iCantCU Podcast

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast I talk about appearing on Empowerment Zone on WWDB-AM along with White Canes Connect co-host Lisa Bryant. We talked about blind etiquette, our blind backstories, and the White Canes Connect podcast.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/165

White Canes Connect On Empowerment Zone

Lisa and I were featured live on a segment of the show on WWDB-AM. Wendy Davis, a co-host of Empowerment Zone had recently appeared on an episode of White Canes Connect for the work she does at PATF (https://www.PATF.us) Thanks to Reggie and Wendy for having us on and giving us the opportunity to tell our story.

What Is White Canes Connect

White Canes Connect is a podcast presented by the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. The show shines a spotlight on blind and visually impaired Pennsylvanians and what is important to them. The podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and IHeartRadio.

My Podcast Gear

Here is all my new 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
• Gator Frameworks Desk Mounted Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3AjJuBK
• Senheiser Headset (1st 162 episodes): https://amzn.to/3fM0Hu0 

Support Keystone Chapter

Please make a donation to the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Pennsylvania by going to http://www.SupportKeystoneChapter.org.. Scroll down to the text field and enter the amount  you’d like to donate. Payments are handled by PayPal, but you don’t need a PayPal account. You can make a donation with any credit or debit card. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about the difficulties I’ve run into after updating my MacOS. Fortunately, I’m learning VoiceOver and that has helped read all the pop-up boxes. I also talk of my extreme over-use of the phrase you-know and ask for help on how to break that habit.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/164

Updating To The Latest MacOS

I had been told that I was five operating systems behind. I finally decided to update the OS when I tried to load Adobe Audition on my iMac, but couldn’t due to the old OS.

No iTunes In New MacOS

I knew that Apple was doing away with iTunes, but was still shocked when I went to add the ID3 Tags using iTunes and it was no where to be found on my computer. That was part of my workflow when creating a podcast episode since episode 001. Now I had to find another way. That caused a 24 hour delay in publishing episode 163.

Would a Voice Coach Help

I have noticed since the fall that I say you-know frequently. Very frequently. It drives me crazy while editing an episode. I say it so often that it probably adds an hour to editing.

My Podcast Gear

Here is all my new 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
• Gator Frameworks Desk Mounted Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3AjJuBK
• Senheiser Headset (1st 162 episodes): https://amzn.to/3fM0Hu0 

Support Keystone Chapter

Please make a donation to the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Pennsylvania by going to http://www.SupportKeystoneChapter.org.. Scroll down to the text field and enter the amount  you’d like to donate. Payments are handled by PayPal, but you don’t need a PayPal account. You can make a donation with any credit or debit card. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

Bailing Out Studio B

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about minor flooding in Studio B that could’ve ended badly with the electric space heater on the floor in the water while it was running.  I also talk about my glaucoma appointment that prompted a surgery consult with my cornea specialist.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/163

First Episode Recorded on Zoom Podtrak P4

After 162 eousides, I finally recorded an new equipment! How do I sound?

New Podcast Equipment

Here is all my new 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
• Gator Frameworks Desk Mounted Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3AjJuBK
• Senheiser Headset (1st 162 episodes): https://amzn.to/3fM0Hu0 

Support Keystone Chapter

Please make a donation to the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Pennsylvania by going to http://www.SupportKeystoneChapter.org.. Scroll down to the text field and enter the amount  you’d like to donate. Payments are handled by PayPal, but you don’t need a PayPal account. You can make a donation with any credit or debit card. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk with blind snowboarder Emily Trepanier about how she got started snowboarding and her dream of competing in the Paralympics. We also talk about her new podcast Shredding For Gold, where you can follow her journey from practice to podium.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/162

Emily’s Journey

Emily began snowboarding after her ski guide was injured. It led her to move across Canada from Ontario to British Columbia for training. Next stop Beijing or Milan.

More About Emily

Learn more about Emily at https://www.teamstarfish.ca. The Shredding For Gold Podcast website is at https://www.shreddingforgold.com . You can email Emily at [email protected].

Para Snowboard

Para snowboard became a sport in the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. There are three disciplines: Snowboard Cross, Bank Slalom, and Giant slalom. This year’s Paralympics are in Beijing from 3/4-3/13, just after the Olympics. Find out more about the Paralympics at https://www.paralympic.org.

Support Keystone Chapter

Please make a donation to the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Pennsylvania by going to http://www.SupportKeystoneChapter.org.. Scroll down to the text field and enter the amount  you’d like to donate. Payments are handled by PayPal, but you don’t need a PayPal account. You can make a donation with any credit or debit card. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about learning VoiceOver on my iMac from ABFL Commissioner Brian Fischler. I have tried learning it before, but I never really got it. Working with Brian has given me more confidence than I’ve ever had with it. I also talk about my use of medical marijuana for my psoriatic arthritis.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/161

Learning VoiceOver

VoiceOver on an iMac is very different than an iPhone or iPad. There is no dragging your finger around the screen to find what you are looking for. There is, however, a whole lot of key combinations you’ve got to memorize to successfully use your computer.

