POPULARITY
3 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
2 episodes with two blind brothers
What if the very thing you thought would hold you back, became the motivation behind your greatest impact? In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Brad and Brian Manning — the powerhouse duo behind Two Blind Brothers, to explore how vision loss sparked one of the most purpose-driven brands in America.
"In this episode, Aaron sits down with Bryan and Bradford Manning, co-founders of Two Blind Brothers, for a powerful and heartfelt conversation recorded live at the 2025 Vision Source Exchange in Denver, CO. The brothers share their journey of building a purpose-driven brand rooted in empathy, innovation, and the mission to cure blindness. We talk about the launch of the 2BB eyewear collection in collaboration with L'Amy America, designed to “feel the difference” through quality, comfort, and a tactile experience. The 2BB line is now part of Vision Source's Frame Dream program, an initiative aimed at optimizing board management, improving capture rate, and streamlining optical operations for independent practices. Aaron shares how his own practice is seeing real benefits from the program. If you're interested in the intersection of philanthropy, design, and independent optometry—this one's for you. Two Blind Brothers: https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/reveal 2BB Frame Line: https://www.lamyamerica.com/catalog/2bb Interested in Vision Source: https://visionsourcenext.com/ Vision Source's Frame Dream program for members: https://insight.visionsource.com/Programs/Frame-Dream ________________________ questions@eyecode-education.com Go to MacuHealth.com and use the coupon code PODCAST2024 at checkout for special discounts Let's Connect! Follow and join the conversation! Instagram: @aaron_werner_vision
In this episode, we sit down with the founders of the 2 Blind Brothers apparel company Brad and Bryan Manning to discuss the positive impact their wildly successful clothing brand has had on blindness research and treatment advancement for Stargardt's maculopthy, a condition both brothers have. Key Takeaways:2BB has a powerful origin story. Brad and Bryan were shopping in Bloomingdales when they realized they bought the same shirt based on feel alone due to challenging nature of clothes shopping when visually impaired. Thus was born this idea of creating an apparel brand that was so comfortable on initial feel that you'd want to buy it.2BB donates 100% of all company profits to fund blindness research. It has grown into the eye care industry through partnering with L'Amy who was donating proceeds form their sales to 2BB by purchasing plush guide dogs.To date, 2BB has donated more than $3 million to research and supporting businesses that employ individuals with visual impairment. That funding has directly impacted bringing genetic treatment options to the market for genetic retinal/ neuron-ophthalmic disease including Stargardt's.Having a noble cause that the business supports cultivates a deeper emotional connection with customers for which that cause resonates. The story must be authentic and true to who your business is. What Brad and Bryan are reading:Brad: Shoe Dog by Phil KnightBryan: What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark ReiterLearn more about 2BB:FramesApparelPractice Advantage Reading List** Don't miss out on an extra $10 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Earn up to an additional $60,000 in 2025 just by taking great care of patients. Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**
2446 Encore of 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Nov. 13, 2024) Show Notes Two Blind Brothers makes ultra-soft clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research and being part of finding a cure. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with brothers and founders Bryan and Bradford Manning, who are both … Continue reading 2446 Encore of 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Nov. 13, 2024) →
Michelle Glaze is the director of professional outreach for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. She joined the Foundation in February 2019 after 15 years in medical sales. Her passion for the Foundation's mission is very personal due to her vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive retinal disease. As director of professional outreach at the Foundation, Michelle educates eye care professionals across the United States about resources available to patients with a retinal degenerative disease. Two Blind Brothers is a great organization that makes ultra-soft designer clothing and eyewear for the sole purpose of funding blindness research. You can learn more about them HERE (https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/reveal) To learn more about Foundation Fighting Blindness please visit: Foundation Fighting Blindness Website (https://www.fightingblindness.org/) For Eye Care Professionals Webpage (https://www.fightingblindness.org/for-eye-care-professionals) Newly Diagnosed Webpage (https://www.fightingblindness.org/newly-diagnosed) Michelle Glaze, Director of Professional Outreach: mglaze@fightingblindness.org Show Sponsors: CooperVision, MacuHealth ------------------------ Let's Connect! Follow and join the conversation! Instagram: @aaron_werner_vision
In this episode of the working blind series, I'm talking with Brad Manning, 1/2 of the very successful Two Blind Brothers team. Brad discusses how he and his brother got started in the fashion industry and how their meteoric rides in popularity led to some difficult growing pains and uncertainty for the future of the business. #TheBlindLife #Blind #BlindTok #LowVision #VisuallyImpaired #Stargardt #MacularDegeneration #RetinitisPigmentosa #AssistiveTechnology #Accessibility #Advocacy #Disability #AccessibleApps
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of the profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired a special attention for details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch." Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.comhttps://twoblindbrothers.com/
In this episode of iCantCU, I discuss several days of being out and about. While two days were only for doctor visits, one was an enjoyable, sometimes scary evening at Eastern State Penitentiary. Their Halloween Nights are legendary, and I finally got to go as part of a Philly Meetup For The Blind event. You can hear some of the fun in an extended Just Listen. You'll hear all the chilling sounds and characters. It was hilarious, and I appreciated how one guy dropped his creepy English accent to direct me to the exit. Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/245 Links Mentioned Zoom H1n used to capture audio at Eastern State Penitentiary: https://amzn.to/3zBxJ9O Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary: https://www.easternstate.org/halloween/node/3 Andy's Philadelphia tour company: https://www.we-venture.com/philadelphia Two Blind Brothers website: https://www.twoblindbrothers.com Believe You Can! 2023 The 4th Annual Believe You Can! Talent Show for blind and visually impaired performers is coming to screens everywhere on 10/14! Want to perform in the show? Go to https://www.believeyoucan.live/talent/. Want to support the Keystone Chapter? Tickets are on sale now at https://www.believeyoucan.live/tickets/. There is a bunch of cool merch for the show! Check it out at https://www.BelieveYouCan.live/gear/. Learn More About Descript The transcript from this episode is done using Descript. Squadcast is now part of Descript, and I'm excited to try it when recording interviews. Try out Descript for free at https://www.descript.com/?lmref=Yw2dhQ. This is an affiliate link, so I'll earn a commission if you pay for the app. Thanks! Support iCantCU When shopping at Amazon, I would appreciate it if you clicked on this link to make your purchases: https://www.iCantCU.com/amazon. I participate in the Amazon Associate Program and earn commissions on qualifying purchases. The best part is, you don't pay extra for doing this! White Canes Connect Podcast Episode 084 In episode 084, Simon and I speak with Bradford and Bryan Manning from Two Blind Brothers. They tell us about their Stargardt's diagnosis as young kids. They explain how a trip to an NYC department store, getting separated from each other, and then realizing they both bought the same shirt led to creating their apparel brand. They also discuss their company's profit sharing with eye research organizations to find cures for retina-related diseases. Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-canes-connect/id1592248709 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1YDQSJqpoteGb1UMPwRSuI IHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-white-canes-connect-89603482/ YouTube Https://www.youtube.com/@pablindpodcast White Canes Connect On Twitter Https://www.twitter.com/PABlindPodcast My Podcast Gear Here is all my gear and links to it on Amazon. I participate in the Amazon Associates Program and earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Zoom Podtrak P4: https://amzn.to/33Ymjkt Zoom ZDM Mic & Headphone Pack: https://amzn.to/33vLn2s Zoom H1n Recorder: https://amzn.to/3zBxJ9O Gator Frameworks Desk Mounted Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3AjJuBK Shure SM58 S Mic: https://amzn.to/3JOzofg Sennheiser Headset (1st 162 episodes): https://amzn.to/3fM0Hu0 Follow iCantCU on your favorite podcast directory! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/icantcu-podcast/id1445801370/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nck2D5HgD9ckSaUQaWwW2 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/iCantCU-Podcast-Podcast/B08JJM26BT Heart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-icantcu-podcast-31157111/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/davidbenj Reach out on social media Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davidbenj Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbenj Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidbenj LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbenj Are You or Do You Know A Blind Boss? If you or someone you know is crushing it in their field and is also blind, I want to hear from you! Call me at (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Please include your name and town, and tell me who the Blind Boss is and why I need to have them on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at iCantCUPodcast@gmail.com.
⚠️ **WARNING** This episode contains gratuitous dad jokes!
In this episode of White Canes Connect, hosts Simon and David sit down with the inspiring Manning brothers, Brad and Bryan, the visionaries behind Two Blind Brothers. Diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease in their youth, the duo dives deep into the origins of their unique apparel brand. While Two Blind Brothers isn't legally a 501(c)(3), they passionately channel their profits to fund research through several eye-related charities. Plus, discover the thoughtful touch they've added: a braille label indicating the color of each clothing piece. Dive in to learn about their journey and commitment to making a difference. Show notes at https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/084 More About Two Blind Brothers To learn more about the organization and see all that they have to offer, head to https://www.twoblindbrothers.com. You'll find links to all of their socials there, too. If you are sighted and want to see what shopping their site with Stargard's Disease is like, click the button on the lower left side of the screen. NFB of PA State Convention in Harrisburg The annual NFB of PA State Convention is November 9 - 12 at the Crowne Plaza in Harrisburg. Learn more at https://nfbofpa.org/state-convention/. Registration prices go up on October 1, so don't delay! Support the NFB of PA & White Cane Coffee Support the NFB of PA with every purchase at White Cane Coffee Company by going to https://www.whitecanecoffee.com/ref/nfbp. When you use that link to purchase from White Cane Coffee, the NFB of PA earns a 10% commission! Share the link with your family and friends! Listen to Erin and Bob Willman from White Cane Coffee on episode 072 of White Canes Connect. Give Us A Call We'd love to hear from you! We've got a phone number for you to call, ask us questions, give us feedback, or say, "Hi!" Call us at (267) 338-4495. You have up to three minutes for your message, and we might use it on an upcoming episode. Please leave your name and town as part of your message. Follow White Canes Connect Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Connect With Us If you've got questions, comments, or ideas, reach out on Twitter. We are @PABlindPodcast. You can also email us at WhiteCanesConnect@gmail.com.
This is my interview with Brad and Bryan Manning, the Two Blind Brothers. A few years ago, Brad and Bryan started a company selling supersoft, high-quality clothing, and donating 100% of the profits to help fund clinical research in hopes of finding a cure for blindness. For this interview, I joined them in their New York loft to talk about their vision impairment why they started the company, and their appearance on the Ellen Show! I even got to see the big check, lol!
