Blindsight

By AftersightAlternative Health Health & Fitness Mental Health

Blindsight episodes

September 18 Understanding Trauma in Vision Loss: Dr. Brittany Adams Yee
Episode Summary
Bill Lundgren is joined by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Brittany Adams Yee for a conversation about medical trauma, disability adjustment, therapy, and self-advocacy.
They discuss how people who are blind or visually impaired can experience trauma not only from illness or vision loss itself, but also from being dismissed or misunderstood by medical and mental health professionals. Dr. Adams Yee also explores autonomy, family dynamics, grief, dependency, and the importance of recognizing that disability may create limitations without removing a person’s ability to make meaningful choices about their life.
Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Dr. Brittany Adams Yee
Producer: Jonathan Price
Podcast: Blindsight
Produced by: Aftersight
Contact Information
Aftersight
Website: aftersight.org
Dr. Brittany Adams Yee
Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois and Colorado
Specialties discussed in this episode include trauma, medical trauma, disability adjustment, complex PTSD, and mental health concerns related to disability.
47 min
March 06 Kim Wardlow: The Journey Behind Aftersight
1) Episode Summary
In this special Aftersight Original, Kim Wardlow shares the personal story behind her leadership and the road that led her to become Executive Director of Aftersight. She reflects on growing up in Lamar, Colorado, her early love for creativity, 4-H, cooking, service, travel, and the many work experiences that quietly prepared her for nonprofit leadership.
Kim walks listeners through pivotal moments in her life—from studying abroad in Scotland and working internationally, to volunteering at what was then Radio Reading Service of the Rockies, to unexpectedly finding both her calling and her husband through the organization. She also shares how Aftersight has evolved over the years from volunteer-read programming into a wider community-centered organization offering podcasts, peer support, book club, white canes, and more.
This episode is both a personal milestone and a mission-centered reflection. As Kim celebrates her 60th birthday and approaches 25 years with Aftersight, she invites listeners to see the deeper heart behind the organization: building community, increasing independence, and creating meaningful access for people who are blind, low vision, deafblind, or in need of alternatives to print. The episode closes with an invitation to support Aftersight’s work through her birthday giving campaign.
2) Contact Info
Guest / Organization:
Kim Wardlow — Executive Director, Aftersight
Aftersight website: aftersight.org
Birthday campaign / donations: Visit the donate page at aftersight.org
Aftersight:
Aftersight Originals network featuring Navigating Life with Vision Loss, The Blind Chick, Blindsight, and Blind Level Tech

Producer Credit:
Jonathan Price — Podcast Producer, Aftersight
3) Show Credits
Special Aftersight Original
Featuring Kim Wardlow
Opening by Jonathan Price
Produced by Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight
4) Chapter Markers
00:00 — Jonathan’s welcome and special Aftersight introduction
00:53 — Kim introduces herself, Aftersight, and the reason for sharing her story
03:14 — Childhood in Lamar, creativity, 4-H, and early PBS dreams
05:38 — Learning leadership, service, and community values
08:03 — Solar panels, first jobs, and developing a strong work ethic
10:28 — College, Scotland, travel, and broadening her world
12:54 — Early professional life, proposal writing, and service work
15:14 — Volunteering with Radio Reading Service and working at GE Access
17:37 — Friendship, snowshoeing, travel, and a season of transition
20:02 — Layoff, September 2001, and joining Radio Reading Service
22:21 — Meeting Doug, discovering purpose, and seeing the bigger calling
24:43 — Outreach across Colorado, music, and the value of volunteers
27:04 — How Aftersight expanded into podcasts, groups, and broader services
29:29 — Leadership, rebrand, relocation, and adapting through COVID
31:44 — Community, connection, and why the work matters
34:07 — Life purpose, independence, and the mission behind Aftersight
36:31 — Kim’s birthday campaign and invitation to support Aftersight
38 min
December 19, 2025From Darkness to Direction: How Jordan Hankins Turned Vision Loss into a New Life Vision
1. Episode Summary
In this episode of Blindsight, host Bill Lundgren sits down with guest Jordan Hankins to talk honestly about progressive vision loss, mental health, and rebuilding a meaningful life after everything seems to fall apart. Jordan shares how a teenage diagnosis didn’t fully land until, years later, a follow-up appointment made it clear that her vision was truly deteriorating—and that blindness was no longer hypothetical. That realization launched her into months of deep depression, grief, and questions about whether life was worth living without sight.
From there, Jordan walks listeners through how she slowly began to choose life again: solo traveling to Thailand, moving to a walkable town in Mexico, radically focusing on health and detox, and reshaping her real estate career to fit the reality of not driving. She and Bill talk about the power of grief, the danger of staying in the dark too long, and the shift from “Why me?” to “What can I build from here?”
The conversation digs into meditation, seasons of surrender and fight, learning to advocate for yourself, and the complicated role of friends and family who want to help but don’t always know how. Jordan reflects on “losing vision but gaining vision” for her life—discovering that blindness became the catalyst to live with intention, compassion, and courage. The episode closes with an invitation to listeners to move toward the light, even if it’s just one small step at a time.
2. Contact Info
Guest – Jordan Hankins
Real estate professional and mental health advocate navigating progressive vision loss.
For inquiries or to connect with Jordan, please reach out through Aftersight’s helpline:
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Email: [email protected]
Website: aftersight.org

