reach us at feedback@aimcolorado.org or call us on our voicemail line at (720) 712-8856.
Aftersight Episode: Introducing A New Co-Host and Exciting Future Plans In this episode of Aftersight, Penn Street, the host, introduces her husband Moses Street as the new co-host for her podcast. She explains that the show's name will soon change to 'The Blind Chick', a reference to her own experiences as a low-vision individual and her willingness to see change. Penn dives into the history of how she came up with the new name for the show and the need for a co-host. Furthermore, she shares about the fun and challenges of hosting a podcast by oneself. Several notable guests and past interviews are mentioned, which includes celebrities like Diane Schuur and Chloe Duplessis. Excitingly, Penn reveals that Aftersight is now in the top 25% of USA podcasts, and she looks forward to what's to come in 2024. If you would like to follow along with a copy of this podcast, click on the link below. https://share.descript.com/view/SVyhJ1A48K1 00:03 Introduction and Welcome 00:25 Introducing the New Co-Host 01:33 The Story Behind 'The Blind Chick' 02:12 The Journey 04:17 The Impact 07:11 The Evolution 07:46 Controversy and Acceptance 08:49 The Need for a Co-Host 10:14 The Dynamic Duo: Penn and Moses 12:26 Favorite Episodes and Future Guests 20:38 Celebrating Success and Looking Forward 24:58 Closing Remarks and Gratitude Thank you for listening to this episode of Aftersight. If you would like to ask Penn and Moses a question, you can do so using the following links: Feedback@aincolorado.org (720)712-8856
Celebrating Jeff Hanson's Legacy, Part 2 In this episode of 'Aftersight', host Penn Street welcomes back Julie and Hal Hanson, parents of Jeff Hanson, a remarkable artist who passed away three years ago. They share more about Jeff's unique style, how he adapted to low vision, and his deep passion for raising donations for charity through his art. They also discuss Jeff's ambitious goal of raising $10 million for charity, which has so far reached the $8 million mark. The episode ends with an introduction to the upcoming 'Growing Kindness' sculpture project, inspired by Jeff's beloved poppy artwork. If you would like to follow along with a transcript of this recording, please click on the link below. https://share.descript.com/view/9xa9pmmLIgB 00:03 Introduction and Welcome 00:21 Remembering Jeff Hanson: A Remarkable Artist 01:37 Jeff's Unique Artistic Techniques 05:26 Jeff's Love for Poppies and Their Influence on His Art 07:15 Jeff's Vision and Its Impact on His Art 10:19 Jeff's Philanthropic Journey and Goals 12:30 The Growing Kindness Sculpture: A Tribute to Jeff's Legacy 19:08 Jeff's Love for Fine Things and His Unfulfilled Dreams 23:09 Jeff's Theme Song and His Parents' Reflections 25:03 How to Learn More About Jeff and Support His Legacy 26:47 Conclusion: A Tribute to Jeff's Impact Thank you for listening to this episode of Aftersight soon to be named "The Blind Chick". If you have a question for Penn or would like to reach one of our other guests, please email us or call us on our voice mail line listed below. Have a wonderful week and we'll see you next time. feedback@aincolorado.org (720) 712-8856
Medicare and Enrollment Periods: Insight With Brenda Trey Hosts - After Sight Podcast In this episode of the Aftersight Podcast, host Penn Street welcomes guest Brenda Trejos to discuss Medicare, its history, and how it works. They also cover enrollment periods, the different types of Medicare and who qualifies for them. Brenda stresses the need for caution in responding to commercials related to Medicare and the importance of seeking advice from a certified, licensed, authorized agent for personalized advice. The discussion also touches on the benefits of Medicare Advantage programs and the necessity of understanding one
Aftersight's Special 100th Episode: Reflection, Celebrations and New Beginnings In this milestone 100th episode of the podcast Aftersight, host Penn Street celebrates with a few special guests who have greatly influenced the show. Listeners are reminded of the diversity and unique perspectives brought in by past guests from different walks of life. Penn shares that the show's initial intention was to help someone in their life journey using stories of people from around the world, a value she notes that the show has managed to consistently embody. Additionally, the episode informs the listeners that 'After Sight' will soon be the organization's name and the show will transition into being called, 'The Blind Chick', to reflect Penn's social media persona. The episode ends on an encouraging note, urging people to be kind to themselves and extend kindness to someone else as well. 00:03 Introduction and Welcome 00:19 Interview with Penn Street Begins 00:55 Penn's Daily Life and Work Ethic 01:23 Penn's Favorite Aspects of Fall 02:43 Penn's Favorite Theme Songs 03:31 Penn's Current Playlist 04:02 Recap of the Last Two Years 06:50 Guest Appearance: Mike May 07:45 Penn's First Meeting with Mike May 11:55 Guest Messages and Reflections 13:18 Guest Appearance: Alex Flynn 20:37 Chloe's Impact and the Concept of Seasons 22:42 Guest Appearance: Kelvin Crosby 25:43 Guest Appearance: Evan Starnes 29:57 Memorable Episodes and Impactful Stories 31:36 Guest Appearance: Kim Wardlow 40:33 The Evolution of Aftersight 44:01 The Blind Chick: A New Chapter For a transcription of this show please visit https://share.descript.com/view/IXg65qYpYdE
Do you like to bargain shop? Do you like to find hidden gems at flea markets, and thrift and consignments stores? We do! We're talking about that and so much more on this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss. We're changing our name and if you would like to help in changing the name of our podcast Aftersight with Penn Street, please send your suggestions to jonathan@aincolorado.org If you would like a transcription of this episode, please visit: https://share.descript.com/view/DSv6YraPS9l
Yes, today we have the pleasure of listening to and talking with Penn Street who survived being bitten twice by a rattlesnake when she was nine and a half. Ok, you may say. So she was bitten. A little antivenom should take care of that. Not in Penn's case. She had an incredibly severe reaction to the medications and acquired Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). This syndrome did a lot of damage to Penn's body including causing her blindness. She decided not to let SJS nor anything else stop her. Was it also due to her seven older brothers? Penn will tell us. After college Penn discovered a talent for sales when she married her husband and joined him in promoting his professional photography business. Today, Penn Street has a podcast entitled “Aftersight” which she operates as part of what she does with the Audio Information Network of Colorado. Our conversation by any standard this time is inspiring and very enjoyable. I hope you like it. About the Guest: Penn Street lost most of her eyesight at age nine from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) after being bit by a rattlesnake. SJS is a rare Adverse Drug Reaction that attacks the body by burning it alive from the inside out. 75% of Penn's body was covered by second-and third-degree burns. All the soft tissue is compromised. Her parents were told if she survived, she would be deaf, blind, cognitively damaged, remain of a feeding tube for life, and would not be able to breathe on her own. Thanks to prayer and Penn's tomboy spirit she did not only survive, but she exceeded all medical expectations. Penn's vision, hearing, and major organs were compromised, but that did not slow Penn down for long. Growing up Penn discovered that accessibility was the key to her community, career, and the possibility of living the life she wanted. Penn sought out solutions to her new life with low vision, hearing loss, and chronic pain by learning to navigate life differently than before. Penn was a bright student a held a GPA hovering around 4.0 through her entire education. Penn set her sights on becoming an advocate for people with disabilities. However, life happens, and opportunities arise unexpectedly. Penn met her husband, Moses Street a professional nationally known photographer. Penn became the Studio Gallery Manager where she found the skill of managing a team and sales a strength, she did not know she had. After decades of a lucrative run with the studio and gallery Penn was pulled back into her desire to work with people with disabilities. For the past 15 years Penn has worked at several non-profits as a leader on their development and outreach teams. All the organizations have a focus on low vision and blindness. Currently Penn is the Development and Outreach Director for Audio Information Network of Colorado. Penn sits on several boards and commissions and is a sought-after public speaker. In the winter you can find Penn on the alpine slopes of Colorado's mountains searching for the best powder and the steepest runs. In the summer Penn enjoys camping, hiking, and paddleboarding. Ways to connect with Travis: You can contact Penn Street through Audio Information Network of Colorado's website www.aincolorado.org. Follow Penn Street on social media – Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_blind_chick/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/penn.street YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheBlindChick TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@theblindchicklife 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 also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. 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 ** 01:21 Well, hi there once again, here it is another day and it's time for unstoppable mindset. We have a wonderful guest today I got to meet a couple of months ago. Her name is Penn Street Penn is short for Penny. But we're going to call her pen because that's what she seems to like. And she hasn't hit me or anyone else yet for calling her Penn. And she seems to be pretty used to it. So we'll stick with pen. And she has an interesting and I think a great story to tell and we'll get to all of that. But Penn, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. Penn Street ** 01:55 Thanks, Michael. I really appreciate it. Michael Hingson ** 01:59 So, as we were talking about just before we started, you are one daughter among six or seven other boys, right? Penn Street ** 02:09 Actually, there's three girls and the other three Michael Hingson ** 02:12 girls. Oh my gosh, but you were the first girl. Penn Street ** 02:14 No, I was the second. So yeah, my parents had two boys. And then they had a girl and they really, really, really wanted another girl. So they had five more boys. And then I was born. And so story tells us says that my mom looked at me and said I was her her lucky shiny Penny. So she wanted to name me Penny. And then so that's the second girl. And then my little sister almost three years later came and was a complete surprise because my mom thought and dad thought I was it. But my little sister came along which I was very thankful for. Because imagine a little girl with seven older brothers it was, you know, it was unfair at times Michael Hingson ** 03:01 will add an older sister. Yeah. But Penn Street ** 03:03 she was so much older than me. It felt like, you know, she was my babysitter which she sort of was. Michael Hingson ** 03:11 So what was your younger sister's name? Penn Street ** 03:15 Sorry, Ed. She was actually named after my oldest brother's girlfriend at the time. Because he found out my mom was pregnant and you know, his first girlfriend. He thought it would be really cool to say, you know, oh, my mom, you know really likes you. She's going to name the baby after you. And my mom really didn't have another girl's name. So Sherry is out there somewhere. My little sister actually was named after you. Michael Hingson ** 03:46 Wow. Yeah. So older brother and Sherry didn't stay together. Penn Street ** 03:52 Not I doubt if I don't know how long they are teenagers who know? Michael Hingson ** 03:57 Yeah, yeah. Well, there is that. Well, so you you've had, needless to say, an interesting life, which, which we'll talk about as much as you want. But you grew up like any kid and then went to school, I guess. And then did all those things that kids do. But then things changed for you at the age of nine. Penn Street ** 04:20 Yes, they did. I was bit by a western diamondback rattlesnake. And actually a bit me twice and then a bit my little sister sherry. Oh my gosh. But I took the bulk of the venom, which was a good thing because she was smaller than me. So but yeah, where Michael Hingson ** 04:40 were you guys where you weren't supposed to be? Penn Street ** 04:43 That is another story. But we were we were in the woods of Arkansas. And I actually Arkansas has several super venomous snakes, which are definitely not my my favorite animals but but yeah, it was They gave me you know, anti venom, they gave me all the right, you know medication to save my life. But in doing so it triggered a syndrome called Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which was named after the two doctors that came up with the name Stevenson Johnson. And it's a severe, you know, adverse drug reaction. And at that time, the fatality rates for children was 75%. And you're treated in a burn unit, just as if you've been in a fire because your body the way it reacts to the drugs is it burns from the inside out. So all of my organs were affected. 