In this episode of Retail Corner, listen to Bradford and Bryan Manning, Co-founders of Two Blind Brothers, as they share their life stories and discuss their philanthropic entrepreneurial journey while being blind. Their mission is to help the blind community by donating 100% of their profits back to research for eye disease through the Foundation Fighting Blindness. You will listen to our host talking with Bradford and Bryan on the following points: Could you provide some insight into your personal backgrounds and what motivated you guys to establish the company, Two Blind Brothers? Can you share an overview of your company's mission and the approach you are taking to cure blindness? What are some of the biggest challenges or obstacles your team has encountered since the company was founded in 2015? What kind of support or partnerships do you seek from the public, government bodies, or philanthropic organizations to further advance your mission? Can you share any inspiring stories or testimonials from individuals who have benefited from your company's efforts to restore vision? About our guests, Bradford and Bryan Manning: Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing and accessories company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired a special attention to details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their products. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch." Linkedin: Bryan Manning: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-manning-0b390070/ Bradford Manning: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradford-manning-0b7b3139/ Website: https://twoblindbrothers.com/ About Retail Corner Podcast: Host: Carlos Diaz Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360 Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast or https://retailcorner.live Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1 Interested in being on our podcast? Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Tune in as Rick Guinotte chats with Phaedra Chernoff, Corporate Account Director, and Julia Clarke, Key Accounts Sales Manager, with L'Amy America! During the episode, you will learn about the wonderful collections that L'Amy America offers like Nicole Miller, Ann Taylor, Champion, and Sperry to name a few. L'Amy recognizes teens need more to choose from than kids or adult styles, they offer styles that are perfect for young adults! Phaedra also fills us in on the recent partnership with Two Blind Brothers and how you can help support their efforts to find a cure for blindness! To learn more check out lamyamerica.com or reach out to us at info@acquiosalliance.com!
Will you shop blind? Brad and Bryan Manning from Two Blind Brothers are asking if you are up for the challenge of buying something you can't see. Which both ironically and literally they've both been doing since they were kids. These two real-life brothers, living with a rare form of blindness, launched their own clothing and gift line where 100% of the profits are donated to Foundation Fighting Blindness to help find a cure for blindness. How good is that? Oh did we also mention they're both hilarious? Seriously, this is one of the funniest conversations we've ever had the good pleasure of taking part in.
Matthew Layton and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio's weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. This week: Fashion! We cross to New York, New York to speak to social entrepreneur Bradford Manning - co-founder and proprietor of fashion label Two Blind Brothers. Brad tells us how he and his brother Bryan came up with the idea for Two Blind Brothers, explains how it's possible to run a fashion business in spite of a vision impairment and gives us his take on what lies ahead in the next couple of years for fashion brands in an uncertain economic climate. Please get in touch with the show, whether you have experience of any of the issues covered in this episode of Studio 1 or if you think there's something we should be talking about. You never know your story and your insight may help somebody else who is dealing with something similar. –CALL or TEXT: 04 500 78834EMAIL: studio1@visionaustralia.org TWITTER: http://twitter.com/varadionetwork and http://twitter.com/whingeingpom –GUESTS AND RESOURCES Bradford Manning of Two Blind Brothers - https://twoblindbrothers.com/ –[PHOTO CAPTION: A three-quarter length shot of Bryan Manning and his brother Brad (this week's guest on Studio 1) the two blind brothers behind fashion label Two Blind Brothers. Clothes: Models' own.] Vision Australia gratefully acknowledges the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation for Studio 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Shawn Marsolais learned about her Retinitis Pigmentosa at age twelve and started attending a summer camp for blind children shortly after that. It was there, for the first time, Shawn finally felt like blindness didn't have to be a big deal and meeting her blind peers made coming back every summer a thing to look forward to all year. At Camp Bowen, blindness was irrelevant because all the kids lived with it and got to just be kids. Growing up, Shawn dealt with internalized ableism and the fear that if she didn't do things for herself, she wouldn't be seen as successful or capable. So whether it was in school or when becoming a parent, her drive to be independent was strong and accepting help was avoided wherever possible. Describing herself as someone with a chip on her shoulder for a long time, this experience is what led her to starting her nonprofit, Blind Beginnings, which offers parental support groups, relationship and confidence building activities, and involvement of the whole family (including siblings) in outings and events for fun and for developing skills for a limitless life and so hopefully future generations of blind children and youth don't have to go through what she did. Of course, we all have limits, but this week on Outlook we speak with Shawn about the limits we put on ourselves when the world tells us that blindness is not as good as sight and being sighted. Check out all discussed on this week's show including their Limitless podcast and the Limitless Beauty Fashion Show, taking place Sunday, October 16. The show will include fashion by inclusive fashion and clothing companies Two Blind Brothers and Aille Design with their new braille beaded blue dress. It is also being described by Descriptive Video Works and being made into a documentary by Accessible Media Inc. to be released sometime in 2023. Find more info on Blind Beginnings' official website: https://www.blindbeginnings.ca/
Sharing authentic NYC experiences is what @itsyaboymikeoffical is all about. Whether it's the best kept secrets on where to eat, exciting local events or the eccentricities of city life, It's Ya Boy Mike keeps followers entertained with entirely unique and entertaining content. Building on his growing influence, Mike welcomes opportunities to work with brands and marketing agencies to promote new products and services. To date, he's collaborated with Seamless, Revel, the NY Mets, Two Blind Brothers, Solgaard, WISH and many others. Born and raised in Queens, Mike is a lifelong New Yorker who has seen the city change quite a bit over the years. Through his channels, he loves documenting his adventures and the growth of culture all around. When he's not making videos and interacting with fans, Mike works as a real estate broker. A dedicated husband and proud father, Mike also enjoys nature hikes and spending time on the beach. Grab a copy of his book, 99 Places You Must Eat In NYC !
Host Chad Bouton sits down with guests Bradford and Bryan Manning. Bradford and Bryan are the founders and owners of Two Blind Brothers, which is a clothing company that seeks to offer the visually impaired a better shopping experience while contributing all of the profits towards research fighting blindness.
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness.
On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Nicole shouts out this very podcast--specifically, our archives, because we have over 1,000 episodes for you to enjoy. Terri tried out a fun promotion from the Two Blind Brothers store [https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/reveal], and was rewarded with a soft and adorable stuffed puppy [https://twoblindbrothers.com/collections/kids/products/guide-dog-guider-yellow-lab-puppy?variant=39390051467360]. And Catherine binged Netflix's Blown Away Christmas [https://www.netflix.com/title/81251991], the special edition of a show she recommended in this space more than two years ago (told you we have a lot of old episodes).
Good News: --This week, we highlight Two Blind Brothers, a clothing company dedicated to supporting research for eye disease. Family Time 80: Stress Management --Stress isn't all bad. We need that pressure to learn and change and grow. Stress is only a problem when we face more than we're ready to handle. We have to learn to manage and utilize the stress in our lives. "When I was Older" --In terms of years and months and days, I'm older than I've ever been; but I don't feel that way. We don't have to grow old just because we get older. lukenielsen.com instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia facebook.com/medialukenielsen twitter.com/MediaNielsen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj... Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease, an eye disease that causes blindness over time. Thankfully they had two spectacular parents who raised them with the mindset that anything in this life is possible, they may just have to fight a little harder to get it. While working in very successful careers life found a way to lead Bradford and Bryan in a different direction. They would create Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch”. LINKS for TWO BLIND BROTHERS https://twoblindbrothers.com/ (SHOP) Two Blind Brothers https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/ (FACEBOOK) https://www.instagram.com/twoblindbrothers/ (INSTAGRAM ) https://twitter.com/twoblindbros/ (TWITTER ) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsHxYoaxKBDl_kMQmtLPCw (YOUTUBE ) https://www.tiktok.com/@twoblindbrothers?lang=en (TIKTOK ) LINKS for THE LOWE DOWN WITH KEVIN LOWE https://www.thelowedownwithkevinlowe.com (WEBSITE) https://facebook.com/thelowedownwithkevinlowe (FACEBOOK) https://instagram.com/thelowedownwithkevinlowe (INSTAGRAM) "Redefining the meaning of vision one podcast episode at a time" Mentioned in this episode: null null
Brad and Bryan Manning, also known as Two Blind Brothers, stop by to discuss how growing up with Stargardt's disease, an inherited disorder of the retina, instilled some life lessons that equipped then to create their clothing line and donate the profit to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. They also talk about the origin of their Shop Blind Challenge and John's double blind shopping experience. For show notes, photos and more information, connect with Ambiguously Blind Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin
Episode 042 | Peter Roessler (Video Director - Foundation Fighting Blindness: Beacon Stories) joins the podcast. In this episode, Peter talks about what he's learned about the visually impaired community through his video production work for Foundation Fighting Blindness and Two Blind Brothers. To learn more about Peter, visit his website: shootmepeter.com | To learn more about Beacon Stories, visit: fightingblindness.org/beacon-stories | To visit the Beacon Stories YouTube channel, check out: youtube.com/FndFightingBlindness | To learn more about Two Blind Brothers, visit: twoblindbrothers.com | For more podcast episodes + content, visit: seethroughpod.com
We are honored that Prudential is sponsoring today's podcast highlighting people who are alchemists.Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired special attention to detail, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch." Thank you again to Prudential for supporting our podcast today and for allowing us to elevate these diverse and unique voices.Resources: Shop: https://twoblindbrothers.com/Shop Blind: https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/shop-blind-monthly-challengeWatch Bryan and Bradford on Ellen
Having a disability is never the end of the world, in fact for Bryan and Bradford Manning, it was just the beginning. Being diagnosed with Stargardt's disease at a young age built resilience and gave them the skills for problem-solving sooner than their peers. In this week's episode, the Manning brothers talk about a one in a million-shopping trip that sparked the idea of consumer's shopping blind and how Sir Richard Branson got involved to promote their mission. To find out more about our guest, visit these links: Website: https://twoblindbrothers.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/twoblindbros?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoblindbrothers/?hl=en Want to be a guest on our show? Connect with us at: https://www.abilitiesinmotion.org/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbilitiesinMotionPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abilitiesinmotion/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerksCountyCIL?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instaaim/
Toni travels solo to NYC in this episode of PATH Positive Approaches To Health and engages in an incredible conversation with Bradford and Brian Manning of Two Blind Brothers. Brad and Brian were both diagnosed at a young age with Stargardt’s disease, a form of macular degeneration. They are in the business of creating ultra-soft designer clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research. Their conversation takes them down many paths as they touch on community, connection, adversity and purpose. This is a conversation you will not want to miss and teaches so many life lessons. You will fall in love with these two gentlemen as you listen to their story, the approach to their challenge and how they harnessed their passion and made it their mission to help find a cure for blindness. You can read their story and help support this cause at twoblindbrothers.com or watch one of their talks at https://twoblindbrothers.com/blogs/the-blind-spot/how-to-speak-your-truth-and-make-people-listen. To learn more about the book Toni referenced, Cry Like A Man by Jason Wilson go to https://www.amazon.com/Cry-Like-Man-Emotional-Incarceration/dp/0830775943.