3. Show Credits

Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Jordan Hankins
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
A Blindsight episode, an Aftersight Original Podcast

4. Chapter Markers

00:00 – Welcome to Blindsight and today’s focus on adjusting to blindness
02:22 – Jordan’s teenage diagnosis and early misunderstanding of her condition
04:41 – Field-vision tests, shock, and falling into a deep depression
06:58 – Choosing to live fully: solo travel, bucket lists, and reclaiming independence
09:20 – Career disruption, quitting a job she hated, and giving herself permission to change
14:15 – Rethinking real estate: doing the work she loves without driving
19:01 – Seasons of fighting vs. surrendering and finding humor in vision loss
23:46 – What Jordan can see now and why closed-eye practices feel calmer
28:26 – Grief beyond bereavement: therapy, dark seasons, and being truly seen
37:25 – The “joy list,” sound baths, and discovering meditation as a way through pain
46:46 – “Losing vision, gaining vision”: reframing blindness as a catalyst, not a curse
53:53 – Remembering everyone is carrying something: compassion for self and others
58:38 – Final encouragement: choosing light over darkness and moving forward on your own terms
1 hr 1 min
November 21, 2025 Sharing Your Story With the World -- Bethany Joy Boring
Part 4 of the “Telling Your Story” series explores the moment after you’ve shared your story with a few trusted people—and what it takes to move from private courage to public confidence. Bill and Bethany dive into shame, identity, pride, and the fear of “sticking out,” unpacking how those internal battles shape the way people with blindness show up in the world.
The conversation moves through humor, hard truths, and deeply human stories—from awkward cane moments and guide-dog pride to skydiving, kitchen mishaps, and falling off stages. Bill reflects on learning to speak to thousands without knowing it, and Bethany shares the tension of wanting to inspire but not wanting to be an “inspiration story.”
Together, they break down:
Why sharing your story helps you reclaim your identity
How to deal with misunderstanding, awkward interactions, and unwanted “help”
Why shame often shows up for blind and low-vision people—and how to push back
The difference between doing life differently and being “less than”
How humor becomes a powerful tool to open people up
Why everyday moments—helping your kids with homework, hiking with a guide dog, navigating a picnic—are the real stages you stand on
Why connecting with others who “get it” matters to your confidence and resilience
This episode encourages listeners to embrace their story, share it boldly (even when it’s uncomfortable), and recognize that everyday courage creates real change.
Contact Info
Guest / Co-Host
Bethany Joy Boring
Aftersight
Website: aftersight.org
Email for guest inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 720-712-8856
Producer Credits
Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer at Aftersight.
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Co-Host: Bethany Joy Boring
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Opening & Recap of the Series
01:48 — Sharing Your Story Beyond Close Friends
03:50 — Hurtful Comments, Vulnerability, and Identity
05:30 — Humor as a Tool for Comfort and Connection
07:48 — Finding Language to Explain Vision Loss
09:40 — Bill’s Early Podcast Nerves & Learning New Tech
11:30 — Realizing Your Story Reaches the World
13:00 — Shame, Pride, and “Doing Things Differently”
15:20 — Basketball, Muscle Memory & Challenging Assumptions
17:45 — Everyday Moments as Your “Podium”
20:10 — Cane Shame, Guide Dogs & Accepting Visibility
22:39 — Advocating for Yourself Without Apology
24:20 — Pain, Triumphs & Why Both Matter
26:25 — Hikes, Helpfulness & When Others Get in the Way
28:40 — The Universal Language of Struggle
30:15 — Using Technology to Connect With Family
32:10 — Educating the Public (Even When You’re Tired)
34:00 — Healthy Boundaries, “Hug Reflex,” and Self-Advocacy
36:10 — Building a Circle That Stays at the Table
38:00 — Everyday Courage & Living Life Differently
41:05 — Closing Reflections on Storytelling and Connection
50 min
November 14, 2025 Shut Up (Kindly) and Listen: Active Listening, Safe Storytelling, and Communication in the Blind Community
Episode Summary