75% of my body was covered in second, third degree burns. So you can imagine in a fire, all the soft tissue was compromised. And, of course, your eyes are nothing but soft tissue. So the eyes were definitely the obvious. But, but yeah, they the I was a tomboy, being with seven older brothers, I had to be strong, right, I never would have survived those first nine years, if I wasn't a tomboy, and I, I didn't understand what was happening. But you know, you're a kid, you just kind of this is what's happening today, and I'll get through it, and then tomorrow will be better. And, you know, every day that I survived, you know, the chances of me sir, you know, living increased, and then I, you know, I really did, especially at that time, because I didn't know a lot about Stevens Johnson Syndrome, they really thought that I would be totally blind, deaf, you know, my fever was above 103 for many, many days. So they thought that I would be cognitively impaired, I'd be on a feeding tube, I would never be able to breathe on my own all those things. But, you know, as I as I fought they, you know, unchecked those boxes, from my future. And, and yes, you know, everything is compromised, I, you know, obviously, my vision is compromised, and hearing is compromised, those kinds of things. But really, I don't look at those things as a disability. To me, my disability is my fire doesn't like to keep up with my lifestyle that I like to do my love. So I like to climb mountains, and you know, downhill ski, and I like to do all these things that require a good health. So my heart's not very happy with me most of the time, but neither on my lungs, but it's, it's my life. It's, I'm, I appreciate every single day that I have. And just like when I was a kid, I look at Oh, today is today, and tomorrow will be better. And it always is. Michael Hingson ** 07:55 I bet however, that your older brothers were supportive. Penn Street ** 08:00 They were, I think that they were threatened with their lives that when I did finally get to come home, that they were supposed to treat me different, you know, don't tease her Don't roughhouse with her. She's very fragile. And I was I was extremely fragile, but, but behind the scenes, sort of mom and dad weren't there, you know, they, they, they didn't treat me exactly like they did before. But I did appreciate more than they will ever know, you know, those, those big brother, you know, kind of pushes and shoves and calling me a dork and stuff like that, because it made me feel like me again, ya know, because I didn't look like me anymore. You know, imagine a burn, you know, burn victim. And, you know, I didn't move around quite as fast, especially in the beginning until I, you know, had those skills, you know, the cane skills and, you know, those independent skills that I had to learn, but that they, you know, it was what it was and my little sister and I became super close. Actually, probably closer than we were before, because I was forced to be inside a lot more and unlike me being the tomboy, she was the little princess and she loved playing with dolls and wearing pink and all those kinds of things. And I think she really liked having me sort of forced into being inside more and so we got to know each other more and you know, she she still is, you know, my absolute closest friend on the planet. Michael Hingson ** 09:47 Now, were you from Arkansas originally? Penn Street ** 09:50 Yes. But I was 12 it became apparent that in Arkansas, yes, they had a great Children's Hospital's state of the art that saved my life. But they really didn't have a lot of other resources and services. After that initial, you know, hospitalization and so my parents found out about the Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado, and it was definitely at that time, you know, the leader in working with children and illnesses and all those kinds of things. And then also just resources, you know, they didn't really have blind teachers. There was blindness was looked at very differently in Arkansas than, than it was in Colorado. And there weren't a lot of teachers and resources and services, and my parents knew that I was going to need those. So they packed us up and moved us to Colorado, which I'm very thankful I love Colorado. And so I was given a lot, a lot better care here, and definitely a better education. Michael Hingson ** 11:01 So what do your parents do for a living? Penn Street ** 11:04 So they're both gone now. But my father was a mill, right. And he worked for a union. So he worked at power plants, all across the country had a very specific skill set. And my mom, when we were young, she was a stay at home mom with 10 kids, it's hard to get a baby's that on. But as we got older, she actually went into health care and worked with seniors. And, you know, with a health care provider for seniors so so kind of runs on my family the work that I do, I think it might lead. Michael Hingson ** 11:42 Well, you certainly did come out of it, and certainly your tomboy attitude. Saying it facetiously or not certainly had to help, because you you had to survive, and you learned how to be a survivor. And certainly Stevens Johnson made you into a survivor, which, which isn't important. And that, of course, is a characteristic and a trait that is second to none that you certainly don't want to live without. Penn Street ** 12:16 That's true. That's true. I really do love my life. I it always angers me when people feel sorry for me, or, or like they say, Oh, I'm sorry. I'm like, Don't be sorry. Love my life. I, you know, I do wish my heart work better. And I do whereas work, you know, I wish my lungs worked better. But it's, besides those things, like I didn't even those things, you know, it's it is what it is? It is what it is. Yeah. And they're part of who I am. And I, I like who I am. And you know, not that I don't want I love learning and growing and I love learning different ways to approach situations and I'm always a sponge when I'm around new cultures and things like that. So it's not like this is it? I'm happy with the way I am. I'm gonna stay right here. Because I'm not. I have a lot more to learn and and to experience of this world. But, but there is nothing to be sorry about or, you know, Michael Hingson ** 13:20 well, when you go into kind of an overexertion mode, if you will, what what is your heart do? What, what how do you notice it? Does it just yell at you and go slow down or? No? Penn Street ** 13:31 Well here, I actually, actually right now I have a pretty crazy heart monitor on a week ago. Actually, a week ago last night, I ended up in the emergency room and Durango, Colorado because my heart decided it didn't really want to work anymore. And it goes from zero, you know, 100 to zero. So I was out hiking that weekend, I had been paddleboarding and camping in the mountains of Colorado and I was over a friend's house in Durango, Colorado, and we're about to have dinner and sitting on the couch and totally blacked out and woke up in the, you know, in the ambulance, which, unfortunately is not abnormal for me. But so we're gonna see what's going on right now. There's definitely an infection going on. And they don't know what that is. But whatever it needs to happen to get me back outside. thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you. Thank you. Michael Hingson ** 14:34 Well, it's it's interesting. And you're right, we all we all have gifts. We all have challenges. Yeah. And it's it's like anything, as I tell people talking about September 11. We couldn't prevent it. And I'm not convinced that even with the September 11 Report, I'm not seeing enough evidence to say that we could have foreseen it happening. But the issue is Since that had happened, the issue is how we deal with it. And you're facing the same sort of thing. Every day, excuse me every day as we all are, yeah, we, we have challenges. And the issue is we either deal with them and we grow and become better or not. And that's our that's our choice. Yeah, Penn Street ** 15:19 absolutely. You know, people, even right now, they're like, Oh, you have to rest you have to, and I am resting. This one was pretty scary. And it was still so recent. But I'm like, you know, if my heart wants to blow out, or my lungs want to keep up, I'd rather be doing that standing on top of a mountain or, you know, rafting a river or, you know, doing something that I love, and instead of sitting on a couch, you know, it's or it but that's the way I am. I'm not saying that's the correct way, you know, other people may totally disagree with me. But it's, it's my life. And that's the way I want to live it and Michael Hingson ** 16:02 well, you can decide when you want to not be so, so active on any given day. That's your choice. Penn Street ** 16:11 Absolutely. All of us have that choice, though. Michael Hingson ** 16:15 Absolutely. Absolutely. We all have that choice. So you but you How did school go for you after that? After Stevens Johnson and so on? Penn Street ** 16:25 Actually really well. I have, I don't know where it came from. And I don't know, school was always easy for me. It's not that I'm the best student, I don't have a super IQ. I don't know what my IQ is. But school was always really easy. To me, I always looked at it sort of as a puzzle or a game. Depending on what the teacher needed or wanted from me, that's what I gave them, which got me good grades. And it just it always worked for me. I was always a good problem solver. And so, whenever I got a new teacher, which was you know, every year, or every quarter, whatever, whatever grade I was in, I really studied the teacher and what they needed and wanted and, and that's what I gave them. And so even though because of, you know, my bad, bad health or whatever you want to call it, I was kept home a lot. I don't think I went a full week of school when I was finally allowed to go back to school. You know, I think if I hit four days a week actually being, you know, my butt in the seat left classroom, that was rare. And but I still made I made straight A's I was I was always on the honor roll even in college. You know, when I went to university, I made the Dean's list, I worked full time. It was I I don't think there's anything special or gifted about me. I just, it's just the way my brain works. And I learned what it took to get good grades. And that's what I did. And I and I was disciplined about it. You know, and I did my work when I'm supposed to do my work. And it just worked out for me, Michael, it was, you know, I did go through public school, there was a time in middle school that my parents were concerned because I started you know, typical started getting teased and all that kind of thing. And they were they were concerned about my mental health, you know, but then I did i They allowed me to go, you know, research it and I even did, you know, some visits with a couple different schools. You know, and it just I it didn't feel right. I wanted, I wanted to be in the public school system. And it wasn't just because that's where my friends were. It's it's just that's what felt like what I needed. And Michael Hingson ** 19:04 so what year was this? What years were you in high school? Penn Street ** 19:07 I graduated in 87. Michael Hingson ** 19:09 Okay, so, you I never had any of the real teasing and bullying growing up as a blind kid. Because we lived in Palmdale, which was a pretty rural area 65 miles north of Los Angeles, but I know that over time, I guess more and more bullying happened. So maybe there was more of it. When you were in high school then even I experienced Of course it's a whole different ballgame