Inform & Connect: An American Foundation for the Blind Podcast
At the age of seven, brothers Bradford and Bryan Manning were told they would go blind. Instead of letting their diagnosis set them back, it became their mission to help others. In May 2016, they launched a clothing brand, Two Blind Brothers, which makes ultra-soft clothing and donates 100% of the profits to research to cure blindness. Their "Trust” campaign, in which visitors are encouraged to “shop blind,” quickly went viral and became a positive force in advocacy for the blind community. “Trust is something we all need in our lives, both personally and professionally,” said Melody Goodspeed, AFB Major Gifts Specialist, “Our community relies on trust in our everyday lives. I truly admire and respect how the Two Blind Brothers continue to bring this to our community.” Transcript
This week I chat with Brad and Bryan from Two Blind Brothers about their company, and how they are helping others. www.twoblindbrothers.com Have a comment or question lets connect info@timblackonair.com
Would you trust a stranger to pick out your clothes? What if you weren't allowed to see anything until the order arrived? Brad and Bryan Manning, owners of charity-focused Two Blind Brothers clothing, have asked their customers to do exactly that with the "Shop Blind Challenge." The clothing company invites customers to order a mystery box of clothing, sight unseen - which is how the brothers themselves have been shopping for much of their lives due to a degenerative eye disease that causes increasing blindness over time. Research to cure blindness is moving ahead at great speed, and, by donating 100% of their profits to the Foundation For Fighting Blindness, Bryan and Brad Manning are committed to helping fund that research. Head over to www.twoblindbrothers.com where you can learn more about the fight to cure blindness, shop, and find links to the brothers' other social media channels. ----- At the top of this episode, we heard from TikTok star Katelyn Wackerman. Learn more about Katelyn on Instagram (@katewack) and TikTok (@katelynwackerman) or check out her podcast, "Inspirations Beyond Disabilities" streaming on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon music. ----- Music for Helpful Humans is provided by the amazing K. Michelle Dubois. Know a Helpful Human that might deserve the spotlight? Click the message button on https://anchor.fm/helpfulhumans and let us know... we'd love to hear from you! Follow us on Facebook and if you enjoy this episode, please give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast provider. We would truly appreciate it. ----- Are you up to date with Helpful Humans episodes and looking for a new show? Check out our sister podcast, RoShamBo. RoShamBo tells stories from the world's most unique competitions and the amazing competitors that make them happen. With stories that celebrate both the quirky and the crazy, including The World Sign Spinning Championship, Kinetic Sculpture Racing, and the search for The World's Ugliest Dog, RoShamBo is lighthearted, really fun, and always interesting! www.RoShamBoPodcast.com
Two Blind Brothers have a shop challenge for you to earn money to fight Stargardts disease. https://bit.ly/31UyVoi --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/healandbehealthy/support
Brothers, best friends, and entrepreneurs Bryan and Bradford Manning are the founders of Two Blind Brothers apparel company and our special guests for this episode. Bryan and Brad were both diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition, in elementary school. Since then, this hilarious sibling duo has not let their visual impairment get in the way of living authentically, confidently, and creatively in the face of challenges. Their inspirational journey in creating Two Blind Brothers apparel is a great reminder of how YOU can create community and social impact for the causes you care about by staying true to yourself. We're talking about: How a failed kindergarten eye screening marked the beginning of the Two Blind Brothers journey Why the brothers think their parents are THE BEST, and what they learned from them about being authentic, confident, and never giving up Brad and Bryan share the coincidence that jump started Two Blind Brothers apparel, and the inspiration for donating 100% of the profits to curing blindness How the brothers built momentum and community by going VIRAL and getting an invite to share their story on the Ellen DeGeneres Show We share our TOP TIPS to help you support people you know with an “invisible disease” Why the challenges of navigating vision loss (or any hardship!) at various life stages unleashes creativity and success Brad and Bryan leave us with their BEST advice for being genuine and ambitious about the social causes YOU care about! And much more! Follow Two Blind Brothers on IG: https://www.instagram.com/twoblindbrothers/ Check out Two Blind Brothers ultra soft apparel and be a part of their social impact: https://twoblindbrothers.com/ Follow us on IG so you don't miss a thing! https://instagram.com/the.reroute
Learn more about Two Blind BrothersSupport the show-------->Fabian Geyrhalter:Welcome to the show, Brad.Brad Manning:Thank you very much, I'm glad to be here.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah, absolutely. I would have love to truly have the two blind brothers on the podcast, but Brian had just an emergency this morning, so I will pick only your brain today Brad, and that's just all right.Brad Manning:Well, to be honest, he usually ruins it with all the less intelligent things he says, it's usually insults directed at me, so this will actually be maybe the most productive interview we will ever have.Fabian Geyrhalter:Look, I staged everything but now you totally ruined it. We didn't really want him on the show. We figured this out a long time ago you and I. I'm super thrilled, I'm super thrilled to have you in the show. I can't believe that you went on the Ellen Degeneres Show before you end on mine, but I forgive you guys, because my show wasn't around in 2017, and that's why, so you're all good, you're clean.Brad Manning:Well, yeah, we just missed your email. I promise that was it, yeah. We told her to hold off but she was begging, begging to have us on, so we had to do it.Fabian Geyrhalter:I heard about that. It's a little bit embarrassing for her, but you got to do what you got to do. Really, really excited to have you. You guys went from selling your first shirt to your physics teacher back at school to being one of the fastest growing cause-driven companies in the US and all of that happened within one year. Your success and your story and your brand name, they're all very interlinked. Would you mind getting a quick introduction to the listeners who are not familiar with your brand, The Two Blind Brothers?Brad Manning:Sure. My brother and I have a rare eye condition called Stargardt disease. What that is, is it's a juvenile form of macular degeneration. A lot of people's parents or grandparents have macular degeneration. It's about 11 million people in the US who have a retinal eye disease, most of them is that adult macular degeneration and it's something that we grew up with. Our version of it was very rare. We really had no interest in starting a brand or a business around it. We both went to the University of Virginia. I ended up working in finance, Brian worked in sales for a data company. We just had this moment of serendipity where we were shopping in a store, and if you are blind or visually impaired sometimes shopping can be a big pain. You can't see the sizes, the labels, the prices. The way that we would always do it is just grab something beside it. We love the way it felt, and then we do all the other work to figure out if we wanted to buy it.On this particular day, we ended up buying the exact same shirt after having lost each other in the store. We were also, at that time, really fascinated with our recent medical, huge almost a miracle that they had reversed a very rare eye disease in children and we just decided, what if this could be our way to give back to a cause that we had always been close to, the foundation, Fighting Blindness, funding these early researchers, and make the softest clothing that we possibly could, and that's when we came up with the idea for our clothing brand, Two Blind Brothers.Fabian Geyrhalter:That's amazing. You are really on an end-to-end mission. Each shirt has a braille tag on its sleeve, your for production moved to an organization for the blind who are now manufacturing all of your clothes. You give a hundred percent of your proceeds to help find a cure, which, as you just mentioned, it might not be quite out of reach. There's a lot of clinical trials going on right now. Here is a very optimistic, hopeful thought. What is they find a cure? Do you have your brand roadmap all laid out on how the mission will pivot, perhaps to ensure everyone gets a treatment or to expand to other related causes? What is that end goal if you reach that first end goal?Brad Manning:Well, I'll tell you this, and this has just been a huge truth about, I'm sure anybody who runs a small business or a small brand can relate to this. The objectives seem to change every 3 to 6 months, in terms of where is this going, what are we doing. The mission is always going to be the same, keep funding the research. The truth of the matter is, it's not like a ... there isn't, at least not in a foreseeable future vision pond, but there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. The truth of the matter is, we are going to be in this fight for a long time. The positive news is that it's really just that. It is just a matter of time.A lot of the science has been proven out. There are some of these rare single gene conditions, for example, that are actually being checked off the list. The one example I give, LCA called lebers congenital amaurosis, the therapy is called [inaudible 00:05:42], but there's many like it that are coming down. The mission is always going to be the same. The truth is the real spirit of the project beyond the donations of the research is really about empowering this community. That's actually been the thing that's been the most fun and the most exciting for us. We didn't really, maybe naively, didn't anticipate the role that the community would play in this. For us, it's almost like going back in time to our younger selves when we were maybe struggling with different aspects of the visual challenges or talking to or our mother. We hear from a lot of parents that are trying to get advice on how to raise kids who have a visual challenge, and that's been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.Fabian Geyrhalter:You started by making a super soft shirt, which is such a huge part of the founding story, that's where even the idea came from, by being able to differentiate a product by touch. Now you make sunglasses, all very much relate back to what is at the heart of your brand. Offerings keep growing into socks and into backpacks, etc. Does it really matter? It's a mission-based brand, right? Does it really matter at this point what you sell, since the cause is at the root? As long as they are well-made products at a decent price point, are you at that point where you could literally start selling pretty much anything that is a lifestyle product and that is just a good product?Brad Manning:Yeah. People who are very smart on branding and marketing, which is actually not Brian and I. We learned this all along the way. There are some brands, guardrails, obviously that attentions to things that are soft, sunglasses that protects the eyesight. Really, and then more, we'll probably get into this with some of the other questions, but the truth of the matter is it's all about authenticity and what makes sense and what you actually believe in. That's been one of the fundamental aspect of this project, is when Brian and I decided it was going to be a brand called Two Blind Brothers. That's a general term that refers to him and I as individuals. In a way, it's forced us to be extra critical about the decisions that we're making for the customers in the business, because it ultimately reflects on us personally. My aunt Marilyn isn't happy with the socks that she's getting. I hear about it like it was my fault for getting her order late. It's very personal, but authenticity drives all of those decisions.Fabian Geyrhalter:You said a lot of the really important things here. First off you said, "Look, Fabian, we're not the great brand marketers and we had to learn this." I think you're giving yourself not enough credit, because the idea of how you branded yourself, Two Blind Brothers, the entire philosophy and how it's injected into the product and how it's so seamless, and yeah, maybe you guys don't have the brand knowledge, but you sure intrinsically have it in you, and that to me is ... and that goes back to authenticity. You just want to do what's what's right, and you put basically "your name out in the door", and you allow people in. When brands do that, it just ups the ante a little bit of what is being expected by themselves off of their own product. But really, you guys-Brad Manning:You know what it is. The way I think about it is it was purely bottoms up instead of top down. No one in their right mind would think of how much money they're going to make or or how much breadth or scale they're going to get. If they are creating a nuanced mission around blindness with premium priced clothing brand, but there's a few businesses that are probably more competitive than it, restaurants maybe. This is not ... this started from a place of, what are we 100% in love with doing, and if it were to fail on those merits, then now it's going to be just fine with us because we were so excited about it. From the branding perspective, I think something about that works because it allowed us to ... we started with what was 100% true and real and exciting and passionate for us. Then, we went out and found people who shared that