This episode of Blindsight takes a deep dive into one of the most essential yet difficult skills in mental and emotional health: active listening. Host Bill Lundgren and returning guest-turned-co-host Bethany Joy Boring explore how silence, curiosity, and emotional safety shape meaningful connection—especially within the blind and low-vision community, where non-visual cues and communication dynamics differ from the sighted world.
Bill and Bethany demonstrate a live role-play showing how quickly conversation can derail when someone asserts dominance, makes assumptions, or stops listening. They break down the moment tension begins, the bodily sensations that signal emotional shifts, and the way triggers—both spoken and unspoken—shape responses.
Listeners learn:
Why silence can be a powerful connector rather than something to fear
How to approach storytelling only with people who feel safe
How to gently redirect when someone interrupts, overpowers, or shifts the focus
The emotional cost of constantly “filling space” when you are blind or hard of hearing
How to identify your “marble jar people” (those who can hold your real story)
The importance of permission: knowing when someone wants listening, guidance, or simply presence
This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human—offering strategies for better communication, better boundaries, and better emotional awareness.
Contact Info
Guest / Co-Host
Bethany Joy Boring — Mental Health Consultant & Author
Aftersight
Website: aftersight.org
Feedback & questions: [email protected]
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Producer
Jonathan Price — Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
[email protected]
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Co-Host: Bethany Joy Boring
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
4) Chapter Markers
00:00 — Opening & Topic Introduction
01:12 — Why Active Listening Is Hard Today
02:40 — Role-Play: When Communication Breaks Down
04:52 — Identifying the Moment Tension Begins
07:18 — How Body Signals Warn Us Early
09:40 — Practicing Awareness Before Hard Conversations
12:14 — The Listener’s Job: Curiosity, Not Assumption
14:22 — Staying Calm When Conversations Escalate
16:47 — How Vocabulary Changes Emotional Tone
18:56 — Safety, Storytelling, and Permission
21:11 — “I’m With You”: The Power of Silent Presence
23:18 — Bill’s Example: Silence as Support
25:32 — Why Silence Scares Us
27:46 — Protecting Yourself When You Can’t See/Hear
30:05 — When Pretending to Be OK Becomes Default
32:31 — How to Ask: “Do You Want Listening or Advice?”
34:53 — Not Everyone Is a Safe Person, and That’s OK
36:58 — Responding When Someone Minimizes Your Story
39:22 — Setting Boundaries Gently
41:32 — You Don’t Have to Stay in Unsafe Conversations
43:54 — Circles of Intimacy & “Marble Jar People”
46:16 — Sharing Vulnerability Only With the Right People
48:14 — Your Story Matters
50:40 — Closing Reflections & Next Episode Teaser
53 min
November 07, 2025 Storytime for Grown-Ups: Who’s Safe to Listen? Bethany Joy Boring Episode 2
Episode Summary
Part Two moves from private reflection to sharing your story with someone else. Bill and Bethany cover how to choose a slice of your story, when to share, and how to assess whether a listener is safe. They model practical tactics: make the story linear by writing or recording, start imperfectly, use an “appreciation anchor” to regulate when emotions spike, and share in proportion to the relationship’s intimacy. They introduce the “Four S’s” for evaluating safe listeners (Seen, Safe, Secure, Soothing) and demonstrate how to ask for what you need (“do you want suggestions or listening?”). Exercise 2 focuses on identifying safe people and practicing gratitude with one of them.
Exercise 2 — Defining Safe People (on-air reference)
Purpose: Identify people who can hold your story without judgment.
Steps:
• List three people you talk to most often.
• For each, note: Do they listen without fixing? Do they respect confidentiality? Do I feel calmer afterward?
• Rank them for emotional safety.
• Pick one and thank them for being a safe presence.
Reflection: “What qualities make me feel safest — and how can I model them?”
Contact Info
Guest: Bethany Joy Boring — Speaker, coach, group facilitator
Aftersight: aftersight.org | [email protected] | (720) 712-8856
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight — [email protected]
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Bethany Joy Boring
Series: Blindsight — Telling Your Story
Production: Aftersight Originals
Producer: Jonathan Price
Recording and post: Aftersight Audio Team
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Cold open and setup