now with all the things that exists but Penn Street ** 19:37 I was I can't imagine now. Yeah, I Michael Hingson ** 19:41 I wouldn't want to be a kid now. It's got to be so challenging. Exactly. But I was very fortunate that I didn't really have a lot and I I did have issues. I was denied access to the school bus for a while in my freshman year of high school because we had a bully of a superintendent in the district, we had a rule, we had a rule that said no live animals a lot on the school bus, which I understand. But there was a state law that said that, that blind people with guide dogs could take their dogs anywhere that the public could go. And under case law that included meat taking my dog on the school bus, well, the superintendent didn't care. And so I was actually denied. And when we got a board meeting about it at the local school board level, the board sided three to two with the superintendent, even though we showed them what the law said. And it actually took reaching out to the Governor of California who was at that time, Edmund G, Pat Brown, Jr. To get it reversed, and the superintendent then left us alone, but it took that level to to make it happen. But that's the but it was a great lesson for me, because I learned that you can fight city hall and when you gotta do it for the right reasons. Penn Street ** 20:59 Yeah. Yeah. Wow, I that is crazy to me. That it's ignorance, right. But I always wonder where did that I always want to sit down people like like that, like that superintendents. Like, where's this coming from? It Michael Hingson ** 21:23 from everything I knew about this guy, it was you do what I say? And that's all that matters. And so I don't know. But that's what I heard. But you certainly went through a lot. What did you major in, in college? Penn Street ** 21:36 Special Education in journalism? Michael Hingson ** 21:39 Ah, oh my gosh, that's two divergent majors. Penn Street ** 21:42 Yes, I always wanted to be a writer. And, but I also, I was, I feel like I was really lucky that I always had amazing mentors. Not every teacher was amazing. But I always learned something from each one of them. But I, but there were a few really big standouts and, but I always had these people in my life that were just really awesome role models for different, you know, different reasons. And, but one of the things that I think my mom, you know, she was, she was a very caring person. And she was a big believer, you know, we went to church and things like that. And I always saw her giving, you know, rather was like, you know, taking soup to somebody who was sick, or we had a neighbor who, across the street who was in a wheelchair, and my mom would go over, and, you know, just do chores for him not get paid, she just did it because she was a good person she wanted to, yeah, and that she didn't, we didn't ever really talk about it, but it really instilled in me that there are really awesome people out there. And whenever you can give back you should, and will on as a kid with a disability. You know, I, I was, you know, I was given things and I was given opportunities that my other siblings weren't given, you know, I got to go to summer camp, they didn't none of them a summer camp. You know, I, I, you know, had I was I took bowling lessons, you know, nobody else in my family to bowling lessons. So they're always, there was always this opportunities. And so as I got, you know, even in high school, I was given the opportunity to be a teacher's assistant in the special deeds class, and all of the students that were in there, you know, had different different abilities. And I, I loved it, I loved it. And they were my tribe. I didn't think of them as being any different than me. And I think that's why we all got along. And, and then I became involved with the program. It's called Cooper home, where seniors in high school that had various disabilities could go there to stay after. Yeah, Monday after school, and then they would come over and then, you know, so Monday night, Tuesday, Wednesday night, Thursday night, they would come over after school, and we would teach them independent living skills, transportation, all the things that they needed to be successful when they went, you know, left home after they graduated high school or went on to school or whatever they were going to do. And again, I just, I just loved it. Teaching was fun to me. It was It fills my cup. And I always learned I think I learned more from them than what I was teaching them. And it was it was just a gift take situation and And I really, really liked it. And so that's why I went into I wanted to be a teacher. But I also loved writing. And so So yeah, so it was it just made sense that that was the direction that I thought I was going to go with my career. I think we know our best, right when we're able to Michael Hingson ** 25:20 get for thinking right. Now, are you totally blind? Penn Street ** 25:24 I know I'm not I'm my ride is prosthetic, I finally made the choice a few years ago, it was an eye that was not usable. I had no vision and it hurt. Oh, and I, but I have on you know, like, well, someday I'm going to be the bionic woman. And we're going to come up with the bio. And I was like, why am I wasting all this energy being in pain was something that it's just paid. And so I had it removed and then my left eye, I have a little peripheral on the on the outer at the left hand side. But it's fuzzy. It's super fuzzy. That's what I call it fuzzy. Michael Hingson ** 26:03 Got it? Yeah, I was just curious to put it in perspective. But you went on to college, and that was was a certainly cool. And you You certainly seem to have a very positive attitude about you and about being blind and so on. You don't pity yourself. Why do you think that is? Penn Street ** 26:21 It's exhausting to feel sorry for yourself? Michael Hingson ** 26:25 Good idea. Good answer. Penn Street ** 26:28 I don't know. I think it's my, my, it was my parents, it was my teachers it was, you know, I think even before I got, you know, Stevens Johnson Syndrome, I had to learn to sort of pull up my bootstraps. And, you know, and again, I do think it was having seven older brothers, you know, they, even though I was way smaller than them and could never keep up with them. They expected me to, you know, like, oh, you can climb to the top of that tree, you can, you know, jump your bike over the obstacle. So, I think I was always pushing myself physically and mentally, that I just kept doing that, you know, and, you know, and again, that problem solving and, you know, in my mother, my mother was visually impaired and hearing impaired. And when she was a young child, she got very ill. It was from a medication. They think that possibly she had Stevens Johnson Syndrome, but not as, you know, as ferocious of cases I had, but at that time, they didn't call it Stevens Johnson said, Yeah. And so she just growing up with a mother that was visually impaired and hearing impaired. She, she didn't drive, but boy, could she ride the bus or walk across town through alleyways and that I didn't even know existed, right. And she was she was a really good example of, okay, you can't hear well, you can't see well, well, then you walk. You know, you use what, what assets you do have and you strengthen those. And it was sure No, I do. I think it was just part of my DNA. That Michael Hingson ** 28:30 it certainly did. certainly good for you. How are all your older brothers today? Penn Street ** 28:38 Um, I've I've lost two of them. And the oldest one passed away. He was he was actually in the at the very tail end of Vietnam. They think that it was some of the, you know, the war things that happened to him, that he, you know, he didn't live a very healthy life when he came home either. And then my brother who's just older than me, Tim, he was my Superman. He, the three the three of us, you know, Tim Sherry and I were, we were a little you know, the three musketeers and we always stood up for each other and he esophagus cancer runs in my family. And so he he passed away with the esophagus cancer, I have two other brothers that are still alive that also live with you know, the effects of the esophagus cancer in the My father's mother, my grandmother passed away of the esophagus cancer, so sorry to hear it. Yeah, but but they, you know, I don't I'm not real close to my other brothers, even though there wasn't a huge age gap between us. It was just enough, you know, but my little sister and I are very close. She lives in Colorado, too. So we we get together as often as we can, and at least send a funny emoji or some text every single day. So Michael Hingson ** 30:00 My brother and I were two years apart, but clearly very different. He was not blind. And so we weren't as close as we could have been. We did communicate, but still definitely different lives. So I understand what you're saying. And sometimes you're just not as close and at the same time, they're still your brothers. And and so it's still part of part of you in every way. Penn Street ** 30:25 Yeah, I posted. I'm on Tik Tok. And I posted a video about bullying. I don't know, a month or so maybe it's been two months now. And one of my older brothers who lives in Kansas, he posted like anybody messes with my little sister, they have to come through me. And then at the end, he goes, Well, what am I saying? No, she could probably kick your butt. Probably more than I can at this point. For him, yeah, but it was it was still nice to Michael Hingson ** 30:55 have some. What did you do after college? Penn Street ** 30:58 So I met my husband, Moses, and did you have one of those around? Yes, it is, he is a professional photographer. So the complete opposite scope as I am as far as visual goes, and he, we, I always say I hear he, he has had two little girls. And I always tell people, I fell in love with the girls, but and then he was just the icing happened to be there. Exactly. So yeah, so and a lot of it was because of meeting houses, my life really changed. My career changed my, what I what I thought it was going to end up doing in life changed, he, I was a really good salesperson. And I think it's because of my positive attitude. And, and if I'm passionate about something I can, like sell it. And so he was looking for a studio and gallery manager and even though I was visually impaired, you know, or low vision or whatever term you use, I, I really believed in him and I believed in what he was doing, he has a philosophy with photography, that how you look in a photograph has nothing to do with how you look, or the makeup you're wearing, or the hair or the clothes or whatever it has to do with how you feel. And if you feel beautiful, if you feel strong, then that's the way you come across in the photograph. And so that whole philosophy is of his i That's I, I, I bought it hook line and sinker. And it was something I could sell. And boy did I you know, we, we had decades of a very wealthy lifestyle, because of, of that, and, and it was it really changed lives, you know, people would come in that, you know, it could have been their wedding was coming up, or, you know, whatever the event was, and they would take this class, this photo class, and then Moses would do the shoot, the photoshoot, and their lives would really be changed because of it. And it's things that it's not like you come in and you do it, and then you can't redo it when you're your home or with your when you're with your family or your community. He actually taught you how to use the skills so that you could go on and be photographed by your Uncle Joe or, you know, the local newspaper or whatever it was, and you could still use those tools. And so it was it was a concept I really appreciated. And yeah, and so we so I went into sales, and I managed our studio and our gallery for four decades. And then we kind of hit this point, I lost another big chunk of vision overnight. And I was like, you know, it's it's time for me to get I really miss the teaching and the writing and, and I miss working with people with disabilities. And so we made the decision that I would I went back to I went through Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and you know, sort of sharpened all those skills Michael Hingson ** 34:27 needed to be a survivor, but go ahead. Penn Street ** 34:30 Yeah, don't get me started. But, but and then i i You know, put my resume out there and got scooped up by a nonprofit and the the rest of sort of history I you know, I do get to write now and I work now I work pretty much specifically with people who are blind or