feeling. I guess what I mean is it didn't start from that top-down perspective where you think about your ideal customer, your ideal market, product market fit and those types of important questions.Fabian Geyrhalter:Totally, totally, absolutely, totally get it. But I look at you now as a brand, and I look through your Instagram feed, which usually is where you look at how brands are really behaving these days, because it's already so authentic, Instagram versus the website and everything else. You guys are just creating one great brand campaign after [inaudible 00:11:35]. I hate calling it campaign, but just stories that you put out there for the sunglasses launch. For instance, you stated if you lose a pair of sunglasses, we send you a replacement for life. Again, very heartfelt since it is something that happens to everyone, but super close to the cause as well as visually impaired are obviously sadly losing glasses all the time like you stated in the video, you're like, "This happens to me daily. It ought to be it happens monthly, like this is just my life.Then you had the hashtag, #blindreturnchallenge, where you urged people to send back one of those many, many Amazon packages. I guess, especially now during the pandemic, those tens of Amazon packages that pileup in front of people's doorsteps every day, and instead of those, return those and instead, help your cause. This past Thanksgiving, which was just a couple weeks ago, now you ask people to shop blind. I thought that was amazing. On the website it reads, "Would you buy something that you can't see? We promise you'll get something you'll love. If you don't think it's perfect, you can return it, no questions asked. Trust us, 100% of the product that donated to the foundation fighting blindness to help find a cure for blindness. After November 30, all of these items disappear." What you're doing is really genius. It goes so deep into your brand. It talks about trust, which is everything that anyone who is visually impaired is exposed to. This is their lifeline, you trust everyone around you to help you, to guide you, to be faithful.Then in the end, it's scarcity. "Hey, this is only for a couple days." The idea of the whole point is trust, give it a shop, you'll love it. This whole conversation is really amazing, and with all of these creative campaigns, what I wonder, because I only stumbled upon the last three, four, which one of these, and it might've been the last one, was the most successful? Which one do you feel totally tanked? We love hearing that too.Brad Manning:Yeah. Shop blind, the Shop Blind Challenge totally transformed our business.Fabian Geyrhalter:Wow!Brad Manning:It accounts for 90% of our sales. What we do with it now is every three weeks or four weeks, however long the particular period is, we change the product. If you are a repeat customer, you're not going to get the same thing. Those products get rotated out and then we have the new challenge with the new products, slightly different price points, but the Shop Blind Challenge is by far the most successful. The way we think about it is, as a small brand, we got addicted to Facebook and Instagram ads early on in that we saw that if we put a dollar into these ads we were getting some gross margin, some net margin back. We were also get, in terms of sale, we were also getting all the brand awareness around the folks that maybe decided not to purchase from seeing that ad.We started leaning really hard into that. The question that we, and I'm sure there's better marketing jargon to put it in, but the question that we are always asking is how do we compete with the 10,000 other clothing brands or blindness related charities that are trying to get people's attention? It starts from the premise of, we need to say something, explain something, create something that is so difficult to ignore and the most interesting thing that maybe somebody has heard that day. What we realized is the bar, to rise above the noise, is just a little bit higher than most people think it is.We thought we had a great story to begin with, good enough for it to get featured in some of the great publicity we got. But once we realize that we actually, you got it, we had to push that envelope and think about what was the most creative thing that we could come up with, and then the best ideas are the ones that only you could do.Fabian Geyrhalter:Uh huh (affirmative).Brad Manning:It doesn't makes sense for another brand to do. They could come up with maybe a version of it, but they wouldn't be Shop Blind. It might be their mystery box or something. The thing that only your brand could really make sense to stand for, that's where the best ideas are going to come. That's, at least, the principle that we operate on.Fabian Geyrhalter:Absolute truth. Then you do it in a bold manner too, and I think that's important, because even if you have an idea like that, Shop Blind, then to pull it off and to hundred percent go with that idea that people do have no idea what they're going to receive and you don't even have teasers, there's none of that. Either you go 100% or you don't even get into those waters. I think a lot of brands, they tiptoe around those things. It's like, "Well, but we got to give people something." Then it's, again, it's decisions by committee and its larger companies and they just can't pull it off, because quite frankly, they just don't have the guts to do it.Brad Manning:Well, to the point you just made, and if people don't understand the Shop Blind, they could watch it on YouTube or they could Google it. Essentially, you described it with that description, but we're just challenging people to pick a price point without any info on the product, no image, no nothing, and just basically trust us, in the same way that trust has actually lifted up my brother and I in a lot of circumstances. If we can't see a menu in a restaurant, yes, we can get a magnifier, yes, we can ask for the braille, a braille version of the menu, or we can use text-to-speech on our phones, sometimes the easiest thing we can do is ask the person at the table next to us or ask the waiter for their recommendation. These little acts of trust lift us up and so we thought we could challenge people to trust.Here's something very interesting about the analytics on Shop Blind. We do have a full clothing brand, so we have T-shirts and hoodies and things of that nature. To send somebody something while shopping blind you have to have them their gender and their size. Although there are some items, let's say a beanie or a scarf or a blanket, for example, that's single [skew 00:18:36] where you don't have to ask somebody gender and size. When we ask people that one extra step to say, are you shopping for a man or a woman? Or, what size are you shopping for? We actually lose a lot of conversion rates. People actually liked ... they like the purity of the experience and when we start interjecting what they would think of is their normal shopping behaviors, it doesn't connect as well.Fabian Geyrhalter:Interesting, very interesting. It does make sense come to think of it, because this is not been buying a shirt, this is them getting into an experience, and it should be uninterrupted until they receive it. Super interesting, and thanks for sharing that. I think there's a lot to think about with that. You talked about this, like trust is everything for when you're blind and hence you translated that into your brand through the campaign we just talked about, and only you can basically run that campaign really in that sense. But on the flip side, trust is also the holy grail for all brands, for every brand. Gaining and sustaining trust with your audience is what all marketers and founders strive for. How do you feel trust is being earned for brands these days?Brad Manning:To be honest, I don't know. I think it is so hard to differentiate. I think the first place I just witnessed it as a consumer was actually in media, where all of a sudden there's this great decentralization because anybody with an iPhone and a YouTube channel can offer to entertain or inform people. Somebody might speak exactly to the points and topics that you care about, and then I feel like I saw a little bit of it with the major retailers, where they used to be all on convenience, but now there's just so many nuanced brand that are taking 1% or a quarter of a percent of those customers, and it hurts those brands that have super strong trust, strong brand or the ability to differentiate. All I know is I don't know how you can run an ad or a marketing campaign and just say, "Hey, we make a great quality product for a great price." It's just there's too much noise in regards to that.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah.Brad Manning:it's really tough. We've had flexibility to ... this is all for the mission and for the community at the end of the day. We have maybe some ... we aren't forced to guide to the same metrics that may be a similar business might need to look at, which can do more for the customer.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah, yeah. I think one of the holy grails to trust is actually authenticity and you guys just so embody it that you don't think about it a lot, but I think a lot of brands today, that's how I see them gaining trust, because they're just extremely transparent and authentic and truthful and that is that next wave of startups that can do it, because they're small. They don't even know what else to do. Quite frankly, it is fascinating doing this pandemic where a lot of smaller businesses suddenly have to lay everything out in front of the customers, of like who they really are and that they're struggling for instance, and suddenly people actually react to that. They want to give, they want to know the story behind the business and what's really going on inside of the sausage factory, so to speak.I think that there's a really interesting trend that's happening right now for better for marketing but for worse, of course, the reason why this is happening currently. Switching over to the visual aspects for a second here, branding is obviously often seen as a very visual thing, which of course is just one component, there's much more to a brand. Mainly, it's heart and soul and it's storytelling, which are both huge reasons your brand is doing so well. Both you and your brother are also gifted speakers. What lessons have you learned in creating a brand that leads with heart and soul and gut instinct and empathy? Perhaps any advice for founders out there on how to craft their stories? Your story is, it's one thing to live that story, it's another thing to be able to voice that story.Brad Manning:Yeah. A few things come to mind. There's a couple of quotes and examples that I really like. One is the more personal, the more universal. We thought we were alienating people when we first started by being so focused on this particular retinal eye disease mission. The fact of the matter is when you can expose something that's very true and very personal to you, it actually connects other people because we all have those things that we care about. The second is there is method to being a great storyteller. You have to be able to paint that vision for people and walk them through why you are so excited about this, because you are must be, fundamentally must be the biggest cheerleader for what you're doing. How you feel about it ... and by the way, Brian and I learned this when we would get teased about our eyesight when we were little.When a bully would come up to us or somebody new would come up and say, "You can't see that. What's wrong with you?" When we would be shy and cower and try to qualify ourselves, it only made it worse. When you could look at that person and just say, "Oh, I got crappy eyesight," and then next question and move on, you saw that the way that you frame something is the way that people interpret it. It's very important to know to be able to frame those things. Then the other thing I'll just add because this really blew me away, the first time we launched the Shop Blind campaign, it was Brian and I doing a video, explaining what we already explained here about why we're doing and would you trust us, would you Shop Blind, a second grade teacher bought the Shop Blind experience for her class, explained the concept to them, and her teaching is just in the back video there.The kid, when she says, "I don't know what's in the box. I don't know what I got. It's all about trust," the kids lose their minds, and even though it was just socks, when I was in second grade, I didn't care about that, but maybe they just like the surprise, but she sent us that video and we worked through the permissions and we had to make sure no kid;s faces were in it, but we ran that clip as our ad, and in it killed everything else we were doing. It was amazing. That didn't take a fancy camera or brand guardrails that we express to her before she recorded that. Authenticity punches above its weight right now. When people can tell that there is no BS that the message is being filtered through, it draws people in really hard, and sometimes the most underproduced thing actually will be the thing that outperforms the most.Fabian Geyrhalter:Absolutely. I saw that video that you're talking about, which obviously ... you have to see that video if you just searched for two blind brothers. Like you said, it was so well-performing it pops up immediately. I was wondering, was that, not produced or staged, but was this something that was done by someone purposefully that afterwards it will be posted? But it just doesn't feel like it, and that's what makes it. Back to you guys, I'm a keynote speaker myself and I'm super interested in this topic, but something like a random question, I have to ask you this. We keynote speakers, and the audience knows that, we love having our confidence moan at monitors. As they call them in the industry, it's basically our cheap monitors that are on the stage that the audience can't really see and we can catch our thoughts. Knowing that you're not hundred percent blind, are you able to see them or do you have your speeches a hundred percent memorized and you don't have a fallback plan at all given your condition?Brad Manning:I absolutely love that you've asked. We've never been asked this.Fabian Geyrhalter:I assume so.Brad Manning:I'll tell you exactly.First of all, Brian, we have a blast with the speak, for whatever reason, I don't know because it is just fun to tell your story, it's fun to connect with folks in person. We've really enjoyed the speaking. Frankly, we probably should've talked to people who have done it more to get better at it. We really don't have great vision for reading prints. We can read really large print. We don't have any monitors but I'll tell you this, we are one advantage, and it is just that there's two of us on stage. The fact is, we practice, we 100% memorize it. We don't try to script it per se, so we have major points that we walk through. But the fact that there's two of us there actually helps a ton and in fact, when one of us forget something or screws up, it almost is more fun.