02:24 — Pick a slice: what and why to share
04:44 — Permission to start imperfectly
06:44 — From circular thoughts to linear drafts
09:08 — Choose a safe place to create
11:32 — Naming emotions; IFS curiosity over control
13:51 — You decide pace and boundaries
16:17 — Body as protector; respecting limits
18:29 — Perspective shifts over time
20:16 — Imagery, low vision, and getting “unstuck”
22:41 — Appreciation anchor as safety net
25:03 — Right-size the share for the relationship
27:32 — Levels of intimacy as guide rails
31:43 — The Four S’s: Seen, Safe, Secure, Soothing
34:47 — Rehearsing stories builds resilience
37:01 — Authenticity on stage and in life
39:30 — Fixing vs listening; set expectations
41:55 — The power of shared silence
43:47 — Validate first; advice later
46:11 — Ask for what you need explicitly
48:13 — Model the behavior you want
50:13 — Practice listening; it’s a skill
53:44 — Vulnerability with progressive loss
56:09 — Invite others into your story
57:58 — Final takeaways and next steps
60:08 — Outro and resources
1 hr 2 min
October 31, 2025 Telling Your Story with Bethany Joy Boring
Bill Lundgren and guest Bethany Joy Boring open a four-part series on how to tell your story. They frame why full-life “from birth to now” dumps overwhelm, and why starting with one scene creates safety and clarity. Bill shares turning points in hearing and vision loss, including the friend who told him the truth and stayed present. Bethany shows how hiding burns energy and blocks connection, how to choose safe listeners, and how adaptive skills become a communication superpower. They outline practical guardrails: begin with one moment, notice body cues, set relational boundaries, and take one small step today.
Contact Info
Guest: Bethany Joy Boring, mental health consultant and author.
Aftersight: [email protected]
| (720) 712-8856
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Bethany Joy Boring
Producer: Jonathan Price
Recording & Post: Aftersight Originals
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Opening and series setup
02:26 — Bethany’s origin and the 20-minute story frame
04:49 — “Start with a scene,” not a saga
07:15 — Bill’s hearing message: “try harder”
09:18 — The energy cost of hiding
11:19 — Naming fear of others’ reactions
13:24 — The truth-telling friend and a career pivot
15:39 — Walking with allies vs. walking alone
18:03 — Professional identity and disclosure
20:21 — Adaptive storytelling as a superpower
22:38 — Selecting safe people, not boxes
25:03 — Asking for help without shame
27:27 — Play, humor, and dignity at home
29:43 — Safety checks before sharing
32:03 — Boundaries, pacing, and “workout soreness”
34:12 — The raw-egg test for trust
36:36 — Reciprocity: listen as you share
38:46 — Journaling when writing is hard
41:06 — Start small and adaptable
43:32 — Be selective; avoid relational poison
45:55 — Radical acceptance, defined and disliked
48:19 — One small action before you hit stop
Exercise 1 — The Mirror Story
Purpose: Start healing by safely naming what’s real.
Steps:
Choose a quiet moment.
Write or record your personal story of loss or change.
Add one line beginning with: “The part of my story I’ve avoided saying out loud is…”
When finished, set it aside for 24 hours before reading or replaying it.
On review, mark any sentences that made you pause, tear up, or smile.
Reflection Prompt: “What truth did my body recognize before my mind did?”
49 min
October 15, 2025 When Tech Fails: The Human Impact of Unmet Expectations
1 min
October 14, 2025 Fireworks in Your Eyeballs (Some Assembly Required)
Bill Lundgren interviews Lily Turkstra, a PhD researcher at UC Santa Barbara, on the realities of visual prostheses. They unpack who qualifies, what “seeing” with phosphenes is like, how training works, and why expectation-setting and mental health support are critical. Takeaways: current implants provide rudimentary perception, not natural vision; outcomes vary; support systems and rehab matter; independence gains are possible but individualized; clinicians and families must align on expectations.
Contact Info
Guest resources: bionic-vision.org (lab hub), bionicvision.org (lab site)
Aftersight: (720) 712-8856 • [email protected]
• aftersight.org
Producer: Jonathan Price • [email protected]
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Lily, PhD researcher, UCSB (Bionic Vision)
Producer: Jonathan Price
Editor/Mix: Aftersight Audio Team
A production of Aftersight
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Why prosthetics in blindness matters