All-Blind Fantasy League Champion Crowned

The All-Blind Fantasy Football champion is Brian! His Astoria Knights beat Frank’s Pug Posse to win this year’s title. Watch how the season kicked off in this Yahoo documentary short.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast I talk about several items, including how I needed to look for an alternative solution to manage my psoriatic arthritis after my insurance company or specialty pharmacy wouldn’t sign off on my expensive prescription refill. And listen for something you should never say to a blind person in this week’s Blind People For Dummies tip.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/160

Will Medical Marijuana Help

I am hopeful that it does help. I need to try something to manage the pain from psoriatic arthritis. I will report back over the coming weeks.

Kudos To MasterCard For MasterCard Touch

Did you see the news about MasterCard Touch? Their new credit cards will have notches on the side of the card so that blind and visually impaired cardholders will be able to feel what credit card they’re using.

All Blind Fantasy League Final Set

Pug Posse will square off with Astoria Knights in this season’s league championship. The Pugs came back to beat Where’s Huddles, while the Knights sent perennial champ Montreal Beavers packing. Watch the documentary short by Yahoo! On the league at https://www.iCantCU.com/football.

Support The NFB Of PA Keystone Chapter

Support the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind Of Pennsylvania by going to http://www.SupportKeystoneChapter.org and making a donation. We appreciate your donation.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about our annual Christmas visit to Saint Lucy School For Children With Visual Impairments to bring gifts and treats from the Keystone Chapter of the NFB of PA. It is always great to see the kids and their genuine excitement. A few days before our scheduled visit, I was worried we were going to have to cancel.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/159

Gifts For All The Students

This year, the Keystone Chapter was able to purchase UNO, Connect Four and other games and puzzles specifically made for the blind and visually impaired. The kids all seemed happy with their gifts. It was so much fun watching them rip the wrapping paper off.

Support The Keystone Chapter

We are able to provide all of these gifts thanks to donations and from our fundraisers throughout the year. If you’d like to make a donation to the Keystone Chapter, please go to SupportKeystoneChapter.org. We really appreciate it!

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about some good things and some bad things in iOS 15. At this point, the good out weigh the bad, but I’ve only been using the update for a few days. I also talk about the Keystone Chapter Christmas Party at the Penn Museum immediately following our monthly meeting. We also celebrated the chapter’s 30th anniversary.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/158

Huge Benefit Of iOS 15

I was a little slow updating to the new operating system. I always like to wait in case there are any major issues. Now that I have, I love the OCR features in photos. If there is any text in your image, VoiceOver will read it to you.

Inaccessible Email Now More Accessible

Shame on all those large companies that send out inaccessible email. I’m talking to you American Express, Eddie Bauer, Hilton, Outback Steakhouse, and, well, I could go on forever. With iOS 15, all those companies that refuse to use the alt tags properly in their email images get a little help. VoiceOver will now read most, if not all, text that is part of an image, in addition to saying what photo elements are in the image.

Keystone Chapter Christmas Party

It was so nice to be with so many Keystone Chapter members at our Christmas party. There was plenty of food and tons of fun. It was the first time in nearly two years that so many of us had all been together. In fact, we even got to meet newer members IRL for the first time.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about descriptive audio for movies and tv shows. Some services are better at it than others. Amazon Prime and Netflix are much better than HBO, Starz, Showtime, and others. I also talk about audio description for live sports while attending the game.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/157

Streaming Services Better At Audio Description

For the most part, the streamers are better at having their shows and movies described when compared to the broadcast networks and cable services like HBO. I haven’t tried audio description on Apple TV+ yet, but will soon.

How To Turn On Descriptive Audio On Verizon Fios

Unlike turning on closed captioning with the simple push of one button, Turing on audio description is a little more drawn out. I actually had to refer back to a previous  show notes page to refresh my memory after learning that Bull, S.W.A.T. and Magnum PI are all audio described on Paramount+ and I wanted to see if that was the case with them on CBS. Here are the step-by-step instructions to turn audio description on with your Verizon Fios equipment.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

In this episode of the iCantCU Podcast, I talk about how Ziggy's two emergency trips to the vet gave me a story to tell about my vaccine booster appointment. I also introduce a new segment of the show: Blind People For Dummies Tip Of The Week.

Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/156

What A White Cane Is For

Blind people use a white cane to "see" what is coming. The white cane touches an object before the person walks into it.

#DontGrabJustAsk

You should never grab a blind person. If you feel that a blind person needs assistance, just ask them, "Do you need help?" If they say yes, offer your elbow. They may take it or ask you to take theirs (which is what I would do.)

Ziggy Seems To Be Feeling Better

Not sure if it was the Gabapentin or not, but Ziggy seems to be feeling better after burning his mouth and throat on just-out-of-the-oven palmiers. We are slowly working his normal food back into his meals.

Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio

Reach Out On Social Media

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Get In Touch

If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town and let me know if it is okay to use your voice on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]