visually impaired, but I've had several opportunities to work for amazing organizations. that have that I've gotten to travel and meet extraordinary people. And do, you know, really, life dream? Things like I got to wrap the entire Grand Canyon with a group of high schoolers that were blind, you know, low vision. And one of them actually was profoundly deaf as well. And boy with this was that an experience of a lifetime and loved every moment of it. So I, you know, we don't make you know, we're I work for a nonprofit. So we're not making those huge dollar amounts that we did when we had the studio and gallery but life is life is just this Michael Hingson ** 35:43 rich. But But Moses is still doing okay. Penn Street ** 35:46 He is he's semi retired. And he he, he probably does, I would say, maybe a dozen jobs a year, but that's fine. It's fine. We like we like we like where we are, you know, we have a beautiful life. Michael Hingson ** 36:02 Well, if you if you ever have to just point out to him that no matter what he says, it may be the picture's worth 1000 words, but they take up a whole heck of a lot more memory. I like that. Yeah, I saw that once a few years ago. I thought it was great. Well, you, I do. figure I might as well since you brought it up. I do like to use the term low vision as opposed to visually impaired. And I'll tell you why. I've talked about it a few times here. But I think there are two problems with the whole terminology of visually impaired first of all, deaf people would shoot you if you call them visual or human hearing impaired? Oh, yes, absolutely. Because they have recognized that they shouldn't be compared to a person who can hear and if you say impaired, you're immediately putting a stigma in the same way visually impaired. But the other problem with visually impaired is visually, we're not necessarily different just because we don't see, 36:59 unless we look, some of us look exactly Michael Hingson ** 37:02 the same. Some of us not necessarily, but that's why low vision is so much better. And we we've got to get people into the habit of trying to stop comparing us. Penn Street ** 37:12 Exactly, yeah, I actually I interviewed you for my podcast after sight. And we had this discussion. We have a hike coming up. And I actually purposely banked made sure that I put low vision that are visually impaired, and I've been trying pretty much daily trying to get my team where I work to use low vision instead of visually impaired, Michael Hingson ** 37:40 it makes a lot more sense. I mean, you can make the case of low vision isn't fair, because so we don't see good. We got lots of vision. But I can cope with that, you know, because eyesight and vision are so closely equated. And I don't think you're going to get rid of that one. But visually impaired is a ridiculous thing. Anyway. But so you're working with nonprofits. And and you mentioned after site, so we should talk about that some because you have a nice, successful podcast. And that seems to be going pretty well. Penn Street ** 38:12 Yes. It's called the after site. And it's all one word. And when I started working as the development and Outreach Director for the nonprofit audio information network of Colorado, here in Colorado, they had had a previous podcast, it was called Community Conversations. And they but if they hadn't had it in several years, and so they asked me if I would, you know, bring it back to life. And I did, but I didn't really like community conversations. I wanted it, it was so broad. I wanted Michael Hingson ** 38:49 something doesn't mean anything necessarily anymore. What does that Penn Street ** 38:53 mean? It sounds I don't know, it. It just, it just didn't strike home to me. And so I went to, you know, the executive director and the board and I said, you know, I really would, I really liked doing the podcast, but I would like to be more focused. And, you know, since we work, you know, our resources and services that we're providing here are for people who are blind and low vision is it should be about vision loss, and that's, that's my wheelhouse, right? You know, and I and I know a ton of people that have incredible stories and incredible resources are incredible services. And I that's where I would like the focus to go and so we actually with my, my grant manager, and I were brainstorming, and he's the one that came up with after sight. Because I often say there is life after sight, you know, after losing your vision and so he so it's stuck and so that's why it became after sight, and I do love doing it. It's I I just, I've met so many just amazing people worldwide through it. And they it became so successful that it was becoming a little overwhelming to keep up with, along with my, you know, my regular duties being development director and doing outreach. And so they hired a Podcast Producer Jonathan, shout out to you. And Jonathan really took it to the level where it is now. And because he knew he had the skills and so he brings on just amazing guests. And I do you know, throw him a few people that I know like you with you, Michael. You know, I had your name on the on my list for quite a while before, our mutual friend Kevin, you know, introduced us again, so Michael Hingson ** 40:49 well, and it was fun doing that podcast. And yeah. And I hope that people will seek out after site as well. How long have you been doing the podcasts now? Penn Street ** 40:59 Two years now? Okay. Michael Hingson ** 41:02 Yeah, we're coming up on our second year in August, we reached out to a lot of people on LinkedIn who have expressed interest in being on the podcast, and because of that last year, we've gone to two episodes a week. Penn Street ** 41:16 That's me. I, we had talked about that. But I just I'm like I, I can. Michael Hingson ** 41:22 Yeah, well, it's fun to work at home. So I'm able to do a lot of that you're actually the second person today that I've had the opportunity to have an interview with, but it's careful. But it's fun to do. And, like you. I love learning. And I've learned a lot from every person who I have the opportunity to talk with. Yes. And so it's so much fun. Now, you use you use a guide dog, as I recall, Penn Street ** 41:54 I do which he barked earlier, which I'm glad he isn't doing Michael Hingson ** 42:01 well, as Jonathan could probably tell you, if he edits podcast, you could actually edit that out without any difficulty. There is technology today to do all that kind of stuff. It's pretty amazing. But what what made you wait so long to start to use a guide dog? Penn Street ** 42:16 Well, because of the Stevens Johnson Syndrome. I don't have any I shouldn't say don't have any, but I have very little mucous membranes. And so breathing and dog hair is not I mean, I will occasionally on special occasions, I'll do it. But I usually pay for it in the end. But so I never thought I could have a guide dog because I only knew of shepherds and labs. And so I never really researched it. And then a friend said, when I saw this article about they're using standard poodle, as guide dogs, and I was like, You gotta be kidding me. And I, as a kid, I love dogs. And so I had a, you know, the miniature poodle, little Behringer and then even when I met Moses, our his, his oldest daughter, who you know, is my stepdaughter, she she really wanted a dog and so we got to beach on Friday, which again, is hypoallergenic and, and so one I don't think I'd ever even seen a standard poodle, like I couldn't pitch are these enough to guide me around? I'm five nine. So it's like I did, but I did some research and and at that time, the Guide Dogs for the Blind out of California was they had a poodle program. So they went through their whole thing where they come out, they do the Juna walk and all that. And but then every poodle that came up, got reassigned to something else. And they finally gave up on poodles. If but they've referred me to pilot dogs, which is where I met you, Michael for the first time. So many years ago, they referred me to pilot dogs because the executive director at pilot dogs at the time, really love standard poodles and they actually had a pretty big vibrant program. And so that's how I ended up there. And my first two guide dogs was through pilot dogs. And then I went on to my last two dogs have been from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind out of Smithtown, Michael Hingson ** 44:30 New York, right? So all peoples Penn Street ** 44:32 all poodles, I did try. What are they called? The poodle lab crossover doodles. Yeah. But I was still enough allergic like they were still laugh enough in there that it wasn't. It wasn't a good match. Michael Hingson ** 44:49 I have to be careful how I say this, because there's somebody over here on the floor listening but so the story goes poodles are about the most intelligent dog there. Penn Street ** 44:59 Release they are, which is quite, Michael Hingson ** 45:03 he's not gonna bite me. Penn Street ** 45:06 But that's sometimes not a blessing, because they are so intelligent that they can be stubborn. And you really have to be the alpha dog 24/7 Because they, they will, they will test you, you, you have to have a certain, and there's that tomboy attitude. Right. You know, and, but I've been very, very fortunate with with my dogs and they I every time it will, you know, Michael, they know they don't live that long. And it drives me crazy. And they definitely don't guide as long as we would like them to and no. So the last one I, I was like, This is it, I I'm gonna go back, I'll just be a king user, like, I'm fine. I have good cane skills. And but here I am. And so now with him, he's nine and a half. And I have a feeling guy duck foundation will send out their trainer to do his evaluation in the spring. And there'll be like, I think it's time because he has slowed down a lot. And he's got some arthritis in his hips and that kind of thing. He's healthy. He's, he's 60. But it's not fair to him. And I'll keep him though. Sure. I will not even though I have a list of people, like I'll take him on like, no. But I I thinking he might be my last guy. But I thought that last time, so I should be open to whatever. Michael Hingson ** 46:46 Yeah, I I agree. I think the issue is that these dogs love to work. And they would work till they drop. And so it's up to us, as you said to be the alpha dog, but also to be the real team leader and understand when it's time to retire. But it doesn't mean that you shouldn't get another one, it just means you're going to develop new memories. We had a cat, my wife had a cat named Bojangles. And Bo was, was a she lived to be I think, almost 15. But she so when I got married, I got married to both of them. And when she passed the The vet said, don't wait a long time to get a new cat. Remember, you're not replacing the memories or the cat, you're going to create new memories. And I've always told that to people, both getting animals after one died and and also just dealing with guide dogs and so on. The reality is it's new memories, you're going to learn new things. And it's an adventure. So you should you should continue. Penn Street ** 48:00 Yeah, yeah. I mean, I can't imagine my life without, you know. I mean, they are sort of part of my identity. But it's we'll see. We'll see. Michael Hingson ** 48:13 Yeah, you'll do what's right for you. Now, I understand that you've met Erik Weihenmayer. Tell me about Penn Street ** 48:19 that. Yeah, Eric and I are good friends. I've never met Eric. He's he's a big goofball is it's in very giving. He So Eric is the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. Now, Lonnie Bedwell. I don't know if he's, he's up on Everest right now. If he summits he'll be the third. So I remember when the second I can't remember his name. The second blind person that summited Everest, Eric, Eric had to change his title to first instead of the only blind person Michael Hingson ** 48:56 they have to grow and change, you know? Yeah. Penn Street ** 48:59 So I met I met Eric I, when I think I mentioned I lost a big chunk of vision pretty much overnight and, and even though I had all the skills, the tools to took to move on, but it kind of put me in a dark place. Mostly because it I was really afraid of my career, which at that moment was working the studio and gallery. And so a friend of mine Diantha she's from Czechoslovakia. She goes, You know, I heard that there's this blind guy that summited Mount Everest, and his his premiere of his filmless is showing and I think we should go on top of the world, right? Yes. And so she pretty much kidnapped me forced