01:10 — Guest intro: Lily’s path to bionic vision
02:22 — From auditory perception to NASA to face blindness
03:40 — Who qualifies for visual implants
05:05 — Argus II and early devices
07:06 — What users actually “see”: phosphenes
08:20 — Learning a new visual language
09:30 — Daily-life integration vs lab outcomes
10:45 — Setting expectations for users and families
12:05 — Trade-offs: adaptation vs frustration
14:10 — What recognition is possible today
15:30 — Rehab and training workflows
16:37 — Practical home practice examples
18:10 — Community, altruism, and trial motivation
19:45 — Device limits vs “personal failure”
21:23 — External pressure and mental health
22:40 — “Change your life” claims, defined
23:51 — Independence as the real metric
25:10 — Measuring success outside the lab
27:10 — Family dynamics and letting go
30:01 — Finding peers and support
32:18 — Access barriers and consistency of care
34:25 — Integrating the device back into life
36:30 — Therapy and anxiety considerations
38:48 — Pre-implant psychological screening
41:18 — Whole-person fit and timing
43:40 — Research vs user expectations gap
46:01 — Co-design with users
48:23 — Why structured support groups would help
49:01 — Where to find trials and teams
51:28 — Resource sharing for the public
53:51 — Summary: useful, not universal; mindset matters
56:18 — Closing and resources recap
58 min
October 14, 2025 Fireworks in Your Eyeballs (Some Assembly Required)
Bill Lundgren interviews Lily Turkstra, a PhD researcher at UC Santa Barbara, on the realities of visual prostheses. They unpack who qualifies, what “seeing” with phosphenes is like, how training works, and why expectation-setting and mental health support are critical. Takeaways: current implants provide rudimentary perception, not natural vision; outcomes vary; support systems and rehab matter; independence gains are possible but individualized; clinicians and families must align on expectations.
Contact Info
Guest resources: bionic-vision.org (lab hub), bionicvision.org (lab site)
Aftersight: (720) 712-8856 • [email protected]
• aftersight.org
Producer: Jonathan Price • [email protected]
Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Lily, PhD researcher, UCSB (Bionic Vision)
Producer: Jonathan Price
Editor/Mix: Aftersight Audio Team
A production of Aftersight
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Why prosthetics in blindness matters
01:10 — Guest intro: Lily’s path to bionic vision
02:22 — From auditory perception to NASA to face blindness
03:40 — Who qualifies for visual implants
05:05 — Argus II and early devices
07:06 — What users actually “see”: phosphenes
08:20 — Learning a new visual language
09:30 — Daily-life integration vs lab outcomes
10:45 — Setting expectations for users and families
12:05 — Trade-offs: adaptation vs frustration
14:10 — What recognition is possible today
15:30 — Rehab and training workflows
16:37 — Practical home practice examples
18:10 — Community, altruism, and trial motivation
19:45 — Device limits vs “personal failure”
21:23 — External pressure and mental health
22:40 — “Change your life” claims, defined
23:51 — Independence as the real metric
25:10 — Measuring success outside the lab
27:10 — Family dynamics and letting go
30:01 — Finding peers and support
32:18 — Access barriers and consistency of care
34:25 — Integrating the device back into life
36:30 — Therapy and anxiety considerations
38:48 — Pre-implant psychological screening
41:18 — Whole-person fit and timing
43:40 — Research vs user expectations gap
46:01 — Co-design with users
48:23 — Why structured support groups would help
49:01 — Where to find trials and teams
51:28 — Resource sharing for the public
53:51 — Summary: useful, not universal; mindset matters
56:18 — Closing and resources recap
58 min

About Blindsight

From the publisher's feed

Blindsight explores life through a different lens—sharing real conversations at the intersection of blindness, mental health, relationships, and personal growth. Hosted by Bill Lundgren, each episode spotlights lived experience, hard-won resilience, and the moments people don’t always know how to talk about out loud. From navigating family dynamics and identity to battling anxiety, depression, or addiction—and finding traction again—Blindsight makes space for honesty, hope, and practical perspective. With compelling guests and real-life stories, it’s a podcast for anyone who wants to understand more deeply, feel less alone, and keep moving forward—one brave conversation at a time.