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah, yeah.Brad Manning:That, I think, gives us a lot of ... it actually gives us a certain type help.Fabian Geyrhalter:Confidence, yeah.Brad Manning:We have that backup.Fabian Geyrhalter:That's amazing, because guys like me get a confidence monitor, you get a confidence brother. I listen to a couple of your speeches and they are so great and I really want everyone to check out the speeches because you actually learn more about the brand too. But the way that, it's like playing ping-pong, like the way that you guys finish your thoughts and, obviously, you're brothers and you've been going through this challenge together, and now you're business partners together, so you literally can finish each other's sentence. But you can also make fun of each other and you can poke each other, and as we know from the beginning of the show today. I think that there is ... I could totally see that, but I never would've thought that that's your confidence monitor, basically. Super interesting. I'm glad I asked that random question.Brad Manning:Yeah.Fabian Geyrhalter:We talked about the audience, we talked about ... in the beginning, you talked about community and how important that was for you, and you weren't really, really sure about that. How important was community in the end to the success of your brand? How do you now foster your community? Because you talk a lot about people doing repeat purchases and it's like once they're in your universe, they really want to be part of it, and they want to feel like they're part of this small community.Brad Manning:It's everything. The fact of the matter is the only way we get any traction is when somebody you empathizes and with the mission, frankly, we hope and we aim that when someone buys something from us they're like, "Oh! I didn't realize how great this stuff is. I just thought the story was cool." Our aim is to always have them as a customer for the product, but the truth of the matter is, most people initially find us or come to us because they connect with the story and it's been everything. But from Brian and I's perspective, it really shook us up because ... If you've watched any of those longer talks you may have heard some of these stories.There was a kid who reached out to us who was 19 years old, who said he was a college student and he had been sleeping a lot, and that he was just diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which is a disease that can cause total blindness over a 15-year period. It closes in around your peripheral vision, then your center vision. He wrote in our customer service line, he wrote this sentence that just crushed us. He said, "I've been sleeping a lot because I'd rather be asleep dreaming in 20/20 vision than awake knowing that I'm going blind."Fabian Geyrhalter:Wow.Brad Manning:He followed it up with some encouraging words. He said, "I just saw what you guys are doing, I connected with some folks and I'm social and I'm just feeling a little bit better than I have in a while and just wanted to thank you." When we started this project, it was about having fun and doing something nice for the foundation fighting blindness. As soon as we started getting messages like that, it called on a sense of responsibility that we never anticipated. That type of attitude that we may have been victim to when we were five and seven years old, that's not acceptable. Er view that as unacceptable and we want to do what we can to get out there and for any single person that may find themselves in a situation where they've been challenged and now they feel like they are less them, that really hits home for us. That's where the community is what inspires us to do this every day actually.Fabian Geyrhalter:Absolutely, yeah. That's a big story and that's how community is being built instantaneously, if someone asks for help or you feel that, and then obviously, this is how one thing leads to another. Well, talking about community and assistance, being on Ellen was a game changer for you as a brand, but it was the result of you telling your story to literally anyone and everyone who wanted to listen until the Ellen producer saw a piece you had, I think, on Now This!Brad Manning:Right.Fabian Geyrhalter:I'm such a firm believer in this idea that most interview in podcast, TV, radio, etc, opportunities are good ones because you just never know who is listening. This is really, really fun for me today because I did a course for a company called Mental Box up in San Francisco five years ago, didn't think much about it I just did it. Just today, in fact in the morning, I closed a really nice big branding project because someone in Kuwait who found me through that course that I recorded in San Francisco has been following me ever since and today we signed a contract for a nice branding project. You just never know where this moment starts where someone gets in touch with your brand, with your, I call it your brand atmosphere.Brad Manning:Uh huh (affirmative).Fabian Geyrhalter:When they poke through that atmosphere to find you. Here's the Two Blind Brothers, you don't know when they first find you, but it could be any of these random things, and with Ellen, that was the exact same thing when they just found you on a different interview. What are your thoughts on spreading your word? How important to a young brand do you see traditional PR and media in times like these, in times of social media?Brad Manning:It's tough. To be honest, somebody else other than me to make the case for PR and media. All of our any sort of earned media publicity opportunities have come from people seeing our ads on Facebook, Instagram, and now TikTok, as we just do our thing advertising to customers. We haven't ... and it's because it's so easy. Back in the day, you needed that intermediary because you didn't have the contacts or the way to get in touch with people. But it's a good truth teller. When you go and reach out to all these companies, you do get a lot of crickets because the truth of the matter is this person who you want to feature you is still capable of finding exactly the type of story they want to feature.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah.Brad Manning:It doesn't mean it's not worth the test or worth the exercise, but it is a difficult situation. Everything we've gotten has come in through our customer. Even if we do a speech or a corporate order or something, it all comes from the social ads. But there is a refinement period. Brian and I's first interview was a Fox spot. We just started the business, we have sold all maybe 30 shirts, and it was Fox spot local news segment, and those segments started forcing us to learn how to express our story. That was really critical that it's almost like if you've given us ... like giving a speech, the first time you do it, it's the worst experience ever. By the time that you're forced to do it 50 times, it's like drinking water, it's so natural.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah.Brad Manning:That's how we view it. Yeah, it's hard to measure the value of it. I just know that it is valuable, and we enjoy it, and like you said, it all snowballs on each other, one thing leads to the next.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah, absolutely. It's all interlinking. Now that you've successfully grown your mission-based brand for a little while. What does branding mean to you?Brad Manning:A big part of it is reputation. It's not coming from a marketing background. Originally, we thought about it as almost like our reputation. What's your first impression? What do your lifelong friends, What do they say about you? We view it as like, we are in it for the long term, and so we want to make sure that the people that we're connecting through the business will always think a few things about what we're doing. One, that we're a hundred percent committed to the cause of blindness, both on the research side and the community side.Two, we're trying to make the softest products in the world that we possibly can. Three, we're going to be authentic. We're going to say how we feel and what's going on in that moment and just see how it goes. That's where we come from. There's an element of it that is critical that was not a strength for us. All the copy and the colors and the visuals, we were lucky to have people help us with that. That element, that's a big skill set and that part of it, it's critical as well for at least getting people in your front door.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah. You guys are the visionaries, the two of you, which is wonderful to say of two visually-impaired founders trying to change the world really, but that's it. You have your team around you that can assist with other elements like the visual brand. What is one or what are two words that can describe your brand? If you literally take everything we talked about for the last 40 or so minutes and you'll put it through a funnel, and in the end you have to say, "Two blind brothers equals what?" Like for instance, Everlane, which I'm sure you're familiar with, for them it's all about radical transparency or Zappos, which sadly has been in the news with the passing of Tony Hsieh. They were all about service. What Two Blind Brothers in one word or two words?Brad Manning:That's tough. I would say a couple. I would say what we try to communicate at the end of all of our speeches are is friction equals growth. Friction equals growth. You get hit with challenges in life and it's about embracing them and moving toward. That's what unlocks all of your resourcefulness, assertiveness, creativity. It's not about the visual challenge, it's about how you respond to it. Those are the characteristics that actually matter. The reason that it's really around that is because that is the message that we find is most valuable to the community that needs it the most. We love all of our customers and we hope they love the product and the message that the person that were out there fighting the hardest for is that kid who got diagnosed with blindness who doesn't think that he's going to have a normal life and doesn't think that he can compete in a real world. Our message to him or her is that friction, a challenge equals growth and your greatest challenges can be your greatest gifts.Fabian Geyrhalter:It's beautiful and it's such a universal message too. For everyone in their life, friction equals growth. It's really fantastic.Brad Manning:Yeah, I was trying to put it in three words because I was trying to hit the two words. There's a quote that there is no growth without friction.Fabian Geyrhalter:YeahBrad Manning:That's the simple way to say it, there is no growth without friction.Fabian Geyrhalter:Yeah, yeah. But I actually like friction equals growth, because the minute you arrive at a point of friction, which you do in life on a daily basis, some are minor and some are major, that you know this is not friction it's actually, it means growth. Like this is your sign that now it's time to grow, and I think it's really, it's inspirational but not at an inspirational quote type of cheesy way. It's actually really applicable.Brad Manning:Yeah.Fabian Geyrhalter:Listen, people listening to you for the last 40 minutes who fell in love with what you do, what would you like for them to be doing right this minute to support and also benefit from your brand?Brad Manning:I would say two things. I would say, if they want to learn more about us, they can Google "two blind brothers" or go to twoblindbrothers.com. For the folks that are interested in branding or running their own business, Brian and I feel very lucky that we decided to experiment with this passion of ours, and it's led us on this incredibly fun and rewarding adventure. I would encourage anyone out there who's got something that they've got a unique passion for, just keep running at it because you'll be surprised how easy it is to connect with the people that resonate with what you're doing. We live in the digital and social age. Fifteen years ago, there is no practical way to start a clothing brand or any project to target to a nuanced audience, now it's completely different. Just words of encouragement to all those.Fabian Geyrhalter:Brad, you are such an inspiration to all of us listening right in the field of branding and marketing, but most important to those who are impaired in whatever way, and because of your amazing success now feel that they can turn their impairment into their superpower. I want to thank you for what you're doing, for how you're doing it, that you're doing it, and of course, that you took the time to be on hitting the mark. Thank you so much, and please give my best to Brian as well.Brad Manning:Absolutely. Thank you. The way that folks hear about us is because of folks like you and your listeners lifting us up. We were incredibly grateful to be able to share the story with you.Fabian Geyrhalter:Absolutely my pleasure.