me to go and she of course had the best seats right up front. And I couldn't really see the screen. But I could hear everything. Yeah. And, and then Eric, and his, you know, group of goofballs that submitted with him got up on stage. And it was the first person. I mean, I had met other blind people, but it was the first person that who was blind that was alive. That became a mentor to me. And I met him afterwards because we had, you know, the VIP ticket or whatever. And we just really hit off this friendship. Now this was before, he's the Eric, why, Marius today. So you could just walk up and meet him. And I was working for the actually the Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation, and I was putting together a fundraiser, and I said, Eric, this film would be great for me to, to use as a fundraiser, and I did pay the, you know, the filming rights and stuff to show the film, come up with the money. And I did, he didn't give me any favors, discounts. And I showed the film, and it was a huge success, and and then he started asking me to volunteer for his nonprofit, which has no barriers, and I would go to speaking gigs and, you know, do different things for him. And we just a friendship grew out of that. And then there was a position open with no barriers. And I, I applied, and I got it and went to work full time for him. And it was, it was incredible ride. Incredible, right? They just did a big hike actually on Saturday, which I was supposed to be at, but with what's going on with my heart right now. I didn't dare I didn't even go up to to the mountain. And I was thinking about, well, I'll just go up and I'll just sit at the base camp. But I didn't, it was too, too painful. So I usually do one hike a year with him. And that I think I might get another opportunity in August, hopefully. But But yeah, we he really did become a mentor of mine, because I love the outdoors. So much. And I really didn't know anybody who was blind or low vision that did outdoor sports until I met Eric. And then of course, I met Eric and he introduced me to, you know, everybody, and it was it was like, oh, again, it was like, okay, no big deal, I just have to do it a little bit differently. And so I kept doing it. And it's it's, it really opened a door that I didn't even know existed. So I really, really appreciate. Appreciate what and he's done that for 1000s of people. And and I shouldn't say you can't just walk up and meet him, you can if you if you're in the right place at the right time. And he really is generous with his time. But he definitely has that buffer now, you know, between himself and the general public because he has to he can't, he can't be there for everybody all the time. You know, he has a lot of responsibilities with what he does. So Michael Hingson ** 53:31 well, you had to face a lot of things and in your world and in your life. Well, how do you face your fears? And why is it important to face them? Penn Street ** 53:42 That's a really good question. I think I think when you don't face your fears, it gets it gets harder to face the next one, where if you keep on top of them, it I think it becomes a little bit easier. And so to me, if I if I come across things that scare me on whatever level whether they're physically or or mentally or it could be somebody telling me oh, you can't do that because you're blind. i It makes me want to do it more. Because Because I'm afraid it will if I if I don't face this fear, then the next one that comes along I'm not going to be able to face that one. And so and I do pick, you know, I I pick my battles, but you know, I don't I don't I don't think I seek out fear. I'm not I'm not I don't think I'm adrenaline junkie, you know, but on any level, especially compared to people like Eric Kim, you know, and that level of athlete, but I really think that we have to keep on top of our fears, because there's so many things out there day to day things that are scary. You know, and if we don't keep that fear in check, and, and Michael, I mean, you know this if you face a fear and you're able to break through it and learn from it and grow from it, the next one that's just doesn't seem as scary. So if we, I feel like if I get lazy about that, I'll give in and be like, I'll let the fear take over there. There was a book that came out, I didn't even read the book, it was just the title. I think it came out in the late 80s, early 90s. It was called fear, feel, sale, the fear and do it anyway. And just the title of that book became my mantra, you know, it's like, it's okay to be afraid, it is totally okay for me to be afraid. But to feel that and acknowledge it as a feeling. But I can go ahead and do it just just because I'm afraid of it doesn't, there's not a stop sign, it just means that it's I'm afraid. Michael Hingson ** 56:15 I think we talked a little bit during our time on after site, podcast about fear. And one of the things I talked about as we're starting to write actually, it's now at the publisher being looked at, it's called a guide dogs Guide to Being brave. That's our working title. But I realized during the pandemic, that what I haven't done most of the time I've been speaking, is while I talk about not being afraid, I've not really worked to try to teach other people how to deal with fear. And I put it that way, because I'm not going to say how not to be afraid because I agree with you fear is part of what we do. The issue is, can we learn to control our fear? And the answer is yes, we can. And there's no question that we can learn how to not as I call it, be blinded by see her. And that's what we need to do. So I started working on that during the pandemic, I have a friend, I'm working with Carrie Wyatt, Kenton. So we've written the book, and now we're waiting to hear from the publisher what they want to edit or change or or do, we've done that once. And now we're, we're on our second shot at it, and we're working toward it, the expectation is that we can put something out. And it's called a guide dogs Guide to Being brave, because we base it all around the eight guide dogs that I've had and lessons I learned from them and how they behaved. And one of them could not face fear very well, and actually created her own fear, and only worked about 18 months before having to retire because she couldn't get any more she was too afraid of it. But it's a it's a fascinating set of stories. So looking forward to that coming out. But I agree with you, it's a matter of facing fear. But learning to recognize that fear can be a very powerful, positive tool for each of us. Penn Street ** 58:10 Yeah. I agree. You know, I think some of because even rafting the Grand Canyon, I am not a good swimmer. I'm not a big, you know, like dog paddle. And I had never rafted in my entire life. And guess what there's lots of in the Grand Canyon snakes. So I, but I've really wanted to do it, I really, really wanted this experience. And I wanted to meet these kids from all over the United States, and do this adventure with them. And I it was really, it was sometimes hour by hour. And it was day by day, but but I also I shared my fear with the kids. And, and at first I wasn't going to because I was afraid to tell these high school kids because high school kids, they can be rough on you, and especially my experience getting bullied in high school. And so I was actually afraid to tell the kids about my fears. And I talked with the other leaders on the group and they said you you should tell them. Yes, I bet you. I bet you these kids have fears of their own. And you're here to be their mentor. So Michael Hingson ** 59:39 plus, plus, if you don't, they'll see through you every time. 59:46 So I did I told them about, you know, how I lost my vision and with the rattlesnake by initiating the whole thing. And it was amazing. So at night The kids because we slept outside on Paco pads, of course. And they would put their their pads around me in a circle. And they said, you know, Miss Penn, if we feel a snake golfer as well, yeah, well, before it gets to you, I don't know if that's gonna help. But Michael Hingson ** 1:00:19 that probably isn't a good idea, but nice, but good thought nevertheless was, Penn Street ** 1:00:23 and they shared some of the fears that they had, and that they had not shared in their paperwork, you know, because you have to fill out a book, you know, booklet of paperwork before you get to come. And it was, it was amazing, because they got to be vulnerable, and they got to share their fears. And then the other kids got to support them, you know, and getting over their fears. And, you know, it was, and what ended up happening is we all learned each other's strengths and weaknesses. And so, you know, the really strong swimmers did the swimming, and then they taught some of us weaker ones, you know, some of the tricks, you know, and gave us some skills. And it was it was just, it ended up being a really neat thing. So I think it's okay to, and I think it's important to tell people when you're afraid, yeah, no, Michael Hingson ** 1:01:19 I agree, it's important to do that. And everyone is different. And some of us don't necessarily face fear, and have negative reactions a lot. I think that's a lot of my upbringing, but some of us do. And there's no right or wrong way. It's a question though, of what we learn with it, and, and how we learn to address and deal with fear and challenges that we face. I'm assuming that you did not encounter any rattlesnakes in the Grand Canyon, Penn Street ** 1:01:50 not any of that were alive there. What we thought we did a hike one day back into where this waterfall was. And one of the I was at the back, I like to be it's called the sweeper, it's the person in the back of the pack that makes sure nobody gets left behind. And that's always my favorite roll. And one of the kids came back coming to me and I was like, you're supposed to be going the opposite way. And they said, Miss Penn, there's there's a rattlesnake up there. But it's in it's right on the side of the trail. And it's right when you get to the waterfall. And and it but it's Dad and I said you could lead with it's so it was really sweet. When I got up there. I say like, do you want to see it? It's dead. I was like, Nope, I don't Michael Hingson ** 1:02:37 need to have enough exposure to them already. I've ever been there, done that. But then Penn Street ** 1:02:43 I was standing in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. And one of the guides, you know, he's been a river rat forever, has hundreds, probably hundreds of times, rafting the Grand Canyon. He was standing near me and I said, What do you think killed that rattlesnake, you know, was its head crushed into something? Because Oh no, it probably got caught in the current above. And then when it came down the waterfall either got sucked under and drowned or just the impact of and I said, so there are rattlesnakes coming to Vegas? Well, it's probably rare. But yeah, I was like, Okay, I'm gonna go stand up. Michael Hingson ** 1:03:25 He could have told you that it was afraid of you. Penn Street ** 1:03:27 But now they'd have mentioned that. