Show overview
Blind Abilities has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 105 episodes. That works out to roughly 50 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 15 min and 34 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 weeks ago, with 25 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 63 episodes published. Published by BlindAbilities Team.
From the publisher
Blind Abilities: Podcasts with a Blindness Perspective.
Latest Episodes
View all 105 episodesCareer Climb: Building Confidence, Careers, and Independence for the Future
From Possibility to Pathway: Building Futures Through Pre-ETS
NVDA Coach: From First Keystroke to Confidence—A Free Tool Changing How NVDA Is Learned
Blind Abilities – the Musical No. 5: When the Screen Spoke Back to Me – Curiosity, Confidence, and Accessible Tech
No Limits to Learning: A Summer Program That Builds Independence
Curiosity Opens the Door: Louie McGee’s Journey from Minnesota to Law School
Podcast Summary: What does it take to step beyond comfort and truly build independence? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Louie McGee shares his journey from Minnesota to law school in Chicago, proving that curiosity—not perfection—is the real key to success. Born with Stargardt’s, Louie doesn’t just adapt—he explores. From completing a triathlon and rafting […]
Aira Goes Wearable Again: Unlocking Freedom with Meta Glasses
Podcast Summary: Aira is stepping into a new era of accessibility with hands-free support through Meta smart glasses, and Jenine Stanley joins Jeff Thompson to break it all down. With the latest update to the Aira Explorer app, users can now connect directly to Meta glasses and access visual interpreting services with a simple voice […]
New Language, New Opportunities: Unlocking Independence Through English Learning with Abbi Mayland
Podcast Summary: What if learning English could open the door to independence, education, and meaningful work? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson sits down with English Language Learning specialist Abbi Mayland from State Services for the Blind of Minnesota. Abbi shares how she helps students who are blind, DeafBlind, or low vision — […]
Wellness Wednesday: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Confidence — And Yes, Those Are Cute Shoes
Podcast Summary: What’s the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence—and why does something as simple as a pair of shoes sometimes spark the conversation? In this Wellness Wednesday episode, Beth, Robin, and Jeff explore how the way we present ourselves can shape how we feel on the inside. From compliments and comments to personal style choices, […]
Riding the Future: Inside Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox Autonomous Rides with Kevin Chao
Podcast Summary: In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff welcomes Kevin Chao, an early adopter who has taken more than 60 rides in autonomous vehicles across San Francisco and Austin. Kevin shares his firsthand experiences riding in Tesla RoboTaxis, Waymo vehicles, and Amazon’s new Zoox autonomous vehicle—built from the ground up with no steering wheel […]
Honor Judy, Protect 504: Why Awareness and Advocacy Matter Right Now
Podcast summary: What happens when the foundation of disability rights is challenged? In this powerful conversation, Jeff Thompson welcomes back disability advocate and Villanova graduate Kaleigh Brendle to talk about the growing legal challenge to Section 504—one of the most important civil rights protections for people with disabilities. Kaleigh explains how recent lawsuits could weaken […]
Blind Abilities – The Musical: More Than One Way To Be Blind
Podcast Summary: In Episode 4 of Blind Abilities – The Musical, Lori, Christina, Pete, and Jeff explore the strength and diversity found within the blind and low vision community by highlighting two major national organizations serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Inspired by the spirit of Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary War pamphlets—written to encourage […]
More Than a Diagnosis: Seeing Hope with Dr. Suleiman Alibhai & the Prevention of Blindness Society
Podcast Summary: In this episode, Jeff travels to the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington to meet CEO Caren Forsten and Dr. Suleiman Alibhai, the organization’s low vision clinical director—and the conversation leaves him feeling something that can be hard to come by after years of appointments: real hope. Dr. Alibhai isn’t focused only […]
From Classroom to Career — Josh Subhan’s Internship Journey
Podcast Summary: Josh Subhan shares a real-world look at how internships can open doors from college to career. As a University of Minnesota grad who is turning his internship at Metro Transit into a full-time job, Josh breaks down what internships are, when to start applying, and how the process actually works. He walks through finding […]
Fear Less – Do More! Envision Blind Sports Is Here!
Podcast Summary: Envision Blind Sports is expanding to Minnesota—and that means more chances for blind and low vision youth to move, compete, and discover what they’re capable of. In this episode, Jeff talks with Minnesota Regional Manager Ricky Ties and Program Director Jillian Stringfellow about how adaptive sports build confidence, independence, and real community. From wrestling, […]
Wellness Wednesday: How are You? I’m Fine. Hmmm. Exploring Inclusion, Belonging, and the deep human need to be Seen and Heard
Podcast Summary: In this Wellness Wednesday conversation, Beth Gustin, Robin Ennis, and Jeff Thompson slow things down to ask a deceptively simple question: what does “I’m fine” really mean? From aging and identity shifts to vision loss, assisted living, and feeling quietly pushed to the sidelines, the group digs into the unspoken grief that can […]
Blind Abilities – The Musical: From K–12 to College and Careers, Finding Your Voice
Podcast Summary: Episode Three of Blind Abilities – The Musical explores what it really means to find your voice as you move from K–12 into college and on toward a career. The three acts set the theme, but the heart of the episode lives in the conversation—real stories about IEPs, learning to speak up in […]
College Readiness Workshop: Mastering Time Management
Podcast Summary: If you’re a blind or low-vision high school student heading to college, this College Readiness Workshop from State Services for the Blind of Minnesota breaks time management into a simple system you can actually use. Tou Yang and the SSB transition team talk with students about setting clear goals, knowing your “why” (motivation), […]
From Gestures to Jobs: Learning Assistive Tech That Actually Matters
Learning assistive technology isn’t just about memorizing shortcuts—it’s about building skills that open doors to school, work, and everyday life. In this episode, Cheryl McIntosh and Sree Roy share how mastering screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver can turn frustration into confidence. They break down why fundamentals matter, how learning why something works makes […]
Blind Abilities – The Musical: O&M and the Scarlet letter B
Blind Abilities – The Musical: O&M and the Scarlet Letter B explores the deeply personal moment when a white cane shifts from symbol to tool, from stigma to freedom. Through music, storytelling, and candid conversation, the episode traces the emotional arc of orientation and mobility—hesitation, acceptance, learning, and momentum. The songs frame lived experiences many […]