What's the story behind your brand? And do you use your brand's story to build engagement with your community? We all have a story to tell, and they hold the power to set us apart from other businesses. So, how can we use storytelling to speak with our audience and build trust?In this episode, we spoke to brothers Brad and Bryan Manning who at a young age, were both diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. Using their story, they have co-founded the clothing brand Two Blind Brothers. Their brand has been built on a central mission: to impact those who are blind and raise money towards a cure for blindness.In this episode, they share their coincidental story of how their brand was born, how our challenges yield our strengths and how storytelling has been key to build and create a community and in turn create a successful brand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bradford and Bryan Manning are brothers, entrepreneurs and business partners. They both share a degenerative retinal eye disease called Stargardt Disease, where you lose your central vision over time. Five years apart in age, both Brad and Bryan started losing their central vision around 5 years old. Today, Brad and Bryan explain that they really … Continue reading "Two Blind Brothers"
Brad & Bryan are two of the most inspirational people you will ever hear speak. They are the founders of Two Blind Brothers, a social enterprise which donates all profits to fund clinical research for eye diseases and visual impairments. The Two Blind Brothers discuss their journey after being diagnosed with Stargardt's disease at an early age, the challenges they have faced along the way, the mission to create the softest shirt on the planet, their experience on The Ellen Show and much much more... all with the goal to fund clinical research in order to cure visual impairments. If you enjoy listening, please leave a review! Feel free to send me a message on LinkedIn - and don't forget to share the podcast with friends, colleagues, family and anyone else you think would also enjoy!
Episode 010 | Victor Mifsud, also known as the Blind Biohacker, joins the podcast to talk about his documentary "My Neuroplastic Adventure." Victor also discusses the brain's neuroplasticity and how he is biohacking his vision from both the inside and outside. To learn more about Victor's film, visit: myneuroplasticadventure.com | Interested in red light therapy? Visit: emr-tech.com (DISCOUNT CODE: BLINDBIOHACKER) | Victor's featured company was the clothing brand Two Blind Brothers. To learn more, visit: twoblindbrothers.com
Have you given yourself a chance to REALLY get on the field with the things that you are passionate about? Today I share with you a clip from our interview with Two Blind Brothers and encourage you to take the RISK and give your higher calling “a chance”. RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
What I love most about today’s episode is that our guests remind us to put our MISSION at the forefront of everything we do. We need to remember the people we are trying to serve, the impact that we are called to make, and center everything we do around THAT. We have two unconventional leaders with us today who are making waves not only in the clothing industry but are giving voice to a community in a unique way. Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired special attention to details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focus on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch." TRY IT! Shop Blind: https://twoblindbrothers.com/ A FEW QUESTIONS ASKED: How do you draw others into a story you are passionate about and share the heart behind what you do? How do you create a community around your brand and remember your mission while running the day to day? FROM TODAY’s EPISODE: Why they didn't build their brand because they “thought it was a good business” but built it because the mission fired them up How do you identify your story and identity what people are going to connect with The competition for attention is much higher than people realize and that’s why your story has to be unforgettable Why they believe the success of the brand is because they authentically cared “as much as we could” and none of it was manufactured Why “hiding causes shame” Why they view themselves as a media company and not a clothing brand 11 million people in the US with retinal eye disease- “its an enormous group of people who are not always thought of” RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
Welcome to #My5SensesExperience Podcast, the place where we explore our senses: what we see, hear, smell, touch and taste. But what if not all five senses are perfectly functioning? How does your perception change if you cannot rely on all of them equally? Bradford and Bryan were both diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. They are the founders of Two Blind Brothers, doing business to cure blindness. In today’s episode we chat about what it’s like if you’re losing your sense of vision and how they experience without seeing. Shop Blind: https://twoblindbrothers.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5_senses_journey/Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/5sensesjourney/)
Episode 003 | Bryan & Bradford Manning (Two Blind Brothers) discuss their successful clothing company, the challenges of having a vision disability and their plan to cure blindness. To learn more about Two Blind Brothers, visit: twoblindbrothers.com | The brother's featured non-profit was Foundation Fighting Blindness. To find your local chapter, visit: foundationfightingblindness.org | For more on the podcast, visit: seethroughpod.com
Lewis talks with brothers Bradford and Bryan Manning co founders of Two Blind Brothers, who are on a mission to cure blindness. The funds from two blind brothers are driving life-changing treatments such as the “Voretigene Neparvovec” treatment, a gene therapy developed by Spark Therapeutics. 70% of their workforce are blind or visually-impaired in the factory in Dallas, Texas. At a young age, the brothers were both diagnosed with an eye disease that destroys central vision over time. In this episode they talk about how they are fighting back, leaving their former careers in finance to start a clothing company, Two Blind Brothers, which is one of the fastest growing charitable clothing brands in the country with endorsements from Ellen DeGeneres, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Branson, NBC Nightly News, and many others. *This episode was recorded on google hangouts. Show notes: Two Blind Brothers: https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/about-us ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This episode is supported by Audible: Start your 30 day free trail today! using the following link: bit.ly/2YVdZJU - Auto-renews at £7.99/month after 30 days - 1 book monthly membership - Cancel anytime Take your pick from the world’s largest selection of audiobooks including best sellers, latest releases, sci-fi, fantasy and more. Disclaimer: If you sign up using our link, we make a small percentage and you help to support our podcast for which we are truly grateful. This doesn't affect our opinions.
“Your disability does not preclude you from anything. In fact, your biggest challenge is your BEST empowerment!” – Bryan Manning On this episode, we spend time talking with Bradford and Bryan Manning, two brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, Bradford and Bryan were both diagnosed with a rare eye disease, called Stargardt Disease, that destroys central vision over time. They decided to fight back and left their careers in finance to start a charitable clothing company and is now the fastest growing charitable clothing brand in the country with endorsements from Ellen Degeneres, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Branson, NBC Nightly News, and many more. Not only is their company a success through their products and endorsements, but the brothers took it a step further and hired 70% blind and visually-impaired workers to produce the clothing AND they donate 100% of their profits to researchers and the Foundation Fighting Blindness to find cures for blindness. “We want to provide hope.” “If you can identify what unique aspect you have in your life and are motivated, we want to be your cheerleader.” – Bradford Manning For more information about Two Blind Brothers: https://twoblindbrothers.com (https://twoblindbrothers.com/) https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/) https://instagram.com/twoblindbrothers (https://instagram.com/twoblindbrothers) https://twitter.com/TwoBlindBros (https://twitter.com/TwoBlindBros) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsHxYoaxKBDl_kMQmtLPCw (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsHxYoaxKBDl_kMQmtLPCw) Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nocofm (https://www.patreon.com/nocofm) Hosted by Dr. Natalie Phillips. Produced by Chris Lanphear for NoCo FM. Hear more great podcasts at https://noco.fm (https://noco.fm/) Follow Natalie: https://twitter.com/AudioDrPhillips (https://twitter.com/AudioDrPhillips) https://www.facebook.com/Connect4Excellence (https://www.facebook.com/Connect4Excellence) https://www.instagram.com/drnataliephillips (https://www.instagram.com/drnataliephillips) Follow NoCo FM: https://twitter.com/nocofm (https://twitter.com/nocofm) https://instagram.com/nocofm (https://instagram.com/nocofm) https://www.facebook.com/nocofm (https://www.facebook.com/nocofm) Support this podcast
“Your disability does not preclude you from anything. In fact, your biggest challenge is your BEST empowerment!” – Bryan Manning On this episode, we spend time talking with Bradford and Bryan Manning, two brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, Bradford and Bryan were both diagnosed with a rare eye disease, called Stargardt Disease, that destroys central vision over time. They decided to fight back and left their careers in finance to start a charitable clothing company and is now the fastest growing charitable clothing brand in the country with endorsements from Ellen Degeneres, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Branson, NBC Nightly News, and many more. Not only is their company a success through their products and endorsements, but the brothers took it a step further and hired 70% blind and visually-impaired workers to produce the clothing AND they donate 100% of their profits to researchers and the Foundation Fighting Blindness to find cures for blindness. “We want to provide hope.” “If you can identify what unique aspect you have in your life and are motivated, we want to be your cheerleader.” – Bradford Manning For more information about Two Blind Brothers: https://twoblindbrothers.com/ (https://twoblindbrothers.com) https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/ (https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/) https://instagram.com/twoblindbrothers (https://instagram.com/twoblindbrothers) https://twitter.com/TwoBlindBros (https://twitter.com/TwoBlindBros) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsHxYoaxKBDl_kMQmtLPCw (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsHxYoaxKBDl_kMQmtLPCw) Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nocofm (https://www.patreon.com/nocofm) Hosted by Dr. Natalie Phillips. Produced by Chris Lanphear for NoCo FM. Hear more great podcasts at https://noco.fm/ (https://noco.fm) Follow Natalie: https://twitter.com/AudioDrPhillips (https://twitter.com/AudioDrPhillips) https://www.facebook.com/Connect4Excellence (https://www.facebook.com/Connect4Excellence) https://www.instagram.com/drnataliephillips (https://www.instagram.com/drnataliephillips) Follow NoCo FM: https://twitter.com/nocofm (https://twitter.com/nocofm) https://instagram.com/nocofm (https://instagram.com/nocofm) https://www.facebook.com/nocofm (https://www.facebook.com/nocofm) Support this podcast
Well, after 182 episodes, the unthinkable has finally happened: Rob has fallen ill enough to miss the show! Will our intrepid co-hosts, Ryan and Steve, be able to pick up the slack and stop giggling long enough to welcome clothing entrepreneurs Bradford and Bryan Manning to the show? Find out in this week’s exciting episode of AT Banter! Show Notes Two Blind Brothers Websitehttps://twoblindbrothers.com/ Two Blind Brothers Facebook https://www.facebook.com/twoblindbros/ 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. 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.