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 1:03:31 So what's next for Penn Street in the world? Penn Street ** 1:03:34 Oh, wow. I I am really, uh, you know, I'm, I turned 55 This year, which, to some people doesn't sound old to others. I sound ancient. But, you know, my, my body is definitely maybe plateauing. And so, I'm really looking at these next few years of things that I really, really, really want to accomplish physically, and make sure that I do those things. So, you know, there are trips my brother who I mentioned my Superman when he passed away, my father's side of the family is from Scotland and, and Tim was really proud of his Scottish roots. My mother was Cherokee, Choctaw, Native American Indian. But Tim wanted his ashes taken back to Scotland and so it's been 10 years, next year will be 10 years. So we are going to some family and really close friends of my brothers are we're going to take his ashes to Scotland and I'm looking at different either biking trips or hiking, you know, trails that I would like to do there. That's a really big deal to me. And then the there's just there's some big trips like that that I want to accomplish. In the next couple of years, and I really, really would like to rap the Grand Canyon one more time, while I'm as healthy as I possibly. So, that's, that's really what's what's next for me. I love working at audio information network of Colorado. And I am so blessed to have such an amazing team. And Kim is such a great executive director. And so I see myself hopefully, you know, knock on wood here, that that's where my career will, you know, go until I retire, but who knows, you never know what what doors are gonna open and Michael Hingson ** 1:05:44 well, when you go to Scotland, you'll have to go eat some haggis Penn Street ** 1:05:48 hog I've heard about haggis. No, thank you. Michael Hingson ** 1:05:52 I went to New Zealand and had haggis pie was very tasty. Now I don't know what was in it, as opposed to what they say is in haggis. It was very tasty. So you know, I'll bet it will be not not so bad. When you go there. Go to a restaurant and get haggis. I bet it won't be what? I would try it. I think it's worth exploring. Be brave. I will. I will. They won't have rattlesnake in it. I guarantee you that Penn Street ** 1:06:19 that's good. I guess there are places that serve rattle steak in the south. But I've never Michael Hingson ** 1:06:28 I had steak once somebody gave me a piece of snake and it tasted like chicken. There was way too much cartilage. And that was enough for me. I don't need to do it anymore. I can say Penn Street ** 1:06:39 I'm a pescetarian I guess they call it I'm vegetarian, but I will eat salmon. You know fish occasionally. Yeah. And but you know, when you're traveling, especially abroad, you kind of need to go with the flow and open Michael Hingson ** 1:06:53 you to give me a good piece of garlic bread any day. Yes. Well pin this has been absolutely fun. And I'm really glad we had a chance to do this. And I want to hear more about your exploits as you go forward. So we need to do this again in a year or two when you've done some of your other adventures. And I hope everyone has enjoyed this. We'd love to hear your comments reach out to us. But how can people reach out to you and learn more about you and what you're doing and all that kind of stuff? 1:07:27 Absolutely. I'm on most social media, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, you can either use my name Penn P E N N Street, or my tagline is the blind check. Which came out of me running for city council. And so that's another story. But the blind check. And also you can reach out to me at audio information network of Colorado and find out more about what we do there. We are state based so if you're in Colorado, check us out it but it's Penn p e n n at A I N Colorado dot O R G. So I'd love to hear from you. Michael Hingson ** 1:08:11 And after say podcast has a website. 1:08:14 It does not have a website that you can reach it through our website, which is the A I N colorado.org. Or it's on everything Apple, Spotify, Google, you know all of all of the big podcast platforms. Just it's after sight all one word. And yeah, we'd love to have you check us out there as well. Michael Hingson ** 1:08:37 Cool. Well, we appreciate you being here and telling us all that as well. And for all of you out there, go seek out Penn street, I think it will be a treat. And she's got lots of interesting and relevant things to say needless to say. And again, I want to thank you all for listening. Please give us a five star rating wherever you're listening to us, we would appreciate it. And I hope that you'll reach out to me I'd love to hear what you think of today's episode. You can reach me at Michael M I C H A E L H I at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. Or at WWW dot Michael Hingson M I C H A E L H I N G S O N .com/podcast. So we're findable. And we'd love to hear from you. I'd love to hear your thoughts and Penn for you and for anyone else's thing. If you've got any thoughts of other people who we ought to have as guests. We always appreciate introductions and emails about that. So please let us know and introduce us to anyone who you think we ought to have as a guest. We'll do it. We're glad to and once more Penn. I want to thank you for being with us today. This has been an absolute joy. Penn Street ** 1:09:49 Thank you, Michael. Michael Hingson ** 1:09:53 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
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Thursday, July 6.According to the National Weather Service, Thursday should be sunny in the Cedar Rapids area with a high of 80 degrees. The low temperature will settle in at 53 degreesAbortion access in Iowa would be restricted under legislation that statehouse Republicans plan to craft next week during a special session of the Iowa Legislature, called for Wednesday by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.The special session will take place Tuesday at the Iowa Capitol.The special session will be conducted “with the sole purpose of enacting legislation that addresses abortion and protects unborn lives,” the governor's news release said.Three Iowa House Republican lawmakers told The Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau that they expect Republicans will once again pass legislation that would ban abortions once a fetus' heartbeat can be detected.Currently, abortion in Iowa is legal until the 20th week of pregnancy.Some major medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, note that what is detected at six weeks is not a heartbeat, but instead electrical impulses, and that an actual heartbeat does not occur until roughly 17 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.Police in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City received hundreds of complaint calls about fireworks in the four days around the Fourth holiday this year, though the totals were down from previous years.It's illegal for individuals to set off fireworks in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, though people can fire off consumer fireworks in some surrounding cities and in unincorporated Linn County during certain hours.A state law amended two years ago made it illegal for cities to ban the sale of fireworks or limit their sale to certain areas, like industrial zones. But individual cities and counties still can restrict their discharge.In Cedar Rapids, police received 410 fireworks-related calls for service between Saturday and Tuesday.In the same time period last year, police had 426 calls for service, down from 595 in 2021 and 750 in 2020.Police issued 11 citations for illegal fireworks usage in the city over the four days, the same number as last year, but down from 15 in 2021 and 24 in 2020.Iowa City saw similar decreases The Solomon's Landing development — a $20 million project that seeks to create an “entertainment district” just north of Penn Street in North Liberty — will receive city tax incentives worth up to $7.5 million.The North Liberty City Council during a brief special session this week approved a development agreement authorizing tax increment payments. The city agreed to make eight annual payments not to exceed $7.5 million to reimburse a portion of taxes.The agreement approved Monday is between the city and Pratt Real Estate Management. Developer Brandon Pratt, of North Liberty, is behind the project and had previously asked for financial assistance from the city.The proposed development includes a 34,000-square-foot indoor recreation building, as well as a 33,000-square-foot bowling entertainment center with an adjacent Pizza Ranch restaurant.The recreation building — called The Palestra — will be used for various indoor sports and community events. The entertainment facility would include bowling, ax throwing, arcade, billiards and a bar.
Billy has been on Aftersight with Penn Street and is now joining Kim with the NLVL crew. this month is all about emplyment, how to find jobs, train for them, your rights and many other things. Billy and Kim talk about some of the skills in finding a job that may come in handy like working with LinkedIn professionals to build your resume and make sure you know how to stand out from the crowd. Let us know what you think and lets us know how we can help you. www.nsite.org www.aincolorado.org
A few months ago we covered the story about the renovation of Penn Street railway station in New York. So many World Service listeners got in touch with us about their experiences of using the railway network in America we decided to make a programme based on their views. Omar Deen, who lives in Toledo, Ohio tells us he feels disadvantaged by the dominance of car travel in the United States and says he would like to have an alternative to driving or flying to get around. Another listener, Bill Potter in Alabama tells us there are no train tracks where he lives and to make rail an option for him, miles and miles of track would have to be laid. Under President Joe Biden, the US government has increased funding for trains, but the network is patchy – there are major cities and entire states with no passenger rail services. Kristen Lewis, co-director of Measure of America at the Social Science Research Council says it is possible for America to have a better rail transport network and that's a goal the country should be working towards. Presenter/producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns (Photo: Omar Deen stands on a railway platform. Credit: Omar Deen)
On this episode, The Pregame Crew is joined by Producer, Engineer, DJ and Entrepreneur, Mr. Shure Live! We talk about his historic Penn Street parties, his new entrepreneurial efforts and more. We also talk seeking justice for women who were sexually assaulted. Men taking rejection, what kind of emotional training do men need to get rejected and not do violent shit towards women afterwards. This was a wild episode, tune in! #thepregamepodcast #blackpodcasts #401creatives #hiphop #hiphopculture #entertainment #comedy
Welcome to the weekend!This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I'm here with your update for Saturday, January 28, and Sunday, January 29.First comes the snow, then comes the cold. According to the National Weather Service snow is likely in the Cedar Rapids area on Saturday. There will be a high near 22 degrees and an 80 percent chance of snowfall. Between 1 and 3 inches of snowfall is the current prediction. On Sunday it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 12 degrees. The wind chill will drop to as low as -10 degrees, with wind gusts as high as 25 mph. On Sunday night, the low temperature will settle in at 1 degree. The cold temperatures will continue into the beginning of next week.Four people were killed Friday morning and others were injured when a van they were in went out of control on a highway in northern Iowa.The crash happened a little before 7 a.m. when the driver of a westbound 15-passenger van lost control on icy Highway 20 near the small community of Wellsburg, in northwest Grundy County, according to the Iowa State Patrol.The van entered the median and rolled before coming to rest in the highway's eastbound lanes.One adult and three children under the age of five died. The state patrol noted that none of the van's occupants had been using using seatbelts or child restraint devices at the time of the accident.A proposed $20 million development in North Liberty would bring various amenities to the growing city and create a new entertainment district just north of Penn Street.The proposed development, referred to as Solomon's Landing, includes a 33,600-square-foot indoor recreation center, as well as a 32,909-square-foot bowling entertainment center with an adjacent Pizza Ranch restaurant.During his pitch for the district, Brandon Pratt of Lion Development Group told the North Liberty City Council this week the city needs to be a place where residents can “live, work and play.” He argued that with the support of the city, his development idea could be where the play comes in.The proposed indoor sports and recreation center — called The Palestra — would be used for various indoor sports and community events, Pratt said. The Palestra would be located on the west side of the lot at the corner of Saratoga Place and Hayes Lane.Possible activities include basketball, indoor soccer, football, volleyball, pickleball and wrestling, as well as e-gaming tournaments. Other features could include indoor inflatables, birthday parties and opportunities for seniors to have a place to walk indoors.The bowling facility and Pizza Ranch would be to the east of The Palestra with parking in between the buildings, the site plan showed.Iowa fell to No. 1 Penn State in wrestling Friday night.Iowa won three of the first four bouts, giving Iowa an 11-9 lead heading into intermissionBut Iowa only won one more bout the rest of the way, and Penn State pulled away 23 - 14. The loss snapped the Hawkeyes' 15-dual win streak.
Well this should be interesting. What happens when you combine a 2-time Grammy-winning artist with a chatty Penn Street? Lots of giggles, wild topics, and hi jinx galore. Penn is joined by Diane "Deeds" Schuur who has played with some of the most illustrious artists on the planet. We hope you enjoy this fun-filled episode and make sure you check out Deeds' website for access to all of her music. https://www.dianeschuur.com/ www.aincolorado.org/podcast-guest/ www.aincolorado.org
Today - Colorado Sun reporter Tamara Chuang talks to Penn Street with AIN Colorado about how people can listen to Colorado Sun stories read out loud online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John Ernesto, Artistic Director of the Reading Blues Festival, speaking about the 5th annual festival taking place November 17 through 20, 2022, based at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 701 Penn Street in Reading, PA. The performers are nationally-known and regional favorites. www.readingbluesfest.com/
Trying to find your place in the world can be challenging. It can be much more difficult if you have a disability. You may not want to be seen or let people know that you have a disability or that you need help in a particular area. If you're there in that spot, we want you to know that's ok. It's not easy going on this journey. Penn Street, host of Aftersight is joining Kim this month as they talk about identifying your disability and giving it a name. The first step to overcoming any situation is giving it the appropriate name and then moving forward. So here's to you and naming your struggles, disability or no disability. www.aincolorado.org ainc@aincolorado.org aincolorado.org/podcast-guest/
#YaJagoffPodcast: The TRAF Report 2022 Summary: The Jags venture to Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival at the Backyard Stage at 8th and Penn. Sarah Aziz explains the week's TRAF activities while Ranney stops by for an encore performance with special acts with the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company Theater of Black and White. What was on the blog? Yikes! The Superintendent: Do As I Say, Not As I Do! Aldi Or Aldi's PeterParker Pic A Job For “Skinny Jeans!” SPONSOR: Summer means festivals, outdoor events and community collabs with Rohrich Honda. Expect a pop-up parking lot event in June, the return of Little Italy Days, and Pierogi Festival to name a few. Plus, you need a way to get to all the fun, so stop by our Bloomfield location and snag the vehicle that is right for you. As always visit rohrichhonda.com for all your vehicle needs. QUESTION OF THE DAY: It's festival season! What is your festival vice, that bad for you item ya just can't pass up? 4:22 Sarah Aziz: The Three Rivers Arts Festival was relocated to the city's cultural district with art surrounding two square blocks on Penn between 6th and 7th Street and another one on Fort Duquesne. Stay tuned for jazz at the Backyard Stage on 8th and Penn Street to continue through September. As soon as the 10-day festival ends, there will be one food and drink vendor remaining at the Backyard Stage for four months! Sarah highlights where to park, how to navigate traffic, and how best to get where you want to go on foot. She's TRAF's walking app. This Saturday, watch out for performances by Goody Mob and CeeLo Green! 25:13 Ranney: If you're a Pittsburgher, his name is spelled Ranney, but pronounced ‘Rainey,' and while he doesn't love ice cream, this artist works with the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company Theater of Black and White. In the beginning, it was a group of black playwrights with white directors, and white playwrights with black directors, but NOW it includes playwrights and directors from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The organization hosts six plays, and to close out TRAF, they have one piece by the legendary August Wilson that Ranney will be performing himself! Head to 805 Liberty Ave. on the weekends at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays to catch a show!
22nd April 2022: Dan and Kel have been tipped off about a carpet of bluebells in a beautiful wood, and discuss Easter, wild beasts, and a bizarre food addict. XSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/nice-time-ramble/donations
13th Aug 2021: Series 2 is here, after the summer break, and Dan and Kel get mildly hysterical chatting about The Squirrel and The Hit Or Miss pubs, swearing, moths, tree trunks, Google Maps, feet, Phil Mitchell, ears, and lichen.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/nice-time-ramble/donations
Our host, Penn Street, lost most of her eyesight at age nine to Stevens Johnson Syndrome after being bitten by a rattlesnake. Her husband, Moses Street, is a professional photographer. In our first-ever Community Conversation, they have a warm and candid conversation about the 30+ years they
Wescorp, located at 1 Pheasant Run in Newtown, PA, is planning on a reconstruction project and would like to "upgrade" two signs - one facing Pheasant Run and one facing Penn Street above the entrance (see sketch). In this 30-minute audio clip from the June 15, 2021, Newtown Township Planning Commission (NTPC)meeting, representatives of Wescorp make their case for the requested variances, which raise several interesting issues: Jerry Schenkman - a Newtown solicitor - revealed that a multi-story apartment building has been proposed to be located next to Wescorp on Penn Street. How will a lighted sign impact local residents, including those in this building if is built? There are specific limitations on signage within 1,000 feet of the Newtown Bypass and some Zoning Hearing Board members may be very strict on adhering to those limitations. The size of the signage may also be an issue. Other than those concerns, the consensus of the NTPC was that the Board of Supervisors (BOS) not oppose this application, which will go before the Newtown Zoning Hearing Board after the BOS makes its decision.
This episode is with the owner of Mi Casa Su Casa | District 6 City Council woman Mrs. Johanny Cepeda-Fretiz. You will learn how she got into the restaurant business, became a council woman and successfully balances marriage and motherhood. I am sure that you will enjoy this fun filled conversation! Visit Mi Casa Su Casa at 320 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19602. Also, visit their stand every Thur, Fri, Sat at the Shillington Farmers Market. If you're looking for dinner and dancing visit us every Thursday at Caliente Night at the Crowne Plaza. Due to the current pandemic you can make a carry out order and get deliveries through various online platforms. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapeutic-connections/message
This episode features Chris Flowers of Reading Distilling Guild. Chris got his start in the back of the house as a chef and soon realized that the front of the house was where he was supposed to be. He bartended at lots of restaurants and on many beaches to hone his craft. He knocked it out of the park winning a bronze medal for his White Rum on the first run they ever produced. Today, Chris and Kate Flowers are on the forefront and leading the resurgence of Reading. 503 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19601 - (484) 222-3601 - www.rdgspirits.com - On Facebook Highlights from our discussion: Le Cordon Bleu Institute Of Culinary Arts Johnson & Wales University Cocktail Coughlin's Law Grant Cardone Undercover Boss
Michael C. Boland graduated from Holy Name High School (now known as Berks Catholic) in Reading, Pennsylvania. He spent a year studying Mathematics and Science at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, followed by a year at the prestigious Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, before temporarily ceasing academic studies. Mr. Boland worked various odd jobs including an Assistant Berks County Planner, spent a year on the production line at a wire factory in Robesonia, and worked as a laborer at French Creek Park. Mr. Boland returned to college on the main campus of the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, PA. By “overloading” credits each term, Mr. Boland graduated in less than 18 months from the Pennsylvania State University. He graduated from the Dickinson School of Law and was admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. After receiving his law degree, as a new attorney Mr. Boland associated with Alan S. Readinger in the practice of law and maintained an office at 601 Penn Street in the City of Reading for approximately 17 years. During the first two years of his law practice, Mr. Boland worked as an assistant District Attorney in the Berks County District Attorney's Office. He tried a number of criminal cases, which culminated in a triple homicide conviction (against Philadelphia counsel). After that conviction, Mr. Boland resigned from the DA's Office. Mr. Boland has maintained his law office at 147 North 5th Street in the city of Reading for over 20 years. Mr. Boland is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Berks County Bar Association. He has served on various committees with the Berks County Bar Association including the Solo and Small Practice Committee, the Pro Bono Committee, and the Criminal Law Committee. Mr. Boland continues to be active in the local bar association and is an avid follower of recent Supreme Court Opinions affecting the rights of individuals. Mr. Boland served as an Assistant Berks County Solicitor and handled the labor disputes for Berks County while also serving as Solicitor to the Elections Board. His labor relations work resulted in his appearance before the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission, the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, labor arbitrations and union negotiations. Mr. Boland maintains an Avvo rating of 8.9 or “excellent” in the rating service conducted by Avvo.com. He received a rating of 10.0 for professional conduct. Mr. Boland maintains a general practice of law and would likely be assigned to the litigation division in a large law firm. However, his current practice has been concentrated in the areas of criminal defense, estate settlements and probate, auto and motorcycle accidents, unemployment compensation, and motor vehicle law including adjustments of driver license status. Mr. Boland will also represent clients in custody, support, and divorce. michaelcboland.com chickenduckpod.com patreon.com/chickenduck
In this episode Jon and Mike talked about MMA started off with whats going on with BJ Penn and his latest street loss , we also touch up on Anthony Johnson making his announcement that he's returning to the shallow HW diviison in the UFC as well as preview a bit with the next big UFC that is headlined with Dustin Poirier vs. Nurmagonedov All this and much more. Please hit like, share and subscribe. Enjoy the podcast. Check out Betdsi.com and use our Promo Code : FightersCorner and double your cash on your first bet! Please check out and support our Patreon
Episode 26, the guys talk about the week's UFC event in China, as well as preview UFC 242. They discuss NBA news as well as the day's boxing events!