Peace Corps - B’Uneke - Digital Magazine Mary Brotherton Jennifer East Today we bring you Mary Brotherton and Jennifer East of B’Uneke Magazine - a digital magazine brought to you by the Peace Corps. The magazine aims to inspire world changers and people who want to make a difference on a micro or macro level scale in their communities by telling the stories of the changemakers of today The digital magazine is free for all but can be ordered in print version for a fee, which benefits this nonprofit organization. Writers from around the world contribute their stories to the magazine, which are either put in the publication or if impact is needed immediately, it’s put on the blog. Today Mary and Jennifer will tell you some of the stories of their contributors. From neighborhood superstar Sammy Vance who recycles bottle caps to Two Blind Brothers, who operate a business to fight retinal disease, it is our hope that these stories will inspire you as they have inspired us. How can you help? Donate or create a fundraiser Read the magazine and share on your social pages Simply “like” all of their social pages (links below) Finally, don’t forget to share this episode. Sharing this episode will help B’Uneke increase its impact and will help us at the GIVE Podcast keep spreading the word about important charities and nonprofits. Be inspired. GIVE. Where to find B’Uneke Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Full episode transcription can be found here. To be a guest on the show or hear more episodes visit https://prodigimark.com/givepodcast
Our guests for this episode are Bryan and Brad Manning from Two Blind Brothers and Mark Babbit from Greensky Patient Solutions. Have a happy and safe holiday season and we will see you in 2020! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bigeyedeas/message
Two Blind Brothers are "obsessed with soft." The 34 and 27 year old entrepreneurs have Stargardt disease, which gradually reduces the central vision and results in functional blindness. and they quit their day jobs a few years ago to pursue 2BB full time as a social enterprise. We caught up with them in Las Vegas this summer to hear about how they got started, their views on being blind in he fashion industry and how being blind actually prepares you to be a great entrepreneur.
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of the profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired a special attention for details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch."
At a young age, brothers Bradford and Bryan Manning were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. They’ve used their circumstances to help work toward a cure for blindness through the sales of their ultra-soft designer clothing line. Their vigilance for details carries over into the quality of their products, and you’ll love hearing the coincidental story of how the idea for their brand came about. Join me as I learn more about the inspiring Bradford and Bryan Manning. 3:08 - The Brad and Bryan 101 Brad and Bryan were diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease when they were each seven years old. Stargardt’s is a genetic disease that typically destroys center vision. The idea for the Two Blind Brothers business started to form after Brad and Bryan shopped in the same store now knowing until after they’d left that they’d purchased the same shirt based on how it felt to the touch. Touch is a sense that’s critical to those with vision impairments. Brad and Bryan started talking about focusing on the sense of touch to develop their clothing brand. One hundred percent of the proceeds from Two Blind Brothers is donated to organizations that fight diseases like Stargardt’s and other forms of vision impairment. 7:55 - It’s A Community The goal was never a successful business, but a pure passion to help the community and raise funds for research. The brand was driven by people who wanted to support the cause, rather than just shop for an item of clothing. After learning that man with a retinal eye disease who’d never met another person with an eye disease found an online community through Two Blind Brothers, a huge paradigm shift occurred in the business. It became about fostering hope for the community that the brothers deeply care about. 15:42 - Shop Blind Holiday Brad and Bryan created a video on social media about how those who are vision-impaired rely on trust to get around in the world. During the holiday season, Two Blind Brothers then ran a campaign called “Shop Blind”, and pulled all the images from their website and products and added the question “Will You Shop Blind?” The Shop Blind experiment gave customers an option to pick from different price points, but they were not able to see what was being selected for them. Not only did the Shop Blind experiment raise money for retinal research, it also raised awareness to the experience of those who face obstacles due to vision impairment. Building trust builds your ability to connect and be social. When you can’t see, you automatically put yourself out there to become closer to others much faster. 38:41 - Getting To Know Our Guests You’ll think Brad and Bryan are even more impressive as you hear what they’d pick as their pump-up songs, the things no one would ever guess about them, and more. Of course, stay tuned to hear what it means to Brad and Bryan to run a business with purpose. Memorable Moments “We started with the full intention that this would empower folks who have a vision impairment or relate to facing challenges and making a social impact.” “Everyone in the world has their issue. It doesn’t make you better.” “There really is no growth without friction. You’re never going to really unlock your potential, creativity, assertiveness, resourcefulness unless you’re put in a position to challenge those things.” Meet Your Guests, Co-Founders, Two Blind Brothers Bradford and Bryan Manning are curing blindness! At a young age, both brothers were affected with Stargardt disease, a form of macular degeneration that destroys central vision over time. To fight back, they left their former careers in finance to start Two Blind Brothers. Within 1 year, they propelled the small charitable clothing company into one of the fastest growing brands in the country with endorsements from Ellen DeGeneres, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Branson, NBC Nightly News, and many others. Their luxury clothing project is focused on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch". The clothing is produced by a team of blind and visually-impaired workers in Dallas, Texas. Two Blind Brothers donates 100% of its profits to researchers and the Foundation Fighting Blindness to find cures for blindness. The funds from Two Blind Brothers are driving life-changing treatments that are already being used in patients such as “Voretigene Neparvovec”, a gene therapy developed by Spark Therapeutics. The brothers are evangelists for charitable and social enterprises. They were recently nominated to the Facebook Small Business Council for their use of social media to empower others and consult on branding, story-telling, corporate responsibility, and sustainable fashion. The brothers have also participated in various public speaking engagements, most notably two TEDx talks since founding the company. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, both brothers graduated from the University of Virginia. Bradford received a degree in finance and Bryan a degree in statistics. Prior to launching Two Blind Brothers in 2016, Bradford worked in investment management and Bryan worked in data sales. They currently live together in New York City.
That Blind Tech Show is out of the studio and washing their hands of this episode. Yes, actually we should have worn gloves while recording this one! Serina returns once again and Brian and Jeff flipped an accessible coin to see which one had to sit next to Serina. Let’s just say, Brian virtually loss. Amazon Prime, NFB2019 overviewed, Microsoft, American Printing House, Google, Aira and Two Blind Brothers make the scene and much much more as we dabbly doop a dooble along trying to make out which way we are headed. Well, the kids make sure we are off to a good start and the even encourage Brian to raise the bar. WayAround, Microsoft To Do App and the Bose Frames get a good solid and Marlon stops in at the studio late one night and splashes his audio onto the canvas as well. A Huge shout out goes out to T and B for there cameo appearances and letting us know that kids can play in more than just reindeer games, they can have a voice and we will make sure they are heard. So kick back and check out this serious no frills totally factually filled documentary about tech and nothing but tech to educate and discipline everyone into learning. Learn fast! Learn Fast! Ok, I am done. No more babble and on with the show. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy That Blind Tech Show as much as we enjoyed making the cast. Contact Thank you for listening. Send us Feedback via email Follow us on Twitter @BlindTechShow That Blind Tech Show is produced in part with Blind Abilities Network You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store. Get the Free blind Abilities App on the Google Play Store
That Blind Tech Show is out of the studio and washing their hands of this episode. Yes, actually we should have worn gloves while recording this one! Serina returns once again and Brian and Jeff flipped an accessible coin to see which one had to sit next to Serina. Let’s just say, Brian virtually loss. Amazon Prime, NFB2019 overviewed, Microsoft, American Printing House, Google, Aira and Two Blind Brothers make the scene and much much more as we dabbly doop a dooble along trying to make out which way we are headed. Well, the kids make sure we are off to a good start and the even encourage Brian to raise the bar. WayAround, Microsoft To Do App and the Bose Frames get a good solid and Marlon stops in at the studio late one night and splashes his audio onto the canvas as well. A Huge shout out goes out to T and B for there cameo appearances and letting us know that kids can play in more than just reindeer games, they can have a voice and we will make sure they are heard. So kick back and check out this serious no frills totally factually filled documentary about tech and nothing but tech to educate and discipline everyone into learning. Learn fast! Learn Fast! Ok, I am done. No more babble and on with the show. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy That Blind Tech Show as much as we enjoyed making the cast. Contact Thank you for listening. Send us Feedback via email Follow us on Twitter @BlindTechShow That Blind Tech Show is produced in part with Blind Abilities Network You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store. Get the Free blind Abilities App on the Google Play Store
Show Summary: Two Blind Brothers is more than just 2 Blind brothers, they are in business to cure blindness! Jeff Thompson meets up with Bradford and Brian from Two Blind Brothers. They produce some of the softest garments that one has ever felt and Jeff gives his nod of approval. After chatting with Bryan and focusing on the T-Shirts, Tanks and Hoodies, Jeff picked out a Jersey Style T with 3/4 length sleeves and Lori picked out a very nice Tank. Once you feel the fabric, you realize you are into something good and you know you want one. Brad and Bryan have been in business for over 4 years and donate 100 percent of the profits towards the cure of Blindness. You can find out more about Two Blind Brothers on the web. follow Two Blind Brothers on Facebook. Check them out on Twitter @TwoBlindBros And be sure to get some of the best feeling shirts you will ever feel! ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. To find your State Services in your State you can go to www.AFB.org and search the directory for your agency. Contact: Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Storeand Google Play Store. Check out the Blind Abilities Communityon Facebook, the Blind Abilities Page, the Career Resources for the Blind and Visually Impairedand the Assistive Technology Community for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
After an exciting year of shows, we check in with our very first interview ever! Bryan and Bradford chat about brand development and where a year of hustle has led their company Two Blind Brothers.
1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Mar. 27, 2019) Show Notes Two Blind Brothers makes ultra-soft clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research and being part of finding a cure. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with brothers and founders Bryan and Bradford Manning, who are both blind, about how … Continue reading 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Mar. 27, 2019) →
If you are an eCommerce seller you MUST, MUST, MUST nail the issue of product differentiation. What is it? It’s figuring out what makes your product different from the others in your marketplace. Why do you need to know that? Because it’s going to dictate everything about how you market, how you refer to your product, how you iterate on what you offer, and more. eComm sellers who do not figure out how to differentiate their product will struggle with sales and eventually wind up washing out - because it’s almost impossible to sell something that is generic. On this episode, I reveal the process I teach my students that will enable them to create their own USP (unique selling proposition). If you take the time required to do this work, you will never regret it. Product differentiation is a way to position yourself against the competition If you want a real-life illustration of why product differentiation is vital, go to Amazon right now and search for the terms your customers would use in search if they were interested in buying your product. Go ahead - do it! What you’ll see is that there are many, many sellers trying to sell products similar to yours. Here’s the question you have to ask yourself: “Why should anyone do business with you given all the choices available to them in the marketplace?” You have GOT to answer that question - and do so in a compelling way - if you are going to be the seller they choose to buy from. THAT is why you have to discover your USP. This episode walks you through the steps of identifying YOUR unique selling proposition. When you identify your USP (unique selling proposition), you’re trying to make an "apples to oranges" comparison. Buyers are naturally going to compare your product to the others in the market. That’s what shopping is all about. You want to help them make the comparison by highlighting the things about your product that make it different and unique. You’re giving them reasons to pick your product over others. Ultimately you want to de-commoditize your product. Make it stand apart so dramatically that the buyer is making a clear choice in favor of your product for a specific reason. It’s not a decision of choosing between different kinds of apples, it’s choosing oranges INSTEAD OF apples. Find out how to make your products stand out like that, on this episode. Start with a features and benefits list to identify your USP The first thing you want to do as you attempt to identify what differentiates your product from others is to get out a sheet of paper or to pull up a blank computer screen. What you’re about to create is something you will go back to over and over to refine your USP throughout the life of your product. So create it in a format you’ll keep and be able to reuse. Make a list of all the features and benefits of your product - every single one you can think of. If you have others on your team, pull them in on this process. Once your brain is sore from thinking, identify the ONE primary benefit of your product that is unique to it. You want to figure out how to showcase it - and the process of doing so won’t be easy. It will take time and lots of rephrasing of your statements to get it right, but don’t give up. The work you’re doing will be the lifeblood of your marketing and messaging. Once you have it, bake your USP into everything you do surrounding the product - from product descriptions to naming, to how you advertise it. You want customers to have no doubt about why your product is a clearly superior choice in the market. Here are some of the ways you could differentiate your product Brand value/authenticity/ingredients - this is something you see done all the time with food or health supplement products. Coors is a great example - made with Rocky Mountain Spring water. As far as I know, that’s something no other beer company is able to say. Mission - this is something that Two Blind Brothers does extremely well. They sell shirts, but they do so for one reason: their profits go to stamp out blindness. It’s a way to make your product stand for something beyond its benefits to the customer. Faith-based - many companies bake in a faith component to what they do. Chick-fil-A and In and Out Burger are overtly clear about being “Christian owned” companies. It’s an intentional decision that is important to them and many of the people they serve. Veteran-owned - if a company or product supplier says they are veteran-owned, they are appealing to those who care about the country or want to support others who have given a significant portion of their lives to defend it. The company’s owners are also communicating that they are hard-working, reliable, etc. Price - I put price last on this list because it’s very difficult to use effectively as a differentiator. The only way you can leverage it is to promise that you’ll always have the lowest price available - as Wal-Mart does - and you can only make that promise if you have a process in place that enables you to always have the lowest price. It’s hard to do when you’re one of the little guys. I cover even more ways you can leverage your UPS for product differentiation on this episode. And I offer a free video to you to help you dial in this process even more. Be sure you listen. Outline of This Episode [0:52] Why you always need to refine your fundamental propositions [4:24] You’ve heard of a USP (unique selling proposition), but what is yours? [5:25] The main thing to know about your USP [6:43] Use your USP as a way to showcase your primary benefit [8:59] Why you need to be careful about using price as a differentiator [10:10] Learn to turn on your radar to identify other product’s USP [13:32] Do you have a mission that can be used as a USP? [15:19] Using Membership as a powerful USP [17:35] What matters more than anything is that you DO this process Resources & People Mentioned bryan(at)ecomunderground.com - ask me and I’ll send the video training to you BOOK: Made in America Two Blind Brothers shirts (an example of mission as a USP) Connect With Bryan Bowman Bryan’s website: https://www.ecomunderground.com/ On Facebook Subscribe to Marketing For eCommerce on iTunes
The inaugural Facebook 3.5 Degrees podcast features Bryan and Bradford Manning of Two Blind Brothers, who created their t-shirt business from the start to donate 100% of their profits to help to retinal research to try and cure blindness. This mission hits close to home for them, as they both our legally blind due to having Stargardt disease since they were very young. Bryan and Bradford shared with me how they got started with the business, the central role their mission plays in it, and how by having philanthropy at the core of their business they’ve been able to raise over $300,000 dollars in the fight to find a cure for blindness – even as a startup.
When Blake Mycoskie created the game-changing buy-one-give-one business model for TOMS shoes, it spawned a slate of welcomed copycats. Running a company with a social mission, however, requires passion and a water-tight business model. In this episode, Mycoskie meets two brothers who started their own clothing company where all profits go towards blindness research. Three and a Half Degrees is an original podcast from Facebook. Follow along on Instagram and visit facebook.com/ThreeAndAHalfDegrees to learn more.
Remember that theory that everyone in the world is connected by just six degrees of separation? Well today, thanks to technology, three and a half degrees is all that stands between you, me... and anyone with an internet connection. Three and a Half Degrees is a new podcast from Facebook. Our first episode drops on January 14th: the founder of TOMS Shoes—Blake Mycoskie—sits down with the founders of Two Blind Brothers, two guys inspired by his work for social good. It’s filled with insight and lessons every business leader will want to hear. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts. Find out more at facebook.com/threeandahalfdegrees. #threeandahalfdegrees
Your Blind Poet Co-Host Creates Awareness for RP aka Retinitis Pigmentosa:The Blind Poet and Author of the Stand By Me RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) books, David Steele, is our latest co-host today. He is a proud ambassador for Henshaws and Two Blind Brothers, while raising awareness for those affected by sight loss. On This Episode You Will Hear:[spp-timestamp time="00:30"] Introduction [spp-timestamp time="01:00"] Internet performance issues and David's vocals as a singer and poet. [spp-timestamp time="11:30"] Sight loss, David's journey as his Retinitis Pigmentosa advances. He's not 100% blind yet but he has a guide dog and a long cane. [spp-timestamp time="28:00"] Being able to do simple things to create a massive difference. [spp-timestamp time="48:00"] The importance of his independence, his gym life, physical fitness, and more. [spp-timestamp time="57:50"] Final Words Quote Mentioned... - Quote [spp-tweet tweet="An Awareness Champion for Retinitis Pigmentosa. You Too Can LIVETHEFUEL! @Steele75 "] Watch On YouTube:[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_1nqXeHCGg] Co-Host Links and Resources: Visit Stand By Me RP (https://www.standbymerp.co.uk/) Follow David Steele on Twitter @Steele75 (https://twitter.com/Steele75) David Steele on Facebook @Steele75 (https://www.facebook.com/Steele75) Like Stand By Me RP Awareness on Facebook @StandByMeRP (https://www.facebook.com/StandByMeRP/) Join the Standy By Me RP Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/241611783179899/) Follow David Steele on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/steele75/) Mentioned Influencers:What are your eyes worth to you? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoBeg5rI08U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoBeg5rI08U) Deaf woman hears for the first time - Jo Milne - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyECCMdlVFo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyECCMdlVFo) The Blind Blogger Maxwell Ivey (http://theblindblogger.net/) Henshaws.org.uk (https://www.henshaws.org.uk/) TwoBlindBrothers.com (https://twoblindbrothers.com/) Final Words:David's closing Poem, listen in! "It's Okay To Be Scare, It's Okay To Be Afraid..." Action Steps: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/livethefuel/id1150969758?mt=2) . More 5 Stars reaches more people! Visit our (http://livethefuel.com/resources) page and a reminder to LIVE-THE-FUEL my friends! Join my private Facebook community (http://livethefueltank.com/) ! Follow on Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/steele75/)
We speak with brothers who started a clothing line to fund research in retinal eye disease and provide hope for others struggling with blindness The post Finding a Cure for Blindness: Brad & Bryan Manning of Two Blind Brothers appeared first on SEE Change Magazine.
Bryan and Bradford Manning were told they were going blind from an eye disease called Stargardt Disease when they were kids. I met up with them in NYC and talked with them about learning at an early age about their disease, what it was like growing up knowing you are losing eye sight, an attempt at driving, going on the Ellen Degeneres Show, dating, starting a clothing company designing clothes for the blind in mind and raising money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness and much more!!! Please Listen, Please Share, Please Enjoy!! Twitter @ejscott @EJPodcast website www.ejscott.com INSTAGRAM @ejscott1106 RUNNING BLIND Documentary available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Please review and rate the podcast on Twitter!
With 100% of their profits going to fund scientific research, Bradford and Bryan Manning design, source, produce and sell ultra-comfortable designer clothing to cure blindness. To succeed you must define and pursue your own success. A deceptively simple fact, too often it eludes us as we chase successes not our own. This series highlights stories and wisdom that inspire us to see success more clearly. Bradford and Bryan Manning are two brothers who share both blindness and a vision for a cure. Their thriving new company, "Two Blind Brothers," manufactures ultra-soft designer clothing from natural fibers, for the sole purpose of funding blindness research. 100% of their profits are donated to the effort. Feel good, look good, do good--all at the same time. That's their model, and it has been wildly successful. I caught up with Brad and Bryan for ewop-009, and we talked about their thriving venture, their vision of success, and life as blind entrepreneurs.
This episode is all about Nair, Oscar nominations & why you should not try to impress your relatives with dance moves. This week we interviewed Bradford & Bryan Manning, the founders of Two Blind Brothers, a clothing company based in New York City. All profits from Two Blind Brothers go to finding a cure for blindness. Learn more: https://www.wedandwoke.com/blog/twoblindbrothers
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