"Gorgeous" George and "Goze" discuss the latest MMA news and notes, including the B.J. Penn street fight video, Dana White's first comments on Conor McGregor being accused of sexual assault in a New York Times report, Henry Cejudo's latest (ridiculous) callout, and much more. The guys also look ahead to preview UFC on ESPN+ 15 headlined by Jessica Andrade vs. Weili Zhang for the strawweight title.
Dan interviews three Governor Mifflin students as they reflect on what it meant to participate in the 2018 Cups of Compassion!! These students also helped brighten up the event while singing Christmas Carols on Penn Street! Amazing participation!
Dan interviews three Governor Mifflin students as they reflect on what it meant to participate in the 2018 Cups of Compassion!! These students also helped brighten up the event while singing Christmas Carols on Penn Street! Amazing participation!
You want fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, honey and more from our local growers? Come on over to the Penn Street market every Thursday. Hey, there are night time events too, with local brews, music and more!
Jeff Duperon is your Jazz Host Saturday and Sunday evenings on WRTI. He is drawn to public radio because of the community aspect, That connection to the community is important to Jeff Duperon and to WRTI. He says that is why WRTI has been connected with the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest since it began. The Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest is strongly connected to the community too. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Jeff will be in Reading again this year hosting his show live on WRTI from Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. He enjoys interviewing performers and sharing the Fest with listeners through his eyes. Jeff is passionate about bringing a younger audience into the Jazz scene. He notes that “Jazz is the only original artform created in the United States … a heritage going on for over 100 years”. He gets excited as he talks about preserving, presenting and promoting this great American artform. He’s also excited about the new feature at Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest this year, the mini replica of South Jazz Parlor in the DoubleTree Hotel on Penn Street. There will be 13 concerts featured there showcasing all different styles of Jazz music.
We're back! Thank you, Whittier for listening to our Intro episode! Today we have our first interview with none other than the fantastic Rose Dreislien! Join Remo the Realtor and Jessie the Architect as they chat taxes, burgers, parks, and family life with Rose. Events Social Services Commission Meeting Tuesday, January 3, 6:30 p.m. Council Chamber in City Hall 13230 Penn St, Whittier, CA 90602 --The Social Services Commission consists of seven members who study and review the social needs of the community and make recommendations to the City Council. If you're interested, please represent yourself or neighbors at the meeting.-- Whittier Community Foundation Meeting Wednesday, January 4, 8:30 a.m. Whittier Police Station Community room 13200 Penn Street, Whittier, CA --The Whittier Community Foundation's mission is to support the community services activities for the education and enjoyment of the greater Whittier Community and to develop funding for new community services programs. -- More community meetings can be found on cityofwhittier.org Whittier Artists Worker Co-op Meeting Thursday, Jan 5, 6 pm. Whittier Free Store 12907 Hadley St. (at Comstock) Whittier, California 90601 --This worker-owned business will create green, reusable party and event products made from materials diverted from the waste stream. Quit your commute and be your own boss in a Whittier business that can help save the planet.-- Thank you, Megan Hobza from the Catalyst Network of Communities You can RSVP on eventbrite. Don't worry, the link will be posted in our bio: https://workerownedwhittier.eventbrite.com/ In Depth Social Media Panel, Whittier Young Entrepenuers Friday, January 20, 6 p.m. Whittier Museum 6755 Newlin Ave. Whittier, CA 90601 Corner of Newlin & Philadelphia --A panel and workshop on social media for the young business owners & young community leaders. A $15 donation to the Whittier Museum will reserve your seat for this hot event. -- Social Media What's Up Whittier Facebook Instagram Twitter Email: whatsupwhittierpod@gmail.com Rose Dreislien Americana Tax Planning Instagram Americana Tax Planning Facebook Whittier Young Entrepreneurs Remo the Realtor Facebook Instagram Website Jessie the Architect Facebook Instagram Website Producer Christine Facebook Instagram Website
Downtown Reading is all dressed up with fresh inviting art in the 300 and 600 blocks of Penn Street. Two artists were chosen to install a sculpture in the 600 block of Penn Street and Edward Williams is the muralist chosen from 40 applicants to design, execute and display his art in the 300 block of Penn Street. Jane Runyeon served as the art liaison to the city during a 2 year process to award the NEA grant. Jane says Edward’s ability, knowledge and depiction of a train, one of the symbols of our city, were all contributing factors to selecting him for this mural project Edward talks about the ‘art’ of creating large mural art from a design drafted in a studio. Edward bid on 3 or 4 different locations for his art and is happy that this location was chosen because the architectural bump-out on the wall lends itself to depicting a trestle bridge. Jane adds the aspect of urban renewal was incorporated, “The wall was in terrible shape and was re-stored in order that a mural might be painted on it”. Edward is motivated to paint large. While working on this particular mural he was further motivated by people walking by and giving him a thumbs up or saying “Great job!”. Edward says it’s been his experience that when people start seeing visual things going up it motivates others on the block to dress up their space as well. Thanks Edward for installing “Steam Engine” mural at 334 Penn Street! Check it out next time you are in downtown Reading. And you can check out more of Edward Willimas’ work at www.thestudio33.com
What does SCORE and the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry have in common? A lot! Gail Landis, Vice President of Government & Community Relations says, “We work together to help business start-ups, early stage and second stage existing businesses.” Right now, the best way to explain what is happening with businesses these days is to say there is an entrepreneurial eco-culture happening and SCORE is a vital part of it. Listen to Gail’s conversation to find out more. If you have a burning desire to begin a business, make SCORE your best kept secret. We're just a phone call away, 610-376-3497. You’ll find us tucked away in the corner of the Chamber offices on the fifth floor of The Gateway Building, 201 Penn Street in Reading.
You know Craig Poole runs the Doubletree by Hilton in downtown Reading, but did you know he also owned one of top 100 jazz clubs in the world? James Street Jazz Club in Pittsburgh was Craig’s home for 16 years. Craig recalls those memories and likens the scene to Penn Street. The impact of jazz and jazz clubs in an urban neighborhood is the ability to bring everybody in, it’s very eclectic, multi denominational, multi-generational and it’s safe. He says Jazz is something that just ‘happens’. You have to be there to truly enjoy it and see it happen. It brings people together. Craig calls Jazz “the great equalizer… You could be president of company , a professor in college, or somebody that doesn’t have a dime. Jazz brings people together and they are all equal for a period of time… enjoying the same thing, in the same spirit and in the same time”. Hear some of Craig’s stories from the jazz scene and what he is looking forward to at this year’s Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.
Daniel Egusquiza, owner of the T.E.A. Factory, shares why it is important to him to be involved in the community working to make it a better place. The T.E.A. Factory is a community co-working space for Technology, Education and the Arts located on Canal Street in Reading. Daniel talks about a very poignant experience he had about 5 years ago when he saw a woman while walking down Penn Street. The impact of that moment shaped his life. It was then that he decided to make this community a better place. He started slowly. He cleaned up his walk and then enlisted the help of his neighbors to clean up the whole block. Gradually he started getting more and more involved in the community He never saw that woman again but he says, “In a way, it is good because she became every woman, she became you, she became my mother, she became my grandmother, she became my sister, she became all women”. Daniel adds that as a result “Love has always been a key component, like a check mark in my life. If I am doing something I am doing it because I love to do it. I couldn’t do it otherwise”. Daniel also organized and directs ‘Barrio Alegria Dance Company’ which translates to ‘Neighborhood of Happiness’. He explains, “We look at how to develop leaders through the art of dance. We bring in members of the community who have absolutely no idea how to dance. We start teaching them how to dance and at the same time we give them leadership roles … then we go out into the community and they lead workshops or dance descriptions”. The name of the dance company is derived from a poem where the writer lives in the neighborhood of melancholy but wants to live in the neighborhood of happiness. Daniel invites you to share the dream of creating a neighborhood of happiness and be an active part of it. He says, “Love is what should drive you and happiness will show the way. Everything follows happiness”.
Lucine Sihelnik interviews Evan Siegel Director of the Talent Growth Initiative at I-LEAD Charter School & two I-Lead students that have been interning with Penn Street Market. The Interns talk about their experiences and what impact they believe Penn Street Market will have on the city of Reading Pa.
Penn Street Market is an open air farmers market featuring locally grown fresh fruit, vegetables, produce and dairy products in a friendly atmosphere. Penn Street Market will be located at PENN SQUARE for 2015, featuring local produce, dairy products offering lunch fare.
Penn Street Market is an open air farmers market featuring locally grown fresh fruit, vegetables, produce and dairy products in a friendly atmosphere. Penn Street Market will be located at PENN SQUARE for 2015, featuring local produce, dairy products offering lunch fare.
Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg. May 1, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk about some hoop dreams on Penn Street, a mystifying exchange over Zumba at City Council, and a surprise reintroduction of tax abatement legislation...right in time for the May 19 primary. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. You can find his podcast, the PRC Show, on SoundCloud or in the iTunes Store.
Aaron talks to Sheila about the important initiative of the open air market located on Penn Street, Reading, PA.
Aaron talks to Sheila about the important initiative of the open air market located on Penn Street, Reading, PA.
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